Search - Hearts and Bones

This book is not a mystery so much as a thick and satisfying historical fiction novel with my favorite focus: the upheavals of history through women's eyes. The midwife Hannah, though anachronistically feminist, with her short hair and refusal to share "her" daughter with her daughter's father, lives a life as chaotic as any in the time just after the Revolutionary War. She is strongly loved, not only by her daughter's father, but by her family and a few good friends, including her cousin Jonathan; she is also beaten by a mob, and she is the female witness to all of the district's autopsies, as well as caring for the dead and not just the living as a nurse-midwife. This book is one I'd recommend to fans of Sharyn McCrumb's historical mysteries. First in a trilogy; sequels include Blood Red Roses and The Burning Bride.

Historical suspense novel that grabs the reader immediately. But hwat gives the story its power is the impossible love between a woman who values her independence above almost all else...and a complicated man trapped by his own sense of honor.

Interesting historical mystery ilnvolving midwife Hannah Trevor. This takes place in Maine in deepest winter.

In the middle of winter in Maine after the revolutionary war, a young wife and mother has been raped and murdered in her own home. The savage crime has touched midwife Hannah Trevor's world, drawing her into an investigation that could destroy everything and everyone she loves. Because the victim left behind a letter accusing three attackers before she died. And one of them is a man of wealth and honor, a wounded ex-soldier -- and the father of Hannah's illegitimate daughter.

This novel is not so much a mystery as a suspense novel. It grabs you when you first open the pages and pulls you in. Set in post revolutionary war Maine you quickly are forced into the world from a midwife’s point of view. Hanna is what you would think of as a feminist. She doesn’t conform to societies ideals for a woman. And really that is alright.

I have no read pure suspense book in sometime, and was really looking forward to this one. While it did fall somewhat short of my thought of what is a five star book it was still a good read. Some of the prose does go over board, and some of the scenes do drag. But over all it is a very enjoyable book. The characters are well thought out, and interesting. You do really want to know more about Hannah, and some of the other ladies of the book.

Most of the historical content is correct, except for one issue. Several references are made to the ladies being patchwork quilters. As a woman who knows her history (especially this era) and a woman who knows her sewing history as well it irked me. It is widely agreed upon that patchwork quilting as it’s called now was not done at this era. Quilting yes, but not the specifics of Patchwork. So that did bother me a little bit. But not enough to make me put down the book.

If you’re looking for a good historical that is just a short time after the revolution this is a good read. It doesn’t really have any romance on it. And you will follow a very interesting cast of women through the story.