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Sarah Gilchrist #2
The Unquiet Heart
Kaite Welsh's thrilling medical mystery THE UNQUIET HEART is the second in the gothic Sarah Gilchrist series, following a medical student turned detective in Victorian Edinburgh. For readers of Natasha Pulley's THE WATCHMAKER OF FILIGREE STREET or Laura Purcell's THE SILENT COMPANIONS
This powerful novel combines a disturbing look at late Victorian attitudes towards women and morality with a satisfying murder mystery - Sunday Express
Sarah Gilchrist has no intention of marrying her dull fiancé Miles, the man her family hope will restore her reputation and put an end to her dreams of becoming a doctor, but when he is arrested for a murder she is sure he didn't commit she finds herself his reluctant ally. Beneath the genteel façade of upper class Edinburgh lurks blackmail, adultery, poison and madness and Sarah must return to Edinburgh's slums, back alleys and asylums as she discovers the dark past about a family where no one is what they seem, even Miles himself. It also brings her back into the orbit of her mercurial professor, Gregory Merchiston - he sees Sarah as his protegee, but can he stave off his demons long enough to teach her the skills that will save her life?
This powerful novel combines a disturbing look at late Victorian attitudes towards women and morality with a satisfying murder mystery - Sunday Express
Sarah Gilchrist has no intention of marrying her dull fiancé Miles, the man her family hope will restore her reputation and put an end to her dreams of becoming a doctor, but when he is arrested for a murder she is sure he didn't commit she finds herself his reluctant ally. Beneath the genteel façade of upper class Edinburgh lurks blackmail, adultery, poison and madness and Sarah must return to Edinburgh's slums, back alleys and asylums as she discovers the dark past about a family where no one is what they seem, even Miles himself. It also brings her back into the orbit of her mercurial professor, Gregory Merchiston - he sees Sarah as his protegee, but can he stave off his demons long enough to teach her the skills that will save her life?
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2019
54 people are currently reading
639 people want to read
About the author
Kaite Welsh
6 books235 followersKaite Welsh is an author, critic and journalist living in Scotland.
Her novel The Wages of Sin, a feminist historical crime novel set in Victorian Edinburgh, is out in 2017 from Pegasus Books in the US in May and Headline/Tinder Press in June. It is the first novel featuring medical student, fallen woman and amateur sleuth Sarah Gilchrist, with two further books due in 2018 and 2019.
Her fiction has featured in several anthologies and she writes a regular column on LGBT issues for the Daily Telegraph as well as making frequent appearances on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. In 2014 she was shortlisted for both the Scottish New Writers Award and the Moniack Mhor Bridge Award. She has also been shortlisted for the 2010 Cheshire Prize for Fiction and the 2010 Spectrum Award for short fiction.
Kaite is represented by Laura Macdougall at Tibor Jones & Associates.
Her novel The Wages of Sin, a feminist historical crime novel set in Victorian Edinburgh, is out in 2017 from Pegasus Books in the US in May and Headline/Tinder Press in June. It is the first novel featuring medical student, fallen woman and amateur sleuth Sarah Gilchrist, with two further books due in 2018 and 2019.
Her fiction has featured in several anthologies and she writes a regular column on LGBT issues for the Daily Telegraph as well as making frequent appearances on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. In 2014 she was shortlisted for both the Scottish New Writers Award and the Moniack Mhor Bridge Award. She has also been shortlisted for the 2010 Cheshire Prize for Fiction and the 2010 Spectrum Award for short fiction.
Kaite is represented by Laura Macdougall at Tibor Jones & Associates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
May 21, 2023
3.5 Stars
This is the sophomore effort in Sarah Gilchrist’s Gothic series; and even if the reader missed the precursor (‘The Wages of Sin’), it can be sampled as a ‘stand-alone’ novel without undue difficulty.
The year is 1893 and protagonist Sarah Gilchrist is virtually exiled from her life in London society after being labelled a ‘fallen woman’. She’s forced into an engagement with Edinburgh based Miles Greene - a rather dull and uninteresting man, but her family hope that this engagement will restore her reputation (and of course Miles’s family have their own reasons in agreeing to this match).
For Sarah, there is a bright side to being in Edinburgh, as she’s one of only a handful of women to have been accepted as a medical student at the University. It’s been her lifelong ambition to study medicine in some form, particularly forensic science.
Having survived rape, incarceration inside a mental asylum, and a betrayal by someone she thought she could trust; Sarah is determined to make a life for herself in the newly emerging forensic sciences; however this field is a strongly male dominated environment, where women are treated with contempt, so she’s not in for an easy ride. She does have an ally though, in the form of professor Gregory Merchitson - a brilliant but troubled man, who sees something special in Sarah, in complete opposition to his peers. The professor becomes determined to assist Sarah, in any way he can.
When a housemaid in fiancé Miles’s family is murdered, it is Miles himself who comes under suspicion. Gregory Merchitson carries out the post-mortem assisted by Sarah, but when yet another murder occurs within Miles’s household, Sarah’s future begins to take an unexpected turn - she’s compelled to become a detective, essentially becoming Miles’s defender, though she may not want to marry him, but she won’t see him accused of murder - not when she has her suspicions about who really committed these terrible acts.
This is a distinctly character driven novel, where the crimes take something of a backseat. The narrative focuses on Sarah but it also introduces secondary characters (mainly female), vividly. It underlines just how difficult it was for a female to have professional aspirations in Victorian times, and the resistance that they experienced from masculine authority.
Welsh’s second novel is an engaging historical mystery, with a little romance thrown in for good measure. It also includes detailed forensic examinations that leave nothing to the imagination. (the squeamish reader may find this challenging); but all indications are, that it will be an intriguing series.
* Thank you to www.shotsmag.co.uk for my paperback copy for which I have given an honest review*
This is the sophomore effort in Sarah Gilchrist’s Gothic series; and even if the reader missed the precursor (‘The Wages of Sin’), it can be sampled as a ‘stand-alone’ novel without undue difficulty.
The year is 1893 and protagonist Sarah Gilchrist is virtually exiled from her life in London society after being labelled a ‘fallen woman’. She’s forced into an engagement with Edinburgh based Miles Greene - a rather dull and uninteresting man, but her family hope that this engagement will restore her reputation (and of course Miles’s family have their own reasons in agreeing to this match).
For Sarah, there is a bright side to being in Edinburgh, as she’s one of only a handful of women to have been accepted as a medical student at the University. It’s been her lifelong ambition to study medicine in some form, particularly forensic science.
Having survived rape, incarceration inside a mental asylum, and a betrayal by someone she thought she could trust; Sarah is determined to make a life for herself in the newly emerging forensic sciences; however this field is a strongly male dominated environment, where women are treated with contempt, so she’s not in for an easy ride. She does have an ally though, in the form of professor Gregory Merchitson - a brilliant but troubled man, who sees something special in Sarah, in complete opposition to his peers. The professor becomes determined to assist Sarah, in any way he can.
When a housemaid in fiancé Miles’s family is murdered, it is Miles himself who comes under suspicion. Gregory Merchitson carries out the post-mortem assisted by Sarah, but when yet another murder occurs within Miles’s household, Sarah’s future begins to take an unexpected turn - she’s compelled to become a detective, essentially becoming Miles’s defender, though she may not want to marry him, but she won’t see him accused of murder - not when she has her suspicions about who really committed these terrible acts.
This is a distinctly character driven novel, where the crimes take something of a backseat. The narrative focuses on Sarah but it also introduces secondary characters (mainly female), vividly. It underlines just how difficult it was for a female to have professional aspirations in Victorian times, and the resistance that they experienced from masculine authority.
Welsh’s second novel is an engaging historical mystery, with a little romance thrown in for good measure. It also includes detailed forensic examinations that leave nothing to the imagination. (the squeamish reader may find this challenging); but all indications are, that it will be an intriguing series.
* Thank you to www.shotsmag.co.uk for my paperback copy for which I have given an honest review*
April 7, 2019
We were introduced to Sarah Gilchrist in THE WAGES OF SINS and her plight continues in THE UNQUIET HEART. Sarah has always dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, because it's 1893, it is the general opinion that women should not strive to be something other than wives and mothers. And she has paid dearly for her dreams. Now, she may have to marry a man she doesn't love because her family demands it. But, then a housemaid in her fiance's house is murdered and she wants to know if Miles had anything to do with it.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
October 28, 2021
The story is more focused on the people than developing a storyline. I like character-driven story and yet found it hard to connect with the characters as at many points the story is overloaded with dialogue. The progression of the story is slow, making it a slow-pace read.
May 30, 2019
The Unquiet Heart is the second instalment in the Sarah Gilchrist medical mystery series set in Victorian Edinburgh, and it's a compulsive and gripping gothic tale. This is my type of read as it combines a historical murder mystery with an exploration of late nineteenth century attitudes towards women and morality and does so with considerable aplomb. Sarah is a very likeable protagonist who steadfastly refuses to conform to societies norms which were all about women being seen and not heard and that women should be homemakers who must support their husbands at the expense of their own dreams and aspirations. It makes me rather sad to read about this as sadly these norms mostly went unchallenged except for small, select group who were labelled as highly unorthodox.
Sarah continues to fight for the right of women to be educated as she attends the University of Edinburgh to study medicine in the hopes of becoming a doctor. I recommend reading the books in order as many of the themes continue on from the first novel, Wages of Sin. It is a beautifully plotted and fascinating novel with plenty of drama and an authentic and atmospheric sense of time and place. It is evident that Ms Waite has researched the period extensively and the historical detail makes this a real gem. I loved that the stereotypical gender roles were questioned and upended by women ahead of their time and it made this thoroughly engrossing. All in all, this is an intensely thought-provoking and satisfying tale. Many thanks to Tinder Press for an ARC.
Sarah continues to fight for the right of women to be educated as she attends the University of Edinburgh to study medicine in the hopes of becoming a doctor. I recommend reading the books in order as many of the themes continue on from the first novel, Wages of Sin. It is a beautifully plotted and fascinating novel with plenty of drama and an authentic and atmospheric sense of time and place. It is evident that Ms Waite has researched the period extensively and the historical detail makes this a real gem. I loved that the stereotypical gender roles were questioned and upended by women ahead of their time and it made this thoroughly engrossing. All in all, this is an intensely thought-provoking and satisfying tale. Many thanks to Tinder Press for an ARC.
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April 11, 2021I couldn’t do it... finish, that is. Enjoyed the first in the series but too much repetition in this sophomore effort in the series, and the book is stalling, mired in details which I patiently waded through in the first. Not moving on... so it is a DNF.
October 15, 2019
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.
March 3, 2020
The five is a private five. I don’t rate it a five because everyone must read it. It’s a five for me because it touches all the pleasure centers of my brain. Scotland in the 1800’s. Medical history. Female firsts in medicine. Feminism. A strong, resilient female protagonist. I hope Kaite Welsh continues on with the series. I thoroughly enjoyed both books.
November 5, 2019
No sophomore slump here. Welsh's second mystery featuring young medical student Sarah Gilcrest shows the author reaching her stride. The exposition is smooth and the various parts of the plot are well-balanced. Best of all, our heroine is growing up and learning to look before she leaps.
Sarah's life has smoothed out somewhat, now that she has (very reluctantly) become engaged to young Miles Greene. Her aunt treats her better; her mother is even coming up from London for the formal engagement party. Alas, Sarah's first dinner with her soon-to-be in-laws is disturbed when the very dead body of Mrs Greene's personal maid is discovered in the shrubbery.
Sarah. of course, wants to examine the body, investigate the murder, etc. Fortunately for her, Professor Merchiston is more than happy to have Sarah as his assistant in the morgue.
It was rather sad to meet Sarah's mother; and the heart-to-heart conversations they have are depressing. Sarah and her aunt also have several chats, with Sarah coming to think more kindly of Aunt Emily.
The plot gets quite twisty, what with Miles being arrested for murder and a blackmailer targeting several people, Including Sarah.
I was very satisfied with the identity of the murderer--all those threads were successfully tied together. Sarah's life is also looking more upbeat. She knows what she wants and has figured out the first steps in achieving an independent life. Her nascent romance with Merchiston is on the back burner for now; both realizing that this is not the time to act on their growing attraction to each other.
All in all, a much more satisfying book than the first one. I do hope the third isn't too far away.
Sarah's life has smoothed out somewhat, now that she has (very reluctantly) become engaged to young Miles Greene. Her aunt treats her better; her mother is even coming up from London for the formal engagement party. Alas, Sarah's first dinner with her soon-to-be in-laws is disturbed when the very dead body of Mrs Greene's personal maid is discovered in the shrubbery.
Sarah. of course, wants to examine the body, investigate the murder, etc. Fortunately for her, Professor Merchiston is more than happy to have Sarah as his assistant in the morgue.
It was rather sad to meet Sarah's mother; and the heart-to-heart conversations they have are depressing. Sarah and her aunt also have several chats, with Sarah coming to think more kindly of Aunt Emily.
The plot gets quite twisty, what with Miles being arrested for murder and a blackmailer targeting several people, Including Sarah.
I was very satisfied with the identity of the murderer--all those threads were successfully tied together. Sarah's life is also looking more upbeat. She knows what she wants and has figured out the first steps in achieving an independent life. Her nascent romance with Merchiston is on the back burner for now; both realizing that this is not the time to act on their growing attraction to each other.
All in all, a much more satisfying book than the first one. I do hope the third isn't too far away.
May 24, 2020
This book is everything I want in a lady detective book.
It's in Edinburgh, which is the best city.
It's set during the Victorian age, which, while I wouldn't *actually* want to live in, is super fun to read about.
It contains badass feminist (fictional) foremothers, and a complex and evolving heroine.
There are frissions--with a broody but appealing love interest.
There are cobblestones and carriages and dreich days.
Kirkyards, apothecaries, gaols, morgues, botany and blackmail.
Tea and biscuits. And coffee. And more tea. So much tea.
Arson. Arsenic. Clever housekeepers with checkered pasts.
So. I'm going to need number 3 now.
It's in Edinburgh, which is the best city.
It's set during the Victorian age, which, while I wouldn't *actually* want to live in, is super fun to read about.
It contains badass feminist (fictional) foremothers, and a complex and evolving heroine.
There are frissions--with a broody but appealing love interest.
There are cobblestones and carriages and dreich days.
Kirkyards, apothecaries, gaols, morgues, botany and blackmail.
Tea and biscuits. And coffee. And more tea. So much tea.
Arson. Arsenic. Clever housekeepers with checkered pasts.
So. I'm going to need number 3 now.
May 20, 2019
sarah gilchrist, at some point: of course i support "men's rights"... men's rights to shut the fuck up!
April 6, 2019
The Unquiet Heart is the follow up to The Wages of Sin, and sees protagonist Sarah Gilchrist continue in her battle to become a doctor whilst trying to get to the bottom of murder and blackmail. Sarah is meant to be marrying Miles Greene to save her reputation, but a dead body found at their engagement party sparks off a different course, where Miles is accused of murder and Sarah is in the perfect position to investigate what is really going on. At the same time, she and her fellow female medical students must endeavour to be taken seriously, and Sarah's complicated relationship with her professor and sometime companion in crime solving, Gregory Merchiston, continues to be unconventional.
Welsh's series has a real focus on the characters and the lives of a range of women in the historical setting, which makes it ideal both for historical crime fans and for those who aren't such a fan of the mystery genre. Sarah Gilchrist is once again a compelling protagonist, pleasingly flawed and stubborn and sharply clever. Her wit is a delight and her banter both with Merchiston and with fellow student Julia is a highlight of the book. As with the previous book, there's a lot of focus on societal attitudes towards women and morality, focusing a lot on freedom, marriage, and what is seen as acceptable even by those with liberal attitudes. This provides an interesting insight into the period, as well as a lot of frustration as to how difficult it is not only for Sarah and her fellow female medical students, but for various women, particularly the servants in the book, with Welsh hinting a lot towards some of the class issues that intersect with gender.
This is a very satisfying sequel to The Wages of Sin, with an engrossing plotline that centres around Sarah and the choices she must make or that are made for her in her life. The mystery narrative is vital, but also feels less important than the key elements of the series: Sarah, the other characters, and the depiction of women's lives in Victorian Edinburgh. These form a real heart (excuse the pun) to the series and make The Unquiet Heart so difficult to put down. It will be difficult to wait for another instalment to see what Sarah does next (and to hope that her and the other women studying to become doctors find happiness).
Welsh's series has a real focus on the characters and the lives of a range of women in the historical setting, which makes it ideal both for historical crime fans and for those who aren't such a fan of the mystery genre. Sarah Gilchrist is once again a compelling protagonist, pleasingly flawed and stubborn and sharply clever. Her wit is a delight and her banter both with Merchiston and with fellow student Julia is a highlight of the book. As with the previous book, there's a lot of focus on societal attitudes towards women and morality, focusing a lot on freedom, marriage, and what is seen as acceptable even by those with liberal attitudes. This provides an interesting insight into the period, as well as a lot of frustration as to how difficult it is not only for Sarah and her fellow female medical students, but for various women, particularly the servants in the book, with Welsh hinting a lot towards some of the class issues that intersect with gender.
This is a very satisfying sequel to The Wages of Sin, with an engrossing plotline that centres around Sarah and the choices she must make or that are made for her in her life. The mystery narrative is vital, but also feels less important than the key elements of the series: Sarah, the other characters, and the depiction of women's lives in Victorian Edinburgh. These form a real heart (excuse the pun) to the series and make The Unquiet Heart so difficult to put down. It will be difficult to wait for another instalment to see what Sarah does next (and to hope that her and the other women studying to become doctors find happiness).
January 31, 2020
I have grown very fond of the Sarah Gilchrist mysteries. This second installment was enjoyable to read. I love the independent spirit of Sarah and her relationship with professor Merchitson. I hope their relationship continues to develop (hopeless romantic at heart). 😊 The only reason I rated this book 4/5 is because there were some scenes that characters were present but this was not made known until they spoke, which was a little confusing. Other than that, I love this series and am looking forward to the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2021
The Unquiet Heart is the second in the author’s historical mystery series featuring medical student turned detective, Sarah Gilchrist. Like its predecessor, The Wages of Sin, it is set in Victorian Edinburgh. There are some references to events and characters in the previous book but it would be possible to read The Unquiet Heart as a standalone.
Sarah Gilchrist continues to resist the expectations of her family – and of society – that she will marry and give up her ambition to qualify as a doctor. She frequently rails against the restrictions placed upon her as a woman. ‘I’m sick of being told that women are weak – too weak for surgery, too weak for intellectual thought.’ And she is roused to anger by the double standards that mean, had she been a man, her medical studies would be ‘the object of praise rather than disgust’. Added to this is the unfairness that, because of previous traumatic events, she is considered ‘damaged goods’, including by her family, even though the damage in question was not of her own making and has had lasting consequences.
Despite a number of suspicious deaths early on, the pace of the book is a little on the slow side for those interested mainly in the mystery element. In addition, for a lot of the time the action moves largely between the houses of Sarah’s friend, Elizabeth Chalmers, her aunt Emily and the University where Sarah attends lectures, meaning it’s only later in the book that one gets a glimpse of the seamier side of Edinburgh. I would have liked a bit more of the latter, to be honest.
However, readers like me who were intrigued by the relationship between Sarah and Professor Gregory Merchiston that featured in the first book will enjoy the simmering sexual tension between them that continues in this one. But will it ignite into a conflagration or fizzle out? And are they destined to remain merely pupil and tutor?
Despite the prejudice displayed by others, Merchiston is willing to introduce Sarah to the techniques of forensic medicine, even if this does demand a strong stomach. “Our bodies tell stories, Miss Gilchrist. The language may be foreign to most but learn to translate it and you will be privy to all the secrets of our species, living or dead.” By the way, I think we really need to learn more about how Merchiston’s housekeeper, Mrs Logan, came to be, in her words, ‘in a music hall dressing room stripped down to my unmentionables armed with nothing but a prop knife’.
By the end of the book, Sarah seems faced with a choice between marriage to a wealthy if unremarkable man and the end of her medical career before it’s even begun, or a less socially acceptable relationship with a man who will preserve, even actively encourage, her ambitions. Unfortunately the latter is also likely to cause a potentially irreconcilable breach with her mother. But are those the only choices available to Sarah?
Sarah Gilchrist continues to resist the expectations of her family – and of society – that she will marry and give up her ambition to qualify as a doctor. She frequently rails against the restrictions placed upon her as a woman. ‘I’m sick of being told that women are weak – too weak for surgery, too weak for intellectual thought.’ And she is roused to anger by the double standards that mean, had she been a man, her medical studies would be ‘the object of praise rather than disgust’. Added to this is the unfairness that, because of previous traumatic events, she is considered ‘damaged goods’, including by her family, even though the damage in question was not of her own making and has had lasting consequences.
Despite a number of suspicious deaths early on, the pace of the book is a little on the slow side for those interested mainly in the mystery element. In addition, for a lot of the time the action moves largely between the houses of Sarah’s friend, Elizabeth Chalmers, her aunt Emily and the University where Sarah attends lectures, meaning it’s only later in the book that one gets a glimpse of the seamier side of Edinburgh. I would have liked a bit more of the latter, to be honest.
However, readers like me who were intrigued by the relationship between Sarah and Professor Gregory Merchiston that featured in the first book will enjoy the simmering sexual tension between them that continues in this one. But will it ignite into a conflagration or fizzle out? And are they destined to remain merely pupil and tutor?
Despite the prejudice displayed by others, Merchiston is willing to introduce Sarah to the techniques of forensic medicine, even if this does demand a strong stomach. “Our bodies tell stories, Miss Gilchrist. The language may be foreign to most but learn to translate it and you will be privy to all the secrets of our species, living or dead.” By the way, I think we really need to learn more about how Merchiston’s housekeeper, Mrs Logan, came to be, in her words, ‘in a music hall dressing room stripped down to my unmentionables armed with nothing but a prop knife’.
By the end of the book, Sarah seems faced with a choice between marriage to a wealthy if unremarkable man and the end of her medical career before it’s even begun, or a less socially acceptable relationship with a man who will preserve, even actively encourage, her ambitions. Unfortunately the latter is also likely to cause a potentially irreconcilable breach with her mother. But are those the only choices available to Sarah?
May 25, 2019
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.
September 23, 2024
After finishing the debut novel by Kaite Welsh I was very much hooked by the plot and the characters. Anything set in Victorian Edinburgh with a strong female protagonist seems to speak to me somehow…
The sequel did not disappoint and manage to continue the story of Sarah Gilchrist and her struggle to lead an independent life after being discarded by society - whilst at the same time solving murder mystery.
Not only do we follow Sarah and her journey to find her place in life, we also dive into the depths of Edinburgh society and the secrets that come with it.
The detail in historical references as well as the developments of relationships (especially between Sarah and her side-kick professor) were intriguing me the most.
I do hope that Kaite Welsh will continue Sarah’s story some day as I would love to know what becomes of her!
The sequel did not disappoint and manage to continue the story of Sarah Gilchrist and her struggle to lead an independent life after being discarded by society - whilst at the same time solving murder mystery.
Not only do we follow Sarah and her journey to find her place in life, we also dive into the depths of Edinburgh society and the secrets that come with it.
The detail in historical references as well as the developments of relationships (especially between Sarah and her side-kick professor) were intriguing me the most.
I do hope that Kaite Welsh will continue Sarah’s story some day as I would love to know what becomes of her!
July 1, 2019
Enjoyed this second book in the historical mystery series taking place in the early 1890's in Edinburgh. I was fortunate to be able to borrow both books from the library almost together, so I was able to go on to the second book right away. They are easy to read, and capture my interest. Always satisfying to be able to move from one volume to the next so quickly, but I'll probably have quite the wait for volume 3. Given that Sarah Gilchrist has just finished her first of five years of medical school, there will be scope for quite a series. I enjoy the mysteries, and within the social, gender, & class issues that are a big part of the series.
December 11, 2021
Sarah is still studying medicine in Edinburgh and dealing with what society classes as her shame. Her family want her to marry mild mannered Miles who is happy to overlook her lack of virtue. But when her fiance's family is rocked by scandal in the form of murder, Sarah is determined to seek the truth. Sarah's predicament highlights what women went through in the 19th century when they tried to escape the confines of the patriarchy and that higher education was often opposed or ridiculed for the fairer sex. This is a brilliant ending to Welsh's duology as we see Sarah content with her life at last.
February 12, 2022
3.5 rounded up. I would have loved to give it a full four stars because I enjoyed the character of Sarah Gilchrist very much and it was satisfying to see her battle the forces of misogyny that stood in her way using pragmatism and complete self belief. The mystery element, however, is what lowered the rating. It was obvious, superficially plotted, and felt secondary to Sarah's on going determination to make her dreams a reality.
November 12, 2022
So much more than a murder mystery! It's a sensitive and well-researched book about gender, sexuality, feminism and society in late Victorian Edinburgh. It's also got poison, LGBT rep and a romantic subplot that's been building since the first book, and that has me kicking my feet like when I watch 2005's Pride and Prejudice. I have one question and one question only: where is book three!!!! Let Sarah shoot a man!!!!
January 11, 2019
I didn't know this book was second in a series, but that didn't hinder my understanding. One very interesting thing to me is the treatment of women. Always underestimated by men in control while maintaining a certain society standard of behavior, decorum, etc. It's impossible to be a woman is it not? This story is a good example of this, and seeing the inferior woman make the men look like what they are, insecure morons. I liked the story on this alone, but it's a good read otherwise as well. A strong plot with an engaging heroine, and just read it.
April 4, 2019
Firstly, I loved The Wages of Sin so I was excited to get to read this! Sarah Gilchrist is a first year medical student in 1890s Edinburgh, virtually exiled from her London society family after becoming a "fallen woman", and being pushed by her relatives into a loveless engagement with the rather personality-less Miles Greene. Her relationship with her fellow women students is a little strained, and there's a lot more to her relationship with mercurial Professor Merchiston than perhaps there should be. Then her future father in law collapses and dies at a dinner party, and Sarah realises that it wasn't his heart - he's been poisoned, her fiance is accused and she's determined to clear his name.
Sarah is a great character, chafing against society's restrictions on women and the ongoing objections to women studying medicine (it's frustrating to realise that this was still an issue in Edinburgh, 25 years after the first women studied medicine there!). Kaite Welsh does a good job of tying together the restrictions society placed on women, the expectations of Sarah's family and the investigating crime aspect. The feminist history bits are integral to the plot and characters, without it the book wouldn't work and would be inauthentic, plus it's enjoyable so it all comes together to a very readable, thought-provoking book. Recommended!
Sarah is a great character, chafing against society's restrictions on women and the ongoing objections to women studying medicine (it's frustrating to realise that this was still an issue in Edinburgh, 25 years after the first women studied medicine there!). Kaite Welsh does a good job of tying together the restrictions society placed on women, the expectations of Sarah's family and the investigating crime aspect. The feminist history bits are integral to the plot and characters, without it the book wouldn't work and would be inauthentic, plus it's enjoyable so it all comes together to a very readable, thought-provoking book. Recommended!
July 28, 2019
“If heaven did exist, it was a room full of women arguing about politics and drinking hot cocoa.” It’s funny: the thing that I’m most likely to see other reviewers complaining about in Kaite Welsh’s medical murder mystery series – the way her thoroughly modern feminist sensibilities creep into the middle class parlours and back alley slums of Victorian Edinburgh – is the thing that I enjoy the most. The story of the Edinburgh Seven, recently granted their degrees after an 150 year wait, shows that the suffragist undertones of the first female medical students’ battles were not so far from contemporary reality, and I’m looking forward to spending more time in their company – even if the sexual tension between Welsh’s heroine, Sarah Gilchrist, and her mercurial mentor Gregory Merchiston was a delicious distraction this time around.
From its first autopsy scene – vivid in detail without being gratuitous – The Unquiet Heart held itself out as a worthy successor to The Wages of Sin, so much so that spent a full day in pyjamas curled up with the hardback. Something which I never get the chance to do. Don’t sleep on this series.
From its first autopsy scene – vivid in detail without being gratuitous – The Unquiet Heart held itself out as a worthy successor to The Wages of Sin, so much so that spent a full day in pyjamas curled up with the hardback. Something which I never get the chance to do. Don’t sleep on this series.
January 17, 2022
“I wanted the man in front of me, but I wanted a room like this of my very own more.”
I love this series more than words can say and would happily read ten more books in this series.
May 3, 2019
Word to the wise: this is the second book in a series, something I did not know when I read it. It works fine as a stand alone as the author explains references to the previous book well, avoiding info dumps
Sarah Gilchrist is one of the first women accepted into medical school at the University of Edinburgh in 1893. With a dark past and ruined virtue, Sarah is aware her future as a doctor can be taken away at any moment. Forced into an engagement with a dull but wealthy suitor, Sarah still promises herself that she will not allow anything to distract her from her career goals. When a series of murders ensnares her fiance’s family in scandal, Sarah turns detective with the help of her mercurial (read: broody, tortured, and sexy) professor as they race to find the killer, and hopefully rid herself of an unwanted husband.
This story was ASTOUNDINGLY feminist. Sarah Gilchrist knows what she wants, and she will not compromise. Nothing will stand in the way of her becoming a respected surgeon; not her disapproving family, the scorn of the male students, the endless hard work or the financial cost. Not even the things that could make her happy.
“I wanted the man in front of me, but I wanted a room like this of my very own more. If I wanted a future where I had patients and a plaque with my name on it, as well as a husband to go home too at the end of a long day on the hospital wards, I would have to build it myself.”
Part historical fiction, part murder mystery, part dark and delicious romance, ALL GIRL POWER, I highly recommend it.
*I received an advanced copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are subject to change in the final version.
Sarah Gilchrist is one of the first women accepted into medical school at the University of Edinburgh in 1893. With a dark past and ruined virtue, Sarah is aware her future as a doctor can be taken away at any moment. Forced into an engagement with a dull but wealthy suitor, Sarah still promises herself that she will not allow anything to distract her from her career goals. When a series of murders ensnares her fiance’s family in scandal, Sarah turns detective with the help of her mercurial (read: broody, tortured, and sexy) professor as they race to find the killer, and hopefully rid herself of an unwanted husband.
This story was ASTOUNDINGLY feminist. Sarah Gilchrist knows what she wants, and she will not compromise. Nothing will stand in the way of her becoming a respected surgeon; not her disapproving family, the scorn of the male students, the endless hard work or the financial cost. Not even the things that could make her happy.
“I wanted the man in front of me, but I wanted a room like this of my very own more. If I wanted a future where I had patients and a plaque with my name on it, as well as a husband to go home too at the end of a long day on the hospital wards, I would have to build it myself.”
Part historical fiction, part murder mystery, part dark and delicious romance, ALL GIRL POWER, I highly recommend it.
*I received an advanced copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are subject to change in the final version.
January 6, 2019
Wow, blown away! I loved this book and would give it 10 stars if I could, and I can’t wait to read the first one—The Wages of Sin. The strong voice of Sarah Gilchrist kept me glued to the page. By the time I got through the backstory of the first novel, I was hooked.
Having survived rape, commitment to a madhouse, betrayal by a trusted mentor, Sarah is determined to move on with her plan to continue her studies at the University of Edinburgh to become a doctor of forensics. The women in this program are chaperoned at all times, held to different standards, and pretty much treated with contempt for daring to enter the male-dominated world of academics. Ugh, suffocating!
The only other bright-ish light in her world appears to be Gregory Merchitson, one of her professors. Brilliant and broken, he’s the only person in her life who sees her for herself, not some hysterical, subversive, unnatural woman fascinated by anatomy and poison.
Her mother’s schemes have trapped Sarah in an arranged marriage with Miles Greene. When the Greene’s maid, and then Miles’s father, die, Miles is accused and arrested. Lovely, complicated conflicts. Sarah likes Miles, though she doesn’t want to marry him, so the arrest is a bit of a relief. But she can’t stand by and let him be accused of, and hanged for, a murder he didn’t commit.
Okay, I did guess who-dunnit, but how it all played out is what interested me!
Having survived rape, commitment to a madhouse, betrayal by a trusted mentor, Sarah is determined to move on with her plan to continue her studies at the University of Edinburgh to become a doctor of forensics. The women in this program are chaperoned at all times, held to different standards, and pretty much treated with contempt for daring to enter the male-dominated world of academics. Ugh, suffocating!
The only other bright-ish light in her world appears to be Gregory Merchitson, one of her professors. Brilliant and broken, he’s the only person in her life who sees her for herself, not some hysterical, subversive, unnatural woman fascinated by anatomy and poison.
Her mother’s schemes have trapped Sarah in an arranged marriage with Miles Greene. When the Greene’s maid, and then Miles’s father, die, Miles is accused and arrested. Lovely, complicated conflicts. Sarah likes Miles, though she doesn’t want to marry him, so the arrest is a bit of a relief. But she can’t stand by and let him be accused of, and hanged for, a murder he didn’t commit.
Okay, I did guess who-dunnit, but how it all played out is what interested me!
February 28, 2019
This was a lovely and engrossing read. While I haven’t read the first book in the series (yet), it wasn’t difficult to pick up what had already happened, and this book was able to stand on its own.
Sarah Gilchrist, a charmingly headstrong and unconventional young lady who lived in an era when women were expected to aspire to nothing more than keeping a household, commanded my attention from page one. This books deals heavily with the oppression of women during the 19th century, and the author does a brilliant job of exploring this by setting Sarah, a woman with very contemporary views, amid a city and community that refuses to recognize women as people of worth. Sarah’s frustration at this, and her determination to change it, made her a compelling heroine.
I also loved the romance, which was dark and daring and delicious. To be honest, I was far more interested in that (and in the social commentary) than in the murder mystery. While there IS a murder mystery, this is primarily a character-driven book, and I got a lot more out of Sarah’s various relationships with the people around her than I did from the twists and turns of her investigation.
Nevertheless, the book is worth a read for the characters alone, and I would highly recommend it. After finishing, I went back and bought the first book in the series, just because I’d love to spend more time with the characters.
I greatly look forward to the next installment in this series!
Sarah Gilchrist, a charmingly headstrong and unconventional young lady who lived in an era when women were expected to aspire to nothing more than keeping a household, commanded my attention from page one. This books deals heavily with the oppression of women during the 19th century, and the author does a brilliant job of exploring this by setting Sarah, a woman with very contemporary views, amid a city and community that refuses to recognize women as people of worth. Sarah’s frustration at this, and her determination to change it, made her a compelling heroine.
I also loved the romance, which was dark and daring and delicious. To be honest, I was far more interested in that (and in the social commentary) than in the murder mystery. While there IS a murder mystery, this is primarily a character-driven book, and I got a lot more out of Sarah’s various relationships with the people around her than I did from the twists and turns of her investigation.
Nevertheless, the book is worth a read for the characters alone, and I would highly recommend it. After finishing, I went back and bought the first book in the series, just because I’d love to spend more time with the characters.
I greatly look forward to the next installment in this series!
July 9, 2021
I enjoyed this book as I enjoyed the first, but probably in spite of rather than because of the two main characters. Sarah is worse in this novel than she was in the first. On the one hand we're supposed to like and admire her for her intellect, her spirit and her overcoming of adversity - but in this book in particular, she comes across as somewhat entitled and a little too stupid to live.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters, the writing, the plot etc but I really, really disliked Sarah's behaviour and the way she treated other people, particularly Gregory Merchiston - who is equally stupid sometimes. They're almost codependent in their self-destructive behaviour.
This makes it sound like I didn't like the book - I did like it. I just wish I liked the leads more ..
I really enjoyed the secondary characters, the writing, the plot etc but I really, really disliked Sarah's behaviour and the way she treated other people, particularly Gregory Merchiston - who is equally stupid sometimes. They're almost codependent in their self-destructive behaviour.
This makes it sound like I didn't like the book - I did like it. I just wish I liked the leads more ..
December 15, 2018
Thanks to Pegasus Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for a review.
I began this novel and quickly put it on hold to find and read a copy of The Wages of Sin, the first book in this series. I needed that background to help me jump into the second volume. The slow reveal of Sarah’s issues and challenges was initially irritating to me, but as each level was exposed I could understand her often overwhelming anxiety. A good therapist would have been mighty useful, if they’d existed at the time. Her actual “treatment” was horrific.
Sarah is lucky in her new Edinburgh friends and her own pluck in continuing her medical studies despite the nasty resistance by (most of) the male faculty and the male students. I found myself cheering the women’s attempts to rise above the restrictions they faced.
I give this book 4 stars for the medical and forensic details plus the budding relationship. The murder mystery had some good twists and turns, and shows more confidence from Ms. Welsh and her heroine. This novel’s mix of historical romance and mystery with some Victorian feminism for flavor is successful, and bodes well for the series to come. I look forward to spending more time with Sarah and her circle.
I began this novel and quickly put it on hold to find and read a copy of The Wages of Sin, the first book in this series. I needed that background to help me jump into the second volume. The slow reveal of Sarah’s issues and challenges was initially irritating to me, but as each level was exposed I could understand her often overwhelming anxiety. A good therapist would have been mighty useful, if they’d existed at the time. Her actual “treatment” was horrific.
Sarah is lucky in her new Edinburgh friends and her own pluck in continuing her medical studies despite the nasty resistance by (most of) the male faculty and the male students. I found myself cheering the women’s attempts to rise above the restrictions they faced.
I give this book 4 stars for the medical and forensic details plus the budding relationship. The murder mystery had some good twists and turns, and shows more confidence from Ms. Welsh and her heroine. This novel’s mix of historical romance and mystery with some Victorian feminism for flavor is successful, and bodes well for the series to come. I look forward to spending more time with Sarah and her circle.
August 3, 2019
Sarah Gilchrist tells us her story. The story of a young woman who wants to be a doctor, whose family in London has rejected her and sent her to an aunt in Edinburgh where she now attends the University of Edinburgh Medical School. The group of women students is tiny -- half a dozen or so -- and the prejudice against them by instructors and fellow students is palpable. Their corsets define them, as do their skirts. A few bloomers [named for Amelia Bloomer, cyclist and women's rights advocate] have shown up on the streets of Edinburgh, but are not accepted at the Medical School. A "chaperone" must always be present; women must never be alone with men. Even in the lecture halls. Horrors!
Sarah is engaged to Miles Greene, much against her will. One evening, at the Greene home, while dinner is being served, the corpse of one of the maids is found in the yard behind the bushes, with her skull bashed in. Sarah is anxious to know if anything else contributed to the cause of death, and, so, with her friend and mentor Professor Gregory Merchiston, examines the body and finds startling clues.
This is the second Sarah Gilchrist novel, and I sincerely hope there will be more.
Published by Pegasus, 2019
Sarah is engaged to Miles Greene, much against her will. One evening, at the Greene home, while dinner is being served, the corpse of one of the maids is found in the yard behind the bushes, with her skull bashed in. Sarah is anxious to know if anything else contributed to the cause of death, and, so, with her friend and mentor Professor Gregory Merchiston, examines the body and finds startling clues.
This is the second Sarah Gilchrist novel, and I sincerely hope there will be more.
Published by Pegasus, 2019
May 24, 2019
I have fallen in love with these characters and this series and can't wait to read more.
The Wages of Sin arrived in my hands a few months ago when it passed through the circulation desk at the library where I spend my 9-5's. The story held promise and it delivered. When I learned the second of the series would be released soon I instantly submitted a purchase request! Now I'm already anticipating the third.
Sarah Gilchrist is a fierce heroine, she stands up to a society hell-bent on keeping her in its clearly defined lines. Her story and the scenes where it takes place are thoroughly engaging and well described. I can clearly see each scene, even without a mass of detail in the writing.
The mystery in this particular book was slightly held in the background and the tale of Sarah's heart took center stage. I found it to be a quick and captivating read, at times wishing it could have been longer. I'll be back for more, hopefully sooner rather than later.
The Wages of Sin arrived in my hands a few months ago when it passed through the circulation desk at the library where I spend my 9-5's. The story held promise and it delivered. When I learned the second of the series would be released soon I instantly submitted a purchase request! Now I'm already anticipating the third.
Sarah Gilchrist is a fierce heroine, she stands up to a society hell-bent on keeping her in its clearly defined lines. Her story and the scenes where it takes place are thoroughly engaging and well described. I can clearly see each scene, even without a mass of detail in the writing.
The mystery in this particular book was slightly held in the background and the tale of Sarah's heart took center stage. I found it to be a quick and captivating read, at times wishing it could have been longer. I'll be back for more, hopefully sooner rather than later.
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