Ok for a quick, mindless read but much too coincidental and surface to be called "good reading". One thing that's super bugging me about this series is that Molly finds herself in jail multiple times in the expanse of just a week or two. I highly doubt this is historically accurate---especially for a woman who looks of a better-than-rabble sort of class. In every case, of course, she struggles with whether or not to get Sullivan involved. ...and when he shows up, he gives her the same stretched out speech about losing another of her cat lives. This, coupled with the extremely fickle "romantic" heart of an otherwise intelligent Molly, made this one quite the yawner. ( )

For the Love of Mike
3.5 Stars

Hired to investigate a case of industrial espionage, Molly Murphy soon finds herself ensconced in a sweatshop facing the tyranny of the overseers, the threats of street gangs and the workings of union organizers. When a friend is murdered, Molly must sort out who amongst her enemies and allies is the killer.

The mystery in this installment is relatively minor and takes a back seat to the focus on the plight of the garment workers in turn of the century New York. The historical details are interesting and Bowen's research is excellent, particularly the descriptions of the awful working conditions in the sweatshops as well as the inclusion of a fire, which is obviously based on factual events.

Molly is an endearing heroine and her detecting skills are improving. Nevertheless, she does not always think about the consequences of her actions, which often land her in serious trouble.

Molly's relationship with Daniel Sullivan had such potential at the start of this series, but has taken an awkward turn with the revelation of his fiancee, whom he is reluctant to leave. This does not reflect well on him at all as a love interest and it will take a great deal for him to redeem himself. That said, it is good to see Molly stand up for herself in this regard.

All in all, a good addition to the series and I look forward to more of Molly's cases. ( )

I really like the Molly Murphy character. This is number three in the series and I think this is my favorite thus far. ( )

Molly Murphy is forging her way into becoming a private detective. An unheard of life choice for a woman in 1901 New York, especially when she’s a fairly new arrival from Ireland.

She is finishing up a case of a possible philandering husband. It is not a favourite job, but it does help pay the bills. As a way to generate more cases, she advertises her service for reuniting families living on opposite sides of the Atlantic. He ad in the Dublin Times newspaper brings her a letter from a family in Ireland hoping to find their daughter who ran away with one of the estate workers, to get married in America. It is the type of case she has was wanting.

In the meantime, she has also taken on a case for the owner of a garment factory. It seems there is a thief in his company. His original dress designs show up in stores a week before they have been sent to the buyers, sporting his competitor’s label.
These three cases keep Molly very busy and also take her to the seamier parts of town; Tammany Hall gangs, factory sweatshops, the docks and fish market. Places a lady shouldn’t be.

Reading of this era re-enforces how difficult life was for women and immigrants. Mem felt women were the ‘weaker’ sex, even though it was the women who did the heavier work. Immigrants had no rights, so the jobs available would be low in pay and status. Life was not easy.

Molly’s determinedness to see things through and help those who need it carries the plot. Also her rashness in actions that can get her into some tight spots. ( )

In this installment, Molly has two business opportunities come up at the same time: find a young woman from Dublin who has run away to the new world with the family's groom at the request of her father and go undercover as a piece worker in the garment business to discover who has been stealing their designs. She hopes to be able to solve both cases without help of police Captain Daniel Sullivan who says he loves her but is engaged to someone else. Sid, Gus and Ryan O'Neill make appearances in this book also. ( )