Murder by Lamplight

Dr. Julia Lewis #1

By Patrice McDonough

ISBN 9781496746368

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

In the twilight streets of Victorian London, a gruesome series of murders unfolds, and Dr. Julia Lewis—one of Britain’s first female physicians—along with the aloof Detective Inspector Tennant of Scotland Yard reluctantly team up to investigate in this atmospheric, vividly authentic historical mystery series debut.

November 1866: The grisly murder site in London’s East End is thronged with onlookers. None of them expect the calmly efficient young woman among them to be a medical doctor, arrived to examine the corpse. Inspector Richard Tennant, overseeing the investigation, at first makes no effort to disguise his skepticism. But Dr. Julia Lewis is accustomed to such condescension . . .

To study medicine, Julia had to leave Britain, where universities still bar their doors to women, and travel to America. She returned home to work in her grandfather’s practice—and to find London in the grip of a devastating cholera epidemic. In four years, however, she has seen nothing quite like this—a local clergyman’s body sexually mutilated and displayed in a manner that she—and Tennant—both suspect is personal.

Days later, another body is found with links to the first, and Tennant calls in Dr. Lewis again. The murderer begins sending the police taunting letters and tantalizing clues—though the trail leads in multiple directions, from London’s music halls to its grim workhouses and dank sewers. Lewis and Tennant struggle to understand the killer’s dark obsessions and motivations. But there is new urgency, for the doctor’s role appears to have shifted from expert to target. And this killer is no impulsive monster, but a fiendishly calculating opponent, determined to see his plan through to its terrifying conclusion . . . (from Goodreads)

Review:

This reader enjoys historical mysteries and was happy for the opportunity to read this first in a new series. The setting is London’s East End in late 1866, where another cholera outbreak is waning. A serial killer is just getting started, one who taunts Detective Inspector Tennant with his “witty” letters and personalized murders. The author’s research is thorough and woven seamlessly into the story. The mystery was excellent, and Inspector Tennant, Sergeant Graves, Constable O’Malley, and later, Dr. Julia Lewis, discussed every possibility as deaths increased. Nothing prepared me for who the killer really was!

Inspector Tennant and Dr. Julia Lewis met when he sent a request to her grandfather, Dr. Andrew Lewis, for his expertise on a murder victim. The last person anyone wanted at their crime scene, other than a nosy reporter, was a woman doctor, but Julia’s grandfather was recovering from a heart attack. She did her work with calm diligence, even when discovering that the victim, an older clergyman, had been sexually mutilated. When she studied in Philadelphia to become a doctor – as women weren’t yet allowed to attend medical colleges in England – it was instilled in her to show no emotions or opinions in her reports. This was the second of several murders that would be determined as part of the case, the first one learned about several days later.

The “hooks” that captured my interest from the start included the clergyman’s crime scene. Another is the killer himself, and how clever he thought he was as he penned letters to Inspector Tennant. I was also very curious about Julia, due to comments made by her grandfather, about her self-made prison from carrying guilt for the past that wasn’t even her responsibility.

Characters were well developed over the course of the novel. We see events through three points of view: those of Julia, Inspector Tennant, and the killer. We see glimpses of their present and past, as relating to the events or memories they confront at any given time. All three faced tragedies that affected who they became, and it was interesting to see what each person did in response to those events. Over time, Tennant and Julia began to reveal what their perceived weakness was to each other. One of those times it was evident how they would each help the other see a different perspective.

Despite the intensity of the gruesome murders and investigation, several places dragged slowly for me; perhaps I gave too much attention to details. The police worked diligently on the investigation for weeks, which I felt was realistic in comparison to fictional mysteries that are solved in a handful of days. The last third of the book read much faster as the deaths multiplied and Inspector Tennant and Julia began to work together as colleagues in lieu of their gender.

Details of the era, the late November and December weather, and the locale itself, gave authenticity throughout. Many female physicians today fight to become a doctor, but few fought as hard as Julia or other women of that era. The historical notes, including the cholera outbreaks, the workhouse, and the mention of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor in England on the Medical Directory, added depth and texture. There were even Inspectors of Nuisances, whose visits were especially dreaded during cholera outbreaks, would someday be called public health inspectors.

Overall, this was a fascinating mystery. The killer had a unique signature and I had several suspects, but never the right one. I was shocked to learn who it really was, as even when reading about the killer’s life, I missed clues that might have revealed the person to me. This is the author’s debut novel, and I look forward to seeing much more from her, and this series, in the future. I highly recommend this novel to those who appreciate challenging British historical mysteries.