I made the mistake of reading the fifth (and apparently last) book in the Dr. Alexandra Gladstone mystery series before getting to know the good doctor and her cohorts as the characters developed in the first four books. With each subsequent book I read, I found myself enjoying the stories.

In each book it is evident that Victorian sensibilities are featured front and center. I find the things thought of as proprieties bordering on offensive but do realize that women have come a long way since the 1880s. How we got from there to here is bound to ruffle a few feminist feathers.

No personage is exempt from inclusion in the stories of the waterfront village of Newton-upon-Sea, not even Her Royal Highness Victoria Regina. Why she is there, and that she is there, is supposed to be secret, but if you have any familiarity with English villages, you know such a secret is impossible to keep.

All in all, MEDIUM DEAD is a fine addition to the series. If you are a fan of murder and mayhem, you will find it a bit less grisly, yet no less gruesome than any other such tale.

I love the Victorian era and I loved most everything about this book other than the fact that I figured out way too early who the murderer was. This was actually much better at the historical fiction aspect rather than the murder mystery itself. I also loved seeing how this era treated a woman doctor. Not a great read but it wasn't so long that I had no problem finishing it.

MEDIUM DEAD - Paula Paul

INTERESTING MYSTERY WITH AN UNUSUAL MAIN CHARACTER - 3 stars

#4 in the Dr. Alexandra Gladstone mystery series

Plot - 3 stars - We first meet Dr. Gladstone when she is called upon to examine a body that has been murdered in a cemetery. She goes about her rounds, hearing more and more disturbing stories about a dead woman, Lady Forsyth's visit to the graveyard, and a visit from Queen Victoria.

Writing - 3 stars - Despite the fact that I haven't read the first three books in this series, I had no trouble understanding the story or the characters. Paul caught my attention right from the beginning with the unusual character of the medium, then we are embroiled in the mystery of her death. The characters are well built enough to capture my interest to see what will happen with them. And the scene is well set--creepy and dark and with a very gothic feel.

Characters - 4 stars - I'm fascinated with the fact that our main character is a female doctor in the late 1800's. First of all, it's always interesting to follow the medical practices of the time period, especially in a small town where doctors do all sorts of treatments. But the fact that she's a woman makes her very unusual and interesting. Of course she's intelligent and strong to have reached this point in her profession, but she's also clever and curious, a perfect person to investigate an unusual murder. Nicholas is the local lord who also happens to have romantic feelings for Alexandra, although she refuses to go along with them. He's a barrister who was recently and unexpectedly elevated to the title, and his mother is uppity but somehow very involved in the mystery.

Title - 2.5 stars - Interesting title, but I don't really understand it. I know that the medium is dead, but is it supposed to imply something else? Attach some lack of importance to her death--making it a medium type of murder?

Cover - 2.5 stars - I'm not sure why a bottle of alcohol is the main feature of the cover. It didn't really play a role in the story at all.

Overview - 3 stars - This is an interesting mystery, with the advantage of having an unusual main character. The setting is suitably gothic, with a creepy old house, night-time screams, and an out-of-control seance. Alexandra maintains that the mystery can be solved using science, but most of the townsfolk subscribe to the spookier beliefs. The tension was building, but then it all seemed to come to a close within a few pages, with some manipulation used to get a confession.

I ran out of time before I could read it. I am going to get the published book to read sinevI missed the review copy time.

I loved the mystery, the characters and the historical references in this book! I definitely recommend this title for my reading groups, students and anyone else who wants to get lost in a mystery!