Amazing writers still do exist!

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.