Book One of P.B. Ryan's #1 bestselling historical mystery series. Long thought to have died during the Civil War, opium-smoking former battle surgeon Will Hewitt is arrested for murder, and it's up to governess Nell Sweeney to prove his innocence. "A beautiful combination of entertaining characters, minute historical research, and a powerful evocation of time and place. I'm very glad there will be more to come." New York Times bestselling author Barbara Hambly "P.B. Ryan makes a stunning debut with Still Life With Murder...I can't wait for the next installment." Bestselling author Victoria Thompson "If you like fast moving, accurately drawn, historical mysteries, you won't go wrong by trying Still Life With Murder." Reviewing the Evidence "Still Life With Murder is sheer perfection... gripping... powerful... unforgettable...You'll know you've read one hell of a story after you turn the last page!" Reader to Reader Reviews A full-length novel of 91,000 words Setting: Post-Civil War Boston Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime as Book One of the Gilded Age mysteries

Still Life with Murder (Gilded Age Mysteries, No. 1)

Literature & Fiction

Ryan, P.B.

United States

BERKLEY

For Nell, tracing the path of a missing woman through the seedy parts of 1868 Boston just may be the death of her.

Murder in a Mill Town (Gilded Age Mysteries, No. 2)

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Mystery

When famous actress Virginia Kimball is brutally murdered and her maid Fiona is accused of the crime, governess Nell Sweeney is called in to prove Fiona's innocence and discovers Virginia's rumored "little red book" that reveals a wealth of suspects. Original.

Death on Beacon Hill (Gilded Age Mysteries, No. 3)

When Wall Street's first "Black Friday" leads to the demise of two acquantances of her employers, governess Nell Sweeney and Dr. Will Hewitt discover that the cause of death was not suicide but murder. Original.

Murder on Black Friday (Gilded Age Mysteries, No. 4)

When her friend, an Irish police officer, goes on the lam after being accused of killing a petty criminal in Boston's North End, Nell Sweeney, a governess for a wealthy family, journeys into a dark underworld of crime and corruption to prove his innocence with the help of her employer. Original.

Murder in the North End (Gilded Age Mysteries, No. 5)

From the Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee-a new Gilded Age mystery. Nell's reputation as a model governess is threatened by a secret from her past-and the possibility that she might be carrying Will Hewitt's child. But these problems pale with what she learns: that the body of her only remaining brother has been discovered- and that he was wanted for murder.

A Bucket of Ashes (Gilded Age Mysteries, No. 6)

Passion and professional life collide head-on in an anthology of sensuous stories about the trials and tribulations of love, in such romantic sagas as LuAnn McLane's Driven, What Happens in Vegas by Patricia Ryan, and Brushstrokes by Toni Blake. Original.

Taking Care of Business

Blake, Toni

McLane, LuAnn

NAL Trade

Solar System

Science & Math

Pesek, L.

Astronomy & Space Science

VIKING

“What a thoroughly charming book! A beautiful combination of entertaining characters, minute historical research, and a powerful evocation of time and place.” —NYT bestselling author Barbara Hambly Boston, 1868: The dawn of the Gilded Age, an era of burgeoning commerce and invention, of unimaginable new fortunes and lavish excess—for some. Born into poverty, young Nell Sweeney scratches by on her wits and little else until fortune blesses her with a position as nursery governess to the fabulously wealthy Hewitts. But she soon learns that ugly secrets lurk beneath the surface of their gold-plated world. The Hewitts’ eldest son, William, a former Union Army battle surgeon and the black sheep of the family, was reported to have died years before in a notorious Confederate prison. But one snowy February afternoon, his parents learn that he is, in fact, still alive—and in jail for having murdered a man while on opium. Infuriated by his son’s deception and convinced of his guilt, August Hewitt forbids his wife from coming to Will’s aid, so she begs Nell to help exonerate him. Nell finds that she must delve into the kind of dark and treacherous underworld she thought she’d left far behind if she is to unearth the truth before the hangman’s noose tightens around William Hewitt’s throat. Still Life with Murder is a #1 national bestseller originally published by Berkley Prime Crime. 91K words. “P.B. Ryan makes a stunning debut with Still Life with Murder, bringing Nineteenth Century Boston alive, from its teeming slums to the mansions on Boston Common, and populating it with a vivid and memorable cast of characters... I couldn't put the book down... I can’t wait for the next installment.” —Bestselling author Victoria Thompson “P.B. Ryan captures an authentic flavor of post-Civil War Boston... The atmosphere is that of The Alienist, but feisty Irish nursemaid Nell Sweeney is a more likable protagonist. I look forward to seeing her in action again.” —New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen “Still Life with Murder is a skillfully written story of intrigue and murder set during Boston’s famous Gilded Age. Nell Sweeney is a winning heroine gifted with common sense, grit, and an underlying poignancy. With its rich sense of place and time and a crisp, intelligent plot, readers will speed through this tale and be clamoring for more.” —Bestselling author Earlene Fowler “Utterly absorbing. Vividly alive characters in a setting so clearly portrayed that one could step right into it. A very clever plot in which each clue is clearly offered and yet the identity of the murderer is a complete surprise.” —Bestselling author Roberta Gellis “If you like fast moving, accurately drawn, historical mysteries, you won’t go wrong by trying Still Life with Murder.” —Reviewing the Evidence “This debut mystery is a winner, with a feisty heroine, a colorful historical backdrop and a strong mystery rife with complexities. An ideal blend of history and mystery.” —RT BookReviews “Still Life with Murder is sheer perfection... gripping... powerful... unforgettable... You’ll know you’ve read one hell of a story after you turn the last page!” —Reader to Reader Reviews

Still Life With Murder (Nell Sweeney Mystery Series)

Hawkley Books

“Nell is one of the strongest, most honorable, and dearest heroines to grace the pages of an amateur sleuth novel.... P.B. Ryan knows how to write a tale that will grip and keep readers’ interest throughout the novel.” —Midwest Book Reviews Nell Sweeney, a young Irish-born governess in post-Civil War Boston, may not have much, but she does possess both a keen mind and a brave heart. As governess to the wealthy Hewitt family, she finds plenty of opportunities to use both—especially when the seamy side of society shows itself... The lowborn Fallons come to Viola Hewitt with a desperate plea for help. Their wayward daughter, Bridget, a pretty young employee of Hewitt Mills and Dye Works, hasn’t been seen for days. Mrs. Fallon, unwilling to believe that Bridget would just run off without a word, fears that she’s come to a bad end—possibly at the hands of her ex-con lover. Viola, confined to a wheelchair, enlists Nell to locate the missing mill girl. Working with Viola’s black sheep son, Will, Nell uncovers a web of schemes and greed and dark obsession… and what she knows may just be the death of her. Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime, Murder in a Mill Town was nominated for the prestigious Mary Higgins Clark Award. 68K words. “Ryan creates characters you care about and a plot that holds your interest as you try to unmask the killer. Lively and intriguing, this is a fast-paced, wonderful read. —RT BookReviews “I love this series. After finishing the book, I had to go back and re-read scenes and I even pulled out the first book to re-read much of Nell and Will’s many conversations again.” —Babbling Book Reviews “The saga style of Catherine Cookson meets the ‘Victorian vices’ world of Anne Perry in this popular whodunit. Much thought and research has gone into making the two faces of mid-19th century Boston come to life, whether the gilded world of the Hewitts or the grubby back streets of the underworld.” —MyShelf.com “Ms. Ryan excels in her ability to show her characters’ complexities. Most are neither good nor bad, but living lives enmeshed with many shades of gray. Add the rich historical detail and readers have an excellent historical mystery with an intriguing heroine.” —The Best Reviews “Nell is an interesting and unique character....The mystery itself is done quite well, with clues pointing to various suspects, and an unexpected resolution....I hope to see much more of Nell in future books.” —The Romance Reader’s Connection “1868 Boston is well portrayed in this series...an enjoyable story...There is no trace of Colonnade Row in what is now Boston’s downtown shopping area, and Charlestown is but a shell of the prosperous city that existed there in the nineteenth century, but this book brings them back into existence. —Reviewing the Evidence

Murder in a Mill Town (Nell Sweeney Mystery Series)

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