Many thanks to my friends at @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the #gifted copies.  

 

With history primarily focused on the impact of men, I’m always intrigued to learn about the women hidden behind the men’s shadows.  

 

Epidemiologist Dorothy Hortsmann was smart, determined, and passionate about finding a cure for polio.  With a nation in peril… many people dying or paralyzed by a disease running rampant… Dr. Hortsmann persistently sought a cure.  

 

Based in research, the look at Dorothy’s resolve for science is worth attention.  I was fascinated by the discoveries, the theories, and the surprising timeline (with its many interruptions).  Coming out of the covid pandemic, the part of this story steeped in history felt eerily resonate.  

 

Given that this is historical fiction, I expected liberties to be taken with Dorothy’s story.  However, I found the fictitious additions, primarily the romantic ones, inauthentic to the time and person.  

 

Given that, the spotlight on Dorothy’s worthy accomplishments felt dimmed and made the overall book less impactful.