Reading a Molly Murphy book is like sitting down with an old friend.  Molly is one brave woman and believes in her own ability as a detective and as a woman.  She is a lot of fun, too.

Molly joins her friends Elena Goldfarb and Augusta Walcott in the Easter Parade.   The group is marching for women’s rights.  Many people feel that women should not make such a public exhibition and their march is not well received. When the marchers are arrested, Daniel, Molly's boyfriend, comes to their rescue.

Influenza has struck the city and many people are ill.   Molly had the flu but has recently recovered.  The march has helped Molly with her business.   Emily Boswell, one of the participants in the march, has hired Molly to investigate her background.  Emily has been told her parents died while out of the country as missionaries but Emily doubts that story.

Emily’s friend, Fanny Poindexter, thinks her husband has another woman on the side and hires Molly to investigate.  Before Molly can make a report to Fanny, she receives word that Fanny is very ill.

Soon Molly suspects Fanny’s illness may have nothing to do with the flu.  Molly suspects poison but cannot pinpoint where it came from or how the poison may have been administered.  Fanny won’t be the last to suffer from the mysterious illness.

 In a Gilded Cage is a wonderful addition to the Molly Murphy series.

Reviewed by Patricia E. Reid