by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of A Changing Light, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

Twenty-first Century Woman in the Nineteenth Century
It’s 1890s, Amesbury, Massachusetts, a time of change and innovation, yet much in nineteenth-century society remains the same: class divisions, societal prejudices, and limitations with which have-nots continue to struggle. Although women suffer few opportunities, twenty-seven-year-old Quaker Rose Carroll has proven to be the exception. She took over her mentor’s midwifery practice providing women, no matter what their class, race, or economic status, with pre- and post-natal care which in some cases means keeping confidence and being a voice when they have none. Her apprentice, Annie Beaumont, has progressed well enough in skill and confidence to be asked to be Rose’s partner. However, her most loyal supporter is Dr. David Dodge with whom her relationship has evolved from colleague and friend to wife and soon-to-be the mother of his child. Yes, the midwife finds herself expecting their first child. Her husband pleads she take care, but he knows, although she is not careless, suspicious deaths is a predicament in which she’s too often been entangled. Now Acting Chief of Police Kevin Donovan also values her input, especially since she often has access he lacks, and when a new murder occurs, even the townspeople inquire whether Rose will be assisting the police. Life can be serious and complex, but Rose is well-grounded in her sense of justice, ideals of fairness, connection to family, and her faith in God. She is a delight for any era!

A Changing Light earns 5/5 Innovations…Engaging Historical Mystery!
The Amesbury Daily News is filled with information about the Spring Opening that attracts visitors from around the world to the Massachusetts town. The planned events including social gatherings, soirées, and carriage companies opening their doors to the public. It’s a great boast for local businesses and good PR for the carriage industry. But, the news of the brutal murder of a Canadian executive from Canada’s biggest carriage company has gossip moving at electric speed. Justice Harrington was shot multiple times and acting Chief Donovan has asked Rose to keep her eyes and ears open for any gossip that might bear enough fruit to make an arrest. He also tells Rose that plans for a new innovative horseless carriage design have gone missing. Are the crimes connected?

Electrifying! Edith Maxwell again brings to life a realistic glimpse, good and bad, into the late nineteenth century with the lovely, yet capable, young Quaker midwife, now pregnant herself, at the center. Along with a clever, complex murder mystery in which Rose Dodge is assisting the police, there is a fascinating look into the thee-s and thy-s of Rose’s Quaker beliefs and practices along with midwifery, the women who provide assistance, and the women they help in a society. The limitations, separations, and cases of tuberculosis nearing epidemic proportions are also woven throughout. It’s also a time on the verge of many innovations, some with resistance, that today have become ingrained in our modern lives with some issues having a contemporary feel: electric carriages and cases of consumption running ramped in the community. With all the historical details or based-on-history events and characters one is humbled by the level of research that Maxwell accomplished for this book and the series itself (See Author’s Notes). It kept me totally engaged! But, Maxwell doesn’t make this a fact after fact history book; her entertaining narrative, descriptive language, clever banter, and well-developed characters make for a thrilling tale of epic proportions.

For me, it’s been the rich characters that kept me an eager fan. Rose’s transformation from apprentice to professional midwife, from colleague to friend, from wife to new mother along with her family and friends have been fun to follow. I understand this may be the final installment. Despite missing stories with Rose, I am glad I was introduced to the series. It provided a great deal of fascinating information, inspiring characters, and beautiful characters.

This is a fun video. YouTube – Quaker Midwife Mystery Walking Tour (4:50)

Enjoy Edith Maxwell’s interview about the book and reading two
short passages on the Around Amesbury television show (34:35).

FREE SHORTS! More Rose…Quaker Midwife Mysteries Don’t miss Edith Maxwell’s website that includes so much more about her series. Rose Carroll is also prominent in several short stories included in some mystery collections currently on Amazon, and two short stories are currently free to read at Kings River Life.

A Questionable Death, a short story featuring Rose and her friend Bertie Winslow, is available for a free read over at Kings River Life Magazine. The story follows Rose and Bertie in 1888 Amesbury, Massachusetts, as they unravel a tale of abuse and deceit. Adam and Eva, another Rose and Bertie story, is also up for a free read on Kings River Life Magazine.

Be a Big Edith Maxwell Fan!
Macavity and Agatha-nominated author Edith Maxwell also writes the popular five-book Local Foods Mysteries series set on an organic farm, as well as Agatha-nominated and award-winning short crime fiction. As Maddie Day, Edith writes the wildly popular eight-book Country Store Mysteries and the new two-book foodie mystery Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries. She also wrote the two-book Lauren Rousseau Mysteries under the name Tace Baker.

Website — Edith Maxwell Mystery Author
Facebook — Edith Maxwell, Author
Twitter — @edithmaxwell

To enter to win an ebook of A Changing Light, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “changing,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen May 1, 2021. US only, and must be 18 or older to enter. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

The first chapter of Death Over Easy from another of Edith’s series that she writes as Maddie Day, was featured in a past Mysteryrat’s Maze Podcast episode. You can find it here, or use the player below:

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters read by local actors. A new episode goes up next week.

You can use this link to purchase this book from Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying year 2 of retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband of 26+ years.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.

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