Belle Blackburn’s ‘The Doctor’s Daughter: Journey to Justice’

If you have been following my reviews, you probably have seen a few books I have reviewed by local authors. I always consider it a treat to get to do such reviews, so I am excited to review Belle Blackburn’s The Doctor’s Daughter: Journey to Justice. The story is set in the 1860s in the fictional community of Peony, Tennessee (which is just south of Nashville) and follows young Kate Seaver, a teenage girl who is obsessively searching for evidence regarding her father’s death. Authorities believe that Mr. Seaver committed suicide, but a strangely realistic dream makes Kate suspect foul play. Whether or not the dream is really a message from her departed father, Kate’s actions will have very real consequences on her life and the lives of those around her, and she soon finds herself on a path of self destruction in her single-minded vendetta.

The Doctor’s Daughter is historical fiction, so while some of the main characters are fictional, a great deal of the supporting roster and events involved in the plot actually took place. Perhaps one of my favorite details of Blackburn’s work is how medical practices are performed in the story. Blackburn’s writing is imaginative and precise, and often makes you feel like you are sitting in the room with the doctor. This is particularly effective given the setting: both the protagonists and the readers feel that these more modern (for the time) practices are foreign. Alas, a story cannot soar without a likable protagonist. Luckily, Blackburn has successfully crafted a realistic, strong female personality without betraying the time period. Kate plays the social game in all the right ways: smiling when she needs to, but always holding on to a flickering ember of anger deep inside her heart. As a male reader, it can often be hard for me to truly connect to a female protagonist, but I was pleasantly surprised at how easily I could identify with Kate. It certainly helps that the girl’s thoughts can be hilariously blunt – and true. The mystery in this book is handled excellently, and the pacing does not provide too little or too much information at once: a splendid blend of both Kate’s personal affairs and the mystery of Mr. Seaver’s death is tackled throughout the novel at an appropriate balance. If you are like me and love historical fiction or local authors (or, by all means, both), then you owe it to yourself to check out Belle Blackburn’s The Doctor’s Daughter: Journey to Justice. Fans of mysteries or period dramas will also find a great deal to love in this book. With a sequel on the way, I am definitely looking forward to more from Blackburn.