A young woman in Edinburgh Scotland in 1858 inherits her father's undertaking business and sets out to catch a serial killer.
In 1858 in Edinburgh Scotland, a 23-year-old woman named Kate Grainger inherits her father’s undertaking business. It is a time when not much is expected of women, other than to be wives and mothers, and Kate wants to be neither. She wants to be a doctor but women are not allowed to enter the prestigious Edinburgh School of Medicine. She has a male friend, James, who is a doctor – he is smitten with her and wants to marry her, but she has made it clear that she has no such intentions. She spends a lot of time with him looking through his medical books to learn all that she can. She has drive and ambition – and a special gift. Kate can communicate with people who have passed over. She had, what her father thought, was an imaginary friend when she was a child, but her companion was the spirit of a little girl who had died in the Great Fire of Edinburgh. When Kate discovers that her first client at Grainger Undertakers has been murdered, she sets out on a journey that takes her deep into Edinburgh’s underground and into the spirit world to catch a serial killer.
Professional Reviews
Well paced story
This book has enough action to keep all ages interested. It is well written and the story, while taking twists and turns, is easy to follow. I hadn't realised that there were so many medical breakthroughs that happened in Scotland, such as the hypodermic needle and chloroform. I enjoy a book where, not only is it a good story, but I also learn something about history. [by David Taylor]
A really interesting story with good female role model
I really grew to like the character of Kate who was a female undertaker in Edinburgh. She is portrayed as a strong young woman who doesn't rely on a man for financial security and who isn't afraid to stick her neck out to get to the truth. There aren't many role models around for young girls these days but Kate is definitely a get it done kind of woman. There is a really lovely scene in the book where she meets with Grey Friars Bobby who is a little dog that became famous in Edinburgh for sitting by his master's grave for 14 years. She sees the spirit of his master walking down the street. [by Andrea Black]
Explores other realm
Downloaded it on my kindle and read it in two days. I am very interested in the idea that the spirit carries on after people die and I do believe that there are people who can communicate with the dead. While this book is not a heavy tome about the subject, it does explore the possibility through the character of Kate who has had an imaginary friend since childhood, except the friend wasn't imaginary and was in fact the spirit of a little girl who had died in the Great Fire of Edinburgh. The book is set in 1858, and although witch hunting had died down in Scotland by that time, Kate still had to be careful not to let people know that she was 'different'. The story is well-written and well researched and a very enjoyable read. [by Jerry Hutchinson]
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