At age 20, Bridget is an accomplished cook and begins working for Isaac Gold and his family in their house on the corner of 5th Avenue and 34th Street. Bridget is very grateful for this opportunity and vows to make the most of the situation.

However, her first day is not off to an auspicious start when she finds the body of Gold’s youngest son stuffed into a dough box. Mr. Gold has taken a liking to Bridget and thinks Seth’s murder may be connected to the former Irish cook, Katherine, so he turns to Bridget and asks for her help approaching the Irish community to find Katherine. Bridget agrees, knowing this will also be a good time to continue looking for Maggie.

Though Bridget is naïve about some things, she knows the questions to ask, learns very quickly and is grateful for every chance she is given. Soon people are beginning to talk about her relationship with Mr. Gold and Bridget realizes there is more heartbreak in this family than the death of Seth. Bridget navigates the parts of New York City she knows and quickly learns to insinuate herself into places she never expected to be. She proves herself not only a good cook in the Gold’s household, but a valuable asset to the family.  

The Spice Box refers to a small box Bridget finds among Katherine’s used uniforms that contains recipes, presumably one from each of the previous owners. It is this box that provides the key to unraveling Seth’s murder.

Bridget is a delightful heroine, very honest and in some ways innocent. She has a less than stellar past but is willing to own up to it (once confronted with it) and proves she has moved on. Her devotion to Maggie, in spite of the various things she hears about her sister and her willingness to adapt to the Gold’s Jewish customs, show her loyalty. The Golds’ family dynamics are strained to be sure, but Bridget learns early on how to deal with each member. While there are few suspects and motives offered, the investigation is very thorough and absorbing.  

The accurate historical details of the mystery provide wonderful atmosphere. The premise of the series appears to be the handing down of the Spice Box rather than the reoccurrence of a main character. If all the heroines are as likable as Bridget, the series should quickly become a favorite for culinary mystery fans and historical mystery fans like.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry