A Lady in Shadows: A Madeleine Karno Mystery

In this second installment in the Madeleine Karno series (after Doctor Death), Kaaberbøl continues the story of a woman ahead of her time studying forensics in 1890s France, as she enters the University of Varbourg, becomes engaged, and, of course, finds herself in the middle of another mystery. When a young woman is murdered, Madeleine follows the trail, starting with the forensic evidence but also interviewing witnesses and gathering her own clues after the official investigation hits a roadblock. As she unravels more of the mystery, Madeleine begins to uncover intersections between her life and the life of the victim. Kaaberbøl ups the intensity by incorporating a victim of the real-life "French Ripper," Joseph Vacher, as well as the assassination of President Marie François Sadi Carnot, into the tale, which adds complexity to her story.