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. ( )

Acclaimed University of Washington Professor Oglethorpe if found dead in the basement lab of the engineering department and all the evidence points to murder. The police quickly conclude that professor Benjamin Bradshaw is the guilty party. Although the engineering students and U. W. President are sure that mild-mannered professor Bradshaw is innocent, the police and coroner are convinced they have their man. Given the apparent lack of intent to investigate further, Bradshaw concludes that he must discover the murderer or he will surely be convicted of a crime he did not commit.

My initial impression during the first two chapters was that the story was somewhat flat and Professor Bradshaw was not a particularly interesting protagonist. However, I shortly became engaged as the plot evolved and it became clear that Bradshaw was evolving as well. Indeed, the book is as much a story about the emergence of Bradshaw from his self-imposed shell as it is a murder mystery. The timid professor we meet in the early going is not at all the energetic, assertive man who identifies and apprehends the murderer at the end.

“A Spark of Death” provides an interesting view of Seattle in 1901 at a time the city was anticipating a visit from President McKinley. Western Europe and much of the U. S. were preoccupied with Victorian sexual morality at the time and Pager nicely depicts the way those standards and morés are expressed in the frontier town of Seattle.

Readers who appreciate stories with elements of historical fiction, personal development, romance, or particularly a well-crafter mystery will enjoy “The Spark of Death.” ( )

This is the first in the Professor Benjamin Bradshaw mysteries set in early 20th century Seattle. “When U(niversity of) W(ashington) Professor Bradshaw discovers a despised colleague dead inside the Faraday Cage of the Electric Machine, the police shout murder–and Bradshaw is the lone suspect. To protect his young son and clear his name, he must find the killer.”

I confess that I didn’t understand the electricity issues and, even though the mystery was fairly clued but not obvious, and Bradshaw himself is likeable, I probably won’t continue in this series.

Read this if: you understood those high school physics classes about volts and resistance; or you’re a UW or Seattle fan. 3½ stars ( )

Electrical engineering professor at U. Washington in Seattle in 1901. Nicely written, good characters. ( )

First Line: A curtain of pale hair hid the young man's downturned face.

When A Spark of Death begins, Professor Benjamin Bradshaw of the University of Washington is allowing a struggling student extra time to finish an exam. When the power goes out later, this electrical engineer rushes to find the cause and discovers the body of Professor Oglethorpe inside the Faraday Cage of the Electric Machine.

Shortly thereafter, Bradshaw's carefully structured and controlled life shatters. It's a well known fact that Bradshaw had absolutely no use for Oglethorpe, and this single detail makes him the one and only suspect as far as the police are concerned. Bradshaw has no alternative but to conduct his own investigation. Being a widower and the father of a beloved young son, Bradshaw has too much to lose.

Bernadette Pajer loves to do research, and she weaves the history of Seattle seamlessly into her story. The investigation takes on even greater importance due to the fact that during a visit to the University, President McKinley was scheduled to see both the Faraday Cage and the Electric Machine. Was this murder a dress rehearsal for the president's visit? Pajer also has Bradshaw visit the Snowqualmie Falls power plant, which turns out to be a very thrilling episode indeed.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It is fast-paced, and although my antennae twitched the first time a certain character was introduced, Pajer did an excellent job of distracting me. Historical mystery fans as well as those familiar with the eccentric and colorful history of Seattle should rapidly fall into the "Oh, I have time for one more chapter" trap (as I did).

I only have one small quibble: Pajer creates an excellent cast of characters-- Bradshaw's Cockney housekeeper Mrs. Prouty, his son Justin and his lodger Henry, as well as Henry's niece and various students, but Bradshaw is the only character who's explored to any degree. Bradshaw is a fascinating man, but I do hope that Pajer fleshes out the other characters in future books. Are there future books to anticipate? You bet there are: Fatal Induction, the second book in the series became available this week, and I look forward to reading the further adventures of Professor Benjamin Bradshaw. ( )