From the back cover of the paperback edition (copyright (c) 2005 Berkley Prime Crime, a division of Penguin Group, Inc.):
Boston, 1869: As governess to the wealthy Hewitts, Irish immigrant Nell Sweeney belongs to no particular caste; hers is halfway between her brethren and the Brahmin. But now, a double murder involves both maid and mistress, and it will take cooperation by rich and poor alike to solve it.
All of Boston is talking about the murder of Virginia Kimball. Beautiful and sensuous, the actress had many prestigious men wrapped around her bejeweled little finger. Shot in her townhouse, Mrs. Kimball's corpse is mere feet from the body of her maid, Fiona. When investigators find her mistress's diamond necklaces in the girl's fists, they can only guess Mrs. Kimball caught Fiona trying to steal the jewels and the two traded shots.
Fiona's uncle, the Hewitts' driver, begs the household governess, Nell Sweeney, to use her connections and clear his dear niece's name. Nell knows there must be more to the story, especially when she learns about Mrs. Kimball's "little red book." Now petrified men all over Boston, once blackmailed by the actress herself, will do whatever it takes to keep this log of trysts shut. And as Nell embroils herself in high society scandal, she must remember her place...or end up like Fiona.
"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
"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
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