Publishers Weekly
03/11/2019
Trent’s well-researched sequel to 2018’s No Cure for the Dead blends Victorian political and cultural mores with a tidy mystery. It’s August 1854, and a cholera epidemic is ravaging London’s Soho district. Florence Nightingale’s exalted friend, secretary at war Sidney Herbert, calls her away from her duties as superintendent of the Establishment for the Temporary Illness of Gentlewomen in Harley Street. Sidney informs her that the carriage that was carrying his wife and father-in-law has been attacked and the driver killed. Sidney, who is loath to tell the police for fear of creating a scandal, asks Florence to investigate. A short while later, Herbert’s manservant, Fenton, arrives at the nurse’s door suffering from cholera. Among the last words Fenton utters before he succumbs to the disease are “devil’s dice.” The varied settings, from the mansions of the wealthy to the pitiful hovels of the poor, add depth to the narrative. Readers will look forward to Florence’s next outing, which will take her to the Crimea. Agent: Helen Breitwieser, Cornerstone Literary (May)
From the Publisher
Praise for A Murderous Malady:
“Trent’s well-researched sequel to 2018’s No Cure for the Dead blends Victorian political and cultural mores with a tidy mystery...Readers will look forward to Florence’s next outing.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Christine Trent has clearly done her research...I was both captivated and intrigued with the history and the mystery...Highly recommended!”
—MyShelf
Praise for No Cure for the Dead:
“Skillfully blending the stories of actual people with fictional characters, including several from her ‘Lady of Ashes’ series, Trent weaves a serious tale with a sobering tone that will appeal to fans of Nancy Herriman’s British-born nurse.”
—Library Journal
“A natural fit for fans of Ann Perry’s William Monk mysteries.”
—Booklist
“Trent transforms the Lady of the Lamp, Florence Nightingale, into a natural and formidable sleuth. Filled with fascinating historical details, a cast of diverting characters, and a perplexing mystery, No Cure for the Dead is a riveting to start to this new series.”
—Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author of the Lady Darby mysteries
"Mystery meets medicine in No Cure for the Dead, Christine Trent’s absorbing tale—a suspense-filled reimagining of the historic Florence Nightingale as a resolute sleuth, determined to keep both murderers and illness at bay. Weaving in authentic period details, Trent offers a fascinating glimpse into the grim world of nineteenth-century nursing, as well as the larger social conflicts of the day. Overall, an intriguing, well-crafted and satisfying read!"
—Susanna Calkins, author of the award-winning Lucy Campion historical mysteries
“The Lady with the Lamp proves herself to be no slouch as a sleuth in this historical mystery featuring nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale. The grislier aspects of murder—to say nothing of the only slightly less horrific details of 19th-century medical practice—are leavened with subtle humor, and sharp-eyed readers may spot characters from Ms. Trent’s earlier series featuring Victorian undertaker Violet Morgan.”
—Sheri Cobb South, author of the John Pickett mysteries
“With the formidable Florence Nightingale as sleuth, Christine Trent has crafted a clever mystery rich with details of common medical practices, and which also lets us peek into the upper-class world of mid-19th century London. Great fun.”
—Nancy Herriman, author of the Bess Ellyott mysteries
"An engrossing murder mystery set in a 19th century version of a nursing-home with a cast of characters who might have stepped out of a Dickens novel."
—Rennie Airth, author of River of Darkness
“Clever and complex, with many hanging threads that are ably clipped by Florence during the denouement. Trent is doing double duty here: telling a great story, and educating the reader.”
—Mystery Scene Magazine
