• 5 Star Reads
  • Audiobooks
  • Books on Screen
  • Children’s Books
  • Christian
  • Fiction
  • Giveaways

5 Minutes For Books

  • Home
  • About
    • Who Are We? Reviewer Bios
    • 5 Star Reads
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
  • Join In
    • 5 Minutes for Books Bookclub
    • Children’s Classics
    • Kids’ Picks
    • What’s on Your Nightstand
  • Link To Us
  • Contact
    • Advertise

Doctor Death

February 18, 2015 by Elizabeth

5M4B disclosure

dr deathThe year is 1894 and Madeline Karno is a young woman chafing against societal restraints. Her father is a noted pathologist at a time when the act of autopsy is in its infancy and is viewed as unseemly at best and immoral at worst. Madeline’s bright, quick mind longs to assist him, but he can only allow this in secret, as the idea of a young woman viewing a corpse is beyond repugnant to the general populace, and even as the daughter of a pathologist, Madeline is regarded with suspicion.

Doctor Death opens with the death of young Cecile Montaine just outside her home. The family only allows a cursory examination of her body, and both Madeline and her father are unsatisfied with the verdict of death from natural causes. The body bears signs of strange, healed bite marks, but the most unusual thing is a tiny white mite, a parasite that normally lives only in animals. The priest who prays over her body is brutally murdered, and then his corpse is stolen, and the young boy who brought him a message is missing. Madeline and Dr. Karno are convinced there is a connection, and that they are on the brink of a plague that could bring about many deaths.

Before they can figure it out, the trail will lead to a convent where Cecile attended school, to a tame wolf pack tended by the nuns along with a half-wild young man who is more comfortable with animals than humans, and to a German town where a young specialist in parasites may offer Madeline the independence she so craves–if she is willing to accept certain secrets on her own terms.

Doctor Death is very well-written and draws the reader in, and through many dark twists and turns. I wasn’t sure where the author was going at times, and wondered if she was veering into the paranormal, but in the end her topic remains the twistedness of the human soul. For me personally I found the mix a bit strong, and the ending hard to follow, but the characters are well-drawn and the plot moves briskly.

This is the start of a new series and I liked it enough to want to read the sequel.

 

Filed Under: Elizabeth, Fiction, Historical, Mystery/Suspense

« Creative Anarchy
The Thing About Great White Sharks »

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome to 5 Minutes for Books. We are a team blog dedicated to sharing reviews and information about children's lit, fiction, memoir, and more. Read More…

Reviews

5 Minutes for Books

Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor

MEET OUR TEAM



Connect With Us


Pinterest

Community

Cybils Logo Draft 3

Disclosure:

Find out about our relationships with publishers and affiliate networks in our full disclosure statement.

Recent Posts

  • Central Places
  • Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
  • The House of Eve
  • Bright and Deadly Things
  • Long Story Short

Categories

Privacy Policy    |     Disclosure Policy
Terms & Conditions
© 5 Minutes for Mom

Let’s Socialize

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Pinterest is Our FAVORITE!

Find and Follow Us at
pinterest.com/5min4books

Copyright © 2023 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316