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The Oxford Mysteries #1
A Bitter Remedy
Amongst the scholars, secrets and soporifics of Victorian Oxford, the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow….
Jesus College, Oxford, 1881. An undergraduate is found dead at his lodgings and the medical examination reveals some shocking findings. When the young man’s guardian blames the college for his death and threatens a scandal, Basil Rice, a Jesus college fellow with a secret to hide, is forced to act and finds himself drawn into Sidney Parker’s sad life.
The mystery soon attracts the attention of Rhiannon ‘Non’ Vaughan, a young Welsh polymath and one of the young women newly admitted to university lectures. But when neither the college principal nor the powerful ladies behind Oxford’s new female halls will allow her to become involved, Non’s fierce intelligence and determination to prove herself drive her on.
Both misfits at the university, Non and Basil form an unlikely partnership, and it soon falls to them to investigate the mysterious circumstances of Parker’s death. But between the corporate malfeasance and the medical quacks, they soon find the dreaming spires of Oxford are not quite what they seem.…
An intriguing first installment of The Oxford Mysteries series by master crime writer, Alis Hawkins. Perfect for fans of Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Sarah Waters and Kaite Welsh.
Jesus College, Oxford, 1881. An undergraduate is found dead at his lodgings and the medical examination reveals some shocking findings. When the young man’s guardian blames the college for his death and threatens a scandal, Basil Rice, a Jesus college fellow with a secret to hide, is forced to act and finds himself drawn into Sidney Parker’s sad life.
The mystery soon attracts the attention of Rhiannon ‘Non’ Vaughan, a young Welsh polymath and one of the young women newly admitted to university lectures. But when neither the college principal nor the powerful ladies behind Oxford’s new female halls will allow her to become involved, Non’s fierce intelligence and determination to prove herself drive her on.
Both misfits at the university, Non and Basil form an unlikely partnership, and it soon falls to them to investigate the mysterious circumstances of Parker’s death. But between the corporate malfeasance and the medical quacks, they soon find the dreaming spires of Oxford are not quite what they seem.…
An intriguing first installment of The Oxford Mysteries series by master crime writer, Alis Hawkins. Perfect for fans of Laura Shepherd-Robinson, Sarah Waters and Kaite Welsh.
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First published March 23, 2023
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About the author
Alis Hawkins
24 books110 followersAlis Hawkins grew up on a dairy farm in Cardiganshire. Her inner introvert thought it would be a good idea to become a shepherd and, frankly, if she had, she might have been published sooner. As it was, three years reading English at Corpus Christi College, Oxford revealed an extrovert streak and a social conscience which saw her train as a Speech and Language Therapist. She has spent the subsequent three decades variously bringing up two sons, working with children and young people on the autism spectrum and writing fiction, non-fiction and plays. She writes the kind of books she likes to read: character-driven historical crime and mystery fiction with what might be called literary production values.
Series: The Teifi Valley Coroner historical crime series, featuring Harry Probert Lloyd and John Davies. Published by Freight Books 2017, due for reissue by The Dome Press October 2018
Trilogy: The first of the Black Death trilogy, The Black and The White, coming soon from Sapere Books (summer 2018).
Standalone: Testament – previously published by PanMacmillan, soon for reissue by Sapere Books (summer 2018).
You can find more on Alis and her writing on her website (see link below) on Facebook - Alis Hawkins Author - and on Twitter (see link below)
Series: The Teifi Valley Coroner historical crime series, featuring Harry Probert Lloyd and John Davies. Published by Freight Books 2017, due for reissue by The Dome Press October 2018
Trilogy: The first of the Black Death trilogy, The Black and The White, coming soon from Sapere Books (summer 2018).
Standalone: Testament – previously published by PanMacmillan, soon for reissue by Sapere Books (summer 2018).
You can find more on Alis and her writing on her website (see link below) on Facebook - Alis Hawkins Author - and on Twitter (see link below)
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July 24, 2023Really torn on this one. It's a well researched, well constructed, well written murder mystery with fascinating details about a weird sexuality-related Victorian thing (patent medicines and the invented disease of spermatorrhea, fascinating) *and* a strong feminist angry streak and a queer second main character, all of which is directly tailored for me. And yet I didn't get on with it. Never happy, that's my problem.
I think the issue was the heroine Non is one-note angry in what I found a frustrating way. Obviously the gross sexism of Oxford is wrong, but that can't have come as a surprise to a woman of the time, whereas Non reacts with the constant hot rage a time-travelling 21st century woman might bring to the situation (which the book clearly shows to be practically counterproductive). It just didn't feel entirely plausible. I think in part it's because there's nothing else to her. She's at Oxford because of her love of philology and the Welsh language, but we never see that in action, and she has no female student friends (because all the other women fighting the patriarchy to study at Oxford are simpering girlies, apparently), and I felt we needed to see a side of her that wasn't raging at the machine.
Judging by the reviews, I'm in a total minority on this one, and anyone who likes historical murder should definitely read the preview: Non is pretty consistent throughout so if you like the voice, you'll love this. It's a well developed mystery with good twists and the setting is terrifically realised.
I think the issue was the heroine Non is one-note angry in what I found a frustrating way. Obviously the gross sexism of Oxford is wrong, but that can't have come as a surprise to a woman of the time, whereas Non reacts with the constant hot rage a time-travelling 21st century woman might bring to the situation (which the book clearly shows to be practically counterproductive). It just didn't feel entirely plausible. I think in part it's because there's nothing else to her. She's at Oxford because of her love of philology and the Welsh language, but we never see that in action, and she has no female student friends (because all the other women fighting the patriarchy to study at Oxford are simpering girlies, apparently), and I felt we needed to see a side of her that wasn't raging at the machine.
Judging by the reviews, I'm in a total minority on this one, and anyone who likes historical murder should definitely read the preview: Non is pretty consistent throughout so if you like the voice, you'll love this. It's a well developed mystery with good twists and the setting is terrifically realised.
February 18, 2023
When I run across a truly interesting historical mystery, I stop paying attention to almost everything else, and A Bitter Remedy, by Alis Hawkins, is most definitely interesting.
Set during the 1880s, when Oxford University allowed women to attend lectures with permission of the instructor—but not to enroll in classes or earn degrees—A Bitter Remedy allows us to view those times through the perspectives of multiple individuals, many of whom were vulnerable within the patriarchal structure of the University because of their gender and/or sexual orientation. A Bitter Remedy features two narrators (who alternate chapters).
First, Non (short for Rhiannon), who has had quite an unusual upbringing and is aware of her own exceptional intelligence, attends lectures as allowed. Non is regularly incensed by by both the ignorance and the privilege of the men who are the "real" students at Oxford.
Second, Basil, a Don in his thirties who's facing the loss of a longtime lover (at least that's how Basil has been seeing things) and an ongoing effort to hide his homosexuality.
Other characters, many of them drawn from history, include
• The women and men of the AEW, the Association for Education of Women, which has been waging a long, piecemeal battle to allow women entrance into higher education and whose struggle for educational equity is frequently shaped by their desire to seem unthreatening to men.
• Annie Rogers, a historical figure, who in 1873 managed to sit both junior and senior exams at Oxford without revealing her gender. She earned the top score on both exams, which would have earned a scholarship for a man, but was shunted aside, with the academic support going to the men who had scored below her. She has since suppressed her iconoclasm in order to work in more conservative ways with the AEW.
• Basil's former lover, who never viewed their relationship as more than "fun," and has decided it is time to move to London for a more interesting teaching position and to find a wife, begin producing children, and generally conform to heteronormative standards.
• Lewis Carroll (yes, that one), who has long had a correspondence with Non about cryptography and has founded a puzzle club to mark her arrival at Oxford, but who still can't understand why Non would want anything other than a life of domesticity when she's done attending lectures.
• John Rhys, another historical figure, the first professor of Celtic at Oxford, whose books on the Welsh Language have inspired Non's move to Oxford.
Sidney Parker, an unhappy Oxford student and tutee of Basil, who has never fit in well at Oxford and has been allowed to live off-campus in an exception to university policy, is found dead, and most people are more than happy to call his death natural in order to avoid scandal. But neither Non nor Basil share this view and begin investigating.
I don't want to say more about the plot in order to avoid spoilers, but let me assure you that Hawkins has created a mystery that is worthy of her cast of characters. Fans of historical mysteries, those interested in the histories of women's education and gay identity, who have a soft spot for Carroll, or have followed the history of language use in Britain (with the imposition of English as the dominant language and the denigrating of other languages, including Welsh), are going to find A Bitter Remedy a delightful read. The publishers have made it clear that A Bitter Remedy is the first novel in what will be an ongoing series, which leaves me feeling celebratory and eager for more.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
Set during the 1880s, when Oxford University allowed women to attend lectures with permission of the instructor—but not to enroll in classes or earn degrees—A Bitter Remedy allows us to view those times through the perspectives of multiple individuals, many of whom were vulnerable within the patriarchal structure of the University because of their gender and/or sexual orientation. A Bitter Remedy features two narrators (who alternate chapters).
First, Non (short for Rhiannon), who has had quite an unusual upbringing and is aware of her own exceptional intelligence, attends lectures as allowed. Non is regularly incensed by by both the ignorance and the privilege of the men who are the "real" students at Oxford.
Second, Basil, a Don in his thirties who's facing the loss of a longtime lover (at least that's how Basil has been seeing things) and an ongoing effort to hide his homosexuality.
Other characters, many of them drawn from history, include
• The women and men of the AEW, the Association for Education of Women, which has been waging a long, piecemeal battle to allow women entrance into higher education and whose struggle for educational equity is frequently shaped by their desire to seem unthreatening to men.
• Annie Rogers, a historical figure, who in 1873 managed to sit both junior and senior exams at Oxford without revealing her gender. She earned the top score on both exams, which would have earned a scholarship for a man, but was shunted aside, with the academic support going to the men who had scored below her. She has since suppressed her iconoclasm in order to work in more conservative ways with the AEW.
• Basil's former lover, who never viewed their relationship as more than "fun," and has decided it is time to move to London for a more interesting teaching position and to find a wife, begin producing children, and generally conform to heteronormative standards.
• Lewis Carroll (yes, that one), who has long had a correspondence with Non about cryptography and has founded a puzzle club to mark her arrival at Oxford, but who still can't understand why Non would want anything other than a life of domesticity when she's done attending lectures.
• John Rhys, another historical figure, the first professor of Celtic at Oxford, whose books on the Welsh Language have inspired Non's move to Oxford.
Sidney Parker, an unhappy Oxford student and tutee of Basil, who has never fit in well at Oxford and has been allowed to live off-campus in an exception to university policy, is found dead, and most people are more than happy to call his death natural in order to avoid scandal. But neither Non nor Basil share this view and begin investigating.
I don't want to say more about the plot in order to avoid spoilers, but let me assure you that Hawkins has created a mystery that is worthy of her cast of characters. Fans of historical mysteries, those interested in the histories of women's education and gay identity, who have a soft spot for Carroll, or have followed the history of language use in Britain (with the imposition of English as the dominant language and the denigrating of other languages, including Welsh), are going to find A Bitter Remedy a delightful read. The publishers have made it clear that A Bitter Remedy is the first novel in what will be an ongoing series, which leaves me feeling celebratory and eager for more.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
March 23, 2023
I love historical mysteries. My favourite has to be The Lost Apothecary, just to give you an idea of my tastes.
I really enjoyed this, I was gripped from the start and couldn't wait to get back to it.
The characters were so intriguing, and the setting of Victorian Oxford was brilliantly written. I love books set in this time period, and this was my favourite element.
I was frustrated at times with the handling of the crime, I still enjoyed the pacing of the plot and the book as a whole. I look forward to the next book!
I really enjoyed this, I was gripped from the start and couldn't wait to get back to it.
The characters were so intriguing, and the setting of Victorian Oxford was brilliantly written. I love books set in this time period, and this was my favourite element.
I was frustrated at times with the handling of the crime, I still enjoyed the pacing of the plot and the book as a whole. I look forward to the next book!
September 15, 2023
This was a good historical mystery. Sadly my enjoyment was marred by the intensely irritating main character. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
March 3, 2023
Look, I tried. I swear I tried, but I ended up DNF this at like 50% and then skipped till the end to see how they solved the mystery. I don´t think it was particularly my problem because I love historial fiction and I love mystery thrillers. But this book didn´t work for me for a number of reasons:
- Non, the female main character, is TOTALLY annoying. I found imppossible to empatize with her and her attitude of "I´m the smartest in the room and no one can compare, also, you´re all idiots because you don´t do things or think like I do". She was always speaking and making assumptions out of turn or without real proof (btw, how did she know Sidney was killed instantly? No one even sugested the death was suspicious when they told Basil and yet there she jumped saying she wanted to know / help). I spent all the time reading wanting to just get rid of her.
- Basil was a bit better, but didn´t click as he should. I don´t know if I was the only one, but he gave me vibes of secondary character with no personality (no, seriously, if Non was too opinionated, I felt Basil had absolutely no opinion at all; it´s a matter that he´s not confrontational, it´s a matter that he didn´t seem to think anything in particular in the chapters he narrated. As if he were just there to accompany Non and little else).
- The investigation was... Wow. Is this allowed? They move the corpse however they like, the police is like doesn´t exist (cause they never get called), they call amateurs to investigate (I still don´t get why they talked with Basil first) and the suspects go and talk without a care of who´s interrogating them (even thought all that talk of poor Sidney and poor prestigious college, and oh, my reputation). It like, dude, you´re even more sus. The dialogues in a lot of parts didn´t feel natural.
They spent more time trying to convince someone to examine the body and trying to find the cause of death than actually investigating the whole murder. I got bored along the way because in the middle of all that there was a lot of chapters of Non trying to act clever and telling how she was connected to famous / important people.
And even though Basil´s chapters helped to give me a rest of that nonsense, it wasn´t enough to keep me interested. So yep, that´s it, that´s my review. I´m not going to comment about how they solved the mystery because it´s a spoiler, though I was dissappointed in that as well.
I might still be interested in reading more of this author (because I saw she has other thrillers that look better), but I´m definitely not reading this particular series again.
- Non, the female main character, is TOTALLY annoying. I found imppossible to empatize with her and her attitude of "I´m the smartest in the room and no one can compare, also, you´re all idiots because you don´t do things or think like I do". She was always speaking and making assumptions out of turn or without real proof (btw, how did she know Sidney was killed instantly? No one even sugested the death was suspicious when they told Basil and yet there she jumped saying she wanted to know / help). I spent all the time reading wanting to just get rid of her.
- Basil was a bit better, but didn´t click as he should. I don´t know if I was the only one, but he gave me vibes of secondary character with no personality (no, seriously, if Non was too opinionated, I felt Basil had absolutely no opinion at all; it´s a matter that he´s not confrontational, it´s a matter that he didn´t seem to think anything in particular in the chapters he narrated. As if he were just there to accompany Non and little else).
- The investigation was... Wow. Is this allowed? They move the corpse however they like, the police is like doesn´t exist (cause they never get called), they call amateurs to investigate (I still don´t get why they talked with Basil first) and the suspects go and talk without a care of who´s interrogating them (even thought all that talk of poor Sidney and poor prestigious college, and oh, my reputation). It like, dude, you´re even more sus. The dialogues in a lot of parts didn´t feel natural.
They spent more time trying to convince someone to examine the body and trying to find the cause of death than actually investigating the whole murder. I got bored along the way because in the middle of all that there was a lot of chapters of Non trying to act clever and telling how she was connected to famous / important people.
And even though Basil´s chapters helped to give me a rest of that nonsense, it wasn´t enough to keep me interested. So yep, that´s it, that´s my review. I´m not going to comment about how they solved the mystery because it´s a spoiler, though I was dissappointed in that as well.
I might still be interested in reading more of this author (because I saw she has other thrillers that look better), but I´m definitely not reading this particular series again.
June 1, 2023
This was an interesting historical fiction murder mystery that kept me company during my rainy weekend. I enjoyed reading this first installment of the Oxford Mysteries series and would love to read the next ones too. It's a story about two main characters, an intelligent, anxious Jesus College fellow with a big secret, Rhiannon “Non” Vaughan, a bold, intelligent, straightforward, unwavering young Welsh woman that is a new student in the university lectures at Jesus College. They both go through a few "adventures" to investigate the death of an undergraduate.
It is a multi-layered story, with twists, turns, and a few surprises that kept me reading forward.
It was also interesting that the story is historically accurate with time, places, and people.
It is a multi-layered story, with twists, turns, and a few surprises that kept me reading forward.
It was also interesting that the story is historically accurate with time, places, and people.
February 27, 2023
This is the first in a planned series, for which I thank the gods of reading; further, I implore said gods to speed the writing and publication of the next installment as far as divine power can manage.
Rhiannon -- Non -- and Basil, who take turns narrating, make an unusual mystery-solving team in several ways. For one thing, Basil is an invert so we can expect to be spared any slow-burn romance between them. For another, their friendship is complicated by their social situations: Basil is an Oxford don, while Non is a student of linguistics and a skilled amateur cryptologist at a time when women are just barely being allowed to dip their toes into university education. Basil, having just been dumped by his longtime lover, believes there's nothing for him in life but Oxford, and his consequent institutional loyalties sometimes place his interests at odds with Non's feminism and her anger at the limits set to women's achievement. He's also just the slightest touch priggish, so he's startled by Non's matter-of-factness about such things as the nonexistent disease of spermatorrhoea, spiked cock rings intended to prevent erections, and dead bodies in coal cellars.
The medical details here are gruesome -- fascinating and/or horrifying and/or offputting, depending on your tolerance for, well, grue. The murder victim has been torturing himself with various remedies for his spermatorrhoea; he also turns out to have suffered from some actual illnesses that would have made him plenty miserable even if he didn't feel it necessary to wear a spiked cock ring. (None of this really amounts to a spoiler, I promise.) So, fair warning that for some passages it helps to have a strong stomach -- though, since Bitter Remedy is a murder mystery, perhaps that shouldn't come as a huge shock.
I have two nits to pick: 1. "Rev" really should be spelled out. 2. Even I don't fuss editorially over the "like"/"as" distinction except in the most formal writing, but given the period setting, Non, Basil, and most of the secondary characters would have observed it. Such a small detail, but it's the kind that, if you notice it, will throw you just that wee bit out of the story every time.
This was an enormous amount of fun. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, and I'm looking forward to the next installment. (For one thing, ...)
Rhiannon -- Non -- and Basil, who take turns narrating, make an unusual mystery-solving team in several ways. For one thing, Basil is an invert so we can expect to be spared any slow-burn romance between them. For another, their friendship is complicated by their social situations: Basil is an Oxford don, while Non is a student of linguistics and a skilled amateur cryptologist at a time when women are just barely being allowed to dip their toes into university education. Basil, having just been dumped by his longtime lover, believes there's nothing for him in life but Oxford, and his consequent institutional loyalties sometimes place his interests at odds with Non's feminism and her anger at the limits set to women's achievement. He's also just the slightest touch priggish, so he's startled by Non's matter-of-factness about such things as the nonexistent disease of spermatorrhoea, spiked cock rings intended to prevent erections, and dead bodies in coal cellars.
The medical details here are gruesome -- fascinating and/or horrifying and/or offputting, depending on your tolerance for, well, grue. The murder victim has been torturing himself with various remedies for his spermatorrhoea; he also turns out to have suffered from some actual illnesses that would have made him plenty miserable even if he didn't feel it necessary to wear a spiked cock ring. (None of this really amounts to a spoiler, I promise.) So, fair warning that for some passages it helps to have a strong stomach -- though, since Bitter Remedy is a murder mystery, perhaps that shouldn't come as a huge shock.
I have two nits to pick: 1. "Rev" really should be spelled out. 2. Even I don't fuss editorially over the "like"/"as" distinction except in the most formal writing, but given the period setting, Non, Basil, and most of the secondary characters would have observed it. Such a small detail, but it's the kind that, if you notice it, will throw you just that wee bit out of the story every time.
This was an enormous amount of fun. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, and I'm looking forward to the next installment. (For one thing, ...)
July 29, 2025
This was a fun read, a murder mystery with a thoroughly determined young woman at the heart of the investigation. A young man is discovered dead in his boarding house and it is discovered that he has some very unusual items on his person. The investigation into his death is nicely twisty and convoluted, and thoroughly engaging.
I’m keen to read more from this author and I hope this is the first of a series.
I’m keen to read more from this author and I hope this is the first of a series.
May 20, 2023
I tried, oh I tried, to like this book but I just hated the main character so much I couldn’t finish it.
For a woman of her time, I found her unbelievable: the way she talked to people, the way she jumped into conversations, the way she assumed something bad had happened to the dead student without knowing anything about it etc. was just too much. Even today, for a person of any gender to talk to others as she did, would be unacceptable. And what was the point of Basil’s chapters? Apart from the fact he could go to places that Non couldn’t and so advance the story that way?
So I abandoned it.
For a woman of her time, I found her unbelievable: the way she talked to people, the way she jumped into conversations, the way she assumed something bad had happened to the dead student without knowing anything about it etc. was just too much. Even today, for a person of any gender to talk to others as she did, would be unacceptable. And what was the point of Basil’s chapters? Apart from the fact he could go to places that Non couldn’t and so advance the story that way?
So I abandoned it.
April 17, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF-20%
From looking at most of the other reviews, it looks like I'm in the minority on this one, but the others who didn't enjoy this story didn't enjoy it for the same reasons as me. I found this incredibly difficult to get into and the main character was very grating to read. I figured instead of investing a lot of time hoping it would get better, I decided to cut my losses and move on to a different book.
DNF-20%
From looking at most of the other reviews, it looks like I'm in the minority on this one, but the others who didn't enjoy this story didn't enjoy it for the same reasons as me. I found this incredibly difficult to get into and the main character was very grating to read. I figured instead of investing a lot of time hoping it would get better, I decided to cut my losses and move on to a different book.
April 8, 2024
Oxford 1881, & Rhiannon (Non) Vaughan is one of the first female students allowed to attend lectures at the university, although they are not yet allowed to sit the exams. Non had an unconventional upbringing as the daughter of a ship's Captain, & she chafes under the expectations that women have to avoid showing that they are just as capable of academic study as the men, & that they are just attending in order to 'catch a husband'.
When an undergraduate called Sidney Parker is found dead in his bed at his lodgings, the university becomes involved with the investigation. Non's offers of help are firmly rebuffed by the Dean but she is not one to give up easily. Via her friendship with lecturer Basil Rice, Non launches her own investigation into Parker's death, but Rice is struggling with losing Teddy, the man he has been in love with for several years, as Teddy is determined to now marry & have a family.
The narrative is told from both both Non's & Basil's point of view in alternating chapters. The characters are interesting in that they both have to hide their true selves in order to navigate the halls of Oxford, but whilst Non is a bit of a spitfire, Basil is rather apathetic until near the end. I see that some reviewers found Non to be a divisive character, but I probably would have acted in pretty much the same way at that age when it came to butting up against the misogyny of Oxford. The mystery itself came close to stalling a couple of times but it picked up again. Overall, I rather enjoyed reading it & I have the next in the series to read shortly. 3.5 stars (rounded up )
When an undergraduate called Sidney Parker is found dead in his bed at his lodgings, the university becomes involved with the investigation. Non's offers of help are firmly rebuffed by the Dean but she is not one to give up easily. Via her friendship with lecturer Basil Rice, Non launches her own investigation into Parker's death, but Rice is struggling with losing Teddy, the man he has been in love with for several years, as Teddy is determined to now marry & have a family.
The narrative is told from both both Non's & Basil's point of view in alternating chapters. The characters are interesting in that they both have to hide their true selves in order to navigate the halls of Oxford, but whilst Non is a bit of a spitfire, Basil is rather apathetic until near the end. I see that some reviewers found Non to be a divisive character, but I probably would have acted in pretty much the same way at that age when it came to butting up against the misogyny of Oxford. The mystery itself came close to stalling a couple of times but it picked up again. Overall, I rather enjoyed reading it & I have the next in the series to read shortly. 3.5 stars (rounded up )
May 15, 2023
A Bitter Remedy is an historical fiction written by Alis Hawkins whose Teifi Valley Coroner series I really enjoyed. A Bitter Remedy is the first in her new Oxford Mysteries series.
It is written in the same manner as the Teifi Valley Coroner books in that it is told in an alternating manner between two main characters, in this case, Basil, an Oxford Jesus College fellow, and Rhiannon (Non), a highly intelligent and independent young woman attending Oxford lectures without the benefit of being allowed to take exams or obtain a degree.
The only negative I have is Non. Yes, she's a polymath, but, my goodness, she is lacking social skills and the ability to self-regulate. The story does provide somewhat of an explanation for this, but not enough to save her from being seen as incredibly irritating.
Other than that, it's a good story about the death of Sidney Parker, an Oxford student, how he died (was it natural causes or something more sinister?), and the search for the truth.
It is written in the same manner as the Teifi Valley Coroner books in that it is told in an alternating manner between two main characters, in this case, Basil, an Oxford Jesus College fellow, and Rhiannon (Non), a highly intelligent and independent young woman attending Oxford lectures without the benefit of being allowed to take exams or obtain a degree.
The only negative I have is Non. Yes, she's a polymath, but, my goodness, she is lacking social skills and the ability to self-regulate. The story does provide somewhat of an explanation for this, but not enough to save her from being seen as incredibly irritating.
Other than that, it's a good story about the death of Sidney Parker, an Oxford student, how he died (was it natural causes or something more sinister?), and the search for the truth.
December 8, 2023
Rhiannon Vaughan is a Welsh woman who is allowed to "sit in" on lectures at Jesus College, Oxford, in 1880's Victorian England, where gender roles are rigidly enforced. "Non" doesn't want to follow traditional gender roles, and chafes at the sexism pervasive at Oxford. She is barred from attending lectures for the rest of the semester after an unpleasant interaction w/ a sexist undergrad at the cipher club hosted by mathematician Charles Dodson (aka Lewis Carroll).
When a different undergrad dies in mysterious circumstances, his lecturer, Basil Rice, is asked to look into his cause of death, to keep it from reflecting upon Jesus College. Since Non had met the unfortunate undergrad, and Basil is also her friend as well as an Oxford don, Non can't keep her nose out of the "investigation," and proves instrumental in its solution. I loved that the death involved patent remedies so over-available at the time! I was really proud of myself for knowing the identity of the "poison" in the patent remedy. (Yay, pharmacy school!)
The reader has to get used to the POV switching back-and-forth from Non's to Basil's from chapter to chapter. The novel started out great w/ the sexist interaction, but then slowed to a crawl until the exciting resolution of the mystery of the undergrad's death. It was SO S-L-O-W!! And I could barely handle the sexism. So only 3 stars, and I won't be reading any of the sequels.
When a different undergrad dies in mysterious circumstances, his lecturer, Basil Rice, is asked to look into his cause of death, to keep it from reflecting upon Jesus College. Since Non had met the unfortunate undergrad, and Basil is also her friend as well as an Oxford don, Non can't keep her nose out of the "investigation," and proves instrumental in its solution. I loved that the death involved patent remedies so over-available at the time! I was really proud of myself for knowing the identity of the "poison" in the patent remedy. (Yay, pharmacy school!)
The reader has to get used to the POV switching back-and-forth from Non's to Basil's from chapter to chapter. The novel started out great w/ the sexist interaction, but then slowed to a crawl until the exciting resolution of the mystery of the undergrad's death. It was SO S-L-O-W!! And I could barely handle the sexism. So only 3 stars, and I won't be reading any of the sequels.
March 9, 2023
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
3.5* rounded down. This features Non, who is studying in Oxford, but as a woman in 1881 is not allowed to say she is studying at Oxford, or take the same exams as the men, or get a degree, or go anywhere without a chaperone. This is (naturally) frustrating for her, but the book does harp on about it repeatedly and at greater length than I would have liked. It also features Basil, a don, who is charged with keeping the lid on any scandal surrounding the death of one of his students, Sidney Parker. The mystery surrounding Sidney's death is quite interesting, although again the book does harp on (repeatedly and at length) about a fictitious medical condition I won't attempt to spell, which young men are being sold spurious remedies for. Non and Basil solve the murder although Non (of course) gets no credit for all the things she finds out because she is a woman (see above).
I thought the writing was good, except that Non's chapters and Basil's chapters sounded exactly the same - if I hadn't checked the chapter headings, I would only have been able to tell who was narrating from the context.
Enjoyable in a cozy sort of way.
3.5* rounded down. This features Non, who is studying in Oxford, but as a woman in 1881 is not allowed to say she is studying at Oxford, or take the same exams as the men, or get a degree, or go anywhere without a chaperone. This is (naturally) frustrating for her, but the book does harp on about it repeatedly and at greater length than I would have liked. It also features Basil, a don, who is charged with keeping the lid on any scandal surrounding the death of one of his students, Sidney Parker. The mystery surrounding Sidney's death is quite interesting, although again the book does harp on (repeatedly and at length) about a fictitious medical condition I won't attempt to spell, which young men are being sold spurious remedies for. Non and Basil solve the murder although Non (of course) gets no credit for all the things she finds out because she is a woman (see above).
I thought the writing was good, except that Non's chapters and Basil's chapters sounded exactly the same - if I hadn't checked the chapter headings, I would only have been able to tell who was narrating from the context.
Enjoyable in a cozy sort of way.
September 3, 2025
He'll think the nay-sayers are right and female students are all man-haters
The main issue with A Bitter Remedy is that Non(main character) is not credible in the historical context. See the phrase above and tell me if a lady in her late teens, early twenties in 1881 would have ever said anything like it?! I don't think so. Even if she would have had similar thoughts, I really don't think the language used would have been the one above. So from a historical point of view Non and the dialogues ring rather wrong. But if you are willing( unbothered) to put up with it, the mystery itself is just brilliant. I thoroughly loved the narrative surrounding Sidney Parker's death and consequent investigation into his demise. As a murder mystery, A Bitter Remedy is juicy and well paced, full of historical elements that would satisfy a history buff and not only!
*Book read on ThePigeonhole with many thanks for the opportunity!
The main issue with A Bitter Remedy is that Non(main character) is not credible in the historical context. See the phrase above and tell me if a lady in her late teens, early twenties in 1881 would have ever said anything like it?! I don't think so. Even if she would have had similar thoughts, I really don't think the language used would have been the one above. So from a historical point of view Non and the dialogues ring rather wrong. But if you are willing( unbothered) to put up with it, the mystery itself is just brilliant. I thoroughly loved the narrative surrounding Sidney Parker's death and consequent investigation into his demise. As a murder mystery, A Bitter Remedy is juicy and well paced, full of historical elements that would satisfy a history buff and not only!
*Book read on ThePigeonhole with many thanks for the opportunity!
Read
September 24, 2023DNF
One of the main characters 'Non' (there's two) was getting on my nerves.
I love historical fiction, but this is not for me.
One of the main characters 'Non' (there's two) was getting on my nerves.
I love historical fiction, but this is not for me.
April 4, 2024
I read this as part of Pigeonhole's interactive book club and had a blast. It was so fun reading along and leaving comments throughout. As a fan of historical fiction, this was great. The period details of Oxford were amazing and really added to the drama and intrigue of the story.
Non and Basil were both great protagonists – I admit I preferred Basil a little but only because I am very much drawn to queer historical characters, and his sexuality was subtly but wonderfully handled. Non is very fiery, very entertaining, and totally not afraid of standing up to the sexism of the time. Her perspective gave new insights into the ugly and brutal murder case that was unfolding at Oxford. I was hooked on all of the twists and turns, with each character not being as they seemed. The short chapters were snappy and engaging and kept me wanting to read more.
And bonus points for having a high speed tandem chase at the end, loved that!
Non and Basil were both great protagonists – I admit I preferred Basil a little but only because I am very much drawn to queer historical characters, and his sexuality was subtly but wonderfully handled. Non is very fiery, very entertaining, and totally not afraid of standing up to the sexism of the time. Her perspective gave new insights into the ugly and brutal murder case that was unfolding at Oxford. I was hooked on all of the twists and turns, with each character not being as they seemed. The short chapters were snappy and engaging and kept me wanting to read more.
And bonus points for having a high speed tandem chase at the end, loved that!
April 4, 2024
This is the first book in the Oxford Mysteries set during the Victorian era. An undergraduate is found dead in his own bed and upon being examined, there are some unusual discoveries. Basil Rice, a Jesus college fellow, and ‘Non’ Vaughan, a Welsh female student newly permitted to attend lectures, team up to investigate.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s beautifully written and well researched. I loved the setting, it was very visual. I particularly loved the addition of a tandem tricycle - it made me smile every time it was mentioned and I could easily imagine Non pedalling around the streets of Oxford, sometimes at rather high speeds giving chase to nefarious individuals! Non was a fantastic character, she was a brilliant model for women’s rights at that particular time. Feisty and non-conformist. It’s written via way of two narrators, Non and Basil, another fascinating character who had his own secret. Each had their own unique, easily identifiable voice. I read this via the Pigeonhole app, one stave a day over ten days. I was gripped from beginning to end and couldn’t wait to ‘tune’ in to read each episode. I can highly recommend it to both historical fiction and mystery fans. I’m now looking forward to reading the second book, The Skeleton Army.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s beautifully written and well researched. I loved the setting, it was very visual. I particularly loved the addition of a tandem tricycle - it made me smile every time it was mentioned and I could easily imagine Non pedalling around the streets of Oxford, sometimes at rather high speeds giving chase to nefarious individuals! Non was a fantastic character, she was a brilliant model for women’s rights at that particular time. Feisty and non-conformist. It’s written via way of two narrators, Non and Basil, another fascinating character who had his own secret. Each had their own unique, easily identifiable voice. I read this via the Pigeonhole app, one stave a day over ten days. I was gripped from beginning to end and couldn’t wait to ‘tune’ in to read each episode. I can highly recommend it to both historical fiction and mystery fans. I’m now looking forward to reading the second book, The Skeleton Army.
September 9, 2025
I did not care for the heroine, Rhiannon from Wales at all early in the book. She had come to Oxford in 1881 to study and demonstrate that she was at least as clever as any young undergraduate - all male of course at the time. Consumed with rage early in the book, at the university’s refusal to allow women to sit exams, go where they pleased, say what they wanted. She gets caught up in the investigation into the death of a Jesus college undergraduate in company with a Jesus tutor and a Corpus Christie undergraduate. The plot is exciting, dangerous and satisfying, Non begins to mellow and start to become more diplomatic and put the needs of the campaign for women’s entry into the university before her own rage and despair. I really enjoyed it, and look forward to the next in the series.
March 28, 2023
Two of my favourite genres are theillers/mysteries and historical fiction and this blended the two seamlessly.
It is well written with a well developed cast of characters that all bring something to the table and a compelling and intriguing storyline that had me hooked from the very start until the very end.
This was a gripping and unpredictable read that was so easy to envisage as I was reading. The murky and depraved streets of Oxford in the Victorian Era were brought to life on the pages. It is an era I am fascinated by but would hate to live in.
I really enjoyed it
It is well written with a well developed cast of characters that all bring something to the table and a compelling and intriguing storyline that had me hooked from the very start until the very end.
This was a gripping and unpredictable read that was so easy to envisage as I was reading. The murky and depraved streets of Oxford in the Victorian Era were brought to life on the pages. It is an era I am fascinated by but would hate to live in.
I really enjoyed it
September 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this Victorian thriller. You get a real sense of Oxford in 1881, even Charles Ludwig Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) makes an appearance. As to the strange world of patent medicines and male illnesses, let's just say reality is often weirder than fiction! If you love Wilkie Collins you'll love this. Great characters, great plot and I look forward to more in this series.
May 11, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this book largely for the fantastic bold young female intellectual protagonist. Set in the late 19th century in Oxford when women still could not be a student of the University there, Rhiannon is a 3d female character and there's an interesting murder mystery to boot plus a good dose if historical details. Jolly Good Read.
I listened on borrowbox. .
I listened on borrowbox. .
October 1, 2023
Twisty, turny and atmospheric, I really enjoyed this murder mystery set in Victorian Oxford and told through the eyes of a female student and a sympathetic male lecturer.
February 21, 2024
It's 1881, and the setting of this mystery is Jesus College at Oxford. Author Alis Hawkins populates her story with real and fictional people, as well as introducing me to some truly weird, wacky, ill-informed and even dangerous tonics and other "cures" for sexual and other complaints.
The two protagonists in this Victorian mystery are Rhiannon Vaughan and Basil Rice.
Rhiannon 'Non' Vaughan is one of only a few women who are allowed to attend lectures at Jesus College. The women are under a number of constraints, but Non is there regardless. She is constantly chaperoned by Lily Maddox, and is under the guidance of the Association for Education of Women (AEW), who hope that the women currently at the college can, through their behaviour and manners, essentially open the door for others.
Non is of Welsh descent, and wants to learn what she can from a Welsh professor in Jesus and return home to teach and widen appreciation for her language. She also knows Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), with whom she's been corresponding for years about cyphers.
Non is frequently incensed by the restrictions she finds herself under, which is so different from the life she lived with her sea captain father. Non is censured repeatedly, by the College Principal Dr. Harper and the AEW, and frets, fumes and yells about her situation frequently. She also has more or less nonstop internal conversations/arguments with her deaf twin Hara, who died at the age of six.
Basil Rice is a don, who teaches Greek drama, and also has a secret relationship with a local surgeon. Basil is devastated when Tommy informs him that he'll be leaving for London to get married.
Basil is forced by Dr. Harper to investigate the death of one of Basil's students, and quickly resolve the matter to prevent any stain on the College's reputation.
Even while Basil pursues his own line of inquiry, Non is pulled into the matter through her chaperone Lily, who knows the dead student's landlady. Non notes various details, and begins asking questions of other students.
The two end up collaborating, and rope in one of the students Non has found helpful,. The three discover the complicated life the dead student lived, as well as his connections, including the exploitative relationship he had with his guardian, and the various illnesses, real or imaginary, that the young man suffered from.
Basil and Non learn that there is much more going on in the College and Oxford than either anticipated, but they do solve the mystery.
I enjoyed this dark story, and appreciated all the interesting historical details woven in so well by the author. I think that Basil has good potential as a character and investigator, and Non does too, particularly if she discovers a way to manage her temper, which causes her more trouble than she needs. A little subtlety, and maybe taking a few deep breaths when dealing with the many irritants around her in the next instalment , which I'm eager to read, would be great.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Canelo for this ARC in exchange for my review.
The two protagonists in this Victorian mystery are Rhiannon Vaughan and Basil Rice.
Rhiannon 'Non' Vaughan is one of only a few women who are allowed to attend lectures at Jesus College. The women are under a number of constraints, but Non is there regardless. She is constantly chaperoned by Lily Maddox, and is under the guidance of the Association for Education of Women (AEW), who hope that the women currently at the college can, through their behaviour and manners, essentially open the door for others.
Non is of Welsh descent, and wants to learn what she can from a Welsh professor in Jesus and return home to teach and widen appreciation for her language. She also knows Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), with whom she's been corresponding for years about cyphers.
Non is frequently incensed by the restrictions she finds herself under, which is so different from the life she lived with her sea captain father. Non is censured repeatedly, by the College Principal Dr. Harper and the AEW, and frets, fumes and yells about her situation frequently. She also has more or less nonstop internal conversations/arguments with her deaf twin Hara, who died at the age of six.
Basil Rice is a don, who teaches Greek drama, and also has a secret relationship with a local surgeon. Basil is devastated when Tommy informs him that he'll be leaving for London to get married.
Basil is forced by Dr. Harper to investigate the death of one of Basil's students, and quickly resolve the matter to prevent any stain on the College's reputation.
Even while Basil pursues his own line of inquiry, Non is pulled into the matter through her chaperone Lily, who knows the dead student's landlady. Non notes various details, and begins asking questions of other students.
The two end up collaborating, and rope in one of the students Non has found helpful,. The three discover the complicated life the dead student lived, as well as his connections, including the exploitative relationship he had with his guardian, and the various illnesses, real or imaginary, that the young man suffered from.
Basil and Non learn that there is much more going on in the College and Oxford than either anticipated, but they do solve the mystery.
I enjoyed this dark story, and appreciated all the interesting historical details woven in so well by the author. I think that Basil has good potential as a character and investigator, and Non does too, particularly if she discovers a way to manage her temper, which causes her more trouble than she needs. A little subtlety, and maybe taking a few deep breaths when dealing with the many irritants around her in the next instalment , which I'm eager to read, would be great.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Canelo for this ARC in exchange for my review.
March 24, 2023
Many thanks to Canelo, Netgalley and Alis Hawkins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let me begin by telling you this was 100% my first experience of cosy crime ficition. I don't think I can adequately describe the sensation other than to say that Hawkin's writing feels like a hug!
Let's get to it:
- I love dual POV but even more so when they are two very distinct and different characters. Hawkins has a real talent when it comes to bringing out the voices of Basil and Non; the way they think, speak and process information is different and I adore this attention to detail.
- The setting - we really get two different settings, and I mean this in the sense that we have Basil's Oxford and Non's Oxford and as a reader we see how much of an advantage Basil has compared to the lengths at which Non has to go to, to have a fraction of the same experience.
- A famous face pops up during the book and I found this rooted the book further into the time period and gave it an air of authenticity!
- The time period is a really interesting era; Oxford are in the early years of accepting women but there's still a long way to go.
- The focus on the lesser known (and equally as fabricated) condition that afflicts men in the same way that Hysteria apparently afflicted women. I hadn't previously known about this at all so it was both fascinating and educational!
- The rapport between Non and Basil, but also an honourary mention goes to Tarley Askew who is the definition of a golden retriever masquerading as a human being. I loved him!
Easily Five stars!
Let me begin by telling you this was 100% my first experience of cosy crime ficition. I don't think I can adequately describe the sensation other than to say that Hawkin's writing feels like a hug!
Let's get to it:
- I love dual POV but even more so when they are two very distinct and different characters. Hawkins has a real talent when it comes to bringing out the voices of Basil and Non; the way they think, speak and process information is different and I adore this attention to detail.
- The setting - we really get two different settings, and I mean this in the sense that we have Basil's Oxford and Non's Oxford and as a reader we see how much of an advantage Basil has compared to the lengths at which Non has to go to, to have a fraction of the same experience.
- A famous face pops up during the book and I found this rooted the book further into the time period and gave it an air of authenticity!
- The time period is a really interesting era; Oxford are in the early years of accepting women but there's still a long way to go.
- The focus on the lesser known (and equally as fabricated) condition that afflicts men in the same way that Hysteria apparently afflicted women. I hadn't previously known about this at all so it was both fascinating and educational!
- The rapport between Non and Basil, but also an honourary mention goes to Tarley Askew who is the definition of a golden retriever masquerading as a human being. I loved him!
Easily Five stars!
March 26, 2023
I received an advance copy in exchange from an honest review from Love Books Tours.
The book is written in dual POV, Non and Basil. It takes place in the 1800s when women were barely allowed to obtain a university education. The story was very intriguing and interesting with a good plot. It was very well written and researched. The author included side characters known during this time period. It made the story unique and made it more factual.
I was not a big fan of Non, she came across as selfish and inconsiderate of other women.
Overall, I really enjoyed this new historical crime fiction series and I'm looking forward to the next book.
The book is written in dual POV, Non and Basil. It takes place in the 1800s when women were barely allowed to obtain a university education. The story was very intriguing and interesting with a good plot. It was very well written and researched. The author included side characters known during this time period. It made the story unique and made it more factual.
I was not a big fan of Non, she came across as selfish and inconsiderate of other women.
Overall, I really enjoyed this new historical crime fiction series and I'm looking forward to the next book.
January 13, 2023
Firstly thank you to Kate at Canelo Crime for very kindly sending me a proof copy of A Bitter Remedy.
When I saw the cover of A Bitter Remedy, I absolutely knew I needed to read it, especially as the colors match my brand!!
A Bitter Remedy is a historical crime novel, the first in a series, set in 1881 in Oxford at the birth of the women’s college movement. We follow our two main protagonists, Rhiannon “Non” Vaughan who is one of the first women to be allowed to study and go to lectures at Jesus College, Oxford, and Basil Rice, a Jesus College fellow who has a secret that he must keep hidden. Both are amazing characters, but they are far from the norm in Victorian society and find themselves investigating a strange death of an undergraduate.
The plot is superb in A Bitter remedy, and I adored Non, her fiesty, Intelligent, and gound-breaking character is amazing and I very easily loved her. Both Non and Basil are thrown into a world of propriety in the death of Sidney Parker and are drawn together to try to find out how and why he died and to get justice for him in a University that will do anything to keep things from the press and general public, in case it tarnishes their reputation.
Having never been to University, apart from a week’s Sales course over 30 years ago strangely at Oxford University, it didn’t mean that I couldn’t understand how University life was in 1881, especially for women. Alis Hawkins has obviously researched her history of women and how the female college movement started, and the setting is perfect for this novel.
I loved the intrigue, and the historical facts ( some had me scooting over to Google!) and I really felt I was actually there in the 1880s with Non and fighting her battles with her. I don’t want to give any of the plot away, but if you like historical crime fiction that is factual and also gripping, then A Bitter Remedy is going to be one to add to your reading list for 2023.
A brilliant 5 Stars from me, and I look forward to the second installment of The Oxford Mysteries.
When I saw the cover of A Bitter Remedy, I absolutely knew I needed to read it, especially as the colors match my brand!!
A Bitter Remedy is a historical crime novel, the first in a series, set in 1881 in Oxford at the birth of the women’s college movement. We follow our two main protagonists, Rhiannon “Non” Vaughan who is one of the first women to be allowed to study and go to lectures at Jesus College, Oxford, and Basil Rice, a Jesus College fellow who has a secret that he must keep hidden. Both are amazing characters, but they are far from the norm in Victorian society and find themselves investigating a strange death of an undergraduate.
The plot is superb in A Bitter remedy, and I adored Non, her fiesty, Intelligent, and gound-breaking character is amazing and I very easily loved her. Both Non and Basil are thrown into a world of propriety in the death of Sidney Parker and are drawn together to try to find out how and why he died and to get justice for him in a University that will do anything to keep things from the press and general public, in case it tarnishes their reputation.
Having never been to University, apart from a week’s Sales course over 30 years ago strangely at Oxford University, it didn’t mean that I couldn’t understand how University life was in 1881, especially for women. Alis Hawkins has obviously researched her history of women and how the female college movement started, and the setting is perfect for this novel.
I loved the intrigue, and the historical facts ( some had me scooting over to Google!) and I really felt I was actually there in the 1880s with Non and fighting her battles with her. I don’t want to give any of the plot away, but if you like historical crime fiction that is factual and also gripping, then A Bitter Remedy is going to be one to add to your reading list for 2023.
A brilliant 5 Stars from me, and I look forward to the second installment of The Oxford Mysteries.
April 4, 2024
I have just finished reading A Bitter Remedy by Alis Hawkins, stave by stave with The Pigeonhole, and I’m still adjusting to my return to the present. I thoroughly enjoyed my journey to another time and place, the dual narrative, and cleverly written first person narratives of contrasting characters, my favourite being Non Vaughan, an outspoken, young Welsh polymath, one of a small group of young women newly admitted to lectures at Oxford, who faced the misogyny and chauvinism of undergraduates and university authorities alike. I enjoyed the descriptive and atmospheric setting of Victorian Oxford, and the various characters, some real historical figures, such as Charles Dodgson and Doctor Harper, and some invented. The murder mystery was complex and exciting, with some rather unsavoury details, and I applaud the author for her thorough research and the pace of her writing. I also enjoyed the unlikely partnership between Non, inquisitive, intelligent and brave, and Basil, a Jesus College fellow, who has a secret of his own to hide, and who must keep the best interests of the university in mind.
December 28, 2024
The Historical Fiction aspects of this book are a lot more successful than the Mystery, but on the whole it’s well-crafted and intriguing.
I appreciated the setting here a lot, and though I think it could have done with more descriptive content and “day in the life of an 1880s Oxford student” content, the book does well depicting the sociopolitical situation at Oxford and thus the social situation at Oxford at this time, and while it’s not always pleasant to read about, the book also does well explaining what it was like for women attending classes at the university at this time.
The mystery itself was well-structured but otherwise not as successful, though some of this is more of a preference issue for me personally, as I’m especially put off by ultra-personal medical content and generally icky aspects of illness described in great detail.
Still, because this is highly specific to the murder here and the mystery was fine structurally, I expect it will be worth trying the next book in this series even if, like me, you could do without the gratuitous medical yuckiness.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I appreciated the setting here a lot, and though I think it could have done with more descriptive content and “day in the life of an 1880s Oxford student” content, the book does well depicting the sociopolitical situation at Oxford and thus the social situation at Oxford at this time, and while it’s not always pleasant to read about, the book also does well explaining what it was like for women attending classes at the university at this time.
The mystery itself was well-structured but otherwise not as successful, though some of this is more of a preference issue for me personally, as I’m especially put off by ultra-personal medical content and generally icky aspects of illness described in great detail.
Still, because this is highly specific to the murder here and the mystery was fine structurally, I expect it will be worth trying the next book in this series even if, like me, you could do without the gratuitous medical yuckiness.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
August 22, 2024
A great start to what promises to be a fascinating and entertaining mystery series from established crime writer, Alis Hawkins. A Bitter Remedy is set in 1880s Oxford with a wonderful Welsh female protagonist who absolutely will not let the patriarchy or late Victorian bigotry stop her from achieving her goals.
I loved Rhiannon ‘Non’ Vaughn’s character, and she was expertly brought to life by Ffion Aynsley. A polymath, and one of the women given permission to attend lectures at Oxford, Non teams up with (although, in fairness, he doesn’t really have any say in the matter) Basil Rice, a Jesus College fellow, to get to the bottom of the mysterious death of a college student.
It’s fortunate she’s so determined and bright, as she’s the driver in getting to the truth of what’s happened, which it seems to me would have lain buried if left in the hands of the chaps.
Marvellous stuff! I’m already looking forward to their next adventure.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda audio for the chance to listen to an ARC. A Bitter Remedy is out now.
I loved Rhiannon ‘Non’ Vaughn’s character, and she was expertly brought to life by Ffion Aynsley. A polymath, and one of the women given permission to attend lectures at Oxford, Non teams up with (although, in fairness, he doesn’t really have any say in the matter) Basil Rice, a Jesus College fellow, to get to the bottom of the mysterious death of a college student.
It’s fortunate she’s so determined and bright, as she’s the driver in getting to the truth of what’s happened, which it seems to me would have lain buried if left in the hands of the chaps.
Marvellous stuff! I’m already looking forward to their next adventure.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda audio for the chance to listen to an ARC. A Bitter Remedy is out now.
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