Murder in a Mill Town (Nell Sweeney Mystery Series, Book 2)

Book #3 of P.B. Ryan’s bestselling Nell Sweeney historical mystery series. Boston governess Nell Sweeney and Dr. Will Hewitt investigate the deaths of a notorious actress and her Irish maid. Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime.

At the discovery of the body of beautiful actress Virginia Kimball, with her maid lying dead beside her, Boston can talk of nothing else. The police, corrupt and paid to look the other way, determine Virginia found her maid stealing from her and they traded fatal shots. No mention is made of the mysterious Red Book, which Virginia used to supplement her income with a little blackmail on the side. Sick at the slander that says his niece murdered Virginia Kimball, Brady, a driver for the wealthy Hewitts, asks Nell Sweeney to investigate her death. Nell, governess to the Hewitt’s adopted child, has had success solving murders in the past. With the encouragement of her employer, Nell tries to clear Brady’s niece, with the help of the Hewitt’s black sheep son, Will.Nell pokes into the indiscretions of Boston high-ranking men, while they are determined to block her investigations. Running into the harsh prejudice against the Irish makes Nell more resolved to uncover the killer. Death on Beacon Hill continues Ms. Ryan’s excellent Nell Sweeney series. The rich characterization and her strong evocation of place, coupled with a well-plotted tale, make for a rich story. Add a clever conclusion and Ms. Ryan delivers a fascinating read. Fresh Fiction

More praise for Death on Beacon Hill:

“I decided to start the year off with my favorite mystery series. The mystery itself—what really happened that afternoon at Mrs. Kimball’s and who killed her and her maid—kept me guessing....Highly recommend the series.” Babbling Book Reviews

“[Nell is] intelligent and has a strong sense of justice....She only takes action after careful consideration, never rushing to throw herself in harm’s way....They mystery consists of several layers, and is constructed quite well....It’s clear from the beginning that things are not as they seem; this serves to keep the reader interested in ferreting out the clues alongside Nell. I’m looking forward to another installment.” The Romance Reader’s Connection

“Cleverly plotted addition to this excellent series.” Fresh Fiction

In Book #4 of P.B. Ryan’s bestselling historical mystery series about Boston governess Nell Sweeney, Nell and roguish surgeon Will Hewitt investigate two suicides that may not be what they seem. Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime.

On Sept. 29, 1869, the gold market crumbles, and fortunes are lost in a matter of hours. When the bodies of two men, wealthy Boston Brahmins Noah Bassett and Philip Munro, are found, it’s assumed that they committed suicide over their financial losses. But when Harvard professor and forensic scientist Will Hewitt autopsies the victims, he discovers that Munro was murdered. Dr. Hewitt needs help navigating the city and its complex society to find the killer. He turns to governess Nell Sweeney, who understands the world of the rich and how their power can be used to hide their secrets. The investigation leads to the conclusion that these men were concerned more with keeping some things hidden than with the loss of their money. How they were tied together makes for a chilling climax to a mesmerizing mystery. Not only does Ryan provide readers with a tightly wound, suspenseful novel peopled with multidimensional characters, she writes about an era whose problems mirror our own. This is a historical period she knows and brings to life so clearly that readers are totally immersed. Nell is an ideal heroine: smart, intrepid and human. Be on the lookout for her return. Romantic Times BookReviews

More praise for Murder on Black Friday:

“Nell and Will are a confirmed pair of amateur sleuths in this fourth entry in the popular Gilded Age series, and this makes the setting perhaps slightly cozier, but as usual, P B Ryan is spot on with her period detail. This is the best part about the series for me, as these books really do open a window into how both the high and low society of Boston operated. She thankfully doesn’t shrink (Anne Perry style) from showing it, warts and all...probably the best entry yet.” MyShelf.com

“As always, Nell and Will’s predicament tugs at my heart. Loved it!” Babbling Book Reviews

“The author has an amazing grasp of life during this period of history. Each detail is crafted to let the reader feel immersed in the time; from the major historical events, to the minutiae of everyday life. These facts are effortlessly woven into the overall narrative.” The Romance Reader’s Connection

Book #1 of P.B. Ryan’s bestselling historical mystery series featuring Boston governess Nell Sweeney and opium-smoking former battle surgeon Will Hewitt. Long thought to have died during the Civil War, Will is arrested for murder, and it's up to Nell to prove his innocence. Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime.

“A beautiful combination of entertaining characters, minute historical research, and a powerful evocation of time and place. I’m very glad there will be more to come.” New York Times bestselling author Barbara Hambly

“P.B. Ryan makes a stunning debut with Still Life With Murder...I can’t wait for the next installment.” Bestselling author Victoria Thompson

“If you like fast moving, accurately drawn, historical mysteries, you won’t go wrong by trying Still Life With Murder.” Reviewing the Evidence

“Still Life With Murder is sheer perfection... gripping... powerful... unforgettable...You’ll know you’ve read one hell of a story after you turn the last page!” Reader to Reader Reviews

"This is the first book in the acclaimed Gilded Age Mysteries series, and has many things to recommend it... a tidy package of well-drawn characters, lively story and historical verisimilitude." MyShelf.com

“...a highly entertaining book with a well-drawn pair of characters who have both sparkling chemistry and conversation. I’m looking forward to more Nell Sweeney mysteries.” All About Romance

“With its rich sense of place and time and a crisp, intelligent plot, readers will speed through this tale and be clamoring for more.” Bestselling author Earlene Fowler

“Utterly absorbing. Vividly alive characters in a setting so clearly portrayed that one could step right into it. A very clever plot in which each clue is clearly offered and yet the identity of the murderer is a complete surprise.” Roberta Gellis

“This debut mystery is a winner, with a feisty heroine, a colorful historical backdrop and a strong mystery rife with complexities. An ideal blend of history and mystery.” Romantic Times BookReviews

Book #5 of P.B. Ryan’s bestselling historical mystery series. Governess Nell Sweeney and Dr. Will Hewitt infiltrate the worst neighborhood in Boston to keep Detective Colin Cook from being framed for murder. Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime.

Summary: Colin Cook was the only officer in the city’s Detective Bureau not to be found guilty of corruption and to escape being demoted or fired. But now he is a fugitive, wanted for killing a petty criminal in Boston’s North End, and the police believe Nell knows where the Irish cop is hiding. Nell doesn’t know where Colin is, nor does she believe her friend is capable of murder. To prove his innocence, she descends into the seedy and dangerous slums of the North End to look into the matter. Nell isn’t afraid of her fellow immigrants in the neighborhood, but Dr. Will Hewitt has his doubts—and he won’t let her conduct the investigation alone.

Comments: The Hewitts have gone to the Cape for their annual summer retreat, but Nell has remained in Boston to clear Detective Cook’s name. The odious, and disgraced, ex-detective Charles Skinner is sure that Nell is conspiring to keep him hidden, and he has threatened Nell. This doesn’t weaken her resolve to help her friend, but it puts her in danger. Before she gets far in the investigation, Will shows up and offers to help her—and protect her from Skinner. Will has returned from Shanghai, having realized that it’s too easy to give in to temptation. He would rather not lose his hard-won battle against opium addiction, or lose Nell’s regard, by returning to old habits. But nothing has changed for him in Boston, so Will is still in the same predicament he was before—in love with a woman he can’t have. He has two job offers to contemplate while helping Nell clear Cook’s name: take the five year teaching contract at Harvard, or go to France at President Grant’s request. Something has changed, though. Nell has begun to question her devotion to the Catholic Church. Will’s words to her at Gracie’s birthday party, the previous year, have affected her more than he knows—that it would be the Church, not God, turning its back on her if she was excommunicated. For the first time, Nell is willing to pursue a divorce. The ending is even more heart breaking than the previous book.
Favorite Quote:
“You befriended me when I needed a friend, you saved me when I needed a savior. Your presence in my life has shone a light upon my soul that will never be extinguished. For that precious gift, I shall be forever in your debt.”—Will’s note to Nell
Babbling Book Reviews

More praise for Murder in the North End:

“It’s always a good day when a new Nell Sweeney book arrives.” CA Reviews

“Plucky Nell and her helpmate Will are well developed characters who are likeable and smart. The cast of supporting characters in this book is colorful and well drawn, making the book an easy read. All of the books in this series are enjoyable; Murder in the North End is no exception. P.B. Ryan has made a successful transition from romance to mystery novels and I eagerly await the next Gilded Age mystery.” Cozy Library

“Murder in the North End is a light read that you can cozy up to on a cold winter night in your easy chair by the fire...” MyShelf.com

Book #6 of P.B. Ryan’s bestselling historical mystery series. Governess Nell Sweeney and wounded battle surgeon Will Hewitt reunite on Cape Cod to investigate the death of Nell’s long-lost brother. Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime.

Summary: Nell has proven herself a model governess in the years she’s worked for the Hewitts. But now a terrible secret from her past—and the lurking suspicion that she might be carrying Will Hewitt’s child—threaten to rob her of everything for which she has worked so hard.

Comments: Nell has a lot on her plate. Her only surviving sibling, Jamie, is dead. He was a fugitive, wanted for the murder of Susannah Cunningham. Also occupying her mind is that fact that she’s pregnant with Will’s baby and Will is in France. In the previous book, the American ambassador asked President Grant for an experienced battle surgeon, and Will was offered the job. Nell even begins to question whether Will—rootless vagabond, cardsharp, and recovering addict—can ever truly settle down. He didn’t take the teaching job, which he loved. Nell knows he went to France for her sake. However, with a child’s future in question, Nell can’t help but wonder. Regardless of what she thinks of Will, the fact she needs a divorce first, and soon, remains. With so much uncertainty in her future, it is a small relief to know that her mentor and former lover, Dr. Greaves is offering her so much support. He knows that Nell is pregnant and that her heart belongs to Will, even as she questions his reliability...
Favorite Quotes:
“The only reason you feel unworthy of that award is that you’re mired in your old notion of yourself as flawed and undeserving. Frankly, I’m beginning to find that refrain fairly tedious.”
“I’ve never known you to be quiet the pitiless shrew. I find it captivating.”
—Nell, Will
Babbling Book Reviews

Praise for A Bucket of Ashes:

“As always, the author excels at setting the scene, evoking the time and place by use of the day-to-day details as well as historical events... This has been a gorgeously written series, populated with unique and unforgettable characters. I’m truly sorry to see it end, and will, no doubt, be re-reading these keepers.” CA Reviews

“Ryan’s historical atmosphere is spot on. It’s a memorable look into the Gilded Age. I can’t help but recommend this series to those who enjoy cozy type historical mystery series.” MyShelf.com

“P.B. Ryan writes a heartwarming mystery that capture the ambivalence of the rich on the east coast five years after the civil war ended.” Genre Go Round Reviews

This year Valentine's Day isn't for romance. It's for murder.

Mega rich restaurant owner Jack Barnes and his second wife Zee are very much in love. However, their plans for Valentine's Day are about to be torn apart by the most violent murder.Who is the strange figure plotting this sick crime? Who hates Jack that much? There are plenty of suspects living in Jack's fancy block of flats. Is it them, or could it be the work of an outsider with a twisted mind? One thing's for sure, the police have got their work cut out solving this bloody mess.