Molly Murphy Sullivan and new husband Michael are invited to honeymoon in a "cottage" in Newport, Rhode Island, by Brian Hannan, a New York City alderman, Tammany boss, and construction company owner in October of 1903. This is unusual because no one goes there after Labor Day. After getting there late during a rainstorm, they have to spend the night in the stables since they can raise no one in the house. They find that there was some reason Detective Sullivan was invited other than just being accommodating when they discover that Brian has invited his whole family for the weekend for some big announcement. When Brian does not arrive as scheduled, he is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, just where Colleen Hannan, Brian's 4 year old granddaughter, was found dead 8 years previously. Meanwhile Michael is feeling under the weather and Molly becomes interested in the case. Characters include, brothers Joseph Hannan (Brian's partner in Hannan Construction) and Patrick Hannan (a priest); Brian's daughter, Irene Van Horn, husband Archie and their two sons; niece and nephew Terrance and Eliza Hannan, Joseph's children; and Mrs. McCreedy, housekeeper. ( )

This is the story of Molly Murphy Sullivan who has married a Policeman in New York, Daniel Sullivan. When she and her husband are invited to Alderman Hannan's residence because they had to miss their honeymoon, she embarks on an investigation to clear a young girl of murder. Since her husband, Daniel comes down with pnemonia she has to investigate the death of the Alderman and the death of his grandchild who died some years before with the help of her friends. A delightful mystery and interesting read. I had never read any of the Molly Murphy books before and greatly enjoyed this one. Ms. Bowen is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint with this one. Highly recommend this book. ( )

I think this has been one of my favorite Molly Murphy books yet. I would call it gothic "lite" with its castle called a cottage and supposed ghosts which turned out to be a real girl. ( )

After their honeymoon plans are dashed by work, Alderman Hannen invites the newlyweds to his estate in RI. Daniel and Molly's romantic gets off to a rocky start when no one appears to greet them when they arrive and they are forced to sleep in the barn to get out of the rain. The next morning, the housekeeper seems less than welcoming and accuses them of being tramps. Once the issues are sorted out, Daniel and Molly are finally shown to the guest cottage, where they can get settled in.

As they attempt to salvage their honeymoon, their luck doesn't seem to improve as the Alderman's family begins to arrive and appear to be less than happy to have strangers among them. When it doesn't seem like things could become worse, Daniel becomes deathly ill and the alderman is found dead on the estate.

Someone wanted the alderman dead, but who and why? With Daniel knocking on deaths door, Molly finds herself immersed in the mystery despite Daniel and the local police's wishes for her to stay out of it. It appears that the alderman's death isn't the only unsolved murder on the estate.... ( )

Great Series of Historical Cozy mysteries
This one takes place in a castle on the bay where some strange things are going on including murder ( )