Desperate women, rich and poor, come to her in need of help – and discretion. Dolly Merishaw is a midwife and an abortionist in Victorian Toronto, but although she keeps quiet about her clients' condition, her contempt and greed leaves them resentful and angry. So it comes as no surprise when this malicious woman is murdered. What is a shock, though, is that a week later a young boy is found dead in Dolly's squalid kitchen. Now, Detective Murdoch isn't sure if he's hunting one murderer – or two.

Author Biography

MAUREEN JENNINGS's first novel in the Detective Murdoch series, “Except the Dying,” was published to rave reviews and shortlisted for both the Arthur Ellis and the Anthony first novel awards. The influential Drood Review picked “Poor Tom Is Cold "as one of its favourite mysteries of 2001. "Let Loose the Dogs” was shortlisted for the 2004 Anthony Award for best historical mystery. “Night's Child” was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award, the Bruce Alexander Historical Mystery Award, the Barry Award, and the Macavity Historical Mystery Award. And “A Journeyman to Grief "was nominated for the Arthur Ellis Award. Three of the Detective Murdoch novels have been adapted for television, and a Granada International television series, "The Murdoch Mysteries,” based on the characters from the novels, is entering its third season on CityTV and UKTV.