When Sarah Brandt was called to deliver a baby, she thought it would be just another busy day as a midwife. But when Sarah arrives at her destination, something about the elegant establishment where the expectant mother is in labor doesn't seem right. Mrs. Walker, who runs the establishment, strikes Sarah as cold and secretive. Sarah deduces that the lavish home is a boarding house for well- off girls. However, when Sarah is introduced to her patient, a young girl named Amy, she begs Sarah to help her escape before her child is taken away from her. Soon Sarah realizes that she had been called to deliver a baby in a brothel.

Amy begs Sarah to contact Mrs. Vivian Van Orner, a woman known for rescuing girls who wish to escape prostitution. Sarah does as Amy asks and even removes Amy's son from the brothel to ensure his safety. All seems well after Mrs. Van Orner arranges for Amy to be kidnapped from Mrs. Walker's brothel. Sarah believes her mission is complete when Amy is safely reunited with her son. But when Mrs. Van Orner is found dead in her carriage, Sarah and her friend Detective Frank Malloy must sift through endless clues to find their murderer.

Mrs. Walker is considered a likely suspect, but Sarah and Detective Malloy can't ignore the evidence pointing to other people. When Sarah discovers that Amy lied about her identity and the real reason she was staying at a brothel, her suspicions about Amy begin to grow. But Amy isn't the only suspect. Mrs. Van Orner's mousey secretary has some explaining to do when Sarah and Detective Malloy find some unexpected skeletons in her closet. Even Mr. Van Orner and Mrs. Spratt-Williams, Mrs. Orner's closest friend, become possible suspects.

MURDER ON SISTERS' ROW is a cleverly written Victorian mystery with a bombshell ending which leaves readers craving more. Victoria Thompson successfully captured the hardship of New York's lower class, while at the same time vividly describing the elite's lush and exclusive lifestyle. Readers who love to put their thinking caps on will appreciate this well-thought out mystery.