Lori C. (dollycas) reviewed on 4/17/2016 + 660 more book reviews

Dollycas's Thoughts

This is an excellent debut!

The story takes place in Amesbury, Massachusetts in 1888. Rose Carroll is a midwife and she is also a Quaker. She has been taught from birth to see the best in people and let God's light shine on everything she says and does and in times of turmoil. Turmoil comes in a fire, an arson, of a carriage factory and all the surrounding buildings. Several lives are lost. The turmoil continues when the owner of the carriage factory's son is murdered. The weapon just happens to be one of Rose's knitting needles. This means she knows the killer. When another death occurs, one of her patients, she knows she has to do all she can to uncover the truth and the murderer.

I am so impressed with this author's writing. The Quaker lifestyle is unique and it is portrayed so well in this story. She is writing about something she know personally and it shines. I appreciate the insight into their Meetings and their quiet form of worship, their views and beliefs on equality and passive resolution. As someone not too familiar with their way of life I really only knew about their manner of speech, their use of thee as an ordinary pronoun, and plain manner of dressing. So in addition to a fine mystery the story was educational as well.

Her descriptions of Amesbury make the town come to life. Following Rose from place to place we have a clear bird's eye view. I loved traveling back in time, no cars and only a few telephones. It was amusing to see Rose handling the new invention of the safety bicycle (both wheels the same size.) She also shows us the dark things of this period. Children working at a very young age and the poverty families faced. Most people worked so hard to provide so little.

I love Rose. She has such a good heart and is an wonderful midwife. Amazing to think she was only paid $2 per child and when people could not afford to pay she worked things out in trade. Being a midwife and a Friend enabled her to get close to people to ask questions about the deaths. She also has a beau who is not a member of her faith. This makes for interesting times together like meeting his parents.

Edith Maxwell has written a complicated mystery. She gives us plenty of suspects with different types of motive. It keeps a good pace and then ramps up at the end with an edge of you seat climax.

If you are a fan of historical mysteries you will love this book. If you are looking for something fresh and new that takes you back in time this is the perfect book for you. For me this one goes on the keeper shelf and gets a paradise rating.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details