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Nell Sweeney Mysteries #6
A Bucket of Ashes
From the Mary Higgins Clark Award nominee-a new Gilded Age mystery. Nell's reputation as a model governess is threatened by a secret from her past-and the possibility that she might be carrying Will Hewitt's child. But these problems pale with what she learns: that the body of her only remaining brother has been discovered- and that he was wanted for murder.
288 pages, ebook
First published December 4, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
December 19, 2011
I finish on a sigh. This relationship between the hero and heroine is fraught with emotional and situational complexity. The mystery this time was a personal one, dealing with the last of Nell's demons. My only complaint is that it was rather short. I could have read on for quite a lot longer. But then I like long books. The mystery was secondary, but that was perfectly fine by me. The characters were so richly drawn, it seemed natural that their story would take the spotlight. I'm rather sad to say goodbye to this series. The characters, Will, in particular, will stay with me for some time.
January 19, 2013
Clearly my reluctance to read the final book didn't last very long. But I feel robbed! The book actually ended at 75%, with the final 25% being an extra long excerpt from the first book. Really, we need an excerpt from the first book after reading the last one? This was also the most poorly edited book. The previous books might have had one or two errors, per book. This one had many errors, 'Nell' appeared as 'No', 'one' as 'on', and in one sentence he and his were both used instead of she and her. Also, a flimsy love triangle was thrown in after blissfully being free from of that contrivance in all the previous books. I know why it was done, some obstacle was needed to keep Nell and Will from their ultimate reunion until the end of the book, but I found it vaguely annoying at first. Thankfully, it disappeared almost as soon as they introduced it once it had served its purpose.
But then I finished the book and all of the above, plus some awfully convenient and timely tiding up of loose ends, was completely forgiven with the happy feeling I got with the completely agreeable ending, which wasn't dimmed any by the knowledge that Will and Nell would, of course, end up together. And I loved the unexpected, but perfect way the end of the book was written.
I can't wait to re-read these last two books and then the whole series.
But then I finished the book and all of the above, plus some awfully convenient and timely tiding up of loose ends, was completely forgiven with the happy feeling I got with the completely agreeable ending, which wasn't dimmed any by the knowledge that Will and Nell would, of course, end up together. And I loved the unexpected, but perfect way the end of the book was written.
I can't wait to re-read these last two books and then the whole series.
April 23, 2017
It was ok... but not quite what I was hoping for in the finale of this series. The mystery was lackluster, with more focus on Nell than the mystery for much of it. Then Nell and Will's relationship took the contrived sort of turns that I dislike in a romance and didn't have as many of the more subtle interactions that I enjoyed in previous books. Until now, their relationship didn't have that 'romance' quality. So unfortunately I find myself disappointed in the resolution of 5 books of build-up. I really wish it wasn't true, but I feel let down.
Just another note of caution - as another reviewer noted, there are about 50 pages at the end of the ebook edition that are an excerpt from the first book in the series, just in case you hadn't read it I suppose. Luckily I was aware of this and didn't get the cheated feeling of reaching the end 50 pages too early.
Just another note of caution - as another reviewer noted, there are about 50 pages at the end of the ebook edition that are an excerpt from the first book in the series, just in case you hadn't read it I suppose. Luckily I was aware of this and didn't get the cheated feeling of reaching the end 50 pages too early.
October 21, 2019
Wow, this series was everything I love most about historical mysteries. There was a fabulous heroine, a troubled hero, slow burning romance, interesting events in each installment, and a perfect balance of character development with historical events. These books are on the shorter side, and I found myself unable to stop reading. I would end one book, and immediately start the next (which is rare for me). The transformation Nell and Will undergo throughout the series was phenomenal. I'm sad the series is officially complete, but will happily reread to visit Nell and Will again.
January 5, 2022
A satisfying end to the series. I'm a marshmallow and love that HEA.
Life can never be simple and straightforward for my girl, Nell. She is still in love with Will, and dealing with the consequences from the end of book 5. Her past comes up to stare her straight in the face: Duncan, Dr. Greaves, and her estranged brother, Jamie. The mystery isn't a particularly mysterious one, but we do get most things tied up in a bow and I am satsified that my favorite governess will go on to live happily ever after. Girl, you deserve it after all you have been through in life.
Sad to see this series end, but happy with the epilogue and the hope for the future. 4 stars.
Life can never be simple and straightforward for my girl, Nell. She is still in love with Will, and dealing with the consequences from the end of book 5. Her past comes up to stare her straight in the face: Duncan, Dr. Greaves, and her estranged brother, Jamie. The mystery isn't a particularly mysterious one, but we do get most things tied up in a bow and I am satsified that my favorite governess will go on to live happily ever after. Girl, you deserve it after all you have been through in life.
Sad to see this series end, but happy with the epilogue and the hope for the future. 4 stars.
August 8, 2012
Wow.. So this is how it ends.
I was so happy with this series all the way that I got absolutely blind-sided by this book!
I have to admit: I skipped a few pages in this one! I skipped a few a lot of pages in this one. I still got the gist of it.
I did not skip pages because I didn't like the book! I think the reason was that there were more words than were necessary on some of the pages. I do like descriptive writing, but sometimes you just have to get on with it!
I do understand the need to bring readers up to speed on things that happened earlier in the series, if they happen to have skipped those books. If it is too much "reminiscing" though then it gets boring and redundant for the faithful readers that read them all cover to cover. That is all.
Since really all of the books in this series were rather great, I am very willing to forgive this little bit of annoyance.
The Mystery part was really shallow! I get the whole "working through your feelings" bit with Nell's leftover family. I thought it was necessary to her character. Although I do think it was not necessary to kill her brother off to bring it about.
After finding out Nell's "situation" I wasn't really interested in the mystery at all any more. I just wanted to find out how she would handle it. Well, she refused to until the end and even then we got sort of cheated out of it.
I didn't like how neat the whole Duncan thing got resolved! It was just a bit too convenient!
The whole part with the "newspaper clipping" thing at the end was a bit trite.
The whole book felt like Mrs. Ryan just wanted to get it over with, have Nell taken care of in the end.
I didn't like that Will's excuse for being a cad was Nell being still married! It just did not fit in with his heroic character. His devil-may-care attitude, his possessiveness, his unconventional behaviour. Through out the series, he became more and more of a user. He used Nell for what he wanted. Then in the end, he makes it "all right" by.. gosh better not say anything about that or spoil it.
I am not opposed to happily ever after! Not in the least! I like it! I wish life was sometimes more like it!
Bucket full of ashes had a cheap, rushed ending that left me feeling like I had a bucket full of too sweet candy!
Sorry, Mrs. Ryan. I know you put a lot of work into this one, just like your other books and I may be too harsh, or overly judgemental, but I just can't find much good about this one!
I am rather in a forgiving mood about it though and will certainly read more books by you! I just know that this was maybe just a fluke! Can't hit a home-run every time, right?
I was so happy with this series all the way that I got absolutely blind-sided by this book!
I have to admit: I skipped a few pages in this one! I skipped a few a lot of pages in this one. I still got the gist of it.
I did not skip pages because I didn't like the book! I think the reason was that there were more words than were necessary on some of the pages. I do like descriptive writing, but sometimes you just have to get on with it!
I do understand the need to bring readers up to speed on things that happened earlier in the series, if they happen to have skipped those books. If it is too much "reminiscing" though then it gets boring and redundant for the faithful readers that read them all cover to cover. That is all.
Since really all of the books in this series were rather great, I am very willing to forgive this little bit of annoyance.
The Mystery part was really shallow! I get the whole "working through your feelings" bit with Nell's leftover family. I thought it was necessary to her character. Although I do think it was not necessary to kill her brother off to bring it about.
After finding out Nell's "situation" I wasn't really interested in the mystery at all any more. I just wanted to find out how she would handle it. Well, she refused to until the end and even then we got sort of cheated out of it.
I didn't like how neat the whole Duncan thing got resolved! It was just a bit too convenient!
The whole part with the "newspaper clipping" thing at the end was a bit trite.
The whole book felt like Mrs. Ryan just wanted to get it over with, have Nell taken care of in the end.
I didn't like that Will's excuse for being a cad was Nell being still married! It just did not fit in with his heroic character. His devil-may-care attitude, his possessiveness, his unconventional behaviour. Through out the series, he became more and more of a user. He used Nell for what he wanted. Then in the end, he makes it "all right" by.. gosh better not say anything about that or spoil it.
I am not opposed to happily ever after! Not in the least! I like it! I wish life was sometimes more like it!
Bucket full of ashes had a cheap, rushed ending that left me feeling like I had a bucket full of too sweet candy!
Sorry, Mrs. Ryan. I know you put a lot of work into this one, just like your other books and I may be too harsh, or overly judgemental, but I just can't find much good about this one!
I am rather in a forgiving mood about it though and will certainly read more books by you! I just know that this was maybe just a fluke! Can't hit a home-run every time, right?
December 2, 2017
This is not an especially timely review. It's for a book which was released in 2007. In addition, this is not really a review for just this book. It's a review of the whole Nell Sweeney historical mystery series. There are six books altogether. The first, STILL LIFE WITH MURDER, came out in 2004, takes place in 1868 in post Civil War Boston and introduced readers to heroine Nell Sweeney, Irish immigrant from a very poor background who, with the help of a kind doctor, gets herself out of the gutter and educated and becomes the doctor's medical assistant.
In the first book, Nell assists at the Caesarean birth of the baby of a maid in the household of the rich and influential Hewitt family. The matriarch of the family is so impressed by Nell that she hires her to live with them and raise the child. (Why should Viola Hewitt want to raise the child as part of her family? I'm not saying. Just read the books.)
So the complete 6-book series has Nell living in the Hewitt household in Boston, taking care of baby Gracie and solving a mystery in each book. Nell also becomes involved with the whole family, some family members loving her, some not, and there's a special relationship between Nell and oldest son and black sheep of the family Will, who's messed up emotionally and injured physically through events during the Civil War and is now addicted to opium.
As the series progresses, we see their relationship become closer and Will slowly wean himself off drugs, with some minor set-backs. There are some complications to Nell and Will having an HEA which I will not mention because you need to read it all and be surprised by everything in Nell's background. However, all will be resolved in this last book.
All in all, this is a very complete series with interesting history, good mysteries and an overarching romance. The books take place over a 2-year period, from 1868 to 1870. The six titles are STILL LIFE WITH MURDER, MURDER IN A MILL TOWN, DEATH ON BEACON HILL, MURDER ON BLACK FRIDAY, MURDER IN THE NORTH END, and this last one, A BUCKET OF ASHES. I have enjoyed them all, perhaps the first one impressing me the most for its depiction of the grip opium has on Will. My only criticism of the books is that the Kindle versions have typos and are not edited as well as they should be. In addition, the stories are all short, most under 200 pages, and as such they could be priced more economically, especially considering the at-times shoddy editing.
In the first book, Nell assists at the Caesarean birth of the baby of a maid in the household of the rich and influential Hewitt family. The matriarch of the family is so impressed by Nell that she hires her to live with them and raise the child. (Why should Viola Hewitt want to raise the child as part of her family? I'm not saying. Just read the books.)
So the complete 6-book series has Nell living in the Hewitt household in Boston, taking care of baby Gracie and solving a mystery in each book. Nell also becomes involved with the whole family, some family members loving her, some not, and there's a special relationship between Nell and oldest son and black sheep of the family Will, who's messed up emotionally and injured physically through events during the Civil War and is now addicted to opium.
As the series progresses, we see their relationship become closer and Will slowly wean himself off drugs, with some minor set-backs. There are some complications to Nell and Will having an HEA which I will not mention because you need to read it all and be surprised by everything in Nell's background. However, all will be resolved in this last book.
All in all, this is a very complete series with interesting history, good mysteries and an overarching romance. The books take place over a 2-year period, from 1868 to 1870. The six titles are STILL LIFE WITH MURDER, MURDER IN A MILL TOWN, DEATH ON BEACON HILL, MURDER ON BLACK FRIDAY, MURDER IN THE NORTH END, and this last one, A BUCKET OF ASHES. I have enjoyed them all, perhaps the first one impressing me the most for its depiction of the grip opium has on Will. My only criticism of the books is that the Kindle versions have typos and are not edited as well as they should be. In addition, the stories are all short, most under 200 pages, and as such they could be priced more economically, especially considering the at-times shoddy editing.
August 5, 2019
I confess the mystery side of the novel didn't appeal to me as much as the romance between Nell and Will. I simply couldn't put the book down until I read it to the end. I so loved it! It made me realise that I'm such a romantic fool....
Anyway, if you're into historical mysteries with remarkable characters and slow burn romance, I highly recommend this series.
Anyway, if you're into historical mysteries with remarkable characters and slow burn romance, I highly recommend this series.
September 16, 2014
Through all the pain and sacrifice, the impossible emerges triumphant
I have greatly enjoyed the Nell Sweeney Series by P.B. Ryan. A web of conflicting and seemingly insurmountable odds keep two star-crossed lovers apart as their lives are drawn into seeking justice in murder investigations that touch upon their lives, especially from the past. Nell Sweeney, Dr. Will Hewitt, even little innocent Gracie Hewitt, Will's 6-year-old daughter, are draped in secrets and inaccurate assumptions. Secrets many antagonists would love to expose...just as Buckets of Ashes starts out in this ending sequel. Good people like Mrs. Viola Hewitt, the matriarch of the family and Will's mother, Dr. Greaves, who helps Nell accept her troubled past and the loss of her only remaining sibling. The bittersweet ending that gives this family a new beginning for the chance at a happy future, no longer stymied by secrets and the forbidden rules of Brahmin Boston in the 1870's.
I have greatly enjoyed the Nell Sweeney Series by P.B. Ryan. A web of conflicting and seemingly insurmountable odds keep two star-crossed lovers apart as their lives are drawn into seeking justice in murder investigations that touch upon their lives, especially from the past. Nell Sweeney, Dr. Will Hewitt, even little innocent Gracie Hewitt, Will's 6-year-old daughter, are draped in secrets and inaccurate assumptions. Secrets many antagonists would love to expose...just as Buckets of Ashes starts out in this ending sequel. Good people like Mrs. Viola Hewitt, the matriarch of the family and Will's mother, Dr. Greaves, who helps Nell accept her troubled past and the loss of her only remaining sibling. The bittersweet ending that gives this family a new beginning for the chance at a happy future, no longer stymied by secrets and the forbidden rules of Brahmin Boston in the 1870's.
December 29, 2013
This felt like a shorter book to me compared to the others in the series, but possibly only because of the amount of DRAMA packed into it. Which I loved, obviously. Unlike the previous five books, the romance took a front seat in this one, while the mystery was almost treated a subplot to tie up loose ends. Possibly a bit too perfect of a HEA, but it left me smiling - and this was really a most satisfying series.
December 9, 2018
I’m sad that this series is over because as I wrote in an earlier review of one of the books in this series I fell in love with these characters, the setting, the mysteries, the side characters and the romantic tension between Nell and Will. I’m happy that this book ties up the ending in a great way.
December 4, 2021
Inhalt
Nell Sweeney erfährt vom überraschenden Tod ihres Bruders. Trotz dem, dass sie ihn lange nicht gesehen hat und er auch nicht den besten Ruf genoss, hat Nell Zweifel an den Umständen seines Dahinscheidens. Sind sie berechtigt? Unerwartet erhält sie Hilfe von einer von ihr schmerzlich vermissten Person.
Thema und Genre
Ein historisch gut recherchierter Krimi rund um eine starke junge Frau in den schwierigen Zeiten des späten 19. Jahrhunderts.
Charaktere
Gerade mit der Hauptfigur Nell kann man sich als Leser*in sehr gut identifizieren. Sie ist ehrlich, klug und sehr sympathisch. Alle anderen rücken eher etwas in den Hintergrund, was das Aufbauen einer Beziehung etwas erschwert. Die Nebenfiguren bleiben also eher blass.
Handlung und Schreibstil
Das typische Cover ist schön anzusehen, leider ist es mittlerweile ein "Allerwelts-Cover", welches man in der Art leider zuhauf und quer durch alle Genre sieht. Hier fehlt absolut der Wiedererkennungswert.
Der Schreibstil ist nicht zu schwer und nicht zu leicht. Die Dialoge sind in zeitgemäßem Ausdruck gehalten. Dadurch entsteht das typische Flair der Nell Sweeney - Romane.
Als letzten Band der Reihe habe ich mir in der Handlung einiges mehr erhofft. Ein Spannungsbogen gleicht eher einer Spannungslinie. Es passiert nicht viel, das was passiert liest sich relativ lieblos. Das bin ich von dieser Reihe überhaupt nicht gewohnt. Der sonst so gut platzierte Twist zum Ende fehlt mir in Gänze. Das Miträtseln mit der klugen Gouvernante entfiel so völlig.
Somit war dieser lang ersehnte letzte Teil ziemlich enttäuschend.
Die Vorgänger sollten unbedingt gelesen werden, um Nells Geschichte nachvollziehen zu können.
Fazit
Leider ein enttäuschender Abschluss dieser eigentlich sehr guten Reihe. Wirklich schade. 2 🌟
Nell Sweeney erfährt vom überraschenden Tod ihres Bruders. Trotz dem, dass sie ihn lange nicht gesehen hat und er auch nicht den besten Ruf genoss, hat Nell Zweifel an den Umständen seines Dahinscheidens. Sind sie berechtigt? Unerwartet erhält sie Hilfe von einer von ihr schmerzlich vermissten Person.
Thema und Genre
Ein historisch gut recherchierter Krimi rund um eine starke junge Frau in den schwierigen Zeiten des späten 19. Jahrhunderts.
Charaktere
Gerade mit der Hauptfigur Nell kann man sich als Leser*in sehr gut identifizieren. Sie ist ehrlich, klug und sehr sympathisch. Alle anderen rücken eher etwas in den Hintergrund, was das Aufbauen einer Beziehung etwas erschwert. Die Nebenfiguren bleiben also eher blass.
Handlung und Schreibstil
Das typische Cover ist schön anzusehen, leider ist es mittlerweile ein "Allerwelts-Cover", welches man in der Art leider zuhauf und quer durch alle Genre sieht. Hier fehlt absolut der Wiedererkennungswert.
Der Schreibstil ist nicht zu schwer und nicht zu leicht. Die Dialoge sind in zeitgemäßem Ausdruck gehalten. Dadurch entsteht das typische Flair der Nell Sweeney - Romane.
Als letzten Band der Reihe habe ich mir in der Handlung einiges mehr erhofft. Ein Spannungsbogen gleicht eher einer Spannungslinie. Es passiert nicht viel, das was passiert liest sich relativ lieblos. Das bin ich von dieser Reihe überhaupt nicht gewohnt. Der sonst so gut platzierte Twist zum Ende fehlt mir in Gänze. Das Miträtseln mit der klugen Gouvernante entfiel so völlig.
Somit war dieser lang ersehnte letzte Teil ziemlich enttäuschend.
Die Vorgänger sollten unbedingt gelesen werden, um Nells Geschichte nachvollziehen zu können.
Fazit
Leider ein enttäuschender Abschluss dieser eigentlich sehr guten Reihe. Wirklich schade. 2 🌟
April 12, 2020
A Bucket of Ashes
4 Stars
Nell Sweeney's amateur sleuthing comes to a satisfying, if rather short, end as this final installment in the series is actually a novella.
While Nell does become involved in a case, the investigation takes a back seat to the developments and ultimate resolution of her complex relationship with Will Hewitt. Suffice it to say that everything is wrapped up neatly and fans of their romance will not be disappointed.
The minor mystery revolves around the discovery of a dead body in a burned-out barn, which soon turns out to be that of Nell's long-lost brother, Jamie. Nell sets out to learn the truth surrounding the crime of which he was accused and may have contributed to his death.
In sum, the Nell Sweeney series is a wonderful cozy style historical mystery with a touch of action and lovely romance. Highly recommended.
4 Stars
Nell Sweeney's amateur sleuthing comes to a satisfying, if rather short, end as this final installment in the series is actually a novella.
While Nell does become involved in a case, the investigation takes a back seat to the developments and ultimate resolution of her complex relationship with Will Hewitt. Suffice it to say that everything is wrapped up neatly and fans of their romance will not be disappointed.
The minor mystery revolves around the discovery of a dead body in a burned-out barn, which soon turns out to be that of Nell's long-lost brother, Jamie. Nell sets out to learn the truth surrounding the crime of which he was accused and may have contributed to his death.
In sum, the Nell Sweeney series is a wonderful cozy style historical mystery with a touch of action and lovely romance. Highly recommended.
February 23, 2017
All you want in a historical mystery series. I'm sad to be done.
April 22, 2010
Final book in the Gilded Age mystery series and it reads exactly like that -- a series wrap up. The mystery element was almost an after thought. This book was dedicated wholly to wrapping up loose ends on the personal and character front.
Throughout the series, Nell, the main character has been guarding some pretty heavy secrets for very good reason. Only Will, her best friend and the man she's quietly (and sufferingly) in love with knows them all. Well all is revealed in this installment, for the most part.
While the family is enjoying their annual summer sojourn on the Cape, Nell's past comes crashing into her present. Her last living sibling, her younger brother Jamie has been killed and under a cloud of suspicion. Also, her personal situation with Will, who is away in France working at a war-time field surgeon during one of the Napoleonic wars at the behest of President Grant, has reached a critical turning point. She has some hard decisions to make especially with Dr. Greaves, the man who helped her out when she needed it most, returns to her life.
I think I enjoyed this book largely on the merits of it being the terminal book in what is one of the more enjoyable series I've read of late. It reads more like a romance with mystery elements than a mystery with some romantic elements the way the earlier books are. I reall have o complains there as I like romance novels and have been suffering right along with Nell and Will in their tortured romance. So I am glad everything gets resolved so nicely. And I do admit that the 'punishment' meted out to the awful Harry is quite poetic. He'll be miserable for the rest of his life. LOL.
OTOH, everything does get resolved too nicely. Everything is wrapped up in a very neat, convenient and wonderful bow. If I had harsher feelings for the series I probably would have given this book a 3-star rating. But I am sentimental, I am glad things worked out the way they did and I did get a lot of enjoyment from this series.
Throughout the series, Nell, the main character has been guarding some pretty heavy secrets for very good reason. Only Will, her best friend and the man she's quietly (and sufferingly) in love with knows them all. Well all is revealed in this installment, for the most part.
While the family is enjoying their annual summer sojourn on the Cape, Nell's past comes crashing into her present. Her last living sibling, her younger brother Jamie has been killed and under a cloud of suspicion. Also, her personal situation with Will, who is away in France working at a war-time field surgeon during one of the Napoleonic wars at the behest of President Grant, has reached a critical turning point. She has some hard decisions to make especially with Dr. Greaves, the man who helped her out when she needed it most, returns to her life.
I think I enjoyed this book largely on the merits of it being the terminal book in what is one of the more enjoyable series I've read of late. It reads more like a romance with mystery elements than a mystery with some romantic elements the way the earlier books are. I reall have o complains there as I like romance novels and have been suffering right along with Nell and Will in their tortured romance. So I am glad everything gets resolved so nicely. And I do admit that the 'punishment' meted out to the awful Harry is quite poetic. He'll be miserable for the rest of his life. LOL.
OTOH, everything does get resolved too nicely. Everything is wrapped up in a very neat, convenient and wonderful bow. If I had harsher feelings for the series I probably would have given this book a 3-star rating. But I am sentimental, I am glad things worked out the way they did and I did get a lot of enjoyment from this series.
February 2, 2017
So after finishing this book - which feels like the natural end of the series, although I don't know if the author is planning to continue - I have come to understand the Nell Sweeney books more. If you approach them as primarily romance (the story of how governess Nell falls in love with, marries, and starts a family with her employer's son), they hold up much better than if you approach them as historical fiction (many anachronisms that only grow worse as the story progresses) or as mysteries (there is rarely deduction; it's mostly passive "listen to witnesses until they decide to tell you what happened").
As a romance series with historical bits thrown in as flavor, using mysteries to advance the romance, it actually ends up working quite well. Yes, it's total candyfloss wish-fulfillment that requires a lot of suspension of disbelief. But as a romance, in the long tradition of "governess marries rich fellow" books, it's fine. Nell and Will are both likeable characters and there are several interesting secondary characters as well.
There were a lot of hard-to-believe elements in the denouement of this particular installment. But ultimately, again, if I remind myself that this is wish-fulfillment romantic fantasy, it works much better than if it's supposed to be realistic in the slightest.
As a romance series with historical bits thrown in as flavor, using mysteries to advance the romance, it actually ends up working quite well. Yes, it's total candyfloss wish-fulfillment that requires a lot of suspension of disbelief. But as a romance, in the long tradition of "governess marries rich fellow" books, it's fine. Nell and Will are both likeable characters and there are several interesting secondary characters as well.
There were a lot of hard-to-believe elements in the denouement of this particular installment. But ultimately, again, if I remind myself that this is wish-fulfillment romantic fantasy, it works much better than if it's supposed to be realistic in the slightest.
July 10, 2011
I was a little disappointed in this last installment. I knew it was short, but when I got to the end and I was only 74% into the book, I got little confused. Then when I realized the last 26% of the book was the first part of Still Life With Murder, I think you could say I was feeling put off. Why would you an excerpt from the first book in a series in the last book of the series? Common sense leads one to believe this is material one is already familiar with. I also thought the story could've went a bit further, as it seemed the characters I'd grown so attached to started acting out of character, simply to wrap things up neatly at the end. Perhaps P.B. Ryan was getting tired of Nell and Will, but I wasn't. She did her series a disservice with this phoned in, too neat ending.
April 15, 2011
I really did enjoy this series overall, but the final two books, and this one in particular, felt more like novellas. Somehow all the loose ends were tied up too quickly, and while I liked the ending, it wasn't satisfying. The mystery in this installment feels like an afterthought, as others have mentioned, but for some reason the chemistry that had been so apparent between Will and Nell in the previous books came off a bit flat, too.
I wish the series would have continued, so that we could see the continuing development of their relationship. Alas.
I wish the series would have continued, so that we could see the continuing development of their relationship. Alas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2014
The end of a series
The Nell Sweeney series comes to a conclusion with an endearing finish for romance. Although the conclusion of the tale is sweet it is also sad that Ms. Ryan has not continued Nell's sleuthing. maybe someday Nell will return, we can only hope.
The Nell Sweeney series comes to a conclusion with an endearing finish for romance. Although the conclusion of the tale is sweet it is also sad that Ms. Ryan has not continued Nell's sleuthing. maybe someday Nell will return, we can only hope.
August 30, 2025
3.5 stars? Rounding up because I am happy with the ending, even if I have mixed feelings on the journey the book took to get there.
In general, the book was fine, but after five books of Nell and Will’s will-they-won’t-they (or more like when-will-they), I wanted the last book to be more about them finally being, well, a them. A couple. And their interactions in this book were by far my least favorite of the series. One could argue they were navigating the awkwardness after the advancement their relationship took at the end of the previous book, followed by an extended time apart, but still it was odd for them to go from being so open and honest with each other for five books to withholding important secrets from each other. Granted it was only for like a couple weeks at most, but still, it didn’t vibe well for me. I still love them together, but this book didn’t quite deliver what I had wanted in terms of seeing their relationship finally happen. The ending and epilogue were lovely, though!
I think the plot was oddly paced, trying to balance Nell’s investigation into her brother’s death and her personal drama surrounding her attempt to get a divorce and her suspected pregnancy. The investigation dragged out a little longer than it really needed to, especially since this was finally the book where Nell and Will finally figured things out. The timeline around Will’s storyline was weird, too. He went to France, fought in a battle, and returned to America in like a month? Possible, I guess, but kinda felt rushed to have him both leave and then be back in time to get with Nell. There were also a lot of news articles and letters transcribed within the text that added a weird mixed-media feel that felt a bit out of place.
I did like the return of Dr. Greaves and him actually being a good dude. I have no patience for the trope where a character’s ex is written as inferior and lacking in a mean-spirited way to elevate the actual love interest. The author did a nice job balancing his presence without making it a full-blown love triangle situation. Though I did enjoy Will’s mild jealousy; it was realistic without being overly possessive and judgmental of Nell.
All in all, after the last book, it felt like all the stuff I really cared about happened in the last chapter and epilogue, so the other 250 pages were, not pointless or unnecessary, but a bit of a slog to get to that ending. I’m not exactly disappointed, but I had hoped for a stronger finish to a series that has been so enjoyable.
In general, the book was fine, but after five books of Nell and Will’s will-they-won’t-they (or more like when-will-they), I wanted the last book to be more about them finally being, well, a them. A couple. And their interactions in this book were by far my least favorite of the series. One could argue they were navigating the awkwardness after the advancement their relationship took at the end of the previous book, followed by an extended time apart, but still it was odd for them to go from being so open and honest with each other for five books to withholding important secrets from each other. Granted it was only for like a couple weeks at most, but still, it didn’t vibe well for me. I still love them together, but this book didn’t quite deliver what I had wanted in terms of seeing their relationship finally happen. The ending and epilogue were lovely, though!
I think the plot was oddly paced, trying to balance Nell’s investigation into her brother’s death and her personal drama surrounding her attempt to get a divorce and her suspected pregnancy. The investigation dragged out a little longer than it really needed to, especially since this was finally the book where Nell and Will finally figured things out. The timeline around Will’s storyline was weird, too. He went to France, fought in a battle, and returned to America in like a month? Possible, I guess, but kinda felt rushed to have him both leave and then be back in time to get with Nell. There were also a lot of news articles and letters transcribed within the text that added a weird mixed-media feel that felt a bit out of place.
I did like the return of Dr. Greaves and him actually being a good dude. I have no patience for the trope where a character’s ex is written as inferior and lacking in a mean-spirited way to elevate the actual love interest. The author did a nice job balancing his presence without making it a full-blown love triangle situation. Though I did enjoy Will’s mild jealousy; it was realistic without being overly possessive and judgmental of Nell.
All in all, after the last book, it felt like all the stuff I really cared about happened in the last chapter and epilogue, so the other 250 pages were, not pointless or unnecessary, but a bit of a slog to get to that ending. I’m not exactly disappointed, but I had hoped for a stronger finish to a series that has been so enjoyable.
July 20, 2021
Die Vergangenheit holt einen immer ein.
Die Sommer in dem palastartigen "Cottage" der Familie Hewitts auf Cape Cod sind für die Gouvernante Nell Sweeney immer bittersüß, denn dort verlor sie alle ihre Geschwister bis auf eines durch Krankheit. Dann heiratete sie Duncan, einen nichtsnutzigen Charmeur, der sie missbrauchte und zu Kleinkriminalität überredete, bevor er dazu verurteilt wurde, den Rest seines Lebens im Gefängnis zu verbringen. Ihre dunkle Vergangenheit war jahrelang ein tief vergrabenes Geheimnis - aber bald wird sie erfahren, dass sie nicht tief genug vergraben war.
Nell hat sich als vorbildliche Gouvernante bewährt, und sie ist der kleinen Gracie zutiefst zugetan. Aber jetzt droht die Möglichkeit, dass sie Will Hewitts Kind austrägt, alles zu zerstören, wofür sie so hart gearbeitet hat. Selbst wenn sie die Freiheit hätte zu heiraten, bezweifelt sie, dass Will, ein wurzelloser Kartenspieler und genesender Süchtiger, jemals wirklich sesshaft werden könnte. Nicht, dass eine Heirat überhaupt in Frage käme, denn Duncan weigert sich beharrlich, ihr die Scheidung zu gewähren. Als die Schwangerschaft entdeckt wird, ist sie ruiniert.
Ein weiterer Schlag trifft Nell, als sie erfährt, dass ihr geliebter Bruder Jamie tot in einem ausgebrannten Farmschuppen entdeckt wurde - und dass er wegen Mordes gesucht wurde. Mit Hilfe des verletzten Will und ihres ehemaligen Mentors Dr. Greaves versucht Nell, Jamies Namen reinzuwaschen - eine Mission, die sie von der kriminellen Unterwelt bis in die obersten Ränge der Gesellschaft von Cape Cod führt.
Wie wird Nell mit ihrer ans Licht gekommenen Vergangenheit umgehen und wird sie Jamies Namen, mit Hilfe von Will, rein waschen können?
Ein toller historischer Krimi, der im 19. Jahrhundert spielt. Das Cover passt super dazu. Der Schreibstil ist sehr flüssig und man kann sich die Handlung bildlich vorstellen. Ich wollte das Buch gar nicht wegen legen, weil ich immer wissen wollte wie es weiter geht. Bei jedem Lösungsversuch habe ich gedacht, ja der ist es, dann kam es doch anders, was die Handlung sehr spannend macht. Ich kann das Buch nur jedem empfehlen der auf historische Krimis steht.
Die Sommer in dem palastartigen "Cottage" der Familie Hewitts auf Cape Cod sind für die Gouvernante Nell Sweeney immer bittersüß, denn dort verlor sie alle ihre Geschwister bis auf eines durch Krankheit. Dann heiratete sie Duncan, einen nichtsnutzigen Charmeur, der sie missbrauchte und zu Kleinkriminalität überredete, bevor er dazu verurteilt wurde, den Rest seines Lebens im Gefängnis zu verbringen. Ihre dunkle Vergangenheit war jahrelang ein tief vergrabenes Geheimnis - aber bald wird sie erfahren, dass sie nicht tief genug vergraben war.
Nell hat sich als vorbildliche Gouvernante bewährt, und sie ist der kleinen Gracie zutiefst zugetan. Aber jetzt droht die Möglichkeit, dass sie Will Hewitts Kind austrägt, alles zu zerstören, wofür sie so hart gearbeitet hat. Selbst wenn sie die Freiheit hätte zu heiraten, bezweifelt sie, dass Will, ein wurzelloser Kartenspieler und genesender Süchtiger, jemals wirklich sesshaft werden könnte. Nicht, dass eine Heirat überhaupt in Frage käme, denn Duncan weigert sich beharrlich, ihr die Scheidung zu gewähren. Als die Schwangerschaft entdeckt wird, ist sie ruiniert.
Ein weiterer Schlag trifft Nell, als sie erfährt, dass ihr geliebter Bruder Jamie tot in einem ausgebrannten Farmschuppen entdeckt wurde - und dass er wegen Mordes gesucht wurde. Mit Hilfe des verletzten Will und ihres ehemaligen Mentors Dr. Greaves versucht Nell, Jamies Namen reinzuwaschen - eine Mission, die sie von der kriminellen Unterwelt bis in die obersten Ränge der Gesellschaft von Cape Cod führt.
Wie wird Nell mit ihrer ans Licht gekommenen Vergangenheit umgehen und wird sie Jamies Namen, mit Hilfe von Will, rein waschen können?
Ein toller historischer Krimi, der im 19. Jahrhundert spielt. Das Cover passt super dazu. Der Schreibstil ist sehr flüssig und man kann sich die Handlung bildlich vorstellen. Ich wollte das Buch gar nicht wegen legen, weil ich immer wissen wollte wie es weiter geht. Bei jedem Lösungsversuch habe ich gedacht, ja der ist es, dann kam es doch anders, was die Handlung sehr spannend macht. Ich kann das Buch nur jedem empfehlen der auf historische Krimis steht.
September 21, 2019
What a wonderful series. Each of the books is less than the usual 300+ pages of a standard novel. My only disappointment in this story is the quickness of closure (at the end). Mr. Mead was doing some work for Nell and I thought it was rather quickly completed. Nell's resolution of the "Duncan problem" seemed to be quickly settled too.
For the entire series, Nell has been a governess of Gracie, living in an upscale (highest echelon) of Boston society. In this last book, Nell is able to discover the truth behind her ne'er-do-well brother, Jamie's death. Dr. Greaves, introduced in the first book as Nell's savior, returns in this book to be of service to Nell again.
After serving at President Ulysses S. Grant's request in the French-Prussian War, Will returned to the Cape Cod area during the summer vacation of the Hewitt's, to find Nell and Dr. Greaves close friends again. Will he step back and let Nell and Greaves marry or will he plead his case to Nell?
Gilded Age Mystery
1. Still Life with Murder (2003)
2. Murder in a Mill Town (2004)
3.Death on Beacon Hill (2005)
4. Murder on Black Friday (2005)
5. Murder in the North End (2006)
**6. A Bucket of Ashes (2007)
For the entire series, Nell has been a governess of Gracie, living in an upscale (highest echelon) of Boston society. In this last book, Nell is able to discover the truth behind her ne'er-do-well brother, Jamie's death. Dr. Greaves, introduced in the first book as Nell's savior, returns in this book to be of service to Nell again.
After serving at President Ulysses S. Grant's request in the French-Prussian War, Will returned to the Cape Cod area during the summer vacation of the Hewitt's, to find Nell and Dr. Greaves close friends again. Will he step back and let Nell and Greaves marry or will he plead his case to Nell?
Gilded Age Mystery
1. Still Life with Murder (2003)
2. Murder in a Mill Town (2004)
3.Death on Beacon Hill (2005)
4. Murder on Black Friday (2005)
5. Murder in the North End (2006)
**6. A Bucket of Ashes (2007)
February 17, 2020
Really deserves a 4 for the mystery element --> I was unable to guess the culprit, but that's kind of complicated in this case, since there are 2 "murders". I didn't guess right in either case, but it was not difficult for the leads to find the perpetrators/ explanations for the killings.
I gave this last entry a 5-star rating since this has been an wonderful series and thankfully ended my misery watching the leads finally attain the ending (or new beginning) they desperately deserved. The last line is really memorable, sums up Nell's (and Will's) journey, and brings the series full circle.
I usually dislike sequels, esp. since I feel that this series is self-contained and strong as it is, but I do have a suggestion for a possible sequel (light spoilers ahead).
I gave this last entry a 5-star rating since this has been an wonderful series and thankfully ended my misery watching the leads finally attain the ending (or new beginning) they desperately deserved. The last line is really memorable, sums up Nell's (and Will's) journey, and brings the series full circle.
I usually dislike sequels, esp. since I feel that this series is self-contained and strong as it is, but I do have a suggestion for a possible sequel (light spoilers ahead).
April 5, 2023
While the Hewitts are at their summer home in Cape Cod, Nell’s previous employer/lover Dr. Graeves comes to deliver the message that her brother has been found dead in a cranberry shed in the Mill Pond bogs. Nell is several months pregnant after Will Hewitt left for the war in France and she is starting to show signs. Dr. Graeves suspects her situation and offers to marry her. She still loves Will and wants to wait for his return, although it could be months before this happens and she will become a shamed woman. Unexpectedly, Will returns to Cape Code, wounded from the war. He helps her solve the murder of her brother while Viola Hewitt helps her with a speedy divorce from Duncan Sweeney. The end of the series is all wrapped up in the last chapter with Will and Nell getting married and six-year-old Gracie comes to live with them. I’m sorry to see this series end for I really liked the Nell, Will and Viola Hewitt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2018
Very engaging
Loved the characters, especially Will and Nell, with their very human strengths and weaknesses. Minor grammatical errors occurred throughout the series, like “she took her head in his hands”, but a good copy editor should have corrected such things. Although most of the series seemed very well researched with Will’s addiction to drugs and Nell’s adherence to religion believably portrayed, Aspects of the various plot lines seemed to drag in this book. The solving of the mystery of her brother’s death seemed to take forever involving so many visits to the Gilmartins and police station. I have to admit that I did enjoy the tidy way the whole series was wrapped up at the end of this book
Loved the characters, especially Will and Nell, with their very human strengths and weaknesses. Minor grammatical errors occurred throughout the series, like “she took her head in his hands”, but a good copy editor should have corrected such things. Although most of the series seemed very well researched with Will’s addiction to drugs and Nell’s adherence to religion believably portrayed, Aspects of the various plot lines seemed to drag in this book. The solving of the mystery of her brother’s death seemed to take forever involving so many visits to the Gilmartins and police station. I have to admit that I did enjoy the tidy way the whole series was wrapped up at the end of this book
June 8, 2020
I blew through this series in about a week. The mysteries are (mostly) interesting and the setting is unique, but the real draw is the delicious slow burn romance between Nell and Will. My only complaint about this series is that all of the books are too short and there are quite a few typos. I wish the author expanded more on the other side characters and their relationships with the main characters. It would have helped flesh out the novels and make them a bit more complex. This author is a fan of a 1 paragraph summary of important conversations that took place with supporting characters instead of actually writing the scenes, which gets irritating when the books rarely go past 200 pages. You can’t help but wonder why she doesn’t include them.
December 5, 2017
A Bucket of Ashes by P.B. Ryan is the sixth in the Nell Sweeney Mysteries series. In this book, Nell is acting as the governess to a young adopted child. Nell is struggling with the news that her only remaining brother is wanted for murder and soon is discovered dead. Meanwhile, Nell discovers she is pregnant by the son of the family she is working for and must petition her imprisoned husband for a divorce. Lots going on ... The mystery is pretty engaging and those who enjoy historical mysteries will probably enjoy this series.
March 24, 2019
This is the last book in the Nell Sweeney historical mystery series. ::weeps:: I love these characters, the fidelity to the norms and mores of the times, the well crafted mysteries, and the romance that slowly weaves its way throughout the books. The characters feel so real, because they have depth, imperfections, but they also have honour and nobility and they strive to do their best for those they love. If you've not read this series, then go order all the books (there are only 6, after all - I wish there were more) and set some time aside to indulge yourself with delightful, engrossing storytelling.
April 28, 2019
This was a somewhat disappointing end to one of my favorite series. To me it read like a first draft with underdeveloped scenes and unsatisfying dialogue. Some of Nell’s choices made zero sense to me, and her reunion with Will was anticlimactic. A huge contrast to books 1-4. Did she not have an editor for this one? Did she just write it from an outline to get the series over and done with so she could move into something else? That being said, the author ties up the story well enough to where I didn’t feel robbed of a conclusion.
December 26, 2019
I loved the series of Nell Sweeney mysteries. The characters are engaging, the story is mesmerizing. I had to buy the whole series and read them at once after my first free one. That speaks volumes, because I am rather "frugal" about books.
That being said I was very disappointed with the editing in the last two books particularly. Words were missing, or extra words left in place. Not to mention when pronouns were mishandled so that the reader had to scratch their head about who was doing what to whom.
That being said I was very disappointed with the editing in the last two books particularly. Words were missing, or extra words left in place. Not to mention when pronouns were mishandled so that the reader had to scratch their head about who was doing what to whom.
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