Doctor Death by Lene Kaaberbol

3.5 out of 5 stars -- "There is such an unsatisfactory distance between the CAUSE of a death and the REASON for it."

I love forensic pathology mysteries and book descriptions such as the synopsis of this one grab me immediately. I loved the setting and the 1890s time period. I have read all of this author's previous books and so was immediately intrigued by this first one in a new series featuring a character named Madeleine Karno, the daughter of the forensic doctor in the provincial French town of Varbourg. When a local girl turns up dead in the alleyway outside her home, and when the priest who buried her is murdered and his body vanishes, Madeleine and her father dig deeper into the investigation. What do unusual mites,  enigmatic nuns, and nearly tame wolves have to do with these deaths?

This was great fast-paced reading until the discoveries and revelations toward the end that totally overwhelmed my ability to suspend disbelief. Just how close is the relationship between man and beast? Madeleine finds some cryptic clues that attempt to explain this unusual case.

The writing is excellent and the characters are intriguing so I will likely look for another in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the e-book ARC to review.