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Murder by Degrees
Murder by Degrees is a historical mystery set in 19th century Philadelphia, following a pioneering woman doctor as she investigates the disappearance of a young patient who is presumed dead.
Philadelphia, 1875: It is the start of term at Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lydia Weston, professor and anatomist, is immersed in teaching her students in the lecture hall and hospital. When the body of a patient, Anna Ward, is dredged out of the Schuylkill River, the young chambermaid’s death is deemed a suicide. But Lydia is suspicious and she is soon brought into the police investigation.
Aided by a diary filled with cryptic passages of poetry, Lydia discovers more about the young woman she thought she knew. Through her skill at the autopsy table and her clinical acumen, Lydia draws nearer the truth. Soon a terrible secret, long hidden, will be revealed. But Lydia must act quickly, before she becomes the next target of those who wished to silence Anna.
Philadelphia, 1875: It is the start of term at Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lydia Weston, professor and anatomist, is immersed in teaching her students in the lecture hall and hospital. When the body of a patient, Anna Ward, is dredged out of the Schuylkill River, the young chambermaid’s death is deemed a suicide. But Lydia is suspicious and she is soon brought into the police investigation.
Aided by a diary filled with cryptic passages of poetry, Lydia discovers more about the young woman she thought she knew. Through her skill at the autopsy table and her clinical acumen, Lydia draws nearer the truth. Soon a terrible secret, long hidden, will be revealed. But Lydia must act quickly, before she becomes the next target of those who wished to silence Anna.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 17, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 583 reviews
September 3, 2023
Murder by Degrees was an enjoyable historical mystery, with a young female doctor as its main character. The story takes place in Philadelphia, in 1875. Dr. Lydia Weston is both a professor at the Women’s Medical College as well as working at a clinic. At the clinic, she befriended one of her patients, Anna, a young housemaid. When the woman’s body is pulled out of the Schuylkill River, Lydia is drawn into the investigation of her death.
I liked that the story wasn’t based on Lydia investigating on her own. Instead, detectives Volcker and Davies ask for her help in their investigation. The trio works well together, especially as Davies learns that she has something to offer.
Mukerji does a good job of providing a great sense of time and place. All of the characters are well fleshed out. And while there are the class and gender prejudices one would expect, it’s not all cut and dried. She also accurately describes Lydia’s medical procedures and examinations, filling them with the accurate terminology, which makes sense as she’s a doctor.
I thought the ending worked well with a resolution I hadn’t come close to imagining.
This has the makings of a good start to a series, one I will pursue.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
I liked that the story wasn’t based on Lydia investigating on her own. Instead, detectives Volcker and Davies ask for her help in their investigation. The trio works well together, especially as Davies learns that she has something to offer.
Mukerji does a good job of providing a great sense of time and place. All of the characters are well fleshed out. And while there are the class and gender prejudices one would expect, it’s not all cut and dried. She also accurately describes Lydia’s medical procedures and examinations, filling them with the accurate terminology, which makes sense as she’s a doctor.
I thought the ending worked well with a resolution I hadn’t come close to imagining.
This has the makings of a good start to a series, one I will pursue.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
November 28, 2023
3.5 stars
Murder By Degrees piqued my interest because I love mysteries and the 19th century Philadelphia setting offered something different. I liked this book quite a bit and am hoping the author sees the potential for a series here as it features a strong female lead character.
In 1875, Dr. Lydia Weston sees patients but also is a professor at a women's medical college. When the body of her patient, Anna Ward, is found in a river, Lydia helps with the police investigation.
The time period allowed the author to explore topics like gender roles, social class, etc. which gave the story depth. While the actual mystery is decent, Lydia herself is just as much of a reason to give this book a chance. A woman who is not afraid to speak her mind during a time when it certainly wasn't popular to do so.
Recommend if you enjoy historical mysteries.
Thank you Book Club Favorites for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed my honest opinion.
Murder By Degrees piqued my interest because I love mysteries and the 19th century Philadelphia setting offered something different. I liked this book quite a bit and am hoping the author sees the potential for a series here as it features a strong female lead character.
In 1875, Dr. Lydia Weston sees patients but also is a professor at a women's medical college. When the body of her patient, Anna Ward, is found in a river, Lydia helps with the police investigation.
The time period allowed the author to explore topics like gender roles, social class, etc. which gave the story depth. While the actual mystery is decent, Lydia herself is just as much of a reason to give this book a chance. A woman who is not afraid to speak her mind during a time when it certainly wasn't popular to do so.
Recommend if you enjoy historical mysteries.
Thank you Book Club Favorites for sending me a free copy! All thoughts expressed my honest opinion.
September 26, 2023
Solid 4 stars for me. Just the right amount of mystery, tension, intrigue, bits and pieces of discovery, and relatable characters. Contained some new/interesting facts for me. All wrapped up nicely and logically in the end. I quite liked this one - hope you enjoy it as well. No graphic sexual content, no bouts of sensationalized violence although there are a few new autopsy results which are discussed respectfully by medical professionals. Not far above a cozy mystery.
October 24, 2023
I found this book to be somewhat mediocre. But, I did like the historical setting and how our main character was both a doctor and a professor at a women’s medical college. However, there were quite a few things that didn’t work for me. This is a story with multi-pov’s but the characters had so little depth that it didn’t make sense for there to be so many pov’s. The overarching mystery was lackluster and the writing wasn’t particularly dynamic. The ending was a surprise but it had no impact. Murder by Degrees is by no means a terrible book but unfortunately I was never able to get invested in it. I do think this book might resonate with different readers more than it did with me.
June 15, 2023
A mystery series set in the 1870s with a female physician as the main character is a fascinating premise in and of itself. Knowing that the author is a physician who went to medical school in the city where the book is set explains the sensitivity of the main character when she's working with patients and, sadly, the body of a former patient. The main character deals with a significant amount of misogamy, as you'd expect for the time period. It's almost a secondary plot line and it's very satisfying to watch her handle an adversary, a male physician from UPenn.
The secondary characters are well developed and with the main character working at a medical school, there's always room for new characters to arrive as this series [hopefully] continues.
The secondary characters are well developed and with the main character working at a medical school, there's always room for new characters to arrive as this series [hopefully] continues.
March 15, 2024
I read somewhere that this a debut novel for this author. If every future thing she writes is anything like this one, she will have many "Best Sellers" and we the readers, will have another outstanding author to follow. Our main character, Dr. Lydia Weston serves the "working-class" patients at the city’s Spruce Street Clinic and teaches future female doctors at the Woman’s Medical College. In 1875 this was quite an accomplishment for a woman. We should not be surprised that her accomplishments are often dismissed by the men who believe women are prone to hysteria and not capable of being good doctors. The body of a woman believed to be one of Lydia’s patients is found in the Schuylkill River, and she is invited into the police investigation. The body...Anna Ward had worked as a housemaid for a wealthy family whose snobby members are far from willing to cooperate with the search for her killer. Their sense of privilege opens the door for the author to transform her crime novel into a social novel that cleverly examines the deprivation suffered by people in service and the struggles of women like Lydia and Anna who only wished to choose their own paths. The reader is pulled into the fascinating and detailed world of forensic autopsies and Lydia's instincts and determination to carry out a murder investigation as effectively as...or perhaps even better than the police. We have well-constructed narrative that is also appealing. All we "armchair sleuths" can only hope that this is the beginning of a new series with our "star" Lydia, who in this one proved she is a strong and indomitable woman who overruns her circumstances to become a crusader for social justice in what was very much still a "male orientated world".
September 16, 2023
I’m guessing i’m the odd one out here but I just couldn’t get into this, let alone finish it. The writing was fine and I liked the mystery aspects, I just found it impossible to focus on the plot during the medical scenes.
August 18, 2023
It's 1875, and Dr. Lydia Weston is teaching at the Women's Medical College in Philadelphia. One of her patients, Anna, is missing. When she learns that a young woman has been murdered, she wonders if it is Anna. Anna's employers Mr. and Mrs. Curtis, are a wealthy couple who don't seem too concerned about the fate of a servant. Lydia is working with the police and uncovers several important pieces of evidence, even though it is apparent that someone is trying to keep her from learning any more. Recommended for fans of historical mysteries with a strong female protagonist. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
November 10, 2023
In 1875, Dr. Lydia Weston, a professor and anatomist at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, becomes distressed when her patient, Anna Ward is found in the Schuylkill River. It seems to be a suicide, but Dr. Weston is suspicious and soon aids in the police investigation.
The story that unfolds was fascinating. The book discussed medical advancements, particularly about women. I enjoyed the author’s extensive research and intriguing facts. As Dr. Watson looks into the life of chambermaid Anna Ward, she makes some startling discoveries about her patient and the victim.
The book is a mix of scientific innovations, social disparity, infidelity, and gender bias rolled into a police procedural. While I loved all the aspects addressed, it slowed the pacing of the mystery. For me, it was ok because as I stated I loved all the historical details and tidbits.
The mystery led to some secrets, lies and danger. Soon, Dr. Watson is racing against time to solve the mystery before they find another victim. I listened and enjoyed the voices Gabra Zackman gave to the characters, particularly that of Dr. Weston.
Fans of historical mysteries like the Lady Sherlock series will enjoy Murder by Degrees.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
The story that unfolds was fascinating. The book discussed medical advancements, particularly about women. I enjoyed the author’s extensive research and intriguing facts. As Dr. Watson looks into the life of chambermaid Anna Ward, she makes some startling discoveries about her patient and the victim.
The book is a mix of scientific innovations, social disparity, infidelity, and gender bias rolled into a police procedural. While I loved all the aspects addressed, it slowed the pacing of the mystery. For me, it was ok because as I stated I loved all the historical details and tidbits.
The mystery led to some secrets, lies and danger. Soon, Dr. Watson is racing against time to solve the mystery before they find another victim. I listened and enjoyed the voices Gabra Zackman gave to the characters, particularly that of Dr. Weston.
Fans of historical mysteries like the Lady Sherlock series will enjoy Murder by Degrees.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
November 28, 2023
Promising start to a new historical mystery series.
This time around we are in Philadelphia in 1875, with a woman physician as our main character.
The story starts off a bit slowly, as our characters are introduced. However, once the body of a young woman is found in the river, I was hooked.
I hope the author is busy with book number two. i want more of Dr. Lydia Weston, Inspector Thomas Volcker and Sergeant Charles Davies.
This time around we are in Philadelphia in 1875, with a woman physician as our main character.
The story starts off a bit slowly, as our characters are introduced. However, once the body of a young woman is found in the river, I was hooked.
I hope the author is busy with book number two. i want more of Dr. Lydia Weston, Inspector Thomas Volcker and Sergeant Charles Davies.
October 28, 2023
Lydia was a great heroine in this book. I really enjoyed how smart and capable she was. She uses all of her resources and knowledge to help solve this murder.
The mystery is fast-paced and intriguing. My attention was held all the way through. I liked the detailed descriptions of the medical areas of the book and loved usage of the poetry quotations. I found that both contributed nicely to the atmospheric tone of the mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The mystery is fast-paced and intriguing. My attention was held all the way through. I liked the detailed descriptions of the medical areas of the book and loved usage of the poetry quotations. I found that both contributed nicely to the atmospheric tone of the mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 8, 2024
This historical mystery has a fascinating setting, late 1800's Philadelphia at the state's first medical college for women, but it get's very bogged down and even downright boring as Lydia, a professor at the college, gets caught up in the murder investigation of a young servant girl who may or may not have committed suicide.
The strongest elements of the book are Ritu Mukerji's fascinating examination of medical practices at the time and the efforts of Lydia and her colleagues to be taken seriously as practitioners. I would have happily read an entire book just about that.
Alas, the weakest area is the mystery itself which gets way too complicated way too quickly resulting in a mishmash of class warfare, your generic obsessive psycho causing havoc, blackmail, mother's behaving badly, women's rights, weird clues left in a diary, affairs, arson it just goes on and on and the connections between everything are tenuous at best. Every time it seemed like a plot point was resolving a new element from "mystery 101" would get thrown in. I would have much preferred Mukerji sticking to one main idea rather than shoehorning every element of a Sherlock Holmes mystery into a single book.
This is another one of those books where a lot of pieces of a good mystery are there but there's simply too much going on for anything to get proper attention. The police investigation is shoddy at best and the reader is given little understanding as to why a lady doctor would have been permitted to help the police investigate multiple crimes let alone why they would be permitted to devote so many resources, time and so much energy to investigate the murder of servant. This wouldn't have bothered me so much if such an effort wasn't being made to fix the reader so firmly in the time period. If you're going to be accurate, be accurate! At least have someone fight with their commissioner or something!
Because there's so much happening we're also not really given nearly enough time with any of the characters. Lydia comes through the most clearly though beyond being "a woman ahead of her time" we don't learn a great deal about her. She's very likeable and capable and I will say that she's actually useful in the investigation and its nice to see an "amateur" detective actively solving stuff rather than falling over it.
If this is a set up novel its not the worst I've read but its just too damn busy.
The strongest elements of the book are Ritu Mukerji's fascinating examination of medical practices at the time and the efforts of Lydia and her colleagues to be taken seriously as practitioners. I would have happily read an entire book just about that.
Alas, the weakest area is the mystery itself which gets way too complicated way too quickly resulting in a mishmash of class warfare, your generic obsessive psycho causing havoc, blackmail, mother's behaving badly, women's rights, weird clues left in a diary, affairs, arson it just goes on and on and the connections between everything are tenuous at best. Every time it seemed like a plot point was resolving a new element from "mystery 101" would get thrown in. I would have much preferred Mukerji sticking to one main idea rather than shoehorning every element of a Sherlock Holmes mystery into a single book.
This is another one of those books where a lot of pieces of a good mystery are there but there's simply too much going on for anything to get proper attention. The police investigation is shoddy at best and the reader is given little understanding as to why a lady doctor would have been permitted to help the police investigate multiple crimes let alone why they would be permitted to devote so many resources, time and so much energy to investigate the murder of servant. This wouldn't have bothered me so much if such an effort wasn't being made to fix the reader so firmly in the time period. If you're going to be accurate, be accurate! At least have someone fight with their commissioner or something!
Because there's so much happening we're also not really given nearly enough time with any of the characters. Lydia comes through the most clearly though beyond being "a woman ahead of her time" we don't learn a great deal about her. She's very likeable and capable and I will say that she's actually useful in the investigation and its nice to see an "amateur" detective actively solving stuff rather than falling over it.
If this is a set up novel its not the worst I've read but its just too damn busy.
October 10, 2023
This debut novel by author Ritu Mukerji was impressive from start to finish! I love this genre mashup of historical fiction and murder mystery. I admired the main protagonist, Dr. Lydia Weston, a trailblazing woman doctor during the late 1800s. I appreciated all the research the author did to write this intriguing story while practicing medicine herself as a physician! The book was filled with plenty of medical terms, secrets, infidelity and a murder mystery that will have you guessing whodunnit until the final pages.
I received an advanced physical copy from @thoughtsfromapage Lit Lover Patreon Community traveling galley program. Thank you to Cindy Burnett and publisher @simonandschuster I appreciated the opportunity to preview this book.
I received an advanced physical copy from @thoughtsfromapage Lit Lover Patreon Community traveling galley program. Thank you to Cindy Burnett and publisher @simonandschuster I appreciated the opportunity to preview this book.
June 22, 2023
I really enjoyed this debut mystery novel from Ritu Mukerji! The story held many twists and turns and kept me guessing throughout, and I really loved the main character of Dr. Lydia Weston as a pioneering doctor of her time in 1875 Philadelphia who assists the police in an investigation of the murder of a patient of hers. At times the medical terminology and descriptions of autopsy procedures threw me off and the story got a bit meandering for me in the middle, but it finished strong and kept me interested the entire time. 4 stars!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC!
August 26, 2023
This is a tricky book to review. The story is solid and the DETAILS of the time period are insane. It’s obvious that the author did her research and triple checked everything. But overall I didn’t enjoy the process of reading the book.
I had three issues overall that kept me from getting too engaged. These are stylistic issues that didn’t work for me, but for other readers it might not bug them!
First, the main character is a physician, and the descriptions of the surgeries and autopsies were so detailed that it almost needed a trigger warning at the beginning of the book. I had to skim several passages because it was making me queasy! I know doctors have a drastically stronger stomach than the general population, but I doubt most readers will be the same.
The second issue I had was the writing style itself, particularly the word choices. They were, in my opinion, far too high brow for a murder mystery. I’m a college graduate with an English/History/French triple major, and I read constantly and even study etymology, yet there were at least 5 words in the book I’d never even heard of. If I am feeling alienated by the stylistic writing, I’m willing to bet others will feel the same as well. I think the author tried to make it feel like the book was actually written in the late 1800s, but it hindered my ability to connect with the novel or care about what was going on.
Finally, I wish I had seen far more of the heroine’s heritage to come into play. The RAMPANT misogyny of the era was shown quite clearly, and it was mentioned that the main character was of Indian heritage, but other than a couple of sentences thrown in here and there, her heritage wasn’t discussed. I think adding more details about her childhood and what it was like living in Philadelphia with Indian heritage would have added so much depth to the character.
I have struggled with what rating to give this book. Personally, the style overall just didn’t work for me, but I don’t in any way think it’s a bad book. The mystery was well done, and really, as someone who has studied American history- this author did her homework on the time period. Every minute detail was put in there for a reason. It just wasn’t what I look for in a murder mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of the ebook!
I had three issues overall that kept me from getting too engaged. These are stylistic issues that didn’t work for me, but for other readers it might not bug them!
First, the main character is a physician, and the descriptions of the surgeries and autopsies were so detailed that it almost needed a trigger warning at the beginning of the book. I had to skim several passages because it was making me queasy! I know doctors have a drastically stronger stomach than the general population, but I doubt most readers will be the same.
The second issue I had was the writing style itself, particularly the word choices. They were, in my opinion, far too high brow for a murder mystery. I’m a college graduate with an English/History/French triple major, and I read constantly and even study etymology, yet there were at least 5 words in the book I’d never even heard of. If I am feeling alienated by the stylistic writing, I’m willing to bet others will feel the same as well. I think the author tried to make it feel like the book was actually written in the late 1800s, but it hindered my ability to connect with the novel or care about what was going on.
Finally, I wish I had seen far more of the heroine’s heritage to come into play. The RAMPANT misogyny of the era was shown quite clearly, and it was mentioned that the main character was of Indian heritage, but other than a couple of sentences thrown in here and there, her heritage wasn’t discussed. I think adding more details about her childhood and what it was like living in Philadelphia with Indian heritage would have added so much depth to the character.
I have struggled with what rating to give this book. Personally, the style overall just didn’t work for me, but I don’t in any way think it’s a bad book. The mystery was well done, and really, as someone who has studied American history- this author did her homework on the time period. Every minute detail was put in there for a reason. It just wasn’t what I look for in a murder mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of the ebook!
October 31, 2023
Besides being a historical mystery "Murder by Degrees" was also a treatise on the history of social reform, women's rights, and the history of medical education. Set in 1875 Philadelphia, it acknowledged that city's manufacturing and industrial foundations, its multicultural heritage, and its pioneering in the field of medical study.
The protagonist, Dr. Lydia Weston, was a hard working and diligent physician during a time when female doctors were viewed with skepticism by the general public, and often misogyny and derision by male members of the medical profession. In addition, she taught prospective physicians at the Woman's Medical College. Lydia had very a very modest background herself, so was able to empathize with her working-class patients and students. When one of her patients, a chambermaid for a wealthy family, comes to her, they form a friendship when she realizes the girl's intelligence and thirst for knowledge. No wonder then, that Lydia is distraught when the girl's body is found in the Schuylkill River... The police request Lydia aid them in their investigation because of her relationship with the victim. Lydia herself performs the autopsy.
I did find that the medical procedures sometimes detracted from the pace of the mystery's narrative, yet it was interesting in and of itself.
The story was very atmospheric, set as it was in a time when streets were lit with gaslight and operations and autopsies were sometimes lit with oil lanterns.
The book encompassed themes of social injustice, the exploitation of vulnerable people, infidelity, and gender bias.
Part police procedural, part literary mystery, this book made a real impression upon me. The author herself is a physician, so it is written with expert medical knowledge.
In summation, this novel was an enjoyable foray into Philadelphia's rich history as well as a riveting mystery with an intriguing plot. This is a debut novel, and I look forward to reading more in what might become a series. Recommended!
The protagonist, Dr. Lydia Weston, was a hard working and diligent physician during a time when female doctors were viewed with skepticism by the general public, and often misogyny and derision by male members of the medical profession. In addition, she taught prospective physicians at the Woman's Medical College. Lydia had very a very modest background herself, so was able to empathize with her working-class patients and students. When one of her patients, a chambermaid for a wealthy family, comes to her, they form a friendship when she realizes the girl's intelligence and thirst for knowledge. No wonder then, that Lydia is distraught when the girl's body is found in the Schuylkill River... The police request Lydia aid them in their investigation because of her relationship with the victim. Lydia herself performs the autopsy.
I did find that the medical procedures sometimes detracted from the pace of the mystery's narrative, yet it was interesting in and of itself.
The story was very atmospheric, set as it was in a time when streets were lit with gaslight and operations and autopsies were sometimes lit with oil lanterns.
The book encompassed themes of social injustice, the exploitation of vulnerable people, infidelity, and gender bias.
Part police procedural, part literary mystery, this book made a real impression upon me. The author herself is a physician, so it is written with expert medical knowledge.
In summation, this novel was an enjoyable foray into Philadelphia's rich history as well as a riveting mystery with an intriguing plot. This is a debut novel, and I look forward to reading more in what might become a series. Recommended!
July 14, 2023
Lydia Weston is a doctor in 19th-century Philadelphia, a time when woman doctors were still uncommon and constantly fighting for the respect of their peers and patients. In addition to being a practicing physician, Lydia teaches at the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, and to earn additional funds, sometimes assists her mentor, Dr. Harlan Stanley, with autopsies for the police.
When one of her former patients, Anna Ward, is found dead, she gets pulled into the investigation being led by Inspector Thomas Volcker and Sergeant Charles Ward. She assists the police in questioning some of the servants Anna worked with, helps Dr. Hanson with the autopsy, and pursues other potential leads, such as helping to identify who gave Anna an expensive diary that she was writing in.
The investigation into Anna’s death reveals several other secrets that potential suspects have been keeping. The reader learns much about the life of a woman physician and medicine in the late 1800s. Unfortunately, at times, it is too much. A lot of technical details are provided about autopsy procedures, medical tools, patient symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Some of this information is necessary to understand Lydia’s background and the world in which she works. However, in some cases, the author goes too deep into too many specifics that aren’t needed to understand the story. For example, the description of the autopsy of the body goes on for almost 20 pages. This kind of long—and somewhat gory--aside bogs down the story and makes the pace feel plodding.
The main characters are appealing, the time period is interesting, and the mystery is well plotted, but I felt that the tendency to dive into minutiae detracted from the primary story, and kept Murder by Degrees from being more compelling.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #SimonBooks for the ARC!
When one of her former patients, Anna Ward, is found dead, she gets pulled into the investigation being led by Inspector Thomas Volcker and Sergeant Charles Ward. She assists the police in questioning some of the servants Anna worked with, helps Dr. Hanson with the autopsy, and pursues other potential leads, such as helping to identify who gave Anna an expensive diary that she was writing in.
The investigation into Anna’s death reveals several other secrets that potential suspects have been keeping. The reader learns much about the life of a woman physician and medicine in the late 1800s. Unfortunately, at times, it is too much. A lot of technical details are provided about autopsy procedures, medical tools, patient symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Some of this information is necessary to understand Lydia’s background and the world in which she works. However, in some cases, the author goes too deep into too many specifics that aren’t needed to understand the story. For example, the description of the autopsy of the body goes on for almost 20 pages. This kind of long—and somewhat gory--aside bogs down the story and makes the pace feel plodding.
The main characters are appealing, the time period is interesting, and the mystery is well plotted, but I felt that the tendency to dive into minutiae detracted from the primary story, and kept Murder by Degrees from being more compelling.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #SimonBooks for the ARC!
June 19, 2023
I have been enamored of the city of Philadelphia ever since I attended medical school there. I also love mysteries and historical fiction, so when I saw the blur.b for Murder by Degrees, I had to read it.
Written by a physician, Murder by Degrees is an absolutely wonderful book. The main character, Dr. Lydia Weston, teaches at Women’s Medical College. She also runs their clinic where she befriends one of her patients, Anna. When Anna is found murdered, she becomes involved in the investigation.
I just loved Lydia’s character. She’s so well drawn and so real. Her encounter with a chauvinistic male physician was so wonderfully written that I couldn’t stop chuckling. Actually, all the characters are well done. The plotting is deft and with lots of twists and turns. Philadelphia in 1875 is well portrayed, and is almost its own character.
I just loved Murder by Degrees, and highly recommend it.
My thanks to Simon and Schuster, and to Netgalley, for providing an ARC of this very enjoyable mystery.
Written by a physician, Murder by Degrees is an absolutely wonderful book. The main character, Dr. Lydia Weston, teaches at Women’s Medical College. She also runs their clinic where she befriends one of her patients, Anna. When Anna is found murdered, she becomes involved in the investigation.
I just loved Lydia’s character. She’s so well drawn and so real. Her encounter with a chauvinistic male physician was so wonderfully written that I couldn’t stop chuckling. Actually, all the characters are well done. The plotting is deft and with lots of twists and turns. Philadelphia in 1875 is well portrayed, and is almost its own character.
I just loved Murder by Degrees, and highly recommend it.
My thanks to Simon and Schuster, and to Netgalley, for providing an ARC of this very enjoyable mystery.
December 4, 2023
Thank you so much Simon Books and Simon Audio for the complimentary ARC & ALC.
If I didn't have this on audio and able to listen on 2x speed this would have been a DNF.
Too much, that's how I would describe this.
Too much time was spent describing, in minute detail, thing that had absolutely nothing to do with the story. It totally removed me from what was going on and made it so hard to focus on the plot. I was buddy reading this with someone and they dnf'd early on for exactly this reason.
added to that
Too much going on
Murder, turning to murder & missing person, to investigating a past deadly event, to a past suspected murder, to a kidnapping... it was a lot to keep track of.
The narrator was good, except when it came to male characters voices where she used roughly the same voice for 2 or 3 of them and I got confused a few times about who was speaking.
Bummed, I really thought I'd love this one.
If I didn't have this on audio and able to listen on 2x speed this would have been a DNF.
Too much, that's how I would describe this.
Too much time was spent describing, in minute detail, thing that had absolutely nothing to do with the story. It totally removed me from what was going on and made it so hard to focus on the plot. I was buddy reading this with someone and they dnf'd early on for exactly this reason.
added to that
Too much going on
Murder, turning to murder & missing person, to investigating a past deadly event, to a past suspected murder, to a kidnapping... it was a lot to keep track of.
The narrator was good, except when it came to male characters voices where she used roughly the same voice for 2 or 3 of them and I got confused a few times about who was speaking.
Bummed, I really thought I'd love this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2024
I admit to a soft spot for 19th-century female pioneers—especially doctors. But all fans of historical mysteries will devour this absorbing novel. In Dr. Lydia Weston, Ritu Mukerji creates a detective doctor to root for and surrounds her with a solid cast of supporting characters. The medical details fascinate (the author is a doctor), and the mystery is twisty and satisfying. I hope this is the start of a long series.
July 11, 2024
I really enjoyed this historical fiction about the emergence of female doctors and a special murder case. Sort of a medical examination of the crime scene. I do love all the medical terminology and forensics.
Well done.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
Well done.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
November 15, 2023
In 1875, Lydia Weston, M.D., was a professor and anatomist at The Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The death of chambermaid Anna Ward affects Dr. Weston to her core as Anna was not only a patient but a young woman the doctor was mentoring, often loaning her books from her personal library. Lydia becomes involved in the police investigation and begins an intricate unraveling of clues that Lydia knew were too important to ignore.
I loved the author's debut novel, a gripping historical mystery. This novel enfolds you between the pages, taking you back to a different time, immersing the reader in the societal mores, activities, expectations, and experiences of the women who came before us. Through the characters' lives, we have a better understanding of the sacrifices, stalwart determination, resilience, and the male commentary they had to set aside to fulfill commitment and responsibilities. The author also skillfully blended the history of Philadelphia in this period.
I loved the use of a diary and poetry in the mystery. Emily Dickinson is my favorite poet, so it was exciting to view an epigraph by the poet. In the diary that is located during this investigation, I loved that most of the diary was short passages of different poems that slowly revealed the depth of Anna's past and how Lydia would not dismiss their relevance.
The author's descriptive writing creates a picturesque atmosphere throughout the storyline. My favorite captivating examples:
Highly recommended.
Reviewer's Note: I have a personal connection to the college and hospital when the facilities later moved to Henry Avenue in East Falls, Philadelphia, so it is of greatest pleasure for me to read a well-written novel incorporating the renowned history of the institution, street names so familiar to me, and the dynamics of more places that have spanned the tests of time.
I loved the author's debut novel, a gripping historical mystery. This novel enfolds you between the pages, taking you back to a different time, immersing the reader in the societal mores, activities, expectations, and experiences of the women who came before us. Through the characters' lives, we have a better understanding of the sacrifices, stalwart determination, resilience, and the male commentary they had to set aside to fulfill commitment and responsibilities. The author also skillfully blended the history of Philadelphia in this period.
I loved the use of a diary and poetry in the mystery. Emily Dickinson is my favorite poet, so it was exciting to view an epigraph by the poet. In the diary that is located during this investigation, I loved that most of the diary was short passages of different poems that slowly revealed the depth of Anna's past and how Lydia would not dismiss their relevance.
The author's descriptive writing creates a picturesque atmosphere throughout the storyline. My favorite captivating examples:
"His red hair was combed and parted, the looping mustaches groomed to perfection, like the thick fur of a fox."It was invigorating to learn that the author is a physician, an internist for 15 years, who completed her residency in Philadelphia. Please visit the author's website to learn more About Ritu, and how her experiences as a medical student in Philadelphia inspired her debut novel. As a first novel, it is an excellent stand-alone, but I am hopeful it will become a series.
"The tall gas lamps were being lit, like a graceful necklace of lights being strung together."
"The rays of the sun glittered on the surface of the black engine as the light speckled in a thousand directions."
Highly recommended.
Reviewer's Note: I have a personal connection to the college and hospital when the facilities later moved to Henry Avenue in East Falls, Philadelphia, so it is of greatest pleasure for me to read a well-written novel incorporating the renowned history of the institution, street names so familiar to me, and the dynamics of more places that have spanned the tests of time.
November 2, 2023
I really enjoyed this debut! I wasn't sure where we were going to be in terms of location and time period so I just assumed it would be England because most historical fiction I've read has been England. It's not! It's Pennsylvania in 1875. A female doctor working at Woman's Medical College. I found it fascinating and I'm glad the author didn't shy away from the gruesome side of death and autopsies. I also really enjoyed the mystery! Looking forward to Mukerji's next book.
I received a paperback and e-book ARC from Simon & Schuster and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a paperback and e-book ARC from Simon & Schuster and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2023
Thank you to @simon.audio for the complimentary audiobook.
3.5
1875, Philadelphia, we are introduced to the Womens Medical College. I loved the look inside the college where women had the opportunity to learn and work in the medical field.
Mix that with a local murder mystery involving one of the students and we now have a crime to investigate.
The mixture of these two elements were fun. An enjoyable read that was easy to listen to.
3.5
1875, Philadelphia, we are introduced to the Womens Medical College. I loved the look inside the college where women had the opportunity to learn and work in the medical field.
Mix that with a local murder mystery involving one of the students and we now have a crime to investigate.
The mixture of these two elements were fun. An enjoyable read that was easy to listen to.
September 18, 2023
Read this book! I didn't expect it to be so good but it sure was!
May 20, 2024
Why was this book written? This book should've stayed in the author's computer and never published. It's not even a children's story. There is hardly a story at all. For 300 pages she has just tried to create trivial inconveniences. This was supposed to be a murder mystery, it just turned out to be a eulogy for the main character, who isn't even that impressive if you ask me. What a caricature of a murder mystery.
August 23, 2023
I'm always eager to find a new historical mystery series with characters I can both like and respect and that gives me a sense of the social/political tensions of a particular era. In a weird way, I would compare my fondness for such mysteries with my fondness for Zinn's A People's History of the United States—both are grounded in fact (though admittedly one much more so than the other), and both give a sense of what life was like for people usually written out of history.
Murder by Degrees is the first volume in what I'm anticipating will become the "Dr. Lydia Weston Series." The novel is set in 1975 Philadelphia. Weston is a female doctor—still something of a rarity at the time. She teaches at Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, and her responsibilities outside of the classroom include leading rounds at the hospital attached to the college and working regular hours in the affiliated outpatient clinic.
Anna Ward, a working class patient Weston has been seeing every few months—and to whom she's been loaning books—arrives at the clinic one evening in a fretful and manic state. Anna leaves before telling Weston what is troubling her, then disappears entirely. Anna's body is subsequently pulled out of the Schuylkill river, a presumed suicide. Weston, who is sure this death is not a suicide, insists on participating in the postmortem for Anna, then begins working with the two police officers assigned to the case. The case is complicated, and a great deal transpires that might not be anticipated given the investigation's start.
Class and gender issues abound in this novel, but the number of ethical and likeable characters keeps these inequities from overwhelming the reader. Many male physicians assume female physicians are unqualified and not sufficiently bright to be doctors. Members of the upper class assume that normal legal proceedings like interview and searches need not apply to them (sound familiar?). There's also a back story about a munitions factory explosion during the Civil War, the repercussions of which stretch into the book's present day.
While Weston faces opposition from many members of her profession, her mentor and his wife provide affirming strength and respect. The novel quite clearly wants to make the case that, even in the 1870s, professional relationships between women and men can thrive without leading to romance. (I hate historical mystery series that partner off major female characters into heterosexual marriages early-on. If I want to read romance, would read romance—and I don't.)
If you're interested in the history of medicine, the professionalization of women as doctors, the lasting impact of the Civil War in post-war U.S., this is a book you'll enjoy. It's not "real" history, so you can't use it as a source for a master's thesis, but it can get you thinking about topics that you'll want to learn more about through well-research nonfiction.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
Murder by Degrees is the first volume in what I'm anticipating will become the "Dr. Lydia Weston Series." The novel is set in 1975 Philadelphia. Weston is a female doctor—still something of a rarity at the time. She teaches at Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, and her responsibilities outside of the classroom include leading rounds at the hospital attached to the college and working regular hours in the affiliated outpatient clinic.
Anna Ward, a working class patient Weston has been seeing every few months—and to whom she's been loaning books—arrives at the clinic one evening in a fretful and manic state. Anna leaves before telling Weston what is troubling her, then disappears entirely. Anna's body is subsequently pulled out of the Schuylkill river, a presumed suicide. Weston, who is sure this death is not a suicide, insists on participating in the postmortem for Anna, then begins working with the two police officers assigned to the case. The case is complicated, and a great deal transpires that might not be anticipated given the investigation's start.
Class and gender issues abound in this novel, but the number of ethical and likeable characters keeps these inequities from overwhelming the reader. Many male physicians assume female physicians are unqualified and not sufficiently bright to be doctors. Members of the upper class assume that normal legal proceedings like interview and searches need not apply to them (sound familiar?). There's also a back story about a munitions factory explosion during the Civil War, the repercussions of which stretch into the book's present day.
While Weston faces opposition from many members of her profession, her mentor and his wife provide affirming strength and respect. The novel quite clearly wants to make the case that, even in the 1870s, professional relationships between women and men can thrive without leading to romance. (I hate historical mystery series that partner off major female characters into heterosexual marriages early-on. If I want to read romance, would read romance—and I don't.)
If you're interested in the history of medicine, the professionalization of women as doctors, the lasting impact of the Civil War in post-war U.S., this is a book you'll enjoy. It's not "real" history, so you can't use it as a source for a master's thesis, but it can get you thinking about topics that you'll want to learn more about through well-research nonfiction.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
August 17, 2023
The author is clearly a medical professional (maybe a little too much so - I had to skip over parts of the excruciatingly detailed autopsy). She has clearly done her research on Philadelphia in the 1800s, the history of women doctors in Philadelphia, the history of medicine in this time period, etc etc. The story tended to get bogged down with so much detail, much of which wasn't necessarily relevant to the story. I love reading historical fiction partly because I enjoy learning about history, but I prefer the teaching to both be more subtle and to not have quite so much of it told to me. So... many... descriptions about Philly neighborhoods and streets, institutions, historical figures in medicine. It's obvious the author did her research, and also obvious (IMO) that an editor might have chosen what to include a little more judiciously. I was super excited to be reading a book about a doctor in this time period who was both female and Indian (!), which is awesome... but while I certainly got a sense of the rampant sexism in the industry, I was disappointed that there was so little focus on the heroine's ethnic heritage, which I think would have added depth to the story.
As far as the police procedural/legal aspects of the mystery, I found the story to be underwhelming and unbelievable. Explain to me again why this doctor was given so much freedom and latitude in investigating this case? Why they gave her evidence to take home and peruse at her leisure? Why all the police officers so carefully Mirandized all their suspects many decades before Mirandizing was a requirement? Why the doctor was threatened repeatedly but the warnings were shrugged off/forgotten within the next couple paragraphs? And on and on, including some spoilers and plot holes. The heroine has some TSTL moments with very puzzling motivations and I was rolling my eyes and speed reading towards the end. I absolutely love historical mysteries and police procedurals but this one really missed the mark for me.
My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
As far as the police procedural/legal aspects of the mystery, I found the story to be underwhelming and unbelievable. Explain to me again why this doctor was given so much freedom and latitude in investigating this case? Why they gave her evidence to take home and peruse at her leisure? Why all the police officers so carefully Mirandized all their suspects many decades before Mirandizing was a requirement? Why the doctor was threatened repeatedly but the warnings were shrugged off/forgotten within the next couple paragraphs? And on and on, including some spoilers and plot holes. The heroine has some TSTL moments with very puzzling motivations and I was rolling my eyes and speed reading towards the end. I absolutely love historical mysteries and police procedurals but this one really missed the mark for me.
My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 23, 2023
Really 3.5.
A college-educated woman doctor becomes involved in a murder case in 1870s Philadelphia.
Although Lydia has graduated from a certified women's medical college, she faces doubt and distrust from many potential patients and practices in Philadelphia. She is, however, a respected professor at the woman's medical college and works in the associated clinic, seeing walk-in patients.
When the body of a young woman is found in the river, Lydia is asked to help with the autopsy. Despite the degradation of the body, Lydia is sure she recognizes the woman as one of her clinic patients. From here, Lydia slowly becomes more and more involved in the case, which the police are calling a murder.
There's much to like in this book beyond the mystery. Lydia is smart and resourceful. I appreciated that she didn't do anything totally thoughtless (like the equivalent of going into the dark basement alone). Her resourcefulness is fully developed and so is believable.
The mystery/plot itself is well crafted, with nicely placed red herrings and clues. Lydia's relationship with the police in general and specific officers in particular is also well done.
I liked the historic details of Philadelphia as well as the sociopolitical/sociocultural perspective of women, of medicine, of police work, and of the lingering effects of the Civil War. You also get a glimpse into society and marriages, and there is a subtle take on colonial India through Lydia's mother.
I recommend this historical mystery and am looking forward to more Lydia books.
The audiobook was performed by Gabra Zackman. She didn't use wildly different voices for the characters but distinguished them well enough so I was never lost. She conveyed the drama and tension without crowding out my personal reactions. Zackman tipped off nothing, so all the red herrings worked, and I was able to try to puzzle out the answers on my own. I hope she returns to narrate more books in this series.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy. Thanks too to Libro.fm.
A college-educated woman doctor becomes involved in a murder case in 1870s Philadelphia.
Although Lydia has graduated from a certified women's medical college, she faces doubt and distrust from many potential patients and practices in Philadelphia. She is, however, a respected professor at the woman's medical college and works in the associated clinic, seeing walk-in patients.
When the body of a young woman is found in the river, Lydia is asked to help with the autopsy. Despite the degradation of the body, Lydia is sure she recognizes the woman as one of her clinic patients. From here, Lydia slowly becomes more and more involved in the case, which the police are calling a murder.
There's much to like in this book beyond the mystery. Lydia is smart and resourceful. I appreciated that she didn't do anything totally thoughtless (like the equivalent of going into the dark basement alone). Her resourcefulness is fully developed and so is believable.
The mystery/plot itself is well crafted, with nicely placed red herrings and clues. Lydia's relationship with the police in general and specific officers in particular is also well done.
I liked the historic details of Philadelphia as well as the sociopolitical/sociocultural perspective of women, of medicine, of police work, and of the lingering effects of the Civil War. You also get a glimpse into society and marriages, and there is a subtle take on colonial India through Lydia's mother.
I recommend this historical mystery and am looking forward to more Lydia books.
The audiobook was performed by Gabra Zackman. She didn't use wildly different voices for the characters but distinguished them well enough so I was never lost. She conveyed the drama and tension without crowding out my personal reactions. Zackman tipped off nothing, so all the red herrings worked, and I was able to try to puzzle out the answers on my own. I hope she returns to narrate more books in this series.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy. Thanks too to Libro.fm.
October 17, 2023
If you are looking for a book about historical fiction with elements of mystery and tension, this is the perfect pick.
Murder by Degrees is set in Philadelphia, 1875. Our protagonist, Dr. Lydia Weston is starting her term at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Weston is a very dedicated professor and anatomist. When she befriends one of her patients named Anna Ward, everything will change. Anna's body is found in the river and ruled a suicide, but Lydia is convinced that something more sinister lurks in the dark. With the help of two other detectives, they will uncover secrets, cryptic poetry, and what really happened to Anna. I loved our protagonist so much. She had incredible knowledge of science and the human anatomy, that it felt like you were by her side solving the mystery.
Murder by Degrees is set in Philadelphia, 1875. Our protagonist, Dr. Lydia Weston is starting her term at the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Weston is a very dedicated professor and anatomist. When she befriends one of her patients named Anna Ward, everything will change. Anna's body is found in the river and ruled a suicide, but Lydia is convinced that something more sinister lurks in the dark. With the help of two other detectives, they will uncover secrets, cryptic poetry, and what really happened to Anna. I loved our protagonist so much. She had incredible knowledge of science and the human anatomy, that it felt like you were by her side solving the mystery.
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