The Last Fatal Hour

by

Jan Matthews

A newlywed society matron’s secret investigation into the mysterious death of an old friend uncovers more than she ever imagined.

The Last Fatal Hour is an excellent new historical mystery by author Jan Matthews and follows the efforts of newlywed Leona Gladney to discover what caused the death of her elderly, longtime friend, society matron Daphne Van Wyn, who died suddenly one night under suspicious circumstances, and her jewelry was stolen. Warned away from involving herself in the police investigation by both the lead detective and her husband, Leona is unable to leave it alone when Daphne’s grandson and heir accuses her of taking the jewelry. Shunned by all of Brooklyn society, her determination to find out what happened the night of Daphne’s death is further cemented when the grandson’s wife approaches her with suspicions that her husband is somehow involved in his grandmother’s death. 

Leona Gladney is one of the most intriguing main characters I’ve encountered in forever. The granddaughter of a renowned poet, abolitionist, and Transcendentalist, Leona, at age 17, ran away from her boarding school, disguised herself as a young man, joined the Union Army, and fought alongside regular soldiers until she was discovered after being wounded at Gettysburg. She struggles with what is now called PTSD, suffering moments where she believes she’s back on the battlefield. Her mother’s family comes from the social elite of Boston, who covered for her absence from school and home by claiming she was serving as a nurse for the battlefield wounded. She met, married, and eventually lost her beloved husband, Jack, and their only child. After a period of mourning, she has recently remarried. Her new husband, Brooklyn businessman and widower, Gil Gladney, is charming and quite taken with his wife’s social status. She adds to her household budget by writing essays and reviews for a local paper, but secretly pens a military-adventure series featuring two young soldiers, Ned and Zed, based on boys she served with who come home. She is interested in publishing her wartime memoirs, but anonymously, as she has never revealed that part of her past to her new husband. 

Gil is a traditionalist in their marriage and does not share his burdens with his new wife easily, such as how bad their current financial situation is since his business partner absconded with all their liquid assets. He does not understand Leona’s strengths or determination to uncover the truth behind Daphne’s death, and spends too much time away from home, working in the city. Throughout the book, I wondered what secrets Gil was keeping from Leona, but I enjoyed their early but infrequent cozy evenings at home together. 

Once compelled to take up her own inquiries, Leona makes some major headway in discovering who was behind Daphne’s death, answers seemingly denied to the professional police investigator, Detective Gideon Day. I enjoyed how her friend, Ruth Appelman, insisted on accompanying her on her more questionable forays when she could. But her going alone into the house of the spiritualists had me on the edge of my seat every moment. Major plot twists elevate this historical mystery to a 5-star reading experience for me. 

I recommend THE LAST FATAL HOUR to readers of historical mysteries. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.