An Electrifying New Series

A Spark of Death (The First Professor Bradshaw Mystery) by Bernadette Pajer
(Adult Mystery)

What a great addition Professor Bradshaw is to the literary world!

I sometimes hesitate when reading historical mysteries because I find they are often too steeped in history to really have any thrill, but that isn't the case with this book.  A Spark of Death sparkles with excitement from the first chapter and doesn't let the reader go until the very last word.

Bradshaw is a young professor at a university in Seatlle when an electrifying murder happens on campus and he is accused of the crime!  In true Holmesian fashion, he doesn't allow one feather to ruffle but sets around finding the criminal in short order.  Bradshaw is so attentive that he lists everyone as a potential suspect (including himself since the victim was a man he loathed) and then sets about to prove each theory in a scientific fashion.

There are many qualities that made this a great read.  Bradshaw is an unusual detective and can't even be classified that way-yet!  (I'm hoping other mysteries will create a new detective here.)  I like that he doesn't know the ins and outs of police work or forensic science because we are solving the crime with him.  I found his personal life to be fascinating and his potential love interest was a very beautiful moment in the book.  The other mini mysteries going on around him added depth to the story in a way that many other mysteries just don't have.  The minor plot twists with other characters were just as interesting and I very much want to see what happens to all the characters next.  The discussion of electrical elements in the book was important and yet the author explained it in a way that made sense to me, a non-scientific thinking reader.

Overall, the experience was as exciting as the Tesla coils in the basement.  I can't wait for the next installment.  Welcome to the mystery world, Benjamin Bradshaw!