the basic premise was interesting, if typical. San Francisco by gaslight, medically trained nurse who came through the crimean war, qualified as doctor but only able to treat the poor and immigrants due to her gender. Handsome police detective with a back story of loss. Couple kids around the edges for pathos, detective's assistant and maid for comic relief. There is a warehouse scene that was amazingly reminiscent of the campy 60's batman series where the villain explains everything, but overall, a fun read
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2.5 stars. I want to read more about the characters but, for this book in particular, it started off well but got slow in the middle. ( )

San Francisco 1867: Strong anti-Chinese atmosphere

Celia Davies, a young English woman whose husband abandoned her is now living in her uncle's house taking care of her much younger 1/2-Chinese cousin and running a free clinic for women.

When a pregnant young Chinese woman is found at the wharf in the water battered & cut open above the waist,, there are few who mourn and fewer who care. But as the young woman turns out to be, Li Sha, a former prostitute who has bought her freedom, now working at a local apothecary, and friend of Celia & her cousin, Celia begins to investigate Li Sha's murder.

Assigned to the murder is Detective Nicholas Greaves, who is interested in justice for Li Sha, no matter that the murderer might turn out to be from the upper society friends of the mayor...

A book that held my interest, with mostly likeable characters and a historical background that I really never knew about. ( )

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. ( )

Living a majority of my life in the Bay Area, I really enjoy reading historical fiction about San Francisco. This was a finely crafted mystery and had an unexpected ending. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. ( )