A My Chronicle Book Box review: The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry.
This is the first novel of Ambrose Parry (a pseudonym for the crime writing partnership of husband and wife Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman) and is an atmospheric, murder mystery set in 1840s Edinburgh showcasing the medical marvels and horrors of the period!
This book was included in our February 2019 crime & mystery book box.
Read on for the full My Chronicle Book Box review...
My Chronicle Book Box Review: Louise's thoughts...
Now, I know you are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but just take a moment to admire the lovely artwork on the end papers:
This book takes you deep into the medical history and darkness of Victorian Edinburgh particularly surrounding child birth. Not only is this a great, well-written and atmospheric mystery but you learn about some of the real life historical figures in Edinburgh at this time which I love about this book! Our fictional amateur sleuths are apprentice doctor Will Raven and house maid Sarah Fisher who must overcome their differences if they are to find out who is killing young women.
Will and Sarah are brought together as live-in employees of historical figure James Young Simpson. Dr Simpson was a Scottish obstetrician and the first physician to show the anaesthetic properties of chloroform on humans and we some of his experiments featured here!
Publisher: Canongate
Publication date: 30 August 2018
Publisher Synopsis:
In the city’s Old Town a number of young women have been found dead, all having suffered similarly gruesome ends. Across the city in the New Town, medical student Will Raven is about to start his apprenticeship with the brilliant and renowned Dr Simpson.
Simpson’s patients range from the richest to the poorest of this divided city. His house is like no other, full of visiting luminaries and daring experiments in the new medical frontier of anaesthesia. It is here that Raven meets housemaid Sarah Fisher, who recognises trouble when she sees it and takes an immediate dislike to him. She has all of Raven’s intelligence but none of his privileges, in particular his medical education.
With each having their own motive to look deeper into the city’s spate of suspicious deaths, Raven and Sarah find themselves propelled headlong into the darkest shadows of Edinburgh’s underworld, where they will have to overcome their differences if they are to make it out alive.
Hi, I'm Louise the founder of My Chronicle Book Box and I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog post.
Here at MCBB we are proud to have put in the hours reviewing, shortlisting, considering publishing schedules and ultimately selecting what we think are the best books for your book box. From our rural Yorkshire base we curate stunning book boxes filled with the latest novels signed by the authors, exclusive author interviews and top quality bookish goodies, which we send to our wonderful customers all across the UK and indeed the world!
We compliment the selected books with a range of hand-picked related treats for the ultimate book subscription box reading and unboxing experience.
Please visit our Gifts for Book Lovers page for bookish gifting ideas for friends and loved ones.
Subscription 3 book quarterly options available as Crime and Mystery Book Subscription Box or Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Subscription Box
Subscription 1 book monthly is available as Crime & Mystery Monthly Book Subscription Box