Bernadette Pajer

Another winning entry in the Professor Bradshaw Mystery series by Bernadette Pajer. Her curious and somewhat befuddled electrical engineer and the quaint, young city by the sea are charming companions.

In these books, early Seattle is it's own character and this book keeps it interesting and alive. We're even introduced into some of the seedier neighborhoods and their denizens, without it quite becoming turn of the 20th century noir.

This story starts with a quite simple mystery. Who electrocuted the Bon Marche electrician installing the Christmas lights? But as Bradshaw and the police start asking questions, they always seem to wind up with more questions than answers and more suspects than they need. The writing is engaging, with clear cut characters and richly drawn settings. It's not a wild ride, but it's fun and puzzling right to the end. Recommended.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review.… (mais)

Entertaining and winsome debut mystery novel centered around the early days of electricity, which was itself considered a mystery at the time. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The historical and geographical setting of Seattle at the turn of the previous century was well crafted. It was obvious that everything was well researched, without the reader being hit over the head with it. The mystery was nicely plotted and characters clearly defined. I didn't figure out whodunnit until it was revealed.

While the writing was engaging, overall, I found it to be somewhat flat and repetative. Yes, we're in a mystery and, no, the protagonist still hasn't figured it out. But why are we spending what feels like a fourth of the novel rehashing motives and alibis for everyone? I feel like more could have been done to round out and deepen the characters and settings.

I liked spending time with Professor Bradshaw and the folks in Old Tyme Seattle. An extra star for the use of setting, science, and an engineer protagonist. I look forward to reading more books in the series.… (mais)

In “The Edison Effect,” the fourth volume in Bernadette Pajer’s Professor Bradshaw Mystery series, an electrician is found dead early one morning in a display window in the Bon Marché department store. Professor Bradshaw is called in to consult and he quickly determines that the electrician was murdered.

The strengths of the earlier books in this series, Pajer’s meticulous research and eye for interesting detail, are on display. Pajer’s depiction of 1903 Seattle will intrigue readers familiar with the present day metropolis. Unexpected details are woven skillfully into the narrative: the unpaved status of prominent thoroughfares; the care required to avoid horse droppings when crossing downtown streets; and the practice of walking arrested criminals to jail because the police department possessed only one wagon. A central element, clearly and accurately depicted by Pajer, is the social barriers encountered by individuals contemplating marriage to someone outside their religion.

Pajer also integrates national developments into the story to provide historical context: the competition between emerging behemoths General Electric (championed by Thomas Edison) and Westinghouse (supported by Nicola Tesla), and the Wright brother’s historic achievements in flight.

These strengths are undermined by a dissatisfying climax. Pajer failed to establish a strong background so the surprise ending is mystifying and unbelievable.

The potential of the Professor Bradshaw series continues to be unrealized because of shortcomings apparent in previous books. Most limiting is the failure to develop interesting, multi-dimensional characters to support Bradshaw, and to give them an active role in driving the story forward. Bradshaw retreats into his head in this story, becoming a brooding, self-absorbed figure obsessed with religious dogma and philosophical issues. His love interest, Missouri, is absent so we see her only in the context of his ruminations about their religious differences.

Pajer needs to add a lively, more upbeat character to lighten the mood. Bradshaw becomes a moody, boring character in “The Edison Effect.” It is difficult to imagine why Missouri would be interested in such a dour older man aside from the stereotypic belief that women have maternal instinct to rescue a helpless, wounded man. If Missouri were depicted as a genuine person rather than a product of Bradshaw’s ruminations, I think readers would find themselves rooting for her to come to her senses and realize that she could do much better.

It is disappointing to see such a promising series sinking under the weight of such melancholy.… (mais)

An electrical apparatus electrocutes a man and Dr. Benjamin Bradshaw is called in to investigate. Bradshaw developed the apparatus four years earlier so he has a personal interest in discovering what went wrong. He quickly determines that someone inserted a bridge to bypass the capacitors that reduce the strength of the electric charge, converting the machine into a murder weapon.

The health spa had only four guests at the time the fatality occurred, a married couple, a rich gold miner, and the con artist who had convinced Bradshaw to develop the machine four years earlier. Before long the husband is poisoned and the con artist dies while fleeing the police. The police conclude that the con artist poisoned the husband and that the original death was to an accident. They regard the cases as closed, but Bradshaw is convinced that they are mistaken.

Pajer’s depiction of Seattle and western Washington in 1905 is excellent. Even more impressive is her ability to portray the average person’s understanding of electricity during that era. She contrasts that nicely with the expertise of Bradshaw. At times these technical and historic details threaten to bog down “Capacity For Murder,” but for the most part she weaves these into the story in a skillful manner.

The Dr. Benjamin Bradshaw mysteries focus narrowly on Bradshaw. A familiar cast of supporting characters appear in each novel: Henry, Bradshaw’s best friend and assistant; Justin, his son; Mrs. Prouty his housekeeper; Missouri, his romantic interest; and a small group of his students. Unfortunately, all are one-dimensional sketches. The creation of more fully formed characters that have a significant role would leaven the historical and technical elements and help to maintain interest by moving the plot along at a livelier pace.

“Capacity For Murder,” the third entry in the Dr. Benjamin Bradshaw mystery series, is both enjoyable and enlightening. Mystery fans that have not yet discovered this series are in for a treat.… (mais)