Anatomist
and amateur detective Gabriel Crowther believes that the summer of 1783 will be
just like any other: hot, muggy and full of medical research. Then he's unexpectedly summoned to
investigate a body discovered on the grounds of his family's estate, by none
other than his estranged sister. He arrives with his fellow sleuth, Harriet
Westerman, at the grand English home, only to begin tracking a killer who
disposes of several villagers, including the owner of a small museum. The meticulous Crowther is an enjoyably oddball character, but Westerman
is one of the most appealing female characters to ever appear in historical
fiction. (Note: she also stars in the
two other books in this series, neither
of which need to be read to understand
Island
of Bones). A lover of high-seas adventure, a recent
widow and single mother of two, Westerman struggles to find a place for herself
in a world that keeps telling her to stay home and be quiet like the rest of
the ladies in petticoats, and stays. Though the two solve the case together, it's she who reminds the austere
scientist that while facts are crucial, in mysteries, as in life, following
your emotional intuition is what makes for the most accurate—and
satisfying—conclusion.
