Cozy mysteries are usually less violent and lacking sex, often set in villages where the townsfolk are part of the characters in the plot. This book is a page-turner and, like the cozy mystery, there is an amateur sleuth, Dr. Julia Lewis. There is the hint of a blossoming relationship between Julia and D. I. Tennant, but, for the most part, the relationship is based upon the thread of murders on which they’re focused. Because Julia is a woman in a profession owned by men, her services are not sought by those in the upper class. This book deals with those of all classes of citizens, but especially the lower class who were victimized by others. Among the problems discussed are deaths by cholera and those who used others for sex, including sodomy. The story is compelling and I found the book well-written. I recommend the book—just understand that a cozy historical mystery, it isn’t, IMHO. A good historical crime novel portraying the dark side of mankind, it is.