At first, the police believe an automaton called Le Fantome in Wintour’s murder and suspect the toy dealer, Josef Graff, who was brokering the sale of the automaton, thought to be part of a French magician’s collection. Harry immediately proves to the police why their automaton theory is in correct, and they continue holding Graff in jail.

When Harry and Dash visit Graff in prison, he tells them he was brokering the deal for a man named Harrington. The sale of the automaton was being kept secret because Wintour’s former business partner, now competitor in the toy market, Michael Hendricks, would have also been interested in having the robot offered to him. To complicate matters, Hendericks’ daughter Katherine was once engaged to Wintour. The marriage was called off when, in a moment of indiscretion, Wintour was caught with another woman, whom he married. Now his brother-in-law is very interested in having a stake in the toy business.

Harry is intent on solving the murder for the police. With a reluctant (although infinitely more astute) Dash, he begins to wander the maze of the rich in 1897 New York City. The two are drawn deeper and deeper into secrets that someone is willing to kill for.

The New York City of the late eighteen hundreds was a place where you could get away with just about everything. This is portrayed very well in the Dime Museum Murders -- from the sideshow museums to clubs where gambling, alcohol and woman are abundant, to gangsters who know everything about everyone. The setting is very believable from the elevated trains to the mostly Irish police precinct.

While the murderer is pretty obvious, as is the way he was able to sneak in and out of the locked study undetected, the reason for Wintour’s murder is not revealed until the very end.

The book is billed as a “Harry Houdini” mystery, but the real hero is Dash. While Harry is the perpetual showman, always aware of the audience he is playing to, Dash is stealthily working away to uncover the murder.

Stashower writes a believable historical mystery with details of Houdini’ character and life. Dash is a solid, sensible foil for the fame-seeking, yet good-hearted Houdini. This is an enjoyable debut with an enjoyable duo. Highly recommended for all fans of this era, especially those with a strong interest in New York City.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry