Rosemary F. (canadianeh) reviewed The Anatomist's Wife (Lady Darby, Bk 1) on + 242 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
A series of gruesome murders compel the widowed Lady Darby to step forward and assist the investigator Sebastian Gage. Because of her forced association with her husband in the dissection of corpses (horrors!), accusations and rumors swirl around her. But participation is now a way for her to possibly clear her name. Negative feelings abound in the era of the beginnings of human biological science, since corpses are usually those of executed criminals. But the lack of subjects has led to grave robbery. Several red herrings will throw you off the path, but the resolution of the mystery is very satisfying.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 3
Anna Lee Huber has given us an excellent blend of mystery and historical detail wrapped up in a country house party. There's even a touch of romance as the story unfolds. The mystery is a complex one due to the background of the victim and the victim's interactions with everyone else at the country house. It takes time to sort through everything, and while I was sorting, I was enjoying Huber's look at high society in the year 1830. Having Kiera be so utterly reviled by everyone gives us a chance to see how the rich and shameless behave around her, and their behavior tells a great deal about them as people and as suspects.
Lady Darby's married life has given her some of the skills needed to be a good investigator. Already a talented artist, her husband nevertheless honed her skill by forcing her to notice minute details while he dissected and she drew. She also learned much in the way of medical matters, and by the same token she learned how to persevere through extremely unpleasant tasks.
Now that she and Gage have learned to value each other's investigative skills, it's going to be interesting to see them work together again. The rogue and the recluse. The private inquiry agent and the artist. The sought-after and the universally reviled. I'm definitely looking forward to the second book in this series.
Lady Darby's married life has given her some of the skills needed to be a good investigator. Already a talented artist, her husband nevertheless honed her skill by forcing her to notice minute details while he dissected and she drew. She also learned much in the way of medical matters, and by the same token she learned how to persevere through extremely unpleasant tasks.
Now that she and Gage have learned to value each other's investigative skills, it's going to be interesting to see them work together again. The rogue and the recluse. The private inquiry agent and the artist. The sought-after and the universally reviled. I'm definitely looking forward to the second book in this series.
Karin A. (Jerseygirltoo) -
Helpful Score: 3
Very good historical mystery. The heroine was quite unique and I enjoyed her sister and brother-in-law as secondary characters. There is no romance, but plenty of foreshadowing that a relationship will develop between the two lead characters in subsequent books. I am looking forward to reading the more of this series.
Helpful Score: 2
Quick and enjoyable read! Well-written with a passable story-line and a distinct lack of dithering, helpless female characters which is always a plus for a book based in England in the historical fiction genre
