Sarah agrees to attend a seance with her mother, who was invited by a friend. The session includes a possible connection to Maggie, Sarah's sister who died in childbirth and gives Mrs. Decker an opportunity to apologize for not being there for Maggie. While Sarah believes the session is bogus, she hopes that it will help her mother move on. Little does she know that Mrs. Decker continues to attend until one of the participants is murdered.

Mrs Decker has the presence of mind to protect herself by using Sarah's name and getting Malloy involved. All evidence points to Madame Serafina's lover, Nicola, but Serafina refuses to accept the facts. When she identifies a badly beaten body as Nicola, the case seems to be at an end, but Serafina has one more trick up her sleeve and calls a new seance with all of the living members there for the "spirits" to reveal the true murderer, but will everyone, including Maeve, survive this final revealing?

Murder at a seance in which Sarah?s mother is present.

Murder on Waverly Place
3 Stars

When Sarah's mother, Elizabeth Decker, becomes involved with a psychic medium and finds herself at the scene of a murder, she immediately calls on Detective Frank Malloy for assistance. But how will Sarah and Malloy uncover the killer when all of the suspects at the seance were holding hands?

Unfortunately, this is one of the weakest installments in the series. It took longer to get into the story as the mystery isn't all that interesting and the characters are very unappealing. Moreover, both Sarah and her mother behave in ways that are inconsistent with their characterization. It is difficult to believe that the sensible and practical Mrs. Decker would become involved with a psychic, and that Sarah would invite this obvious charlatan into her home (especially considering past events).

The most disappointing aspect of this book and the previous one is the direction Thompson appears to be moving in with regard to Maeve's character. She seems to be removing Sarah from the action and having Maeve take her place, which is not at all appealing.

Finally, there is no development in Sarah and Malloy's slow burn romance, and it is more than past time for something more definite to happen here.

Hopefully, the next installment will be better. ( )

This is the eleventh book in the Gaslight Mysteries series by Victoria Thompson. Midwife Sarah Brandt’s sister, Maggie died many years ago after giving birth to her son. She had been disowned by their father who subsequently ruined her husband’s chances of getting a job that could support them. Mrs Decker, Sarah’s mother, has never forgiven herself for the role she played in her daughter’s death. Now, one of her friends has introduced her to Madame Serafina and the world of seances. Unwilling to go without support, and desperate not to involve her husband, she asks Sarah to join her. Sarah is suspicious from the beginning but feels better going with her mother to make certain she won't be taken advantage of.

I like the series and while figuring out who the murderer was is not the hardest thing to do, in this case I couldn't figure out how the crime was actually committed. I also love seeing Sarah's mother, Mrs. Decker, transition over the past few books. She's an engaging character and the perfect person to focus this story around.

Murder on Waverly Place is a very entertaining entry in this series. I always enjoy the exchanges between Sarah and New York City policeman Frank Malloy when they solve a mystery together. The author provides historical details that add authenticity to the story. I enjoy the secondary characters, particularly Maeve, and hope Frank finds a way to use her in his future investigations. The supernatural element adds a bit of intrigue and any fan of the series will enjoy this one. It can definitely be read as a standalone, as well. ( )

Murder on Waverly Place, the eleventh book in Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Mystery series, gives us a glimpse into the workings of the spiritualists or mediums of the late 19th century. By 'workings' I mean tricks of the trade.

Sarah Brandt doesn't believe in ghosts, but her mother talks her into attending. Elizabeth Decker wants to beg her dead daughter's forgiveness and is certain Maggie will talk to her sister, if she'll talk to anyone. (Maggie's story is tragic. No wonder Mrs. Decker feels such guilt!)

Sarah isn't present when her mother attends a second seance, one in which a murder is committed. While I didn't believe some of the things said by some of the characters involved, I didn't guess how the murder was done. I did guess what the object was that Frank gave to Maeve to help protect her. The information provided about it was interesting.

Sarah, Elizabeth, and Maeve all play their part in solving the mystery, somewhat to Frank Malloy's annoyance. We also learn more about Maeve's family.

The unmasking was fun to listen to. Do I believe that the medium, Madame Serafina, could talk to ghosts? No, but there is a hint she might be a little psychic.

There are some references to earlier events. They come from book ten, Murder on Bank Street. ( )