36.
Author(s): Victoria Thompson
Title: Murder on Bank Street
Publication: Kindle
Pages:
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Acquisition:
Date Completed: April 14, 2011
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

The title of Victoria Thompson's Murder on Bank Street is misleading, as it does not present a murder in Sarah Brandt's neighborhood; nor does it present a new murder at all. This particular volume delivers on the subplots that have been building in recent books, and focuses entirely on the case of Dr. Brandt's murder, which occurs four years prior to the story itself.

Although Malloy is appointed head of the investigation, he quickly realizes that he is greatly limited by his resources and position, and begrudgingly accepts nearly any help that's offered - even when it comes in the unlikely form of Sarah Brandt's nursemaid, Maeve.

The primary plot of the novel is an investigation of the cold case, but what I enjoyed most about this particular narrative was Thompson's willingness to set aside her typical protagonists and develop secondary characters. In Murder on Bank Street Maeve becomes a round character, and her personality really carries the mystery through. The final twist is actually not one I expected, and I was thrilled with the conclusion.