Readers looking for a new admirable heroine in a lighthearted cozy mystery series will throughly enjoy Clara Vale. The 1920s setting means Clara battles all sorts of misogyny, classism, and chauvinism as she attempts to make her own way in life as a scientist turned detective. Clara is a bit stiff at first but quickly settles in to a newfound life in Newcastle. She’s made of stern stuff and doesn’t *really* have any qualms about taking over her Uncle Bob’s enquiry business.

It’s nice to start a new series and watch the main character quickly grow into her role. Clara make friends (and enemies) and does so while solving several mysteries at once. I’ll be recommending this to fans of the Miss Fisher series and fans of cozy historical mysteries.