Under the Dragon's Tail [Paperback]

Desperate women, rich and poor, come to her in need of help - and discretion. Dolly Merishaw is a midwife and an abortionist in Victorian Toronto, but although she keeps quiet about her clients' condition, her contempt and greed leaves them resentful and angry. So it comes as no surprise when this malicious woman is murdered. What is a shock, though, is that a week later a young boy is found dead in Dolly's squalid kitchen. Now, Detective Murdoch isn't sure if he's hunting one murderer - or two.

Vivid . . . heartwrenching. Late-19th-century Toronto comes startlingly alive in Jennings's second gripping tale. -Publishers Weekly

[Murdoch's] warm heart makes him the right sleuth for this cold city. -New York Times

A very powerful novel. -Poison Pen

There are touches of Anne Perry and Peter Lovesey in her clear-eyed look at the social ills of the period. -Denver PostMAUREEN JENNINGS's first novel in the Detective Murdoch series,Except the Dying, was published to rave reviews and shortlisted for both the Arthur Ellis and the Anthony first novel awards. The influential Drood Review pickedPoor Tom Is Coldas one of its favourite mysteries of 2001.Let Loose the Dogswas shortlisted for the 2004 Anthony Award for best historical mystery.Night's Childwas shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award, the Bruce Alexander Historical Mystery Award, the Barry Award, and the Macavity Historical Mystery Award. AndA Journeyman to Griefwas nominated for the Arthur Ellis Award. Three of the Detective Murdoch novels have been adapted for television, and a Granada International television series,The Murdoch Mysteries, based on the characters from the novels, is entering its third season on CityTV and UKTV.Chapter One

Sunshine was streaming through the kitchen window, making the flies sluggish as they crawled across the pine table. Irritably, Dolly Merishaw swatted a few of them, l-