The Edison Effect: A Professor Bradshaw Mystery
Bernadette Pajer
Poisoned Pen, Sep 1 2014, $24.95
ISBN 9781464202520
In 1903 Seattle, renowned inventor Thomas Edison arrives at the
University of Washington office of electrical engineering Professor Benjamin
Bradshaw. The Wizard of Menlo Park
demands Bradshaw assist him in retrieving a dangerous gizmo from Elliot
Bay. Bradshaw respects Edison’s
brilliance but distrusts him as avarice and ruthless; so he refuses to help him
obtain the gadget invented by a former student of the professor, Oscar Daulton.
Meanwhile at the Bon Marché Department Store, an electrician dies
while holding onto Edison’s Christmas lights.
Bradshaw, Henry Pratt and SPD Detective O’Brien investigate the
death. At the same time, a widower with
a single child, Bradshaw struggles between his religion and his love for
Missouri.
The fine fourth Professor Bradshaw
early twentieth century historical
(see A Spark Of Death, Fatal Induction and Capacity for Murder) is made fresh by the unflinching look
at the complex Edison. The wizard lives
up to his mantra of “Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration”; but a
major part of the 90% includes mercilessness in his dealings with others. Readers who accept that portrayal will enjoy the Edison Effect on Bradshaw and others.
Harriet Klausner
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