I read book 1 right before diving into book 2 and while I'm glad that I read both, I don't think it's necessary to read book 1 before getting into this one.

I really enjoyed the FMC, Maple Bishop, and I enjoyed her even more after finding out that she's based on a real woman named Frances Glessner Lee. I'll be honest, I haven't done research yet on Frances but this book definitely inspired a desire to learn more about her. We learn a little bit about her from this book and learn a bit about her strong contribution to forensic science.

Maple Bishop, was an interesting character. I thought she was strongly written, compelling, and intelligent. The sleuthing and time period of this book and book 1 were both very satisfying to me. It felt atmospheric and I was really able to immerse myself in the story. I'm not sure if this is only meant to be a duology or if more books are coming, but if this series is going to continue, I'll definitely keep reading.

I think if you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes, this story might resonate with you. It had similar vibes in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.