EDINBURGH, 1853.
In a city of science, discovery can be deadly . . .
In a time of unprecedented scientific innovation, the public’s appetite for wonder has seen a resurgence of interest in mesmerism, spiritualism and other unexplained phenomena.
Dr Will Raven is wary of the shadowlands that lie between progress and quackery, but Sarah Fisher can’t afford to be so picky. Frustrated in her medical ambitions, she sees opportunity in a new therapeutic field not already closed off to women.
Raven has enough on his hands as it is. Body parts have been found at Surgeons Hall, and they’re not anatomy specimens. In a city still haunted by the crimes of Burke and Hare, he is tasked with heading off a scandal.
When further human remains are found, Raven is able to identify a prime suspect, and the hunt is on before he kills again. Unfortunately, the individual he seeks happens to be an accomplished actor, a man of a thousand faces and a renowned master of disguise.
With the lines between science and spectacle dangerously blurred, the stage is set for a grand and deadly illusion . . .
Ambrose Parry is the penname for two authors – the internationally bestselling and multi-award-winning Chris Brookmyre and consultant anaesthetist of twenty years’ experience, Dr Marisa Haetzman. Inspired by the gory details Haetzman uncovered during her History of Medicine degree, the couple teamed up to write a series of historical crime thrillers, featuring the darkest of Victorian Edinburgh’s secrets. They are married and live in Scotland. The Way of All Flesh, The Art of Dying and A Corruption of Blood were shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year. A Corruption of Blood was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger in 2022.
@ambroseparry
My thoughts: Victorian Edinburgh, seat of learning, home to the odd scandal like bodysnatchers, which make even the most August doctor a bit twitchy when an identified foot turns up in the College of Surgeons. Invited by his friend Henry to help look into this, Will Raven is drawn into a world of illusions, mis direction and mesmerism. Sarah too is attracted to the ideas of an American doctor turned mesmerist, claiming to treat serious conditions with this unusual method. Could this be a way into medicine for her?
The Victorians were fascinated by spiritualists, mesmerists, illusions and magic, magicians were popular and people flocked to theatres to be delighted and amazed. Some of these performers were more genuine than others – stating openly that it was an act, a trick, others swindled the naive and vulnerable. Of course people wanted to hear from their dead loved ones or be relieved from pain.
Will is sceptical of all of this hokum, and thinks there’s more going on here than genuine science. Plus there’s the body parts he keeps finding. Someone is a killer, but who?
His wife is also about to have their second child but he doesn’t seem that interested, and he’s been asked by an old acquaintance for a very particular favour. And there’s another familiar face around, with a new name. Is Sarah in danger?
Blending science and detective work, Will and Henry dig into the murders, chasing red herrings and theories around town, but still find time for their day jobs, just about. Fun and a bit gory, this is another excellent book in this series.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 