Stephen Spotswood's "Murder Crossed Her Mind" is a captivating and engaging mystery novel that plunges readers into an intriguing and complex plot. Spotswood expertly crafts a story filled with suspense, wit, and a touch of noir, all while developing a strong, unique protagonist who uses her intellect and intuition to solve crimes. Set in a richly described world that vividly captures the era and its atmosphere, this novel is perfect for fans of historical mysteries and strong female leads. The book's clever twists and turns keep readers guessing until the very end, making "Murder Crossed Her Mind" a must-read for mystery enthusiasts seeking depth and intrigue in their reading.

I'm a bit behind with reviewing (the end of 2023 was pretty intense work-wise and we are in the middle of planning a house move) so only just catching up with the latest Pentecost and Parker mystery.

For those who haven't come across these books yet (and if you haven't, please go back and read them in order) Willowjean "Will" Parker and Lillian Pentecost solve crimes in postwar New York City. Will is a runaway who worked for a time in the circus: Lillian is the city's foremost private detective.

In Murder Crossed Her Mind, the two investigate the disappearance of Vera Bodine, a retired legal secretary who has a preternatural memory but has become a "shut in" - a hoarder who refuses to leave her apartment and lives surrounded by years of clutter. Bodine's only friend, a slippery defence lawyer who gave Lillian a hard time on the witness stand in an earlier book, begs the women to look for Vera but at first they're not inclined to accommodate him. In a slick opening section to the book, Will, suffering after being assaulted and Lillian, struggling with her MS, spend a gruelling 24 hours establishing that there is something to investigate - all of this absolutely top-notch procedural work, a joy to read, really.

If Bodine has suffered harm, it soon becomes clear that there may be many motives - Vera's prodigious memory may mean that she retains information from her legal career, but it also seems she assisted the FBI in hunting Nazi spies. She's dropped a hint that she may want to report a crime. And then there are other suspects, closer to home, like the mysterious buyer who wants to take over the apartment building...

Pentecost and Parker navigate all of this with aplomb, also negotiating their own ongoing cases running on from previous novels, some of which seem to pose threats that I'm sure will come back to bite them in future books. Will's assurance and independence continue to increase (as I noted in reviewing the previous book, Secrets Typed in Blood) but here she's brought down a notch or two by Lillian - I love the relationship between the two women, both strong and complex personalities, both pointedly not saying a lot that they might. Indeed I'll go further and say that for all the genuinely intriguing detective stuff, it's that relationship which is at the heart of these books. Spotswood is taking his time showing it evolve, and I am in no rush for that: I want to enjoy what happens at a decent pace (so while it was great to get two instalments in 2023, I'd prefer these books to continue at one a year!)

This is the second book I’ve read featuring the New York, female private detectives Pentecost and Parker and this time they are hired by defence lawyer, Mr Whitsun to find the elderly reclusive hoarder Vera Bodine. Pentecost’s brilliant mind and Parker’s street smart leg work the two seek to find Bodine, before it’s too late. Has Vera’s work in the war for the FBI using her photographic memory placed her in danger or is there some other reason she has disappeared. Meanwhile Parker must investigate her own secret mugging and Pentecost continues her running battle with Murder Officianado Quincannon.

As with the first book I read, there is not a single story, but threads that run between the books in the series, and a couple of other tales which may be linked to the main story or may not. Although each book is a stand alone, I would recommend reading them in sequence to get the best out of the threads. Would I read more ? Absolutely. I want to know more about these two remarkable women who combine compassion for those in need, with an icy determination to identify and bring to justice the guilty party or parties

The plot in this novel is well-constructed and offers a satisfying resolution that wraps up all the loose ends. However I really didn't care for it and struggled to finish. The character's just did not appeal to me personally and did not keep my interest but this is just my opinion. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review

I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done an amazing job at creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society. The characters focus on themes of growing, self-discovery and confronting personal and social problems. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. Nothing beats a good murder mystery!

Murder Crossed Her Mind is the fourth book in the brilliant Pentecost and Parker 1940's New York private investigator series.

This time, the intrepid duo are investigating what has happened to the gloriously-named Perseverance "Vera" Bodine, a retired legal secretary with a legendary memory. She doesn't usually leave her apartment, but she's mysteriously disappeared. Has her knowledge proved too dangerous to someone and did they act to silence her?

The story is really engaging, with lots of information about the residents of Vera's building, an FBI raid and a side-plot where Will seeks revenge on a boardwalk mugger. Five stars from me!

Besides that ending having my heart go screeeeecchhhh what? (and now I want the next book stat so I can find out what's happening), and the purely entertaining Whitsun being a comic foil to Will and Pentecost, and oh, also the sweet subplot of Will missing her girlfriend, and oh, also the entertaining story of a shut-in who ended up being murdered....wait, wait, wait....there really wasn't anything bad about this book. I enjoyed all the subplots and the big plots. I also enjoyed seeing Will's relationship with her girlfriend flourish. And not going to lie, I hope those two make it. It's so heartwarming to see Will learn and grow into a relationship, and all you want to do is cheerlead her and champion them to the moon and back. And in the murder realm I loved that the story ending actually took me by surprise (no spoilers!) and I loved that Spotswood plays with overdone themes and cliches in such a way as to give them a new take that makes you want to keep reading.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of Murder Crossed Her Mind, the fourth novel to feature PI Lilian Pentecost and her assistant Willowjean Parker, set in New York in 1947.

Pentecost and Parker are hired to find Vera Bodine, an elderly recluse who has gone missing. Vera has an eidetic memory, so there is no shortage of possibilities, unfortunately few clues. They may not have their minds fully on the job as Will is chasing a couple of con artists using her identity and Ms Pentecost is being threatened with her past by Jessup Quincannon, an unscrupulous, millionaire collector of murder memorabilia.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder Crossed Her Mind, which is a fun read with a good plot and several twists. It is told entirely from Will’s point of view in the manner of recounting the case, as a nod, I think, to Dr Watson. She has a caustic take on life, so her recounting is laced with humour and a certain amount of violence.

I have come to love this series, which has its roots firmly in the hard boiled novels of the era, but with modern twists, like Will’s sexuality and the fact that it is women doing the detecting. There is a trace of Nero Wolfe in Lillian Pentecost, who does the brain work, but Willowjean Parker is all action, fighting with mobsters and even an FBI agent. They are united in their distrust of most detectives and are selective about what they tell them.

The plot held my interest from start to finish. Vera Bodine had been acting out of character in the few weeks before her disappearance, like leaving her apartment, so the ladies are interested in what was on her mind. Was it a recent murder she asked a lawyer friend to look in to? Was it her war work? Was it something else? They cover a lot of ground before the aha moment and what a moment it is. They manage to make a case out of almost nothing. I must admit that I expected a twist during the final confrontation as I had someone else in mind, but that twist comes later and it’s a cracker.

The novel ends in a great cliffhanger that has me wanting to read the next novel right now.

Murder Crossed Her Mind is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Stephen Spotswood's latest offering in his marvellous historical crime series, set in New York City in 1947, is a smashing and humdinger of an addition, featuring the genius PI Lilian Pentecost, being slowed down by the progression of MS, not that this affects her sharp, brilliant, and incisive mind, and her feisty and fearless assistant, Willowjean 'Will' Parker. It opens with Will in trouble, so ashamed of being mugged that she refuses to disclose this to LP, determined to chase down the culprits herself. In the meantime, the agency has a new and what will turn out to be one of their most complex of cases as the best NY defence attorney, Forest Whitsun, wants them to find the elderly Perseverance 'Vera' Bodine, a shut in hoarder, who has gone missing.

Vera is no ordinary woman, she has a 'kodak' memory, she forgets absolutely nothing and no-one, a quality that proved to be lucrative for her past employers, John Boekbinder, Clark Gimbal and Ken Devine, a exclusive law firm. Vera resides in an apartment at the Baxter Arms, leading them to try and speak to all who live there, as they find themselves overwhelmed by Vera's super crammed place with its nauseous aroma of lavender. A number of areas are identified as worthy of exploration, this includes looking into the brutal murder of Julia Fennel and a pawned bracelet, and Nazis in America who had operated during WW2, where Vera worked in the national interest with the FBI. Additionally, a shaken Lilian finds herself threatened by the creepy but powerful billionaire, Jessup Quincannon, who has unearthed personal secrets from her past.

This is a jam packed book, compulsive, and intricately plotted by the author, wonderful storytelling that is stylishly narrated by Will, whose life is on the line on numerous occasions as she tangles with mobsters, murderers, FBI agents and more. Her personal life with crime writer, Holly Quick, has developed, leaving her struggling to cope her feelings with Quick away, and as Will is to learn to her cost, there is little about her that escapes Lilian's eagle eye. I am particularly looking forward to the next addition of the series after the shocking cliffhanger at the end. Fans of the series will likely love this, and if you have yet to read this fantastic series, I strongly urge you to try it. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Having read a previous book in the series I came into it knowing what to expect, and I wasn’t disappointed. The mystery kept me guessing until the end, and I appreciated that it was yet again a clean read, though did wish there were less romantic innuendo. I also wished there was more story given to the lead detective, rather than it all solely being about her assistant, though I think this is on purpose so as to make her more mysterious. The story did end on a cliffhanger, though the initial mystery itself was wrapped up by the end of the book, so it can be read as a standalone, though the ending will make you want to read the next book