In Dublin’s Fair City: A Molly Murphy Mystery by Rhys Bowen

    I have to say this.  In Dublin’s Fair City is by far the most convoluted book of the Molly Murphy mystery series.  It makes me wonder what is going to happen in future books.  If this story could stretch as much as it did, the rest of the series could go anywhere.

    Private Investigator Molly Murphy needs to get out of town.  Her boyfriend, Daniel Sullivan, is on trial for a crime he didn’t commit.  He is in a constantly bad mood and is very controlling.  That’s why when Molly gets the opportunity to leave town and help her detective agency, she takes it.  The one problem is Molly will have to return to Ireland, where there may be a warrant out for her arrest.

Voyage/Artwork by Kate Dorsey

    From the start things do not go as planned.  Not long after she steps on the boat to Europe, theatre actress, Oona Sheehan, asks Molly to switch places with her.  For the length of the trip, Molly will act as Oona, pretending to be sick, and living in her first-class cabin.  It is an odd request, but as money comes with it, and the chance to experience what high society experiences, Molly accepts the switch.

    Molly quickly becomes bored pretending to be the sick Oona.  When she finds Oona’s maid dead and Oona herself missing, things get worse.  With the police suspicious of Molly, she almost isn’t allowed off the ship.  Thankfully she eventually is, and Molly is able to proceed with the case she came to Europe to follow.

    The case Molly is investigating involves the long-lost sister of theatre producer, Tommy Burke.  She first trudges around London, trying to find the sister Tommy didn’t know existed until recently.  As she investigates, Molly comes across people connected to the man she at one time believed she killed.  Even though she now knows the man is alive, Molly must keep her identity hidden in order to stay safe.

    Unfortunately, nothing about this trip is as easy as Molly thinks it will be.  After attending an event involving the discussion of Gaelic art and culture, Molly is kidnapped.  She is kidnapped by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and they are not willing to let her go.

    At first all Molly wants is to be released by the Brotherhood, but when she finds out her brothers are involved with the group, and one is in prison awaiting execution, Molly changes her mind.  Now she is determined to do whatever she can to help her brothers.  Even if it means being around people she does not want to be with.                             

    As you can see, the storyline goes a little all over the place.  This can make the story confusing, but not to the point of being fully problematic.  Actually, I had more of a problem with Daniel, and in some ways, Molly herself.

    I mentioned earlier how controlling Daniel is getting.  He’s telling Molly what she can and can’t do.  Who she can and can’t be friends with.  Who knows what else he will try and control in the future.

    At first Molly stands up for herself.  When she is in Ireland, though, she tells herself she needs to be more understanding of Daniel’s behavior because of all he is going through. 

    No, no, no.  Molly is going down a very slippery slope.  I’m not saying don’t be understanding about Daniel being under stress.  But when that stress leads to control and bad behavior, that is not a good situation to be in.  It could become much worse later.

    The funny thing is, despite all my concerns about Molly and Daniel’s relationship, I want to read the next book in the series.  I like Molly’s friends, and for the most part I like Molly.  I’m hoping when I do read the next book, Molly will have stopped accepting Daniel’s behavior and show him the door.  She has proven she can take care of herself before, and she has friends who will help her if she needs it.  Molly does not need Daniel.