Done with Series -Daniel destroyed it

I know this series has received rave reviews and I can understand it. But I am done with Molly Murphy. Too bad, because I really liked many of the characters in the series. I have also enjoyed the audio performance by Nicola Barber. This disappointment has nothing to do with her.

The main frustration for me has been the "evolving" relationship between Molly and Daniel. I almost gave up the series at "Oh Danny Boy" . However, I plugged on believing it might get better or Molly would come to her senses. No such luck. I'm sure men were much more like Daniel back then. However, fictional men for fictional heroines don't have to be. Here is a strong willed feisty heroine in love with a guy who doesn't seem to have any good qualities except a good job. Her increasingly simpering responses to the big Mama's boy are just not in character with her other qualities. The endless forced confrontations between the two, which always start with him yelling "Molly...", are tiresome. Her responses to him have made me think less of her as a heroine, not more. I have to say, I was disappointed in this book that Daniel actually recovered from pneumonia! I was hoping Bowen might give her a fresh start. I did initially purchase the next book in the series (In the Family Way) as I thought I'd come this far, I should finish the series. However, I returned it after listening for a couple chapters. No more.

Having said all this, Bowen's other series, Royal Spyness, is still delightfully refreshing and funny after seven books. The hero and heroine in that series are much better matched and believable. I hope it continues that way and I'd recommend that series. But as for Molly Murphy, I've enjoyed her wit and the various areas she has taken us to (sweatshops, suffragettes, Ireland, etc.), but I'm done. Her best adventures were without Daniel.

13 people found this helpful

Hate Daniel love most others

I still don't know if I hate Daniel because he's a 1904 ass or because of how he is voiced

5 people found this helpful

like this series

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The boyfriend now husband Daniel is so consistently overbearing that it detracts from this series. It would be so much better without his overbearing comments.

If you’ve listened to books by Rhys Bowen before, how does this one compare?

These books are a good series but the love interest detracts from the series.

5 people found this helpful

Really like series, this book not so much.

This story feels to me like it should be a short story of 30 minutes long. There is barely any characterization, and it is stretched out to a full length book was really nothing much in it. I like this series very much obviously or I would not gotten this far into it, however this book was a disappointment. It seems very amateurish.

3 people found this helpful

Love this series

This story wasn’t as good as others in the series. I love the series for Molly’s character, the historic references, Molly’s friends and husband Daniel. Other reviewers seem to hate him but I adore him and find he very much appreciates Molly for who she is and his sometimes overbearing attitudes are in keeping with the historical context and the fact that he’s a cop and does know the real dangers that exist. In the context of the era of these stories he is actually very enlightened.

3 people found this helpful

Totally Molly

This was one of my favorite Molly Murphy stories. It was nice that it was all Molly and she showed her true value as a detective!! Once again Rhys Bowen did her magic in making us wait to the end to knowing who the murderer was. And Nicola had her work cut out for her with more characters, especially male characters, than normal. But as always she did an amazing job!!!

1 person found this helpful

I love Rhys' books

I love Rhys' books. She is a masterful story teller. I can't wait to read what's next!!

1 person found this helpful

Daniel is just awful

Molly’s such a great heroine- her only fault is when she doubts herself (usually after some solid gaslighting from Daniel).

I was really hoping his character would grown and evolve with the series, but wow… he’s still the same and so one-dimensional. What does he even see in Molly when he seems to dislike her strongest traits?

And what does Molly see in him? I just don’t get it.

Her character and the storylines are still strong enough to offset the horrible Daniel issue… although I may give up out of frustration soon.

I really don't like Daniel

I LOVED this series when Molly and Daniel were dating, but he is really irritating and I doubt I'll listen to any more of them.

Okay.

Now that they are married, I was hoping Daniel would accept Molly for who she is, and allow her to do what she does best. I am beginning to regret buying the rest of the series with my credits for this year.