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    Second Street Station: A Mary Handley Mystery
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    Second Street Station: A Mary Handley Mystery
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    Second Street Station: A Mary Handley Mystery
    Audiobook9 hours

    Second Street Station: A Mary Handley Mystery

    Written by Lawrence H. Levy

    Narrated by Cassandra Campbell

    3/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    A historical mystery featuring the witty and wily Mary Handley, the first woman detective in Brooklyn, as she tries to prove herself in a man's world while solving a high profile murder.

    Mary Handley is a not your typical late-nineteenth century lady. She's fiery, clever, daring-and she's not about to conform to the gender norms of the day. Not long after being fired from her job at the hat factory for insubordinate behavior, Mary finds herself at the murder scene of Charles Goodrich, the brother of a prominent alderman and former bookkeeper of Thomas Edison. When Mary proves her acumen as a sleuth, she is hired by the Brooklyn police department-as the city's first female policewoman-to solve the crime. The top brass of the department expect her to fail, but Mary has other plans. As she delves into the mystery, she finds herself questioning the likes of J. P. Morgan, Thomas Edison, and Nikola Tesla. Mary soon discovers the key to solving the case goes well beyond finding a murderer and depends on her ability to unearth the machinations of the city's most prominent and respected public figures, men who will go to great lengths to protect their secrets.

    Much like Mr. Churchill's Secretary and Maisie Dobbs, Second Street Station presents a portrait of a world plunging into modernity through the eyes of a clever female sleuth. Mary Handley is an unforgettable protagonist whose wit, humor, and charm will delight listeners from the very first minute.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJun 9, 2015
    ISBN9781101890608
    Unavailable
    Second Street Station: A Mary Handley Mystery

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    Reviews for Second Street Station

    3/5

    125 ratings69 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Somewhere between lousy and mediocre. History, plot, characterization and dialogue are all sloppy. The psychopathic bad guy and his violence are wildly overwritten and shallow at the same time. If you want a historical mystery with a blonde sleuth named Mary, read Laurie R. King who can write circles around Levy. I only finished it because I wanted to see whether the heroine would kill the bad guy with something stupid and preposterously far-fetched, like a chess piece.
    • 5/5
      I received this book as an advanced reading copy via the author through LibraryThing. Thank you so much! I couldn't put it down. It moved quickly but not so quickly that you didn't get attached to the characters. This story is full of historic figures doing just what people did back then. And Mary is a true spitfire. Truly a heroine worth reading more about!
    • 1/5
      When I found out the book was based on a real murder with the actual participants, I eagerly read the book. But, it seemed to lose focus somewhere along the line with all the famous people and a hired killer, Bowler Hat, who I don't even know why he was in the book. After finishing the book, I looked up the murder and characters, and besides their names, nothing else was true. I realize this is a fictionalized account, but to go so far away from the truth seems a bit presumptuous. The actual account was certainly interesting enough, and padded out with fiction it could have been a very interesting book. I did like that Mary could fend for herself, but as someone else pointed out, she was just too modern for that time period. I'm not sure I would read another book in this series.
    • 1/5
      I could not get past the first chapter. I love mysteries, but this felt like a caricature of characters. I don't like a lot of lighter mystery treatments, however, so if you enjoyed Lord Peter Wimsey and that type of narrative, you may enjoy this book.
    • 5/5
      I was captivated by the lead character, Mary Handley. Just the thought of her makes me smile. Mary is not your typical late 19th century Victorian young woman of 24. Mary is an independent thinker with a strong sense since the age of 12 that she is meant to be a detective. Mary’s Mother merely describes her daughter as “My Mary falls just short of being pretty” but Mary is clever, feisty, and doesn’t shy away from a challenge. As Mary becomes the first female detective in Brooklyn’s Police Department, it’s difficult to imagine how she can possibly succeed.This mystery and detective story is action-packed and has depth that is quite unparalleled in its genre. I loved every facet of the novel especially the ease in which the history of the time with names that everyone recognizes (e.g. Thomas Edison, J.P. Morgan) are brought to life within the story. The setting descriptions are vivid and the conversations between characters seem so plausible that there are moments when readers might have to seriously remind themselves that they’re reading fiction. As I closed the novel, it brought to mind the women portrayed in the movie, “Iron-Jawed Angels.” [Activists Alice Paul (portrayed by actress Hilary Swank) and Lucy Burns (portrayed by actress Frances O'Connor) take the women's suffrage movement by storm.] I think this novel could be utilized in so many different ways – not merely as a great new title for a book club to read and discuss – but so much more. I’d love to see the novel used by teachers of creative writing to inspire students to take the ordinary story and make it extraordinary as Lawrence H. Levy has penned. What a dynamic way to present a story combining history and creative storytelling into one exquisite presentation of mystery. I’d love to learn that a teacher of literature and a teacher of history have combined classes to utilize this novel as a lead-in to learning the history of women in law enforcement as well as the true history of New York in the 19th century and about the inventors and businesses of the time. I’d love to see the novel read by generations of women in the same family to inspire the questions and discussions between generations. What a unique way to inspire the sharing of the contributions the women in their family have made and to share how in their own unique ways they have changed the world in their own family or neighborhood. In other words, this novel is the perfect Mother’s Day gift to span all generations.I’m really hoping that the author might be considering writing a sequel and it would be even more extraordinary if “Second Street Station” might turn into a series of “Mary Handley Mysteries.” I’d love to spend more time with this character! Mary Handley is one of those characters that after you close the back cover of the book, you’re wishing you could go the nearest bookstore or coffee shop to meet her in person and share a conversation.I was lucky enough to receive a pre-publication copy of this title as an “Early Reviewer” from Library Thing.
    • 1/5
      This book was, in a word, terrible. The prose is too wordy, too much descriptive text without sufficient dialogue, with sentences that go on and on and on. The author really needs to "show, not tell". Not recommended.
    • 4/5
      I was very happy to have the opportunity to read an ARC of Second Street Station as it was described as comparable to the Maisie Dobbs and Maggie Hope books which I love. I was surprised to learn that Mary Handley was a real person. I am still unclear about the historical accuracy of the book; certainly, I was unfamiliar with the negative aspects of Thomas Edison and other characters. If these negative events are fictitious, it seems slanderous to these people's reputations. It bothers me when authors take liberties with the historical accuracy of real people.While I was reading it as strictly fiction, I enjoyed the story and thought it had potential to be developed into a series. I would like to have had fewer coincidences which make the plot seem unrealistic, and I think the book would have been improved by focusing in on fewer historical characters. I was left with the feeling that the author felt he had to include every significant person from the era. Nevertheless, I flew through the book and found it a good summer read. I would recommend the book to people who like the Maisie Dobbs and Bess Crawford book even if it isn't quite as good as those. I also hope a more appealing picture of Mary will be used on the cover of future books.
    • 3/5
      Mary Handley seemed a bit too out of character-I'd like to find out more about the real Mary Handley. However, the story was interesting, the use of real historical characters was very good, though I don't believe everything said about them was true. I've long know about the rivalry between Tesla and Edison, but the thought that Edison would stoop to murder anyone in his way was hard to swallow.
    • 4/5
      Mary Handley knows what she wants and won't let much get in the way, but the fact that she is a woman in Victorian New York is proving to be quite a roadblock. One day she speaks her mind to her boss about her rotten job which causes her to quickly lose that job and now she needs to put food on the table and pay her measly rent. Luckily for Mary she stumbles upon the scene of a grisly murder. With the (reluctant) help of her brother (already a police officer) and a good case of being in the right place at the right time, she soon is the newest member of the Brooklyn Police Department and asked to solve this murder. She knows she has been set up to fail but even that won't stop her from getting to the bottom of who mercilessly shot and killed Charles Goodrich.Her fascination for murder started when she was quite young - she witnesses a man fleeing from a "suicide" on a train but can't get anyone to believe her when she knows it was really a murder. Now that she is all grown up, she's not going to give up on her quest to find out who murdered Charles. Along the way she meets and interviews the financial and scientific dignitaries of the day: Nikola Tesla, J.P. Morgan, John Pemberton, and Thomas Edison. With their secrets and scandalous ways the interrogations are proving extremely difficult.The character of Mary is nicely written - she seem to be someone who knows that her path is difficult but perseveres anyway. Life as her friend would be anything but dull. The other characters in the book are written a little more dicey. Without even a perfunctory search it's not quite obvious which aspects are drawn from real life and which are the product of the author's mind. Except, of course, for those powerful and renowned men who were really were the movers and shakers of their time. However, their characters don't exactly jibe with what was in the history books or common knowledge. Edison as a swindling and conniving jerk? Tesla as a possibly mentally ill and dangerous crackpot? Morgan obsessed with the appearance of his nose to the distraction of almost everything else? Pemberton a morphine addict? Although the author insists that the novel "contains many historical facts that are quite accurate" you're never quite sure what is true and what isn't and that's very distracting. Unfortunately, as Mary wends her way through New York to speak to these men, little attention is paid to everyone else that isn't famous.There are really two stories going on here, Mary in New York and a strange killer known only as The Bowler Hat. He exists solely to brutally murder folks with seemingly no rhyme or reason. That storyline doesn't seem to be very relevant until the very end and may not be worth all the effort to concoct his murderous ways.All in all, this isn't a bad mystery and the insights (again, true or not) into the lives of these men is somewhat interesting. It's just that the mystery gets lost in those details. All the sub stories do get resolved but it's convoluted. Mary as a character is very likeable and further books with her would be welcomed. Perhaps next time the story will be focused more on the mystery and not the "Who's Who" of New York. Recommended for readers of historical mysteries, stories about New York City and the early police force, and anyone that enjoys an essentially well-written book about an arcane group of possible killers.
    • 3/5
      I didn't like that way the author treated Thomas Edison. It was as if the whole purpose of the book was to debunk Edison. There are some historical figures included such as Nikola Tesla, J.P. Morgan, the formulators of Coca-Cola, and others. Accusing Edison of murder in order to obtain the phonograph is over the top for me.
    • 1/5
      When I found out the book was based on a real murder with the actual participants, I eagerly read the book. But, it seemed to lose focus somewhere along the line with all the famous people and a hired killer, Bowler Hat, who I don't even know why he was in the book. After finishing the book, I looked up the murder and characters, and besides their names, nothing else was true. I realize this is a fictionalized account, but to go so far away from the truth seems a bit presumptuous. The actual account was certainly interesting enough, and padded out with fiction it could have been a very interesting book. I did like that Mary could fend for herself, but as someone else pointed out, she was just too modern for that time period. I'm not sure I would read another book in this series.
    • 4/5
      Mary Handley is a protag to watch. She is bright and has common-sense in an age when intelligence is not favored in females. The characters in this book were very realistic, the setting felt authentic, and the story had enough twists and turns to keep this reader engaged. I recommend this story to anyone wishing to spend some enjoyable reading time with a well thought out tale.
    • 5/5
      Please let there be more of this series in the future! Not crazy about the cover, but the pages in between were outstanding! History as well as the mystery throughout the novel. I love strong female characters, especially groundbreaking strong female characters. Mary Handley is intrigued by everything and has been since she was very young. She wants to be an investigator and gets her chance when hired by the NY police department to solve the murder of the bookkeeper of Thomas Edison. She has to put up with the derision of the male policemen and the dismay of her mother. There is also the danger from different avenues. Mary just gets up and goes back out where most would give in. I loved the history that went along with the mystery. People like J P Morgan, Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, many more are in these pages. Intelligence is revered, but power and money are king. Especially when wielded by men. Mary has a tough row to hoe, but she powers through. Definite recommend.
    • 3/5
      Mary Handley is a young Irish girl living in Brooklyn in the late 1800's. She is unmarried and has a job in a factory and her own apartment, but yearns for a more interesting life. Soon after speaking up to her boss and getting fired, she is hired by the Brooklyn Police Department as a policewoman to help solve a murder. Famous people such as JP Morgan, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison are woven into the story. It is a nice mystery, but I think a little steampunk would have spiked the story and given it more interest. I found it difficult to stay focused on the story.
    • 2/5
      I really wanted to like this book. I like mysteries, I like historical settings, but I feel like this book tried too hard. As each succeeding famous character was added, I felt the dialog and actions of the story became less believable. About a third of the way through, I flipped to the back and was pleased to find the Author's Note about the character's existence in history. But reading that almost made me more discouraged. I feel that there was a lot of presumption about the characters actions and personalities (really, she slept with Charles Pemberton? She was making a salad in 1888?). I suppose if Levy's research was incredibly thorough, or the real people left behind diaries, then perhaps he had the right to put this story together. But without footnotes, somehow, I just couldn't get onboard.If I were to take out the 'real' people, then I could have given this book 3 stars, but even so, I'll stick with [Jacqueline Winspear] and [Charles Todd].
    • 4/5
      I received Second Street Station through the Library Thing Early Reviewers program in exchange for a promised review. This first novel by a film and TV writer reads well and is an engaging story. We follow the development of Mary Handley as a detective and follow her through a feminist view of nineteenth century New York, accented with roles for a number of famous people. The subtitle "A Mary Handley Mystery" suggests that sequels are planed. It will be interestign to see if the celebrity contacts can be maintained. I enjoyed the book and expect readers of feminist mysteries will too.
    • 4/5
      This is a good mystery that weaves you through history while trying to solve who the murderer is. Mary Handley is a smart, strong willed, intelligent woman who wants to make it in a mans world as a detective. She gets her big chance when her friend's fiance Charles Goodrich is murdered and she is taken on the force to help solve the murder.I love how the feud between Edison and Tesla is a big part of the plot. This book sucks you into the story and leaves you in shock when you find out who is the murderer.I look forward to deading more of this series.If you like a good mystery full of history, strong characters, a little romance and a lot of surprises you will want to read this one.I was given this book by the publisher through library thing.com for my honest review
    • 1/5
      The book started out promising. The initial scenes were intriguing. 30-40 pages in, the problems started to show. The writing was not very evocative. The characters were one dimensional or stereotypic. The introduction of well known historical figures disrupted the flow even more. It came to the point, I could not even finish the book.
    • 3/5
      Somewhere between lousy and mediocre. History, plot, characterization and dialogue are all sloppy. The psychopathic bad guy and his violence are wildly overwritten and shallow at the same time. If you want a historical mystery with a blonde sleuth named Mary, read Laurie R. King who can write circles around Levy. I only finished it because I wanted to see whether the heroine would kill the bad guy with something stupid and preposterously far-fetched, like a chess piece.
    • 3/5
      It's 1888 and not a time when a woman would dream she could ever be taken seriously as a police detective, but that is what Mary Handley is about to prove otherwise as she sets out to find the killer of Charles Goodrich, recently employed by none other than Thomas Edison.The investigation takes many turns and when you think you know who did it, that person didn't do it.The novel also gives a look at the shadier side of prominent people of the day - that you may or may not have known.
    • 2/5
      unmemorable mystery about first lady cop in Brooklyn. Reviewed for Booklist.
    • 3/5
      I really wanted to give this book a good review. It had all the right notes for me - gutsy girl, historical mystery, inventors, murder - however, they were all a bit sour.Mary Handley was a very bright young lady recently fired from a job in a hat factory, one of the few jobs available to women at the time. What she really wanted was to be a police officer like her less able brother. She had the fabulous luck of being at the scene of a murder of one Charles Goodrich, an ex-bookkeeper of Thomas Edison. She made observations that attracted the attention of the police chief who happened to be under pressure by the public and his superiors to hire a woman. Since she showed up the men at the scene, he hired her and assigned her to investigate. She was suddenly immersed in the world of inventors like Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla and major businessmen like J.P. Morgan and George Westinghouse. This backdrop should give us a fabulous historical mystery but instead it felt like major name dropping. While I wanted to like Mary with all my heart, I found her rude and unnecessarily disrespectful.What sealed this book's demise for me was this totally unrealistic scene."A gunshot rang out, its flash piercing the blackness. Mary instantly dropped to the ground, her body hugging its hard, cold surface. She watched carefully as the bullet ricocheted off the cement floor and stone pillars, flashing again with each hit and making a pinging sound as it bounced her way. At the last minute, she rolled over to avoid it, the bullet striking dangerously close to her before moving on. Another shot was fired, causing more pings and flashes. Mary again trained her eye on the zigzag path of the bullet and Moved just in time to elude it. A third bullet eventually ripped the lower part of her dress, but she herself was unharmed."The picture I had in my head was of Neo leaning backwards as the bullets' tracks missed him.The author claims to have done extensive research on the case and the characters but they all seemed caricatures instead. There was even an assassin, Bowler Hat, that reminded me of Odd Job.
    • 4/5
      The story takes place at the end of the 19th Century in New York City. Mary Handley is destined to be a spinster. She's working in a sweat shop, has trouble bowing to the owner and thinks women should be able to be a free as men. The story is filled with a number of historical characters, Thomas Edison, Nicolai Tesla, and J P Morgan among them. When the fiance of Mary's friend is killed Mary gets drawn in to solve the murder.
    • 2/5
      Since this book was billed as being much like the Maisie Dobbs and Maggie Hope series, I went into this book with high hopes, as I've enjoyed both those series. However, this book was nothing like those series.Mary Handley is an unconventional woman in late-1880's New York. She's brash, mouthy, and wants to be a detective. She gets her break when she's hired by the Brooklyn police department to solve a murder. The entire time I was reading this book, it felt like Mary was a modern woman plunked down in the past. The way she spoke, the way she acted - even the most unconventional women of her time would not have been like this. I didn't care for her cursing, and even using the f-word towards her mother. These are things a modern woman would do, not a 19th-century woman.Through the course of her "investigation" Mary comes into contact with several high-profile New Yorkers - Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, JP Morgan. It almost felt the author was trying hard to name-drop, and it made the story seem much less realistic. Then to top things off, Mary becomes involved with Charles Pemberton (of Coca-Cola fame). Seriously, what are the chances of this happening? I know this was the author's first novel, but it was so unevenly written as to be distracting. Historical facts are over-explained, as if the author doesn't believe that the reader would have knowledge of even basic facts. Or, the author felt the need to show-off his own research and knowledge - for example, was it important to tell us a historical fact about the Brooklyn Bridge being built 5 years before, when Mary goes to a fish market near the bridge? The author should have spent more time fleshing out Mary's character, and less time adding random historical facts.I found the "Bowler Hat" storyline to be somewhat unnecessary, and the gratuitous rape scene to be completely irrelevant to the story. I just cannot recommend this book. If you want a true historical story with a realistic female detective, try Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal. You won't be disappointed.
    • 4/5
      I would recommend Second Street Station by Lawrence H Levy for a quick summer read. It was a written so that it kept your interest and guided you along at a good pace. The storyline was well conceived and written about a period of history that shows how far we really have come in some areas of human endeavor and how other human emotions have not changed thru the ages. Do not get me wrong this is a murder mystery with several twists to peek your interest and keep you in the story. I look forward to the authors next outing and to continue to expand this character that shows so much promise.
    • 3/5
      Interesting historical mystery set in late 1900s New York City. Mary Handley is the main character, a former sweatshop seamstress who gets a job as the first female police officer. The story is based on a real person, and peopled with Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and JP Morgan, to name a few. But while I enjoyed much about the setting, the bad guys are so cartoonish that it kind of ruined the impact. There was also a totally pointless sex scene that was there to establish that JP Morgan had a thing for prostitutes. Yawn. I received this book in return for an honest review. In summary, I'd say read it if you find it, but if something more interesting is on hand, pass on this one.
    • 3/5
      Mary Handley wants to become a detective, but 19th century women don't have that option. She gets a chance to achieve her dream when the Brooklyn PD asks her to help investigate the murder of Charles Goodrich. No one expects much of her, but of course she proves them wrong. Her list of suspects includes big names like Thomas Edison, J.P. Morgan, and Nikola Tesla and she investigates fearlessly no matter the threat to herself. I love to read historical fiction detective stories with strong female characters. This one hit in the middle of my favorite list. The plot was ok and fast paced, but sometimes the mystery was overshadowed by all the historical facts crammed into the story. Mary had some witty dialogue and was a strong girl-power character, but sometimes it didn't feel authentic. I wanted to know more about her and her life to feel more connected to the character. There were many moments of background information giving instead of "showing" that pulled you out of the story. The 19th century setting included a lot of big names and the power struggle surrounding them. Women's rights is a huge theme throughout the story. Mary interviewing a drunk and discouraged Tesla who is venting about Edison stealing his inventions and then the two of them sharing a drink was a great chapter. Overall it was an ok story, but not my favorite historical fiction mystery.
    • 3/5
      At first glance this book seemed to be right up my alley, historical fiction with a strong female protagonist, and the first few chapters drew me right in. But midway through, I felt like something had derailed somewhere. Perhaps it was that Mary, for all her independence and gumption, was difficult to get to know. There were several episodes that just did not seem to fit anywhere, most notably those concerning "The Bowler Hat". I believe the reader could ascertain that character's role and purpose without some of the side trips. The sex scenes seemed unnecessary and slightly unbelievable; I was not offended, but I thought their inclusion detracted from the flow of the story. I'm still not sure why Charles Pemberton was included at all, other than to add to the roll call of famous people. On a more positive note, there were some funny scenes and some enlightening glimpses into the period. The "who done it" was a surprise, and the end of the book seemed to regain some of the focus that wavered in the middle. I would still be willing to give Mary Handley one more try to see how her character develops.
    • 3/5
      The appeal of this historical mystery is definitely Mary Handley, the spunky 24-year-old who is a disappointment to her mother for not yet being married with children. Encountering a dead man (and possibly his killer) at age 12, Mary was more curious than scared. In 1888, she has no qualms about speaking her mind but she'd prefer to use her considerable brain power rather than work in a hat factory. A rare opportunity helping the police solve a murder gives Mary the opening to demonstrate her skills but also puts her in grave danger. The case at hand revolves around Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, J.P. Morgan and other historical figures, portrayed almost as caricatures which can be rather amusing. The plot is interesting enough and the resolution is handled competently but the tone is sometimes "off" for the time period, even for a young woman as ahead of her time as Mary.
    • 3/5
      This book came to me from Library Thing Early Reviewers - I am so pleased to have received it. This book has been likened to a Maisie Dobbs mystery. The only thing that I can say is similar is the time in history when these were written. I enjoyed the "real" characters that were woven into this story line. The other reviewers wrote to give you the essence of the story. I want you to know that this a fast read, held my attention and my husband had to make dinner because I would not put the book down. Give this a try - you are likely to really enjoy it.