Murder on St. Mark’s Place by Victoria Thompson ****

Murder on St. Mark’s Place by VictoriaThompson is set in New York City in 1896. Someone is beating shop girls to death. Sarah Brandt, who has abandoned her life as the daughter of an important family to be a midwife, tracks down the man who preys on these unfortunate girls, many of whom are still teens. With the help of Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy and her nosy neighbor Mrs. Elsworth, she finds justice.

The girls are called Charity Girls, one step above prostitutes. No money is exchanged, but the girls are willing to favor men who show them a good time and give them gifts. Sarah is sympathetic to the girls who must give most of their minimal wages to their families. They have no other avenues for fun or pretty things.

Much of the action happens on Coney Island. The book is full of descriptions of the amusement park including many of the rides of the period. The shop girls invest a nickel for the streetcar to the entrance. After that, they look to the men to pay for admission, food, rides, and souvenirs.

With a minimum of suspects, the reader might find it easy to guess the culprit. That doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the visit to turn-of-the-century NYC.

On a more general level, why can women protagonists save themselves? Sarah is a fearless investigator and finds herself in life-threatening situations. While she fights valiantly, her ultimate survival depends on a rescue.

A well-researched historical mystery full of fascinating details.

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