No Comfort for the Lost: A Mystery
of Old San Francisco by Nancy Herrimann 384 pages
This
is the first novel in the “A Mystery of Old San Francisco.” Author Herrimann
introduces readers to his two main protagonists. First is Crimea veteran Celia
Davies. She came to the States with her husband, Patrick, who promptly signed
onto to a sailing vessel and has disappeared.
Celia,
a recent immigrant from Great Britain, feels for the Chinese immigrants who
often live in squalor. She opens a free clinic for the prostitutes, funded by
her late uncle. She lives in the uncle’s house with her half-Chinese niece and
an opinionated housekeeper. I believe the housekeeper was designed as comedic
relief, but it missed the point.
When
one of her patients, and a women Celia considered a friend, is found dumped in
the Bay, Celia vows to find justice for Li Sha. She works, often to his dismay
and in opposition of, with Detective Nicholas Greaves. Celia is more often than
not, getting in way and continues to find herself in dangerous situations that
could prove fatal to both herself and Nick.
No Comfort the Lost takes place in
1867. Herrimann does an excellent job in providing atmospheric details without
cluttering the book with unimportant information. For me, the book lacked
tension. I never felt that Celia and her entourage were in any real danger. I
also felt that many of the situations were the same, just located in a
different part of the city.
I
did like how Herriman tackled immigration---most of San Francisco hated the
Chinese and were ready to revolt, burning Chinatown and sending the foreigners
packing. Give readers a look at how foreigners were viewed a hundred and fifty
plus years ago.
I
give No Comfort the Lost 3 out of 5
stars.
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