Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Deadly Affection | 2012 | Cuyler Overholt | Buy |
| 2 | A Promise of Ruin | 2017 | Cuyler Overholt | Buy |
The Dr. Genevieve Summerford Mystery series by Cuyler Overholt consists of two novels set in New York City in the early twentieth century. A Deadly Affection (2012) introduces Dr. Genevieve Summerford, a psychiatrist whose patient becomes implicated in a murder, drawing Genevieve into an investigation that takes her through the immigrant neighborhoods and elite social circles of the city. A Promise of Ruin (2017) follows with a new case that again places Genevieve between the demands of her profession and the realities of a dangerous criminal investigation.
The series is notable for its detailed period research and its use of early psychiatry as both a plot device and a thematic lens. Genevieve’s professional status as a woman doctor in a male-dominated field creates natural tension in each book’s social environment. The five-year gap between publications reflects a slow release schedule, and both existing books are best read in order for character continuity.