Doctor Death, A Madeleine Karno Mystery by Lene Kaaberbol

She's a young woman who scorns being taught ladylike talents that will be useful in marriage.  She'd rather learn about science and use the brain she has for higher level studying.  It's not to be, though.  Her father keeps her in her place.  However, he has an interest in forensic science and examines dead bodies.  That's why he has the nickname Doctor Death.

Atria Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review.  It will be published February 17th, so watch for a copy then.

Madeline often gets to assist her father in his duties, so she learns along the way.  That's a good thing because when he's injured in a carriage accident and breaks both a leg and an arm on one side, she can take over the functions he can no longer do.  He doesn't like it, but he doesn't have much choice.

This was an interesting story.  It's set in 1894 and there is a lot of superstition and non-belief in things one can't see.  Bacteria isn't something that is apparent to the common folk.  Not even those in the medical field know that much about it.  But when a young girl dies with no known cause and the doctor finds mites in her nose, he thinks he has a clue.  They refuse to let him do an autopsy.  He's angry and sad.  He might have found something that caused her death. When there is another death and the body gets stolen, things get even more complicated.

With a literally wild boy from the circus, nuns that raise wolves, and numerous odd characters with a different sexual appetites, the story is not boring.  It kept me reading.  Sometimes my eyes got wide and I got a bit shocked.  Even the ending is not what I would call normal.  However, I am intrigued.

I think there may be more in this series.  If there is, then I'll have to see what adventures Madeline takes then.  Her life is exciting and very different from most women in late 1800's.