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Gail Avery Halverson
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The Skeptical Physick (The Stockbridge Series Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Gail Avery Halverson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 64 ratings
A MUST-READ SEQUEL TO THE AWARD-WINNING NOVEL, "THE BOUNDARY STONE."

In this gripping follow up to “The Boundary Stone,” Lady Catherine Abbott’s life takes an unexpected turn when an abused young woman forces her to examine the privileges of 17th century aristocratic English society, the roles of women, and her own place in the world.

Determined to discover the mysteries of the human body, daring physick, Simon McKensie, fights once more against superstition, ignorance and the vast, unknown boundaries of science when he creates a remarkable experiment that could change the very course of medicine itself.

Set against the sweeping backdrop of both the Great Fire of London and the extraordinary discoveries of the Scientific Revolution, Simon and Catherine together must face the villainous consequences of his fierce, intellectual curiosity and his dangerous thirst for knowledge.
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Stockbridge Series
  2. Print length
    340 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    September 10, 2019
  6. File size
    933 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Beautifully told stories of historical fiction
An atmospheric, intriguing and well-written series
Ms. Halverson's extensive research is remarkable.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07XSH3D63
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knight Wenstrom
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 10, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 933 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 340 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ The Stockbridge Series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 64 ratings

About the author

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Gail Avery Halverson

Gail Avery Halverson

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Award-winning writer, Gail Avery Halverson, is the author of three historical fiction novels, "The Boundary Stone," "The Skeptical Physick," and most recently, "A Sea of Glass." Set in mid-17th century England, "The Boundary Stone" is a Chaucer Award Finalist (historical fiction), a Cygnus Award Finalist (speculative fiction), and a Chatelaine Award Winner (historical romantic fiction). "The Skeptical Physick" also won the Chaucer Award for historical fiction and the Chatelaine Award Grand Prize for romantic historical fiction. Ms. Halverson is the playwright and composer of musical plays that have been performed for nearly 300,000 children since 2004, and has had two screenplays optioned by Longbow Productions. Writing for both theater and television, she holds a B.A. in English Literature/Communications from the University of California, Davis; and is currently at work on her fourth novel. She lives in Northern California with her husband and their rambunctious Wheaten terrier, Murphy.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
64 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this historical fiction book for its wonderful job blending history and romance, with one review highlighting its unexpected twists. Moreover, the writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer noting how the author seamlessly weaves the historical elements into the narrative. Additionally, customers praise the character development, readability, and research quality, with one review mentioning how it introduces interesting personalities and historical facts.

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15 customers mention "Story quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the historical fiction and appreciate how the author blends history and romance, with one customer noting it draws readers into the time period.

"...Best example and a great comparison, Gone With the Wind, citing an unforgetable event, coupled with times of new discoveries and great social..." Read more

"...I love how she brings Non Fiction into Fiction, getting to learn some interesting facts while getting absorbed into the characters and the setting..." Read more

"...The characters are richly drawn, and while a great romance is at the forefront, the threads of early medical research and experimentation and the..." Read more

"...The author has researched Medieval times and skillfully weaves historical elements Into the plot...." Read more

11 customers mention "Readability"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great read, with one mentioning it sparked their interest in reading again.

"The books by Gail Halverson are sparking my interest in reading again, she needs to write faster! :)..." Read more

"...be restricted to a "station" in life, make this a fascinating and captivating read. I highly recommend it!" Read more

"...It also is an excellent read and I would recommend reading it first. However the second book certainly can be enjoyed on its own...." Read more

"...I wish the ending hadn’t gone so quickly but I loved the book. Hope there is a 3rd all about their little family in America." Read more

8 customers mention "Research quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's research quality, with one customer highlighting its richly detailed content and another noting how it keeps readers engaged from the first word.

"...I found the richly researched details, all the way down to the dialects very compelling. This soryline kept me interested from start to finish...." Read more

"...I love how she brings Non Fiction into Fiction, getting to learn some interesting facts while getting absorbed into the characters and the setting..." Read more

"...while a great romance is at the forefront, the threads of early medical research and experimentation and the awakening of women to the idea they..." Read more

"...The Boundary Stone introduced interesting personalities and had them dealing with the plague epidemic...." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers love the main characters in the book, with one specifically mentioning the strong female characters.

"...Fiction, getting to learn some interesting facts while getting absorbed into the characters and the setting of the period in time...." Read more

"...The characters are richly drawn, and while a great romance is at the forefront, the threads of early medical research and experimentation and the..." Read more

"...(from the primitive blood-letting days) and the introduction of several new interesting characters...." Read more

"...A great flow from the first book into this one. I love the main characters ...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one customer noting how the author seamlessly weaves history into the narrative and another mentioning the compelling dialects.

"...I found the richly researched details, all the way down to the dialects very compelling. This soryline kept me interested from start to finish...." Read more

"...real strength of this book is the manner in which the author seamlessly weaves the history of the Great Fire of London and the story of Elizabeth..." Read more

"...I enjoyed learning the vocabulary and the state of medicine and the law of that period also. Note to the author: I hope there will be a third book." Read more

"...Set in the 17th century, the story is written in language that evokes the period...." Read more

4 customers mention "Page turner"4 positive0 negative

Customers describe the book as a page turner.

"...A page-turner on its own, but even better read following The Boundary Stone...." Read more

"Thoroughly enjoyed Gail’s latest book. It was a “page turner” from the beginning to the end. Looking forward to her next book." Read more

"A page turner!..." Read more

"I didn't want to put it down...a real page turner!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Tj S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars My Mama Always Said...
    Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    My mother, a voracious reader, always said the best reads are stories that are central to an actual historical event with an intriguing fictional story woven in and around it!! Bingo, that is exactly what this story delivers. Best example and a great comparison, Gone With the Wind, citing an unforgetable event, coupled with times of new discoveries and great social upheavals.
    I found the richly researched details, all the way down to the dialects very compelling. This soryline kept me interested from start to finish. I could hear the characters speaking as I read.

    When it comes to this series of books, Mama was right!!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Debbie Riggert
    5.0 out of 5 stars You need to buy this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The books by Gail Halverson are sparking my interest in reading again, she needs to write faster! :) After reading the Boundary Stone, I could not wait for her next book to be published. It usually takes me a couple of months to finish a book, I finished this is 4 days, I just did not want to put it down. I love how she brings Non Fiction into Fiction, getting to learn some interesting facts while getting absorbed into the characters and the setting of the period in time. The book kept my interest and wanting more, I hope she is writing the next book while I am writing this review. I will buy anything she writes!
    One person found this helpful
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  • weeble
    5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps you engaged from the first word to the last
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The real strength of this book is the manner in which the author seamlessly weaves the history of the Great Fire of London and the story of Elizabeth Wilbraham, a brilliant woman architect that was denied credit for her work simply because she was a woman, into her novel. The characters are richly drawn, and while a great romance is at the forefront, the threads of early medical research and experimentation and the awakening of women to the idea they need not be restricted to a "station" in life, make this a fascinating and captivating read. I highly recommend it!
    One person found this helpful
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  • William J. DeRisi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well-done historical romance
    Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This second book in the series picked up on the characters where they had been left off. The Boundary Stone introduced interesting personalities and had them dealing with the plague epidemic. It also is an excellent read and I would recommend reading it first. However the second book certainly can be enjoyed on its own. You will learn about the Great Fire of London. The author has researched Medieval times and skillfully weaves historical elements Into the plot. I enjoyed learning the vocabulary and the state of medicine and the law of that period also. Note to the author: I hope there will be a third book.
    Helpful
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  • Candice
    4.0 out of 5 stars Loved!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this second book. I wish the ending hadn’t gone so quickly but I loved the book. Hope there is a 3rd all about their little family in America.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Don McCauley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters & story lines. Who knew London was such an interesting place to be 350 years ago?
    Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    An immediately engaging continuation of a compelling romance set in a super-interesting period of history (the Great Fire of London), the beginnings of medical knowledge advancement (from the primitive blood-letting days) and the introduction of several new interesting characters. A page-turner on its own, but even better read following The Boundary Stone. There are a number of worthwhile stories and themes explored in this book. And it was satisfying to learn so much about the history of the period in and around London. I highly recommend it and look forward to following these people and events much further.
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  • deb7701
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner in historical fiction
    Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is the second book in the series, and it’s another winner! I read the 1st book in the series a few years ago, and found you could read this one even without having read the first book. But both are worth reading! I can’t imagine the process of research that went into these books. Set in the 17th century, the story is written in language that evokes the period. The author used one of my favorite techniques of adding historic figures to the plot. I’m already looking forward to the next book.
    One person found this helpful
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  • flem johnson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read historical fiction
    Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The Boundary Stone and Skeptical Physick by Gail Avery Halverson we’re spectacular novels. The historical fiction was riveting. It made me look up people and places to get more information about the topics. If you enjoyed the series Outlander, you will fall in love with these novels as well. I look forward to her third book in the series.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Booksandchinooks
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great historical fiction
    Reviewed in Canada on June 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    After reading and loving The Boundary Stone last year I was eager to read the next book by this talented author. This book is just as fascinating and well written as her previous book. We follow Catherine and Simon on a new journey at the time of the Great Fire of London. It is so interesting to see how the science of medicine, that we now take for granted, has evolved from these earlier times.
    The story is so compelling and you are totally immersed in it throughout the book. The historical research done on this book is just as thorough as the first book. I can’t emphasize enough how much historical fiction readers would love these books!
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