Books with author Patrick Ryan

“Nell is one of the strongest, most honorable, and dearest heroines to grace the pages of an amateur sleuth novel.... P.B. Ryan knows how to write a tale that will grip and keep readers’ interest throughout the novel.”—Midwest Book ReviewsNell Sweeney, a young Irish-born governess in post-Civil War Boston, may not have much, but she does possess both a keen mind and a brave heart. As governess to the wealthy Hewitt family, she finds plenty of opportunities to use both—especially when the seamy side of society shows itself...The lowborn Fallons come to Viola Hewitt with a desperate plea for help. Their wayward daughter, Bridget, a pretty young employee of Hewitt Mills and Dye Works, hasn’t been seen for days. Mrs. Fallon, unwilling to believe that Bridget would just run off without a word, fears that she’s come to a bad end—possibly at the hands of her ex-con lover. Viola, confined to a wheelchair, enlists Nell to locate the missing mill girl. Working with Viola’s black sheep son, Will, Nell uncovers a web of schemes and greed and dark obsession… and what she knows may just be the death of her.Originally published by Berkley Prime Crime.“Ryan creates characters you care about and a plot that holds your interest as you try to unmask the killer. Lively and intriguing, this is a fast-paced, wonderful read.—RT BookReviews“I love this series. After finishing the book, I had to go back and re-read scenes and I even pulled out the first book to re-read much of Nell and Will’s many conversations again.”—Babbling Book Reviews“The saga style of Catherine Cookson meets the ‘Victorian vices’ world of Anne Perry in this popular whodunit. Much thought and research has gone into making the two faces of mid-19th century Boston come to life, whether the gilded world of the Hewitts or the grubby back streets of the underworld.”—MyShelf.com“Ms. Ryan excels in her ability to show her characters’ complexities. Most are neither good nor bad, but living lives enmeshed with many shades of gray. Add the rich historical detail and readers have an excellent historical mystery with an intriguing heroine.”—The Best Reviews“Nell is an interesting and unique character....The mystery itself is done quite well, with clues pointing to various suspects, and an unexpected resolution....I hope to see much more of Nell in future books.”—The Romance Reader’s Connection“1868 Boston is well portrayed in this series...an enjoyable story...There is no trace of Colonnade Row in what is now Boston’s downtown shopping area, and Charlestown is but a shell of the prosperous city that existed there in the nineteenth century, but this book brings them back into existence.—Reviewing the EvidenceAbout the Author: Patricia Ryan, a.k.a. P.B. Ryan, is the USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including the #1 national bestseller Still Life with Murder. Pat's books have garnered rave reviews and been published in over twenty countries. Visit her at pb-ryan.com.

“A mesmerizing mystery. Not only does Ryan provide readers with a tightly wound, suspenseful novel peopled with multidimensional characters, she writes about an era whose problems mirror our own. This is a historical period she knows and brings to life so clearly that readers are totally immersed. Nell is an ideal heroine: smart, intrepid and human. Be on the lookout for her return.”—RT BookReviewsOn Sept. 24, 1869, the gold market crumbles, and fortunes are lost in a matter of minutes. When two of Boston’s most prominent men are found dead on Wall Street’s first “Black Friday,” it’s widely assumed that they committed suicide over their financial losses. But upon examining the bodies, forensic scientist Dr. William Hewitt concludes that one of the men was most likely murdered. Will wants to investigate the circumstances surrounding the suspicious death, but to do so, he needs to navigate the upper echelons of Boston society, which are foreign to him. He enlists the aid of Nell Sweeney, the Irish-born governess employed by his estranged parents. Not only is Nell acquainted with many of the city’s most prominent citizens, she understands how their wealth and power can be used to keep dark secrets under wraps. As their investigation progresses, Nell and Will discover that the two dead men were linked by something more valuable—and far more treacherous—than gold.“Nell and Will are a confirmed pair of amateur sleuths in this fourth entry in the popular Gilded Age series, and this makes the setting perhaps slightly cozier, but as usual, P B Ryan is spot on with her period detail. This is the best part about the series for me, as these books really do open a window into how both the high and low society of Boston operated. She thankfully doesn’t shrink (Anne Perry style) from showing it, warts and all...probably the best entry yet.”—MyShelf.com“As always, Nell and Will’s predicament tugs at my heart. Loved it!”—Babbling Book Reviews“The author has an amazing grasp of life during this period of history. Each detail is crafted to let the reader feel immersed in the time; from the major historical events, to the minutiae of everyday life. These facts are effortlessly woven into the overall narrative.”—The Romance Reader’s ConnectionAbout the Author: Patricia Ryan, a.k.a. P.B. Ryan, is the USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including the #1 national bestseller Still Life with Murder. Pat's books have garnered rave reviews and been published in over twenty countries. Sign up for Pat's newsletter at pb-ryan.com.

Delancey Murphy and her friend Jojo are in trouble again. The principal called them to the office because someone snuck into the school's kitchen and took the labels off all the canned goods. When the principal heard they also put Saran Wrap on all the toilet seats, he knew it had to be the "happy pranksters."Pat Ryan's new novel features the adventures of Delancey, better known as Red. She and her friend Jojo are always trying to make junior high a little more fun with their pranks. Delancey is an active teen who spends her time practicing hockey, and when she's not at the rink, she and Jojo are running her dogs through the north woods of Minnesota. The adventure never stops in this romp through life as Delancy finds herself on a dangerous, secret mission to South America to find a baby for her older sister.

Delancey Murphy and her friend Jojo are in trouble again. The principal called them to the office because someone snuck into the school's kitchen and took the labels off all the canned goods. When the principal heard they also put Saran Wrap on all the toilet seats, he knew it had to be the "happy pranksters."Pat Ryan's new novel features the adventures of Delancey, better known as Red. She and her friend Jojo are always trying to make junior high a little more fun with their pranks. Delancey is an active teen who spends her time practicing hockey, and when she's not at the rink, she and Jojo are running her dogs through the north woods of Minnesota. The adventure never stops in this romp through life as Delancy finds herself on a dangerous, secret mission to South America to find a baby for her older sister.

One of the strangest (and funniest) love triangles ever to hit YA fiction, when a pair of twins (one boy, one girl) both fall for the boy who moves in with them…who may or may not be a vampire.Judy and Kyle Renneker are sixteen-year-old fraternal twins in a rambling family of nine. They have a prickly history with each other and are, at least from Judy's perspective, constantly in fierce competition. Kyle has recently come out of the closet to his family and feels he might never know what it's like to date a guy. Judy, who has a history of pretending to be something she isn't in order to get what she wants, is pretending to be born-again in order to land a boyfriend who heads his own bible study.

One of the strangest (and funniest) love triangles ever to hit YA fiction, when a pair of twins (one boy, one girl) both fall for the boy who moves in with them…who may or may not be a vampire.Judy and Kyle Renneker are sixteen-year-old fraternal twins in a rambling family of nine. They have a prickly history with each other and are, at least from Judy's perspective, constantly in fierce competition. Kyle has recently come out of the closet to his family and feels he might never know what it's like to date a guy. Judy, who has a history of pretending to be something she isn't in order to get what she wants, is pretending to be born-again in order to land a boyfriend who heads his own bible study.