When you are a poor Irish girl, even if already on the shelf at age 23, and you get in trouble, you know no one will believe you. With her flaming red hair and a spunky attitude, Molly Murphy quickly realizes that she wouldn't stand a chance in court, especially in Ireland. Even if it was an by accident that she had killed the son of the English landowner. What would it matter that he was trying to rape her and she was defending her honour?

Stifling her fear, Molly knew she had to get away as fast as possible, so with hardly a penny to her name, she runs away from her village and makes her way to Belfast. As she wanders around this port city trying to come up with a plan, a woman with two lovely children takes pity on her and helps her out of a fix. The Irish woman is due to sail the next morning to New York in America to join her husband there. But, Kathleen, Molly's new found acquaintance, knows they won't let her land as she is ill, so she arranges for Molly to take her place to get her two children safely to their father. Molly doesn't know how she will manage and what she will do - especially when Mr. O'Connor sees her instead of his wife, but what can she do? Can she escape by this ship? Will she be able to make a fresh start in America? What will happen to her?

Rhys Bowen is a best-selling author who is well known for her humourous mystery stories and MURPHY'S LAW sets out Molly Murphy as a spunky and headstrong heroine on the path to becoming an amateur sleuth in the busy and bustling New York City in 1901. This first book in an exciting series first published in 2001 and now re-printed, is riveting with fast paced action and intrigue as "the just off the boat" Molly lands herself in numerous troubles all the while trying to help a new found friend. With her excellent background research work, Bowen makes this teeming turn of the 2oth century city come alive with its poverty, political ambitions and corruptions. Molly is a witty and highly likable character and is full of common sense. Her headstrong ways seem advanced for a woman's place in 1901; however, her actions fit well with the storyline and all its intrigue. I just love the way Molly spars with Daniel Sullivan, the handsome Irish police captain she encounters while trying to save a friend from a murder charge. Fans, new and existing, are sure to relish the humour and suspense of MURPHY'S LAW!