Where the Light Enters - by Sara Donati (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the international bestselling author of The Gilded Hour comes Sara Donati's enthralling epic about two trailblazing female doctors in nineteenth-century New York

Obstetrician Dr. Sophie Savard returns home to the achingly familiar rhythms of Manhattan in the early spring of 1884 to rebuild her life after the death of her husband. With the help of Dr. Anna Savard, her dearest friend, cousin, and fellow physician she plans to continue her work aiding the disadvantaged women society would rather forget.

As Sophie sets out to construct a new life for herself, Anna's husband, Detective-Sergeant Jack Mezzanotte calls on them both to consult on two new cases: the wife of a prominent banker has disappeared into thin air, and the corpse of a young woman is found with baffling wounds that suggest a killer is on the loose. In New York it seems that the advancement of women has brought out the worst in some men. Unable to ignore the plight of New York's less fortunate, these intrepid cousins draw on all resources to protect their patients.

Review Quotes

"With its focus on smart, courageous women physicians, who were a rarity but certainly not unheard of in the late 19th century, Where the Light Enters easily sets itself apart in the genre of historical fiction...The controversial themes, headstrong heroines and gripping accounts of high-stakes medical trails all come together to create a winning combination."--BookBrowse

"Much more than a simple mystery plot, Where the Light Enters touches on the complexities of marriage, the bonds of family (both by blood and by choice), the pernicious effects of drug addiction and the challenges Anna and Sophie face as pioneering female doctors. Readers of historical fiction will find Donati's richly detailed narrative both satisfying and thought-provoking"--Shelf Awareness

"Donati crafts strong female characters who draw upon the wisdom of their ancestors to transcend the slings and arrows of petty racism and sexism."--Kirkus, on Where the Light Enters

"As she brings the sights, sounds, smells, and social mores of 1884 New York into sharp focus, Donati creates a timely tale of the past that illuminates the ongoing struggle for women's reproductive rights and sheds light on the passionate, centuries-long fight over abortion."--Booklist, on Where the Light Enters

"[Donati's] knowledge of 19th century New York is such that walking the kaleidoscopic streets alongside the fascinating Savard cousins feels absolutely real. This is a satisfying family saga as well as an absorbing mystery."--Historical Novel Society, on Where the Light Enters

"This is a riveting medical mystery."--Publishers Weekly, on Where the Light Enters

Praise for Sara Donati and The Gilded Hour, a Seattle Times Best Book of 2015!

"Spellbinding.... Captivating....An enthralling love story [and] a heartwarming celebration of human kindness."--The Seattle Times

"Powerful...gorgeous, vividly described."--People

"Compelling....This satisfying read, rich in interpersonal relationships of many kinds, is part romance, part mystery, and part serial-killer thriller."--Booklist (starred review)

"Each time you open a book, you hope to discover a story that will make your spirit of adventure and romance sing. This book delivers on that promise."--Amanda Quick, New York Times bestselling author

"Donati's saga of a New York family in the 1880s, with its exquisitely realized characters, is apt to inspire repeated readings.... As she brings the sights, sounds, smells, and social mores of 1884 New York into sharp focus, Donati creates a timely tale of the past that illuminates the ongoing struggle for women's reproductive rights and sheds light on the passionate, centuries-long fight over abortion."--Booklist (starred review)

"Donati crafts strong female characters who draw upon the wisdom of their ancestors to transcend the slings and arrows of petty racism and sexism.... Detectives, doctors, and dastardly scoundrels abound in this fascinating historical novel."--Kirkus

"Lushly written...Exemplary historical fiction, boasting a heroine with a real and tangible presence."--Kirkus Reviews

"Hugely satisfying."--The Orlando Sentinel

"Epic in scope, emotionally intense...an enrapturing, grand adventure."--BookPage

"From page one, the action is nonstop. The more you read, the better it gets."--Tulsa World

"An elegant, eloquent word journey...The author has [a] gift for capturing the history and the lives of the people of that time and place."--The Tampa Tribune

"A powerfully good read."--Toronto Sun

About the Author

Sara Donati is the international bestselling author of the Wilderness series, which includes Into the Wilderness, Dawn on a Distant Shore, Lake in the Clouds, Fire Along the Sky, Queen of Swords, and The Endless Forest.