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bookish_arcadia's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
lauranisbet's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eserafina42's review
4.0
A very enjoyable and atmospheric mystery set in late 19th-century Edinburgh among the first class of women admitted to the university there for medical training, with a headstrong but sympathetic member of that class as the detective.
My main gripe: I was not aware that this was the second novel (it would be nice if they would put something like "In the second offering in the series" at the beginning of the description on the inside front cover, especially if they're not going to list the previous one in the part of the book where they usually put previous books by the author), but while I am going to go back and read the first, while I understand that she probably wanted to provide some context, I felt that the author provided way too much information about it, including who was killed, who the killer was and essentially how it ended - spoiling it to some extent for those who mistakenly started with this one.
My main gripe: I was not aware that this was the second novel (it would be nice if they would put something like "In the second offering in the series" at the beginning of the description on the inside front cover, especially if they're not going to list the previous one in the part of the book where they usually put previous books by the author), but while I am going to go back and read the first, while I understand that she probably wanted to provide some context, I felt that the author provided way too much information about it, including who was killed, who the killer was and essentially how it ended - spoiling it to some extent for those who mistakenly started with this one.
chantedsnicker's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ludwinas's review
5.0
I should've seen this coming. Already with the first book I started out thinking "oh, historical fiction isn't really my thing", but once again, Kaite proved me wrong! I ended up deeply fascinated by Sarah's story and circumstances, the daily struggle to be taken seriously as a woman, and in the end, even the romance plot.
Wonderful book, would recommend this series to anyone who is into historical mysteries, but especially to those who, like me, are in it for the feminism and end up googling Victorian era clothes as a side effect.
Wonderful book, would recommend this series to anyone who is into historical mysteries, but especially to those who, like me, are in it for the feminism and end up googling Victorian era clothes as a side effect.
yaragirl's review
4.0
The Unquiet Heart by Kaite Welsh is the second book in the Sarah Gilchrist murder mystery series. The book picks soon after the first book. Sarah has completed her first semester of medical school at the University of Edenborough. She is one of twelve women who have been accepted into the medical school, the first year it accepted women.
Having solved the murder of the young prostitute Lucy in book one, she’s ready to tackle her second semester at university. However, still dependent on her family and there are keen to marry her off and forget all about getting an education. To that extent, they have engaged her to Miles Green, sadly during the engagement party someone is found dead. After a second death at yet another engagement party, her new fiancé is arrested and accused of murder. Now, Sarah must find the real murderer. Though she still doesn’t’ want to marry Miles, she can’t allow an innocent man to hang.
She is assistant by her profession Gregory Merchiston who helped her, in a manner of speaking, on her previous case. The romantic tension between the two grows as they work together.
Like with the first book, I figured out the mystery pretty quickly, but again it didn’t matter because that’s not what interests me in the book. Sarah's journey, her growing independence, and assertiveness is the driving force of the series. While there are also romantic elements to the story they don’t overtake or overshadow Sarah’s character and her growth.
The feminist themes are still there and we delve deeper into Sarah's attack and her family’s reaction to it. We also see the unfairness of how the female medical students get treated vs. how the male students get treated. As well as other topics.
I liked this book slightly better than the first one, in part because we get to know the characters better, and because of the character growth and interactions. I’m very much looking forward to book three.
Overall. I gave the book 4 stars.
Having solved the murder of the young prostitute Lucy in book one, she’s ready to tackle her second semester at university. However, still dependent on her family and there are keen to marry her off and forget all about getting an education. To that extent, they have engaged her to Miles Green, sadly during the engagement party someone is found dead. After a second death at yet another engagement party, her new fiancé is arrested and accused of murder. Now, Sarah must find the real murderer. Though she still doesn’t’ want to marry Miles, she can’t allow an innocent man to hang.
She is assistant by her profession Gregory Merchiston who helped her, in a manner of speaking, on her previous case. The romantic tension between the two grows as they work together.
Like with the first book, I figured out the mystery pretty quickly, but again it didn’t matter because that’s not what interests me in the book. Sarah's journey, her growing independence, and assertiveness is the driving force of the series. While there are also romantic elements to the story they don’t overtake or overshadow Sarah’s character and her growth.
The feminist themes are still there and we delve deeper into Sarah's attack and her family’s reaction to it. We also see the unfairness of how the female medical students get treated vs. how the male students get treated. As well as other topics.
I liked this book slightly better than the first one, in part because we get to know the characters better, and because of the character growth and interactions. I’m very much looking forward to book three.
Overall. I gave the book 4 stars.
fairybookmother's review against another edition
4.0
A stunning, solid followup to the first! I love this series so much. More later!
--
I read the first Sarah Gilchrist book last year? The year before? And I fell in love with it. Sarah Gilchrist is a medical student at the University of Edinburgh, and in this second installment of the series, Sarah is trying not to marry her fiance Miles. In the midst of the drama surrounding her upcoming wedding, Miles is arrested for a murder Sarah is sure he didn’t commit, and she becomes his ally in trying to clear his name while maintaining the delicate balance of her own reputation.
I love Sarah’s voice. She’s a strong-willed individual who finds it difficult to balance what she wants in her life while trying to balance what’s expected of hers by others. She knows she’ll never be able to live up to those expectations, and her professor Gregory Merchiston encourages Sarah to find her own way. Welsh weaves in traditional mystery tropes with historical fiction and feminism, and the writing and the story is fresh, engaging, and wonderful. I also loved the weaving in of what happened in the first book without it feeling like an info dump, because there were some details I had forgotten or was glad to be reminded about. The hint of romance near the end is swoon-worthy, because who doesn’t love a quietly-pining, broody someone?
If you’re interested in feminist historical fiction with strong characters with a setting that feels like you’re completely immersed, definitely check out this series.
--
I read the first Sarah Gilchrist book last year? The year before? And I fell in love with it. Sarah Gilchrist is a medical student at the University of Edinburgh, and in this second installment of the series, Sarah is trying not to marry her fiance Miles. In the midst of the drama surrounding her upcoming wedding, Miles is arrested for a murder Sarah is sure he didn’t commit, and she becomes his ally in trying to clear his name while maintaining the delicate balance of her own reputation.
I love Sarah’s voice. She’s a strong-willed individual who finds it difficult to balance what she wants in her life while trying to balance what’s expected of hers by others. She knows she’ll never be able to live up to those expectations, and her professor Gregory Merchiston encourages Sarah to find her own way. Welsh weaves in traditional mystery tropes with historical fiction and feminism, and the writing and the story is fresh, engaging, and wonderful. I also loved the weaving in of what happened in the first book without it feeling like an info dump, because there were some details I had forgotten or was glad to be reminded about. The hint of romance near the end is swoon-worthy, because who doesn’t love a quietly-pining, broody someone?
If you’re interested in feminist historical fiction with strong characters with a setting that feels like you’re completely immersed, definitely check out this series.
toosharpbyhalf's review against another edition
4.0
The sequel to The Wages of Sin is an empowering book filled with vivid women.
Sarah, a trailblazing medical student, battles Victorian patriarchy, murders, and her own heart.
This is a fine blend of Feminism, Murder Mystery and Historical Romance, roughly in that order. L There's a strong thread of mystery and romance which constantly pull you forwards but those are by no means the main thrust of the book which is very much about the social and patriarchal constraints Sarah faces, which are stifling and infuriating in equal measure. At times she despairs but ultimately she is a no-nonsense woman who wants to live life on her own terms and she's having none of it.
Most of the characters are female and they are an extremely varied and well drawn group of flawed and rounded individuals.
Sarah, a trailblazing medical student, battles Victorian patriarchy, murders, and her own heart.
This is a fine blend of Feminism, Murder Mystery and Historical Romance, roughly in that order. L There's a strong thread of mystery and romance which constantly pull you forwards but those are by no means the main thrust of the book which is very much about the social and patriarchal constraints Sarah faces, which are stifling and infuriating in equal measure. At times she despairs but ultimately she is a no-nonsense woman who wants to live life on her own terms and she's having none of it.
Most of the characters are female and they are an extremely varied and well drawn group of flawed and rounded individuals.