ENCHANTED HILL

Haunted by past mistakes, an aspiring private investigator goes undercover to make a name for herself in Murphy's adult fiction debut.

It's 1930. Rejected by the police department for her gender, Cora McCavanagh is forced to make her own way as a private investigator. She's hired by Mabel Byrd, the scorned wife of media mogul Truman Byrd, to go undercover as a maid at Truman's infamous Enchanted Hill estate with instructions to obtain photographs of her husband in a compromising position with his latest mistress, Clementine Garver. The shocking appearance of presumed-dead Jack Yates, unrecognized by the other guests, soon throws a wrench into her careful plans. Fifteen years after escaping from prison, Jack seeks justice for his wrongful conviction, and he's not thrilled to see the girl who helped him break out but could turn him in at any moment. Sparks, of course, fly, but they deliver more sizzle than steak. For a detective mystery there is remarkably little detecting here. Instead, the author crafts an ample, and more interesting, backstory full of daring prison escapes, murders, and art heists for her two protagonists. By comparison, the present-day mysteries prove lackluster, and rarely do the characters encounter true foils or danger. A heavily sprinkled bird motif provides an opportunity for Cora—and Jack—to showcase some actual PI skills, but it's all too fleeting. Indeed, their greatest challenge seems to be their distraction with each other, in spite of mob threats, gunshots, and wrathful wives. Too somber for a cozy but lacking the bite of a gumshoe, this mystery's saving grace is its likable characters and riveting backstory.

Would have benefited from tighter edits and more risks.