I can’t resist an Ambrose Parry mystery, and this one is well up to the standard set by the previous three. There is enough backstory given to explain relationships between various characters without spoiling the enjoyment of previous books which a reader who is new to the series will undoubtedly wish to read.

Set in C19 Edinburgh, this exciting novel involves a variety of characters, establishment and otherwise, from the worlds of medicine, theatre, property and the law, and highlights contemporary Victorian activities, such as Mesmerism and property development.

Having finished this fast-paced, engrossing murder mystery, I wish I were a more patient reader because I might then have noticed a few of the hints along the way. But at least the main protagonists missed them first time too.

The writing duo of Ambrose Parry have gone and done it again, delivering another slice of pure reading enjoyment. It took me a little while longer than normal to 'settle in to' this novel, but in the end the sparky writing and tight plot proved just as irresistible as ever. These guys really have hit upon a winning formula and it is currently showing no signs of diminishing potency.

These books are just such a lot of fun, with Will and Sarah romping around Victorian Edinburgh, solving crime, defying gender roles and ignoring the crackling sexual tension between them, but they have enough substance, with well thought out murder mysteries and credible character development, that they aren't instantly forgettable fluff. The medical backdrop gives the extra detail and depth that makes this series not just great entertainment but also genuinely interesting and authentic historical fiction. But mainly it's just a lot of fun!

I love the characters of Will and Sarah and love being back in their world, seeing where their lives are going. I love their relationship, I love the frisson of restrained emotions between them that occasionally occurs and has me squealing with glee. I really would love them to end up together eventually.

This outing is another satisfying one, lots of the good stuff here - atmosphere and tension, twists and red herrings, scandal and poignancy, and a nicely wrapped up ending with a hint at what could be coming in the next book.

Such an enjoyable read, undemanding escapism and high quality entertainment.

Dr Will Raven is somewhat frustrated with family life - his wife is heavily pregnant with their second child and he is finding it difficult to relate to, and cope with, his noisy young son. His wife wants him to set up his own practice, his speciality being gynaecology, rather than be junior to Dr Simpson as at present. Raven is somewhat reluctant to do this as it would mean being beholden to her father for funding. His assistant, Sarah Raven, dearly wants to become a doctor (impossible in 1853) and Raven is sympathetic towards her.

However an urgent call summoning him to Surgeons Hall provides a more fascinating and puzzling attraction - certain body parts having been found in the office of the Head, Dr Christie, who is reluctant to involve the police as it would cause adverse publicity for the profession. It is not long ago that body snatching caused problems for the medical profession. Raven is charged with endeavouring to find who has been murdered..

As if that wasn't sufficient.Raven soon discovers that Sarah and his wife Eugenie, intend to attend a display of "mesmerism" by a certain Dr Malham, whom Raven suspects is a fraud. He accepts that medical science is evolving rapidly but "mesmerism? No!

One thing leads to another when more body parts are discovered and soon, Mr McLevy, a police detective is involved and events of the past start to haunt Raven. Will they ever be able to name the victim and, equally as important, the murderer?

This is the first of the Raven/Fisher mystery novels that I have read, but it certainly won't be the last! A truly good read.

This is an undemanding novel, ideal for readers who are looking for a story with a fairly strong plot and characters who, though not drawn in enormous depth, are engaging and believable.

The novel is set during the 19th century, in Edinburgh, and the principal protagonists are part of the city's medical establishment, in collaboration with the newly emerging city police force. When freshly dismembered body parts are found in the office of one of the city's principal medical officers, he is keen to avoid scandal. due to the all-too-recent furor over the purchase of bodies for dissection during the time of the Body Snatchers, so one of his colleagues with connections to the police is called in to establish where they came from and to whom they belong.
The search leads to a web of connections with the worlds of theatre and the newly-emerging science of Mesmerism, and the flamboyant American doctor who wishes to profit from his abilities as a Mesmerist by setting himself up as a pseudo-Messianic figure who can heal patients without recourse to drugs or surgery.

The novel also offers a strong female character in the person of Sarah, a young woman who has risen from the position of a housemaid to become assistant to the principal male protagonist, Dr. Raven. She is eager to study medicine, but, given the restrictions imposed on women pursuing medical careers in the period, becomes interested in following a career as a Mesmerist herself. This draws her into the ambit of the American quack doctor and the mystery surrounding the severed limbs that initiated the storyline.

On the whole, this book offers some interesting insights into the Victorian medical world, combined with an engrossing plot and characters who, though not particularly memorable, are sufficiently well drawn to engage the reader's attention throughout the novel.

Really enjoyed this murder mystery, set in the 19th century. Life must have been so very different then; solving crime and catching criminals, so much harder. I could really sense the feel of the city’s granite streets and how murky they must have felt to those trying to solve the riddle of the body parts that were found.
We were introduced to many old Scottish words through the book and these somehow added to the atmosphere of “auld reekie”. Along with the mystery of the story, there were occasional lines that were very funny and these just made the book even more pleasurable to read. I loved the ending and was left with the feeling that Sarah wasn’t quite sure what or who she really wanted. I would highly recommend this book as a thoroughly enjoyable read.

I really don't read a lot of historical fiction, even crime. Not sure why, just the way it has worked out. I always, always, make exception for the Raven and Fisher series by Ambrose Parry. It's one of those series I started on as I was intrigued - historical fact mixed in with a touch of crime fiction - and from that very first book I have been hooked. It's fair to say that Will and Sarah have been on quite the journey over the course of the past few books and, with Voices of the Dead, husband and wife authors Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman (aka Ambrose Parry), have brought Will's past into Sarah's present in the most surprising and delightfully thrilling of ways.

The beauty of this series is the way in which the authors have woven medical fact into the stories. Some of the characters we meet, such as Will and Sarah's employer, James Young Simpson, are key parts of medical history, and their stories have been used to good effect, with some literary licence, to inform the cases that our intrepid heroes become embroiled in. This time around the pair are drawn into the world of Mesmerism, as Sarah tries to find a a niche part of medicine which is not yet denied to her as a woman. As if getting to the bottom of what Will Raven considers to be charlatanry was not enough, he soon finds himself engaged in a case that involves a face from his past, and a scattering of body parts around the city. A disembodied foot, a missing person, and a whole heap of trouble mean only one thing - an absolutely cracking story for us readers.

I really do love the characters of Will Raven and Sarah Fisher. Will's home life has moved on somewhat since we last saw him. Now husband and father, he is under pressure to chart his own course and start a practice away from Simpson, something which he both desires and fears. Add in a very awkward and strained relationship with his son, and it is easy to see why he is often distracted. He's come a long way from the young man we first met, although many of his character traits remain unchanged, and his history is something he cannot truly move away from. Sarah is such a wonderful character and Will's opposite, even though there is an undeniable chemistry between them. Her determination, and the way in which the authors have presented her very believable struggle to pursue a career in medicine in a time where opportunities were rarely, if ever, afforded to women, is pitch perfect. You can feel her frustration emanate from the page, but her intelligence and steadfastness are also what make her a brilliant and compelling character.

There are some unexpected turns in this book. Characters we get to see another side of. Moments in which there is a real display of compassion and understanding from people we might not have expected to see. And, as you might expect given the plot and the inclusion of Mesmerism and clairvoyance in the story, quite a lot of trickery and misdirection. Did I perhaps foresee one of the twists in the tale? I guess I did. Did it impact upon my enjoyment of the story? Not one bit. I was completely hooked from the very first chapter, caught up in the intrigue and the mystery and wanting to know how if fit into the wider investigation. Add in the usual humour, some moments of real threat and tension, and some characters of nefarious intent who come from a place you really might not be expecting, and this is another absolutely cracking story that fans of the series are bound to love.

And the ending? Well that really does set up all sorts of possibilities now doesn't it? Can't wait to see where these fabulous authors lead us, WIll and Sarah, next. Definitely recommended.

The writing team who comprise Ambrose Parry have done it again.

Great characterisation, a moody 19th century Edinburgh background, and body parts. What more could you want? Mesmerism, charlatans and stage trickery? Got those as well.

The tension between Will Raven and Sarah Fisher continues, though Raven is now married and Sarah is becoming very friendly with another man. Long may they continue their association and will-they-won't-they prickliness.

Entertaining, informative and engrossing.

Will Raven and Sarah Fisher are back to embark upon another enterprise in 1850s Edinburgh.
Will is now married, but struggling with the burdens of parenthood and Sarah is still trying to find a way to fulfil her medical ambitions. She investigates Mesmerism, which is becoming popular in the city, as a way forward, while Will becomes embroiled in assisting the Police Surgeon in a murder investigation.
Ambrose Parry’s series gets better with each instalment. Both writing and balance are perfectly pitched. Will’s arrogance and Sarah’s lack of guile fit happily, making them both even more substantial and authentic, and the backdrop of scientific advancement is compelling.
It wouldn’t even matter if the development of the plot of the concurrent murder investigation was merely adequate, but it is much, much better than that, with one especially unexpected twist and much holding of breath towards a dramatic finale. The next instalment will be awaited eagerly.

This engrossing story takes the reader to 19th Century Edinburgh, where the discovery of body parts in different locations of the city leads to a riveting investigation concerning medics, actors, magicians and other diverse characters. It’s an era of optimism when science and great medical discoveries captured the imagination of many, as well as alternative therapies like mesmerism, and Parry is very skillful at transporting the reader there, evoking a mysterious atmosphere and vividly portraying the characters. A very enjoyable whodunit.

This is the next instalment featuring Will Raven and Sarah Fisher set in 1854 the authors have recreated this time period perfectly. The story grips from the outset, body parts are found across Edinburgh. Who is responsible for the horrific dismemberment? Such a fascinating read we learn about the medical developments during this time. We also touch on the Victorian obsession with mesmerism. So many twists and turns, I was totally hooked and transported back to 1854 Edinburgh!!!!! I loved this book... the characters spring to life and it's great to see their development and we learn more about them. The last chapter whetted my appetite for the next instalment !!!!
Well done!

The fourth instalment in the Raven, Fisher and Simpson series, the first three should be read first. This is a great addition to the series as we get a more in depth look at the character of Raven and see him face his past, as it catches up to him. I also really like the authors note at the end which added that the mesmerism aspect of the story is true to 19th century Edinburgh and adds a choice of reality to the book. The mystery was really well written and had me hooked especially as the suspense amps up throughout the story.

The fourth installment in this entertaining historical mystery series featuring Sarah Fisher and Will Raven. Mesmerism is the hot topic in Edinburgh and Sarah is keen to learn all she can of the practice. Meanwhile, Will is helping his friend, Henry, to uncover information on a body part that has recently turned up.
As with the previous books in the series, this is a well-written, easy to read and fast-paced story. With plenty of exciting twists, the story is supported by interesting historical details. The relationship between Sarah and Will is, for me, one of the main driving forces behind the series, and the dynamics of this never fail to entertain me.
Highly recommended.

This is the 4th book in the Raven & Fisher Mystery series by Ambrose Parry and I enjoyed this one just as much as I've enjoyed the previous three. I love how thee historical fact of the time is woven into the thread of the fictional story.

Even though each book is a stand alone story, the character development is something that carries along in the background from one book to the next. Will Raven's story first began when he had not long finished at the surgeon's college and was looking to apprentice with Dr Simpson (a real historical figure) and through each book we have watch Raven's character grow both professionally and personally. I've also enjoyed following Sarah Fisher's journey from housemaid to Dr Simpson's assistant in his practice. Sarah is fighting so hard to get somewhere in the field of medicine and she is well aware of the belief that women have no place in a man's world, but she doesn't let it stop her trying.

This story is another murder mystery that employed a good twist that wasn't revealed until the very end. There was another twist along the way that I really should have seen coming but I didn't - which goes to show how well Ambrose Parry has written this book. And from the ending, I am anticipating the next book!

I enjoyed the first three books in the Raven and Fisher series but didn’t think this one was quite as good as the others. Dr Will Raven, a good doctor but beset by problems from a violent past, now works for Dr Simpson (the chloroform man) and hopes to specialise in obstetrics. Sarah Fisher has been disappointed in her ambition to become a doctor and she also works for Simpson. As the book begins, Raven is not a happy man. His two-year-old-son seems permanently angry and screaming. His wife Eugenie is discontented; pregnant again and wanting Raven to set up his own practice with help from her father, which he is unwilling to accept.

This book is all about deception and transformations. The prologue describes a murder which at first seems to have no connection to later events. Raven is yet again drawn into a murder case when body parts are found in various parts of the city. How to identify the victims? Kimble is a drunken magician turned medium, who is knowingly tricking people into believing he can contact the dead for them. Sarah is drawn to Dr Malham, an American aiming to set up a practice using mesmerism with his business partner, Mr Somerville. She thinks that mesmerism may be a way into medicine for her and turns out to be good at it. (The book is set in 1853, when Victorians were very interested in mesmerism. Charles Dickens was fascinated by it and was a natural, once mesmerising his own wife.) When Malham gives a public demonstration in which he appears to extract a tumour from a sick man with no sign of a wound, it causes a sensation and, not surprisingly, scepticism amongst doctors. Sarah is disappointed, seeing Malham now as another Kimble.

Neither Malham nor Somerville is the man they seem to be and Raven worries about Sarah’s friendship with Somerville. Yet again, his past connections are catching up with him. As the book races to a dangerous and exciting close, it picks up a lot and the reader is wondering who will be exposed and who might be murdered. Will it be Raven to the rescue again? I found I really wanted to know.

An enjoyable book though not the best in the series. Raven, a gynaecologist, gets caught up in a murder investigation when body parts are found. Sarah, his best friend and one time lover, investigates the new science of mesmerism. As always the plot moves along swiftly without jumping time lines but with short passages of background for those who have not read the previous books. I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series as some really good books would be missed.

I really loved the latest instalment in the Simpson/Raven story! Parry yet again brings the murky underworld of 1800s Edinburgh to life. I live in the city and the author does an outstanding job of describing the cobbled streets and dark alleyways. I especially love that this instalment gave me a greater insight in to Sarah and Will’s characters (and Flint!). I also enjoyed the fast paced plot. It was a real page turner and I was kept guessing until the very end. A fantastic novel. Five stars from me. Thanks for the ARC.

Another fabulous edition to the series.

In this book Raven's past and future collide as he is confronted with unwanted memories and a face from his past while he worries about his relationship with his young son and his future away from Dr Simpson.

As with all these books there's a juicy (and often macabre) mystery to be solved which is well plotted and paced. This time Raven is called to the College of Surgeons when a dismembered foot is found. Who does it belong to and where is the rest of the body?

I love the setting of 19th century Edinburgh and the blend of real historical personalities, places and events alongside the fictional characters.

One of the things I also enjoy about his series is the development of the characters, the ongoing tension between Will & Sarah and Sarahs ongoing attempts to be accepted into the medical profession in particular.

I’ve enjoyed every book in this series but I think there's enough backstory in this one to mean you wouldn’t necessarily need to have read the other. Though after reading this one I’m sure you’ll want to go back and rectify that.

Huge thanks to Canongate & Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy.

This is a brilliant addition to the series which should be read first. 1854 in Edinburgh and a killer needs to be identified as body parts have been found. The problem is that the police, accompanied by Dr Will Raven are looking for the wrong person. The ambience of nineteenth century Edinburgh gives a superb feel to the story. So does Will whose troubled background and personality are used effectively. It is worth a careful read to catch the very nuances of the period and place. Much is still happening in the development of medicine. Will’s employer ,James Young Simpson of chloroform fame has a lesser part in this book. It is a story keep a reader absorbed. The author’s understanding and use of the period and of medical development is hugely impressive. I recommend this book.

This is the fourth book in Ambrose Parry’s series of crime novels set in the medical world of 19th century Edinburgh – and it’s my favourite so far. Ambrose Parry is a pseudonym of Dr Marisa Haetzman, a consultant anaesthetist, and her husband, the crime author Chris Brookmyre, and they each bring their own set of skills and knowledge to the writing of these books. The series follows Dr Will Raven, assistant to the great Scottish obstetrician James Simpson (a real historical figure), and Sarah Fisher, who dreams of one day becoming a doctor herself, so each book includes a wealth of medical detail as well as a murder mystery to be solved.

In Voices of the Dead, set in 1854, Will is now married with a child and another on the way, but he doesn’t have much time to enjoy being a husband and father – not only is he struggling to move out from under the wing of Dr Simpson and establish his own reputation, he has also become mixed up in yet another murder case. Parts of a dismembered body have been turning up in random places around Edinburgh and Will’s friend, Dr Henry Littlejohn, has asked for his help in identifying the victim.

Meanwhile, Sarah Fisher’s plans to study medicine and follow in the footsteps of Dr Elizabeth Blackwell have had to be put on hold. Disappointed and frustrated, she turns instead to the emerging science of mesmerism, which is beginning to grow in popularity. An American mesmerist has just arrived in Edinburgh and Sarah is keen to learn more about the possible uses of mesmerism in healing patients. Will Raven, however, has a low opinion of such things and, not for the first time, he and Sarah find themselves in conflict. Eventually, however, Sarah is also drawn into the murder investigation and she and Will must work together again to find the culprit.

If you’re new to this series you may be wondering whether you could start here without having read the previous three books. Well, this one does work as a standalone mystery, but I would recommend reading all four in order if you can, starting with The Way of All Flesh. Will and Sarah have a complex relationship – made even more complex by the addition of Will’s wife, Eugenie – and it would be best to get to know them both from the beginning. There are also lots of recurring characters who develop throughout the series; in this book, I particularly enjoyed being reacquainted with Gregor the giant. Like the real life Irishman Charles Byrne (whom I read about recently in Hilary Mantel’s The Giant, O’Brien), Gregor’s size has made him the target of unscrupulous men who hope to acquire his body for exhibition after his death.

As well as the usual details of Will’s work as an obstetrician, I found it fascinating to read about the public displays of mesmerism, hypnotism and spiritualism being staged across Edinburgh and the differing views people held towards them. Were the mesmerists and spiritualists really just frauds preying on gullible victims, as Will believed, or were they acting with the best intentions, trying to provide comfort to people who needed it? This storyline introduces some colourful new characters, including a magician of whom I became quite fond and am hoping we’ll meet again.

Every book in this series has been very enjoyable, but I think this one is the best yet. I can’t wait for the next one and hope we won’t have to wait too long for it!

Another triumph from Ambrose Parry. The story of Will & Sarah continues but with the usual variety of twists & turns.
The new 'medical' phenomenon of mesmerism has arrived in Edinburgh & Sarah is interested in finding out more, but Will is sceptical. The enigmatic Dr Maynard seems to have captivated everyone he meets but is he all that he seems. Add to this the appearance of bits of bodies around the city and you have the building blocks of a murderous mystery.
The weaving of real & fictional characters, & events, into a page turning mystery is excellent - as is the detail given to the geography of the city and everything appearing in the 'right place'.
Fantastic 4th instalment in the Raven & Fisher mystery series - can't wait for number 5!