In a Gilded Cage by Rhys Bowen ****

In a Gilded Cage is a (women's) historical novel by Rhys Bowen. You should not imagine the book is of the fashion and feelings genre written for a certain class of feminine readers. This is a novel about women's history.

Set in 1902, almost 20 years before women got to vote, its chronicles the lives of young graduates from Vassar College, some who get married and others who try to make it on their own. The protagonist is Molly Murphy, an Irish immigrant and a detective. While all the history has been carefully researched, the story is a detective novel, with the expected murders, suspects, and surprising ending.

I found this to be both enjoyable and enlightening.