I enjoy both historical novels and detective stories and so, of course, picking up The Wages of Sin from a work book sale was a foregone conclusion. On the whole, I think the historical side of things works better than the detective side. The situation of Sarah Gilchrist as one of the first female medical students is instantly interesting. The cast of characters, which include professors, their wives and landladies, other students and Sarah’s family are all intriguing, even if none of them are particularly deeply drawn at this point. I want to read more of Sarah’s story: I’m itching to see how she continues to cope with her past trauma, how her relationships blossom and whether she can escape marriage to Miles Greene.
He was naked to the waist, with a sheet of dubious cleanliness covering his lower extremities for the sake of those of us who lacked his gentlemanly attributes.
Wages of Sin, Kaite Welsh
The detective side of things is less satisfying. I don’t remember whether, the first time I read The Wages of Sin, I was suspicious of the character Sarah considers her prime suspect. This time around, certainly, I was convinced that he couldn’t possibly be the murderer. It’s not surprising that Sarah isn’t a very good detective – there’s no reason that she should be, since this is her first time in close contact with crime. Nonetheless, as realistic as it is that she keeps running into brick walls and being (somewhat successfully) warned off the case, it’s also a little frustrating.
I still felt fragile, like a glass ornament rather than a living, breathing woman of flesh and blood, but for once Julia’s beastliness had been aimed elsewhere.
Wages of Sin, Kaite Welsh
Ultimately, it wasn’t the murder mystery that kept me reading, and it’s not what I’d be reading any sequels for, either. That said, I still want to read the sequels, so clearly Kaite Welsh is doing something right!
Chalk Letters Books 