This is the fifth in a series. I liked the first three and somehow missed the 4th. I liked them so much I eagerly jumped at the chance to read and review an ARC of Brooklyn Legacies: An Erica Donato Mystery #5 by Triss Stein. It will be out in early December.

For those not familiar with the series, Erica is a Brooklyn girl. She married a firefighter from the old neighborhood, was widowed young, went back to school, discovered a life she never knew existed, and decided to pursue a Ph.D. in history. All this while raising a daughter who is now a teen.

She now has her Ph.D. and a job at the art museum. Her job takes Dr. Erica Donato into Brooklyn Heights in search of a lost portrait of Walt Whitman. Erica soon gets involved in Brooklyn Heights disputes and mysteries involving a neighborhood activist, the Jehovah’s Witnesses (Watch Tower Society, a major property owner in Brooklyn Heights), and real estate developers.

The author weaves the history of Brooklyn Heights, the mystery (including a murder or 2), and modern Brooklyn into a nice story. Learn and be entertained at the same time.

Since this is the fifth in the series, reading the earlier books in the series will give you more background and understanding of Erica. I suggest the first. I don’t think this is necessary but I think it is better.

If you think you would like this , let me suggest looking at my reviews of some earlier books in this series.