Away in a manger - Rhys Bowen

In this Christmas
installment of Rhys Bowen's New York Times bestselling historical
mystery series, Molly Murphy Sullivan's generosity to a beggar draws her
into a dangerous investigation

It's Christmastime in 1905 New
York City, and for once, Molly Murphy Sullivan is looking forward to the
approaching holidays. She has a family of her own now: she and Daniel
have a baby son and 12-year-old Bridie is living with them as their
ward. As Molly and the children listen to carolers in the street, they
hear a lovely little voice and see a beggar girl, huddled in a doorway,
singing Away in a Manger. Bridie is touched by the girl's ragged clothes
and wants to help her out if they can. They give her a quarter, only to
watch a bigger boy take it from her. But it turns out he is the girl's
brother, and they've come from England and are living with an aunt who
mistreats them terribly. When the young boy is accused of stealing a
purse, Molly intervenes on his behalf.

These children are clearly
not the usual city waifs. They are well-spoken and used to better
things. So who are they? And what has happened to their mother? As Molly
looks for the answers to these questions, she gets drawn into an
investigation that will take her up to the highest levels of New York
society.