"Deadly Affairs" is author Brenda Joyce's third installment in the historical sleuth series featuring New York City debutante and bluestocking Francesca Cahill. Miss Cahill, the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, is an unwilling member of New York City's social elite at the turn of the 20th century, 1902 to be exact. She lives in a Fifth Avenue mansion, with her parents and older brother, attends glittering society balls and fundraisers, and allows herself, occasionally, to be courted by the town's most eligible bachelors. However, Francesca is a marginal player, at best, in the comings and goings of Manhattan's rich and famous, to her mother's dismay. She is an intellectual, and determined to do something with her mind other than plan dinner parties. Unbeknownst to her mother, she has enrolled in Barnard College with aspirations to become a journalist. Recently, however, coinciding with newly appointed police commissioner Rick Bragg's move to New York, Francesca has taken to sleuthing....and romance. Her grades are suffering as a result.

Back in book one, "Deadly Love," when a neighbor's son was kidnapped, Fran stepped in, solved the crime, and saved the day. This is when she met and worked with the extremely handsome, charismatic Bragg for the first time. From their initial introduction, sparks began to fly, and as Francesca found herself becoming more involved with sleuthing than journalism, stronger feelings than mere physical attraction developed between the sophisticated man about town and the naive young woman. Unfortunately, there are complications in the commissioner's life which prohibit him from courting Francesca.

Although family and friends have warned her to stay out of police matters, Fran has continued her work as an amateur PI. She now accepts a new case from a woman who fears her new husband is unfaithful. While spying on the philanderer, she stumbles over the dead, mutilated body of a woman. Francesca is determined to find the murderer, who, it appears, has killed before. The same unmistakable trademark is left on all the victims - the sign of a cross carved on their throats.

As I have written in previous reviews, there are many flaws in this series, the major one being the principal character, Francesca Cahill. I don't understand how the author can take a potentially credible, likeable young woman, whom, we are told frequently, is extremely intelligent, independent, etc., and turn her into a silly, immature, indiscreet, and melodramatic personage. Whenever I think Ms. Joyce is catching on with her character development, she has Fran do something simply outlandish, really zany, and it just breaks the mood. Francesca Cahill cannot be Stephanie Plum, not even a more conservative early 20th century sister of Ms. Plum's and still maintain the atmosphere the author wishes to establish. She is a Manhattan socialite in 1902, not a New Jersey bounty hunter in 2005! And, the idea that an upper class young woman would have business cards distributed saying, "Francesca Cahill, Crime-Solver Extraordinaire, No. 810 Fifth Avenue, New York City, All Cases Accepted, No Crime Too Small," is ridiculous. Also, the mysteries are filled with too many coincidences to suit my taste.

So, why do I keep on reading these books? If you have ever been sick and home from work for a few days, watched the soaps and become addicted to one in particular, you will understand. The strength of Ms. Joyce's novels lies not in the mysteries but rather in her vivid recreation of New York at the turn of the century and her compelling secondary characters. Their stories are ongoing, as are Francesca's and Rick's.

Calder Hart, Rick's half brother, wealthy art connoisseur and womanizer, has befriended Francesca and is clearly attracted to her. He is an extremely complex man, and, like his brother, he is illegitimate. Bragg and Hart have different fathers and the same mother. The relationship between these two, their individual lives and backgrounds, are fascinating. Evan Cahill, Francesca's older brother, is another engaging character. He is a smart, caring man, but flawed - with a tendency to gamble and accumulate debts. In fact he has got himself in way over his head and owes a fortune. Andrew Cahill, the family patriarch, a savvy businessman and affectionate father, (pulled himself up by the bootstraps), has agreed to pay off the debts only if Evan agrees to marry a young woman he does not love, nor even care to become better acquainted with. His fiancee has unseen depth, however, and is a brilliant artist, but only Francesca is aware of this. Then there is Constance, the beautiful big sister, married to the very handsome British Lord Neil Montrose, who Francesca has discovered "in flagrante" with another woman. The clan's maternal force, Julia Cahill, is an extremely strong character determined to marry-off her children well. New characters are introduced in each novel who remain as part of the permanent storyline well after the mystery is solved.

The series' premise is a winner - a society girl/college student sleuth in 1902 NYC. There is enough "good stuff" here to hold my interest, marginally. But I don't have to buy the next book to fulfill my curiosity. I can just go to my local bookstore and skim the narrative over a cup of coffee to discover what will happen between Francesca's sister and her husband, or find out if Evan will break things off with his fiancee. It is up to the author to make her books worth paying money for - although I have now bought three. I will check-out the fourth for improvements before I make the next purchase. My suggestion to potential buyers, take the first book out of the library before you invest your time and money.
JANA

Even though this is the third book in the series, it was the first one that I read. I thought it was wonderful and addictive and as a result I have purchased every book in the series thus far and have read them several times. The mystery is good and the love triange relationship is sooo interesting. A very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

I really love the "Deadly" series, and I just finished this one. I can`t wait to read "Deadly Desire" to see how the love story continues! Maybe I am wrong, but in the end I think Calder Hart will marry Francesca, for I think he is the better man for her. He is really exciting and sexy, the "more than meets the eye" type. For my taste, Rick is far too good and moral (but maybe he isn`t and is also responsible for the failure of his marriage?). I am looking forward for all the next books and would love if someone would like to mail me to share one`s opinion about the books! deborah.hof@gmx.de