Murder on Washington Square

The rich descriptions of 19th-century New York are immersive, but I wondered if the pacing suffered because of it. Was that intentional to set the scene?

The setting feels so vivid and integral to the plot. I'm curious whether the author knew this neighborhood well or did extensive research to bring it to life.

The clues were subtle, but I didn't see that reveal coming. Did others pick up on the hints early on or was it a complete surprise?