Review | A Murder on Jane Street by Cathy Cash Spellman (ARC)

When Fitz’s neighbour, Ghisella Wallenberg, is found murdered in her house the police dismiss the case as a robbery gone wrong. But unbeknownst to the police, Ghisella left journals for Fitz, containing clues to a secret she has been carrying for more than 50 years. With the help of his family and friends, Fitz decides to conduct his own investigation. As a former police Chief he still has connections. But this mystery spans decades, from the World War II until now, and involves people in the upper echelons of society. Soon, Fitz and his loved ones realise their lives might be at stake.

They are gone now. All those I’ve loved. Sacrificed to injustice and the greed of evil men who revel in their triumph. But I am still alive, and the bastards will never be safe while I hold the secret. 

A Murder on Jane Street has the feel and setting of a cozy mystery but manages to bring some grittiness to the action. The murder of Ghisella Wallenberg is described in brutal detail. My favourite parts of the book are flashbacks to her past as the daughter of a rich man forced to marry an older man, and subsequently what she went through during WWII. In a way, I wish the book is about her. While I liked Fitz and his gang of amateur investigators, I found Ghisella’s story really interesting through the journals she left behind. She changed from being a spoilt rich girl to becoming part of the Resistance. Her journey is painful, heartbreaking and brave.

The mystery pulls my interest in the beginning and I devoured the first few chapters. But the short chapters and switching narratives between various characters results in a choppy read. Besides Fitz, we also get point of views from his daughters, Rory and Maeve; his granddaughter, Finn; Maeve’s love interest, Declan; as well as a few other characters. I didn’t feel connected to any of them and their voices sound similar in a staid, safe way. Every character is either good or bad with no grey area. The romance between Maeve and Declan feels out of place but I’m generally not a fan of romance anyway so I was willing to overlook it.

I also thought the resolution to the mystery to be unsatisfying. Fitz and his group face credible threats and they are clearly in danger. But this is brushed aside at the end, which I find hard to believe. I wanted more criminal investigation but most of the book is focused on a conspiracy theory involving the Third Reich. It was hard to suspend my disbelief so I struggled especially at the end. I believe readers who love conspiracy theories and like reading about WWII would enjoy A Murder on Jane Street as it puts a new spin on history.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. A Murder on Jane Street is out on 16 July.

About the author: Cathy Cash Spellman

Photo by Fabien Barral