I nominate
Except the Dying by Maureen Jennings set in Toronto in the winter of 1895. It is the first book in the Murdoch Mysteries series. The books are supposed to be grittier than the Canadian TV series which is based upon the novels (one my favorite TV shows - highly recommend!). This book was a Barry Award Nominee for Best First Novel (1998) and Anthony Award Nominee for Best First Novel (1998) when it was published. Available as an ebook internationally and also at Overdrive to borrow.
From Amazon:
Quote:
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Turn-of-the-century Toronto makes an evocative setting for murder in Except the Dying, a skillful first novel that is interesting both for its historical accuracy and its fully realized characters. The plot concerns the murder of a young housemaid, discovered naked in a snowy lane, and the cast of suspects spans the social strata. Yet it is William Murdoch, the detective in charge of the case, who breathes life into what might otherwise have been a conventional murder mystery. As he pursues his quest for justice, Murdoch also mourns the death of his fiancée; his manner of doing both reveals a compassionate, principled man
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