Near Prospect Park
A Mary Handley Mystery

At 2 weeks prior to publication, I can now post my review. Near Prospect Park by Lawrence H. Levy is the fourth book in the Mary Handley historical mystery series. It worked as a standalone novel with a strong female protagonist and is set in the late 1890’s in Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York. Mary H......more

4.5 stars. Rounded up to 5. Near Prospect Park is the 4th in a series about Mary Handley, a late 19th century private detective who rubs elbows with New York City's elite and famous while investigating crimes. It works well as a standalone novel. Mary is hired to recover a stolen play for W.S. Gilbe......more

Wow! This fourth installment in the Mary Handley mystery series is a gut punch to the faithful series reader. The material, although still sadly poignant to this day, was darker than found in previous books in the series and quite shocking in its telling. It's late 1896 in New York City. The wealthy......more

I love this era of storytelling so I was immediately drawn in and having recognizable historic figures like Roosevelt was a huge bonus of fascination. Mary Handley was a strong character although on the outset it was hard for me to believe she had an infant and maintained a career. I love the idea b......more

Historical fiction is my preferred way of gaining insight in to places and periods I am not well acquainted with. Levy's mystery takes us to the final years of the 19th Century in Manhattan and a "high-living" crowd of wealthy bachelors who amused themselves by drugging and taking advantage of women......more