Anna Lee Huber's - The Anatomist's Wife is an astoundingingly well-written introductory novel.
- Great character
development.
- All major/minor characters very well described ... not just
caricatures. I actually took them all to heart/great dislike.
- Tightly
woven plot with no discernible plot holes -- even though it was obvious
from the beginning who the villain was. Unlike Agatha Christie who
provided lots of red herrings and no valid clues, Ms. Huber provided
lots of clues to solve the mystery -- keeping us guessing to the last
regarding the true motivation.
My only concern was the gothic
novel overtones -- somewhat reminiscent of The Castle of Otranto. Not
one of my favourite genre's especially with it's incipient damsel in
distress heroines. As Jane Austen and the Bronte's have shown, by 1830 a
strong woman (such as Lady Darby) had alternatives to an abusive
marriage/relationship. Especially as Lady Darby came from a staunch,
loving family who would have provided the resources necessary to escape
the abuse. Needless to say, the dichotomy of the two Lady Darby's was
baffling and unenjoyable; however as the mystery aspect of the book was
enjoyable I stayed the course and decided that if we are to be provided
with the stronger Lady Darby in future books then this is a series I
would definitely be coming back to.
