Murder at Half Moon Gate

By: Andrea Penrose

Narrated by: James Cameron Stewart

Length: 12 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

When Lord Wrexford discovers the body of a gifted inventor in a dark London alley, he promptly alerts the watchman and lets the authorities handle the matter. But Wrexford soon finds himself drawn into the murder investigation when the inventor's widow begs for his assistance, claiming the crime was not a random robbery. It seems her husband's designs for a revolutionary steam-powered engine went missing the night of his death. The plans could be worth a fortune...and very dangerous in the wrong hands.

Joining Wrexford in his investigation is Charlotte Sloane, who uses the pseudonym A. J. Quill to publish her scathing political cartoons. Her extensive network of informants is critical for her work, but she doesn't mind tapping that same web of spies to track down an elusive killer. Each suspect - from ambitious assistants to rich investors, and even the inventor's widow - is entwined in a maze of secrets and lies that leads Wrexford and Sloane down London's most perilous stews and darkest alleyways.

©2018 Andrea DaRif (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Historical Mystery Meets 19th Century Science

You don't have to be a scientist or an historian to enjoy the Wrexford and Sloane mysteries. The protagonists, a haughty and sometimes rude aristocrat and a down-and-out widow who's taken in two street ragamuffins (the Weasels), make for an entertaining duo. The mystery is well done and has more than a hint of thriller. And the narrator is fabulous. Truly an enjoyable listen.

Murder at Half Moon Gate

I truly love this series. All of the characters are interesting and fun. I look forward to hearing more about Charlotte and Rexford!!!!

I love a mystery that peaks interest in a topic

Great characters with a mystery that has you looking at everyone to find the guilty party. But what I enjoyed most about this book is how well it provided depth to the personality of Raven. Given time and education, Raven may knock Sherlock off the "greatest detective" podium.

Slow story with exciting finish

Best analogy would be a restaurant meal with a decent-but-not-outstanding main course, but dessert proves a knock out! The first book in a series is usually more set up, and less tension, but not here. Good sequel, characters are developed well, especially young Raven.

I was a bit concerned that there are only two books, and none on a forthcoming list that I could find. However, at the author's website she explains that the third manuscript has just been sent off to the publisher, so she's hopeful for it to be printed sometime next year. Yay!

Loved Book 2

So interesting to have the same characters in this story. Love the street urchins.
Although the time period is so different from present, we still have our oligarchs while they had their aristocracy. Not much changed other than technology which is not always welcomed.

Good plotting, but...

I enjoyed this title and her previous one (Murder on Black Swan Lane) with mixed feelings. Pluses: interesting plots and an intelligent female protagonist. Minuses: using the same phrases over and over and over. This second book has character development, however they often spout the same exact words and it is tiresome. Yes, characters are consistent, but one needn't portray similar moments of doubt or sparky energy repetitiously. And some of the language used sounds quite contemporary as distinct from the more appropriate period language she uses. Perhaps we will see her grow in dialogue skill. I hope so; her ideas are interesting.

A Happy Surprise

At first the plotting feels a little clumsy and Wrexford's continuing arrogance is wearing but -- as the story moves on, the plots carry themselves better. Also, the characters have charm, character interplay has humor and warmth and some very interesting and surprising history is woven smoothly into the whole. There is the necessary conflict, danger and a plot with dastardly deeds and several viable suspects to keep us guessing and, by the end, instead of feeling dragged through the dirt, it all left me liking the characters and feeling warmed by them.

Enjoyable story, narrarator with odd rhythm

This is my second of this series and I enjoyed the twists and turns of both stories. The characters, the time period, and the mystery are very nice.

I hope there's a third at some point and will probably listen to it, but I do hope they change the narrator. Though a bit more inflection in his voice would be helpful, it's ok. What becomes annoying is this odd rhythm where he pauses in the middle of sentences, particularly when characters are speaking to one another. A sound engineer that would provide a decent pause when we move from following one character to another would also be helpful--but that one is not the narrator's fault.

As entertains as the last.

Enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting both in the plot and the interaction of the characters. I look forward to seeing what members of this group of.Characters move on to the next novel. While I realize this is not some highly intellectual novel it is enjoyable for me to listen to at times when a good relax and distraction is more than the best medicine. I guess some would not, but I really do like the weighty tone of the narrator Stewart. I have liked him in other mysteries and I think he can pull of general feelings of darkness and menace very well. I hope he will stay on with this satisfying series.

MULTI GENRE

MURDER AT HALF MOON GATE (A WREXFORD & SLOANE MYSTERY) BY ANDREA PENROSE is the second book in the series,so of course I read it before reading the first. Which did not matter as the story could carry itself and I could follow the plot easy enough. Very strong characters and each and ,in their own rights could be just another person along the gaslight streets of London. Believe it or not, I picked this Audible book to round out one of their sales. I bought it based on the blurb. I am overjoyed I did!

MURDER AT HALF MOON GATE is what I call a cross genre book as it can appeal to we amature mystery sleuths ,or those who go for a bit of romance or those lovers of the London of old. Take you pick, the book has it all!

The plot: Lord Wrexford, while on his way home from a gambling hell, comes across yet another body. And of course, Mrs Sloane has to get involved as well. While Wrexford is telling Mrs.Sloane to keep her pretty nose out of this murder,Mrs Sloane, along with her two "weasels" are searching for clues in the dangerous back alleys of London.

My only minus on this tome ,is it was twelve hours long and in my humble opinion some of the dialog could have been omitted by the reader. Especially when he said "puff , puff" of a pipe and the clang, clangs. reading that was just a bit too much. It detracted from the reading and lets face it,to me sounded totally ridiculous!