Monday, June 1, 2026

Review: Murder at the Marble House by: Alyssa Maxwell


Title: Murder at the Marble House
Author: Alyssa Maxwell
Publisher: Kensington
Series: Gilded Newport Mysteries #2
Format: Paperback ( 336 p.) Personal 

Description:

For fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age, explore the dark side of the alluring world of America’s 19th century elite in this gripping series of riveting mysteries…

With the dawn of the twentieth century on the horizon, the fortunes of the venerable Vanderbilt family still shine brightly in the glittering high society of Newport, Rhode Island. But when a potential scandal strikes, the Vanderbilts turn to cousin and society page reporter Emma Cross to solve a murder and a disappearance. . .Responding to a frantic call on her newfangled telephone from her eighteen-year-old cousin, Consuelo Vanderbilt, Emma Cross arrives at the Marble House mansion and learns the cause of her distress--Consuelo's mother, Alva, is forcing her into marriage with the Duke of Marlborough. Her mother has even called in a fortune teller to assure Consuelo of a happy future.

But the future is short-lived for the fortune teller, who is found dead by her crystal ball, strangled with a silk scarf. Standing above her is one of the Vanderbilts' maids, who is promptly taken into police custody. After the frenzy has died down, Consuelo is nowhere to be found. At Alva's request, Emma must employ her sleuthing skills to determine if the vanishing Vanderbilt has eloped with the beau of her choice--or if her disappearance may be directly connected to the murder. . .

My Thoughts: 

This book follows Emma Cross who is related to the Vanderbilts and spends lots of time with them.,  This book focuses on Consuelo who wants to be with someone other than the Duke her mother is determined she marry, more for social standing then actual love.  When Consuelo goes missing it's up to Emma to figure out where her cousin is and what happened to her.  Also she finds herself investigating what happened to the fortune teller who wound up dead?  Who had the motive to kill her and why?

This book brings you back to Rhode Island and the Vanderbilts.  We learn more about the complex family and what they are up too.  We also see more of Emma risking herself to get to the truth of what is going on in the family and why her cousin is missing!