What the Dead Leave Behind Audiobook By Rosemary Simpson cover art

What the Dead Leave Behind

Gilded Age Mystery, Book 1

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What the Dead Leave Behind

By: Rosemary Simpson
Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman
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As the Great Blizzard of 1888 cripples the vast machinery that is New York City, heiress Prudence MacKenzie sits anxiously within her palatial Fifth Avenue home waiting for her fiance's safe return. But the fearsome storm rages through the night. With daylight, more than 200 people are found to have perished in the icy winds and treacherous snowdrifts. Among them is Prudence's fiancé - his body frozen, his head crushed by a heavy branch, his fingers clutching a single playing card, the ace of spades.

Close on the heels of her father's untimely demise, Prudence is convinced Charles's death was no accident. The ace of spades was a code he shared with his school friend, Geoffrey Hunter, a former Pinkerton agent and attorney from the South. Wary of sinister forces closing in on her, Prudence turns to Geoffrey as her only hope in solving a murder not all believe in - and to help protect her inheritance from a stepmother who seems more interested in the family fortune than Prudence's wellbeing.

Filled with richly colorful characters, fascinating historical details, and thrilling moments of suspense, What the Dead Leave Behind is an exquisitely crafted mystery for the ages.

©2017 Rosemary Simpson (P)2017 Tantor Historical Mystery Private Investigators Women Sleuths Exciting
Intriguing Plot • Interesting Characters • Realistic Addiction Portrayal • Historical Setting • Unexpected Twists
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Excellent story and narration. The story flowed very well and character development is good. Definitely recommend!

Excellent story!

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I enjoyed the story. The story flowed nicely. The characters were interesting. The narrator did a great job. I liked the twists and turns.

Good Mystery

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i would have scored this book much higher if the author had a better ending for this somewhat interesting story. The fact that it is a period piece with no mention of slavery and otherwise tranquil life in young and bustling New York almost causes one to not notice the modern interjections she makes into the story. Otherwise, you can't help but root for Prudence and feel she is given a case of bad luck in life if she wasn't so determined about her discernment. It goes on fairly well enough for a while, situating the plan to uncover murder and develop some sort of liberty for poor Prudence, until you think it is about time to wrap things up but of course that can't happen. The author is an expert in dragging plots on, and with event details rather than character descriptions and colorful adjectives that might make these detours more beautiful and worthwhile. Instead we are consistently delayed in finding out exactly how it ends that i eventually gave up rather than going back a second time. once is enough for me and bravo on the solid novel. But don't expect me to wait around this long ever again if her name graces the cover.

Author is Precise, if not Lengthy

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I did not know what to expect but wow! Intense at times and a gently woven mystery of deceit, intrigue and murder!

Loved every minute and cannot wait to see what happens next!

Wow

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Really enjoyed this book. It kept my attention. If there are sequels, I will be reading them.

Very good read

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Very interesting story, although a bit convoluted. A worthy Audible Plus book! It would make a better movie than a book, as the large number of characters would be asker to track with faces, rather than just names. Somewhat frustrating, as many clues are hidden from the reader until the last moment.

Obviously well researched, interesting to view the perspectives of people during the Gilded Age!

Worthy of Audible Plus read!

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I loved this book! I did not anticipate the many twists and turns! I couldn’t put it down! I can not wait to read the next “chapter!”

Amazing story! I could not put it down!

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Not only are the writing and plot very good, but the main character's struggles with opioid addiction and PTSD are realistically and sympathetically portrayed. Prudence MacKenzie has been dealt a double blow: first her father died of an apparent heart attack, and now her fiancé has been found dead, frozen to death in the biggest blizzard New York has experienced -- and his skull cracked by a tree branch. It's no wonder she succumbs to her stepmother's urging to take more laudanum than the doctor thinks is safe. As Prudence struggles out of the opioid haze, her doubts about Charles' death surface. With the aid of the family solicitor who was in the blizzard with Charles, and Geoffry Hunter, Charles' best friend and former Pinkerton agent, Prudence sets about to discover just what happened to her fiancé, and soon comes to wonder: was her father's death natural, or was it just a little too convenient for her stepmother?

The author gets opioid struggles and PTSD right

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I had trouble getting “hooked” by this at first. Once I was, there was no stopping! I found it well crafted, interesting and entertaining.

Took Me a Minute

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Well written and narrated. Excellent character development, smooth plot transitions, and detailed world building. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Excellent!

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