AnEdgarAwardFinalistforBestFirstNovelForfansofJacquelineWinspearandCharlesTodd,MurderbyDegreesisahistoricalmysterysetin19th-centuryPhiladelphia,followingapioneeringwomandoctorassheinvestigatesthedisappearanceofayoungpatientwhoispresumeddead.Philadelphia,1875:ItisthestartoftermatWoman’sMedicalCollegeofPennsylvania.Dr.LydiaWeston,professorandanatomist,isimmersedinteachingherstudentsinthelecturehallandhospital.Whenthebodyofapatient,AnnaWard,isdredgedoutoftheSchuylkillRiver,theyoungchambermaid’sdeathisdeemedasuicide.ButLydiaissuspiciousandsheissoonbroughtintothepoliceinvestigation.Aidedbyadiaryfilledwithcrypticpassagesofpoetry,Lydiadiscoversmoreabouttheyoungwomanshethoughtsheknew.Throughherskillattheautopsytableandherclinicalacumen,Lydiadrawsnearerthetruth.Soonaterriblesecret,longhidden,willberevealed.ButLydiamustactquickly,beforeshebecomesthenexttargetofthosewhowishedtosilenceAnna.
