Fatal Induction: A Professor Bradshaw Mystery

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Fatal Induction: A Professor Bradshaw Mystery (Professor Bradshaw Mysteries #2)

by Bernadette Pajer (Goodreads Author)

3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 · rating details · 49 ratings · 19 reviews

Seattle, 1901. The race to win an electrical competition incites Professor of Electrical Engineering Benjamin Bradshaw’s obsession for invention in the second entry this exciting historical series. The contest winner’s telephonic system will deliver music from the Seattle Grand Theater to homes throughout the city, and Bradshaw is confident he can win.

The contest is in fu

...more

Paperback, 250 pages

Published May 1st 2012 by Poisoned Pen Press

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 145)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jul 31, 2012 Patricia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mystery, science, gypsies, and the assassination of President McKinley all play major roles in this novel. Benjamin Bradshaw is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and is currently involved in an electrical competition. The contest winner's telephonic system will deliver music from the Seattle Grand theatre to homes throughout the city. The reader can only imagine what this would mean to people sitting at home and able to hear music from the theater.

Bradshaw is sidetracked a bit when he finds...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 17, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, suspense-mystery, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://lasrmystery.blogspot.com/2012/...

Will Bradshaw’s obsession kill him before he solves the mystery?

I knew I was in for a real treat when I read the first sentence of Fatal Induction. “The first indication that Professor Benjamin Bradshaw’s life was about to plunge again into chaos appeared in the form of a flatulent horse eating Mrs. Prouty’s broad beans over the garden fence, its huge teeth tugging greedily at the vines.” Ms. Pajer’s excellent word choice allowed me t...more Originally posted at: http://lasrmystery.blogspot.com/2012/...

Will Bradshaw’s obsession kill him before he solves the mystery?

I knew I was in for a real treat when I read the first sentence of Fatal Induction. “The first indication that Professor Benjamin Bradshaw’s life was about to plunge again into chaos appeared in the form of a flatulent horse eating Mrs. Prouty’s broad beans over the garden fence, its huge teeth tugging greedily at the vines.” Ms. Pajer’s excellent word choice allowed me to picture the scene clearly in my mind. With a smile on my face, I eagerly dove into the book and lost myself in Professor Bradshaw’s world.

I liked Benjamin Bradshaw immediately. At first, he seemed like the typical disheveled, forgetful professor with a brilliant mind and less than stellar social skills. However, underneath all that, Bradshaw is a man who truly cares not only for his friends and family, but all the people who live in his city. I absolutely loved the tender moments when Bradshaw would take a moment to look at his son and marvel at how much he’d grown. Bradshaw’s interactions with a young woman named Missouri also serve to reveal his softer side and add just a hint of romance to the story.

When a young girl goes missing after witnessing the murder of her father, Bradshaw immediately throws himself wholeheartedly into the task of finding her. While I admire his genuine concern and determination, this situation exposes a dangerous element of Bradshaw’s personality. Bradshaw has the tendency to obsess over any problem his mind latches onto, whether it's experimenting with a new electrical invention or helping the police solve a crime. He works himself to the point of physical and mental exhaustion. Since Bradshaw is a single parent, I do wonder why he wouldn’t take better care of himself for the sake of his son, if not for himself. I also couldn’t help but wonder if Bradshaw’s exhaustion is completely due to overwork or if something a bit more serious is going on. Perhaps I’ll find out in future installments of this series.

In addition to creating a compelling main character, Ms. Pajer has sprinkled her book with a host of delightful secondary characters. Bradshaw’s son, Justin, is my favorite. In many ways, he's a typical eight year old boy who loves to run around outside playing with frogs and getting into some innocent mischief. However, like his father, there's much more to him than meets the eye. Justin is an intelligent and somewhat sensitive boy who has inherited his father’s caring nature. While Justin retains a childlike innocence, in some ways he demonstrates a maturity far beyond his years.

Ms. Pajer wove her mystery well and I was right about one of the people involved in the crime, but I didn’t know how this person had done it until the very end. I must admit I smacked myself in the forehead when everything was revealed because I had forgotten an important clue early on that would have allowed me to fit all the pieces together. Even though I wasn’t successful in solving the mystery before Bradshaw did, I certainly enjoyed the journey to the solution. I thought the conclusion was bittersweet. There are certainly elements contained in the final pages that are cause for celebration and others that make the heart ache a little. While I can’t say that I completely loved the ending, it did have a very realistic feel to it.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Fatal Induction. While it's the second book in a series about Professor Bradshaw, Ms. Pajer included enough background information throughout the story so seamlessly that I never felt lost. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great, historical mystery filled to the brim with interesting characters and suspense. (less)

like · see review

May 07, 2012 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1900s-era, a-favorite-writer, hardback-i-own, men-would-enjoy, murder-forensics-fiction, woman-writer

I simply want you to know how extraordinary I have found the Professor Bradshaw books to be. It's always fun to me to find a series of books with a great mystery and a protagonist to enjoy coming back to every year, but it's even more fun when the book holds several dear characters. Especially in an adult book format.

In addition to the obvious you've read above I found the underbelly of the book gripping; forensics--early investigation in that area of death and discovery; electronic means of cri...more

like · see review

Sep 06, 2012 Cathy Cole rated it 4 of 5 stars

First Line: The first indication that Professor Benjamin Bradshaw's life was about to plunge again into chaos appeared in the form of a flatulent horse eating Mrs. Prouty's broad beans over the garden fence, its huge teeth tugging greedily at the vines.

It's 1901, and another school year is about to begin at the University of Washington in Seattle. The obsessively organized Professor of Electrical Engineering, Benjamin Bradshaw, has everything ready for his classes which allows him time to partic...more First Line: The first indication that Professor Benjamin Bradshaw's life was about to plunge again into chaos appeared in the form of a flatulent horse eating Mrs. Prouty's broad beans over the garden fence, its huge teeth tugging greedily at the vines.

It's 1901, and another school year is about to begin at the University of Washington in Seattle. The obsessively organized Professor of Electrical Engineering, Benjamin Bradshaw, has everything ready for his classes which allows him time to participate in an electrical competition.

In this second book in the series, we get to see Bradshaw not as a teacher, but as an inventor who can lose all track of time down in his basement-- to the dismay of his housekeeper Mrs. Prouty. Unfortunately Bradshaw is not going to be left to his stimulating muse. Mrs. Prouty insists on complaining about the horse that's been eating her beans for hours, and when Bradshaw goes to investigate, he finds the horse hitched to an empty peddler's wagon. Although he searches, he can find no trace of the owner or his daughter, only bottles of Ralph's Restorative-- a tonic that has been making people ill.

Then the entire nation is thrown into shock: President McKinley is assassinated. But Bradshaw can't get the idea out of his head that a little girl is missing and may be in danger. Although he can't let the girl's disappearance go, he seems to be getting very little help from either his friend, Detective O'Brien, or Detective March, a policeman who tries his best to be helpful.

Trying to be his own investigator down in the Tenderloin (an area on the waterfront where all sorts of saloons, brothels, and other sources of vice abound), Bradshaw quickly learns that the only results he may get as a detective are results he doesn't want: putting his own son's life in jeopardy. Then as a few more pieces of information click together, the professor realizes that there may be a way to get the information he needs: turn his electrical invention into a trap to catch the killer.

I enjoy these Professor Bradshaw mysteries. Pajer's research into Seattle's history brings the city and the times to life in a very natural way, whether it's an amusing scene that lets us know how Profanity Hill got its name or by adding a character named Nell "Harry" Pickerell, a real young lady who preferred to go about town dressed as a man.

Another thing that is so enjoyable about these books is the way in which Pajer makes the history of electricity and of electrical inventions fascinating. We tend to take all things electrical for granted. Unless we live in areas that experience terrifying storms, most of us have never known more than a few minutes scattered here and there when we couldn't turn on a light or reach into the refrigerator for a cold drink. Pajer makes the early days of electricity and the inventors who bent it to their will exciting.

Even better than the historical detail and setting are Pajer's characters. Benjamin Bradshaw has known tragedy in his life. Although he still disappears into a fog of inventive fury, he is slowly coming out of his self-induced solitude and is making friends. His relationship with his son is an important feature in the books, and he even has his eye on a young lady-- although at this point he's still much too shy to do anything about it. (And I certainly wouldn't recommend his inviting Missouri Fremont over to dinner if Mrs. Prouty is doing the cooking!)

Yes, these are characters a reader can grow to care about very quickly, and even though it's not necessary to read the books in order for them to make sense, I think you should consider it so you can see how the characters and their relationships grow and change over time.

The only thing about Fatal Induction that I can't rave about is the mystery itself. Let me rephrase that. The mystery is a good one, it's the identity of the villain that I had trouble with because the minute the person was described I thought to myself, "Bingo!" As to the reasons behind the villainy? I didn't have those figured out at all, and oftentimes that's the most important part of the crime, isn't it?

If you're in the mood for an historical mystery that sets you down right in the middle of Seattle in 1901 with a good puzzle to solve and excellent characters to help you along the way, Bernadette Pajer's Professor Bradshaw mysteries are just the ticket.
(less)

like · see review

May 21, 2012 Tracey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was fun. It was a Netgalley selection, so to them I give thanks. As I've said before I never know quite what I'm getting with Netgalley books, so it's a happy thing to find something this good. This is the second book in its series, but was fine to read on its own; enough information was skillfully provided about what went before that I'm only slightly spoiled for the first book, and I definitely want to read it. Score one.

The hero of the series, Professor Ben Bradshaw, is - almost - a typ...more This was fun. It was a Netgalley selection, so to them I give thanks. As I've said before I never know quite what I'm getting with Netgalley books, so it's a happy thing to find something this good. This is the second book in its series, but was fine to read on its own; enough information was skillfully provided about what went before that I'm only slightly spoiled for the first book, and I definitely want to read it. Score one.

The hero of the series, Professor Ben Bradshaw, is - almost - a typical absent-minded professor. He is obviously brilliant, but not socially adroit; he lives in 1904 Seattle with his eight year old son and their housekeeper, Mrs. Pouty, a tartar if there ever was one: she cares about her charges, and won't hesitate to prove it by - verbally - beating them about the head and shoulders. On the outskirts of their household is Missouri, the bluestocking niece of an old friend for whom Ben helplessly carries a very bright torch, which for various reasons - not all of which are entirely clear to me - he tries very hard to extinguish.

Into a momentarily placid existence wanders one morning a horse, discovered in the passageway behind the house hitched to a patent medicine seller's wagon and eating the beans from Mrs. Pouty's garden. When hours pass without anyone coming to claim the wagon, and when Ben, investigating, discovers a doll and a young girl's clothing among the possessions still in the wagon, he sees to it that the police enter the picture; a missing child is not something Ben is going to leave lie. Add to his growing obsession with the vanished girl's welfare stories that begin to circulate about the patent medicine sold from this wagon being poisonous, bringing illness and blindness and perhaps even death, and Ben finds he's been dropped into a hornet's nest.

One aspect of Ben's situation which makes him very much an atypical professor – and, indeed, an uncommon fictional character – is that one of the things Mrs. Pouty is trying to guard him from is his own alarming tendency to work himself to the point that he blacks out – and it isn't simply a loss of consciousness. Whether this is something that would happen to anyone who allowed himself to become so engrossed in a project in an occasion of great pressure that he went without food and sleep, or whether it's something ominous and physical (diabetes, perhaps?) or ominous and mental (some psychological result of the major stresses that he encountered in the first book, which left psychic scars), there is no way to know, but it is an unexpected ingredient thrown into the mix which takes the story on unexpected tangents.

The integration of the time and place and events of the day into the story is beautifully done. The first book of the series involved Ben in a struggle to stop an assassination attempt on President McKinley - something made quite poignant by the shooting of the president early on in this book. The burgeoning science of the day is exciting - it must have been wonderful to be alive a hundred years ago, as miraculous things began to happen through technology and life began to change at a speed that had to be dizzying. This is the era of H.G. Wells, the end of that of Jules Verne – a time when anything, absolutely anything seemed possible. I wish that feeling could be recaptured now. We're all so jaded …

This is an organic story - by which I mean that while it is distinctly (and well) plotted with a clear story arc, it is also written as part of the main character's biography. The character of the city comes through in the course of the story: rather than relying on chunks of description to remind you it's set in 1904 Seattle, Pajer works 1904 Seattle into her storytelling, until the landscape is seamlessly integrated into the characters' actions and reactions. This would be a very different book if it was set in Sheboygan or Manhattan. Also, what happens to Ben in the course of the story will, it seems, affect later books, as the events of the first one continue to reverberate here. This isn't always something that happens in series, and the grounding in a solid alternate reality is a good sign.

I enjoyed the children, which is apparently something that isn't easy to pull off given the sheer number of horribly written children I've read. I quickly became surprisingly fond of Ben and all of his family circle. I like this setting, I like this cast of characters, I like this concept – from this example, I like this series. Long may it continue.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 14, 2012 Jeanbooknerd rated it 4 of 5 stars

The follow-up to Bernadette Pajer’s highly intriguing mystery debut novel, A Spark of Death, continues the story of Professor of Electrical Engineering Benjamin Bradshaw in Fatal Induction. When the assassination of President McKinley occurs, it abruptly interrupts everything nationally, including an electrical competition Bradshaw is a part of. When a young girl goes missing after witnessing her father’s murder, their gypsy peddler cart is abandoned near Bradshaw’s home. He finds a doll inside...more The follow-up to Bernadette Pajer’s highly intriguing mystery debut novel, A Spark of Death, continues the story of Professor of Electrical Engineering Benjamin Bradshaw in Fatal Induction. When the assassination of President McKinley occurs, it abruptly interrupts everything nationally, including an electrical competition Bradshaw is a part of. When a young girl goes missing after witnessing her father’s murder, their gypsy peddler cart is abandoned near Bradshaw’s home. He finds a doll inside the cart and feels the owner of the doll may be a witness to the murder. While the city is scrambling to get things together with the shocking death of the President, the police are not at all interested by a missing gypsy girl. Bradshaw decides to tackle the mission of locating the girl, often times going beyond the call of duty and planting himself in danger. With his clever investigating style, he fashions a system that will hopefully catch the killer and get to the bottom of this mystery.

Although this is the second adventure of Benjamin Bradshaw, reading the first one is not a requirement to enjoy this mind-stimulating mystery. Readers will immediately be thrilled knowing that they are in for wild ride as Bradshaw gets involved in another bedlam of mystery. The writing style of Bernadette continues the format that made her debut novel so amazing, but raises it to new levels of pure storytelling magic. Readers are exposed to more of Bradshaw’s character. At first, he may come off as a brilliant man that lacks social skills, but in reality, he is a thoughtful man that cares about the people around him. The secondary characters are just as important to the story as Bradshaw is. His son Justin in a way is just like his father. Intriguing like his father, there is something in Justin that doesn’t quite reach the surface just yet, and hopefully more of it will be exposed in the next book, Capacity for Murder. Fatal Induction is an amazing mystery novel and a great continuation to the first book. Bernadette contains enough background that readers will not feel lost if they haven’t read the first one. This book is for anyone who enjoys a great mystery filled with amazing character and suspense.(less)

like · see review

Jul 04, 2012 Bev Hankins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: academic-mystery, historical-mystery, mystery

Bernadette Pajer has done it again. In Fatal Induction, she has once more swept us back in time to the Seattle of 1901. And she does it with such deft simplicity that we don't even feel the whoosh of the years as we travel back in time. Her details are perfect and there is no trouble at all in believing that we are walking the streets of turn-of-the-century Seattle with Professor Benjamin Bradshaw. The believability doesn't stop with the time and the setting. Her characters are becoming more and...more Bernadette Pajer has done it again. In Fatal Induction, she has once more swept us back in time to the Seattle of 1901. And she does it with such deft simplicity that we don't even feel the whoosh of the years as we travel back in time. Her details are perfect and there is no trouble at all in believing that we are walking the streets of turn-of-the-century Seattle with Professor Benjamin Bradshaw. The believability doesn't stop with the time and the setting. Her characters are becoming more and more real--and this is just the second book in her supremely enjoyable historical mystery series.

Ben Bradshaw is a delightful character. He is the absorbed, somewhat absent-minded professor who is also passionately devoted to his son and very loyal to his friends. He can't resist helping someone who's in trouble. And when a peddler's wagon is abandoned behind his house and it becomes apparent that the peddler's daughter Emily disappeared after witnessing her father's murder, Bradshaw cannot leave the mystery alone. He is willing to search for the girl anywhere--including the far from savory world of bars, dance halls, and brothels. His investigations cause his friends to worry for his safety and he eventually steps on enough toes that he receives a threatening note. But his sense of justice and concern for the girl won't rest until her father's killer is caught and the girl is safe.

Ben is also an inventor and while the mystery is swirling he is at work on a contest entry for a device that will deliver the music from the Seattle Grand Theater by phone to Seattle homes. It occurs to him that not only does he have a contest winner on his hands, but that it could also be adapted to help trap the villain. Devoting hours in his workshop, he puts his health at risk as he tries to complete the device to catch the killer. But will he be in time to save Emily?

This exciting installment in the Bradshaw mysteries not only gives us more of his character, but we get to know Mrs. Prouty, the housekeeper, and his son, Justin, better. Justin proves himself to be his father's son when it comes to compassion--hiding the girl for a while....right under his father's and Mrs. Prouty's noses. It was also enjoyable to see the friendship between Bradshaw and Detective O'Brien grow and be tested. It gives a very authentic feel to the story. I do have to admit to being just a little bit frustrated with Bradshaw and his feelings for Missouri. Although I do understand his reluctance, I just want to give him a giant shove and say, "Get on with it, already!"

All-in-all, a very satisfying historical mystery. I have fallen in love with this series and look forward with great anticipation to the next installment. Four stars.

*Note: I won my copy of this book in a contest sponsored by the author. The review, however, is entirely my own idea--complete with my honest opinion--and I have received no compensation for either the book or the review. The review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any portion. Thanks.(less)

like · see review

Jul 08, 2012 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-mystery, myster-washington

Once again, professor Bradshaw finds himself entangled with crime, when an abandoned wagon is found in the alley behind his Seattle home. He should be concentrating on the upcoming school year, and the contest he's entering to find a way of bringing entertainment into people's homes in these pre-radio days, but like everyone else in the country he's transfixed by McKinley's assassination. This is the second of an unusual series.

like · see review

Aug 04, 2012 Joy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked the link to Bradshaw's inventive nature. I enjoyed his characters and the period set in USA. Many favorite authors use the early 1900's, usually set in England. Only drawback, it was so short. Left me curious what would happen next.

like · see review

Aug 13, 2012 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, cozy, mystery

I enjoyed Professor Bradshaw's first outing in A Spark of Death so had high hopes for this second in the series. Verdict: I can't wait for book 3, so keep writing, Bernadette!

like · see review

Sep 24, 2012 Lois rated it 3 of 5 stars

I couldn't find the first book. But it was easy to get up to speed with everything. Enjoyable.

like · see review

Aug 30, 2012 Jenniefamilee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Love Professor Bradshaw! Can't wait for the next book!!

like · see review

Oct 26, 2012 T rated it 3 of 5 stars

clean. scientific. mostly interesting.

like · see review

Jan 22, 2013 Karen Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Professor Bradshaw does it again.

like · see review

Sep 25, 2012 Terri Light rated it 3 of 5 stars

Reminded me quite a bit of the Canadian television series Murdoch Mysteries.

like · see review

Mar 30, 2012 Louise Dunlap marked it as to-read · review of another edition Recommends it for: Historical mystery lovers

Shelves: mystery

Okay. I admit it. I have read a draft of Bernadette's Second Professor Bradshaw mystery, but not the final, published draft. So I'm eagerly awaiting its release in May.

In the meantime, you can enter a contest to win a copy of this book via Bernadette's website at www.bernadettepajer.com.

Happy reading!

like · see review

Feb 01, 2012 David Marshall rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a good historical mystery with a nice touch in dealing with the technology of 1901 as seen through the eyes of the series detective, Professor Bradshaw. The initial set-up is somewhat contrived but it builds to a pleasing mystery although the ending is a little melodramatic. If I could give this an extra half, I would.

http://opionator.wordpress.com/2012/0...

like · see review

May 06, 2012 Carma Spence rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well written murder mystery. The only thing was that I kept getting the characters mixed up ... probably just me, though.

like · see review

Jun 14, 2012 Stephanie Jewett rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, historical-setting, mystery, series

I really enjoy this series. Benjamin Bradshaw is a very likeable protagonist and I look forward to reading more about him. I also like the history lesson that I get with each story (and appreciate that the author includes facts about the time period and ideas relating to the plot in her notes). Fun!

like · see review

May 18, 2013 Ch.J. Loveall is currently reading it

May 10, 2013 Monica marked it as to-read

May 07, 2013 Tamera rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 06, 2013 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 03, 2013 Shadly marked it as to-read

Apr 30, 2013 Amanda Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 16, 2013 Mireille Hall rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobooks

Apr 11, 2013 Crystal Huffman marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Apr 10, 2013 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 10, 2013 Krystle Kouture marked it as to-read

Mar 08, 2013 Katelyn marked it as to-read

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (7)

More editions...

Videos About This Book

Add a comment

Genres

Mystery

6 users

Mystery > Historical Mystery

6 users

Historical Fiction

3 users

See top shelves...

About Bernadette Pajer

Bernadette Pajer spent her childhood in Seattle, surrounded by the beautiful Cascade and Olympic mountains and Puget Sound. She holds a degree from the University of Washington, Bothell, where she studied CLA (Cultural, Literature, and the Arts) in the Interdisciplinary Arts and Science program. Research is her favorite activity, and she happily delves into Seattle's past and the early days of ele...more

More about Bernadette Pajer...

Books by Bernadette Pajer

A Spark of Death: The First Professor Bradshaw Mystery

Capacity for Murder: A Professor Bradshaw Mystery

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Fatal Induction: ...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Fatal Induction: A Pro...

“Bradshaw especially didn't like the use of the word "experiment" in regard to social conditions. Experiments included of necessity, expendable components. Failure was a precursor to success. When the components were human, who had the audacity to use, lose them, toss them away?” — 1 person liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Fatal Induction: A Professor Bradshaw Mystery
avg rating	preview: Fatal Induction: A Professor Bradshaw Mystery Goodreads rating: 3.76 (49 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13222352-fatal-induction?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344668375l/13222352.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13222352-fatal-induction?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Fatal Induction: A Professor Bradshaw Mystery by Bernadette Pajer[/url]

Fatal Induction: A Professor Bradshaw Mystery (Professor Bradshaw Mysteries #2)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website