"A great historical mystery"

Sarah Brandt is a midwife working in the tenements of New York around the turn of the 20th Century. She often helps her friend Detective Sergeant Malloy with cases.

She is summoned by the wealthy Lintons to their home. Their teenaged daughter, Grace, is mentally still a child. Sarah confirms their fear that she is expecting. Since she is never left alone, no one can figure out who the father could be. Sarah does her best trying to determine who it might be, but to no avail. She asks Malloy to help. He is reluctant to do, but he does in the end.

The only place Grace goes is to church. So, Malloy and Sarah both begin to investigate whether it could have happened at the church. Sarah begins to get to know quite a few people, including Mrs. Upchurch, the Reverend's wife. She doesn't have many friends. Matter of fact, her husband tells people that she is unbalanced. But Mrs. Upchurch begins to confide in Sarah.

Sarah and Malloy begin to investigate deeper based on some information from Mrs. Upchurch. But can they trust the information she has given them? They do know something isn't right at the church.

When the Reverend falls dead during a service, things begin to really get going. Sarah and Malloy have their work cut out for them. Can they figure out who is guilty of murder and who took advantage of Grace?

I really enjoy this series. Sarah and Malloy are great characters. Aggie that Sarah has taken in is really adding to the storyline as well. I normally don't like historical mysteries, but I am really enjoying this time- period.

I highly recommend this new book in this terrific series. Due to some of the subject matter, it made me wary of reading it. But the author handled it very well. And if you haven't read the previous books in this series, I recommend you do.

Reviewed by Dawn Dowdle
Posted June 28, 2005

Summary

A midwife working in the tenements of turn-of-the-last-century New York, Sarah Brandt is summoned by the wealthy Lintons to confirm their worst fear: their teenaged daughter is with child. It's a mystery, however, since the young woman—mentally still a child herself—is never left alone.

With the help of her friend Detective Sergeant Malloy, Sarah vows to crack this delicate case, especially since suspicion is on those close to the Lintons. Then, when one of the suspects is poisoned, Sarah knows she must uncover the truth before more lives are ruined.