SILENT AS THE GRAVE (Molly Murphy Mysteries #21) by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles will be released on March 11, 2025, by Minotaur Books.
While her husband is off in Washington D.C. consulting with the president on the development of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Molly finds herself spending time on set at the Biograph Company’s movie studio. When one of the actresses is fired, Molly’s adopted daughter, Bridie, gets the role. Molly isn’t exactly pleased with Bridie’s budding career in silent films, but it gets worse when Bridie is almost struck by a train while filming a stunt that almost goes tragically wrong. It’s not the first incident on set, nor is it the first time an actor’s life was put in danger due to sabotage. Molly refuses to let Bridie return to the set, but Molly takes a job as a makeup artist so that she can investigate who is sabotaging the studio. Her investigation even takes her to Thomas Edison’s studio in the Bronx. When one of the owners of Biograph Company dies in the studio, Molly realizes that there is a murderer on set. She enlists her husband, Daniel, to help with the investigation.
As always, Molly Murphy Sullivan takes the reader into the world of New York City in the early 1900s. She’s never afraid to venture into every area of the city—be it the slums of the Lower East Side or the mansions along Central Park—to track down a lead. While the mystery aspect was interesting and I enjoyed learning more about the early film industry, the story dragged on at times. And, sadly, Molly has become the stereotypical woman from the early 1900s whose main concerns are her children and cleaning her house. With each new addition to the series, I miss the spunky, headstrong Molly of old. Of course, I expect her character to develop and grow throughout the series. But I’d like to see some of her old spirit shine through.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.