Murder at Rough Point

By: Alyssa Maxwell

Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky

In glittering Newport, Rhode Island, status is everything. But despite being a poorer relation to the venerable Vanderbilts, Emma Cross has shaped her own identity - as a reporter and a sleuth.

As the 19th century draws to a close, reporter Emma Cross is sent by the Newport Observer to cover an elite house party at Rough Point, a "cottage" owned by her distant cousin Frederick Vanderbilt that has been rented as an artist retreat. To her surprise, the illustrious guests include her estranged Bohemian parents - recently returned from Europe - as well as a variety of notable artists, including author Edith Wharton.

But when one of the artists is discovered dead at the bottom of a cliff, Rough Point becomes anything but a house of mirth. After a second murder, no one is above suspicion - including Emma's parents. As Newport police detective Jesse Whyte searches for a killer, Emma tries to draw her own conclusions - with the help of Mrs. Wharton. But with so many sketchy suspects, she'll need to canvas the crime scenes carefully, before the cunning culprit takes her out of the picture next....

©2016 Lisa Manuel (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Interesting

Enjoyed but within one place. The characters were definitely different and each had talents. Never expected the murderer!!

Wish the entire series was available

I love this series and I love Eva Kaminsky’s narration. I was disappointed to see that books 5 & 6 were not available and that book 7 was as with a different narrator...,I wish Audible had done all the books!

Another Great Installment!

What did you love best about Murder at Rough Point?

Aside from the smooth combination of historical novel and riveting mystery, Ms. Maxwell takes on the classic country house mystery, which is always a winner.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Our plucky heroine and sleuth, Emma Cross.

Which scene was your favorite?

I can't pick one in particular, but all of the scenes with soon-to-be famous novelist, Edith Wharton are terrific.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I wait with bated breath for each installment in the series -- they all are some of the best cozies/historical novels I've ever read. As with the others, "Murder at Rough Point" is a real page-turner.

Any additional comments?

Thanks for adding "Rough Point" to Audible! I have some neurological difficulties which make reading difficult, so I really rely on Audible -- I hope to see upcoming books in the series offered.

great series

I'm really enjoying this series. Good storyline amd characters
The narrator does a great job with expressions and voices.

Stuck in a House with a Killer

It is 1896, and journalist Emmaline Cross is thrilled to have been invited to cover a group of artists who have created a retreat at Newport, Rhode Island in Murder at Rough Point by Alyssa Maxwell. Newport used to be an artists' center but the artists were driven out by the rich crowd like the Vanderbilts that Emma is related to, so it is special to longtime residents like Emma to see artists return. The group of artists come from very disparate media, including the writer Edith Wharton (whose family, the Jones, inspired the saying, "Keeping up with the Joneses"), a former ballet dancer whose injury turned him into a choreographer, a famous cellist, an opera singer, a musical director, and sculptor Sir Randall Clifford who is interested in purchasing the home, owned by Emma's Uncle Frederick Vanderbilt. But the greatest surprise for Emma is the appearance of her parents, who have never come to see her in the four years that they have lived in France doing painting, even when her half-brother was arrested for murder. Thus Emma holds some resentments towards her parents, especially since they seem to be hiding something from her and give hints that their visit is something more than just an art retreat or a visit to their daughter.

Then, the second day, Emma spends time talking with Sir Randall about his discouragement over the negative responses to his sculpture. But this conversation with Emma cheers him up, reigniting his joy in his art. But that night, Sir Randall does not show up for dinner, and an extensive search fails to locate the British nobleman. But the next morning, Emma's spaniel, Patch, starts howling over the body of Sir Randall, whom he has located. People assume the man committed suicide, but Emma is not so sure. Then, when a second man from the artists' group gets murdered, they are certain of danger. Who is after the artists and why?

Murder at Rough Point really held my attention and kept me gripped throughout the whole story. The book had a strong plot, a bit more intense than a typical cozy mystery, but I think that it spans the range of interest of lovers of cozies and those who like a little stronger mystery.

The book does a good job of investing us in the characters, who seemed at first to blend together, but it doesn't take long before they become sorted out in the readers' mind. Each one has clear, distinct features, making us wonder about her or his guilt. I enjoyed getting to meet Edith Wharton as she is beginning her career as a writer (for those not familiar with the famous author, she wrote House of Mirth and Ethan Frome, among others). But the one problem with using historical figures like Wharton, especially in the setting of a so-called locked-room murder, where the suspects are limited to the group of people inside the house, is that we know Wharton went on to become a famous writer and thus cannot have been the murderer.

The book introduced a new character to the series, Patch, Emma's spaniel, who becomes a very real persona in the book. Patch takes on the role of Emma's assistant in detection. He quickly endeared himself to me.

Eva Kaminsky performs the audio edition of this book. She does a good job of making the book come to life and getting us fully invested in the plot. I really enjoy her narration of the series and look forward to hearing her read the next book when it hopefully comes out on audio.

I really had a good experience listening to Murder at Rough Point. The book had a compelling plot that drew me into it and kept me wanting to listen to the book. The characters also made me invested in them and the book. I really didn't want this book to end. I give this book five stars.

For once or want this drawn out....

Honestly I almost didn't listen to this one bc the previous stories in the series have been increasingly more and more eye rolling material at the climax of the story. I was glad this one wasn't as drawn out and ridiculous as the two previous ones #2 and especially #3.
Still I have a feeling this is going to be like the Murder She Baked series where Hannah Swinson (?) is the amateur sleuth/heroine and she's being pursued by two very different and distinguished good looking men, eye roll, eye roll, eye roll.
On the artistic side, I love the way Alyssa Maxwell writes. She is able to describe with detail to the point of drawing you into the story.

Another hit for Alyssa Maxwell

I can't tell you how much I love these "A Gilded Newport Mysteries"
In Murder at Rough Point we meet Emma's parents and dig into their relationship. This book kept me guessing until the last page. I loved every minute of it.

Thank you to writers who keep it clean.

I love a clean not so easy to figure out mystery. The story and narration were very enjoyable

Historic accuracy

I like that the owners of the homes and besides the murders the historic accuracy and descriptions of Newport are on point.

Love Newport history

The Storyline and history was interesting, but felt the writing could have been more captivating. I had to rewind as my mind wandered.