From the back cover of the paperback edition (copyright (c) 2005 Berkley Prime Crime, a division of Penguin Group, Inc.):
September 24, 1869. The Gilded Age loses some of its glitter when the gold market crashes, wiping out fortunes and dreams in a matter of minutes. But whip-smart Boston governess Nell Sweeney has found that in the rarefied world of the rich, power and dark secrets go hand in hand...
When two acquaintances of the Hewitts, Nell's wealthy employers, are found dead on Wall Street's first "Black Friday," most people assume they committed suicide after being financially ruined. Yes upon closer examination, Nell's trusted friend, Dr. Will Hewitt, suspects that one of the men was actually murdered.
With little more than her Irish wit and indomitable will to guide her, Nell sets out to help Will find the culprit. But as the investigation progresses, the pair discovers that the two men were linked by something more valuable, and far more treacherous, than gold...
"On Sept. 29, 1869, the gold market crumbles, and fortunes are lost in a matter of hours. When the bodies of two men, wealthy Boston Brahmins Noah Bassett and Philip Munro, are found, it's assumed that they committed suicide over their financial losses. But when Harvard professor and forensic scientist Will Hewitt autopsies the victims, he discovers that Munro was murdered. Dr. Hewitt needs help navigating the city and its complex society to find the killer. He turns to governess Nell Sweeney, who understands the world of the rich and how their power can be used to hide their secrets. The investigation leads to the conclusion that these men were concerned more with keeping some things hidden than with the loss of their money. How they were tied together makes for a chilling climax to a mesmerizing mystery. Not only does Ryan provide readers with a tightly wound, suspenseful novel peopled with multidimensional characters, she writes about an era whose problems mirror our own. This is a historical period she knows and brings to life so clearly that readers are totally immersed. Nell is an ideal heroine: smart, intrepid and human. Be on the lookout for her return." Romantic Times BookReviews
"Nell and Will are a confirmed pair of amateur sleuths in this fourth entry in the popular Gilded Age series, and this makes the setting perhaps slightly cozier, but as usual, P B Ryan is spot on with her period detail. This is the best part about the series for me, as these books really do open a window into how both the high and low society of Boston operated. She thankfully doesn't shrink (Anne Perry style) from showing it, warts and all...probably the best entry yet." MyShelf.com
"As always, Nell and Will's predicament tugs at my heart. Loved it!" Babbling Book Reviews
"The author has an amazing grasp of life during this period of history. Each detail is crafted to let the reader feel immersed in the time; from the major historical events, to the minutiae of everyday life. These facts are effortlessly woven into the overall narrative." The Romance Reader's Connection
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