Just beyond the Gilded Age, in the mist-covered streets of New York, the deadly Spanish influenza ripples through the city. But with so many victims in her close circle, young socialite Allene questions if the flu is really to blame. All appear to have been poisoned—and every death was accompanied by a mysterious note.
Desperate for answers and dreading her own engagement to a wealthy gentleman, Allene returns to her passion for scientific discovery and recruits her long-lost friends, Jasper and Birdie, for help. The investigation brings her closer to Jasper, an apprentice medical examiner at Bellevue Hospital who still holds her heart, and offers the delicate Birdie a last-ditch chance to find a safe haven before her fragile health fails.
As more of their friends and family die, alliances shift, lives become entangled, and the three begin to suspect everyone—even each other. As they race to find the culprit, Allene, Birdie, and Jasper must once again trust each other, before one of them becomes the next victim.
Excellent Beautifully written and extremely well researched. A beauty of a historical murder mystery with a surprise ending that ties all of the pieces together. Characters are well-drawn and likeable. Plot is so well-constructed. A real gem.
The Poison Puzzle I was drawn by the many characters and their roles and I guessed wrong all the way through to the end of the book. And as in all good books, there was a mystery that unfolded near the end 9f the book. I read it from beginning to end without even sleeping. I also admire that the auth9r was discreet with serial implications leaving the conclusion obvious without making it trashy. I find it refreshing that an author found no profanity necessary for the characters to display their personalities.
The finest book I have read in some time This is the finest book I have read in some time.Â