Review of Murder in the City of Liberty by Rachel McMillan

About the Book ~

Hamish DeLuca and Regina "Reggie" Van Buren have a new case -- and this one could demand a price they're not willing to pay.

Determined to make a life for herself, Reggie Van Buren bid goodbye to fine china and the man her parents expected her to marry and escaped to Boston. What she never expected to discover was that an unknown talent for sleuthing would develop into a business partnership with the handsome, yet shy, Hamish DeLuca.

Their latest case arrives when Errol Parker, the leading base stealer in the Boston farm leagues, hires Hamish and Reggie to investigate what the Boston police shove off as a series of harmless pranks. Errol believes these are hate crimes linked to the outbreak of war in Europe, and he's afraid for his life. Hamish and Reggie quickly find themselves in the midst of an escalating series of crimes.

When Hamish has his carefully constructed life disrupted by a figure from his past, he is driven to a decision that may sever him from Reggie forever...even more than her engagement to wealthy architect Vaughan Vanderlaan.

For more information about Rachel McMillan and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Murder in the City of Liberty by Rachel McMillan is an enthralling conclusion for the dynamic duo of Van Buren and DeLuca!

The author has certainly proven that she can write a cozy mystery coupled with a sweeping romance (and a few end-of-the-world kisses!), but I think the author's greatest strength is her attention to the ginormous and minuscule details that transport the reader back in history! The author clearly gave writing style, references, characterization, architecture, and social/political climate careful consideration while crafting this intriguing story! While reading, I felt like I was watching a new installment in The Thin Man franchise that had been lost to a time-traveling vortex unfold in my mind's eye!

Three years have passed since the events in book one, Murder at the Flamingo. While I did wish that there had been another book between these two stories and am still pinning for another book to follow this one, I very much enjoyed the established and angsty relationship between Hamish and Reggie in this volume. Hamish is an endearing character who struggles with an anxiety disorder, and Reggie is the strong, independent, and headstrong heroine. While both Hamish and Reggie make some foolish mistakes with dire consequences as a result of immaturity, this not only made them more relatable but also showed their steps of growth in their journey. Threads of racism, justice, empathy, and forgiveness are woven into their journeys in a lasting way, like a bell that rings of truth for all of Hamish and Reggie's readers!

Three Stars ~ Murder in the City of Liberty is a gripping mystery and romance that sweeps readers to days gone by! Murder in the City of Liberty by Rachel McMillan is the second Van Buren and DeLuca Mystery, and to prevent confusion, I would recommend reading the first book, Murder at the Flamingo, because there's some crucial information there!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan

About the Book ~

“Maybe it was time to land straight in the middle of the adventure…”

Hamish DeLuca has spent most of his life trying to hide the anxiety that appears at the most inopportune times -- including during his first real court case as a new lawyer. Determined to rise above his father’s expectations, Hamish runs away to Boston where his cousin, Luca Valari, is opening a fashionable nightclub in Scollay Square.  When he meets his cousin's “right hand man,” Reggie, Hamish wonders if his dreams for a more normal life might be at hand.

Regina “Reggie” Van Buren, heir to a New Haven fortune, has fled fine china, small talk, and the man her parents expect her to marry. Determined to make a life as the self-sufficient city girl she’s seen in her favorite Jean Arthur and Katharine Hepburn pictures, Reggie runs away to Boston, where she finds an easy secretarial job with the suave Luca Valari. But as she and Hamish work together in Luca’s glittering world, they discover a darker side to the smashing Flamingo nightclub.
When a corpse is discovered at the Flamingo, Reggie and Hamish quickly learn there is a vast chasm between the haves and the have-nots in 1937 Boston—and that there’s an underworld that feeds on them both. As Hamish is forced to choose between his conscience and loyalty to his beloved cousin, the unlikely sleuthing duo work to expose a murder before the darkness destroys everything they’ve worked to build.

For more information about Rachel McMillan and her books, connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

My Thoughts ~

Next time I go to Boston, I'll see Hamish and Reggie. I'll see them everywhere. I'll see them at the Old North Church in the moonlight. I'll see them riding down the sidewalk on Hamish's bicycle, Reggie perched precariously on the handlebars. I'll see them blissfully savoring each bite of cannoli.

Oh, the cannoli!!! Was I the only one who closed this beautiful book (inside and out) desperately craving cannoli? No? Okay. :-)

Anyways, Murder at the Flamingo is like...cannoli. Delicious. A creamy romance stuffed into the crunchy shell of murder and mystery. Murder at the Flamingo is a clean read, and while none of the characters are overtly labeled as "Christian," the Christian themes are strong in the story. Much of the story sets up a grander mystery that I am eager discover, a mystery that arcs across the whole series! I also adored exploring one of my favorite cities through the lens of the 1930's! Rachel McMillan continues to be truly exemplary at immersing readers into former eras thanks to her keen eye for those special details that make a story come alive.

Reggie is a brave and clever woman, discovering who she really is away from the glitz and glam of her old life. I loved her spunk! Hamish is brilliant and endearing, discovering that his greatest weakness is actually his greatest strength. Rachel McMillan uses Murder at the Flamingo as a springboard to end the stigma against mental illness, using her own personal experiences as fodder for Hamish's journey. So many people, myself included, have fought against mental illnesses, such as panic attacks and anxiety disorders. This was truly an informative story that will fight for the good of many!

Four Stars ~ An excellent start to what is sure to be a positively radiant series! Murder at the Flamingo is the first book in Rachel McMillan's new Van Buren and DeLuca Mystery Series, which is a spin-off of Rachel McMillan's popular Herringford and Watts Mysteries Series. While you don't need to read the previous series to enjoy Murder at the Flamingo, there are a lot of fabulous Easter eggs (I need some more details about Maisie, please and thank you!) for those who have. I am sooo looking forward to the second book, Murder in the City of Liberty, releasing May 28th, 2019!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

 

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!