Reviewed by Paul Johnson for Readers' Favorite

The setting is Seattle, 1901, when University of Washington Electrical Engineering Professor Benjamin Bradshaw discovers the corpse of Professor Wesley Oglethorpe electrocuted inside the Electric Machine's Faraday Cage as the Tesla Coil. Because Bradshaw and Oglethorpe were rivals with particular dislike for each other, and because Bradshaw knew how to operate the killing equipment, the police immediately suspect Bradshaw killed his colleague.

Bradshaw is still suffering the loss of his wife and knows he must find the real culprit since he is worried what will happen to his son, Justin, if he is arrested. He begins his search for a killer while wondering if this may actually have had something to do with President McKinley's upcoming visit.

Bradshaw determines there are really two other persons of interest: the victim's pregnant wife, Marion, and Bradshaw's best friend, Henry Pratt, who suddenly left for Alaska. Bradshaw realizes he is onto something when an attempt is made on his life. Things get even livelier when Missouri Fremont, Pratt's niece, suddenly shows up from Pittsburgh. However, to the police Bradshaw is the logical suspect. Now the quiet, unassuming professor is forced to find the real killer before his time runs out.

I really liked this story. Professor Bradshaw is a very likeable character with a sharp mind and wit. This is a very good read with a sympathetic protagonist in an excellent setting with some good explanations of how electricity works thrown in as well. What we have here is a good mystery combined with a touch of science, some history and just a little romance. Very Nice.