Death and grandeur

Grace Covington has come to St. Louis to spend the summer with her cousins, Lillie and Oliver, and to spend time at the 1904 World's Fair. What starts as a couple weeks of incredible sight seeing turns darker when a woman is murdered and suspicion falls on Oliver who is quickly arrested. Horrified and certain her cousin is innocent, Grace begins investigating on her own with the help of Lillie and their frustrating friend Theo. 

Those are the bare bones of the plot in this historical mystery and as a puzzle it works well enough. But what I really enjoyed here was the setting. Murphy spends a good chunk of time setting up the world of these characters, their relationships and then what they're experiencing as they visit the Fair. And I was happy it was so. It's clear Murphy did her research as the Fair, and the city it's set in, are extensively described and while there's much to dazzle, the author doesn't shy away from some of the uglier aspect of the displays. 

I enjoyed this for the history and the mystery and, despite some anachronisms, would recommend to those who like to learn a little something with their mystery reading.