"Who killed the famed magnet healer and why"

New York Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy summons Sarah Brandt, a midwife, to the elegant home of famed magnetic healer Edmund Blackwell. Mrs. Blackwell has gone into labor after finding her husband dead in their home.

Frank determines that Mr. Blackwell was murdered although it appears the killer tried to make it look like suicide. As he begins investigating, Sarah, who has helped him with previous investigations, has to keep returning to the Blackwell's since their new son has become ill. In her many trips to their home, she begins to find out some important information regarding his death. Frank does not want her helping with the investigation, but realizes his wishes will not be heeded.

Frank and Sarah find that things were not as happy in the Blackwell household as first thought. Then there are all Mr. Blackwell's female clients who seem overly upset over his death. And there is a scandal that was about to be made known in Blackwell's past. Is his assistant too eager to take over? Who killed him and why? Could it have been regarding one of these issues or is there another issue they don't know about yet.

Normally I don't like mysteries set back in time, but this is one of the few series that are the exception. This series is so well written. The characters are so real and the time-period laid out so well. I often find myself amazed that the police back then were so brutal and so many people were living well below poverty. The darkness of New York really adds to this series. Her writing of the time and the way she lays out the story without giving the killer away is terrific. You never know until the killer is revealed who did it.

This cozy mystery is great. I highly recommend this book as well as the whole series.

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle
Posted August 17, 2003