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Murder at Hartigan House: a cozy historical mystery (A Ginger Gold Mystery) Paperback – September 24, 2018
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There's a skeleton in the attic!
After a weeklong passage over the Atlantic from Boston to Liverpool, Ginger Gold arrives at her childhood London home--Hartigan House--to find decade-old remains from some poor woman on the floor in the attic. Ginger's Boston terrier, Boss, noses out a missing phalange from under the bed.
It's a mystery that once again puts Ginger alongside the handsome Chief Inspector Basil Reed. Who is the victim? And how did she end up in Ginger's home?
Clues lead Ginger and her good friend Haley Higgins to a soirée hosted in 1913 by Ginger's late father, George Hartigan. A shadow of suspicion is cast on her father's legacy, and Ginger isn't so sure she wants to know the truth about the man she dearly loved.
Ginger decides to host another soirée, inviting the guest list from ten years previous. Before the night is over, another person is dead.
- Print length258 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateSeptember 24, 2018
- Dimensions5 x 0.65 x 8 inches
- ISBN-101988677599
- ISBN-13978-1988677590
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Clever and entertaining, you'll love this charming Golden Age mystery series. And the fashion is to die for!" - Molly C. Quinn, actress, Castle
"This title found me totally engrossed in my reading to the point of skipping bedtime 'til the tale was complete. The mystery of who was the murderer was done well - I did not guess until the end." ~ Andra, Amazon reviewer
"Murder on the S. S. Rosa by Lee Strauss is a short prequel to the Ginger Gold cozy mystery series that has all the hallmarks of a fascinating mystery series. Charles A. Ray - Amazon reviewer
"Absolutely fabulous! I really could not enjoy a series any more than this one." Terri Donaldson - Amazon reviewer
"Oh, Gosh! I didn't plan on getting hooked on yet another series, but I can't help it! I really, really like Ginger Gold! She is sharp as a tack, has guts, and knows what she wants and how to get it! Each one of these stories was practically un-put-downable. Plots are very intriguing, characters very well developed, and extremely well written. If you're a fan of the Australian series 'Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries', you'll love Ginger Gold!" JAM - Amazon reviewer
"This was an incredible read. The characters were full of life, and very likeable. The plot was engaging, and kept me guessing until the end. I read this straight through, only stopping when life made me. Highly recommended!" Mary Moon - Amazon reviewer
"I love the Ginger Gold mysteries! Strauss makes the 20's come alive with her costumes and society happenings. These are a fun read and good mysteries as well. The attention to little details makes the books even better. You feel you are there. Strauss keeps the suspense and twists coming fast." - Jan, Amazon reviewer
"Lady Gold is Solid Gold! Ginger Gold is a true lady, in both manners and title. She owns her own boutique, and manages to find time to solve mysteries. She can always count on her best friend, Haley, who is a medical student who assists the coroner. The cast of characters is rich and each is different in the most fantastic way." Katie Thompson - Amazon reviewer
Product details
- Publisher : La Plume Press (September 24, 2018)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 258 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1988677599
- ISBN-13 : 978-1988677590
- Item Weight : 9.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 5 x 0.65 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #527,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4,228 in Traditional Detective Mysteries (Books)
- #4,634 in Private Investigator Mysteries (Books)
- #5,740 in Historical Mystery
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
For fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of Downton Abbey ~ from a USA TODAY Bestselling author!
You'll adore Lady Gold from the acclaimed Ginger Gold Mysteries series starting with the introductory novella, Murder on the SS Rosa.
Fill up on the short story companion series, Lady Gold Investigates, and if you're in need of more Golden Age Whodunnits, try the spin-off series, Higgins & Hawke.
Look for the 1950s themed ROSA REED MYSTERIES!
Don't forget to FOLLOW LEE ON AMAZON. (^^^Yellow button under photo^^^)
Contact: leestraussbooks.com
Sign up for Lee's newsletter and get EXCLUSIVE access to Ginger Gold's Journal AND a Rosa Reed short story prequel!
Copy and paste: https://www.leestraussbooks.com/join-ginger/
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book an enjoyable read with an intriguing mystery. They appreciate the well-developed characters and the author's sense of fashion. The book is described as an easy, well-written read with a good pace. Readers enjoy reading about Ginger Gold and her adventures.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book. They find it fun and interesting, keeping them guessing until the end. Readers appreciate the cozy mystery tales and consider the series enjoyable.
"Interesting and entertaining story line, kept you interested. Had a mystery in the story. I will read another book by this author." Read more
"...And it keeps you entertained right up until the end when Ginger names her next enterprise in the last sentence of the book...." Read more
"...A great read, A must read, the setting in the 20's is so well described you feel you are in it with the characters as well!..." Read more
"...Not by a long shot. As I stated, it's pleasant enough, and I'll probably read a few more books in the series, for the dog if nothing else." Read more
Customers enjoy the mystery content. They find the story intriguing with well-done twists in the plot. The pace is good, and the characters are likeable. Readers describe the book as an enjoyable cozy mystery set in 1923 England. There are many mystery series with themes, and this series happens to be built around the theme.
"Interesting and entertaining story line, kept you interested. Had a mystery in the story. I will read another book by this author." Read more
"...The story is really quite good in this installment...." Read more
"...The terrific twists in this story leaves you guessing until the surprise ending!..." Read more
"This is a pleasant enough story about a rather silly young woman who is able to solve mysteries...." Read more
Customers enjoy the characters and settings. They find the characters delightful and interesting, with new characters added. The plot is intricate and layered, with no silly heroine blundering through mysteries.
"...The author has written fun and easy to like characters...." Read more
"This is a pleasant enough story about a rather silly young woman who is able to solve mysteries...." Read more
"...Miss Fisher {look it up, it's on video}, so really enjoyed this, new character and hopefully long series of following books...." Read more
"...I was taken in by the author's wonderful descriptions of the characters, the sights of London and especially the clothes...." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read and well-written. They appreciate the descriptive setting and story, which keeps their interest. The subjects are easy to follow and keep straight, and the editing is good. Readers also mention it's a cozy mystery with a restful pace.
"...A great read, A must read, the setting in the 20's is so well described you feel you are in it with the characters as well!..." Read more
"...Great main characters, skilfully written dialogs and interesting plot twist make this book a must-read book for every mystery novel lover." Read more
"...The book is well-written and edited (I did find an error, but I think it was a problem in translation to e-reader, not an editing fail), and while..." Read more
"...This is not a difficult or challenging read, but I highly recommend it for a mystery lover who’s looking for something new...." Read more
Customers enjoy the author's fashion sense. They find the book charming, with a nice period piece and plenty of flair. The fashion information is an added bonus.
"...It represents the house just fine. I do like the logo that’s been created for this series of books. It’s rather how I picture Lady Ginger Gold...." Read more
"...descriptions of the characters, the sights of London and especially the clothes. I could picture it all in my mind as I read...." Read more
"...A good read with a historical setting and an eye on fashion." Read more
"...Men wouldn't be interested - too much fashion talk for them." Read more
Customers enjoy the Ginger Gold series. They find the protagonist clever, free-spirited, and fun to follow. The friendship and devotion between Ginger and Hallie is sweet and refreshing.
"I like the protagonist, Lady Gold, and her side kick Haley. There's enough red herring s but the killer eventuality surfaces. It's all good." Read more
"...Her friendship and devotion to Hallie is sweet and refreshing. And the hint of a romance with the Inspector lends some excitement and expectation...." Read more
"...Ginger is free-spirited, learns to drive in London and opens up the world of the aristocratic elite to her readers...." Read more
"ginger is clever and the electricity between she and basil is well done. i like that the first time she sees him she describes him as an older man...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's fast pace. They find the storyline light and interesting, with a credible plot. Readers also appreciate the time period and characters.
"...The pace was rather brisk, as I think one can expect from the Ginger Gold stories...." Read more
"Loved the fast paced plot. The characters were interesting and credible. Love this author." Read more
"...Oh, and she has a dog named Boss to boot. It's a fast read and I kept my interest. I plan to read more of the series." Read more
"...The pace is good, twists in the plot well done and characters likeable...." Read more
Customers enjoy the well-researched historical whodunit. They appreciate the smart, resourceful, and determined heroine. The characters are described with good detail, and there are clues and evidence found.
"...While there were clues and evidence found, neither Ginger nor the detective asked particularly good questions when interviewing suspects...." Read more
"...Ginger is a strong, resourceful and determined young lady. Her friendship and devotion to Hallie is sweet and refreshing...." Read more
"...simply a fun read, with lighthearted character description and plenty of detail dear to the hearts of female readers (clothing, décor, friendships)...." Read more
"...High fashion sense, beautiful and smart, lady Gold along with her dog Boss, her bestie Haley, the charming Scotland yard Chief Inspector Basil Reed,..." Read more
Reviews with images
Review - Murder at Hartigan House
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2025Interesting and entertaining story line, kept you interested. Had a mystery in the story. I will read another book by this author.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2018
4.0 out of 5 stars A great follow-up to book one in series! Can't wait to see what book three holds!
Murder at Hartigan House
Ginger Gold Mysteries #2
Lee Strauss
258 pages, ebook, paperback
La Plume Press, June 2017
Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Period Piece
I purchased this at the current price. This is my honest review for which I am receiving no compensation of any kind.
✫✫✫✫
The cover is in the style of the rest of the series, which is rather attractive. This is not how I pictured the house in my mind while reading the book, but that’s okay. It represents the house just fine. I do like the logo that’s been created for this series of books. It’s rather how I picture Lady Ginger Gold. Though I never picture her still since she always seems to be in motion, even her thoughts, or maybe especially her thoughts. The story is really quite good in this installment. Her father has died and she’s come home to England to check on his estate and finds the body of a woman in one of the servants’ rooms. A body that’s obviously been there since the house was closed up ten years earlier. The characters from the previous book are becoming more familiar, especially Ginger, herself, and her friend, Haley Higgins. Her dog, Boss, short for Boston. And the Chief Inspector from Scotland Yard, Chief Inspector Basil Reed. We also see Scout, Ginger’s friendly young jack-of-all-trades from the streets that she met on the ship in the first book. New to us, but not Ginger, is her former butler, Pippins. They share a special bond from her youth that still exists between them. I’m finding that characters that are going to be showing up again in other books, are better fleshed out and the one-timers are more like caricatures. It seems to work quite well, especially since the author is consistent with this technique so far. The pace was rather brisk, as I think one can expect from the Ginger Gold stories. I think it relates to Ginger’s personality and the way her mind works. She’s not a peaceful person or a quiet person. She’s always thinking and doing. Not really flighty or dithery, but always in motion like that. Like a hummingbird, colorful and in rapid motion constantly. The tension of the book starts when Ginger gets the telegram notifying her of something GHASTLY in the attic of her father’s house. This is about the third paragraph of chapter one, so you really jump right in at the start. And it keeps you entertained right up until the end when Ginger names her next enterprise in the last sentence of the book.
And here starts the reveal…
The character of Lady Ginger Gold is hard to describe for me. Let me try. I want to say that she’s dithery and flighty, but she’s not. I described her as a hummingbird, and that may be as close as I can come. She’s a fashionista, to put it in today’s terms. She’s a lady since her late husband was a Lord. She’s quite intelligent and educated for a woman of her times, I believe. She’s observant and is good with puzzles. She’s rather practical in spite of her position and wealth. She’s quite rich having inherited from her husband and now her father. She’s brave and has quick responses. That’s rather a disorganized mess of a description, but that’s why I called her a hummingbird.
Well, it’s not much of a homecoming, but it’s what she’s got. A telegram talking about a ghastly find in the attic, that would be the servants’ quarters, of her late father’s house. The very house she’s come back to England to settle since she’s just inherited it. She’s brought Haley with her, since Haley’s going to medical school to become a doctor, something that raises eyebrows in this day and age, still. While taking a look at the evidence in Andrew Bailey’s old room, Boss finds the broken end of the woman’s finger under the bed. Why was the woman’s finger broken? Nothing else seems to have been damaged. But the red satin dress the woman is wearing is a high fashion gown that Ginger recognizes as one called the Lucille from 1913, the year the house was closed up following at New Year’s Eve party. So, who was this woman dressed up in a designer gown in her father’s valet’s room? Had no one missed her in the last ten years? And who had put her here?
To help find the solution to the questions, Ginger calls in the police. They come in the person of Chief Inspector Basil Reed and his Sergeant Scott. It’s during the initial questions that Basil finds out that Ginger is Lady Gold. He’s not in the least intimidated. They work well together in this case, just as they did in the first case they had on the ship in Murder on the SS Rosa.
Entertaining and being entertained is Ginger’s way of getting evidence. So she throws a reenactment of the original New Year’s Eve Party. She gets all kinds of reactions from totally oblivious to totally seeing through her. Lord Turnbull arrives with a young woman who is wearing a ruby ring that causes all sorts of problems and almost costs the young woman her life.
It does cost Lord Turnbull his life because its mere presence tells someone the whole story.
Ginger’s late father’s valet has been found. He has also been the valet to Lord Turnbull until his death. He’s had to keep these awful secrets and has been really scared that he’d end up taking the blame for what happened that night. Ginger and Basil listen to his story and add what he says to the pile of accumulating information they’ve gathered and shared. Andrew Bailey knew who had killed the woman whose body had been found in his old room. In fact, he had put it there, having been blackmailed with his younger brother’s safety by Lord Trumbull. Lord Turnbull had choked her to death with his hands when she pushed him too far in trying to make him marry her so that she would have his title. Poor Andrew still had to be arrested for what he did.
But they still didn’t know who had killed Lord Turnbull. The testing was in and they knew he had been poisoned. They knew it was atropine, from the belladonna plant, which Mrs. Thornton, the cook raised in the garden. Well, here she is serving it up to Ginger in tea when she comes back from having lunch with Halley. She hustles Ginger up the stairs to the servants’ quarters to an unused room. And Mrs. Thornton tells her sad tale to Ginger. How she had been raped by an employer and her daughter, Eunice, had been taken and raised by the lady of the house as her daughter and Mrs. Thornton had to go work somewhere else. It was at Hartigan House. Then Eunice walked into the party that night with a Lord! And then she died! But the ring showed up again on Harriet’s finger with the same Lord! Then she knew who had killed her daughter. She knew that Lord Hartigan and Lord Turnbull were close in those days, so he had to have known what was happening. She was going to kill Ginger, a daughter for a daughter. And there she left Ginger on the floor right where her daughter, Eunice, had been dumped. It was only by the actions of Boss that Pippins found Ginger before she could expire. Haley and the doctor were called in and Lady Gold was on her way back to health. Apparently, during her recovery, she has enough time to think up more ways to get into trouble. She announces at the end that she plans to open a ladies dress shop called Feathers & Flair, which just happens to be part of the title of another book in the series.
Recommended
Book #3 Murder at Bray Manor
- Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2017This is the second book of the Ginger Gold Mystery Series and picks up where the first one left off. BUT you can read this as a standalone. The author has written fun and easy to like characters. Ginger Gold AKA Lady Gold has come back to England after begin gone for most of her young life in Boston to settle her father's estate which includes this large house with servants. Her close friend Haley has also come with her to attend the Woman's School of Medicine working to become a doctor. On a steamship on the way back to England not only do they help to solve a murder on the ship (book 1), but Ginger receives a telegram from the butler in the house in England that there was a dead body found in the attic rooms of the house. And so begins an incredibly well put together mystery. Also in this second book is the Chief Inspector Basil who had crossed the Atlantic on the ship with them and was involved with solving the ship mystery too. Seems Ginger has a little crush on the Chief Inspector which she tries to hide since her husband had died in the war and she feels guilty having feelings for someone else, but her best friend Haley knows better. So with a lot of fashion, class, and characters we are enveloped in the mystery in the attic of Hartigan house. Ginger and Haley feel they have to get into the mystery and solve the who-done-it to clear Ginger's father's name of any involvement. The terrific twists in this story leaves you guessing until the surprise ending! A great read, A must read, the setting in the 20's is so well described you feel you are in it with the characters as well! I can't wait for the next book in this series. I received an ARC but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2020This is a pleasant enough story about a rather silly young woman who is able to solve mysteries. I have difficulty envisioning her as an Allied agent in WWI.
Miss Marple, she ain't. But then again, Ms. Strauss ain't Dame Agatha, either.
The secondary characters--Haley, Pippins, and Boss (the Boston Terrier)--I found to be more interesting than Ginger. (Especially the dog--I'm partial to Bostons.)
There were some errors that were annoying. For example, there is no Scotland Yard rank of Chief Chief Inspector--an error that crops up several times. Another error was in the way Mrs. Schofield addressed Ginger's grandmother-in-law: when addressing the lady directly, one does not say "Dowager Lady Gold," one says "Lady Gold." (Perhaps they felt the readers were too stupid to figure out which Lady Gold was meant...)
Added to those examples is the intrusiveness of trying to write dialect, a talent that much better writers have problems with. These are problems that serve to destroy the atmosphere the author was trying to create.
Is it the worst book I've ever read? Not by a long shot. As I stated, it's pleasant enough, and I'll probably read a few more books in the series, for the dog if nothing else.
Top reviews from other countries
- linda boydReviewed in Canada on January 16, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
I loved the 2nd book of this series it reminds me of Dowtonabbey and midsummer murders it has mystery romance in the story line can't wait to.read the third one
- Maggie AllenReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 11, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars 1920's murder.
I really enjoyed this story and found it interesting and compulsive reading. I loved Ginger and her her little dog, Boss. It took me back to the1920's with its descriptions of fashion, transport, and mannerisms. The plot had me guessing who the murderer could be, and I was surprised at the result. I am looking forward to reading the next adventure.
- Hoener, BirgitReviewed in Germany on April 18, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Agatha Christie's successor - loved it!
Everything coming together to make this a perfect book: plot, characters, narration style, humour and setting.
Widowed Lady Ginger Gold, coming back from America to her childhood home in England, is determined after finding a skeleton in the house to clear her late father's name and find the murderer. With the help of her friend Haley and much against dashing London Chief Inspector Basil Reed's will, Ginger sets out to find clues.
Brilliantly written, and set in the time between the two World Wars in England, this story may not have fingernail-biting-worthy suspense, but more than enough mystery and plot twists to keep a reader glued to the pages.
If you like the detectives of Agatha Christie, you will like this book. I absolutely loved it! More please.
- Amazon CustomerAparna RajeshReviewed in India on December 16, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful read.
I wanted to finish it without leaving it even for a minute. Ginger is so plucky & delightful. The mysteries dog her wherever she goes. I look forward to yet another Ginger mystery.
I do recommend Ginger exploits to my circle of friends.
- mara greenReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2023
4.0 out of 5 stars Great story but not all English spelling!
I did enjoy the book but when one reads at the front of the book PLEASE NOTE: BRITISH SPELLING IS USED IN THIS BOOK. Unfortunately not all words for instance, the word travelling is two ll not one l like the American spelling. So I suggest better editing.