Vanished in the Crowd

Molly Murphy #22

by Rhys Bowen, Clare Broyles

In the latest in the New York Times bestselling series from Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles, retired detective Molly Murphy Sullivan investigates the disappearance of a female scientist

New York is busier than ever as two million visitors come to the city to witness the Hudson-Fulton celebration in 1909, marking the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River. Parades, exhibitions, carnivals, and a marvelous display of the wonders of the latest invention--electricity--across the city make for two straight weeks of celebrations, which Molly and her family, along with their friends Sid and Gus, are excited to enjoy. But Molly is secretly dealing with financial troubles. She is too proud to ask her friends for a loan, but when they want to hire her as a detective she jumps at the chance.

Sid and Gus are hosting fellow Vassar graduates to take part in one of the parades but one of the women, a brilliant scientist, never shows up. It seems nobody knows where she is, including her husband. Is she trying to run away from her life or is it something more sinister? Why have the Vassar women really come to New York City? When Daniel asks Molly to spy on her friends and find out just what they are planning she finds her loyalties horribly divided. Then the parade turns deadly and only Molly has the tools to find out the truth.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Cozy Mystery, Detective

336 pages, Hardcover

Published March 10, 2026

About the author

I'm a New York Times bestselling mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.

I have recently published four internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, and the Tuscan Child selling almost a million copies to date. In Farleigh Field won three major awards and was nominated for an Edgar. My other stand-alone novels are The Victory Garden, about land girls in WWI and Above the Bay of Angels, featuring a young woman who becomes chef for Queen Victoria.
April 2021 will mark the publication of THE VENICE SKETCHBOOK--another sweeping historical novel of love, loss and intrigue.

My books are currently translated into 29 languages and I have fans worldwide.

I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series one year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my award-winning short stories.

I was born and raised in England but currently divide my time between California and Arizona where I go to escape from the harsh California winters
When I am not writing I love to travel, sing, hike, play my Celtic harp.
Series:
* Constable Evan Mystery
* Molly Murphy Mysteries
* Her Royal Spyness Mysteries

Awards:
Agatha Award
◊ Best Novel (2001): Murphy's Law
Reviewer's Choice Award
◊ Historical Mystery (2001): Murphy's Law

Reviews

[Heather Moll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel continues to make progress, and Molly is now doing more for herself by action rather than default. Predictable while still being enjoyable, although there’s only a mystery but no murder until about 2/3 in. Long time fans will glad for Molly in this one, but new readers can still follow along and the mystery stands alone.

I’m all for writing about women’s power, or lack thereof, but this one was heavy handed at times. The plot alone gets this important point across. Trust that readers get that women’s independence and the balance of career and home is a theme. We don’t need to be beat over the head with it in every conversation and in all of Molly’s introspections.

Quite the teaser at the end for the next book. I’m here for it!
3.5 I received an arc from NetGalley

[Gosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly Sullivan is struggling to put food on the table after her husband takes a job where he isn’t paid for three months. The chance to help financially appears when her friends ask her to investigate the disappearance of Willa Parker, who was supposed to arrive at their house and attend the naval parade in New York. Willa’s husband is desperate to find her, but her wealthy family shows no concern.

Did Willa take the opportunity to escape her marriage? Is her family hiding something about her disappearance? Molly is determined to find Willa Parker. But nothing prepares her for what happens during the parade.

I really like Molly. She’s strong and determined, and she proves that women can lead and excel at their work. The authors highlight the period when women were fighting for the right to vote, showing how important that struggle was for some, while others preferred to remain in their husbands’ shadow.

This book was engaging, and enjoyed the mystery woven into the historical events. The plot was interesting, and the mystery was thrilling. And I loved the variety of characters that made the story even more compelling. If you enjoy historical mysteries, or mysteries in general, this book will keep your mind occupied.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure how many other Molly Murphy books there are, but this is my first one. I have always been drawn to historical fiction, and this certainly was a good one. I liked that actual historical events were brought into the storyline. The murder was brought in about 2/3rds of the way in and had me going back in forth in my mind who would have done it and for what gain. Several to consider. I received this ARC from a Goodreads giveaway and recommend it.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some times I just have to reach for a familiar author or character to offset the news of the day. Rhys Bowen is a prolific writer of several series combining history with strong women characters. In this novel Molly Murphy, an Irish immigrant with strong detective skills, has been married to Daniel Sullivan, a former NYC policeman and now an FBI agent, with three young children.

The historical context is the 300th anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River celebrated with week-long Hudson-Fulton parades. Making the events even more special is the promise of the city being alight with Thomas Edison’s recent discovery of electricity. Daniel has been tasked keeping foreign and domestic dignitaries safe despite the city being overwhelmed by visitors and tourists. Meanwhile Molly worries about their finances, juggles family responsibilities, and is uneasy that her two close friends, Sid and Gus, are up to something to disrupt the parades. Women’s rights, both here and in England, are driving issues for Molly and her friends. Women in England are on strike and are being force-fed in jail, a breach that is difficult to consider. The opinions of men and women who oppose women voting (or gaining minimal rights) are especially egregious given these are rights being challenged presently. The relevance of the many discussions/disagreements to the present day is sobering.

Within the story threads is the disappearance of a woman scientist working on a cure for polio, her husband credited with her research, trying to figure out how to follow her passion while married with a young son. Her story emphasizes the inequities for women, the prejudices of society, and the courage of those women who fought for rights and the men who supported them. The strong female characters, some sympathetic and some not so much, that are developed against the backdrop of moments in our history are a highlight of this novel.

[Diane Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way to go Molly...

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanished in the Crowd is the 22nd book in the Molly Murphy Mystery series by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyes (her daughter). Of course, me being me, I started this series with book 18, so this is my fifth one so far. The books stand alone, but you can jump in at any time, as each case Molly investigates stands on its own. I gave the 4 I read 5 stars each, and I thought this one would probably end up being a 4. That is, until over halfway through the book things really got exciting, plus we were left with a revelation at the end that bumped it up to a 5! I will read this series as long as it lasts, plus I will have a Molly Murphy read=a-thon when I collect the first 17 books I missed.

New York is busier than usual as two million visitors come to the city to witness the Hudson-Fulton celebration in 1909; this marks the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River. There are parades, exhibitions, carnivals, and something really special: the incredible display of the wonders of the latest invention--electricity--across the city. There will be two straight weeks of celebrations, which Molly and her family, along with their friends Sid and Gus, are looking forward to attending. But Molly is secretly dealing with financial troubles. She is too proud to ask her friends for a loan, but when they want to hire her as a detective she jumps at the chance. Sid and Gus are hosting fellow Vassar graduates to take part in one of the parades but one of the women, a brilliant scientist named Willa Parks, never shows up. No one knows where she is, including her husband. Is she trying to run away from her life or is something more sinister afoot? Why have the Vassar women really come to New York City? When Daniel asks Molly to spy on her friends and find out just what they are planning she finds her loyalties horribly divided. Then the parade turns deadly and only Molly can solve the case.

The first half of this book was fun, but it really hit its stride about halfway through. Molly is certainly a heroine you want to root for! Her name is actually Molly Sullivan, having married Daniel Sullivan, formerly a police officer but who is now is the New York head of the newly formed Federal Bureau of Investigation. Molly grew up poor in Ireland, moved to New York and became a private detective. She's married now and has a little baby girl, a 5-year-old son and a 14-year-old adopted daughter. Of course, Molly still manages to find investigations that need her special touch. Now the Sullivan clan is short of funds, as no one in Daniel's department is being paid yet by the government. What does Daniel do? Gives the men their pay from the Sullivans' savings! Noble thing to do, but what about his own family? When Molly's best friends across the street, Sid and Gus, want to hire Molly to find out what happened to the scientist who was to stay with them but never showed up, how can Molly say no, needing the money? Then Daniel wants Molly to let him know what her friends are really planning for one of the parades; will she share that information with Daniel? What a pickle! The story was fun but moved a bit slowly for me until halfway through the book. Molly is spunky and will do everything she can to solve the case. She loves being a wife and mother, but investigations really get her blood flowing. Things seem to be resolved, but then someone is murdered on the Vassar float which Sid and Gus are on. Things really got to be exciting! Molly is an awesome character, but her friends Sid and Gus add a lot of heart to the story. Sid and Gus are actually women, and they can be a hoot! They are some of my favorite supporting characters ever. Molly and Daniel's daughter Bridie is a lot of fun. She's best friends with a rich girl, and Molly can't keep up with that. Bridie has ambitions; will she be an investigator, a suffragist, or...an actress? She's only 14, and everything is life-or-death for her. I haven't been really fond of Daniel through most of the books I read, wanting Molly to be the little woman. Does he even know who he married?! But I forgave Daniel and grew to like him when he knew and admitted what Molly needed to do here. There are still so many stories to be told! (Especially when Molly finds out just who is being investigated by the police!) If you haven't read any of the previous books, jump right in and join in the fun.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

New York is crowded (isn't it always?) And Molly is struggling. Daniel has a new job with the FBI and their new New York branch, but has yet to be paid and they are running low on funds. Worse he's drained their savings paying his staff and Molly is furious.
So when Sid and Gus hire her to find a Vassar graduate who never showed up at their house as planned she takes the job.
Willa Parker is a young scientist studying viruses with her husband. He's taking credit for her work which happened back then cause women aren't as smart as men or some dumb excuse. The husband shows up furious leading Molly to think she was running away from him. Eventually Willa is found and a reason is given, and it seems the book is wrapped up nicely. But there are still close to 200 pages left so that can't be it.
There's several parades, Bridie is in one and continues to be insufferable. Not sure if it's because she's a teenager or she went from quiet polite little girl to spoiled brat as soon as the author teamed up with her daughter to write these cause before Bridie was a good girl, now she's basically Sid and Gus without the charm and eccentricites.
The one Sid and Gus take part in turns into a suffrage protest and the police swarm in for arrests. In the confusion shots are fired and at first it's believed someone was going for the Vice President, but no Willa is the target (or is she) and she's dead. Among the suspects are the husband of course, Dateline has taught me it's always the spouse or someone hired by the spouse, the sinister Pinkerton detective hired by the husband or maybe even one of the ladies on the float.
This book was about the same as the last. A decent read, not the best. The lectures about suffrage and women's rights got to be a bit much and made me lose interest at times. I also love seeing new inventions that we now take for granted through the eyes of people who've never seen them before such as electric lights and an airplane flying overhead. Now a days it's so common we barely acknowledge when we see planes cone in. I live close to an airport and barely even hear or notice jets and other aircraft coming and going unless it's a big Hercules or a fighter jet that make lots of noise. And most of us probably don't even think about it when we reach over and flip a switch to turn on our lights. Daniel is improving and shown some character growth which we love to see. Letting his wife team up in the investigation. Molly is even reopening her old detective agency under her maiden name and he seems okay with it, so go Daniel! The book ends on an interesting cliff hanger and I'm excited to see where it will go in the next book.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This is the latest offering of the Molly Murphy series from authors Rhys Bowen and her daughter, Clare. I’ve enjoyed the series from the beginning, and like how new life has been brought to it the last few years. This story revolves around a large celebration in New York City, with numerous parades and visitors. Molly’s good friends are hosting several people for the week,but when one person doesn’t arrive they become worried and ask Molly to help find her. Meanwhile, Molly’s husband Daniel has recently been put in charge of the new federal program for crime, the FBI. He is tasked with making sure the week goes smoothly and keep all dignitaries safe. Adding to the pressure on everyone are the suffragettes who are suspected of having plans for a parade that the men definitely don’t want to see.happen.
Molly’s family is growing and she feels lots of pressure (like all mothers) to keep her children safe and healthy, while trying to maintain a career of her own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a give away. It was the 1st Molly Murphy book I read I liked it quite a bit. I probably missed some of the nuances not being familiar with the characters but I don’t think it was a game breaker.
I liked the women rights issues especially in our current environment. We need to be reminded how hard our rights were fought for

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite Molly Murphy book so far!
The ending was so very good!
👏👏👏

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This another great addition to the long-running Molly Murphy series. Molly’s life is blossoming with her growing family and husband Daniel’s work with the newly formed FBI. But when they hit a financial speed bump, Molly realizes that she needs her own source of income, so she uses her detective skills to search for a woman who has gone missing. It is the early 20th century, and women are supposed to stay home, have kids, and not venture out into the male dominated world. Enter the suffragists, who are vocal about demanding the right to vote. This is the backdrop for Molly’s search, both for the missing woman, and for her own identity as well.
Books with the sufferage theme are popular right now. This book, while an entertaining mystery in itself, is also a lesson for young women today: while the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920, the fight for equality continued throughout the last century and continues today. The actual historical events serving as the setting for the story are also fascinating.
Molly has come a long way in this series. It will be interesting to see her continue to grow.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this advanced copy.

[Sue Riemersma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to read an advanced reader copy of newest addition to the Molly Murphy series. I have read other books by Rhys Bowen but not any of the other in this series. I am going to have to go back to the beginning and read them now. Right from the beginning I was hooked into the story. Without any prior knowledge of the series I did not feel like I was missing any background. Molly's character is well developed as a modern woman for the early 1900's. She loves her husband and children yet still wants to contribute monetarily to the household. Sid and Gus are a hoot as a pair of Bohemians living together. I enjoyed how the authors combined the aristocracy of New York and the average woman. If you have read any of the Molly Murphy series "Vanished in the Crowd will not disappoint you.

[Lillian LeBlanc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed many of Rhys Bowen's novels. Her writing style is beautifully fluid; she creates characters and settings that quickly capture the reader's imagination and interest. While these are true of Vanished in the Crowd, for me the plot was shallow and the story dragged.

Vanished in the Crowd is set in New York City during the women's suffrage movement. The central theme involves a city-wide celebration highlighted by two parades. The book presents many interesting contrasts and offers a good deal of insight into the conflict faced by many women during this challenging time. It took quite some time - more than half the book - for the pace to pick up and I frequently found myself wondering how many ways one could anticipate a parade.

The lead character, Molly Murphy Sullivan, wasn’t easy to warm up to. However, I realize that this is the 22nd book in a series; had I read from the start I might see Molly in a different light.

While I truly wanted to love this book, co-written by Rhys and her daughter, it was, for me, just an “ok” read. However, the book ended on an intriguing cliffhanger, so I'm hopeful for the next installment in the Molly Murphy series.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MinotaurBooks for the advance reader copy of #VanishedInTheCrowd. This review represents my unbiased opinion of this story.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of excitement over the upcoming Hudson-Fulton celebration of 1909. It's the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River and Molly Murphy Sulivan's family is caught up with it in a variety of ways. Her teenage daughter is super excited to be riding on a float while husband Daniel's early days with the fledgling NYC offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation are beyond busy and stressful. As for Molly, she's stressing over an unexpected scarcity of funds since Daniel hasn't been paid in months. She's also chaffing a bit at being somewhat relegated to simply the role of wife and mother after running her own detective agency. In fact, women's reduced roles (in comparison to today) is a running theme of the book, including the suffragette movement two of Molly's dearest friends are deeply involved with. Then, a case falls into Molly's already busy world. Seems a well-known female research scientist has gone missing. She was supposed to be staying with neighbors Sid and Gus (you'll learn more about them as you read) but never showed up and now Willa Parker's husband has hired a Pinkerton agent to find her. Molly, already struggling with being underestimated as a woman, is determined to find Willa first.

As always, it's the characters and ample doses of history that keep me coming back to this series. I have grown to like Molly, Daniel, and, well, all the usual side characters. Balancing work and expectations as a wife and mother is a mental weight Molly carries throughout this entry. I mean, she even suffers a bit of a guilt trip over missing church while keeping some secrets from husband Daniel. Of course, Daniel hasn't exactly been forthcoming, either, so it was intriguing to see them work through this divide. It was also intriguing given the furor over vaccines as I type, that the missing scientist was focused on finding a cure for polio. Her findings, however, were all credited to her husband. Sigh. In any case, the plot moves right along and manages to insert bits of the real celebration, including a flyover by Wilber Wright and the first ever total illumination of NYC by electric bulbs.

And, oh, yes, there's a murder to solve, too, albeit the murder aspect of the mystery doesn't occur early on. Let's just say, don't stop reading when it appears the initial case has been solved. It all ties together, trust me. I won't detail the plot further other than to say that the women's suffrage movement is front and center as are, let's see, science and the social divide via class status. We even get a gentle reminder of how quickly a single "cold bug" can get around. My sympathies were with Molly the whole time, especially in Daniel's more unbending moments, but, hey, he's coming around. The ending was satisfactory albeit I found myself feeling weird to be rooting against a Pinkerton agent after just finishing another book with a female Pinkerton agent as the main character. Oh, well, reality bites. In any case, bottom line, this words wonderfully well as a standalone but I'd highly recommend that you check out the entire series. It's a solid, good one, that is built on strong characters who've grown as the series progresses. Thanks #StMartin'sPress - #Minotaur for this early peek and for initially introducing me to Molly. There's a bit of a startling teaser for the next book at the very end and, of course, Molly's struggle to balance a career and home and family will always prove interesting.

[Rekha Jindal · Rating 4 out of 5]

 Vanished In the Crowd

Review

I would rate the story 4 out of 5 as our Author Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles had drawn a very suspense story in the novel that was highly attractive to the readers that made everyone to read this book .the character was disappeared from the crowd that took place at Newyork  parade and no one came to know what had happened to the women at the end .

The novel begins with a main plot revolving round the characters Daniel ,Molly Murphy,Birdie ,her friends played the important role ,teacher ,principal of the school ,.Molly Murphy  had two children one elder named Birdie and thebother younger one 10 months baby Kate .so she left the job of detective had to upbring her children ,taking the responsibilities of household ,where as her husband worked as a security office in New York.They  were struggling with financial crisis at home as husband couldn’t meet up with the family demands .so the children were also struggling as the elder daughter studies in a very reputed school but was not happy as she demands more luxury life so she always make mischievous things playing pranks enjoying life and freedom with friends ,going outings with friends and so she changed her school with the help of her friends who paid the fees for Birdie as they like her as a good friend ..

In the city of Newyork after 300 years big Parade was going to held in the name of Henry Hudson . In the name of city Newyork was named .as he was the great Celebrity. So Birdie joined new school where twelve girls were participating in the parade for health and nutrition doing  science experiment ,music dance etc .they would be dressed up in white clothes with a flower cut rhinoceros design crown onthe head,white stockings and hair style would be prepared for each girl by Birdie as she knew new hairstyles and curls of the hair .so The bill of the dresses would be paid by her best friend Blanche ‘s mother who was kind to everyone .

At last everyone went to the Parade taken place at New York City .All the communities members of Birdie complex were also invited and seval guests also came from far distant to join the procession .Aunty Sid and Gus also accompany them including her mother,father.and the people of community .At last suspense created in the novel when we found that that dr Parker who was living in the same complex found that her wife Mrs Willa.was missing when she was going to the parade.No one knows where she went as she told everyone that she was joining the ladies at Mrs willow home .but found there missing that also the makes the reader unaware and enthusiastic about the women and make them emotional and sad as the women was missing .

 

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vanished in the Crowd by Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles is a Molly Murphy novel, the twenty-second in the series. Loyal readers have gotten to know Molly and Daniel, as well as Sid and Gus, Molly’s good friends. Daniel is still not totally convinced about Sid and Gus, but he is coming along. These are excellent characters all and continue to grow as the story progresses. This one involves the new Federal Bureau of Investigation and suffragists, lobbying for the vote for women. Molly has two children now, plus her adopted daughter, Bridie, so she doesn’t have time to be part of the protests but she believes whole-heartedly in the cause. Sid and Gus, of course, are working closely with the organizers and appear in many protests. They are always willing to open doors for Molly. This story is the murder of a scientist, a woman from out of town, and gives Molly the opportunity to investigate and possibly restart her detective agency.

Willa Parker was supposed to stay with Sid and Gus for a series of parades celebrating international progress. Daniel was in charge of security for the dignitaries. The two women hired Molly to find Willa Parker after her husband showed up looking for her and caused quite a scene. Molly was excited. Because of Daniel she got tickets for excellent seating on several of the events, despite the fact that women’s participation was severely limited. It is sometimes hard to read about the treatment of women, even in the United States, but Bowen/Broyles do a good, fair job of telling the story. Molly, of course, solves the murder, earning, once more, her husband’s respect.

I was invited to read Vanished in the Crowd by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #RhysBowen #ClareBroyles #VanishedInThe Crowd

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Vanished in the Crowd” is a timely tale that explores the expectations for women’s roles in society against the backdrop of New York City preparing for the Hudson-Fulton celebration, which is planned solely by men. Molly loves her role as wife and mother, but also wants some financial and intellectual independence. Gus is facing pressure to conform. A Vassar alum who was supposed to stay with Sid and Gus during parade festivities disappears; Molly wonders if it’s intentional. Bridie is thrilled to participate in the parade, but her school is forced to show the girls in traditional roles, rather than as scholars. There is also a question of what types of protests are acceptable and when they are acceptable.

This is the 22nd Molly Murphy book by Rhys Bowen and, now, Clare Broyles. For the past few books, Molly has wondered if she can be wife and mother AND a detective, a career she found deeply satisfying. In “Vanished in the Crowd,” Sid and Gus hire Molly to find their missing friend. Molly follows clues and gets herself out of sticky situations while proving to husband Daniel, now with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, that her skills are valuable and that she can get information that he can’t. At the parade, shots ring out and a participant falls. At first it seems like a “wrong time, wrong place” situation, but Molly has doubts that the dignitaries present were the true targets. She realizes she has the means and the clues to get to the bottom of it.

This story is great for readers who enjoy historical mysteries set in the early 20th century.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

New York - 1909

Molly is married to Daniel Sullivan. He worked for the police but has taken a new job as the New York Head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Molly used to have her own detective agency but now she is a stay at home mother to Bridie, 14, Liam 5, and baby Mary Kate. She has a young girl to help her with the children.

A celebration is coming to honor the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s discovery of the Hudson River. Many people are expected to attend. With all the dignitaries in town, Daniel is run off his feet meeting with them and welcoming them to the town. As his job is new, the government hasn’t as yet paid him and the family is getting low on money.

Molly’s neighbors and good friends, Sid and Gus, are hosting Vassar friends from out of town for the celebration. However, one woman has not shown up as she said she would and they can’t help but think she doesn’t want to be found. Her husband has come looking for her but he seems to be a bully. So, Sid and Gus ask Molly to don her detective hat and see if she can find the woman.

Since Sid and Gus are big in the suffragist movement, they decide to build their own float but hiding the real meaning the float. At the parade, shots ring out and a woman on the ladies’ float is killed. Is it an accident or has someone targeted her?

There is quite a lot going on in this book as the city is working hard to plan for this celebration. We see the domestic life of Molly along with the detective side as well. As always, a Molly Murphy detective novel is well written and keeps the readers’ interest. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is autumn 1909 and this is the 22nd book in Rhys Bowens' Murphy Series now with daughter Clare Broyles as co-author.

Molly Murphy Sullivan is having financial difficulties. She has given up the private detective agency she ran before she was married. Her husband Daniel Sullivan has left his job as captain in the New York police to become the New York head of the new Bureau of Investigation (predecessor of the modern FBI), but he has not yet been paid.

A two week celebration of the Tricentennial of Henry Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River is about to begin. A scientist who is supposed to be staying across the street with Molly's friends Sid and Gus is missing and being sought by her husband. Sid and Gus hire Molly to find the missing scientist. They go to a parade float planning meeting at the home of Mrs. Belmont, a formerly Mrs. William Vanderbilt. During the parade, the women on the float include Sid and Gus and the missing scientist, who is shot dead. Was she a target, or was the shooter aiming at dignitaries along the route? Molly reinstates her detective practice and works to solve the mystery. Her investigation includes both cooperating with, and finding herself at odds with, her husband Daniel.

While this book can be read as a standalone the experience would be enhanced by having read previous books detailing Molly's immigrant background and relationships with Sid, Gus, Daniel, and her children, especially her adopted daughter Bridie.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly Murphy Mystery book #22

A cozy mystery

Set in 1909 New York during the Hudson-Fulton celebration. The story follows retired detective Molly Murphy Sullivan as she investigates the disappearance of a female scientist. The story hovers around the suffragette movement, a militant campaign advocating for women’s right to vote.

My thoughts:

The Molly Murphy mysteries give us ample doses of history and wonderful characters while the story moves along at the slow and steady pace. I particularly love Molly and her husband Daniel and how they interact with each other, balancing work and personal life really shows the views may not have changed that much since….of course at center stage is the women’s suffrage movement, science and social divide and class status. Interesting.

To celebrate the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s discovery of the Hudson River , parades, exhibitions and carnivals made for two straight weeks of celebrations which Molly and her friends were part of…till the parade turned deadly and Molly, the sleuth, sprang into action. No mystery without a murder would be captivating. Here we are plunged into a very suspenseful drama, one that has kept me riveted till the very end.

“Vanishing in the Crowd” is an engaging story that weave wonderfully a mystery and historical context and all vividly said to keep us on our toes.

My many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

VANISHED IN THE CROWD Rhys Bowen and Clare Broyles
How delightful to return to Patchin Place with Molly and family and friends, cozy, familiar, loving. Finances are tight as Daniel awaits his delayed salary for his new position with the FBI, but Bridie needs fancy shoes and silk stockings to ride a float in the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Parade (fascinating bit of history), but all will be well — won’t it? Ah, what would be the fun in that? Suffragists are planning Votes for Women action, and Sid and Gus hire Molly to find a missing woman, scientist Willa Parker, the houseguest who never arrived . . . and that’s just the beginning of intrigue, mayhem, and twists and turns. Molly balances work/home responsibilities to reclaim her role as Molly Murphy, Detective, because there are some places, sources, and insights she is uniquely qualified for.
Molly’s musings about taking the job reminded me of my mom’s decision to get a job when I was in college and my sis, the youngest, was in high school. She needed “more to do” and did it. Hurrah for independence — and voting! The gift of business cards reminded me of my sister making cards for my storyteller persona. We all get by with the help of family and friends, and Molly is a good example of that.
(Caveat: If you hate cliff-hangers as I do, skip the last paragraph).

[Alissa Minard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy that I received an ARC for this, otherwise I would have never discovered this series! It literally felt like reading the Nancy Drew mysteries I so loved as a girl.

There are 21 other Molly Murphy mysteries which I will be going back to read, however this book still made perfect sense without reading the others in the series.

Set in 1909 New York City against the backdrop of the Hudson-Fulton celebration, Molly Sullivan struggles with the fact that she has left her career as a detective behind in order to be the wife and mother society expects her to be. She loves her family, but when an opportunity to investigate a missing woman pops up she takes it and begins the delicate act of balancing her family with the investigation.

Full of spunky characters, love, and a whole lot of intrigue Vanished in the Crowd drew me in. While I did solve the mystery around the halfway point, I wasn’t 100% sure until the very last pages. There is so much I could say about individual parts of this book but will not because I don’t want to give anything away!

I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for high stakes mysteries that still feel cozy, or fans of historical pieces set in the gilded age.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Mark Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s September of 1909 and New York City is bursting at the seams as an estimated two million visitors are in town for a celebration or the three hundredth anniversary of Henry Hudson’s discovery of the Hudson River. Some of those visitors are staying with Molly’s dear neighbors Sid and Gus. However, one of those women never arrives. No one seems to know where she is; even her husband doesn’t know. So Molly agreed to try to find her. But in a large city overflowing with people, where can she even start?

I’ve been a fan from the beginning, but like other recent entries, I struggled with this one. Daniel is his usual self, with the typical “character development.” The plot is uneven, and I pieced things together early. And the theme of the book turned into more of a lecture with repeated scenes about it. Mind you, I agree that the way women were treated in the early 1900’s wasn’t good. But lectures on it is not what I was looking for here. On the other hand, the majority of the characters are their usual charming selves. Fans of the series will still want to pick this one up. And they’ll be extremely anxious to pick up the next one as well.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[𝓜𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮 𝐆𝓸𝓲𝓴 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!

I love this series!

I absolutely loved being back in Molly Murphy’s world. One of the things I enjoy most about this series is how the authors weave real historical events into the story, and the Hudson-Fulton celebration of 1909 made such a fun and vibrant backdrop. New York is alive with parades, exhibitions, and the excitement of electricity lighting up the city, and it really adds to the atmosphere.

Even after so many books, Molly remains such a wonderful character to follow. I loved seeing her balance family life while still holding onto her detective instincts. When she secretly struggles with financial troubles but refuses to ask her friends for help, it feels very true to her character—independent, proud, and determined.

Of course, when the opportunity comes to take on a case, Molly jumps right in. What starts with the search for a missing woman quickly turns into something much more complicated, and that’s when the story really takes off. The mystery, the historical setting, and the familiar cast of characters all come together in a way that longtime fans of the series will really appreciate.

If you’ve been following Molly Murphy from the beginning like I have, this one is another delightful visit with characters that feel like old friends.

Please keep them coming!

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this author. I have read every single book in the series. As well as in her two other series and quite a few of her standalone books. I like the historical settings for many of these books.

This one was really good and she wrote it with her daughter who has done I believe the last four books in the Molly Murphy series.

This one is set in 1906 in New York City. There’s a huge parade that’s happening with dignitaries from other countries visiting. The women’s suffragette movement is making its appearance.

Molly gets involved with her best friends next-door, Gus and Sid, were expecting a guest who did not show up. They hire her to find the woman and from there the mystery takes off.

I like the details in the story. The family dynamics as Molly is struggling with two children and an adopted older daughter, as well as a children’s helper, living in her household. Her husband has started a new job with what will be the FBI. Money is tight as he hasn’t gotten paid yet. So she’s happy to get a mystery for hire.

I liked how the mystery unfolds and especially how it ended! I did not see that coming! The Authors left us with a cliffhanger at the very last sentence of the book!! I won’t give it away here. Now I have to read the next one to find out what is going to happen! Well done story!

[Tammy Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books never disappoint! The advantage to reading a series is that you become invested in the characters to the point that you feel they are your friends. The disadvantage to being caught up on a series is the long wait until the next book comes out. This book is so worth the wait.

It had my attention from the beginning as a woman goes missing. Molly’s dear friends and neighbors ask her to look for their friend, this missing woman.

With a teenaged daughter, five year old son, and baby daughter less than a year old, Molly’s investigation time is limited. Still, our favorite early 20th Century lady detective welcomes a chance to renew her skills and to help her friends.

This book provides two mysteries to solve, as well as an opportunity for Daniel to see Molly in a different light. With the celebration of Henry Hudson and Robert Fulton, the history lesson, as in most of these books, is illuminated along with the streets of New York and the electric light bulbs.

I had a feeling I knew who was behind the crime. But, as is typical with this writing, another suspect came to mind.

One thing I did not see coming was the twist on the very last page. Now, I can’t wait for the next book!

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

How delightful to have yet another Molly Murphy-Sullivan book. It is always an adventure and delight to see how Molly and her friends get involved and solve the different adventures. In this book, as in most historical times are factual. In the case of "Vanished in the Crowd," it is the Hudson-Fulton celebration in 1909, marking the 300th anniversary of Henry Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River. I love the added history in this series. I also love how Molly has evolved into a wife and mother, yet kept her adventurous spirit and her great talent at solving crimes. Sometimes even more so than her ex-police, now FBI husband. Even though this book takes place in 1909, before women could even vote, most wives were controlled by their husbands and society. Yet Molly still has her intellect and can maneuver her way around the male-driven world. This is a great series, and each book could easily be read as a standalone. Yet the series does benefit from reading them in order because you witness just how Molly grows and adapts to society in the early 1900s,
Thank you to Saint Martin Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Cari Zuckerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

New York is swarming with visitors as the city prepares for the days-long Hudson-Fulton celebration. Molly Sullivan’s neighbors Gus and Sid are planning to host some friends from Vassar to participate in one of the parades. When one of their guests, Willa Parker, doesn’t arrive as planned they turn to Molly and her investigative skills to find her.

I always enjoy my time with Molly and her friends and family and this book is no exception. Its not great literature by any means but the Molly Murphy series is a solid historical mystery series that I can always count on. I especially enjoyed the real-life details of the 1909 Hudson-Fulton celebration included in this novel. Molly’s a great, strong female lead and I love how the series didn’t end when she became a wife and mother. She’s determined to still have a life of her own and wants to use her skills to help people and build a nest-egg for herself to allow herself some independence in a time that afforded few women that luxury.

The pacing was a little off with this one but everything made sense in the end. I’ll continue to read and recommend the series.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly is back!

Vanished in the Crowd is a return to the Molly of old. She clearly misses her detective work and is ready to get back to it.
(If you have not read this series, please start with Murphy's Law and progress forward. You are welcome.)

Molly is asked to help solve the mystery of a missing woman who is scheduled to stay with Molly's neighbors and close friends, Gus and Sid. Money is scarce while husband Daniel adjusts to his new crime-busting job with the federal government, and Molly is eager to bring in some cash when Gus and Sid offer to pay her to help them find their acquaintance. As always, New York City and its history play an enormous role in the story. Science and industry, suffragism, the evolving nature of class, and gender roles play integral parts, but when a murder occurs at a parade, that takes center stage.

I really enjoyed this installment, and I look forward to what's ahead for Molly, her friends, and her family. The authors have done a wonderful job growing the characters.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the ARC. All opinions, of course, are my own.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 Vanished in the Crowd by Rhys Bowen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the digital ARC. This is my honest review of an unedited copy—all opinions are my own.
I’ll be honest going in: I didn’t realize this was book 22 in the Molly Murphy Mystery series. At first, I felt a little lost with Molly and the recurring characters. That said, as the story unfolded, I found it surprisingly easy to settle in—as if I had read the series all along. The author does a great job providing just enough context without overwhelming new readers.
This mystery is well written and thoughtfully paced. There isn’t an immediate murder right out of the gate; instead, the tension builds gradually, with the unaliving happening later in the book. I appreciated that slower burn—it allowed the setting, characters, and stakes to develop naturally.
Overall, this was a solid and engaging historical mystery. Fans of the series will enjoy another strong installment, and new readers shouldn’t be afraid to jump in here—it stands well on its own. A confident 4-star read for me.