meiyee's review
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
:/
starrylemon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
The plot was terrific; I enjoyed the first-person narrator, Sarah Gilchrist; and the dark mood was just right. Sarah, an Englishwoman with a dark past, is one of the first women medical students at the University of Edinburgh in 1892. Alongside her medical studies, she decides to investigate the mysterious death of a young prostitute called Lucy. This is an interesting historical mystery. However, I had some problems with the way the novel was constructed. Some moments were due, I am sure, to sloppy editing; for example when a character was referred to as James Ross on one page and (presumably the same guy) as James MacFarlane on the next (p. 144-145). The pacing was maybe a little off. There were plenty of events and memories from the past unfolding, but sometimes it wasn't clear when the author was moving from scene to scene. I think the transitions were perhaps lacking. Still, I would read another by this author. The story and the main character were engaging, and I especially liked the thoughts and discussion about the roles of men and women in English and Scottish society in the 1890s.
leavingsealevel's review against another edition
2.0
A lot going on here, sometimes too much for my taste. Liked it well enough to give book 2 a try, though!
lifeofpie's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
Edinburgh in the late 19th Century and Sarah Gilchrist is one of the first female students admitted to Medical School, fighting the prejudices of both students and lecturers alike. However Sarah is also struggling with her past, a sexual assault left her confined to a 'sanitarium' and estranged from her parents who did not believe she was attacked. Sarah is living with her strict Aunt and Uncle, her only freedom being at college or in helping at clinic in a poorer part of town. When a young prostitute is found dead soon after visiting the clinic Sarah is suspicious, particularly as her enquiries seem to lead her back to one of her Professors.
I found this book really enjoyable, Sarah is an engaging character with a fascinating back-story and I hope that is developed in subsequents stories. The 'romance' is a little forced and clunky but the politics are handled perfectly and the prejudices seem real and understood. This is Welsh's first novel and it bodes well for the future, a fresh new voice.
I found this book really enjoyable, Sarah is an engaging character with a fascinating back-story and I hope that is developed in subsequents stories. The 'romance' is a little forced and clunky but the politics are handled perfectly and the prejudices seem real and understood. This is Welsh's first novel and it bodes well for the future, a fresh new voice.
bet27's review against another edition
2.0
(more 2.5 stars) I wanted to like this more--Victorian female lead who's studying medicine in Scotland and trying to solve a murder, sounds like my cup of tea. However, it seemed like the author was trying to tackle too many social issues and throw in too many red herrings for me to fully appreciate the characters, story, or writing. There was a hint of enough there that I'm willing to read the next book in the series to see if it improves. Maybe if I'd had less expectation, I would've liked it more.
terrim21's review against another edition
1.0
23 pages in, i abandoned this book. the writing just wasn't for me. for example, when getting into her carriage, the driver was silent as he took the protagonist from med school to a women's clinic. the narrator said that "discretion was the better part of valor." i don't really think that phrase fit the situation.
later when attempting to sneak back into the house, the narrator said that her aunt had "ears like a bat." so i formed this picture in my mind's eye of pointy ears :) perhaps if the author wanted to convey how sharp the aunt's hearing was, she could have chosen differently.
i know these comments may seem overly sensitive, but i prefer that writing not create such a clatter in my brain. when i read these 2 sentences, i stopped reading to say, "huh, what?!"
later when attempting to sneak back into the house, the narrator said that her aunt had "ears like a bat." so i formed this picture in my mind's eye of pointy ears :) perhaps if the author wanted to convey how sharp the aunt's hearing was, she could have chosen differently.
i know these comments may seem overly sensitive, but i prefer that writing not create such a clatter in my brain. when i read these 2 sentences, i stopped reading to say, "huh, what?!"
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
It is 1892. Sarah is a social pariah, sent away from her home in London to her family in Edinburgh, where she has joined the first class of female medical students. Supplementing her official training with hands-on work, she meets Lucy, and feels a strange connection with her, and this will change her life.
The social and professional interactions between the genders (including women-women) and students-lecturers were well handled, and all the women themselves varied from the extreme to the moderate, as one would expect. We're not beaten over the head by Sarah's Past nor by backwards-looking morality. Instead, social issues from chaperonage to phossy jaw and rehabilitation are carefully introduced, none inadvertently taking precedence over the plot but all enhancing the overall feel of the book.
(Side note: I hadn't realized James Thin was already well established at this point! It's obvious the author knows Edinburgh well, and understands its history.)
I look forward to reading the next books in the series!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The social and professional interactions between the genders (including women-women) and students-lecturers were well handled, and all the women themselves varied from the extreme to the moderate, as one would expect. We're not beaten over the head by Sarah's Past nor by backwards-looking morality. Instead, social issues from chaperonage to phossy jaw and rehabilitation are carefully introduced, none inadvertently taking precedence over the plot but all enhancing the overall feel of the book.
(Side note: I hadn't realized James Thin was already well established at this point! It's obvious the author knows Edinburgh well, and understands its history.)
I look forward to reading the next books in the series!
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ludwinas's review against another edition
5.0
I was absolutely blown away by this book! I’m normally not into historical fiction, but I do like mysteries so I decided to give it a go, and couldn’t put it down. It’s clever, it’s fun, wonderfully written and kept me glued to the page until I was done