A deadly affection

Dr. Genevieve Summerford, the plucky heroine of Overholt's intriguing first novel and series launch set in early 20th-century New York City, begins a psychotherapy group for women suffering from loss despite her father's wishes that she practice "real" medicine. When Eliza Miner stops after the class to talk about how she's still mourning the child she gave up at birth as a teen, Genevieve encourages Eliza to confront the doctor who took her baby. But when the doctor is found dead the following morning-with Eliza standing over him-Genevieve finds that she's the only one who believes Eliza is innocent. Certain that Eliza was incapable of such brutality, Genevieve begins digging into the doctor's adoption schemes in an effort to uncover another possible suspect. Old flame Simon Shaw, now a Tammany politician, lends a helping hand. Overholt makes fine use of early psychology in this richly detailed whodunit populated with believable characters. Agent: Victoria Lowes, Bent Agency. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

In turn-of-the-20th-century New York, Dr. Genevieve Summerford is trying to start her career as a psychiatrist in the face of her father's opposition. Genna-naïve and uncertain-tries to justify both the practice of psychiatry as well as her own ability to perform it. When one of her clients is arrested for murder in an "open-and-shut" case, Genna cannot believe the woman capable of the crime and decides that she must find the true culprit. She doubts herself and almost everyone else throughout the story but pushes on, even when self-preservation tells her to desist. Barely escaping her own violent death, Genna not only solves the case but also gains the confidence to stand up to her father. Carly Robbins's voice is perfect for Genna-youth, intensity, bravado, and feeling come across clearly in her pitch and pacing. Unfortunately, the attributes that make her interpretation of Genna successful do not transfer to the male characters. A working-class New York accent for a tough-talking policeman makes him sound stupid rather than formidable. The arrogant, condescending male doctors, too, need deeper voices to be convincing. Too bad this book didn't have dual narrators to divide the work. VERDICT Recommended with reservations. ["This superb debut reflects the author's impeccable research.... A solid book club choice": LJ 8/16 review of the Sourcebooks Landmark pb.]-Juleigh Muirhead Clark, Colonial Williamsburg Fdn. Lib., VA © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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