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A review by beckethm
A Lady in the Smoke: A Victorian Mystery by Karen Odden
3.0
I'm uncertain whether [b: A Lady in the Smoke|23738574|A Lady in the Smoke A Victorian Mystery|Karen Odden|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447858140s/23738574.jpg|43350520] is best categorized as a historical mystery with a romance subplot or a historical romance with a mystery subplot, as it really is both.
Like many a romance heroine, Lady Elizabeth Fraser has suffered a disappointing London Season. Gossip has it that her substantial dowry has been wiped out--a rumor she can neither confirm nor deny. But as she and her mother head home to regroup, her troubles on the marriage front are swept aside by a catastrophic train derailment. In the crash's immediate aftermath, she helps a heroic young surgeon treat the wounded survivors, and over the next several days she grows closer to him, while also learning of suspicious circumstances surrounding the crash. As Lady Elizabeth, the doctor, and a reporter friend dig deeper into the cause of the derailment they uncover connections to her family and her own financial difficulties.
This book has a lot going on, including industrial sabotage, stock speculation, corporate malfeasance, a medical malpractice trial, drug addiction, and buried family secrets. The threads all come together eventually, but I can't help thinking it might have been a slightly better story with some judicious pruning.
The romance plot was not terribly original. A woman of noble birth falls for a worthy but socially inferior love interest. There were no particular surprises to the unfolding of their relationship or its eventual outcome, although I will say that I enjoyed Lady Elizabeth's gradual transformation from a sheltered, if kind-hearted, socialite to a woman of independence.
The strength of this book is in its historical accuracy. Karen Odden clearly knows the Victorian era, and did an excellent job recreating the period while bringing to life arcane details of railways and medical practice. I would recommend [b: A Lady in the Smoke|23738574|A Lady in the Smoke A Victorian Mystery|Karen Odden|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447858140s/23738574.jpg|43350520] to anyone who enjoys reading about late 19th-century life.
3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Like many a romance heroine, Lady Elizabeth Fraser has suffered a disappointing London Season. Gossip has it that her substantial dowry has been wiped out--a rumor she can neither confirm nor deny. But as she and her mother head home to regroup, her troubles on the marriage front are swept aside by a catastrophic train derailment. In the crash's immediate aftermath, she helps a heroic young surgeon treat the wounded survivors, and over the next several days she grows closer to him, while also learning of suspicious circumstances surrounding the crash. As Lady Elizabeth, the doctor, and a reporter friend dig deeper into the cause of the derailment they uncover connections to her family and her own financial difficulties.
This book has a lot going on, including industrial sabotage, stock speculation, corporate malfeasance, a medical malpractice trial, drug addiction, and buried family secrets. The threads all come together eventually, but I can't help thinking it might have been a slightly better story with some judicious pruning.
The romance plot was not terribly original. A woman of noble birth falls for a worthy but socially inferior love interest. There were no particular surprises to the unfolding of their relationship or its eventual outcome, although I will say that I enjoyed Lady Elizabeth's gradual transformation from a sheltered, if kind-hearted, socialite to a woman of independence.
The strength of this book is in its historical accuracy. Karen Odden clearly knows the Victorian era, and did an excellent job recreating the period while bringing to life arcane details of railways and medical practice. I would recommend [b: A Lady in the Smoke|23738574|A Lady in the Smoke A Victorian Mystery|Karen Odden|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447858140s/23738574.jpg|43350520] to anyone who enjoys reading about late 19th-century life.
3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.