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Table of Contents
About The Book
The critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Boy in the Suitcase draws you into a “gripping” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) mystery from the very first line of this page-turning historical thriller featuring an ambitious young female detective challenging the mores of nineteenth century France.
Strong-minded and ambitious, Madeleine Karno is eager to shatter the constraints of her provincial French upbringing. She longs to become a pathologist like her father, whom she assists, but this is 1894. Autopsies are considered unseemly and ungodly, even when performed by a man.
So it’s no surprise that when seventeen-year-old Cecile Montaine is found dead in the snowy streets of Varbourg, her family will not permit a full postmortem autopsy, and Madeleine and her father are left with a single mysterious clue. Soon after, the priest who held vigil by the dead girl’s corpse is brutally murdered. The thread that connects these two events is a tangled one, and as the death toll mounts, Madeleine must seek knowledge in odd places: behind convent walls, in secret diaries, and in the yellow stare of an aging wolf.
Eloquently written and with powerful insight into human and animal nature, Doctor Death is at once a captivating mystery and a poignant coming-of-age story.
Strong-minded and ambitious, Madeleine Karno is eager to shatter the constraints of her provincial French upbringing. She longs to become a pathologist like her father, whom she assists, but this is 1894. Autopsies are considered unseemly and ungodly, even when performed by a man.
So it’s no surprise that when seventeen-year-old Cecile Montaine is found dead in the snowy streets of Varbourg, her family will not permit a full postmortem autopsy, and Madeleine and her father are left with a single mysterious clue. Soon after, the priest who held vigil by the dead girl’s corpse is brutally murdered. The thread that connects these two events is a tangled one, and as the death toll mounts, Madeleine must seek knowledge in odd places: behind convent walls, in secret diaries, and in the yellow stare of an aging wolf.
Eloquently written and with powerful insight into human and animal nature, Doctor Death is at once a captivating mystery and a poignant coming-of-age story.
About The Author
Photograph © Lisbeth Holten
Lene Kaaberbøl, the New York Times bestselling author of Doctor Death, has sold more than two million books worldwide. She has won several awards for her fiction, including a nomination for the Hans Christian Andersen medal. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages. Kaaberbøl is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Boy in the Suitcase. Kaaberbøl, born in Copenhagen, now lives on the Channel Island of Sark.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atria Books (February 17, 2015)
- Length: 304 pages
- ISBN13: 9781476731414
Raves and Reviews
“Deftly exploring such themes as the struggles between mind and body, science and spirit—without detracting from a gripping plot—the novel transcends its period to contemplate the eternal.”
– —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Madeleine Karno is a sleuth both true to the period and rooted in strength of will, gumption, and ambition.”
– —Sarah Weinman, editor of Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives
“Hair-raisingly well done . . . an incredibly successful novel.”
– Weekendavisen (Denmark)
"Engrossing... Sure to please fans of historical mysteries.”
– Library Journal
“Excellent . . . The author sucks the reader into a fascinating universe from page one.”
– Jyllands-Posten (Denmark)
"An utterly fresh, insightful, and enthralling thriller."
– Aftenposten (Denmark)
“A convincing thriller taking place in 19th century France, Doctor Death is a unique tale.”
– RT Book Reviews
"This beautifully crafted story had me riveted from start to finish!... I will definitely be looking for more of Lene Kaaberbol’s books to add to my reading list.”
– A Line From a Book, Blog Review
“Eloquently written and with powerful insight into human and animal nature.”
– BookReporter.com
"Readers can only hope this is the first of many Madeleine installments."
– MysteryCenter.com
“Madeline and the way that she handled the murkier parts of humanity mesmerized me.”
– Booksn’ WhatNot Blog
“If you're looking for a great historical, gothic-based mystery then this is the book you should grab.”
– Live to Read, Blog Review
“Madeleine’s inquisitive mind and candid voice are enough to keep us reading.”
– New York Times
“A one-sit read […] made me a confirmed, and impatient, fan of what I hope will be a long-running series.”
– Book Reporter.com
“Nail-biting Gothic Historical Thriller.”
– Popcorn Reads Blog
“Right away I was drawn in by Danish author Lene Kaaberbol's descriptive prose.”
– BookBrowse.com
"The author has given us once more a strong main character that is both intelligent and willing to get her hands dirty.”
– Readful Things Blog
Praise for The Boy in the Suitcase
"It packs an almighty punch.”
– The New York Times Book Review, Notable Crime Book of 2011
"A wild ride.”
– New York Post
"Once you start reading, you can’t stop."
– The Washington Post
"[The] uniquely Scandinavian style sure to draw comparisons with a certain blockbuster trilogy (this is better).”
– Associated Press
“Stieg Larsson fans will find a lot to like in The Boy in the Suitcase.”
– Publishers Weekly
"A debut that’s a model of finely tuned suspense.”
– Kirkus Reviews
"Ready to be discovered by an American audience.”
– Publishers Marketplace
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Doctor Death eBook 9781476731414
- Author Photo (jpg): Lene Kaaberbøl Photograph © Lisbeth Holten(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
