Murder by Degrees

A Mystery

By: Ritu Mukerji

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

An Edgar Award Finalist for Best First Novel

For fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Charles Todd, Murder by Degrees is a “fresh…twisty” (Michelle Richmond, New York Times bestselling author) historical mystery set in 19th-century Philadelphia, following a pioneering woman doctor as she investigates the disappearance of a young patient who is presumed dead.

Philadelphia, 1875: It is the start of term at Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lydia Weston, professor and anatomist, is immersed in teaching her students in the lecture hall and hospital. When the body of a patient, Anna Ward, is dredged out of the Schuylkill River, the young chambermaid’s death is deemed suicide. But Lydia is suspicious and she is soon brought into the police investigation.

Aided by a diary filled with cryptic passages of poetry, Lydia discovers more about the young woman she thought she knew. Through her skill at the autopsy table and her clinical acumen, Lydia draws nearer the truth. Soon a terrible secret, long hidden, will be revealed. But Lydia must act quickly before she becomes the next target of those who wished to silence Anna.

Critic reviews

"Add Dr. Lydia Weston—who is featured in this well-narrated historical mystery—to your list of strong female protagonists. Gabra Zackman does an excellent job delineating the various characters by using tone, pitch, and accents; she excels, in particular, at the challenging job of depicting both male and female characters. Zackman’s versatility allows listeners to become absorbed in the twists and turns of the plot. Set in 1875 at a women’s medical college, this debut novel from Ritu Mukerji contains detailed postmortems whose vividness disqualify this as a cozy, but those who enjoy police procedurals and historical medicine will find it engaging and well researched. The well-crafted characters are beautifully voiced by Zackman."

Philadelphia history

I liked the story but I did not like the writing. Some of the language seemed forced. The lack of contractions was annoying. The reader mispronounced some words.

An excellent, even original historical mystery

An intriguing story with interesting characters and excellent historical details. The voice of Lydia seemed unduly harsh. We hope this is the start of a new series.

What I liked

The readers voice was annoying to me but I found the history of the women’s medical college interesting

An old fashioned mystery

This story centers around a female doctor who becomes involved in solving a murder involving one of her patients. It’s a pleasant and interesting tale. Not overly thrilling, gory, or suspenseful. Intriguing throughout.

Good Mystery

I always enjoy historical fiction, but it is even better with a good, unpredictable mystery!