| Title | : | A Death of No Importance (Jane Prescott, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1250152976 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781250152978 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 288 |
| Publication | : | First published April 10, 2018 |
| Awards | : | Mary Higgins Clark Award (2019) |
New York City, 1910. Invisible until she’s needed, Jane Prescott has perfected the art of serving as a ladies’ maid to the city’s upper echelons. When she takes up a position with the Benchley family, dismissed by the city’s elite as “new money”, Jane realizes that while she may not have financial privilege, she has a power they do not—she understands the rules of high society. The Benchleys cause further outrage when their daughter Charlotte becomes engaged to notorious playboy Norrie, the son of the eminent Newsome family.
But when Norrie is found murdered at a party, Jane discovers she is uniquely positioned—she’s a woman no one sees, but who witnesses everything; who possesses no social power, but that of fierce intellect—and therefore has the tools to solve his murder. There are many with grudges to bear: from the family Norrie was supposed to marry into, to the survivors of a tragic accident in a mine owned by the Newsomes, to the rising anarchists who are sick of those born into wealth getting away with anything they want. Jane also knows that in both high society and the city’s underbelly, morals can become cheap in the wrong hands: scandal and violence simmer just beneath the surface—and can break out at any time.
A Death of No Importance (Jane Prescott, #1) Reviews
-
I love mysteries but finding one that really keeps you guessing is difficult these days. This one not only does that, but features a smart heroine who just happens to be living in NYC during one of its most interesting time periods (early 1900s)! The attention to historical detail - down to the flounces on the skirts - really sucked me in, and I actually cared about the characters. Can’t wait for more from Mariah!
-
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed A Death of No Importance. Set in New York City in the early part of the 1900’s, the book follows Jane Prescott, a lady’s maid to a wealthy family trying to ingratiate themselves into New York City high society. Her mistress, Charlotte Benchley, claims she is engaged to a wealthy and sought after bachelor who is subsequently murdered on the night that Charlotte believes their engagement will be announced. Jane works with an enterprising reporter, Michael Behan, to solve the murder.
My favorite part of the book was Mariah Fredericks’ attention to detail with respect to both the characters and the setting. New York City comes alive as do the characters; Fredericks clearly did her research, and her efforts pay off significantly. My one small caveat is that the cover is terrible. Had I not had someone recommend this book to me, I would never have picked it up.
I highly recommend this entertaining read and hope there will be another book starring Jane Prescott. -
Sadly, this was more of a middle of the road read than I had hoped. A time period I love but not the Upstairs, Downstairs vibe I thought it might have.
A little too easy, a little too silly and yet a little too complicated.
Maybe it’s a good thing though— the last thing my TBR needs is another series I can’t keep track of! -
I did not enjoy A DEATH OF NO IMPORTANCE nearly as much as I anticipated. Not written quite as tightly as I would have liked, the novel concerns a lady's maid named Jane Prescott who is quite observant.
-
Can't wait to read the second book
-
In 1910, Jane Prescott took a job as ladies' maid for Charlotte Benchley, a nouveau riche young woman who was very anxious to become engaged to the playboy Norrie Newsome. Norrie wound up being murdered and the maid investigated the murder. Except for a touch of pedophilia, this could have been a Nancy Drew book. It definitely had a middle grade feel about it.
The hardest reviews for me to write are for books that don't leave any impression on me, positive or negative, and unfortunately that was the case with this book. For an historical mystery, the book was seriously lacking in any period feel. At the end of the book the author does throw in details of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the disgusting killing of an elephant (which I assume was true), but neither of these events had anything to do with the mystery. If she was aiming for adding some social commentary to the book, she missed the mark. The references just felt gratuitous. I did finish the book, mostly because it was short and I could listen to the audio book while I did chores, but I doubt that I would read this author again.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. -
This is a full 3.5 star and for my own enjoyment it was almost a 4 star. I only down rated it because of the length; it's overlong. (Jane Prescott's introduction as a character is quite more repetition than would be needed using a sharper focus on her personality quirks instead of just her long winded past and continuing "circumstances", IMHO.) Without that quality to verbose redundancy throughout the book, and the addition of two multi page segments near the ending of the book to bide copy count? Without those, it would have been a full 4. She used those rather strangely placed social warrior issues (circus elephant treatment was one)to increase the feel to the exact period? But they didn't belong and broke the plot tension. She has only written YA before this book. IMHO, the social crusades (exactly as would be inserted into a YA book- in just such a simple manner than you are not supposed to notice?) muddied the sharp focus of the house of her job, and all of the guilty questions. Apart from those negatives- all which added length, this could have been more than a full four. I enjoyed it to a 4. The Triangle Shirt. Fire is far too important and pivotal horrific event to stick into an aside of 5 pages like that. Not in the way she did the placements or the inclusions.
But regardless, in fact, I think I could become a Mariah Fredericks fan. She just doesn't have the knack yet of leaving the YA elements of effusion and drama for kiddish "eyes" behind her yet. But her writing skill is considerable. Her era feel fine and strong (and the facts of everyday applications are correct in great majority too). And her plotting lines, in this book they were above average. Especially for a first entry into a who-dun-it female in early 20th century. It's prior to WWI and all the shake ups are beginning for a break out feminist ambiance (all the '20's breaks with long standing female tradition). That she is a highly intelligent servant, instead of a master/mistress elite role is a double down too on the "below stairs" eyes. And did she do a good job on that! Bravo, Mariah Fredericks!
So don't take my 3 star as an avoid. Try this one out for sure. She had me on the "baddie" perp and also sent me up a long flight of stairs to a dead end on one of the other characters who I thought was a dip and mentally ill (there are actually two characters like this in the book, so that isn't even a spoiler)- but absolutely wasn't before it was all over.
This is a era when upper class females and their expression within the words/ conversations fields (not looks, style, physical manners etc. but just the language and wit of words and depth of context of words) was not a recognized skill advantage, except possibly in the occasional mistress or salon diva. So the dichotomy between the sisters and in other relationships here are fairly interesting to what is deemed important to them, important to society, important to possible husband material etc. Not all just dirt and gossip conversations for the red herrings to be plied in this book. Instead we actually have some pretty acute varying cause/ effect in these examples.
I'll be reading #2 about Jean for sure. I only had to subtract a star for going on about animals and the Triangle fire etc. when it was not needed and hurt the "case" progressions. And for the fact that she gave so much out of the future as tells and reader knowledge near the ending. Another juvenile writing habit she's going to have to leave behind if she wants to make Jean a long series. It has immense possibility for being an excellent female p. i. Especially if Jean doesn't remain as insular as she is. And loses her attraction to anarchists. The role of her Uncle has some strong possibilities too.
If you like last minute "to be continued" tied on the railroad tracks type of hyjinx, you might like this much more than I. Young lady types like Pauline Peril wringing her hands and waiting to be rescued or sad sack hand wringer (same movement)female victims are not so much my cup of tea. But Jane here, she is the opposite. -
I read book two in this series, Death of a New American, some years ago, and have been wanting to read book one ever since. This was a wonderful book with an engrossing story, and I'm glad I took the time to listen to it. I enjoyed learning more about Jane Prescott, the heroine of the story, and how she came to work for the Benchleys. I only felt that the obvious outcome of the story was a bit of a drawback. It would have been nice to be more surprised, more shocked. There was, however, a terrific twist at the end of the book.
I'm looking forward to reading book three of the series, Death of an American Beauty.
Stephanie Willis did a superb job narrating the audiobook version. -
DNF. I gave up at Page 273 (motive: Pedophilia).
-
The woman no one sees, but who witnesses everything, is the ideal person to solve a murder...
“Lady’s maid Jane Prescott works for the Benchleys, who have the money but not the sophistication to be part of elite society. When the Benchleys’ daughter Charlotte falls for Robert “Norrie” Newsome, the playboy heir to a mining fortune, drama ensues.
At the Christmas Eve ball Norrie’s parents reluctantly hold to announce his engagement to Charlotte, he’s found dead, his eyes gouged out. Charlotte, the young woman Norrie jilted when he took up with her, and their families all have motives, as do local anarchists with a history of violent protest and the families of those killed in a recent Newsome mine disaster. Concerned for her employers, Jane looks into the murder with help from an attractive reporter and a chemist knowledgeable about emerging forensic techniques. The novel’s voice, plotting, pace, characterization, and historical background are all expertly crafted, while the resolution—which feels both surprising and convincing—will leave readers hungry for more”(from Publisher’s weekly).
Mariah Fredericks writes her adult debut with A Death of No Importance, a sparkling mystery set in 1910 Manhattan. I hardly read mainstream, but this mystery called out to me and Scribd is such a wonderful place to try before you buy. After one chapter in the company of narrator Stephanie Willis - her lovely voice perfectly suited for the book - I was hooked. Also the time period excited me, we don’t often see a mystery set in Edwardian times New York City. I loved the writing and the murder mystery was satisfying. Not easy to guess whodunit. I really liked Jane Prescott and am looking forward meeting her again in book two Death of a New American. I highly recommend if you love a good historical murder-mystery, strong female characters in a historical setting, historical fiction, or a historical fiction set in New York.
Themes: New York 1910, lady’s maid, a murder most horrid, where is the dress, anarchists, a mining accident of some years ago casts a dark shadow, social issues, a martyr for the cause, women are chattel, pedophilia, this is not a romance, available of Scrids as e-book and audiobook.
5 Stars -
Well, that was one of the most unsatisfying endings I’ve read this year. It’s also odd that a heroine who narrates the entire book doesn’t come across as having much personality. I loved the time period and the family dynamics. That was so interesting! The secondary characters were engaging as well.
I think I’ll tend to my TBR list instead of reading the next in the series. -
Riveting mystery. Moving story. Loved the main character! Talented narrator. Publishers Weekly wrote: “The novel’s voice, plotting, pace, characterization, and historical background are all expertly crafted.” And I agree!
(Trigger warning: crimes against children referred to, no gratuitous descriptions.) -
Enjoyable mystery set in the 1900 NYC. The story is told from the perspective of the maid who sees everything. I liked it a lot and it kept me interested the entire book.
-
I really enjoyed this historical mystery set in early 1900s New York, and I hope it's the beginning of a series, because I'd love to read more like this. I love historical mysteries, which are usually about the upper classes. While it's fun to get lost in the glitz and glamor of another era, I do wonder about the lives of people who are rarely depicted in those books, or who are only there to prop up the plot, like the servants. So I was excited to read a mystery starring ladies' maid Jane Prescott. Jane is sensible and observant, and going about solving a mystery is very different for her than for upper class heroines, as her access to society is so different. She does have some connections to anarchists, who are suspected of the murder at the center of this book, but she suspects a different motive. Besides a satisfying mystery, this book sheds light on a variety of social issues and injustices of the day. Recommended for all lovers of historical mysteries!
*I received a free pre-release copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. -
This is a great period mystery told by lady's maid Jane Prescott. She is the one who does the investigation into a murder. The story flowed and the characters were well developed. The reader also learns a bit about the behind the scenes life in a wealthy household.
There was a line from Jane that said she had more stories to tell. I'm hoping that it's the author's way of telling us there may be another book in the works. -
I am a huge fan of historical fiction, mystery, and suspense. You have no idea how happy I was to come upon this gem!
This story takes place in 1910s New York City. An elderly employee of Jane Prescott passed away and our charming lady's maid is on a lookout for a new job. And she lands great employment with Benchley "new money" family that recently relocated to New York City. Jane is being appointed as a lady's maid to Benchley's two young daughters: glamorous and spoiled Charlotte and shy and obedient Louise.
One fine fall morning, Charlotte announces her engagement to a wealthy playboy Norrie Newsome. New York's society and Benchley family are taken aback by this shocking statement, as everyone expected for young Newsome to propose to his childhood sweetheart. The engagement is set to be officially announced at midnight on Christmas Eve... but Norrie is found dead at the family library minutes before midnight. Newsome family shocks New York's society once again. Will this be the last time? Hmmm...
A very handsome and determined reporter, Michael Behan, takes an interest in our charming Jane. He makes a deal, one of his "unprinted" discoveries for one of her stories about the Benchley family. While everyone suspects rising anarchists in Norrie's death, Jane and Michael team up to find the real murderer of the young Newsome. And what a discovery our adamant Ms. Prescott will make!
A sensational page-turner. I hope this is the first of many books that include marvelous Jane Prescott. -
Excellent historical mystery debut - thanks for the recommendation, Barb! Jane is a wonderful protagonist, and the author creates fascinating characters around her, in this tale of a gruesome murder among New York’s social elite in 1910.
Jane was very interesting, because as a lady’s maid, particularly one who has worked for a member of the social elite in that most rigid of societies - Gilded Age New York - she has observed so many of the wealthy denizens without really being noticed. Good servants are supposed to be invisible until they are wanted!
Also, a lady’s maid, like midwife Sarah Brandt in Victoria Thompson’s excellent long-running, but slightly cozier Gaslight series set a little earlier (started in the late 1880s or 1890s, I believe), is accepted into, and privy to, the intimate lives of women of all backgrounds.
This debut, with its backdrop of the extremely wealthy dealing with the perceived threats from anarchists protesting the abuse of poor workers, reminds me of the grittier early Gaslight Mysteries - high praise, indeed! I can see myself reading further in what I hope will become another excellent historical mystery series. -
The introduction of characters and their possible guilt was very shallow and questions raised through the book were not dealt with.
-
On Nov. 13, 1909, the collapse of the Cherry Mine in Cherry, Illinois, killed 259 boys and men. Mariah Fredericks builds her suspenseful mystery tale, A Death of No Importance, around a fictionalized version of this late-Gilded Age disaster. The novel is both social history and a murder story. It’s reminiscent of Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey. The Newsomes and Bentleys of Fredericks’ imagination personify the new, moneyed American aristocracy that rose to prominence in the decades following the Civil War. And she interlaces her Gilded Age mystery with reminders of the pivotal events of the era, including suffragist campaigns, the bombing of the Los Angeles Times building, and the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. But the narrative drive remains strong throughout. And surprise piles on surprise in the book’s final chapters.
THE AMATEUR SLEUTH IS A LADIES’ MAID
In the novel, the first in a series of three books to date, the protagonist is ladies’ maid Jane Prescott. In her introduction, Fredericks writes that “I’ve always been fascinated by what servants see and hear. And as I thought about Jane’s story, I very much liked the idea that one of these ‘little people’ from the past would know the truth about a famous crime, precisely because nobody noticed them.” Jane relates her growing understanding of this headline-grabbing event from late in life. Writing in the first person throughout, she tells how she came to be employed by the nouveau riche Bentley family as the maid to their two teenage daughters, Charlotte and Louise.
THE BACKSTORY TO MURDER IN THIS GILDED AGE MYSTERY
The two Bentley daughters could hardly be different. Charlotte is glamorous, self-centered, and seemingly devoid of compassion. By contrast, Louise is bookish, plain, and socially aware. And it is Charlotte whose romantic fantasies ultimately involve her family in what the tabloid press, in a stunning lack of originality, terms “the Crime of the Century.” Charlotte has become infatuated with one of New York’s most “eligible bachelors,” Robert Norris Newsome Jr., who is known as Norrie. He’s a spendthrift, a gambler, and a notorious womanizer. He’s also engaged to marry a daughter of the Bentley family’s friends, the Tylers. But Charlotte will have her way.
“A RALLYING CRY FOR SUBVERSIVE ELEMENTS”
Norrie’s father, Robert Sr., is a millionaire businessman who owns large mining interests, among other companies. At one of the family’s coal mines in Pennsylvania, the Shickshinny Mine, a tunnel collapsed. When the company refused to send a rescue party, 121 miners died of suffocation, including eight children. Newsome angrily refused to accept responsibility. His response? To fire the manager. “The incident has become a rallying cry for subversive elements,” writes the New York Herald. The newspaper coverage, and Jane Prescott’s growing understanding of the events surrounding a murder in the Newsome family, gradually lead her to understand the character of the often-violent class struggle underway in the Gilded Age. After all, which is “The Crime of the Century?” The murder of one rich person . . . or a mine disaster that kills eight children and more than a hundred men?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mariah Fredericks is the author of the three books in the Jane Prescott series and nine other novels as well as one book of nonfiction. Wikipedia tells us that “She graduated from Vassar College with a degree in history and was the head copywriter for Book-of-the-Month Club for many years.” Her own website reveals that she was born and raised in New York City, where she still lives today with her family. -
In days gone by, household staff heard and saw much -- and Jane Prescott's new job as a ladies' maid in a nouveau riche NYC family in 1910 puts her in the perfect position to see, hear, and investigate. Jane is a terrific character with a strong voice. The mystery is solid and well-paced, with just the right amount of commentary on social problems of the era, which would have confronted an intelligent young woman in her position almost daily. I particularly enjoyed the use of a final present-day scene to give a little personal and historical perspective.
If you enjoy historical mysteries, you'll get caught up in this one. If you think you don't care for historicals, this might be the one that hooks you. -
A Death of No Importance by Mariah Fredericks takes readers back in time to New York City in May of 1910. Jane Prescott is a lady’s maid for the Benchley’s daughters, Louise and Charlotte. Charlotte is the more vivacious and fashionable of the girls. She sets out to capture Robert “Norrie” Newsome despite the rumors that he is practically engaged to Beatrice Tyler. In September, Charlotte tells her mother that Norrie has proposed, and it is decided to announce the event on Christmas Eve at the Newsome Annual Christmas Eve Ball. When it is near time for the announcement, Jane goes looking for Charlotte and finds Norrie dead on the library floor. Inspector Thomas J. Blackburn is assigned the case and Charlotte finds herself a suspect. Jane with the aid of reporter, Michael Behan delves into Norrie’s life. There is a myriad of suspects who all had good motive to eliminate victim. Join Jane Prescott on her debut case in A Death of No Importance.
A Death of No Importance had a good beginning that drew me into the story. After a while, though, the pace slowed down and the content was less captivating. The book became political with the author being on the side of the poor (the rich industrialist versus the working-class poor). We get detailed descriptions of the indulgences of the upper classes. The author tried to capture the time-period by installing various historical happenings including Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (it was a devastating fire that killed 146 people—mostly immigrant women), Hull House, and the bombing at the LA Times Building They were not integrated into the story properly (felt like add-ins) and had nothing to do with the mystery. The murder appears complex, but the solution was apparent. The book needed action and active investigating that would help move the book forward. The investigating that Jane can do is limited due to her gender and ability to leave her work (she does manage it at times, though). The story is told from an older Jane Prescott (reliving her younger days). Jane is an observant main character whose eye for detail aids in her solving the case. A Death of No Importance had a disappointing ending (a big letdown). A Death of No Importance was not the right fit for me. -
It was good until the torture of the elephant 🐘 why put that memory in the story?! That just dropped the story from 4 stars to 2 for me ... 💊
-
Very interesting historical mystery set among New York City’s high society families in the early 20th century.
The blurb gives a good idea of the basic plot, so I won’t bother recapping.
Things I really liked:
I loved Jane. So intelligent, compassionate—she is a great believer in fairness and is often disappointed when life isn’t fair. She is loyal and discrete and, I suspect, lonely. She is also politically naïve and trusting in authority.
I admired Anna Ardito, Jane’s one good friend and polar opposite. Anna works in the garment factories and is cynical, politically savvy, has no use for the rich people that Jane works for. She’s a union worker and a budding anarchist.
I thought the author did a good job of weaving together Jane’s and Anna’s worlds.
I really liked that the author gave Jane several good reasons for investigating Norrie’s murder. I especially enjoyed the scene where Mr Benchley sends her off to Philadelphia to check on something because he can trust her to keep her mouth closed.
I was ambivalent about Michael Behan, the reporter for the gossip rag Town Topics. He does emotionally blackmail Jane into cooperating with him right after Norrie’s murder. He did have his moments of charm and Jane does come to like him. However, Jane comes to the conclusion (erroneous?) that he’s married. Hmmmm… wonder if this will feature in future books.
What I didn’t like:
I had no real problem with the identity of the killer. However, I did feel like the author was guilty of piling on one horror after another when revealing the killer’s backstory. It was all a bit too much.
All in all, a worthwhile entry into the historical mystery field.
Fans of Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight series (Sarah Brandt/Frank Malloy) should take a look. I have the second book on hold at the library and look forward to reading it. -
in fact i give it 3.5/5 stars because it was quite a good historical whodunit - the ambience of the story set in early 20th century was well defined, and i liked Jane Prescott who is not your meek little lady's maid -
the plot was good, with some political background, and there was a twist I did not see coming -
my only regret is that i couldn't find the english version, but the french one was ok -
There were elements of this story I found interesting in the portrayal of NYC in 1910. The main character was not believable for me, a maid who does not have the background or education to measure up to her actions and maneuvers in protecting the privileged in a murder investigation.
-
A definite 3.5! Looking forward to the next entry in this new 1900s NYC mystery series.
-
Jane is cool :).
-
This book was a mystery until the very end. You will be caught off guard and even angry at times. I loved getting to know the main character, she was smart and spunky and everything you want in a main character.
If you like historical fiction with a little bit of a thriller flair, definitely give this one a try. -
I have a new addiction, I didn't expect to fall into it before the end of the year, but here it is : this novel was absolutely great ! Not world-time classic great, however it's historical mystery novel great.
The time period is so very interesting : a few years before the first world war, with anarchists, industrial revolution not far behind, with US "aristocracy" and those willing to enter it. There's barely a hint of romance, the characters are multi-dimensional and yes, you can see that the author has done her historical homework.
What convinced me more and more, apart from the fact that I could hardly keep the book down, is that the ending was so very unexpected and so human.
I need to read the rest ! I have two buddy reads coming up, but I swear I'll do everything I can to put my hands on book #2 soon - highly recommended !
