05/13/2024
Boyd, a pseudonym for author Carrie Rubin (Fatal Rounds), crafts an artful dual perspective mystery that begins in 1853, when Catherine Miller, one of the first formally trained female doctors in the United States, graduates medical school in Cleveland, Ohio. Shortly after commencement, Catherine is murdered, simply because she was bold enough to study medicine as a woman. When her body is never discovered, her murderer goes free, leaving Constable Whitaker—in charge of solving her disappearance—stymied. Following her death, Catherine is reincarnated as an oak tree, cognizant of her murder but unable to communicate with the world around her. For 170 years, she stands as a passive observer to the world’s changes, all while desperate to solve the mystery of her own death.
A contemporary dual storyline follows homicide detective Lani Whitaker—who in many ways mirrors Catherine’s achievements, as she was one of the first female officers in Cleveland—while she combs through field notes left by her great-grandfather, Constable Whitaker, recounting Catherine’s unsolved disappearance. Boyd subtly connects the two women over time, hitting on the struggles they’ve both faced while fighting to be accepted in male-dominated professions against larger societal attitudes toward women, both in Catherine’s 19th century dealings and Lani’s contemporary crime solving efforts.
Boyd’s emotional language ably captures both relatable female leads, and the suspense builds as the women’s stories intertwine into a multiple mystery fallout, merging both historical and contemporary crimes alongside Catherine’s fears that her tree form is slowly dying, prompting her desperation for justice before it’s too late. Added to that mix is Mark Carver—present day owner of the land next to Catherine’s tree—and his growing cruelty, combined with dangerous secrets he’s determined to hide, with Lani hot on his trail. Amid the capers, Boyd touches on the humanity and understated power of the natural world, before delivering Catherine a respectful and satisfying ending.
Takeaway: Two barrier-breaking women fight for justice across generations.
Comparable Titles: Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones, Jodi Picoult’s Leaving Time.
Production grades Cover: A Design and typography: A Illustrations: N/A Editing: A Marketing copy: A
"Two remarkable heroes enliven this absorbing crime story."-Kirkus Reviews
"Uniquely original and a fascinating read from cover to cover...deftly blends mystery, suspense, and magical realism."-Midwest Book Review
"a lyrical, inventive detective novel"-Akron Beacon Journal
"Fractured Oak by Dannie Boyd is a fascinating murder mystery about two extraordinary women belonging to different generations ... Comprehensive, well-researched, and above all mesmerizing"-Readers' Favorite
2023-03-02
In this debut mystery, an Ohio detective’s homicide case has curious links to a doctor’s mid-19th-century murder.
In 1853, Catherine Miller becomes only the third woman to graduate from a prestigious American medical college. But before the new doctor can even celebrate, a blow to the head kills her. Her soul spends 170 years inside an oak tree, where, in the present day, she sits near the property of pharmaceutical scientist Mark Carver. As Catherine can’t move or speak, she can do nothing to stop Carver from killing someone and then hiding the murder weapon. Seasoned homicide detective Lani Whitaker picks up the case and quickly suspects Carver of something shady, but she’ll need concrete evidence, which is hiding somewhere close or maybe in the man’s past. Around the same time, Lani unearths her great-grandfather’s journal in an attic. She reads of his lifelong obsession with a “pretty young doctor” who inexplicably disappeared. This unsolved mystery parallels and ultimately connects to the detective’s present-day investigation. Some of Boyd’s engaging tale plays like a procedural. Catherine and the audience know Carver is guilty and can only watch Lani meticulously piece together clues. Mysteries nevertheless abound, from Catherine’s unknown killer to what Lani digs up in her homicide investigation. The narrative perspective alternates between these two women with similar lives but different time periods, aptly developing them both. For example, Catherine, as a tree, recalls men’s unfounded animosity and fear of her success. Lani, whose forced retirement is imminent, deals with a younger, condescending male police chief. While serious detective work fuels the plot, the author allots space for welcome comic relief. Highlights include Catherine’s becoming fascinated with modern things such as cars and charmingly snarky Lani’s calling her loathsome boss “Chief Toddler.” It all leads to a satisfying wrap-up of the mysteries as well as the women’s personal struggles.
Two remarkable heroes enliven this absorbing crime story.
