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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Rape
As much as I wanted to love it, I just couldn't find my footing with this one. The story sounds right up my alley--mystery, historical, medicine--but the writing was slow and never seemed to get the right momentum. The mystery barely surfaces in the first 80 pages, and although I thought the author did an amazing job capturing the atmosphere of the period, I wanted more. I might try it again another time, but at this moment, this wasn't the book for me.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Medical trauma
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization
Minor: Miscarriage, Vomit, Abortion
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this mostly in one sitting, and couldn't put it down. As a lover of the hyper-specific genre "woman* in medicine in the Victorian Era also solves crimes", I was excited to find a new series to dive into.
The main strength of this book was its protagonist. Sarah is so well drawn and beautifully flawed while also being incredibly loveable. She also not a very good detective, which was actually quite refreshing to read. The focus is more on her emotional arc than on the actual mystery, but they worked very well in service of each other.
In terms of the mystery itself, there was one element that I thought was drawn out a little too long after it had been made obvious(that Lucy was Professor M's sister) but in terms of the murder itself, I found the reveal satisfying in that I hadn't called it, but everything immediately slotted into place.
I'm already looking forward to reading Sarah's next adventure!
The main strength of this book was its protagonist. Sarah is so well drawn and beautifully flawed while also being incredibly loveable. She also not a very good detective, which was actually quite refreshing to read. The focus is more on her emotional arc than on the actual mystery, but they worked very well in service of each other.
In terms of the mystery itself, there was one element that I thought was drawn out a little too long after it had been made obvious
I'm already looking forward to reading Sarah's next adventure!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Medical content
Moderate: Rape
adventurous
dark
tense
I did not finish after reading some significant percentage. This book was interesting, but I didn’t like the oppression that the FMC was experiencing because she had been labeled “crazy” by her family in Victorian or Edwardian times when any woman who did not behave conventionally could be committed in this way.
I wouldn’t say it was triggering to me, but it was too stressful for what I wanted to read at that time.
I wouldn’t say it was triggering to me, but it was too stressful for what I wanted to read at that time.
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated