Silence in the Library by Katharine Schellman
In Victorian England, a woman went from the care of her father to that of her husband. As a widow, Mrs. Lily Adler was free of her father and her departed husband. She had more agency than most 27-year-olds. She used that agency to become a private investigator. Her card read, “A Lady of Quality. Discreet Inquiries, Confidential Investigations & Mysteries Solved.” When a Bow Street Runner (precursor to Scotland Yard) investigated the murder of her father’s friend, Sir Charles Wyatt, Lily joined the investigation over many male objections, including her father’s.
The suspects were Sir Charles Wyatt’s family. His son Frank, who loved his father and claimed he would never have hurt him. His nephew Persey, who had gambling debts and was caught stealing from Sir Charles. His autistic son, George, was unpredictable. And finally, his young wife Lady Winifred Wyatt, who refused to share a bed with her husband, but was too small to move him into the position he was discovered.
The case became more complicated when someone murdered Ellen, a housemaid. Also, Maud was discovered, just a few days old, but also a child of the murdered Sir Charles Wyatt.
The book was true to the Victorian time period, and the investigation used clues such as how a maid would clean the house, and how people addressed each other in polite society.
A subplot involved the relationship between Lily and her unexpected and unwelcome house guest, her father, Mr. George Pierce. Her father did not approve of his daughter keeping her own house or investigating murders. Fortunately, Lily was capable of taking care of herself, whether by subterfuge or force. A feminist historical mystery.
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