In 1815 young Daniel Connor, a medical student, has just arrived in Paris to further his studies when he finds he has been robbed by a fellow stagecoach passenger -- a mysterious woman surprisingly well-versed in natural history. Now lacking the documents and specimens needed to secure his post, Daniel must solve the mystery of the woman and why she would want a book manuscript and bits of coral.

I found this story to be enjoyable but not exactly riveting. I’m a fan of natural history myself, so it was refreshing to read about it, not merely as part of a work of fiction, but with an enlightened and sympathetic viewpoint. I haven’t yet decided whether to pursue Stott’s first novel, Ghostwalk.

posted Jan 10, 2010 at 8:54PM

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