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City of Darkness and Light: A Molly Murphy Mystery

Review

City of Darkness and Light: A Molly Murphy Mystery

Even though Molly Sullivan, formerly Molly Murphy, isn't solving the mysteries she so loves to untangle, she's happy and content. After all, marriage to Daniel Sullivan, a New York City police captain, and caring for their baby, Liam, keep her busy these days. Still, a girl can't help wishing for a little excitement now and again. Unfortunately, that excitement comes in the form of an explosion that destroys the Sullivan homestead and endangers the lives of Daniel, Molly and Liam.

Discovered to be a retaliatory strike made by the Cosa Nostra, the Italian mafia, against Daniel for a recent arrest, the explosion has devastating consequences. Realizing that it could be the first of many attempts from the mafia to get even with the police, Daniel makes the decision to send Molly and Liam far from home to protect those he holds most dear.

"In spite of the severity of Molly's situation, it's a fun romp that allows her to cross paths with several famous names from the art world during that period of time."

Fortunately for Molly, she's been invited to join her dear friends Sid and Gus in Paris where they've temporarily relocated to further Gus's fledgling art career. However, when she arrives in Paris after a long, arduous journey on the high seas, Sid and Gus are nowhere to be found. At first, Molly is only mildly concerned, but as the days pass, she becomes alarmed, knowing that Sid and Gus wouldn't have abandoned her and Liam in a city with which she's unfamiliar. When an acquaintance of the ladies, the famous American Impressionist painter Reynold Bryce, is murdered, Molly is afraid that her friends have also met with foul play. She immediately embarks on a mission to locate her pals and ensure that they're alive and well.

During the course of her investigation, Molly encounters a blast from the past, one that could see her arrested and returned to Ireland, the land of her birth. During a thwarted rape attempt years ago, Molly defended herself, severely injuring her attacker, Justin Hartley, the son of a wealthy landowner. Now, Justin and Molly's former schoolmate, Henrietta, are in Paris, and their presence could mean the end to Molly's freedom if they spot her.

As Molly continues to navigate the streets of Paris and the burgeoning art scene in the hopes of finding Gus and Sid, danger lurks around every corner. Without Daniel at her side, Molly feels more vulnerable than ever and tries not to let worry about her husband's safety back home overwhelm her. Will she locate Gus and Sid and get to the bottom of the mystery before she has to return home? Or will she sail back to America no wiser than when she arrived?

This 13th installment in Rhys Bowen’s award-winning series thrusts Molly Sullivan into action almost from the first page and never lets up throughout the novel. In spite of the severity of Molly's situation, it's a fun romp that allows her to cross paths with several famous names from the art world during that period of time. Readers will enjoy tagging along on this trip of a lifetime with Molly and Liam.

Reviewed by Amie Taylor on March 14, 2014

City of Darkness and Light: A Molly Murphy Mystery
by Rhys Bowen