Here’s a detailed review-style breakdown of Barriers to Entry by Ariel Lawhon — a sharp, historically rooted short story from the Blaze collection.
📖 Overview
- Author: Ariel Lawhon (Code Name Hélène, I Was Anastasia)
- Collection: Blaze — short stories about bold, convention-defying women
- Length: ~39 pages
- Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Short Story
- Setting: Harvard University, 1945
- Based On: The real-life Frances Glessner Lee, known as the “mother of forensic science”
📝 Story Snapshot
It’s 1945, and Frances Glessner Lee, a 67-year-old woman with no formal degree, walks into a Harvard classroom full of skeptical male students. Her challenge?
“You have ninety minutes to solve the murder.”
Using her meticulously crafted crime scene dioramas — miniature, hyper-detailed reconstructions of real cases — she forces the men to confront their biases and rely on observation, logic, and forensic thinking. Every detail matters, and every assumption could cost them the truth.
The story unfolds as a battle of wits, gender expectations, and professional pride, with Lee’s quiet authority steadily dismantling the barriers in her way.
🎯 What Works Well
- Fascinating Historical Anchor: Lawhon draws on the real Frances Glessner Lee’s groundbreaking work, blending fact with fiction to create a vivid portrait.
- Tight, Immersive Pacing: The “90-minute” constraint gives the narrative a ticking-clock tension.
- Theme of Defiance: Challenges sexism in academia and law enforcement without feeling heavy-handed.
- Sensory Detail: The diorama descriptions are so precise you can almost see the tiny blood spatters and overturned chairs.
⚖️ Points to Note
- Compact by Design: As a short story, it’s more a character snapshot than a sprawling mystery.
- Historical Context Light: Readers wanting deep biographical detail on Lee will need to look beyond this piece.
💡 Verdict
Barriers to Entry is a smart, engaging tribute to a woman who reshaped forensic science — and did it in an era when women weren’t welcome in the lab. It’s perfect for fans of historical fiction with a feminist edge, or anyone who enjoys a clever, self-contained mystery.
