Review: A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang

Just beyond the Gilded Age, in the mist-covered streets of New York, the deadly Spanish influenza ripples through the city. But with so many victims in her close circle, young socialite Allene questions if the flu is really to blame. All appear to have been poisoned—and every death was accompanied by a mysterious note.

 Desperate for answers and dreading her own engagement to a wealthy gentleman, Allene returns to her passion for scientific discovery and recruits her long-lost friends, Jasper and Birdie, for help. The investigation brings her closer to Jasper, an apprentice medical examiner at Bellevue Hospital who still holds her heart, and offers the delicate Birdie a last-ditch chance to find a safe haven before her fragile health fails.

 As more of their friends and family die, alliances shift, lives become entangled, and the three begin to suspect everyone—even each other. As they race to find the culprit, Allene, Birdie, and Jasper must once again trust each other, before one of them becomes the next victim.

Kindle, 350 pages 

Published August 1st 2017 

by Lake Union Publishing

****

This is my first book by Lydia Kang and I am glad I read it. With well developed characters she wove together a mystery that kept me guessing right to the end.

Set in the Gilded Age there are current events taking place, the Spanish influenza outbreak and World War 1 has yet to end. Jasper, Birdie and Allene, once best friends but separated by events and society, are together again for Allene's engagement party when tragedy strikes. I found the first and second chapters a little hard to get into, once I passed that it was like the writing style had changed and I was totally immersed in the lives of these three young people.

As the bodies piled up and the mystery intensified the author made me care about them, each of them with unique backgrounds and hardships that they faced. It's a time period that I am just getting into, I enjoyed getting a glimpse of what life was like back then, which further enhanced the plight of these three characters. It wasn't hard to envision the distinct social classes, way of life and how those of high society can do as they please.

The ending was unexpected and one I didn't see coming. Definitely an author and book I recommend.

Thanks to TLC Tours for the invite to be part of this tour. I received an ebook copy (via Netgalley) for review purposes.

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Lydia Kang is a physician and author of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated from Columbia University and New York University School of Medicine. She completed her residency and chief residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City and currently lives in the midwest, where she continues to practice internal medicine.

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