Eighteen-year-old Nell Doherty is an unusual and welcome candidate for a detective; she is daughter of the Marshall of Bodie, California, is intrigued by Sherlock Holmes' methods, has ambition and drive, and though quick to judgment, is analytical and determined. She's also got a prosthetic, and has difficulty moving quickly or safely, particularly over snow or sawdust covered floors. Both of these surfaces become important as Nell decides to investigate the shooting murder of her Marshall father, while others search for his missing deputy.

Though several people in the town feel very strongly that a woman can't be a deputy, and there are difficult situations for her to navigate, whether physical, or conversational, Nell keeps finding ways to move forward, finding clues with her best friend Rags (Wu Chao) a half-Chinese, half-Irish young man who lives in the tiny Chinese quarter of the town.

Author John Edward Mullen sets up two mysteries, and significant hurdles for Nell to get past, including her mother who is deeply opposed to her daughter's desire to become a Pinkerton detective and practically disowns her for taking on the mantle of deputy. Though Nell fixates on one man as her father's murderer, she does pivot when necessary, and finds inventive ways to deal with difficult and dangerous people. Nell is such a pleasure to follow as she maneuvers around town, whether on foot with her crutch or on her horse, intent on finding justice for her father, no matter what others say.

I am a sucker for a western, and even more so for main characters who are such an intriguing mix of tough, curious, compassionate, and innovative. I enjoyed this story a lot, and look forward to Nell's next adventure.

Thank you to Netgalley and to BooksGoSocial for this ARC in exchange for my review.

My favorite historical novels are those that truly evoke - in description, dialogue and atmosphere - the period and place in which they are set.
This isn’t one of those.
However, it’s a very good version of what I call a ‘period TV’ historical novel - a novel that has a thoroughly modern mindset, but takes place in the past. To me, they remind me of a good period TV show. This one was a lot of fun, with interesting characters, a decent mystery, and a great protagonist. As a bonus, that protagonist is disabled. Feisty period females trying to throw off the racist and sexist shackles of their era are a dime a dozen. Feisty disabled folk doing the same are a lot less so. I liked Nell and I was rooting for her. I’m looking forward to reading her next adventure.

Eighteen-year-old Nell Doherty dreams of one day working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency. After her father, the sheriff of Bodie, is shot during the Chinese New Year celebration, Nell is appointed marshal so that she can look into her father’s murder. Her half-Chinese, half-Irish friend Rags works as her assistant in a pairing that is both strange and unseemly to the small town’s residents. Nell is convinced she knows who murdered her father, but, as she digs deeper into the shooting, she discovers that there are other serious crimes taking place in Bodie and that it’s up to her to stop the perpetrators.

NELL: MARSHAL OF BODIE was an interesting store. The setting—a mining town in the Wild West—was what compelled me to check out the novel. Nell is a likeable and sympathetic character, though a bit immature and impetuous. As a young woman in the late 1800s, she already has her gender working against her as she pursues a career in law enforcement. Her wooden leg and the issues it causes seemed like an additional but unnecessary handicap.

The 18-year-old Nell Doherty has her heart set on becoming a Pinkerton agent. Despite losing a limb as a child in an accident, Nell is still capable of riding and remains true to her beliefs. After assailants kill her father, the town marshal, no man in town is willing to take on the job of acting deputy. Nell's only hope is for the court to appoint her as a deputy. The locals are opposed to a woman as deputy, much less one with a peg leg. But because no men are willing to take the chance, the judge appoints Nell. Will Nell find the people responsible for her father's death? Will she, against all odds, make it as a Pinkerton agent?

Author John Edward Mullen gives a detailed and realistic account of life in Bodie, California, during the gold rush of the late 19th century. The sense of urgency and danger created by mine explosions piqued my interest. The discovery of gold in a frontier village provided a concrete backdrop against which I could easily imagine the events of the novel. Mullen has begun a fantastic new series. I look forward to reading more tales that feature sacrifice, hope, and mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and Murders in Time Press, I was able to read an advanced copy of this novel.

The book "Nell: Marshall of Bodie" is sure to appeal to a wide audience. It includes, but is not limited to, heist thrillers, crime action adventures, historical fiction, women sleuths, westerns, and cozy mysteries. Simply put, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading.

What an amazing combination! A western mystery set in Bodie, CA in 1892 and with a spunky girl who is determined to become a Pinkerton agent.

When the chance comes to show her skills when a murder happens, she steps up! Wonderful characters and this setting make you feel you are there!! Cannot wait for more!

historical-fiction, historical-research, history-and-culture, new-series, first-in-series, 1890s, ya-only-means-no-gratuitous-erotica, robbery, law-enforcement, western, friendship, family, chinese-customs, investigations, mining, murder

Nell enjoyed teaching her Chinese friends how to read and write but she really wanted to be a Pinkerton. Her father supported the idea, but her mother was sure it would be a disaster because Nell has depended on a wooden leg since a wagon accident when she was twelve. Then there is a robbery and more, culminating in the death of her father, the local marshal. The pervading attitudes of the time really make things difficult for both Nell and her Chinese friends. With the death of her father, she gets a chance to prove herself. Excellent read!
I requested and received an EARC from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley. Thank you!

After Nells Sheriff Father is gunned down she and her Irish Chinese best friend set out to find the killer. They manage to get deputized despite Nell being a woman and having only one leg. Good murder mystery set in the Wild West.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and having visited Bodie several years ago I found it easy to visualise the setting. Nell finds herself deputised after her father, the Marshall of Bodie is shot. Bodie is a remote and lawless mining community, isolated and in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Nell has ambitions to be a Pinkerton detective, but her gender and disability could hold her back. The opportunity of bring deputy Marshall could give her a chance to prove herself - it could also land her in a whole lot of trouble, I loved Nell - a tough and believable protagonist fighting against all the prejudices against her,
Great book - I can’t wait for the next one,