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Vita Carew Mysteries #2
A Thin Sharp Blade: A Cambridge Mystery for Vita Carew
Cambridge 1903.
Snubbed by professors and male students alike, Vita Carew longs to study science but can only borrow books and work alone. When a popular boxer dies and her brother collapses after an exhibition match, she spots a connection the experts have missed. The very professor who brushed her dreams aside is the one she must convince. Can Vita, with the help of a secret society of women students, an energetic swordsman and a strange lady photographer, convince the experts she is right and prove what really killed the boxer? And how will the glamorous widow react?
Shortlisted for the Crime Writer’s Association Debut Dagger Award 2019
A splendid bit of gothic-tinged fun. A witty mystery with a feisty heroine and irresistible period touches. Slip A Thin Sharp Blade into your handbag today!
Snubbed by professors and male students alike, Vita Carew longs to study science but can only borrow books and work alone. When a popular boxer dies and her brother collapses after an exhibition match, she spots a connection the experts have missed. The very professor who brushed her dreams aside is the one she must convince. Can Vita, with the help of a secret society of women students, an energetic swordsman and a strange lady photographer, convince the experts she is right and prove what really killed the boxer? And how will the glamorous widow react?
Shortlisted for the Crime Writer’s Association Debut Dagger Award 2019
A splendid bit of gothic-tinged fun. A witty mystery with a feisty heroine and irresistible period touches. Slip A Thin Sharp Blade into your handbag today!
362 pages, Paperback
Published April 6, 2021
122 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 12, 2020
A very interesting and enjoyable read
Set in the early days of the twentieth century, when it was very difficult for women to get professional qualifications, especially in medicine,this book is is both an account of one girl’s efforts to get an education and is also a gripping account of a murder and its solution. The opening certainly gets your attention straight
away and I could understand how the Crime Writer’s Association short listed this book for a Debut Dagger.
I do hope there will be other books about Vita and Cambridge because I really enjoyed ‘A Thin Sharp Blade’
Set in the early days of the twentieth century, when it was very difficult for women to get professional qualifications, especially in medicine,this book is is both an account of one girl’s efforts to get an education and is also a gripping account of a murder and its solution. The opening certainly gets your attention straight
away and I could understand how the Crime Writer’s Association short listed this book for a Debut Dagger.
I do hope there will be other books about Vita and Cambridge because I really enjoyed ‘A Thin Sharp Blade’
October 27, 2022
What I like about these stories is how the characters are portrayed. They are written much as people of their time. Vita isn't pushy, nosy, headstrong or adventurous (as some other authors write in their stories) but learning her way in a world where men lead in everything. She wants to get ahead but is still very naive and unworldly but taking small steps to achieve more for herself. I also really appreciate that the author didn't immediately put her into a romance and there is no flirtation and no male prospect. It is Vita's story.
As to the mystery - what was going on was pretty obvious so that lost a star rating from me.
As to the mystery - what was going on was pretty obvious so that lost a star rating from me.
May 29, 2021
Another fine mystery
This is the second mystery featuring Vita Carew, a young lady determined to learn. The mystery is what caused the death of a boxer after a bout. He was found dead in bed the next morning by his wife. The question is what killed him. Finding out the cause of death and then the culprit is Vita's and her friends' and family's task. Descriptions of the location (Cambridge, England) and the time ( early 1900s) are well down. Ms Smith has a deft hand also at developing characters. A very good read.
This is the second mystery featuring Vita Carew, a young lady determined to learn. The mystery is what caused the death of a boxer after a bout. He was found dead in bed the next morning by his wife. The question is what killed him. Finding out the cause of death and then the culprit is Vita's and her friends' and family's task. Descriptions of the location (Cambridge, England) and the time ( early 1900s) are well down. Ms Smith has a deft hand also at developing characters. A very good read.
January 28, 2023
I read this as the second in the series, some of the info was confusing as to the order of the books.
Main character a young woman with a sharp mind and keen interest in science but suffering the usual fate of education having been given to her brother only. Still she finds her own way of gaining knowledge and due to the events of the book a chance at education. Getting there are murdes to solve and some personal tragedies.
It's definitely a read next book series.
Main character a young woman with a sharp mind and keen interest in science but suffering the usual fate of education having been given to her brother only. Still she finds her own way of gaining knowledge and due to the events of the book a chance at education. Getting there are murdes to solve and some personal tragedies.
It's definitely a read next book series.
November 11, 2021
Delightful and smart protagonist
I am so sick of series where the MC is stunningly beautiful. This author shows that women have minds, and personalities, goals, and hopes and fears. Vita is not perfect, but she is smart and willing to try and work hard. That is my idea of a worthy heroine. The plot and supporting characters were also very engaging.
I am so sick of series where the MC is stunningly beautiful. This author shows that women have minds, and personalities, goals, and hopes and fears. Vita is not perfect, but she is smart and willing to try and work hard. That is my idea of a worthy heroine. The plot and supporting characters were also very engaging.
August 12, 2022
Well written, original and enjoyable
I had an enjoyable time reading ‘A Thin Sharp Blade’. The plot and characters were intriguing and different from the usual.
Recommended. The next volume is in my Kindle already and I bought the paperback for someone who prefers that format.
Thanks, Frans Smith
I had an enjoyable time reading ‘A Thin Sharp Blade’. The plot and characters were intriguing and different from the usual.
Recommended. The next volume is in my Kindle already and I bought the paperback for someone who prefers that format.
Thanks, Frans Smith
September 25, 2022
Really enjoyed this tale and following the tale of Vita Carew as she inadvertently solves crimes. It was nice to see some of the same characters and get to know them slightly better and also meeting some knew characters. This feels slightly higher than a 3
Star, but not quite a 4. It’s a great story and good writing but it is fairly predictable.
Star, but not quite a 4. It’s a great story and good writing but it is fairly predictable.
October 21, 2022
Still Good, But...
I'd like more romance. In the first book, there seemed to be a suggestion that Vita would have a romance with the German doctor. I expected him to be in this book, but he wasn't. I'm all for Vita studying science, but I want her to find a guy and have a happily ever after too.
I'd like more romance. In the first book, there seemed to be a suggestion that Vita would have a romance with the German doctor. I expected him to be in this book, but he wasn't. I'm all for Vita studying science, but I want her to find a guy and have a happily ever after too.
November 20, 2022
Book #2 is greater than the first, which is always a good thing in book series.
Fran Smith has scuffed Vita up, who has come out cycling, fitter, smarter and tougher for her series.
Having two books to read before January release of book #5 is already making me impatient for
book #6.
Thank you Fran Smith, a fantastic read / listen, much appreciated. :-)
Fran Smith has scuffed Vita up, who has come out cycling, fitter, smarter and tougher for her series.
Having two books to read before January release of book #5 is already making me impatient for
book #6.
Thank you Fran Smith, a fantastic read / listen, much appreciated. :-)
June 11, 2021
A Thin Sharp Blade...Book 2
This was a masterpiece in crime detection ...an amazing story with fabulous characters!...it is a long book to
Read but you must follow it to the end!!! enjoy!!
This was a masterpiece in crime detection ...an amazing story with fabulous characters!...it is a long book to
Read but you must follow it to the end!!! enjoy!!
March 27, 2024
gripping.
What an excellent story, and murder investigation. I’m glad to have discovered this author, and it’s good to read a story set in Cambridge, by someone who clearly knows it, and it’s history, well.
What an excellent story, and murder investigation. I’m glad to have discovered this author, and it’s good to read a story set in Cambridge, by someone who clearly knows it, and it’s history, well.
February 5, 2026
Fabulous read
I absolutely loved this fabulous murder mystery. Set in early 1900s Cambridge this was both a gripping murder mystery and also an eye opening revelations about the hurdles and sheer misogyny faced by early female scientific academics.
I absolutely loved this fabulous murder mystery. Set in early 1900s Cambridge this was both a gripping murder mystery and also an eye opening revelations about the hurdles and sheer misogyny faced by early female scientific academics.
January 26, 2021
Engaging characters
This is the second book in the series, but it stands on its own quite well. Fun books about bright, ambitious women during a time period that encouraged neither.
This is the second book in the series, but it stands on its own quite well. Fun books about bright, ambitious women during a time period that encouraged neither.
February 1, 2021
Very enjoyable
The plot was sound and the characters continue to develop. I would suggest starting with book one and going forward. I look forward to the next book.
The plot was sound and the characters continue to develop. I would suggest starting with book one and going forward. I look forward to the next book.
December 3, 2022
This series is not really capturing my attention though I will give it one more try.
January 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this. I felt it was well researched, and had a bit of humour as well.
August 21, 2022
Cambridge 1903 When her brother is injured and his boxing opponent dies Vita Carew investigates. Unfortunately not much of a mystery or who the guilty party was.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews