Lucy Carrolton, a Victorian wife suffering from "hysteria". In actuality she was just a normal woman whose normal feelings had been repressed since childhood. She never dealt with witnessing her mother's death and her father, fearing his daughter would leave him, too, treated her like she was a precious piece of china as opposed to a human being. Anything she did to release or express her feelings -- drawing, turning to religion, etc. was deemed to be a sign of something wrong with her. When she married William, it continued until she was literally hysterical (who wouldn't be). Doctor after doctor treated her to no positive result -- of course they had no clue back then. The discourses in the dialogue on the differences in brain power between the rich and poor, men and women, etc. were amusing when taken from 21st century perspective. At any rate, ultimately she finds a doctor who helps her to at first her husbands delight, but ultimately his dismay as she becomes "inconvenient" as the title suggests. Without spoiling the story for other readers, suffice it to say, Lucy ultimately finds a way to become the woman she truly is inside and frees herself from the emotional repression heaped upon her by the times, by her father and ultimately her husband as well.

I read this book in less then a day, not because it was a simple book to read but because it grabbed my attention from the start and I could not put it down.
The story of Lucy Carleton is both intriguing and tragic. The author does an excellent job of describing the period and setting of this story. It had me thinking over and over again, "Thank goodness for the arrival of the women's sufferage movement." It is an eyeopener into the Victorian time, its' grandeur and abuses.

Thank heavens things have changed for women since the early 1990's.

This book was wonderful. I chose it for my book club choice last month and the ladies just raved about it, many of them stating this was their favorite book since the conception of our book club, 4 years ago. This has mystery, history and a little hot romance.

This was a really good book set in NYC in 1885. A time when women were allowed no freedoms, and her place was to see to the house, the servants, and her husband. This is Lucy Carlton's story. A woman who was born into wealth and privilege, bred to be the epitome of high-class and high society. Lucy marries William Carlton, a stock-broker who is not of her class, but makes enough money for the upper-class folks that they seemingly except him.

Lucy struggles with fits of hysteria, and frequent headaches, and is absent or leaves early from many social gatherings. William has taken her to doctor after doctor, and nothing seems to be working...untill she starts seeing Dr. Victor Seth. Dr. Seth is a doctor of neurology, something the folks of 1885 have never heard of before. No one knows what to think of his treatments of hypnotism, but the therapy is working wonders for Lucy...for the most part.

Dr. Seth proves to be the best and worst thing to happen to Lucy. While the hysteria fits have ended, new problems start plaguing her. She finds herself doing and feeling things that are totally foreign to her, and make William feel threatened. In the end, Lucy and William's life together will never be the same, and lies and scandal hit the high society of NYC.

Overall a great read...the ending was excellent, something I never would of expected, and the descriptions of the time period were wonderful. The clothes, the houses, the way of life for the most important citizens of NYC, and the limitations on women of the day. I definitely won't think twice about picking up another book from this author!

Socialite Lucy Carelton has been plagued with problems throughout her married life; she suffers from "fits" and has been diagnosed with hysteria as well as various other neurological disorders. Furthermore, she has failed to conceive a child, which, for a late 19th century woman, is virtually her sole life's purpose. Lucy, however, has always wanted more, which is what got her into trouble in the first place. In the book's prelude, Lucy's latest doctor suggests that she be placed in an asylum, which both Lucy and her husband view as out of the question.

Fast-forward to one year later: there's a new doctor in town. Dr. Victor Seth is the subject of both controversy and praise, and at her husband's urging, Lucy becomes his patient. Not longer after, however, her husband begins to question this decision. Lucy seems better, yet she is engaging in "strange" behavior such as drawing--something her father forbade her to do as a child. The more Lucy works with Dr. Seth, the more independent she becomes, and at the same time, the boudaries of the doctor-patient relationship begin to blur. This story is at times riveting, at times shocking, and overall a worthwhile read.