A Bitter Remedy

About Book: Amongst the scholars secrets and soporifics of Victorian Oxford, the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow.....

Jesus College, Oxford, 1881. An undergraduate is found dead at his lodgings and the medical examination reveals some shocking findings. When the young man’s guardian blames the college for his death and threatens a scandal, Basil Rice, a Jesus College fellow with a secret to hide, is forced to act and finds himself drawn into Sidney Parker’s sad life.

The mystery soon attracts the attention of Rhiannon ‘Non’ Vaughan, a young Welsh polymath and one of the young women newly admitted to university lectures. But when neither the college principal nor the powerful ladies behind Oxford’s new female halls will allow her to become involved, Non’s fierce intelligence and determination to prove herself drive her on.

Both misfits at the university, Non and Basil form an unlikely partnership, and it soon falls to them to investigate the mysterious circumstances of Parker’s death. But between corporate malfeasance and snake-oil salesmen, they soon find the dreaming spires of Oxford are not quite what they seem…

My Thoughts: Bitter Remedy" by Alis Hawkins is an absolutely stunning novel that is sure to leave readers captivated from beginning to end. Set in the late 19th century in Oxford, the story follows the investigation of a murder when a young undergraduate is found dead in his lodgings. The characters are richly drawn and complex, each with their own secrets and motivations, and the plot is full of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Hawkins' writing is beautifully descriptive, bringing the area to life in vivid detail, and the historical elements of the story are seamlessly woven into the narrative. The themes of justice, community, and family are explored in a way that is both poignant and thought-provoking, and the climax of the story is both satisfying and emotionally resonant. Overall, "Bitter Remedy" is a masterpiece of historical fiction that is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Alis Hawkins is one of my definite go to authors when I want to read a book I know I cannot put down as she never disappoints.