#7 “gaslight” historical mystery set in early 1900’s New York and featuring midwife Sarah Brandt and police detective Frank Malloy. Sarah is referred to speak discreetly with the Linton family to examine their seventeen year old daughter Grace, whom they are concerned might be pregnant. Grace is a ‘simpleton’ with the mind of a five-year-old and Sarah does indeed determine that she is several months along—everyone assumes that she was raped or taken advantage of, but most puzzlingly, Grace denies anyone hurting her. Living a very sheltered life, Grace is never alone with any men, but Sarah doesn’t believe in immaculate conception and is determined to find who fathered Grace’s child. Mr. Linton comes under immediate suspicion, being the only man to see her regularly, but he is ruled out fairly quickly and the trail next leads to the church the Lintons attend, which is where Grace and Mrs. Linton spend some time volunteering, and eventually a murder does occur there, though the main mystery seems to be Grace’s pregnancy.

Meanwhile, Malloy is asked by Sarah’s father, socialite Peter Decker, to resume investigating Sarah’s husband’s murder, which took place four years previously—Decker believes Dr. Tom Brandt was a womanizer and wants Malloy to prove it so that Sarah will finally forget about carrying on Tom’s legacy of helping the poor and return to her rightful place in society. Frank Malloy, of course, has other motives for wanting the crime solved. A predictable, light historical read that I did enjoy despite the mystery (all of them, actually) being extremely transparent and easy to solve. ( )

Sarah Brandt is a midwife to the poor. So imagine her surprise when she gets called to the home of the Linton's in the affluent section of Lenox Hill. She can't image what it is they want to see her for. Soon enough she finds out that their impaired daughter is pregnant - and they have no clue how it could happen. She is never out of their sight. With their permission, Sarah contacts Frank and together they try and find out how this young girl became in the family way. Little did they know the horrible truth they would come to find out about a beloved minister. What turns into a case of rape quickly becomes a quest to find a murderer. Once again the tension exists between Sarah & Frank. Frank's mother still can't stand Sarah. He also continues on in search of Sarah's husbands killer. Brian has entered a school for the deaf and is learning sign language. And Sarah has "adopted" Aggie from the mission as well as hired Maeve as her nanny. I love this series. I enjoy watching the characters grow as the story progresses and hope one day Sarah and Frank can find their way to one another :) ( )

Victoria Thompson has become one of my favorite series writers. This installment in her series with Sarah Brandt and Det. Sgt. Frank Malloy finds Sarah trying to find the person responsible for impregnating a mentally challenged young woman while Frank is trying to find the person responsible for killing Sarah's husband. The second mystery will be stretched over at least another book, but the mystery of the girl's pregnancy is uncovered. ( )

I hated this book. It started out promising, but I quickly guessed the plot, which I found disturbing. I was disappointed because I was hoping to have found a new mystery series. Perhaps I should try another from her. ( )