Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Second Street Station | 2015 | Lawrence H. Levy | Buy |
| 2 | Second Street Station: A Mary Handley Mystery | 2015 | Lawrence H. Levy | N/A |
| 3 | Brooklyn on Fire | 2016 | Lawrence H. Levy | Buy |
| 4 | Last Stop in Brooklyn | 2018 | Lawrence H. Levy | Buy |
| 5 | Near Prospect Park | 2020 | Lawrence H. Levy | Buy |
The A Mary Handley Mystery series by Lawrence H. Levy is set in 1890s Brooklyn during a time when female detectives were practically unheard of. Mary Handley takes on murder cases and other crimes while navigating the social expectations placed on women in that era. The mysteries draw on real events and historical figures from Gilded Age New York.
Each book gives Mary a new case to solve, but there is a continuing thread to her personal life and career. The historical setting is well-researched, and Levy does a good job of placing fictional crimes within real events without it feeling forced. Readers who enjoy historical mysteries with strong female leads will find a lot to like here.