A nicely twisty and very atmospheric mystery thriller set in Victorian Edinburgh. The best part- the role of women in the story. A good read.

I'm a bit indifferent on this one, but I found myself forcing myself to finish more often than I would have liked. A shame since it seems others saw something that I didn't.

I adore this series. It's well-researched in terms of medical knowledge and geographical knowledge. The stories cover so many different topics, as well as the crimes, but not a single issue distracts from the main plot, nor do they feel added on.

Definitely a series I will continue to read.

I don't do historical fiction but I did this one. Wow what a story, had me absolutely gripped. Loved the way it was written, the characters and the plot.
Highly recommend this one.
PS my husband has read too and now wants all books by Ambrose Parry!

It wasn’t until I picked this book up that I realise it was the second book in a series; however, I don’t feel that detracted from my enjoyment at all. Yes, some things might make more immediate sense had I read the first book (The Way Of All Flesh), but that’s to be expected.

Set in Victorian Edinburgh, this is a wonderfully atmospheric read with more than a little similarity to the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There is, at the heart of this story, an intriguing mystery and two likable characters (Raven and Fisher/Banks) trying to resolve it. However, there is so much more to this than initially meets the eye.

The way women were portrayed in society, the limitations placed upon them, the methods they took to try to better themselves … inequalities of class, wealth and the shackles of reputation are all handled expertly, and make this is a very interesting and thought-provoking read.

My only slight moan is that, in parts, it felt a bit verbose and as such, the story dragged. However, this is simply personal preference for something a bit more energetic in the telling, and stopped it being a 5 star for me.

I’ll definitely go back and read the first at some point, and keep my eye open for more from this author pairing.

This incredibly atmospheric novel draws together all that I love about historical crime fiction. Set in Victorian Edinburgh where class differences were stark and the city was rife with crime, but medicine was developing and discoveries made. Our characters face challenges both in society and personally as they make discoveries and decisions which change their lives. Featuring genuine locations and characters from history, and with exceptional attention to detail, this book flows at a perfect pace throughout and had me captivated right from the start. I cannot wait to read book three in the series. Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity read and review this novel. Thoughts are my own.

If you liked the first book, you'll like this. I'll expand upon that, as some people won't have read "The Way of All Flesh"- but if smoke covered Edinburgh, hansom cabs, mysteries, horrors and medicine is your kind of thing, go and read that one first.

Will Raven is more experienced than in the first novel and after some time away comes back to find Sarah married and his boss Dr Simpson in some trouble. People keep dying.

This was another very solid and enjoyable murder mystery/crime/adventure story from Ambrose Parry- All through reading this I felt as if I was in being looked after and given what I wanted. The characters are well crafted and the story doesn't shy away from the realities of life at the time- and it gives the reader the horror of murder and mayhem too.

I really enjoy both Will and Sarah- they are well drawn and easy to root for. The mystery is well crafted and satisfying.

Mid-nineteenth century Edinburgh is vividly rendered on every page of this historical mystery featuring Dr. Will Raven and former housemaid-turned-medical-assistant Sarah Fisher Banks. This is the second book of a series, but it works well as a standalone, with ample background information interspersed throughout the beginning of what develops into an absorbing mystery. The setting is well drawn with regard to both the physical ambience of the various (occasionally dangerous) neighborhoods of Edinburgh and also the social mores of the time. I could have used fewer mentions of the restrictions placed upon women in the era; this is a major concern of the book—and a most interesting one—but explicitly emphasizing the point a million times instead of just letting the story illustrate the restrictions was more annoying than illuminating. (seriously: We. Get. It.) The historical information on the introduction of chloroform as an anesthetic was fascinating. Various characters' use of anesthesia as a sleep aid is described matter-of-factly but has an extra scariness from our modern perspective: we know what happened to Michael Jackson. The ending was suspenseful and ultimately satisfying, wrapping up the clever murder mystery and setting Sarah on a new and ambitious path.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital advance review copy.

I’m… conflicted about this one. In this second book following Will Raven and Sarah Fisher solving murders in historical Edinburgh, we have both more of the same elements that made me enjoy the first book, but somehow, this one didn’t make it work. Will is incredibly annoying, still – despite being faced with some of his mistakes he doesn’t improve at all, and while Sarah is an interesting character, there’s so much repetitive narration by both of them. If I have to hear one more time about their shared past I will scream. I don’t know if it’s because they think we forgot or something – but while reading? There’s an attempt to create tension but given the resolution it, again, felt unnecessarily shoved in there. Also, every single female character in this book seems to have a horrible life, mainly due to the restricting societal and gender norms, which is definitely true but again, at some point becomes white noise and frustrating to read about rather than poignant. Did the mystery save it somehow? Well, I enjoyed part of it, but as we know who’s done it pretty much from the start you’re just waiting and waiting and waiting for our intrepid heroes to catch up. I even figured out part of the method so was waiting for someone to figure it out. Though, most of these feelings didn’t emerge until about… 50 or 75% in? Before then I did enjoy it. So, in the end, a mixed bag.

This is the continuing series in 1850 Edinburgh with the first use of Chloroform by Dr Simpson. His new assistant Will Raven and his relationship with Sarah Fisher who is determined to enter medicine. This is still a time of less freedom for women and medicine is still a man’s world. The start of operations are still frowned upon but the like of Will are eager to explore. Will and Sarah come upon a pattern of deaths which seem to point to murder by an ingenious method.
You will be fascinated to see the first steps in medicine that we know today.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Art of Dying (Raven, Fisher, and Simpson #2) by Ambrose Parry from NetGalley and publisher, Canongate/Black Thorn in order to read and give an honest review.

“… a well-written novel, rich in historical details, it contains a brilliant mix of fact with fiction making it an engaging read…”
Will Raven has spent the past couple of years in Europe training to become an obstetrician. When a violent attack in Germany causes him to kill a man he decides to return to Edinburgh. Will returns under the employ as an assistant to Dr. James Young Simpson, known for his groundbreaking expertise on anesthetizing surgical patients. Upon the return not much has changed except Sarah Fisher, the former housemaid and Will’s former love is no longer a servant but now the married assistant to Dr. Simpson. Will after leaving Sarah, as she was considered unsuitable to be a Dr’s wife, is weighed down by his regrets. Sarah has done well for herself, married to Dr Bates she has become well respected at her job, defying the confines that women were faced with during Victorian times.

When several patients from one family die questions arise as to what may have been the culprit. With Dr. Simpson’s reputation is in question Will and Sarah become obsessed with clearing his name. When it appears that they might have discovered a new disease Will excitedly pursues his theory one that could be the making of his career. With Sarah’s assistance he begins to delve into the origins of the disease, but the clues begin to lead them into another direction…the evidence suggests that the deaths were not natural at all but the work of an elusive serial killer. Faced with constant misdirection, regret and plagued with enemies from his past Will has his work cut out for him.

Although, I did not read the previous book in the series, “The Way of All Flesh” in my opinion “The Art of Dying” was perfect as a stand-alone. The authors give just enough background to pivotal moments from the previous book in a way that does not overwhelm or seem unnecessary.

Fast paced and intelligent, I thoroughly enjoyed The Art of Dying. Written by husband-and-wife team Chris Brookmyre and Dr Marisa Haetzman under the pen name of Ambrose Perry, this is a well-written novel, rich in historical details, it contains a brilliant mix of fact with fiction making it an engaging read that will keep you flipping pages.



The Art of Dying is the second book in this atmospheric historical mystery series set in Edinburgh in 1849. It is told in the 3rd person with some 1st person narration by the killer interspersed throughout. The prologue is the first of these 1st person narrations and it was absolutely amazing!

Will Raven takes up a new position as assistant to Dr. Simpson after studying abroad for a year. There have been some changes in Sarah's life as well. Questions about the death of a patient proves damaging to Dr Simpson's reputation and Sarah and Will decide to investigate.

This book is about reputation, renown, and professional acclaim. It is a lot darker in tone than the first book in the series. It is well-written with amazing historical detail of the medical discoveries happening at the time.

3.5*

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Today, I’m happy to be on the closing day of this blog tour for The Art of Dying. This interesting mix of murder mystery, historical/ medical drama and romance, creeps up on you slowly, until you’re determined to keep reading and see whether a killer is stalking the sick of Edinburgh. In fact at what point I couldn’t decide what I wanted to know more: would the killer face justice, would Raven reconcile with the woman he loved, who was stealing money from the surgery, would Sarah live and what the hell was Quinton up to? It’s hard to sleep with all that going round in your brain! I hadn’t read the first novel featuring Dr. Wilberforce Raven, but it was easy to catch up and we really do hit the ground running as Raven is attacked in an alley way in Prague. In the dark and confusion one of the attackers draws a gun, Raven draws his knife and a shot rings out ricocheting off the narrow brick walls. Raven slashes his knife in the air from left to right. He thinks he made contact with an attackers throat, but he doesn’t know if he struck a fatal blow and doesn’t know who is shot.

This chaotic existence seems to be the way Raven lives, but will it follow him back to the streets of Edinburgh. He’s been offered a place under the prestigious obstetrician Dr. Simpson, who he trained under at medical school. He’s looking forward to being back in Edinburgh and in the hospitable, but slightly chaotic, family household. He’s also looking forward to getting away from the guilt that he may well have killed a man in Prague. The only downside involves women. He will be leaving Gabrielle behind - the woman he’s been seeing in Prague - but they’ve both known it was a short term relationship. More pressing than that, he’s wondering whether Sarah is still part of Dr. Simpson’s household. Sarah was originally the Simpson’s housemaid, but did assist the doctor in clinic at times. Raven was attracted to her intelligence and determination. They seemed drawn together by an invisible bond and the closer he gets to his old city, he can feel that bond tugging again. They way they’d been in the past, Sarah might have confidently expected a proposal and had it just been about love, Raven would have had no qualms. However, as a young doctor starting out in a profession where reputation is everything, could he risk marrying a house maid? What would Edinburgh society think and would he be risking his career?

I can’t say I warmed to Raven as a character. I found him arrogant and apt to jump to conclusions, especially where it would benefit him. More importantly, I found him cowardly. Especially in his dealings with Sarah. I had such a moment of satisfaction when he enquired after Sarah when arriving, using her maiden name. When the new house maid explains she is now Mrs Sarah Banks, I actually smiled. To find out that her new husband, Archie Banks, is also a doctor and has a comfortable lifestyle, is a huge life lesson for Raven. Here was a man with strength of his convictions. He had loved Sarah and married her, with no regard to his position or social standing. Of course, we find out later on, that Archie has a reason for not caring about such things but he’s still a man of honour. Sarah is an intelligent, but also perceptive woman, and this is her advantage as she and Raven come together to restore Dr Simpson’s reputation. During a difficult delivery, Simpson is rumoured to have missed a haemorrhage and the dead woman’s mattress was said to be so soaked with blood it had to be disposed of. Simpson expressly asks Raven not to look into the matter and certainly not to bother the grieving widower in his defence. Raven even has the odd worry about Simpson himself, especially his potential overuse of chloroform - Raven is served a drink laced with it on his first evening. Sarah, however, feels that Simpson is a good doctor and that there is something else underlying this need to discredit him.

This is not the only investigation going on in the household. A new employee, Mr. Quinton, is there to look after the admin and keep the books for the practice. Unofficially, he is trying to find the culprit for money going missing in the house. He wants to book drugs in and out too, and research patterns in the practice’s spending. There’s something about his persnickety nature and constant presence that’s very off putting. He doesn’t work in harmony with the house, but rather against it. He isn’t at the Uriah Heap level of obsequiousness, but that’s who I kept thinking of when he came into the story. I liked how the author brought in all these levels of surveillance. Quinton watches the household and practice, but he’s been under the steely eye of the butler since he arrived. Sarah is watching both Dr. Simpson, but also stumbles into another investigation while trying to clear his name. Raven is being watched, but is also watching others with Sarah. Their focus is split though: Sarah thinks Simpson’s name can be cleared and as the deaths pile up, the same name keeps cropping up, a nurse called Mary who has cared for people who seem to have lost their lives in suspicious circumstances. A sudden illness that involves seizures, unconsciousness, fatigue and weakness appears out of the blue, killing people in a matter of hours. Could this Angel of Mercy be an Angel of Death? Or could there be a rare new disease for Raven to discover? He daydreams about the acclaim it could bring if he has uncovered an unidentified disease. With the title Raven’s Malady running through his head, the two are on the look out for different things, but who will be proved right? More importantly will the investigators themselves be safe, as they trail all over Edinburgh to find answers?

If we add to this: a moneylender with a giant as his right hand man and some unexpected debtors on his books; a pregnancy; a bereavement; and a breakneck race to save someone’s life. The book is definitely jam packed with incident and tension, whether that be the tension of the race to find our culprit or the more ‘slow burn’ tension between Raven and Sarah. Our writers leave us with enough answers to feel satisfied and enough cliffhangers to look forward to the next book. This isn’t an easy balance to strike and I felt it was well - judged here. I was intrigued by the period detail when it came to surgery and obstetrics. I found myself won over by most of the characters. Sarah leapt off the page and when I read Mary’s chapters I was drawn into her upbringing and the terrible effect this had on her psychologically. This is a series I will look forward to revisiting and maybe even Raven might win me over next time.

I enjoyed the first book in the series, The Way of All Flesh, but recall thinking it lacked a little pace, especially in the early part of the book. No such criticism can be levelled at The Art of Dying. The inclusion of that device much beloved by authors of contemporary thrillers – a chilling prologue and occasional chapters by a mystery narrator – inject a real sense of tension. At the same time, The Art of Dying retains all the period atmosphere that was such an admirable feature of its predecessor.

For Will Raven and Sarah Fisher much has changed since the first book. After a year spent studying in Europe, Will is now Dr. Raven and is no longer Dr. James Simpson’s apprentice but his assistant. And Sarah is no longer a servant in the Simpson household but helps Dr. Simpson with the patients who attend his clinic. The changes in her personal life have been no less significant.

However, much has also stayed the same. Will still battles to control ‘the devil inside him’ and his fear he is destined to meet a violent end. Oh, and his return to Edinburgh has not escaped the notice of a rather formidable former enemy. When it comes to the world of medicine however, Will is disappointed to find a reluctance to embrace some of the new surgical practices he learned about during his time abroad. As for Sarah, she still retains her thirst for knowledge and chafes at the constraints she perceives society imposes on independent-minded women like herself who yearn to pursue a career. As she observes, “She was a conundrum, representing a deviation from the norm that seemed to cause a degree of disquiet in the bosoms of those wedded to the notion of a rigorously imposed social hierarchy”.

I’m pleased to say what definitely hasn’t changed is the spark of attraction between Will and Sarah that looked likely to ignite in the first book but was seemingly snuffed out by the then difference in their social status. However, Will and Sarah are united in their feelings of loyalty to Dr. Simpson and are soon engaged in investigating a series of unexplained deaths. Since one of the victims was a patient of Dr. Simpson, it has given rise to accusations of malpractice against him. As their enquiries progress, the reader may believe they know exactly who the culprit is but there are times when it’s wise to wait for a second opinion or to revisit your initial diagnosis.

The Art of Dying is a skilful combination of intricately plotted mystery, engaging leading characters and great period atmosphere. Just what the doctor ordered! In fact, I’m hoping for a repeat prescription before too long.

The Art of Dying is the second book in the medicine and murder themed Raven, Fisher and Simpson series, set in mid-nineteenth century Edinburgh.

These are the days of pioneers of the medicine, on the cutting edge (pardon the pun) of experimental practice, laying the foundations for the medical profession that we know today - and this is not an easy task in a city still rife with old fashioned 'quacks' who view the new procedures with suspicion and contempt. It doesn't help that many of the new breed of doctors are also competing against each other to make their name in the new age of medicine, encouraging division in their ranks.

Dr Simpson, is one such doctor on the cusp of the new age, and in fact a real life one too who was a pioneer in the use of chloroform, and through him our authors introduce the fascinating medical advances being made at the time - and show us much of the controversy that went hand in hand with the advances.

But Edinburgh is also a city of many faces, and a good number of these are dark and sinister. There is a terrifying 'Angel of Death' plying her trade here and someone needs to do something about it. This task falls to our fictional characters - the young Doctor Raven and his erstwhile lover Sarah Fisher, who are both assisting Dr Simpson in his endeavours. Through them we follow a twisty and dangerous path to the truth of the mysterious deaths in the city and the identity of the murderess herself - they also help out Dr Simpson with some of his difficulties and have their own medical adventures along the way too.

I really enjoyed the way our authors entwine historical fact and fiction in this book, combining them together to produce a slick murder mystery tale filled with fascinating medical details. Dr Simpson is our real life anchor of the piece, helping to drag medicine into the modern age, with his assistants at his side. Dr Raven takes the part of the romantic hero daring to go beyond the bounds of acceptable behaviour, both professionally and personally, in the pursuit of good, even if he considers himself to be dark at heart - and Sarah Fisher holds her own as the ambitious young women keen to take up the banner for women's rights and carve a path through the rigid societal strictures laid out for the female sex.

The mystery serial killer in this book is inspired by 19th-century nurse and ‘Angel of Death’ Jane Toppan, which makes it all the more fascinating and I love the fact that Sarah Fisher's part here represents the growth of the women’s movement which led to the formation of the Edinburgh Seven: the first women to enrol in university in the UK.

I did find it hard to get into the story and the rhythm of the writing at first, mainly because I had not read the first book in the series, The Way Of All Flesh, but there is such a gloriously gritty Gothic horror feel to the whole piece that it soon pulled me in. There are some holes in the back story of the characters that I do still need to fill, but since I now have a copy of book one this will soon be remedied (sorry for another medicinal pun, dear reader!).

If you like your historical crime darkly delicious, with a nice mix of fact and fiction - and with a feel of the dawning of a new age - then this is going to be the book for you. It's creepy and compelling in equal measure, with great characters and a vivid setting, and a plot that will keep you turning the pages all the way to the end. What more do you need?

This book is full of brilliant things.

I love stomping about Edinburgh and I love the history of Edinburgh so any book that combines the two gets my money. Everything about the descriptions from the posh bits to the well dodgy bits are so vividly described it was like a little film in my head :)

The layers of plot and the way they weave together is really clever. The "main" plot is fiendish and works really well in the time period. I really enjoyed how real history and historic people were blended with fiction and how the prejudices, assumptions and cultural norms of the time are confronted head on.

The characters are all sublime. I love the kick ass women in this book, I love how Raven can, at times, be an utter *&$$% that you just want to slap and at other times can be so endearing. All the characters have something about them that you can connect with and that is a delight to read.

This is the second book featuring these characters which I didn't know when I started reading. It soon became obvious that there was a previous book but I didn't feel penalised by not having read it.

*Many thanks to Ambrose Parry, Canongate, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
I looked forward to reading this second offering by Ambrose Perry, and my waitng patiently was rewarded.
Edinburgh in 1850 witnesses mysterious deaths of patients with similar symptoms, and Will Raven, after his return from Germany, hopes to identify an unknown disease that may make him famous. Sarah Fisher, now married to a doctor, still hopes to become a member of the medical profession and is supported by her husband. Will's and Sarah's paths cross, and together they manage to identify the silent murderer.
Ambrose Parry wrote another more than solid historical fiction, with a plot full of twists and turns, and again he managed to describe the dark atmosphere of Edinburgh and the world of the medicine in the mid-19th Scotland. I liked Sarah's independent spirit and her aspirations to become a doctor one day.
I suppose Book 2 may be read as a standalone, however, reading the previous instalment might provide more insight into Will's and Sarah's relationship.

Raven, Fisher and Simpson 2

edinburgh 1850: despite being at the firefront of modern medicine, hundreds of patients are dyind all over the city, with doctors finding their remedies powerless. But its not just the deaths that dismay Dr James Simpson - a whispering campagin seeks to blame him for the death of a patient in suspicious circunstances. Simpsons pretege Will Raven and former housemaid Sarah Fisher are determined to clear their patrons name.

i have not read the first book in this series, The Way Of All Flesh but i will have to rectify that soon. Many of the chaaracters in this book actually existed. Fact and fiction are blnded together seamlessly making an informative read. the descriptions of the prostitutes, criminals and desperately poor people give an insight tohow people lived in Scotlands capital city. Will and Sarah are great characters, they are not without their faults and this makes them more believable. The amount of medical knowledge and the history of Dr Simpson shows that the book has been well researched.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Cannongate and the author Ambrose Perry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really like this series and am really hoping there will be more books, especially after the way this one ended - I really need to know more about Will Raven, Sarah Fisher and Dr. Simpson. They are an intriguing bunch.
This is a much darker book than the first one [with Will again finding himself in a precarious position while in Berlin with his friend Henry] and there are moments where I had to stop and take a breath as it was so dark and rather filled with despair. Life in 1850 Edinburgh was not easy, not even if you were a Doctor in good standing and that is shown over and over in this story. And there are so many things that aren't as they seem that you often will feel like your head is just swimming trying to figure it all out. And a slight warning - there are moments of real grossness in this book [as with the last one as well]. 1850 Edinburgh was not clean and neither was doctoring. This was just on the cusp of Lister and disinfectant and the washing of ones hands with carbolic acid to cleanse them [and prevent the transfer of "stuff"] and there is much talk about that and putrefaction and other lovely thing. I am personally not grossed out by such talk typically, but there were absolutely moments where I said out loud "I could have gone my WHOLE life without knowing that".
I cannot really go into the story too much here because this is a true mystery. You are meant to try and figure out what is going on. The narration was lovely because it was three narrators so you know there is a third party that is trying to mess things up, and all three narrators do an excellent job of depicting life in that time. It is absolutely a story that you need to read with little information; figuring it all out is half the fun. It is an excellent read and I am so glad I came across these books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ambrose Parry, and Canongate/Black Thorn for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great novel full of medical procedures, the discovery of chloroform and the dark shadows of medical advancements. It was almost the equivalent of CSI in 1700s Edinburgh and there are plenty of gory moments to make you think that you should probably not read it with the book too close to your mouth for fear of what might be impregnated on the pages. such is the realism of this book and the feeling of nausea I actually felt on reading some of the descriptions. Great historical fiction for those with a stronger stomach than me.