However, what is wholly accurate is my passion for Boston, its people, its heritage, and its culture.
While I conducted extensive research into how Hamish’s illness would be viewed through the lens of 1930s medicine, I required no research in presenting his symptoms. I have suffered from a panic and anxiety disorder my entire life and am determined to normalize it in the fictional community. I encourage readers to engage with me on social media using the hashtag #FictionForEmpowerment to continue the discussion.
Discussion Questions
While Reggie continually acknowledges her desire to “make Hamish happy” she is not completely free from her tie to Vaughan Vanderlaan. Vaughan binds Reggie to her past and her parents’ expectations. Do you think it is possible for someone to be attracted to a person not for who they are but for the life and history they represent?
At its core, the Van Buren and DeLuca series is about an anxious young lawyer who innocently enters his cousin’s world and learns more than he ever wanted to. In Murder at the Flamingo, Nate says that Hamish has “loyalty cataracts” when it comes to Luca and what he is involved in. How do you see Hamish’s opinion and his loyalty to his cousin shifting in Murder in the City of Liberty?
Boston plays a starring role in Hamish and Reggie’s lives. Both feel their adopted city is a major part in their development and in their happiness. Is there a place that you have felt an immediate attachment to?
While the Van Buren and DeLuca series features murder mysteries, a large part of the mystery is that surrounding Hamish’s cousin, Luca, and the truths he learns about the dark world of Boston as he familiarizes himself with his adoptive home. Part of this dark world includes the vast divide between those with money, power, and influence and those with little means to defend themselves. Can you think of other genre fiction where a deeper message such as social justice is explored? Why do you think it is is helpful to explore issues through artistic forms of entertainment such as fiction?
Nate tells Hamish that if the wrong voices are ripe for the picking in the loudest, most assured voices, they are easiest to follow. Can you think of such voices either in recent years or history that prove Nate’s statement to be true? Why do you think people are so susceptible to being swayed by these types of opinions and how do you keep from falling into their trap as you navigate your own values and beliefs?
When Hamish learns his father was responsible for Luca’s father’s death, he withstands the temptation to telephone and confront his dad, feeling that he should act with a sense of empathy, as he still feels responsible for Bricker’s death. Is there a moment in your life when you have held back from a difficult conversation due to a sense of compassion or empathy despite the importance of the topic to you?
As in the first book of the series, Hamish’s anxiety and panic disorder is a constant hurdle but also an incredible strength in that it allows him a sense of unique empathy and the rare ability to tell when someone is being inauthentic or lying to him. Can you think of something in your life that you always thought of as a weakness or drawback that might actually be a strength?
Hamish’s country is at war and yet his adopted country is not. While Hamish knows he cannot go to war, he still feels guilty for not joining the action and being a true patriot. In what ways does Hamish try to fight the war in his own way in Boston even while he is unable to do so overseas?
Throughout Murder in the City of Liberty, the lead characters are put in situations that require them to act one way even though their conscience pricks at them. Reggie agrees to marry Vaughan to help her family, Nate Reis meets with Luca Valari, and Hamish calls Luca for help when Nate is hurt. Even though you might not necessarily agree with their choices, each has their own reason for acting the way they did. Have you ever had to justify something you have done for the right reason but in the wrong way?
When Hamish calls Luca with his suspicions about Walt Bricker and the attack on Nate, it is because he is tired of others getting away without being held accountable for their actions. Can you think of a time when you would have done anything to ensure justice for a wrongdoing?
Both Nate Reis and Errol Parker teach Hamish invaluable lessons about forgiveness. Hamish has to learn to forgive himself for calling Luca about Walt Bricker and Reggie has to learn to forgive herself for her treatment of Vaughan. Can you think of a time when it was far easier to forgive someone else but not yourself?
Acknowledgments
Allison Pittman: for being my constant. I love being half of our team. I love you, Bucko.
I am so delighted to work with the team at Thomas Nelson. Thanks to Allison Carter and Dave Knox who continually find me interesting and exciting new places to talk about my books. Also thanks to the amazing editorial eye of Laura Wheeler and Lauren Schneider, Murder in the City of Liberty looks good! Thanks! Thanks! for making me look smarter than I am.
Kim Carlton: thanks for listening and supporting me and putting up with my emails. Mostly, thanks for being an all-around delightful human.
Jamie Chavez: I loved my experience with you on this book and I learned so much. Thanks for believing in my characters and their journey and for having not only a keen editorial eye but incredible wisdom.
Jared and Leah: I know you read every word I write and it is incredible to have that support. But mostly I am just happy that we are all (at least for the moment) in the same country (and the same continent) and can laugh our heads off together #SiblingSunday.
Ruth Samsel and Bill Jensen: I am so lucky to have you in my corner! Thank you for everything!
Kat: I have come to the conclusion that without you I just wouldn’t be able to write books. Thanks for being Kat. You save my spirit on so many occasions.
Annette: knowing you makes me an immediate winner. Whatever team you are on, I choose that one.
Gerry and Kathleen McMillan: with every book I learn more and more what an anomaly you are. The unconditional support. The undying belief in me even when things change or get a little uneven. You always recognized that what I thought was my greatest weakness was actually my greatest strength. So, again, I gifted Hamish DeLuca with all of the symptoms that might have been a plague or a millstone but rather, thanks to you, instill a deep sense of empathy that—when coupled with our family’s unique brand of humor, grace, and aplomb—make me indefatigable.
About the Author
Agnieszka Smyrska/Smyrska Photography
Rachel McMillan is a history enthusiast, lifelong bibliophile, and author of the Herringford and Watts series. When not reading (or writing), Rachel can be found at the theater, traveling near and far, and watching far too many British miniseries. Rachel lives in Toronto and is always planning her next trip to Boston.
* * *
Facebook: RachKMc1
Twitter: @RachKMc
Instagram: RachKMc
Acclaim for Rachel McMillan
“Murder at the Flamingo is a dynamite beginning to McMillan’s newest series. Both a coming-of-age tale and a twisty case of whodunit, readers will fall in love with her delightfully complicated characters. 1937 Boston leaps to life in vivid detail, while the author’s portrayal of anxiety and panic disorder is both heartbreaking and inspiring. I cannot wait to read Hamish and Reggie’s next adventure.”
—Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries
“Rachel McMillan’s Murder at the Flamingo is an extravaganza of fabulous characters and prose that transported me to 1930s Boston. McMillan has quite a talent for immersing the reader in a profound historical experience. Highly recommended!”
—Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling author
“In Murder at the Flamingo, McMillan, author of the Herringford and Watts Mysteries, offers us a new generation of sleuths. And in her skilled hands, 1937 Boston comes to life with rich sensory detail and clever winks to books and films. You’ll love the happening and opulent nightclubs, the fast-paced dancing and daring, and especially the two sleuths who will st
eal your heart.”
—Katherine Reay, author of Dear Mr. Knightley and A Portrait of Emily Price
“On its surface, Murder at the Flamingo is a fun and engrossing pre-war murder mystery that will keep readers turning pages. It’s beautifully atmospheric, taking us to late 1930s Boston in such vivid detail you can almost taste the decadent cannoli cream so beloved by McMillan’s amateur sleuth protagonists. The pacing is taut without sacrificing development of the endearing cast of characters. But more significant than this, McMillan gives us a story that highlights the struggles of people living with anxiety and panic disorders long before the conditions were properly understood. Her portrayal of Hamish’s challenges is sympathetic and uplifting, and only serves to make his character richer. This delightful series is one I will be following for what I hope is a very long time.”
—Aimie K. Runyan, internationally bestselling author of Daughters of the Night Sky and Promised to the Crown
“A perfectly-flawed hero and a liberty-seeking lady are the backbone of this delightful and lively mystery novel. Grounded in a city that is no stranger to independence, Hamish and Reggie seek what it means to be free beneath the lights of Boston’s glitziest nightclub . . . and a murder that taints its opening night. Fast-paced and at times humorous, the satisfying ending leaves the reader content and anxious for more all at the same time.”
—Heidi Chiavaroli, award-winning author of Freedom’s Ring and The Hidden Side, on Murder at the Flamingo
“Adventure—the very thing both of Rachel McMillan’s lovable characters seek is exactly what she delivers, sucking the reader back to the ’30s with distinctive style. Fans will be clamoring for the next installment!”
—Roseanna M. White, bestselling author of the Shadows Over England series, on Murder at the Flamingo
“Boston comes roaring to life with fullness and flair, a character in its own right. Endearing protagonists carry the tale with wit, charm, and struggles that make them human. Bursting with rhythm, Murder at the Flamingo is a toe-tapping, heart-pumping immersion into the world of Reggie and Hamish. A delightful experience.”
—Jocelyn Green, award-winning author of A Refuge Assured
“You will want to add Reggie Van Buren and Hamish DeLuca to your circle of friends when you’ve read this book. This highly original story is a delight. Excellent historical detail and setting.”
—Maureen Jennings, author of the Detective Murdoch series, which inspired the Murdoch Mysteries TV series, on Murder at the Flamingo
“With a crowded mystery and suspense market, it’s hard to stand out from the pack. Rachel McMillan manages to do just this. She revives the classic 1930s-era amateur detective–whodunit set in a gloriously atmospheric Boston nightclub—The Flamingo . . . [Murder at the Flamingo] manages to cross the bridge between ‘issue fiction’ and ‘commercial fiction’ seamlessly. It’s an immensely enjoyable and important read that I can’t recommend highly enough. I simply loved this book!”
—Tall Poppy Writers
“A delicious mystery chock-full of 1930s charm and romance. I can’t wait to find out what Reggie and Hamish get up to next!”
—Cheryl Honigford, award-winning author of the Viv and Charlie Mystery Series, on Murder at the Flamingo
“Murder at the Flamingo sweeps the reader into a world of liquid-silk gowns, snazzy gangsters, smoke-filled dance floors, and star-crossed romance. Not to mention a bit of murder. Rachel McMillan breathes life into a cast of characters that defy the clichés of the genre: a rich girl who isn’t spoiled, a leading man plagued with anxiety, a mob boss with a heart, and others who bring twists with each turn of the page. McMillan crafts Hamish, Reggie, Luca, and Nate with enough dimension for the reader to inspect each with a slow turn—strengths, flaws, frustrations. Nothing is absolute. The story plays out with the grit and humor of an RKO picture show, with the author’s love for the time and place evident with each nod to detail. McMillan gives us a new Nick and Nora, sharing a bicycle and cannoli—and maybe a little bit more.”
—Allison Pittman, author of Loving Luther
“Rachel McMillan is a refreshing, talented writer who has created an original and appealing hero in Hamish DeLuca. Enjoy!”
—Julie Klassen, Christy Award–winning author, on Murder at the Flamingo
Also by Rachel McMillan
Van Buren and DeLuca Mysteries
Murder at the Flamingo
Herringford and Watts Mysteries
A Singular and Whimsical Problem
The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder
Of Dubious and Questionable Memory
A Lesson in Love and Murder
Conductor of Light
The White Feather Murders
The Three Quarter Time Series
Love in Three Quarter Time
Rose in Three Quarter Time
Of Mozart and Magi
Copyright
Murder in the City of Liberty
© 2019 by Rachel McMillan
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.
Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email [email protected].
Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.
Published in association with William K. Jensen Literary Agency, 119 Bampton Court, Eugene, Oregon 97404.
ISBN 978-0-7852-1697-1 (e-book)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: McMillan, Rachel, 1981- author.
Title: Murder in the City of Liberty / Rachel McMillan.
Description: Nashville, Tennessee : Thomas Nelson, [2019] | Series: A Van
Buren and Deluca mystery ; 2
Identifiers: LCCN 2018059446 | ISBN 9780785216964 (paperback)
Subjects: | GSAFD: Mystery fiction.
Classification: LCC PR9199.4.M4555 M88 2019 | DDC 813/.6--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018059446
Printed in the United States of America
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