A cunning jigsaw of medicine, murder and mayhem, whose title, ‘The Art of Dying’, perfectly portrays the puzzle that lies ahead of Doctor Will Raven and medical assistant Sarah Fisher.

Much has changed since their last encounter. Will has been abroad, expanding both his knowledge and horizons, still finding that his past is stealthily stalking him. Although Sarah remains an assistant at their mutual mentor’s surgery in 52 Queen Street, Edinburgh, time proves that nothing, not even a lowly ‘housemaid’, can stand still for too long.

Combine the era and their chosen professions and yes, as you’d expect, a queue of unpleasant (but morbidly fascinating) ailments raise their ugly heads. Regardless of your social status, wealth, or moral standing, only a professional offering an accurate diagnosis, followed by the correct remedy, and a period of dutiful after-care may save you.

Whether you flourish or flounder is quite literally in their hands. Given the means, motive and opportunity this is something the more perverse among us might take advantage of – a horror not synonymous with such a respected field.

These ‘primitive’ times make investigating anomalies remarkably more challenging than your average contemporary crime thriller. The characters are restricted by technology, communication and rely on the calibre of a witness, living or deceased, and how far they want to personally pursue the matter.

It’s a great story that leaves a question mark over the next stage of this impressive duo’s lives. It also demonstrates the massive gender inequality at that time, and the competitive nature of those wishing to be celebrated by their peers for their achievements above all else.

Thoroughly looking forward to the next :)

Another wonderfully atmospheric tale of the Edinburgh doctor Will Raven . Set in the 1800s the sense of the old and new towns is perfectly portrayed in a tale of mass murder with a seemingly unlikely suspect but with the aid of Sarah,newly married,whilst our hero studied(and became involved in more violence) around Europe finally sees the truth. Interesting side plots keep it all bubbling along with various characters from the previous tale reappearing.. Well researched one can only look forward to move adventures of these gripping characters.

This is a second trip into Victorian medical history from the husband and wife team of Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman. The duo cover lots of ground here, from surgical advancements in the nineteenth century, to the opportunities for women in that world, to the criminal underworld of Edinburgh, to a tragic romance, and an ever increasing death toll. They juggle all these balls well, with my interest kept throughout, and the various plotlines dovetailing neatly. The research is obviously thorough, but always worn lightly as the pages keep turning. It's a fast and gripping read, recommended for all fans of historical crime fiction.

A really good sequel, The Art of Dying brings back the brilliant Raven, now Dr Raven, and Sarah, now married. I love how these books tackle important topics such as women's access to education and social class, as well as offering an insight into Victorian Edinburgh. A strong follow-up, looking forward to the next instalment.

A historical novel based on facts on the medical profession in the Edinburgh of Victorian times. Newly graduated Doctors need to establish themselves and become obsessed with the need to become eminent by making some medical advance. This is a risky business, to try and fail is to be condemned and to succeed causes envy and back stabbing and slander by those who feel overlooked. It is also a male dominated profession into which a young woman is determined to break. When the young Doctor and his friend a young woman become aware of a series of deaths that is associated with one particular nurse there is excitement as it what it is. Could it be a new transmittable disease waiting to be discovered, or in the mind of the more down to earth, just a simple case of murder, how it all unfolds makes the story.

The Art of Dying is a sequel to The Way of all Flesh, about medicine and murder in nineteenth century Edinburgh. The prologue is written by a murderer but we have no idea yet of any killings; the murderer’s thoughts are spaced throughout the book, without giving anything away. We then travel to Berlin, where Raven, the chief protagonist of the previous book, is studying with his friend Henry; he gets himself into violent trouble, as is his wont. He’s an able chap but flawed, with demons he finds it hard to control.

On his return to Edinburgh, Raven is working closely with Dr James Simpson and his (sometime hair-raising) experiments with chloroform. He is displeased to find that in his absence Sarah (the housemaid bright enough to have become Simpson’s assistant and hungry for more medical knowledge), has married another doctor, but he has only himself to blame because he foolishly thought her beneath him and therefore an impediment to his career. The two still work closely when professional jealousy amongst the medics of Edinburgh starts a rumour that Simpson has killed a patient. They find that there have been too many deaths of a certain kind to be a coincidence and eventually they suspect murder. The reader knows from the parallel narrative that there is indeed a murderer at large but not how the murders are achieved. Raven’s past comes back to haunt him in the form of criminals who think he still owes them favours. This actually works to his advantage as the story reaches its crisis. I found this just as good a thriller as The Way of all Flesh: gripping. The authors even pinch a joke from Crocodile Dundee!

I read this thanks to Net Galley and it’s out on 29th August.

I loved Ambrose Parry's first book so was eager to eeadt this. The book is set a time after the first with Will Raven in Europe and an incident bring him back to Edinburgh under Dr Simpson's guidence. Sarah's life too has changed since the first book now married and also more of a figurehead than the lowly servant of the first book. The book again pulled me in however Raven's personality seems to have changed in this book. He's no longer a diamond in the rough but believes himself above reproach. I believed he saw Sarah as an equal in the first book but I didn't like this side he had of belittling her, the story still had the fun of a mystery but I struggled to get past the irksome nature of Raven. It was a good three quarters of the way into the book before I started to mildly like him again. The big reveal in this book I guessed early on. Overall it was an interesting read but i felt it paled slightly from the first. This won't stop me reading the next in the series as a love Sarah's character the most.

This is the second book in the Will Raven/Sarah Fisher series after the truly excellent 'The Way of All Flesh'. They are written by a husband and wife team - he's an award-winning thriller writer and she is a medical doctor with an interest in the history of medicine, so they really know their stuff on all fronts. I could not wait to read this book after loving the first one.

This is a fascinating, pacy and engaging story set in Victorian Edinburgh a while after the first book. Dr Will Raven has just returned to the city after a period travelling in Europe developing his medical knowledge. He returns to the house of Dr James Simpson, leading developer of chloroform as an anesthetic, where his former partner in investigations Sarah has been elevated above her status as housemaid and is learning medical skills for herself. It's an awkward reunion between the two former allies, although they soon have to work together when they notice a worrying pattern of deaths occurring in the city.

This book met all my high expectations. It's cleverly plotted and brings alive the setting of Victorian Edinburgh, from the hospital wards to consulting rooms, from the wealth of the doctors' lives to the less salubrious areas lived in by some of their patients. Sarah is a very appealing heroine, fighting for her right to learn medicine in a time and place that denied women such education. In comparison, Will is a rather infuriating hero who makes bad decisions and whose motives are not always pure, yet he also seems real and flawed and interesting; he definitely developed as a character during this book in a positive way.

I would whole heartedly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or who has an interest in medical history. However, the book should have much wider appeal - it is engrossing and well-researched and engaging, albeit a bit graphic in relation to the medical issues. Anyone and everyone should give it a go!

Another atmospheric and intriguing adventure with Will Raven and Sarah. A lot has changed since the last book. Will has returned from his European travels to take up his place with Dr. Simpson and is dismayed that his youthful prejudices have cost him dearly. This book is as much about Sarah and Will growing up, accepting their own foibles and starting to carve their own place in society as it is about the mysterious spate of deaths across Edinburgh. Working together Will and Sarah's relationship deepens as they race to solve the crimes and restore their mentor's reputation. It is a tense and exciting read and once again ends leaving me wanting more, much more. I do hope that this series continues as I want to know what direction the pair go in next and whether it will be together or apart.

My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Will Raven is back. I loved the first book in the series, The Way of All Flesh, and was delighted to be sent an advance copy of The Art of Dying. I enjoyed it very much. It didn't take long for me to be completely engrossed. The chores just had to wait.

Will finds himself back in Edinburgh after travelling and studying in Europe. He is now a qualified doctor and returns to take up a position as Dr Simpson’s assistant. However he returns to find there have been changes in the Simpson household. There are new members of staff and Sarah Fisher is no longer the housemaid. Sarah does have a role within the household but there also seems to be a bit of distance between them.

There have been a large number of unexplained deaths throughout the city, often involving entire families. The symptoms don’t seem to follow the usual pattern of any known disease and Will thinks he may have discovered a new disease. However when a whispering campaign is started, blaming Dr Simpson for the death of a patient in suspicious circumstances, Will and Sarah try to find the true cause of these deaths and also clear Dr Simpsons name.

There are many reasons for recommending this book. Firstly, it's good storytelling. The writing partnership that is Ambrose Parry has a lovely writing style and I got completely engrossed.

Secondly the writers make the locations seem so real it's as if you were actually there in 19th century Edinburgh. The dialogue is believable and there's a good pace to the story .

Thirdly the characters are very likeable. Will has his rough edges and has been known to get into fights and altercations but at heart he is a good surgeon.

Lastly while the book could be classed as historical fiction/ crime fiction, it is also a medical mystery. There is also a bit of humour and the possibility of romance. While The Art of Dying could be read as a stand-alone novel I would recommend reading the first book in the series, The Way of All Flesh, to get background on the characters.

I hope there will be more in this series. I don't think we've heard the last of some of the characters.

The Art of Dying is an enjoyable follow up to the Way of All Flesh, and nicely develops the story and characters, again with the interesting emphasis on Sarah’s - and women generally - position in society as an adjunct to a man, not seen as capable of being a professional in their own right. That makes the novel sound overtly worthy, and that couldn’t be more wrong - it’s a thriller that happens to be in 19th century Edinburgh with the medical revolution underway.
I didn’t find this book as strong as it’s predecessor, partly as the twists seemed more telegraphed in advance. An enjoyable journey nonetheless and i look forward to the next in the series (and to Brookmyre’s next solo work!).

I was thrilled to be granted an early copy of this book, having not long finished the first (which I bought before I finished the advance copy) and pre-ordering the second (The Art of Dying) as soon as I realised there was going to be more!

I was so happy to be back in the company of Will Raven and Sarah, and I simply adored the way their relationship continues to grow in this 2nd instalment - what I need to know, immediately, is will there be more?

Edinburgh was bought back to life, we were introduced to new characters and spent time with old favourites, and all the twists and turns left me with 6 pages of notes and numerous ideas as to who, what and why - turns out I was only part right!
The real life events that inspired this particular novel are intriguing and I really loved that we had the chapters from the view of the murderer this time too, it added a wonderful, extra, level of creepiness to the whole thing.

I adored the inspiring new female characters in this one, they lent a depth to Sarah's continued frustrations about her lack of options, and allowed her to head off (as she does) with even more purpose this time.
During one conversation with a patient who worries her illness maybe punishment for the sin of not doing as her father bid, but forging her own life with a man she loved instead of one picked for her, Sarah tells her, "You simply lived your life as you wanted to, and I can see no fault in that. The sin is that more of us do not do likewise."

The beauty of this continuation, that by the end of it Raven would chose Sarah over his own reputation, something he failed to do in the first instalment, and also that she has made him realise that 'the devil in him' is his to control, not the other way around. For Raven (and Sarah) moving forward, I feel it will be his making!

Highly recommended, entirely possible to read as a single novel. but much better enjoyed as part of the series, it should be on the shelf of anyone who loves Edinburgh, the history of medicine, strong female characters and forward thinking men. Plus with a multi stranded tale that is woven together fantastically to bring us to a thoughtful and satisfying conclusion you would be a fool to miss out.

Anyone who enjoyed ‘The Way of All Flesh, Ambrose Parry’s first novel, set in Edinburgh in the mid-1800s, will be delighted to continue reading about the adventures of Will Raven and Sarah Fisher, two talented and unusual ‘outsiders’, working for the renowned Dr Simpson in Victorian Edinburgh. At the beginning of this novel Will has just returned from medical studies in Berlin whilst Sarah has been on an equally life-changing personal journey.
Once again, the writers have used historical facts as inspiration for this tale of detection. A serial killer is at large – a qualified nurse no less – who brings order to her chaotic life by controlling the lives of those close by, as referenced by the novel’s title. In ‘The Art of Dying’, we are led to understand why she has such a macabre penchant through extracts from her diary. Thus, her identity is no mystery for us to solve. However, Ambrose Parry executes a clever twist in the closing chapters of the story which reinforces just how calculating and clever this woman is.
Whilst ‘The Art of Dying’ is first and foremost a detective story, it is also a fascinating portrayal of Victorian Edinburgh seen through the experiences of the professional classes, the labouring poor, medical practices and the penal system. The city continues to feature strongly, by turns beautiful, grimy, misty and elegant. One moment, the stylish New Town and the next a filthy back alley off Canongate. Most memorable for me is the significant feminist thread running throughout the novel. Sarah grows more and more aware of the limited choices ahead of her but is inspired by the writing and actions of radicals such as Mary Wollstonecraft.
‘There is not a woman in this realm who does not understand what it is to be afraid…’ states the murderer of this tale and, of course, she is right. Let’s hope that Sarah Fisher will continue to battle for equality in Ambrose Parry’s next novel in this series, and let’s hope that Will Raven learns to encourage her to do so!
My thanks to NetGalley and Canongate for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

I just love these books by Ambrose Parry - they are so atmospheric and full of history. The characters come from different backgrounds, so there is the whole above/below stairs thing going on. In this second novel in the series there is more about the emerging rights of women, in addition to the latest medical developments. I can't wait for the next instalment of Will and Sarah's adventures.

I'd been looking forward to reading this book ever since I finished "The Way of All Flesh" (the first in the series) last year. It has been well worth the wait and, if anything, this crime novel is even better than the previous one.

What I particularly like about these books, which are written by a wife and husband team, is that they are multi-faceted. The scientific detail has been expertly researched, as has the historical geography of Edinburgh, my home city; the characters are credible, well-drawn and fully developed, and the various themes are skillfully interwoven - all of which together makes for a very satisfying read. In my opinion, this is in stark contrast to many recently published crime novels which have just two or three disjointed threads of plot, superficial character development and little or no evidence of having been researched in depth.

There have been quite a few books published recently with a theme of childhood abuse and its effect on the abused child when adult. Where this book differs from most others is in its treatment of an individual's psychology and, especially, how this theme becomes an integral part of "The Art of Dying"'s narrative as opposed to a sensation piece to which reference is occasionally made.

Now I can't wait to read the third in this excellent series!

With many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for this honest review.

Historical medical crime novel, set in Edinburgh in 1849. Dr Will Raven is back in the city, having done more medical training abroad, he's returned to rejoin Professor Simpson's household and successful obstetric practice. Former housemaid Sarah is still working for Simpson as a doctor's assistant, but has her own personal issues to contend with as she and Will start working together again - this time trying to track down a nurse who may be spreading a dangerous disease. Or is there more to it?

Ambrose Parry is the joint effort of Christopher Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, this book is the follow up to The Way of All Flesh and has all the same good points - excellent plotting, accurate historical detail, sympathetic main characters. If you're paying attention, there are also brief references to one of Brookmyre's earlier characters and a pleasing Crocodile Dundee nod. It's a good story, expanding on some aspects of the first book but would also work well if you hadn't read that. I know that Haetzman is a medical doctor, which gives accuracy to the medical history aspects of the book (and a real gratitude for modern medicine and the NHS). The book touches on a real case where Simpson was accused of negligence, which shows up aspects of Edinburgh medical society for what it really was, as opposed to the glossier side we might often think of.

Recommended!

The second in the series of this superbly written historical crime novel set in Edinburgh in 1850.
The main characters centre around the house of Dr James Young Simpson (who was famous in the fields of obstetrics and anaesthetics). We are now a year on from the first book. As the book opens, Dr Will Raven is in Europe where he has been travelling for the past year. What will take him back to Edinburgh?
Sarah Fisher has always been very keen to progress in the field of medicine and this has been recognised by Dr Simpson since Will has been absent. Will is shocked to find that this is not the only the thing about Sarah’s circumstances that has changed in his absence.
They are rumours about the death of one of Dr Simpson’s patients. This could be very damaging to his career, but he does not seem to be quick to clear his name. Why is that? Does he have something to hide? Sarah thinks she and Will should help him. Will believes they should respect his privacy. Will Dr Simpson’s reputation be ruined?
Alongside this storyline, Will believes he has discovered a new illness. Sarah thinks there may be more rational explanation for the related deaths. Will Sarah and Will work together to get the bottom of the deaths?
Such a great book, I love the authors’ use of language and the characters are superb. Can’t wait for the third in the series!
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Second in the series and I must say it grips you immediately. Will Raven, has recently returned from Europe to take up a position with Dr Simpson. Major changes have taken place in the house, and Simpson's household are experiencing upset and turmoil. However, Will once again finds himself thrown together with Sarah to hunt a serial killer.

If you love historical crime reads The Art of Dying ticks all of the boxes. Many of the characters existed, with fact and fiction blending together to make an entertaining, informative and exciting read. Unfortunately I now have to wait months for the next installment in the series.

In the second of these excellent historical/medical murder mysteries we find Will retuned from abroad to a married Sarah. Much angst. The two work together again to unravel the mystery of several deaths exhibiting strange symptoms. Nineteenth Century Edinburgh is once again well portrayed with its fine town houses and its nasty tenements. Places to be seen in and places you wouldn’t be seen dead in – or maybe you would. There are echoes from the previous book and many dilemmas for Will, which I found quite gripping. Seeing which way he chose to live his life, as he feared the devil within – his mother’s expression. The ending of the book is both exciting and satisfying. I would highly recommend it to all who love an historical mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley for a pre-publication copy.

I loved Ambrose Parry's first novel, The Way of All Flesh so was delighted to be given the opportunity to review the second in what is set to be a compelling series set mainly in Edinburgh and covering the history of obstetrics. The two main characters, Will Raven and Sarah Fisher are back in all their glory. It is two years on since they last met. Will has been continuing his medical studies abroad while Sarah, now married to a doctor, is increasingly trusted by her employer Dr Simpson to help with all sorts of medical matters. Sarah is determined to fight for her employer who is being slandered by two other Edinburgh doctors and unwittingly uncovers a series of mysterious deaths. Will, forever a little bit foolish thinks the deaths are down to a hitherto unknown disease and dreams of identifying 'Raven's Malady' which will set up his medical career for good. Of course it is not so simple.

The Art of Dying is equally as good as The Way of All Flesh. The characters are vibrant and Edinburgh itself becomes a character with the authors (a husband and wife team) demonstrating their knowledge of the city as well as the history of medicine. The language used is appropriate to the time period and also helps to set the scene. I strongly recommend this series and look forward to the next one. Thanks to Canongate and NetGalley for the ARC.