From the 1870s to the beginning of the 20th century, the United States was in its Golden agean era filled with exuberant wealth displayed through huge mansions, high society balls and class divisions, leading to lifelong poverty for some.

It is in this setting that “Murder at the Breakers”, the first book in the “Gilded Newport Mystery” series by Alyssa Maxwell, is set.

The Breakers is the name of the summer cottage of Cornelius “Corneil” Vanderbilt II, brother of William Kissam Vanderbilt, son of William Henry Vanderbilt and Maria Louisa Kissam.

These so-called cottages – or more accurately, huge mansions by the sea that employed dozens of servants, maids, cooks, cleaners, footmen and butlers – are where robber barons and railroad magnates like the Vanderbilts and many other wealthy families would spend the hot month by the sea, returning to New York and other major industrial cities for the fall.

“Murder at the Breakers” follows 21-year-old Emmaline “Emma” Cross, a fictional cousin of Cornelius — who was largely a real man — and a reporter for The Newport Observer newspaper’s society page.

Emma grew up with the children of Cornelius, Cornelius “Neily” III, Gertrude, William Henry II, Alfred Gwynne, Reginald “Reggie” Claypoole and Gladys.

Although she is close to her Vanderbilt relatives, she refuses to take their money or be set up with high-class suitors. Instead, she lives out of the house with a horse and carriage and an employee that she inherited from her Aunt Sadie and works for The Observer to earn a living.

His relationship with the Vanderbilts itself is the embodiment of the class divide of the time and the city between the wealthy railroad and business magnates and the poor native Newporters.

The story is animated by the fictional murder of Cornelius’ financial secretary, Alvin Goddard, which occurs at the first ball in the summer of 1895. The Breakers had just been completely renovated after the much more modest original house, which had burned in a fire. a few years earlier.

The ball was held that year to celebrate 20-year-old Gertrude’s “coming out” into society, which means being ready for suitors.

After Emma finds Goddard face down under one of the Breakers’ balconies, the police arrest her older half-brother, Stuart Braden “Brady” Gale IV, suspecting him of being the murderer.

Since Brady is likely to be arrested for public drunkenness, bar fights, and similar petty crimes, he becomes an easy scapegoat, especially since he is found passed out at the crime scene. Emma, ​​however, refuses to believe that her brother is good for crime and vows to find the real murderer.

Although this book is not a blockbuster or well-known bestseller, it is a really good true story of crime and murder. It takes a winding road to get to its conclusion, and the ending is surprising yet believable.

Add in a cool historical setting, depictions of the magnificent Breakers, family drama, and budding romance and you have “Murder at the Breakers.”

Maxwell created something truly unique when she mixed real people and historical events and circumstances with fictional characters and drama. It’s very different from most murder mysteries.

With genuinely likable characters, a strong female protagonist, and a well-developed setting and energy, the book captures the reader’s attention from start to finish and leaves the reader scrambling to find the next book in the series, “Murder at the Marble House.”