Season of Iron: A Rebecca Temple Mystery

by Sylvia Maultash Warsh

The newest Dr. Rebecca Temple book is set alternately in 1979 Toronto and 1930s Berlin. In Toronto, Rebecca follows a trail that begins when Birdie, the schizophrenic homeless woman she is trying to help, is killed. From the German fencing instructor in whose backyard Birdie lived to the Egyptian physician in town to talk up the new drug he is developing from snake venom, nobody is who they appear to be. Strangely, the two men seem to know each...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 155002616X
• ISBN13: 9781550026160
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Dundurn Press
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.4" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A good read!

Dr. Rebecca Temple wears a coat of many colors: doctor, widow, friend, lover, sister, daughter, auntie and amateur sleuth. Whatever persona she is in, she exudes an exquisite passion for it. In 1979 Toronto, the Jewish (non-practicing) Rebecca, has befriended a homeless person that everyone refers to as "Birdie." The woman has taken up periodic residence in the backyard of a German fencing instructor. If the irony escapes you there, then consider the fact that the instructor seems to have a past relationship (type unknown) with an Egyptian doctor in town to promote a newly developed pain killer for the pharmaceutical company he works for. Then suddenly one evening, Rebecca discovers Birdie, with her head bashed in, dead in said instructors' backyard. Berlin, Germany late 1920's, early 1930's. Hitler is on the rise to the complete maniacal domination of a country, the persecution of the Jewish culture has begun and a family by the name of Eisenbaum is trying to comply and survive. Their oldest child, Frederika, has a burning desire to be a physician. Overcoming insurmountable odds, she is able to achieve her goal, only to have it stripped away by the ravings of a madman. The paths of these two equally strong and defiant women will cross and collide in a magnificent crescendo. It is surprising, dramatic and emotional and had me wanting to shout "Hoo-yah! " The ease that Warsh has with bounding from era to era and from one geographical location to another is inspiring and had me loving one moment in time while hardly being able to wait to get to the other one to see what was happening. I hope to see more of Dr. Temple and definitely hope to hear more from Sylvia Maultash Warsh. Armchair Interviews says: Insights into important eras in history and how people's lives intersect.