A Bitter Remedy by Alis Hawkins Book Review

A Bitter Remedy is the first of a new mystery series from the author of the Teifi Valley Coroner series. While the latter is firmly set in Wales, the new series is set in Oxford with links to Wales through Jesus College and one of the main characters, Rhiannon (Non) Vaughan, one of a small number of female students allowed to attend lectures.

When a Jesus College undergraduate is murdered, Basil Rice, a College fellow, is asked to mitigate any scandal that could arise after the young man's guardian threatens to sue the College. Basil uncovers much about the student he didn't know and his task to keep things quiet becomes much harder when Non inserts herself into his investigation, causing havoc on more than one occasion with her actions.

Basil and Non are definitely a mismatched

team. Basil is quiet and unassuming, guarding a personal secret that could ruin him; while Non draws attention to herself by her outspokeness and superior attitude, jeopardising the future of female students at Oxford. There is nothing humble about Non and I found her annoying. At one stage I considered setting this book aside, but persevered because I know that Alis Hawkins writes excellent historical mysteries and, after all, that is what drew me to this series. I just hope I find Non less grating in the next book.

The historical setting is interesting. Aside from delving into the inner workings of Jesus College and the reaction to the influx of female students, the plot uncovers a vulnerable student's sad and lonely life, bound up with Victorian patent medicines, inheritances and homosexuality

Despite my niggles with the lead female character, Alis Hawkins did deliver another great mystery, which means I'm eager to get my hands on the next book.