Genre: Historical, Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: Bisexual
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Lizzie Ferguson is not a typical 1912 woman.
Owner of the E.M. Ferguson Detective Agency, she prefers to live life outside of society’s norm – both in and out of the bedroom – which leads to complications when she finds herself attracted to her beautiful assistant, Julia Straton, and an arrogant, yet devastatingly handsome journalist named Walton Crew. But who has time for romance when there are murders to solve?
Her newest case is eerily similar to one from the past. Male brothel workers are being butchered, so she calls on old friends and Pinkerton detectives, Michael O’Leary and Stiles Long, to help track down the killer. Working together, the three friends race against the clock to prevent more blood from being shed, but when all is said and done, will the citizens of New York City accept Lizzie for who she is?
The Review
Lizzie just had a wonderful time with her close friends, Stiles Long and Michael O’Leary. Thanks to Lizzie, they just missed a close call on the Titanic.
Elizabeth Marie Ferguson, better known as Lizzie, has finally opened her own Detective Agency. This is a great accomplishment for a young woman in 1912 in New York City.
To start her new endeavor, she’s taken on some low-key cases that the police or other detectives wouldn’t touch. She hopes that one day a more exciting case will come along. Lizzie has also hired an assistant, Julia Stratton, a woman who was at the top of her class at Wellesley and is five years younger than Lizzie.
Lizzie’s office is located in a building that houses other occupants – an art studio owned by Laszlo Bertolli, in his forties and physically fit, and August Accounting and Finance, owned by Mylord August. August is from an affluent family, a snobbish man who barely speaks to her. And there’sone other tenant that she hasn’t met yet.
Then one day, Lizzie gets lucky when Mrs. Abigale Strongworth enters the office. She’s concerned about her son, Adam, who was cut off by his father and left for the East Row, where he became involved in a brothel. A New York Times Article, written by Walton Crew, tells of three deaths in the East Rows, but none of them are Adam. To gather more information, Lizzie finds herself heading to familiar territory, the Pinkerton Agency and Detective Martin Collins, the man in charge (and once her lover).
Lizzie is ready to take on Adam’s missing person case, but runs into opposition from Stiles, Michael, Collins and the irritating news reporter, Walton Crew.
Baty has outdone herself with this first spin-off novel from the “Pinkerton Man” series. Elizabeth M. Ferguson aka Lizzie finally steps into the limelight. For those who follow the “Pinkerton Man” series, you will already be familiar with Lizzie.
Lizzie enters the dark world of male prostitution, and is constantly reminded that New York in 1912 is a man’s world. She will have to stand her ground to prove she is just as good as any man at detective work. Will she end up with anyone? Or will she stake a course for a life of her own.
Although, Stiles Long and Michael O’Leary aren’t the focus of the story here, it’s always nice to have them in the picture, and to find out what’s new in their life. And there are many other colorful characters that figure into this suspenseful mystery: Harris Gault (dead), Adam Strongworth, Nicky Copper, Laszlo Bertolli, Castel Insbury, Odell, Miss Rowan and Pixie.
Not Again was impressive for the first book in the “E.M. Ferguson, Detective” series. The cover tells the story, as Lizzie begins her own business. It’s an entertaining thriller, and I’m excited to see what Baty has planned next for Elizabeth Ferguson.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
