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Book Review of Solving Sophronia (Blue Orchid Society, Bk 1)

Solving Sophronia (Blue Orchid Society, Bk 1)
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Lady Sophronia writes society news for one of the city's newspapers. She's bored and escapes another tedious ball by finding respite in the library. So she's surprised when other young women also flee to the library. As they talk and complain about their lives, they form a pact to do something they want to do that means something to each woman personally. Lady Sophronia aims to be recognized as a news reporter, not just a society writer.

Detective Jonathan Graham leads a good group of police officers constantly working against the clock to solve murders and other violence. But unfortunately, they solve few crimes because the police have a hard time discovering the identity of the victims. Most murder victims at that time were just buried in a potter's field because the police had no identification or idea of what the victim did in life.

A child comes into the police office and yells for the police to come to see a murdered woman. By the time the police arrive, Lady Sophronia is leaning over the woman, taking notes. Detective Graham is not amused and tries to push the woman aside. However, as a purveyor of everything fashionable, Lady Sophie remarks that the gown is fine but not correctly fitting the deceased woman. Suddenly, Detective Graham realizes he is in deep water; he doesn't know a thing about women's fashions.

When Graham gets nowhere with his inquiries, he asks for Sophie's help. She strikes a bargain to get the exclusive story as soon as the perps are caught. Graham reluctantly allows Sophie to help in the investigation.

At the end of the story, the author explains her reasoning behind writing this series. Too often, women are adversaries in novels. Jennifer Moore wanted to portray women more as she has experienced them, as supporters and helpers to each other. So, that small group of women who met in the library formed the Blue Orchid Society to help each other as they changed their lives. As a nice contrast, Sophie's mother and sister are demeaning and unkind to Sophie.

This is a pleasant, if unrealistic, story about British Victorians.