My name is Louise Faulk—Officer Louise Faulk, although some of the wiseacres around the precinct call me Two because I once made the mistake of boasting that I’d earned the second highest score on the New York Police Department’s civil service exam. Our station house is located right in heart of gritty Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan, and I spend most of my days and sometimes nights in the basement of this fortress-like building, looking after the women our neighborhood cops have arrested. Accused streetwalkers, pickpockets, dipsomaniacs and murderesses are my most common companions at work, but I’ve discovered you can learn a lot about life from them. You can learn even more about solving murders.
I’ve solved a couple of those, starting with one very close to home. My first friend in the city was my roommate, Callie, an actress. Her cousin from upstate came to visit and was stabbed right in our Greenwich Village apartment. That was when I discovered I had a knack for detective work. Of course, the NYPD brass don’t see my talent yet, and neither does my closest friend in the department, Detective Frank Muldoon. Though Muldoon has yet to completely join the twentieth century and can be a Neanderthal when it comes to women working, he’s helped me solve cases.
He’s less than thrilled about my current obsession, the death of a young woman named Ruthie Jones, one of the many fallen women of Hell’s Kitchen. The detectives call it a suicide, but I’m not so sure. Once again, I’m using my off hours to find out what really happened to this poor woman, whose death left behind an orphaned baby. I’ve been tracking down leads with the help of my friend, Otto Klemper, whom you might have heard of. Otto’s a songwriter but, assisted by my Aunt Irene’s butler, Walter, a former actor and self-styled master of disguises, Otto can also become a rag man or a midtown sport. Walter helps me with disguises, too. You see, my dream isn’t just to be a detective, but to be an undercover detective.
My life isn’t all work, however. As the holidays approach, Callie and I are planning a Christmas do at our Greenwich Village apartment. Lately, we’ve attracted a new friend: Frank Muldoon’s little sister, Anna. Anna sees herself as having been buried alive in the sticks in Brooklyn, and now Callie is taking her on as something of a protégée, allowing her to visit the sets of the moving pictures Callie is making around town, and even encouraging a director to give Anna a bit part. No telling where that will lead. . .except, perhaps, to her overprotective brother’s nervous breakdown.
Most of my socializing is done at my aunt’s Upper East Side townhouse, where she hosts soirees every Thursday night. One never knows who’ll turn up there—famous musicians, painters, and perhaps a Broadway actor or two. What really surprised me, though, was discovering Ruthie Jones’s orphaned baby, Eddie, at my aunt’s house. Aunt Irene heard about the orphan and convinced the sisters at the New York Foundling Hospital to allow her to take him home, at least until Christmas. Seeing the infant in that Upper East Side townhouse, being pampered like a little prince by my spinster aunt, gives me a warm feeling. But it also brings me back to my current fixation: seeking justice for a poor woman whose life was cut short too soon.
Discovering what really happened to Ruthie Jones is taking me to some interesting places. . .including an outfit that’s spreading German propaganda for the war that’s just broken out in Europe. President Wilson might be keeping the US out of the war, but he’s not always successful at keeping the war out of the US. I only hope I can discover what ties the bloody conflict across the ocean to a Hell’s Kitchen prostitute’s death soon, before the danger that befell Ruthie catches up to me, too.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win one (1) print copy of An Orphan of Hell’s Kitchen, open to everyone. Contest ends February 27, 2020. Good luck everyone!
An Orphan of Hell’s Kitchen is the third book in the “Louise Faulk” historical mystery series, coming February 25, 2020.
In 1914, Hell’s Kitchen is an apt name for New York City’s grittiest neighborhood, as one of the city’s first policewomen, Louise Faulk, is about to discover when the death of a young prostitute leads her on a grim journey through the district’s darkest corners . . .
Filthy, dangerous, and deadly—Hell’s Kitchen is no place for a lady, but Louise Faulk is no ordinary woman. The amateur investigator turned rookie policewoman is investigating the death of young prostitute, Ruthie, who leaves behind a baby boy. Although detectives are quick to declare it a suicide, Louise is less certain after she discovers clues implying murder while attempting to find a caretaker for Ruthie’s orphaned son.
Uncovering the truth won’t be easy, especially since Louise is struggling to make a name for herself amid the boys’ club of the New York City Police Department. But Ruthie’s case keeps tugging at Louise, luring her beyond the slums’ drawn curtains and tenement doors, into an undercover investigation that often seems to conceal more than it reveals. Louise is convinced Ruthie’s secrets got her killed, but can she prove it before they catch up to her too?
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Meet the author
Liz Freeland grew up in Texas but now lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. She’s written over forty novels in multiple genres, including women’s fiction under her own name, Elizabeth Bass. As Liz Freeland, she writes the Louise Faulk historical mystery series, which is set in New York City in 1913. An upcoming holiday series will feature a new sleuth: Mrs. Claus. The first book, Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings, will be released in October 2020.
To learn more about Liz, visit her website at elizabeth-bass.com.
All comments are welcomed.
This storyline sounds intriguing and even heartwarming when the spinster aunt takes the orphaned baby in. I’d love to read it. Thank you for the chance.
I’m glad the story intrigues you, Jeanne! Aunt Irene is a favorite character of mine.
Interesting storyline. Hell’s Kitchen in 1914 sounds like a really tough place to be. Looking forward to reading.
Thanks, Dianne! I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Louise Falk sounds like an intriguing character – lots of gumption for a woman of her time. This is a new to me series and it sounds good. Putting it on my TBR list.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Thanks for putting Orphan on your TBR list, Rose!
It’s great to see a book involving a strong woman like Louise Falk during a time when women were to be seen and not heard. I’ve not read any books in this series so it has been added to my list of want to read books. Thanks for including iton your blog.
Louise likes to make herself heard! Thanks for leaving a comment.
This sounds like a great book, thank you for the chance to win a copy of it.
wfnren at aol dot com
Thanks, Wendy! Good luck!
I do love historical fiction! Can this be a stand-alone book? Thanks for chance!
This is the third book of the series, but several people have read it first and told me it didn’t matter. I try to make each book in the series stand on its own.
I love historical fiction and mysteries and anything about New York City so I’m really glad to hear about this series. Looking forward to reading.
New York is one of my favorite places! Glad the series appeals to you!
Interesting. Reminds me a bit of The Alienist.
I loved The Alienist when I read it years ago. I need to watch the show. My series takes place about a decade later.
Sounds intriguing.
Thank you, Sharon, I’m glad you think so!
Sounds like an excellent read. I want, it, please. 🤞
Thank you, Amy! Good luck!
A captivating and fascinating new mystery series which I would enjoy greatly.
I’m glad it sounds good to you, April!
This historical interests me greatly. What a unique story and setting.
I’m glad the historical setting appeals to you, Ruth. The history is one of my favorite things about writing the series.
This sounds like a winning read.
Thank you, Libby!
Sounds so good! Thanks for a chance.
Glad the story appeals to you, Lori!
What a fascinating time period and such interesting characters!
Thank you, Pat! I always enjoy reading about this time period, too. There was so much going on and so many changes happening.
Interesting plot–sounds like we’ll be seeing many sides of New York City. Can’t wait to read it.
Glad it sounds interesting to you, Rochelle. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
Looking forward to learning more about Louise Faulk and her police work.
Thank you, Mary!
Yes please Dru. I’d love to win this one and let my S.I.L. the cop read it… See what he thinks and then pass it to his wife to read. Eventually it would come home to me to read and add to my growing home library.
I’d be interested in knowing what a real cop thinks of Louise, too!
I would love to read this book! Thanks for the chance!
Thanks for commenting!
I’m curious to see how Louise solves Ruthie’s murder.
Thank you for leaving a comment, Jana.
I love the description of the book. I have added it to my TBR list. Thank you for a chance to win.
Thanks, Kristina! I hope you’ll enjoy it.
A new-to-me author who has written an extremely interesting book. I’m in! Thank you, Dru Ann and Liz, for this opportunity!
Thank you for commenting, Cheryl!
This is a new to me author. I love historical mysteries. Adding this series to my be read pile. Can’t wait to read the first book. Thank you Dru for introducing another author to me.
Thank you for adding me to your pile, Elisa! I hope you enjoy Louise’s story.
New author and series for me, sounds good!
So happy the story sounds good to you, Teresa!
Oh my a new to me author! Yay! The book sounds great and I love the cover! Thanks for the chance. nani_geplcs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for commenting, Sheryl. I’ve loved all the covers for the series, but this one is my favorite.
Sounds like a really good read.
I’m glad you think so, Karen! Thanks for leaving a comment.
scoutholland@cox.net
Oooh!!! A new-to-me author/series!!!
Thank you for the giveaway….
This sounds like a great read. Thank you for the chance.
**** WINNER ****
An Orphan of Hell’s Kitchen is Dianne Casey
Congratulations!
Congratulations, Casey! And thank you, Dru, for having Louise on your website this week!
Apologies! I meant congratulations, Dianne!