A Measure of Madness

by Cuyler Overholt

New York City, 1907. A financial panic has just struck New York City, but well-born psychiatrist Genevieve Summerford and her unlikely beau, Tammany captain Simon Shaw, are ensconced in their own little cocoon, celebrating the sale of Simon’s colt at auction. Their blissful solitude is abruptly shattered by news that a dear friend of Genevieve’s family, Edgar Matheson, has died from a fall down his townhouse stairs. Edgar’s wife, May, insists that her husband was murdered, for which she is diagnosed with hysteria and sent to an asylum for a dubious “rest cure”.

Hoping to relieve May’s mind and anxious to end her demoralizing treatment, Genevieve promises to look more closely into the death to see if foul play may indeed have been involved. Her search takes her deep into the booming oyster industry of Long Island Sound—an industry, she soon discovers, that is rife with conflict and intrigue, where there are more reasons for killing a man than she can count on one hand. But as her questioning starts to bear fruit, she grows increasingly uneasy. Will she discover the truth, only to destroy May in the process?

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2026

About the author

Cuyler Overholt worked as a lawyer for several years, then spent a decade transforming technical jargon into entertaining prose for a New York-based public relations firm before trying her hand at fiction. Her decision to write a mystery set in old New York was prompted in part by the reminiscences of her grandmother, whose life spanned over a century of the city's history. She shares a keen interest in human motivation and behavior with her husband, a psychologist, who is still working on perfecting her. When she isn't reading or writing she can usually be found on a bike, in the cobra pose, or watching an old movie.

Reviews

[Msmarplescat]

I liked this continuation of Genna and Simon’s story. I especially appreciated the research Overholt did on the oyster industry and the revelations about early treatment for neurasthenia. This deep research helped make the story believable and interesting. I also enjoy reading about the early days of the automobile in the city and Genna’s efforts to learn to drive it. I do wish there was a map in the book of the places in the plot. I think if you liked the two previous books, you will like this one as well.

[Momcat62]

A Measure of Madness was a truly fascinating book. The author has a lot of knowledge about how people, especially women, with mental illness were treated in the early 20th century. The main characters, Simon and Genevieve, are wonderful together, and I am enjoying watching their relationship develop through the books in this series. I also like that the author is tackling class differences as well as the way Irish immigrants were viewed by the upper classes in America. If you like books with strong characters who care enough about each other to fight to be together, this book is for you.

[Jodi]

I really enjoyed stepping back into this series after 12 years. We get a murder mystery, a fascinating insight into the oyster business and brutally realistic descriptions of Edwardian asylum life as well as significant progress into Genevieve’s and Simon’s romance.

Very satisfying ending!

I hope there will be more books in this series.

CW: death, misogyny, institutionalisation, forced psychiatric treatment.

[Ruth Gold]

Dr Summerfield Great book

I really enjoyed the first three books. The mysteries had great twists. I love the characters. Also lots of true information in the story lines. Highly recommend.