A suffragist is murdered in Quaker midwife Rose Carroll’s Massachusetts town Excitement runs high during Presidential election week in 1888. The Woman Suffrage Association plans a demonstration and movement leader Elizabeth Cady Stanton comes to town to rally the troops. When Quaker midwife Rose Carroll finds the body of the group’s local organizer the next morning, she can’t help but wonder who … can’t help but wonder who could have committed the murder.
Rose quickly discovers several people who have motives. The victim had planned to leave her controlling husband, and a recent promotion had cost a male colleague his job. She had also recently spurned a fellow suffragist’s affections. After Rose’s own life is threatened, identifying the killer takes on a personal sense of urgency.
Praise for the Quaker Midwife Mysteries:
“An intriguing look at life in 19th-century New England, a heroine whose goodness guides all her decisions, and a mystery that surprises.”-Kirkus Reviews
“Introduces a series heroine whose struggles with the tenets of her Quaker faith make her strong and appealing. The author also imparts authentic historical detail to depict life in a 19th century New England factory town.”-Library Journal
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I really enjoyed this latest installment of Maxwell’s 19th century Quaker Midwife series. Rose Carroll, Quaker midwife, finds a dead body that might be linked to the Suffrage movement that is reaching new highs during the heated 1888 presidential election. Among many possible suspects, Rose is in the perfect position to help local detectives since she can easily be in places they cannot. When Rose’s own life is threatened, she must turn the tide to find the culprit to bring justice for her friend and to find the killer before it’s too late.
I have read a couple of other books in this series and have always loved Edith Maxwell’s main character, Rose. She is a devout Quaker and balances her faith with working in a world full of women in labor, detectives, and murder. The plot centers around the women’s movement with appearances by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and John Greenleaf Whittier. Rose Carroll finds a suffragette brutally murdered in a town where the idea of women getting the vote is not always popular. Great historical mystery!
TURNING THE TIDE by Edith Maxwell
The Third Quaker Midwife Mystery
The year is 1888 and Amesbury, Massachusetts is gearing up for the presidential election. Fighting for the right to vote, noted Suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton has come to Amesbury to lend her support to the Woman Suffrage Association. Midwife Rose Carroll, a Quaker and supporter of equality between the sexes, has joined the group and received her sash in preparation for the big demonstration on election day. Returning home in the early hours of the morning Rose discovers the body of Rowena Felch, leader of the group. Who could have killed her? A robber? The husband she was about to leave? The co-leader of the organization? Or a man who hated the cause?
Rose Carroll is a delightful protagonist. Smart and proud of who she is, even though she doesn’t quite fit in with societal norms of the time. Although Rose is a confident woman, this third Quaker Midwife Mystery finds her doubting herself and her relationship with David. With so many forces against them, will they be able to make it work? Rose also has to worry about her brother-in-law’s behavior as she performs her midwifery duties and trains an apprentice. To make matters worse, after making some inquiries about the murder, Rose finds herself the target of the killer!
I love the historical details found in this book, from clothing and bicycles to the food. The addition of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and John Greenleaf Whittier provides such verisimilitude and setting the story during such an important time makes history come alive. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Seneca Falls, the site of the first Convention on Women’s Rights, and even stand in Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s house! Especially now, it’s important to revisit the past, not only to see how far we’ve come, but how far we have to go, and to sigh that some things haven’t changed at all.
TURNING THE TIDE is an engrossing mystery set during a fascinating time in history with vibrant characters who are pertinent today. While entertaining, it also provides a great history lesson and gives readers lots to contemplate; about society, equality, and justice.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
I loved Edith Maxwell’s TURNING THE TIDE
Wearing “Votes for Women” on sunflower yellow sashes, a peaceful assembly of over a hundred women, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, is greeted with hostility and violence . . . and a long wait for success, a lesson in persisting. Rose Carroll tries to keep her focus on helping babies find “safe passage into the world,” but other problems intrude, including murder, a trial to her peaceable ways and a danger to her life. The hostility of the society matron Clarinda, mother of her “intended” David, is another worry, as is the temper and intemperance of her brother-in-law Frederick.
Thank goodness for Rose’s mother Dorothy, who comes for the demonstration and Rose’s birthday, but helps to soothe conflicts, nurse her wounded daughter (finally a work that treats head injuries with appropriate seriousness), and stand up for right in her sensible and loving and fierce way that reminds me a bit of my tiny mom defending her offspring. Offering comfort, “food always soothes the spirit,” Dorothy also advocates a sensible shortening of skirts “longer skirts sweep tuberculosis germs into houses” an aspect I hadn’t considered. (I was aware of the dangers of falls and fires, thanks to docents at Thornhill).
TURNING THE TIDE is complex and satisfying, with tension and resolution, and haunting issues, political and personal. I’ve had unfinished books keep me awake, but this one, even finished, kept simmering in my mind . . . warm milk and bit of a milder book allowed sleep, but the book still resonates, lessons echo, and the brave and caring Friends inspire.
“We must work to give woman all the opportunities; higher education, the full development of her physical and mental faculties, the most enlarged freedom of thought and action. . . personal responsibility of her own individual life”
“I have good fellowship with people of all denominations. I think more highly of practical piety than of mindless adherence to doctrine.” (Whittier)
“not everyone should be the same in this world, don’t you think?” (Zula’s sister Emily)
“I’d gotten quite a taste for teasing apart the various threads that knit together a case.” Rose
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It’s 1888 and women want the right to vote! Rose is getting involved with the Woman Suffrage Association and they will be demonstrating on Election Day. She has attended a few meetings and met movement leader Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
Coming home from a delivery Rose sees something by a bush. Sadly, it is the body of the head of the local Woman Suffrage group. Another murder in town. The police are following their leads but seem intent on someone Rose thinks is innocent. So with a little investigating on her own, she unearths quite a few suspects. When she receives an anonymous note telling her to stop investigating she knows she must be getting close.
I know when I pick up a book in this series that I will be transported back in time, be thoroughly entertained, and may even learn something. I love reading about the Quaker lifestyle.
In this story, we learn how marrying the love of her life could have her banned from her group for marrying outside her faith. Plus David’s mother doesn’t want him marrying outside his social status. David, a physician, and Rose, a midwife, make a fine couple. They are both forward thinkers too. He has no problem with her working or demonstrating for the right to vote. However, he does worry about her putting herself in danger with her investigations and rightly so.
I really enjoy the family time in the background of this story, baking bread, sitting down for family meals, and story time. Rose’s mother comes to visit and like Rose, she brings a calming presence to the family. She is part of the suffrage movement too and encourages her oldest granddaughter to join the cause. Smoothing over the participation with her father. When I think of Rose, calm is the first word that comes to mind. Whether helping with a birthing crisis or facing off with dangerous people she keeps her wits about her and thinks things over, trying to have a plan before acting.
The mystery part of this story was complex. The suspects ran the gambit from the victim’s spouse, her friends, people against the woman’s right to vote and just some general unsavory individuals around town. What came to pass was very exciting with a surprising ending.
Edith Maxwell is such a wonderful storyteller. Though the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote didn’t happen until 1920, it is stories like this one that brings to light the long and hard suffrage movement. With that as the theme of Rose’s story fiction and real events collide to reinforce the knowledge of the fight that started the equal rights for women movement. Rights we are still fighting for in 2018.
The characters and the dialogues are genuine. The settings are described so well. The main plot and subplots blend together nicely and the book flows effortlessly.
Until next year, I can’t wait!
While the country is gearing up for the Presidential election of 1888, Rose Carroll and others in her town in Massachusetts are gearing up for a peaceful protest in support of women’s suffrage. Days before the election, Rose finds the body of Rowena Felch, the local leader of the movement, dead outside her home. Could it be that someone hates the idea of women voting that much? Or is there another motive?
While women’s suffrage is a strong theme in the book, Rose quickly finds other motives for murder. I did feel the plot slowed down a time or two, but that never lasted for very long. In fact, the author was able to work in development in the mystery in the middle of some of the scenes about the suffrage movement. I especially appreciated the fact that some of the males in this book supported the movement, too. The characters are great as always, and a couple of sub-plots advance series storylines well. All told, this is another great book.
TURNING THE TIDE by Edith Maxwell is an extremely wonderful book to read on multiple levels. It will entertain and excite those interested in mysteries, midwifery, Quaker, historical events and women suffrage.
Midwife Rose Carroll staying true to her Quaker beliefs is able to support the women suffrage right to vote campaign. The talk and dedication to detail in the book for this campaign helps us to understand how it was to live back when women didn’t have the rights of men and how far we have come. It’s one of the campaign meetings that brings Rose to meeting the murder victim the night before her demise. This isn’t the first murder that Rose has had dealing with. By now she is a welcome visitor into the police station often to offer information and details to Officer Kevin Donovan.
Rose has problems of her own including being engaged to David Dodge, who isn’t a Quaker and whose Mother, Clarinda, doesn’t quite except Rose as a proper spouse for her son, and the prospects of being “read out of the Meetings” from the church for marrying a non-Quaker. She welcomes her Mom’s arrival for a visit hoping maybe she can help pave the way for a smooth upcoming marriage and find a way to appease the church that she is marrying a good man
The murder investigation takes many twists and turns. One of which has Rose injured and locked in an old and cold building. It’s a story that keeps you wondering whodunit and wanting to keep the pages turning. In the end, it’s her midwife skills that Rose finds the most helpful in the case.
Author Edith Maxwell delivers a very well researched and accurate to detail account of events for the time frame that TURNING THE TIDE is written in – the Presidential election of 1888. Her desire to be accurate in people, speech, dress, occupations, and events of the time is apparent down to the tiniest of details which enables the reader to actually step back in time through the pages of her book.
TURNING THE TIDE by Edith Maxwell is the third book in the A Quaker Midwife Mystery series. This was the first book in the series that I have read so it can definitely be read as a standalone. I know that after reading this one, I will definitely be reading the first two books in this series and am hoping there will be a number four yet to come. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a great mystery or a well written book that will turn you into a mystery lover.
Be careful the author has brought our midwife Quaker Rose back, and unfortunately bodies seem to follow her too. We are in the 1880’s Massachusetts, and we are at historical meetings and suffragette demonstrations with some famous people.
I loved reading about how hard these women fought to get the vote, and how some men were so against it, really makes you think, and also what a lot take for granted.
We go to the deliveries of new babies, and wonder if Rose and
David will be able to go ahead and have their wedding, forces sure do seem to be against them. One good thing, it does look like there may be another book to answer some of these questions, and that makes me happy!
I enjoyed this story, and wasn’t sure of the who done it until the very end.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Midnight Ink, and was not required to give a positive review.
Turning The Tide is the third book in the A Quaker Midwife Mystery series.
I really love this series from Edith Maxwell. The books are all well-plotted stories and have interesting and believable character. Maxwell has researched well, the time and area to provide the reader with an accurate portrayal of life in the late 1800’s Massachusetts. There is also the cameo appearance by John Greenleaf Whittier, Elizabeth Cady, and Susan B. Anthony.
It’s 1888 and the presidential election is just around the corner. In the quaint little community if Amesbury the Amesbury Women Suffrage Association are having planning meetings for the protest they will put on on election day seeking the right to vote. One evening after a suffrage meeting, Rose Carroll is called to an impending birth. As delivering the baby she is heading home, near dawn and comes across the body of Rowena Felch hidden under a lilac tree in front of her home and looking through a front window at her it appears that a room has been ransacked. Rose had just met Rowena the evening before at the organizational meeting. When Det. Kevin Donovan arrives at the scene, Rose informs him that Rowena and a Zula Goodwin had exchanged some heated words at their meeting the evening before.
In the past, Donovan has appreciated Rose’s help in solving other cases and offers to help find the person that murdered Rowena. Someone comes forward and claims to have seen Hilarius Bauer near Rowena home that evening. The police chief wanting a quick solution to the case orders Donovan to arrest Bauer. Rose feels certain he is not the murder and continues to investigate.
On election day at the rally, a Leroy Dunnsmore a known opponent to the Suffrage movement tries to shoot Elizabeth Cady. It seems that Rowena’s husband might be innocent, as he had been out of town when the murder happened, but then he could have hired someone. Rose isn’t still sure whether the reason for the killing is related to her involvement in the suffrage movement or revenge for something more personal. When an attempt is made on her life, Rose knows she has to mover quick or she might be the next victim.
If working as a midwife and investigating this murder, Rose also has to deal with her impending marriage to David Dodge, a doctor. Dodge is not of the Quaker faith and Rose has been told by Ruby Bracken that she will be read out of the Friends if she does marry Dodge. In addition, Dodge’s mother is dead set against the marriage, thinking her some could marry someone better.
This was an exciting book with a few twists and turns and was a book that was hard to put down.
I definitely want to read the next book in this exciting and informative series.