Reviews

Taken Too Soon by Edith Maxwell

reader_cheryl's review against another edition

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4.0

It’s Quaker midwife Rose Carroll and David Dodge’s wedding day. The book opens with the couple greeting guests after the ceremony. David’s father, Herbert, is happy at the match, but David’s mother, Clarinda, not so much. Rose confides to the reader “Clarinda had thrown every obstacle she could onto the path of David’s marrying me.” Clarinda’s expectation is Rose will give up her “silly hobby” and conduct herself as a proper married woman, but it is an expectation David quickly shoots down. In his reply he makes it clear Rose will continue to work as a midwife as she is “fully capable of being both a wife” and a professional midwife. Rose and David’s relationship is countercultural in 1889 and testing of their union comes quickly.

At the reception, David’s long-estranged brother Herbert Currier Dodge, known as Currie, makes an appearance. Up until now, Rose had no idea David had a brother, and is a bit unsettled David has kept this information from her until now. The real conflict lies between Currie and Clarinda and into this tense encounter a telegram arrives for Rose’s father Allan Burroughs Carroll from his sister Miss Drusilla Carroll, Rose’s Aunt Dru. The telegram is urgent and requests Rose’s presence immediately. Frannie Isley, a ward of Rose’s Aunt Tilly, has been murdered. Tilly and Dru are elderly spinsters and live together in West Falmouth located on Cape Cod. Dru requests Rose’s presence right away because, in addition to being a talented midwife, Rose is also an amateur sleuth.

Instead of starting a honeymoon, Rose and David head to West Falmouth to be with Rose’s aunts and to solve a murder. Frannie’s murder exposes long-held secrets that demand resolutions with the power to heal or destroy.

Recommendation for this book

Read it. The historical detail immerses the reader into the Quaker way of life in the late 1880s. The mystery will keep you guessing.

bethens_messy_bookshelf's review against another edition

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2.0

Firstly, thanks to #NetGalley Beyond the Page and Edith Maxwell for this Arc to review.

Quaker midwife turned crime silver Rose Carroll is called to her next mystery during the reception of her wedding to David Dodge.
Frannie, the 16year old ward to her elderly aunt has been murdered and there’s nobody’s help they desire more than that of their investigative niece.
Despite the festivities still being in full swing, the new Mr and Mrs Dodge travel immediately to her family.
On arrival at the aunts’ not all is quite as arose would expect, but she does her best to learn as much as possible of the last day’s events.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book, however, 25% of the way though I’m bored.
It’s slow to get going - she’s arrived to solve a murder but has been taking a tour of the town, and seems to have no real urgency to get to the bottom of any mystery.

I have enjoyed the setting of the story, late 19th century, particularly meeting the Quaker characters. But, this just didn’t excite me as a murder mystery should.
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