Review: complex story, a gripping read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 26, 2013
This is the newest installment in the Lord Danvers mystery series. Freddie, Lord Danvers younger brother, has taken the cloth, and is now ministering to the poor at the Magdalen house. It isn't unusual in this neighborhood to see women and children in poor health, and death is everywhere, but when Freddie tells Charles and Antonia that he suspects that more women are dying at the women's shelter than usual, this couple immediately try to help ascertain the reason. Poison soon becomes suspected, but try as she might Tonia can't uncover the culprit. Overlaid in the story, is a sensational trial of a man who poisons his wife, which only reinforces Tonia's suspicions that poison is the reason why all these women are dying.The suffering of the poor in 19th century England--or for any country for that matter--is  as gritty and real in this book as any true crime you can read. England in on the cusp of change, and though Tonia is chomping at the bit to resolve the murder, and change the laws of men, this will be her toughest case yet.Thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.