Sandra (mycatscanread) - reviewed on 4/25/2011 + 174 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 3

HALF A MIND TO MURDER is the 3rd (not 2nd as the title is marked)in the Dr. Alexandra Gladstone historical mystery series. In this turn-of-the-century novel, a mysterious outbreak of an unknown disease starts in Newton-Upon-Sea, and when the fourth patient is cured by Dr. Gladstone, she is puzzled but is also afraid that an epidemic is starting. However, the patient who is cured is soon found dead with his heart cut out, very precisely and surgically very properly. He won't be the last.

In the town there is a young man who, at the time, was called an "imbecile" and as the story progresses everything gets blamed on him or his unmarried mother. Superstition abounds in this town where people live by these superstitions instead of the truth.

Dr. Gladstone, her faithful assistant Nancy, a newcomer Polly, and the doctor's dog, Zack, and her friend Nicholas, all make for a very entertaining story and investigative team. They do sometimes get in the way of Snow, the real policeman.

Although I had the culprit figured out about halfway through, one character's fate was unknown to me until the very end of the book.

There is a scene where Dr. Gladstone meets Florence Nightingale, and has a conversation with her. A note in the back of the book tells that Nightingale's words were taken from her letters and papers, which makes her conversation in the story even more interesting. The main characters that appear in each book are warm, likable and like good neighors, I want to see them again.

Unfortunately, this is the last in the series for the time being. I hope to see #4 in this entertaining historical mystery series one of these days in the not-too-distant future. Paula Paul, the author, is very versatile in her writing, and I hope she returns to this series soon.

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