Murder on Lexington Avenue — Victoria Thompson

Midwife Sarah Brandt believes that even the destitute in turn-of-the-century New York deserve the protection of the law. So with the sometimes reluctant assistance of Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy, she offers them justice whenever she can. Now, in the latest novel in the Edgar®- nominated series, Sarah learns that the desire to do good can be twisted into evil...

When a wealthy businessman is murdered, Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy is assigned to investigate. The man's daughter is deaf -- as is Malloy's own son, who attends the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. The victim had sent his daughter to a rival institution with different views on teaching the deaf, and was an influential supporter of their program. Malloy suspects that the killer might be affiliated with his son's school.

It's a difficult case but one that Malloy is sure will not involve Sarah Brandt, until fate intervenes. Now, finding herself in an unfamiliar world, where those who can hear refuse to listen to those who cannot, Sarah must determine who is right and who is innocent before she and Malloy can ever hope to find the killer.