DEATH OF AN AMERICAN BEAUTY Jane Prescott, Book 3

This genteel historical mystery makes a charming audio companion if you don't mind a few bodies in the alley. Jane Prescott, a purehearted orphan who works as a lady's maid in Gilded Age New York, is outraged that her sainted uncle, who runs a shelter for recovering ladies of the evening, is suspected of involvement in the murders. In her quest to clear him, Jane attracts the admiration of a young pianist/songwriter (think Irving Berlin) who opens just the right doors for her. Fredericks fills her tale with intriguing social history, including the much documented but still shockingly overt racist and sexist attitudes of the day. Stephanie Willis's narration begins with just the right naïve tone, then gains power as the story darkens. B.G. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2020]