Jane Prescott sits down for a Q&A with dru’s book musings responding to twenty or more questions so that we can learn more about her. Are you ready? Let’s get to know Jane.
What is your full name?
Jane Prescott
How old are you?
24
What is your profession?
I am a lady’s maid, employed by Mrs. Louise Tyler.
Do you have a significant other?
If that’s what I think it is, I do not. This past summer, I spent a great deal of time with Leo Hirschfeld. But so did several other women.
What is their name and profession?
Mr. Hirschfeld is a singing waiter. He also writes songs. You might know Pickle Barrel Rag or But On Fridays.
Do you have any children?
No.
Do you have any siblings?
One sister who died at birth.
Are your parents nearby?
My mother is dead. My father. . .I couldn’t say where he is, actually. I haven’t seen him since I was three years old.
Who is your best friend?
Anna Ardito. I’ve known her since I was twelve. She would hate the term best friend, so please don’t mention to her I consider her mine.
Do you have any pets?
I do not, sadly.
What town do you live in?
New York City.
Do you live in a small town or a big city?
I believe it’s considered big.
Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I live at the Tyler residence.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
My bedroom is on the top floor. I like to sit on my bed, look out the window and listen to the city at night.
Favorite meal and dessert?
Risotto alla Milanese with fried artichokes and lemon ice for dessert.
Do you have any hobbies?
I enjoy dancing. Very much.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Favorite might be overstating it, but I always visit my uncle on the Lower East Side when I have a holiday. Luna Park is good fun.
What music do you listen to?
Oh, ragtime, like everyone else. I’d give anything to hear the Clef Club orchestra.
Do you have a favorite book?
Do you know Mary Roberts Rhinehart? I just read her new one, The After House: A Story of Love, Mystery, and a Private Yacht. I like her Letitia Carberry series too.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
Is it awful if I say an entire day where no one needs me and nothing is required?
I love dinner with my friend Anna when she’s not disapproving. I love to surprise Mrs. Tyler with a new look that she thinks too bold for her—but when she sees it on, it’s her favorite thing to wear. I enjoy dancing and some unmentionables with Mr. Hirschfeld. Oh, and I like arguing with Michael Behan about almost anything, but I couldn’t say why.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Anything but Memoir of a Lady’s Maid. Perhaps, Life Through the Eye of a Needle?
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
Oh, very much an amateur. I can’t say I work with anyone, but as a reporter, Mr. Behan is very helpful getting me into places a woman might not be permitted on her own. And actually, Mrs. Tyler was quite intrepid when it came to solving the murder of Sidney Warburton. I’d never seen that side of her before. I liked it.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
Wake Mrs. Tyler, dress Mrs. Tyler. Eat breakfast with the staff and pretend we don’t hear what the Tylers are saying in the next room. Tend to Mrs. Tyler’s things, escort her anywhere she might need a companion. Keep the Tyler marriage harmonious, fend off her mother-in-law, give advice, dry tears, keep their names out of the papers. . .
What does a typical day look like when you are on a case?
Much the same only with a dead body and a few more trips to saloons.
Death Of A Showman, A Jane Prescott Mystery #4
Genre: Historical
Release: April 2021
Purchase Link
In Mariah Fredericks’s Death of a Showman, the fourth in this absorbing series set in Gilded Age New York, lady’s maid Jane Prescott is thrust into the world of show business, where a killer is stalking Broadway.
It is the summer of 1914 and lady’s maid Jane Prescott is back in New York with the Tylers after a glittering society wedding in Europe. On their return, Jane learns another wedding has taken place. Her old dancing partner, Leo Hirschfeld, has married a chorus girl in his new Broadway musical.
Jane and Louise Tyler are pulled into the sparkling and scandalous world of Broadway, as a star struck Louise invests in Leo’s show, and Jane chaperones her at rehearsals. But behind the glittering facade of the theater, there are rivalries, secret romances, and some very dodgy business practices. When the show’s abusive producer, Sidney Warburton, is murdered, the list of suspects is long. Was it the comedic star or her gambler boyfriend? The disgruntled costume designer? The beautiful, blond dancer, her jealous husband? Or was it Leo himself, who had more reason than anyone to hate Sidney Warburton?
As the First World war looms in the distance, Jane and tabloid reporter Michael Behan must strip back the masks of these consummate performers before one of them kills again.
About the author
Mariah Fredericks was born and raised in New York City. She graduated from Vassar College with a degree in history. She is the author of the Jane Prescott mystery series, which has twice been nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award.
All comments are welcomed.
Thanks Jane and Mariah for letting us see 1914
I read the first book in this series. I really enjoyed it. I love historical mystery books. Especially ones set in and around New York at the turn of the century. I need to catch up on this series. Start with the first book. It was really good. Three more to go.