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Raven, Fisher, and Simpson #1
The Way of All Flesh
A vivid and gripping historical crime novel set in 19th century Edinburgh, from husband-and-wife writing team Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman.
Edinburgh, 1847. City of Medicine, Money, Murder.
Young women are being discovered dead across the Old Town, all having suffered similarly gruesome ends. 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 his intelligence but none of his privileges, in particular his medical education.
With each having their own motive to look deeper into these 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.
Edinburgh, 1847. City of Medicine, Money, Murder.
Young women are being discovered dead across the Old Town, all having suffered similarly gruesome ends. 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 his intelligence but none of his privileges, in particular his medical education.
With each having their own motive to look deeper into these 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.
409 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2018
About the author
Ambrose Parry
8 books405 followersAmbrose Parry is the pen name for husband and wife Chris Brookmyre (known mostly for his crime novels) and Dr Marisa Haetzman, a consultant anaesthetist. It is the latter's interest in medical history that lead to their first collaboration, The Way of All Flesh.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,216 reviews
August 10, 2018
Edinburgh 1847, a time when ruthless medical experiments were being carried out, quite often by the unscrupulous, those whose patients were of no consequence, who’s lives mattered little when set against the desire for fame and fortune.
Against this backdrop, Will Raven secures himself an apprenticeship with the much respected obstetrician Doctor Simpson.
The story begins with the suspicious death of Will’s prostitute friend Evie, but her death ( as we are about to find out) is only just the beginning!
Will is determined to discover who killed Evie and along with his sidekick, housemaid Sarah, he is dragged into Edinburgh’s very dark and seamy underbelly.
The author has brought 19th century Edinburgh very much to life, in particular, the medical experiments of this period. Descriptions of medical procedures won’t be for everyone, particularly those involving difficult births, these proved to be particularly gruesome, and remember, this was a time when these procedures were carried out without the use of anaesthetics! Although some doctors were experimenting with ether and chloroform, Scotland’s religious leaders were denouncing such methods as going against God.
I must say, I found our two main protagonists to be very engaging, and descriptions of Old Edinburgh with it’s cobbled streets and dark and dirty alleyways, along with some really fascinating facts , lent great atmosphere to the proceedings.
The writing flowed effortlessly, and this would have been a 5 star read for me, had the crime not taken something of a backseat in favour of the medical research at times. However, once the crime took centre stage again, the pace was relentless and I certainly found it to be an interesting and enjoyable read.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Canongate for an ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Against this backdrop, Will Raven secures himself an apprenticeship with the much respected obstetrician Doctor Simpson.
The story begins with the suspicious death of Will’s prostitute friend Evie, but her death ( as we are about to find out) is only just the beginning!
Will is determined to discover who killed Evie and along with his sidekick, housemaid Sarah, he is dragged into Edinburgh’s very dark and seamy underbelly.
The author has brought 19th century Edinburgh very much to life, in particular, the medical experiments of this period. Descriptions of medical procedures won’t be for everyone, particularly those involving difficult births, these proved to be particularly gruesome, and remember, this was a time when these procedures were carried out without the use of anaesthetics! Although some doctors were experimenting with ether and chloroform, Scotland’s religious leaders were denouncing such methods as going against God.
I must say, I found our two main protagonists to be very engaging, and descriptions of Old Edinburgh with it’s cobbled streets and dark and dirty alleyways, along with some really fascinating facts , lent great atmosphere to the proceedings.
The writing flowed effortlessly, and this would have been a 5 star read for me, had the crime not taken something of a backseat in favour of the medical research at times. However, once the crime took centre stage again, the pace was relentless and I certainly found it to be an interesting and enjoyable read.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Canongate for an ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
August 30, 2018
This is a deliciously atmospheric piece of historical crime fiction from the husband and wife authors, Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, set in Victorian Edinburgh, a city split between the poverty stricken and dark underbelly of the Old Town and the more genteel wealthy households of New Town. This is a story about Edinburgh's heyday as the prominent player in its contributions towards the progress of medicine intertwined with the murder of young women, prostitutes, deemed to be of little consequence, unworthy of any real investigation. It is 1847, a penniless and indebted Will Raven has secured a much sought after apprentice position with the well known Dr Simpson, specialising in midwifery and anaesthesia. Shocked after stumbling on the dead body of his friend, Evie, a prostitute, he is badly beaten and cut by the thugs of a moneylender when he arrives to live at the Simpson household. Needless to say, he makes a poor impression on some members of the household that include the young resentful Sarah Fisher, a bright and intelligent housemaid with aspirations for a career in medicine that is denied to her by society's misogyny and her poverty.
Edinburgh abounds with quacks, charlatans and snake oil salesman willing to peddle their dangerous practices and wares on a desperate public. Amidst the medical community there are daring experiments run by men, often ruthless and arrogant, brutal and uncaring of the people they experiment on. Driven by a need to acquire wealth and build their reputations, it is barely surprising that so many are corrupted by their power over ordinary mortal souls with nowhere else to go. In that respect, Raven is fortunate that Simpson is driven by the need to improve the gruesome medical practices in midwifery and to alleviate the unspeakable pain experienced by women in childbirth. We see the good doctor discover and implement the use of chloroform in the profession. Many doctors believe that it is natural for the patient to experience pain and it goes against nature to provide pain relief. I believe their beliefs would shift remarkably quickly if they were the ones on the receiving end of their brutal and excruciating practices. Then there are the male religious voices, claiming that God wants women to undergo painful childbirth and to provide an anaesthetic is to go against God. Sarah and Raven overcome their initial difficulties to join forces to investigate who is behind the growing number of dead women when no-one else will, only to find themselves in deadly danger.
The authors give us an atmospheric and richly described picture of the dark arts and science behind the breakthroughs made in 19th century Edinburgh amidst a background of a medical profession that was not always keen to adhere to the best interests of their patients. We are not spared the gruesome horrors of what people had to undergo in the hands of these powerful doctors, this includes the malignant abortionists taking advantage of poorer women with impunity. Sarah and Mina, whilst on different ends of the social strata, nevertheless epitomise just how powerless women were in their inability to choose their path in life, or even have control over their bodies. This novel does a brilliant job in providing such a great sense of time and location, giving an authentic glimpse of the state of medicine in the period, with all the tension and suspense of murder. The characterisation and development of Will Raven and Sarah Fisher was done well and with great skill as I found both of them utterly compelling as people. I look forward with great anticipation for the next in this series. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Canongate for an ARC.
Edinburgh abounds with quacks, charlatans and snake oil salesman willing to peddle their dangerous practices and wares on a desperate public. Amidst the medical community there are daring experiments run by men, often ruthless and arrogant, brutal and uncaring of the people they experiment on. Driven by a need to acquire wealth and build their reputations, it is barely surprising that so many are corrupted by their power over ordinary mortal souls with nowhere else to go. In that respect, Raven is fortunate that Simpson is driven by the need to improve the gruesome medical practices in midwifery and to alleviate the unspeakable pain experienced by women in childbirth. We see the good doctor discover and implement the use of chloroform in the profession. Many doctors believe that it is natural for the patient to experience pain and it goes against nature to provide pain relief. I believe their beliefs would shift remarkably quickly if they were the ones on the receiving end of their brutal and excruciating practices. Then there are the male religious voices, claiming that God wants women to undergo painful childbirth and to provide an anaesthetic is to go against God. Sarah and Raven overcome their initial difficulties to join forces to investigate who is behind the growing number of dead women when no-one else will, only to find themselves in deadly danger.
The authors give us an atmospheric and richly described picture of the dark arts and science behind the breakthroughs made in 19th century Edinburgh amidst a background of a medical profession that was not always keen to adhere to the best interests of their patients. We are not spared the gruesome horrors of what people had to undergo in the hands of these powerful doctors, this includes the malignant abortionists taking advantage of poorer women with impunity. Sarah and Mina, whilst on different ends of the social strata, nevertheless epitomise just how powerless women were in their inability to choose their path in life, or even have control over their bodies. This novel does a brilliant job in providing such a great sense of time and location, giving an authentic glimpse of the state of medicine in the period, with all the tension and suspense of murder. The characterisation and development of Will Raven and Sarah Fisher was done well and with great skill as I found both of them utterly compelling as people. I look forward with great anticipation for the next in this series. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Canongate for an ARC.
June 20, 2019
What a pleasant surprise this book! Great historical crime fiction read, very well written, full of atmosphere and details of Edinburgh in the year 1847. I actually picked this book up at Waterstones Edinburgh recently, they did of course promote it extra as a local book, upfront in the store in stacks, but rightly so, I was not disappointed!
More later, for those who like the combination of crime and history, this is a really good book!
More later, for those who like the combination of crime and history, this is a really good book!
February 17, 2023
3.5 stars. This book was well written and clearly well researched, though it contained a lot of unnecessary contrivance that made its reading a good deal less believable (the chapter in which Raven was offered the chance to clear his debts after being accidentally abducted by his enemies was particularly stupid). The main problem, though, was the story's lack of potential villains, which made guessing the murderer a very simple task. I'm not unhappy that i read it, but I doubt I'll read more in the series.
August 17, 2018
This novel gripped me! Edinborough, 1840s, poor people, rich people and medical experiments in search of a new medicament. And, a murder or two, naturally. The debut is fantastic! The Authors recreated the atmosphere of the city, were very particular regarding social details and introduced two main characters who, I'm sure will reappear in another novel very soon. Thanks to all my GR friends whose reviews encouraged me to read The Way of All Flesh! :)
*I submitted a full review to Netgally in exchange for ARC for which I'm deeply grateful.*
*I submitted a full review to Netgally in exchange for ARC for which I'm deeply grateful.*
September 10, 2018
"Science never solves a problem without creating ten more." (George Bernard Shaw)
It's the winter of 1847 in Edinburgh. Medical science seems to pounce upon new and innovative means of so-called advancements. Avant-garde, experimental methods are in both the hands of the charlatans and in the hands of the highly skilled. Your social status, unfortunately, will determine whose hands will guide your fate.
Will Raven, a young medical apprentice, quickly closes the door of Evie's room. Until this moment, Evie was a young woman who sold her wares for a determined price. Although engaging, at times, in Evie's trade, Will became friends with the young woman. When she appeared frightened over a debt, Will took on some unseemingly bad loans on the street in order to help her himself. Behind that closed door now lay a lifeless Evie on the floor with a liquor bottle next to her. Was it the drink or something else that opened death's door to the unfortunate Evie?
Ambrose Parry presents a well-researched glimpse into medical practices during the Victorian era. Over zealous physicians tended to experiment on the old and the young. A life of privilege would provide access to the latest developments. However, even societal mavens would suffer a painful end because of the lack of precisement in dosage and a rush for doctors to engage in experimental practices in order to appear at the top of their profession. Heaven help the poor whose lives held little to no value.
Parry introduces the readers to Sarah Fisher, housemaid extraordinaire, who sidelines for her employer, the renowned Dr. James Simpson. Dr. Simpson allows Sarah to pursue her highly evolved interest in herbs and salves. She is adept at working with his patients within his at-home practice. It is here that Will becomes taken with Sarah as he pursues his apprenticeship under Dr. Simpson.
Soon other young women are found dead in Old Town. Several have disappeared without a trace. Will tells Sarah about Evie and they both combine their efforts into finding out what happened to these unfortunate women.
The Way of All Flesh is a smart, highly entertaining read with eye-opening views into medical practices of the time period. It is my hope that Ambrose Parry will give consideration to turning this into a forthcoming series. After all, nothing like an intelligent woman with the skills of a Madame Currie on the horizon.......
I received a copy of The Way of All Flesh through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Canongate Books and to Ambrose Parry for the opportunity.
It's the winter of 1847 in Edinburgh. Medical science seems to pounce upon new and innovative means of so-called advancements. Avant-garde, experimental methods are in both the hands of the charlatans and in the hands of the highly skilled. Your social status, unfortunately, will determine whose hands will guide your fate.
Will Raven, a young medical apprentice, quickly closes the door of Evie's room. Until this moment, Evie was a young woman who sold her wares for a determined price. Although engaging, at times, in Evie's trade, Will became friends with the young woman. When she appeared frightened over a debt, Will took on some unseemingly bad loans on the street in order to help her himself. Behind that closed door now lay a lifeless Evie on the floor with a liquor bottle next to her. Was it the drink or something else that opened death's door to the unfortunate Evie?
Ambrose Parry presents a well-researched glimpse into medical practices during the Victorian era. Over zealous physicians tended to experiment on the old and the young. A life of privilege would provide access to the latest developments. However, even societal mavens would suffer a painful end because of the lack of precisement in dosage and a rush for doctors to engage in experimental practices in order to appear at the top of their profession. Heaven help the poor whose lives held little to no value.
Parry introduces the readers to Sarah Fisher, housemaid extraordinaire, who sidelines for her employer, the renowned Dr. James Simpson. Dr. Simpson allows Sarah to pursue her highly evolved interest in herbs and salves. She is adept at working with his patients within his at-home practice. It is here that Will becomes taken with Sarah as he pursues his apprenticeship under Dr. Simpson.
Soon other young women are found dead in Old Town. Several have disappeared without a trace. Will tells Sarah about Evie and they both combine their efforts into finding out what happened to these unfortunate women.
The Way of All Flesh is a smart, highly entertaining read with eye-opening views into medical practices of the time period. It is my hope that Ambrose Parry will give consideration to turning this into a forthcoming series. After all, nothing like an intelligent woman with the skills of a Madame Currie on the horizon.......
I received a copy of The Way of All Flesh through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Canongate Books and to Ambrose Parry for the opportunity.
September 8, 2018
I'm abandoning this at 34%. It may be accurate about the history of medical care in Edinburgh in 1847, but the language is ridiculously anachronistic. I tried my best to ignore "...if he was made of chocolate would surely eat himself, were his appetites not so abstemious" - José Mourinho, presumably, time-travelling back to Edinburgh - but I choked at "As Raven's mother might have put it, he was wearing the clothes; the clothes weren't wearing him." No, Raven's mother wouldn't have put it like that, unless she'd been reading Vogue last time she was having her highlights done in the hairdresser's. Even a modern character would surely balk at such a cliché, anyway.
That, combined with the glacial speed of the plot, the utterly unrealistic behaviour and thought processes of Sarah, (especially the bathing the naked hero scene - come on! Seriously?), the constant banging on about the lowly status of women (we know already), and the unlikeableness of the supposed hero of the story, Raven, means I'm increasingly reluctant to drag myself through any more. I'm frightened I might reach a stage where Raven calls Sarah "hot" and uses hashtags in his love letters to her.
That, combined with the glacial speed of the plot, the utterly unrealistic behaviour and thought processes of Sarah, (especially the bathing the naked hero scene - come on! Seriously?), the constant banging on about the lowly status of women (we know already), and the unlikeableness of the supposed hero of the story, Raven, means I'm increasingly reluctant to drag myself through any more. I'm frightened I might reach a stage where Raven calls Sarah "hot" and uses hashtags in his love letters to her.
September 27, 2018
Tantalizing • Eerie • Magnificent
"No decent story ought to begin with a dead prostitute, and for that, apologies, for it is not something upon which respectable persons would desire to dwell."
- Ambrose Parry
Think about that title! THE WAY OF ALL FLESH. What is the way of all flesh? Is there a commonality in the behavior of all flesh? Is it a reaction of all flesh? Is it the growth or decomposition of all flesh? Or is it merely the greed of those with flesh? As I was reading this novel, it made me think more and more how powerful of a title this really is.
Edinburgh 1847
"That was Edinburgh for you: public decorum and private sin, city of a thousand secret selves."
-Ambrose Parry
Will Raven, medical student, finds a prostitute friend dead in her place in a mangled, aggravated position telling of a gruesome death. As some say, she was just another “deid hoor”, however Raven keeps thinking there has to be more to this case.
Sarah Fisher, the house maid of Dr. Simpson, also helps out in the practice waiting room. The daily cases include consumption, ringworm, scabies, coughing, fevers etc. and the waiting area is always packed. Sarah is fascinated in medicine, but her place in society leave her but poor without opportunities. Luckily for her, she has access to medical journals and textbooks, so she studies on her own. Her interest lie in the idea of compounds of certain chemicals to aid in surgeries. The common practice at the current time is the use of ether.
Raven’s cases involve mostly the use of ether in childbirth. Often in those days, there weren’t many options when complications arose, and mother and or child were lost. The alleviation of all pain and suffering seemed a lofty ambition. One Raven isn’t sure if it is possible.
"In such circumstances, we can save the life of the mother by sacrificing that of her pregnancy. By opening the head of the infant by means of perforating instruments, we can remove the contents of the cranium and then break down the vault of the skull, bringing away the fragments until only the base of the cranium and the bones of the face remain to be extracted by means of the crochet."
–Ambrose Parry
(So cruel)
Reverend Grissom from a local church is campaigning against the use of ether in childbirth. He believes the Bible verse: “in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children” and is advocating against the practice of ether.
This novel explores themes of money, social status and ethical questions or beliefs, as well as the abuse of those in the advancements of medicine. Chloroform is the next great discovery in the aid of anesthetizing patients. An area that Raven is in the beginnings of exploration.
Many woman ‘afflicted’ with pregnancy resort to suicide or to the “relief of obstruction” (the unborn child), often with the risk of of death. There is word on the streets, that a midwife from Paris is selling pills to do just that without the aid of knitting needles. The added numbers of dead bodies of woman found around town and the body parts of infants rotting in canals, challenge Raven to do his own investigations.
Will Raven with the help of Sarah be able to sort through government corruptions and disguises? How about those brutes he still owes some money too? How close will he come to losing his career?
***
This novel has that gothic feel….foggy cobblestone streets, low lighted streetlamps, and ale and pleasure houses. Very atmospheric.
The thematic is interesting and gruesome at the same time. 19th century medicine made leaps and grave missteps in its development of anesthetics. These early practices were cutting edge at the time in a field mainly destined for male practitioners. A slice or division of the cultural and socioeconomic picture in the plot shows the role of woman at that time. Wrapped into a mystery, this historical fiction novel is a page turner with respect. It is just a snippet into the darker side of medicine and early practices in surgery and childbirth. I want to say that I am glad to not have lived through those crude beginnings, yet my knowledge interjects this thought. There are still new advancements with experiments being made today just at a much grander scale and level (of terrifying).
Fall is a great time to read book 1 of this series. It simply complements this atmospheric novel perfectly.
Enjoy.
Photos to this novel are available on my site:
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/new-...
I received a digital copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. All optinions are my own. Thank you.
"No decent story ought to begin with a dead prostitute, and for that, apologies, for it is not something upon which respectable persons would desire to dwell."
- Ambrose Parry
Think about that title! THE WAY OF ALL FLESH. What is the way of all flesh? Is there a commonality in the behavior of all flesh? Is it a reaction of all flesh? Is it the growth or decomposition of all flesh? Or is it merely the greed of those with flesh? As I was reading this novel, it made me think more and more how powerful of a title this really is.
Edinburgh 1847
"That was Edinburgh for you: public decorum and private sin, city of a thousand secret selves."
-Ambrose Parry
Will Raven, medical student, finds a prostitute friend dead in her place in a mangled, aggravated position telling of a gruesome death. As some say, she was just another “deid hoor”, however Raven keeps thinking there has to be more to this case.
Sarah Fisher, the house maid of Dr. Simpson, also helps out in the practice waiting room. The daily cases include consumption, ringworm, scabies, coughing, fevers etc. and the waiting area is always packed. Sarah is fascinated in medicine, but her place in society leave her but poor without opportunities. Luckily for her, she has access to medical journals and textbooks, so she studies on her own. Her interest lie in the idea of compounds of certain chemicals to aid in surgeries. The common practice at the current time is the use of ether.
Raven’s cases involve mostly the use of ether in childbirth. Often in those days, there weren’t many options when complications arose, and mother and or child were lost. The alleviation of all pain and suffering seemed a lofty ambition. One Raven isn’t sure if it is possible.
"In such circumstances, we can save the life of the mother by sacrificing that of her pregnancy. By opening the head of the infant by means of perforating instruments, we can remove the contents of the cranium and then break down the vault of the skull, bringing away the fragments until only the base of the cranium and the bones of the face remain to be extracted by means of the crochet."
–Ambrose Parry
(So cruel)
Reverend Grissom from a local church is campaigning against the use of ether in childbirth. He believes the Bible verse: “in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children” and is advocating against the practice of ether.
This novel explores themes of money, social status and ethical questions or beliefs, as well as the abuse of those in the advancements of medicine. Chloroform is the next great discovery in the aid of anesthetizing patients. An area that Raven is in the beginnings of exploration.
Many woman ‘afflicted’ with pregnancy resort to suicide or to the “relief of obstruction” (the unborn child), often with the risk of of death. There is word on the streets, that a midwife from Paris is selling pills to do just that without the aid of knitting needles. The added numbers of dead bodies of woman found around town and the body parts of infants rotting in canals, challenge Raven to do his own investigations.
Will Raven with the help of Sarah be able to sort through government corruptions and disguises? How about those brutes he still owes some money too? How close will he come to losing his career?
***
This novel has that gothic feel….foggy cobblestone streets, low lighted streetlamps, and ale and pleasure houses. Very atmospheric.
The thematic is interesting and gruesome at the same time. 19th century medicine made leaps and grave missteps in its development of anesthetics. These early practices were cutting edge at the time in a field mainly destined for male practitioners. A slice or division of the cultural and socioeconomic picture in the plot shows the role of woman at that time. Wrapped into a mystery, this historical fiction novel is a page turner with respect. It is just a snippet into the darker side of medicine and early practices in surgery and childbirth. I want to say that I am glad to not have lived through those crude beginnings, yet my knowledge interjects this thought. There are still new advancements with experiments being made today just at a much grander scale and level (of terrifying).
Fall is a great time to read book 1 of this series. It simply complements this atmospheric novel perfectly.
Enjoy.
Photos to this novel are available on my site:
https://scarlettreadzandrunz.com/new-...
I received a digital copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. All optinions are my own. Thank you.
September 1, 2018
'The Way of All Flesh' written by husband and wife writing duo Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman under the pseudonym Ambrose Parry is a gloriously atmospheric and authentic 19th century historical crime novel. It really is superb! I read a lot of crime stories, but I don't come across a lot that are set in such wonderful surroundings as this. Victorian era Edinburgh is a dangerous place with all kinds of misadventure and misdemeanors taking place. The plot fizzes with kinetic energy, and the descriptions were so vivid that I could almost taste the haggis, neeps and tatties!
This is both crime fiction and historical fiction at its finest. The writing is compulsively readable, and you find yourself being drawn into the story from the first few pages. You truly know when you're turning those pages that you are reading something incredibly special. Produced by a rare and talented pair, this book deserves to be appreciated by a wide audience. I feel it will be particularly enjoyable to both those who are partial to a gruesome and gory crime novel, and those who love historical fiction - this book excels in both of those genres.
Many thanks to Canongate Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This is both crime fiction and historical fiction at its finest. The writing is compulsively readable, and you find yourself being drawn into the story from the first few pages. You truly know when you're turning those pages that you are reading something incredibly special. Produced by a rare and talented pair, this book deserves to be appreciated by a wide audience. I feel it will be particularly enjoyable to both those who are partial to a gruesome and gory crime novel, and those who love historical fiction - this book excels in both of those genres.
Many thanks to Canongate Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
August 12, 2018
This was a historical fiction mystery with a medical flavour. Set in Edinburgh in the mid 1800s, this was an interesting comparison to London, where most novels from this period are usually set (in my reading experience anyway!) it was absolutely fascinating to learn about the early development of anaesthesia and how these were tested. No formal trials or safeguards were in place.; but also interesting to see how progress in this field went hand in hand with the ability to perform more successful and advanced surgeries. Interesting too, to learn that some were against anaesthetics as it says in the bible that birth should be a painful process! The young medical apprentice and a young housemaid work together to determine how several young pregnant women are turning up dead, their bodies grotesquely contorted. It was fairly simple from about halfway through to work out the culprit, but it in no way detracted from the enjoyment of the story.
Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 10, 2023
This is a compelling historical novel with a vivid sense of place. Set in Edinburgh in the 1840’s, it imparts an authentic picture of medical practice and research at the time. We get a sense of the city with its dark alleys, the privileged, wealthy New Town in contrast to the impoverished Old Town with its poor citizens and its criminal element.
During this time dangerous medications are dispensed, illegal operations and unscrupulous experiments are carried out on patients deemed to be of little consequence, mainly prostitutes and occasionally a poor servant girl. The goal is fame and enrichment.
Edinburgh is the centre for research and development of anesthesia to alleviate pain and suffering during childbirth and major operations. Some members of the clergy and even doctors are opposed to anesthesia, having the firm belief that pain is ordained by God and nature.
Prominent in the discovery of chloroform is Dr. Simpson, a renowned and kindly physician who treats both wealthy and poor patients. His specialty is obstetrics and research into anaesthetics. Wii Raven is an impoverished young man, also in debt. Will has been taken on as apprentice by Dr. Simpson. He discovered the body of a prostitute, Evie, who he knew intimately but incurred a debt to obtain for her an honest position. He flees the scene when he observes the ghastly way in which she died which indicated a most painful death. Will is badly injured by a couple of brutal, criminal debt collectors.
When he arrives at Dr. Simpson’s residence to begin his apprenticeship, he makes a less than favorable impression. He is disheveled, filthy and marked with his injuries. He meets Sarah, employed as a housemaid, who tends to his wounds. Sarah also provides help in the doctor’s waiting room and has immersed herself in books of medical and chemical knowledge. Due to misogyny and lack of formal education, her dream of working in a medical or pharmaceutical field is closed to her. Society is keeping women from reaching their goals, and even her wealthy friend, Mina, is powerless to choose her own life. Sarah has a quick, intelligent mind and feels she is as capable as Will but can never have his opportunities.
Will at first regards the servant, Sarah, as beneath his future social status. Will discovers that bodies of other young women are turning up in similar circumstances as Evie, having suffered the same ghastly, painful death. Sarah and Will must put aside their differences as they embark on an investigation to discover reasons why the women are dying so brutally and who is killing them.
During this time dangerous medications are dispensed, illegal operations and unscrupulous experiments are carried out on patients deemed to be of little consequence, mainly prostitutes and occasionally a poor servant girl. The goal is fame and enrichment.
Edinburgh is the centre for research and development of anesthesia to alleviate pain and suffering during childbirth and major operations. Some members of the clergy and even doctors are opposed to anesthesia, having the firm belief that pain is ordained by God and nature.
Prominent in the discovery of chloroform is Dr. Simpson, a renowned and kindly physician who treats both wealthy and poor patients. His specialty is obstetrics and research into anaesthetics. Wii Raven is an impoverished young man, also in debt. Will has been taken on as apprentice by Dr. Simpson. He discovered the body of a prostitute, Evie, who he knew intimately but incurred a debt to obtain for her an honest position. He flees the scene when he observes the ghastly way in which she died which indicated a most painful death. Will is badly injured by a couple of brutal, criminal debt collectors.
When he arrives at Dr. Simpson’s residence to begin his apprenticeship, he makes a less than favorable impression. He is disheveled, filthy and marked with his injuries. He meets Sarah, employed as a housemaid, who tends to his wounds. Sarah also provides help in the doctor’s waiting room and has immersed herself in books of medical and chemical knowledge. Due to misogyny and lack of formal education, her dream of working in a medical or pharmaceutical field is closed to her. Society is keeping women from reaching their goals, and even her wealthy friend, Mina, is powerless to choose her own life. Sarah has a quick, intelligent mind and feels she is as capable as Will but can never have his opportunities.
Will at first regards the servant, Sarah, as beneath his future social status. Will discovers that bodies of other young women are turning up in similar circumstances as Evie, having suffered the same ghastly, painful death. Sarah and Will must put aside their differences as they embark on an investigation to discover reasons why the women are dying so brutally and who is killing them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2018
This is the first in a new, historical crime series, which is sure to find many fans. Set in Edinburgh, 1847, Will Raven is a young man who is about to become the assistant to Dr Simpson; an early Obstetrician. Will is a man who is keen to make his fortune; not least as he recently borrowed from a moneylender, in order to help out Evie Lawson. Evie was a prostitute that he befriended and hoped to help – however, when he arrives to visit her and finds her dead, he is ashamed to find himself slinking away. It later appears that Evie is not the only young woman in Edinburgh who has died in unexplained circumstances and Will is keen to find out how, and why, she died.
However, before he can do that, he is set upon by thugs, sent by the moneylender, Mr Flint. Now he has to add avoiding them to his list of things to do, while trying to make an impression upon Dr Simpson and his household. Turning up, battered and looking disreputable, Will finds himself locked in battle with housemaid, Sarah, who is also interested in medicine and enjoys assisting at the clinics Dr Simpson holds at his house. Sarah is limited by her class, and gender, to progress beyond her status as a servant and is often being told she has ideas, and airs, beyond her station. Eventually, though, Will and Sarah, join up to investigate the mysterious deaths in the city.
If you like historical mysteries, this will certainly appeal. It has a realistic atmosphere and an interesting medical background. Pain relief, and anaesthesia, are in their infancy. While religious leaders argue that women should not have any pain relief during childbirth, both ether and chloroform are being introduced, if not completely understood. Will Raven is amongst those who see the possibilities of making a fortune through easing suffering and there is much, in this novel, about how difficult childbirths could be treated in that era. I enjoyed this aspect of the mystery and Will’s reasons for wanting to help women could be understood better, once his background became clearer. I also enjoyed the headstrong Sarah and liked the other members of Dr Simpson’s household - including his sister in law, Miss Mina Grindlay, who is always on the lookout for a prospective husband.
This is an intelligent and well written mystery and I look forward to reading on in the series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
However, before he can do that, he is set upon by thugs, sent by the moneylender, Mr Flint. Now he has to add avoiding them to his list of things to do, while trying to make an impression upon Dr Simpson and his household. Turning up, battered and looking disreputable, Will finds himself locked in battle with housemaid, Sarah, who is also interested in medicine and enjoys assisting at the clinics Dr Simpson holds at his house. Sarah is limited by her class, and gender, to progress beyond her status as a servant and is often being told she has ideas, and airs, beyond her station. Eventually, though, Will and Sarah, join up to investigate the mysterious deaths in the city.
If you like historical mysteries, this will certainly appeal. It has a realistic atmosphere and an interesting medical background. Pain relief, and anaesthesia, are in their infancy. While religious leaders argue that women should not have any pain relief during childbirth, both ether and chloroform are being introduced, if not completely understood. Will Raven is amongst those who see the possibilities of making a fortune through easing suffering and there is much, in this novel, about how difficult childbirths could be treated in that era. I enjoyed this aspect of the mystery and Will’s reasons for wanting to help women could be understood better, once his background became clearer. I also enjoyed the headstrong Sarah and liked the other members of Dr Simpson’s household - including his sister in law, Miss Mina Grindlay, who is always on the lookout for a prospective husband.
This is an intelligent and well written mystery and I look forward to reading on in the series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
July 1, 2023
This was a surprisingly disappointing read, and as it was a book I bought new, I feel even worse about not enjoying it as much as I'd hoped to. This appears to have been well researched in the historical side of things and that I found to be rather interesting, but as for knowing who our killer is, well...I knew that answer not too far into the book. It was too obvious, even for me.
I enjoyed the medical side of the book, however gruesome it all was, and I think these scenes were well written, but sadly, it wasn't enough.
I thought the characters were distinctly lacking in many areas, and Sarah in particular spoke of women not having any rights, and she kind of let this smother her, letting it have an impact on who she is and who she wants to be. I get it, but hearing it all through the book became a little tedious.
Also, the supposed sexual tension scenes that are thrown in to coincide with the love story don't fare well to me, they just caused a couple of eye rolls.
Overall, this was interesting for the medicinal side of things, but for little else.
I enjoyed the medical side of the book, however gruesome it all was, and I think these scenes were well written, but sadly, it wasn't enough.
I thought the characters were distinctly lacking in many areas, and Sarah in particular spoke of women not having any rights, and she kind of let this smother her, letting it have an impact on who she is and who she wants to be. I get it, but hearing it all through the book became a little tedious.
Also, the supposed sexual tension scenes that are thrown in to coincide with the love story don't fare well to me, they just caused a couple of eye rolls.
Overall, this was interesting for the medicinal side of things, but for little else.
September 17, 2023
Pastiche Victoriana written by two writers. Chris Brookmyre and his partner Marisa Haetzman. Haetzman has a medical background and there is a fair amount of medical stuff in the novel related to anaesthesia and childbirth. This is set in Edinburgh in 1847 and is a sort of detective (not the police type). Someone is killing young women who want an abortion (which is illegal). It does take about half the book for the two protagonists to work this out, by which time the reader will also have worked out who did it. It’s pretty obvious. The protagonists are Will Raven, an apprentice to James Simpson who is a well-known and respected gynaecologist who specialises in midwifery and Sarah a housemaid in the household. Or as The Guardian puts it a sort of cosplay Mulder and Scully (that made me laugh). There is a good deal about the place of women:
‘Sarah occasionally amused herself by dwelling on the notion of herself as a student: what her days would have been like and which subjects she might have liked to study. She had an interest in botany and horticulture, as well as in the traditional healing arts, inherited from her family background. Any time spent in the professor’s study caused her to marvel at all of the myriad disciplines and fields of knowledge one might explore, and the idea of spending whole years doing precisely that seemed heavenly. However, this was a distraction that came at a price, for although it was pleasant to indulge such fantasies, they also forced her to confront the harsh truth. She had not the means to attend university nor any prospect of ever acquiring them. Being female was also an obstacle that she could not easily overcome.’
There are lots of red herrings, nicely packaged and fairly obvious, some nicely villainous villains, a fair amount of comment about the place of women and the inequalities, some early photography and a colourful underworld. There are lots of loose ends, but they are all neatly tied up by the end, sometimes in rather unlikely ways. But then this is the first of a series and so things had to be set up.
This is entertaining as far as it goes. The plot revolves around the increasing use of things like ether and chloroform and the means of abortion for the lower orders. I think a good deal of research went into the medical side of things and quite a few of the characters were actual historical persons; Simpson for example and the two photographers. It is certainly formulaic, but seems to be pretty popular. Although it didn’t quite convince me.
‘Sarah occasionally amused herself by dwelling on the notion of herself as a student: what her days would have been like and which subjects she might have liked to study. She had an interest in botany and horticulture, as well as in the traditional healing arts, inherited from her family background. Any time spent in the professor’s study caused her to marvel at all of the myriad disciplines and fields of knowledge one might explore, and the idea of spending whole years doing precisely that seemed heavenly. However, this was a distraction that came at a price, for although it was pleasant to indulge such fantasies, they also forced her to confront the harsh truth. She had not the means to attend university nor any prospect of ever acquiring them. Being female was also an obstacle that she could not easily overcome.’
There are lots of red herrings, nicely packaged and fairly obvious, some nicely villainous villains, a fair amount of comment about the place of women and the inequalities, some early photography and a colourful underworld. There are lots of loose ends, but they are all neatly tied up by the end, sometimes in rather unlikely ways. But then this is the first of a series and so things had to be set up.
This is entertaining as far as it goes. The plot revolves around the increasing use of things like ether and chloroform and the means of abortion for the lower orders. I think a good deal of research went into the medical side of things and quite a few of the characters were actual historical persons; Simpson for example and the two photographers. It is certainly formulaic, but seems to be pretty popular. Although it didn’t quite convince me.
August 30, 2018
(3.5) This historical novel set in Edinburgh in 1847 has one of the best opening paragraphs I’ve come across in a while. It immediately sets the tone: realistic, sly, and somewhat seedy. If the title sounds familiar, it’s because it’s borrowed from Samuel Butler’s gloomy 1903 meditation on sin and salvation in several generations of a Victorian family. I remember trudging through it on a weekend break to Strasbourg during my year abroad.
Parry (a pseudonym for husband–wife duo Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman) uses the allusion to highlight the hidden sins of the Victorian period and hint at the fleshy concerns of their book, which contains somewhat gruesome scenes of childbirth and surgery. Ether and chloroform were recent introductions and many were still apprehensive about them or even opposed to their use on religious grounds, as Haetzman, a consultant anesthetist, learned while researching for her Master’s degree in the History of Medicine.
Into this milieu enters Will Raven, the new apprentice to Dr. Simpson, a professor of midwifery. Will is troubled by the recent loss of his friend Evie Lawson, the dead prostitute of the first paragraph, and wonders if she could have been poisoned by some bad moonshine. Only as he hears rumors about a local abortionist – no better than a serial killer – who’s been giving women quack pills and potions, followed by rudimentary operations that leave them to die of peritonitis, does he begin to wonder if Evie could have been pregnant when she died.
The novel peppers in lots of period slang and details about homeopathy, phrenology and early photography. Best of all, it has a surprise heroine: the Simpsons’ maid, Sarah Fisher, who keeps shaming Will with her practical medical know-how and ends up being something of a sidekick in his investigations. She wants to work as a druggist’s assistant, but the druggist insists that only a man can do the job. Meanwhile, Dr. Simpson recognizes that the housemaid’s role is rather a waste of Sarah’s talents and expresses his hope that she’ll seek to be part of a widespread change for women.
The Way of All Flesh is sure to appeal to readers of Michel Faber’s The Crimson Petal and the White and Steven Price’s By Gaslight. It’s not quite as rewarding as the former, but the length and style make it significantly more engaging than the latter. It also serves as a good fictional companion to Lindsey Fitzharris’s The Butchering Art; for that reason, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it appear on next year’s Wellcome Book Prize longlist.
Favorite lines:
Originally published, with images, on my blog, Bookish Beck.
Parry (a pseudonym for husband–wife duo Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman) uses the allusion to highlight the hidden sins of the Victorian period and hint at the fleshy concerns of their book, which contains somewhat gruesome scenes of childbirth and surgery. Ether and chloroform were recent introductions and many were still apprehensive about them or even opposed to their use on religious grounds, as Haetzman, a consultant anesthetist, learned while researching for her Master’s degree in the History of Medicine.
Into this milieu enters Will Raven, the new apprentice to Dr. Simpson, a professor of midwifery. Will is troubled by the recent loss of his friend Evie Lawson, the dead prostitute of the first paragraph, and wonders if she could have been poisoned by some bad moonshine. Only as he hears rumors about a local abortionist – no better than a serial killer – who’s been giving women quack pills and potions, followed by rudimentary operations that leave them to die of peritonitis, does he begin to wonder if Evie could have been pregnant when she died.
The novel peppers in lots of period slang and details about homeopathy, phrenology and early photography. Best of all, it has a surprise heroine: the Simpsons’ maid, Sarah Fisher, who keeps shaming Will with her practical medical know-how and ends up being something of a sidekick in his investigations. She wants to work as a druggist’s assistant, but the druggist insists that only a man can do the job. Meanwhile, Dr. Simpson recognizes that the housemaid’s role is rather a waste of Sarah’s talents and expresses his hope that she’ll seek to be part of a widespread change for women.
The Way of All Flesh is sure to appeal to readers of Michel Faber’s The Crimson Petal and the White and Steven Price’s By Gaslight. It’s not quite as rewarding as the former, but the length and style make it significantly more engaging than the latter. It also serves as a good fictional companion to Lindsey Fitzharris’s The Butchering Art; for that reason, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it appear on next year’s Wellcome Book Prize longlist.
Favorite lines:
“That was Edinburgh for you: public decorum and private sin, city of a thousand secret selves.”
“‘Simpson likes to think of medicine as more than pure science,’ [Raven] countered. ‘There must also be empathy, concern, a human connection.’ ‘I suggest that both elements are required,’ offered Henry. ‘Scientific principles married to creativity. Science and art.’ If it is an art, it is at times a dark one, Raven thought, though he chose to keep this observation to himself.”
Originally published, with images, on my blog, Bookish Beck.
October 1, 2018
Historical mysteries have always fascinated me and to find one focusing on the medical world of the 19th century was something I couldn’t miss.
The story revolves around Will Raven, a young medical student, who becomes apprenticed to a renowned obstetrician, and Sarah Fisher, Dr Simpson’s housemaid, a young intelligent woman who would love to study medicine but due to her gender and class cannot. Although taking a dislike to each other, Will and Sarah end up working together when they find out that women have been found dead under suspicious circumstances.
This was an engrossing read, one that focused more on the medical angle, with some pretty gruesome scenes of childbirth and operations, as well as the growing field of anaesthetics. The difficulties the ‘doctors’ had to face, not just physical / medical, but also social ones, were telling. The investigation ends up taking a step back but I didn’t mind, far too absorbed in the story.
I received a copy of The Way of All Flesh through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Canongate Books and to Ambrose Parry for the opportunity.
The story revolves around Will Raven, a young medical student, who becomes apprenticed to a renowned obstetrician, and Sarah Fisher, Dr Simpson’s housemaid, a young intelligent woman who would love to study medicine but due to her gender and class cannot. Although taking a dislike to each other, Will and Sarah end up working together when they find out that women have been found dead under suspicious circumstances.
This was an engrossing read, one that focused more on the medical angle, with some pretty gruesome scenes of childbirth and operations, as well as the growing field of anaesthetics. The difficulties the ‘doctors’ had to face, not just physical / medical, but also social ones, were telling. The investigation ends up taking a step back but I didn’t mind, far too absorbed in the story.
I received a copy of The Way of All Flesh through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Canongate Books and to Ambrose Parry for the opportunity.
April 19, 2021
Although I didn't much care for the opening chapter, otherwise I was impressed with this book, apparently the first in a series set in 1840's Edinburgh. The authors (a husband and wife team) did a first rate job of building a plot around real characters - thanks to Google I was able to authenticate both people and medical developments of the age.
And as always, I love reading books set in places I've visited. Although now cleaned up and gentrified, many of the locations in the book are still quite vibrant in today's Edinburgh, and it was fun tracking the events against my place memories. (We really need to get back to Scotland ... )
The plot was well presented, with plenty of characters who might or might not be what they seem, providing opportunities for speculation about just what was going on and who was responsible. My two fellow buddy-readers disliked the male arrogance that permeated the story, particularly with regard to Raven, the main male character. He seemed to evolve as the book went along, and although I am probably overly sensitive to that sort of thing in a contemporary setting, I was able to overlook here as it undoubtedly reflected reality.
All in all, a good read.
And as always, I love reading books set in places I've visited. Although now cleaned up and gentrified, many of the locations in the book are still quite vibrant in today's Edinburgh, and it was fun tracking the events against my place memories. (We really need to get back to Scotland ... )
The plot was well presented, with plenty of characters who might or might not be what they seem, providing opportunities for speculation about just what was going on and who was responsible. My two fellow buddy-readers disliked the male arrogance that permeated the story, particularly with regard to Raven, the main male character. He seemed to evolve as the book went along, and although I am probably overly sensitive to that sort of thing in a contemporary setting, I was able to overlook here as it undoubtedly reflected reality.
All in all, a good read.
June 30, 2019
The plot would make a decent anime, unfortunately, it is not an anime, but a quite pretentious "historical crime fiction" novel.
Let's start with the good stuff - the background, which is the medical discoveries of XIX century, the state of science, the (often risky and /or backwards) attempts to advance it etc. Like, how do you even test the anaesthetic?
Then there are all the clichees and anachronisms in the story, which contrast sharply with pretentious language. I mean, really, all the anime tropes are here. The hero with a dark past ("You have a devil in you," - remembers he the words of his mother every once in a while), which turns out not to be too dark after all. The spunky heroine who is unhappy with the state of women in XIX century Edinburgh and keeps musing about it in clearly XXI century language of pop-feminism (I'm all for the inclusion of feminist critique anywhere, but does it have to be done in such a flat and repetitive manner?). Oh, and the "sexual tension" scenes between them seem to have been written by a 14-year-old (in a manner "Oh no, they'll see us, quick, kiss me!").
It's completely clear who the villain is almost at the exact time this person is introduced and the "big revelation" falls flat. Maybe I've read too much crime fiction and it's hard to surprise me, but still.
Oh, and for the record, I have nothing against anime, quite the contrary! I would probably watch the series based on this book and enjoy all the clumsy scenes of "sexual tension", and maybe read about anaesthesia separately.
Let's start with the good stuff - the background, which is the medical discoveries of XIX century, the state of science, the (often risky and /or backwards) attempts to advance it etc. Like, how do you even test the anaesthetic?
Then there are all the clichees and anachronisms in the story, which contrast sharply with pretentious language. I mean, really, all the anime tropes are here. The hero with a dark past ("You have a devil in you," - remembers he the words of his mother every once in a while), which turns out not to be too dark after all. The spunky heroine who is unhappy with the state of women in XIX century Edinburgh and keeps musing about it in clearly XXI century language of pop-feminism (I'm all for the inclusion of feminist critique anywhere, but does it have to be done in such a flat and repetitive manner?). Oh, and the "sexual tension" scenes between them seem to have been written by a 14-year-old (in a manner "Oh no, they'll see us, quick, kiss me!").
It's completely clear who the villain is almost at the exact time this person is introduced and the "big revelation" falls flat. Maybe I've read too much crime fiction and it's hard to surprise me, but still.
Oh, and for the record, I have nothing against anime, quite the contrary! I would probably watch the series based on this book and enjoy all the clumsy scenes of "sexual tension", and maybe read about anaesthesia separately.
July 27, 2020
Para ser honesta me he encontrado con un libro muy diferente a lo que me esperaba, leyendo la sinopsis me esperaba un thriller de estilo policiaco ubicado en el siglo XIX, donde los protagonistas se embarcaban en una larga investigación sobre asesinatos de prostitutas, bueno, me esperaba algo así como un Jack el destripador y muchos asesinatos gores, algo típico, pero en lugar de eso me he encontrado con una novela muy diferente.
Es verdad que hay asesinatos y es verdad que los protagonistas, Sara y Raven se embarcan en una investigación, sin embargo, no es para nada el típico libro policiaco y a decir verdad en cierto sentido estas muertes e investigación no son el centro de la historia.
El libro fluye por la vida y personalidad de sus protagonistas, sobre todo de Raven, un joven estudiante de medicina, pobre y algo pendenciero que por algún motivo (que por cierto no se explica y me habría encantado saber) es aceptado por un médico muy reputado como su ayudante en prácticas, el Dr. Simpson, que además de ser ginecólogo está en busca de alguna sustancia que ayude a dormir a los pacientes para evitarles dolor durante las intervenciones quirúrgicas y en su caso particular durante los partos, al principio el Dr. Simpson solo utiliza el éter, que es además una sustancia que no es muy aceptada en el mundo médico.
Así vemos a Raven que llega a trabajar como practicante del Dr. Simpson y al mismo tiempo se embarca en una investigación para saber cómo murió una amiga de él que ejercía de prostituta.
Me ha gustado mucho el personaje de Raven, un chico con muchas ganas de salir adelante, con el sueño de salir de su pobreza y lograr destacar en la vida como médico, su lucha consigo mismo ante su angustia cuando cree que no puede lidiar con el dolor de sus pacientes y es inevitable sentir un poco de pena por él por la forma en que los demás lo tratan y lo ven en comparación a como quisiera que lo mirasen los demás.
Sara que trabaja como sirvienta en casa del Dr. Simpson es una chica inteligente que reniega de su status social, no le gusta su trabajo y no siente esa supuesta gratitud que le dicen que debería sentir por tener un trabajo honesto, ella sueña con poder estudiar, ser tratada como un igual ante los hombres, es una mujer resuelta y fuerte y el tándem que hace con Raven realmente me ha gustado mucho.
La acción del libro no comienza realmente si no hasta la mitad del mismo y el thriller que tanto esperaba no llega si no hasta la última cuarta parte del libro, me ha sido muy fácil adivinar la resolución de las cosas, pero eso no ha importado, realmente me ha gustado mucho el libro y me lo he leído casi de una sentada.
Con todo lo que más me deja este libro es la inevitable gratitud de vivir en este siglo y no haber vivido en una época donde no solo las mujeres eran vistas como menos socialmente si no en una época donde si te enfermabas te esperaba una segura tortura, gracias por los avances médicos.
Además este libro toca un tema que por mucho que pasen los años y los siglos sigue siendo un tema controvertido y nada fácil de tratar socialmente, la dificultad de las mujeres a la hora de lidiar con embarazos no deseados y las consecuencias de las practicas espantosas de aquellos que se aprovechan de la necesidad de estas mujeres, como de lo mucho que la sociedad tiene que ver con empujar a estas mujeres a buscar remedios espantosos y terribles, si bien me podrán decir que la medicina ha avanzado, en lugares donde el aborto es ilegal y que son la mayoría, siguen muriendo mujeres a manos de personas sin escrúpulos por las practicas no solo ilegales si no mal hechas para detener embarazos no deseados, todo un tema que como he dicho, sigue siendo hoy en día casi tabú.
El final me ha encantado y espero con ansias el segundo libro de esta serie
Es verdad que hay asesinatos y es verdad que los protagonistas, Sara y Raven se embarcan en una investigación, sin embargo, no es para nada el típico libro policiaco y a decir verdad en cierto sentido estas muertes e investigación no son el centro de la historia.
El libro fluye por la vida y personalidad de sus protagonistas, sobre todo de Raven, un joven estudiante de medicina, pobre y algo pendenciero que por algún motivo (que por cierto no se explica y me habría encantado saber) es aceptado por un médico muy reputado como su ayudante en prácticas, el Dr. Simpson, que además de ser ginecólogo está en busca de alguna sustancia que ayude a dormir a los pacientes para evitarles dolor durante las intervenciones quirúrgicas y en su caso particular durante los partos, al principio el Dr. Simpson solo utiliza el éter, que es además una sustancia que no es muy aceptada en el mundo médico.
Así vemos a Raven que llega a trabajar como practicante del Dr. Simpson y al mismo tiempo se embarca en una investigación para saber cómo murió una amiga de él que ejercía de prostituta.
Me ha gustado mucho el personaje de Raven, un chico con muchas ganas de salir adelante, con el sueño de salir de su pobreza y lograr destacar en la vida como médico, su lucha consigo mismo ante su angustia cuando cree que no puede lidiar con el dolor de sus pacientes y es inevitable sentir un poco de pena por él por la forma en que los demás lo tratan y lo ven en comparación a como quisiera que lo mirasen los demás.
Sara que trabaja como sirvienta en casa del Dr. Simpson es una chica inteligente que reniega de su status social, no le gusta su trabajo y no siente esa supuesta gratitud que le dicen que debería sentir por tener un trabajo honesto, ella sueña con poder estudiar, ser tratada como un igual ante los hombres, es una mujer resuelta y fuerte y el tándem que hace con Raven realmente me ha gustado mucho.
La acción del libro no comienza realmente si no hasta la mitad del mismo y el thriller que tanto esperaba no llega si no hasta la última cuarta parte del libro, me ha sido muy fácil adivinar la resolución de las cosas, pero eso no ha importado, realmente me ha gustado mucho el libro y me lo he leído casi de una sentada.
Con todo lo que más me deja este libro es la inevitable gratitud de vivir en este siglo y no haber vivido en una época donde no solo las mujeres eran vistas como menos socialmente si no en una época donde si te enfermabas te esperaba una segura tortura, gracias por los avances médicos.
Además este libro toca un tema que por mucho que pasen los años y los siglos sigue siendo un tema controvertido y nada fácil de tratar socialmente, la dificultad de las mujeres a la hora de lidiar con embarazos no deseados y las consecuencias de las practicas espantosas de aquellos que se aprovechan de la necesidad de estas mujeres, como de lo mucho que la sociedad tiene que ver con empujar a estas mujeres a buscar remedios espantosos y terribles, si bien me podrán decir que la medicina ha avanzado, en lugares donde el aborto es ilegal y que son la mayoría, siguen muriendo mujeres a manos de personas sin escrúpulos por las practicas no solo ilegales si no mal hechas para detener embarazos no deseados, todo un tema que como he dicho, sigue siendo hoy en día casi tabú.
El final me ha encantado y espero con ansias el segundo libro de esta serie
October 6, 2018
More bookish stuffs: @Lili's Blissful Pages
3.5 stars.
This is Historical Fiction at its best.
Set in 1840s Edinburgh, this book follows the story of a young man, Will Raven, who has a past he's trying to run away from. He's set to make a name in medicine and was given a chance to be an apprentice of the well-known, esteemed professor of midwifery, James Young Simpson. There, Will Raven meets Sarah Fisher, a young maid who aspires to be more than what she is, a nd especially more than what women in her time should be. For some reason, Sarah and Will immediately dislike each other, but when the number of deaths around them grew, they were forced to work together to solve the mystery behind the deaths, each has their own motives.
The book opens with Will discovering the death of Evie, a prostitute and a friend of his who he lent money to. I think the author did an amazing job to start this novel with that scene, setting the tone though I can't say that tone was carried throughout the book. But let me tackle the good things first.
This is indeed Historical Fiction at its best. There's no doubt the authors(Husband and wife) know the subject of this book. I think the husband is a mystery/crime writer and the wife has knowledge in medicine. I found myself fascinated by everything medicine the authors put in the book. And that's saying a lot because if there's one subject in the world I swear I can never get involve to, it's medicine. Seriously, I can be a lawyer, an engineer, an accountant, even a circus performer(lol) but never in this lifetime, I'd be interested in medicine. But in this book, I couldn't help but get fascinated with it. The use of ether, anaesthetic, in midwifery is still a new thing in the book's setting and I got to learn how it works and the opposition it faced because of beliefs and superstitions. There's the discovery of chloroform too. :) Also the setting, Edinburgh made everything more interesting and gothic-ish.
Will Raven and Sarah Fisher are both interesting characters. I must say it's very refreshing to have MCs who are both not members of high peerage. Usually in historical books, at least one of them is incredibly rich. It's great to see Sarah and Will strive to get where they want to be. Will is ambitious and I respect that and the flaws he showed throughout the story just made him so real. Sarah is driven. She also assists in Mr. Simpson's clinic giving her firsthand experiences of medicine and I liked that Mr. Simpsons doesn't mind Sarah being a woman and instead encourage her to learn. :)
Now, like I said the tone set in the first scene didn't carry on throughout, or at least not in first half. There's still a hint of mystery and suspense but just a hint. Instead in the first half,the book focused on medicine, Will's experiences in patient after patient, all are laboring mothers. Yes, the book is about medicine history and I see the importance of countless patients but it would've been better if there's equal stress in the crime aspect of the story. And hey, the labors look the same to me so I don't see the need to have so many of it and presented one after the other. But again, I'm ok if there's many of them but I need the other aspect of the story presented too, maybe in between the laboring mothers.
I know the authors are working on other books about this story, so maybe in the next book, I'll experience both history and mystery/suspense at the same time, like in the second half of this book. First half, all medicine, second the mix of the genres was absolutely fine. :) Maybe for some this isn't an issue but for me it is, that's maybe because I'm not a fan of medicine, though I found it fascinating, the first half was almost boring for me. In other words, it slowed the pace.
But overall, this is really a great Historical Fiction. See, I can't even say, it's a great mystery book. hehe. Anyway, I recommend this to everyone. :) And I heard, Benedict Cumberbatch's production company will do an adaptation of this book. That says a lot, guys.
Not relevant, but gosh, just the mentioned of Benedict's name makes me swoon. haha.
I got this book from Netgalley.
Happy Reading,
| Bookstagram | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog |
3.5 stars.
This is Historical Fiction at its best.
Set in 1840s Edinburgh, this book follows the story of a young man, Will Raven, who has a past he's trying to run away from. He's set to make a name in medicine and was given a chance to be an apprentice of the well-known, esteemed professor of midwifery, James Young Simpson. There, Will Raven meets Sarah Fisher, a young maid who aspires to be more than what she is, a nd especially more than what women in her time should be. For some reason, Sarah and Will immediately dislike each other, but when the number of deaths around them grew, they were forced to work together to solve the mystery behind the deaths, each has their own motives.
The book opens with Will discovering the death of Evie, a prostitute and a friend of his who he lent money to. I think the author did an amazing job to start this novel with that scene, setting the tone though I can't say that tone was carried throughout the book. But let me tackle the good things first.
This is indeed Historical Fiction at its best. There's no doubt the authors(Husband and wife) know the subject of this book. I think the husband is a mystery/crime writer and the wife has knowledge in medicine. I found myself fascinated by everything medicine the authors put in the book. And that's saying a lot because if there's one subject in the world I swear I can never get involve to, it's medicine. Seriously, I can be a lawyer, an engineer, an accountant, even a circus performer(lol) but never in this lifetime, I'd be interested in medicine. But in this book, I couldn't help but get fascinated with it. The use of ether, anaesthetic, in midwifery is still a new thing in the book's setting and I got to learn how it works and the opposition it faced because of beliefs and superstitions. There's the discovery of chloroform too. :) Also the setting, Edinburgh made everything more interesting and gothic-ish.
Will Raven and Sarah Fisher are both interesting characters. I must say it's very refreshing to have MCs who are both not members of high peerage. Usually in historical books, at least one of them is incredibly rich. It's great to see Sarah and Will strive to get where they want to be. Will is ambitious and I respect that and the flaws he showed throughout the story just made him so real. Sarah is driven. She also assists in Mr. Simpson's clinic giving her firsthand experiences of medicine and I liked that Mr. Simpsons doesn't mind Sarah being a woman and instead encourage her to learn. :)
Now, like I said the tone set in the first scene didn't carry on throughout, or at least not in first half. There's still a hint of mystery and suspense but just a hint. Instead in the first half,the book focused on medicine, Will's experiences in patient after patient, all are laboring mothers. Yes, the book is about medicine history and I see the importance of countless patients but it would've been better if there's equal stress in the crime aspect of the story. And hey, the labors look the same to me so I don't see the need to have so many of it and presented one after the other. But again, I'm ok if there's many of them but I need the other aspect of the story presented too, maybe in between the laboring mothers.
I know the authors are working on other books about this story, so maybe in the next book, I'll experience both history and mystery/suspense at the same time, like in the second half of this book. First half, all medicine, second the mix of the genres was absolutely fine. :) Maybe for some this isn't an issue but for me it is, that's maybe because I'm not a fan of medicine, though I found it fascinating, the first half was almost boring for me. In other words, it slowed the pace.
But overall, this is really a great Historical Fiction. See, I can't even say, it's a great mystery book. hehe. Anyway, I recommend this to everyone. :) And I heard, Benedict Cumberbatch's production company will do an adaptation of this book. That says a lot, guys.
Not relevant, but gosh, just the mentioned of Benedict's name makes me swoon. haha.
I got this book from Netgalley.
Happy Reading,
| Bookstagram | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog |
April 24, 2019
Briefly - Entertaining historical/medical read.
In full
Historical fiction is something I only read from time to time. However I'd seen a few good reviews for this and one half of the writing team is Christopher Brookmyre a favourite author of mine. The other part of the team is apparently his wife, a consultant anaesthetist, who brings her obviously extensive medical knowledge into play here. The book focusses strongly on medicine, the medical profession and their quests for improved treatment. Some of the practices are rather barbaric and quite graphic however it also feels authentic.
I found the opening wonderfully atmospheric creating a feel for an Edinburgh around 1850 where death is commonplace and doctors are an established if somewhat experimental part of society. Raven, an aspiring medic, finds a dead body, female, who is someone he has "known" in the past. Afraid he may be accused of her murder he flees the scene but worries about how she may have died. This leads to the book's leitmotif of "another deid hoor".
Raven, in the employ of an established doctor, finds his interest in what happened to his friend is a subject shared by another member of the household. Sarah, a maid, would far rather spend time dealing with patients and learning from doctors. She also had a friend who has died in an apparently similar way to Raven's. The book follows their attempts to investigate the deaths.
The book manages to bring out both the darkness of the time and the rawness of the lives of many. I did find the lightness of touch and slight humour here good and typical of Brookmyre's other books. I really did find this a highly entertaining read. I enjoyed the characters of Raven and Sarah and their quest for the truth about what is going on in the backstreets of Edinburgh. The pace was good and the at times graphic feel of the era was vivid. Happily recommended to fans of historical fiction of this general sort.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/historical-fict...
In full
Historical fiction is something I only read from time to time. However I'd seen a few good reviews for this and one half of the writing team is Christopher Brookmyre a favourite author of mine. The other part of the team is apparently his wife, a consultant anaesthetist, who brings her obviously extensive medical knowledge into play here. The book focusses strongly on medicine, the medical profession and their quests for improved treatment. Some of the practices are rather barbaric and quite graphic however it also feels authentic.
I found the opening wonderfully atmospheric creating a feel for an Edinburgh around 1850 where death is commonplace and doctors are an established if somewhat experimental part of society. Raven, an aspiring medic, finds a dead body, female, who is someone he has "known" in the past. Afraid he may be accused of her murder he flees the scene but worries about how she may have died. This leads to the book's leitmotif of "another deid hoor".
Raven, in the employ of an established doctor, finds his interest in what happened to his friend is a subject shared by another member of the household. Sarah, a maid, would far rather spend time dealing with patients and learning from doctors. She also had a friend who has died in an apparently similar way to Raven's. The book follows their attempts to investigate the deaths.
The book manages to bring out both the darkness of the time and the rawness of the lives of many. I did find the lightness of touch and slight humour here good and typical of Brookmyre's other books. I really did find this a highly entertaining read. I enjoyed the characters of Raven and Sarah and their quest for the truth about what is going on in the backstreets of Edinburgh. The pace was good and the at times graphic feel of the era was vivid. Happily recommended to fans of historical fiction of this general sort.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
http://viewson.org.uk/historical-fict...
August 19, 2018
Thank you Netgalley and Canongate Books for the ARC.
A lot is happening in 1847's Edinburgh. Will Raven is set upon by thugs for not returning money borrowed from a loanshark. Then the girl he borrowed the money for is found dead. Meanwhile he's moving from the old to the new part of town to start as an apprentice for Dr. Simpson, obstetrician. In between seeing patients he also helps his collegues in finding a workable anesthetic.
The book gives a good account of the use of ether and its sometimes fatal results, while the discovery of chloroform also makes an entrance. The medical world is buzzing with excitement and fear for the unknown. And who would have thought peri-peri could do anything other than spice up a good meal?
Last but not least there's an abortionist poisoning the desperate. Oh, the mysteries, this book just won't stop!
Edinburgh is oozing muddy streets, dirty alleys, nasty operating theatres, fancy ladies and department stores.
Wonderful historical fiction, with an exit line that put a big smile on my face. Highly recommended reading!
A lot is happening in 1847's Edinburgh. Will Raven is set upon by thugs for not returning money borrowed from a loanshark. Then the girl he borrowed the money for is found dead. Meanwhile he's moving from the old to the new part of town to start as an apprentice for Dr. Simpson, obstetrician. In between seeing patients he also helps his collegues in finding a workable anesthetic.
The book gives a good account of the use of ether and its sometimes fatal results, while the discovery of chloroform also makes an entrance. The medical world is buzzing with excitement and fear for the unknown. And who would have thought peri-peri could do anything other than spice up a good meal?
Last but not least there's an abortionist poisoning the desperate. Oh, the mysteries, this book just won't stop!
Edinburgh is oozing muddy streets, dirty alleys, nasty operating theatres, fancy ladies and department stores.
Wonderful historical fiction, with an exit line that put a big smile on my face. Highly recommended reading!
October 2, 2018
I knew going in to this that Ambrose Parry is a collaboration between Christopher Brookmyre, who is arguably my favourite Scottish author (neck & neck with Val McD) and his wife, Marisa Haetzman, who I knew was an anaesthetist. Had I gone in blind, I would never have guessed the former, but I would definitely picked the author to be a doctor who knows Edinburgh well. This takes my favourite genres - crime, historical, and medical, with a strong female heroine - what's not to love - but without a good story, what's the point - so the collaboration is just brilliant.
1847, and young medical student Will Raven is beginning his apprenticeship with the illustrious obstetrician, James Young Simpson, who is pioneering the use of ether as an anaesthetic to help with difficult deliveries. A true historical character, Simpson treated rich and poor - not necessarily alike, but all with respect and compassion. Sarah Fisher, his housemaid, who is super bright and fascinated by medical matters, helps out in the clinic and chafes under the limitations of her gender and social status, but longs to learn more. Initially suspicious of Will, who arrives at the house scarred and battered after an altercation with a moneylender's henchmen, she discovers a shared interest in the recent suspicious deaths of poor young women, and together they undercover Edinburgh's dark secrets.
Some of my all time favourite books have featured women learning medicine way before their time (eg Clan of the Cave Bear, Outlander) and I do hope that Sarah, a character I liked immediately, will get to pursue her dreams in future books. By the time I started at Edinburgh Medical School, 141 years later, our class was 50% women, and I believe that nowadays it's more like 70%. Ironically, and some would argue consequently, medicine has neither the status nor the high income of the 19th century, but at least many of the attitudes and ideologies of the book are long gone. (As an aside, I do find it ironic that nowadays women feel compelled to shun pain relief in labour not for religious reasons, as here, but because other women shame them into insisting on a 'Natural birth'.)
Will took longer to win me over as a character, but his impulsive arrogance and short temper made him far more interesting than your average hero, and his introduction into practices of the day was a great way to read about the innovations that truly changed medicine. I love that they included the true anecdote of Simpson, Keith & Duncan knocking themselves out with their first experiment with chloroform. Some scenes may make gruesome reading to those without a medical background. The harsh realities of the lives of the poor are also brutally described.
This is a wonderfully written atmospheric historical mystery and leaps into my top 5 books of the year, and I can't wait for the next one. I think it was published over a month ago in the UK, but my NetGalley gives today as the publication date, so am pleased to have my review in just in time! Very many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a voluntary honest review.
1847, and young medical student Will Raven is beginning his apprenticeship with the illustrious obstetrician, James Young Simpson, who is pioneering the use of ether as an anaesthetic to help with difficult deliveries. A true historical character, Simpson treated rich and poor - not necessarily alike, but all with respect and compassion. Sarah Fisher, his housemaid, who is super bright and fascinated by medical matters, helps out in the clinic and chafes under the limitations of her gender and social status, but longs to learn more. Initially suspicious of Will, who arrives at the house scarred and battered after an altercation with a moneylender's henchmen, she discovers a shared interest in the recent suspicious deaths of poor young women, and together they undercover Edinburgh's dark secrets.
Some of my all time favourite books have featured women learning medicine way before their time (eg Clan of the Cave Bear, Outlander) and I do hope that Sarah, a character I liked immediately, will get to pursue her dreams in future books. By the time I started at Edinburgh Medical School, 141 years later, our class was 50% women, and I believe that nowadays it's more like 70%. Ironically, and some would argue consequently, medicine has neither the status nor the high income of the 19th century, but at least many of the attitudes and ideologies of the book are long gone. (As an aside, I do find it ironic that nowadays women feel compelled to shun pain relief in labour not for religious reasons, as here, but because other women shame them into insisting on a 'Natural birth'.)
Will took longer to win me over as a character, but his impulsive arrogance and short temper made him far more interesting than your average hero, and his introduction into practices of the day was a great way to read about the innovations that truly changed medicine. I love that they included the true anecdote of Simpson, Keith & Duncan knocking themselves out with their first experiment with chloroform. Some scenes may make gruesome reading to those without a medical background. The harsh realities of the lives of the poor are also brutally described.
This is a wonderfully written atmospheric historical mystery and leaps into my top 5 books of the year, and I can't wait for the next one. I think it was published over a month ago in the UK, but my NetGalley gives today as the publication date, so am pleased to have my review in just in time! Very many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a voluntary honest review.
May 6, 2023
Atmospheric medical mystery set in a socially divided 1847 Edinburgh. Midwifery is central to the story and at times it was distressing to read of the gruesome practices often used in childbirth and abortion at the time. The historic content of the book was informative and it was interesting to learn of the unregulated experimentation that led to the discovery of chloroform as an anaesthetic.
June 21, 2021
The Way Of All Flesh is much more than just another murder mystery. Even though the suspicious deaths are presented as the main plot most of the time, there are some other storylines that all come together nicely. Apart from that I was immensely impressed by the descriptions about life in early Victorian Edinburgh and by the authors’ (Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, a.k.a. Ambrose Parry) skill at bringing the stories of Raven and Sarah together with so much atmosphere.
So, if you like Victorian settings, atmospheric descriptions that show a lot about people’s class conceit and class consciousness combined with a murder mystery, this might be just right up your alley.
5 out of 5 stars.
Trigger warning: there are some descriptions and references to obstetrical and other medical procedures of that time that are plain gruesome.
So, if you like Victorian settings, atmospheric descriptions that show a lot about people’s class conceit and class consciousness combined with a murder mystery, this might be just right up your alley.
5 out of 5 stars.
Trigger warning: there are some descriptions and references to obstetrical and other medical procedures of that time that are plain gruesome.
August 11, 2020
Υπέροχο μυθιστόρημα μυστηρίου που διαβάζεται απνευστί. Πτώματα φτωχών γυναικών που ανακαλύπτονται στο βικτωριανό Εδιμβούργο, τα πρώτα βήματα της ιατρικής ως επιστήμης και η θέση των γυναικών σ' έναν κόσμο όχι και τόσο διαφορετικό από τον σημερινό.
November 6, 2020
Ο χειμώνας είναι η αγαπημένη μου εποχή. Είναι η εποχή που αγαπώ να διαβάζω περισσότερο, ειδικότερα τα βιβλία εποχής, και κάπως έτσι έφτασε στα χέρια μου, το πεπρωμένο της σάρκας.
Από την πρώτη κιόλας σελίδα οι Ambrose Parry σε απομονώνει από το δικό σου κόσμο, και ξεκινάει ένα ταξίδι μαζί σου, στην πιο σκοτεινή, υγρή εποχή του 19ο αιώνα. Στο Εδιμβούργο του 1847, σε μία εποχή που όλα ήταν αλλιώς.
Το πεπρωμένο της σάρκας είναι ένα βιβλίο που έχει στοιχεία από τα βιβλία της αγαπημένης Αγκάθα, όσον αφορά την ατμόσφαιρα και την εποχή. Η ιστορία του βιβλίου είναι εναρμονισμένη με την εποχή τής.
Είναι ένα ιστορικό, ιατρικό, κοινωνικό, θρησκευτικό μυθιστόρημα, που διαδραματίζεται σε μία εποχή, που η θρησκεία και η ιατρική είναι οι θεοί του σύμπαντος. Από την άλλη όμως το πιο σκληρό του θέμα, είναι η θέση της γυναίκας στην κοινωνία.
Η αρχή η μέση και το τέλος του βιβλίου, περιστρέφονται γύρω από τα τρία αυτά θέματα., Που οι συγγραφείς τα "παντρεύουν" με ένα απόλυτα άρτιο τρόπο, δίνοντας στον αναγνώστη το εισιτήριο για ένα ταξίδι, σε μία άλλη εποχή, σε μία συναρπαστική περιπέτεια, τόσο σκοτεινή γεμάτη δαιδαλώδεις λαβύρινθους, ώσπου να φτάσει ο αναγνώστης στις αλήθειες που θέλουν να φέρουν στο φως οι συγγραφείς μέσα από τους ήρωες τους.
Πόρνες, γιατροί, ιερείς, υπόκοσμος, παμπ που μυρίζουν ποτό και άφιλτρο τσιγάρο είναι η αφετηρία για να ξεκινήσει κινηματογραφικό - συγγραφικό ντεμπούτο με την Φίσερ και τον Ρειβεν ως "επιθεωρητές" που καλούνται να λύσουν το μυστήριο των θανάτων που κάποιοι θέλουν να μείνουν ανεξιχνίαστοι.
Όπως ανέφερα παραπάνω το αστυνομικό κομμάτι κάποιες φορές είναι υποδεέστερο και σε άλλες σκηνές παίζει τον κυρίαρχο ρόλο του παιχνιδιού. Δε θα χαρακτήριζα το βιβλίο αυτό θρίλερ υπό την έννοια που έχουμε συνηθίσει εμείς οι αναγνώστες των αστυνομικών θρίλερ.
Όμως τα στοιχεία που το περικλείουν σύμφωνα με τις αντιλήψεις καθώς και τα ήθη, τις σκέψεις και τα ταμπού της εποχής του, το κατατάσσουν σε σκληρό, ανθρώπινο από συναισθηματικής και ηθικής άποψης θρίλερ. Δε είναι φλατ όπως τα βιβλία της Αγκάθα όμως από την άλλη δεν είναι και από τα βιβλία που θα κάνουν τον αναγνώστη να πλήττει.
Το βιβλίο έχει αυτή την πιπεράτη μυρωδιά για τους ψαγμένους αναγνώστες. Για αυτούς τους αναγνώστες που εκτός από την ανάγνωση αγαπούν και την έρευνα που θα κάνουν οι ίδιοι για τα γεγονότα που παραθέτει το βιβλίο, τους αναγνώστες που γκουγκλάρουν για να βυθιστούν πιο βαθιά στην ιστορία.
Οι ανατροπές είναι δυνατές γιατί εναρμονίζονται απόλυτα, με την ιστορία, τους ήρωες και την εποχή. Διαβάζοντας το μυθιστόρημα αυτό, αναγνώστης έρχεται αντιμέτωπος με γεγονότα ιστορικά και θρησκευτικά που ίσως να μη γνωρίζει ή ίσως να μην είχε ερευνήσει ποτέ για αυτά.
Τον ρόλο του αιθέρα στον ιατρικό κόσμο που ξεκίνησε ένα χρόνο πρ��ν, το 1846. Στο βιβλίο αναφέρεται σε συνδυασμό με τη ροή της ιστορίας το πόσο βοήθησε τους τότε ιατρούς αλλά και το πόσο επικίνδυνο μπορούσε να γίνει.
Από την άλλη βλέπουμε και το ρόλο της εκκλησίας απέναντι στις πρακτικές της ιατρικής, τον πόλεμο που έκαναν κάποιοι ιερείς, διαπράττοντας έγκλημα με κίνητρο τη θρησκεία, στις ανθρώπινες ψυχές.
Η αγωνία δεν είναι ένα κομμάτι που με κάλυψε, παρά μόνο στις τελευταίες σελίδες του βιβλίου, αν και αυτό θα έπρεπε να το περιμένω για όλα τα παραπάνω που αναφέρω.
Το αρνητικό για μένα στο βιβλίο, που δεν είναι τόσο αρνητικό για το βιβλίο αλλά και τη δική μου οπτική, είναι ότι το βιβλίο κινείται περισσότερο γύρω από τα κοινωνικά, ιατρικά, ανθρώπινα θέματα, παρά στο αστυνομικό κομμάτι, δίνοντας βάση σε αυτό το κομμάτι στις τελευταίες σελίδες.
Πέρα από αυτό όμως, είναι ένα βιβλίο που για τους αναγνώστες που αγαπούν τα βιβλία εποχής, τα διαφορετικά βιβλία εποχής, το συγγραφικό ντεμπούτο θα γίνει το αγαπημένο τους. Και σε αυτό το βιβλίο πραγματικά βλέπουμε διαφορετικά πράγματα, διαφορετικά γεγονότα και καταστάσεις, που εγώ προσωπικά δεν τα έχω συναντήσει σε βιβλία άλλης εποχής παρά μόνο αναφορικά.
Το πεπρωμένο της σάρκας για μένα είναι ένα βιβλίο ταξίδι, ένιωσα σαν να ανοίγω το βιβλίο και να επιβιβάζομαι σε ένα τρένο, για να ταξιδέψω στο παρελθόν, σε ένα σκοτεινό, υγρό, ομιχλώδες, μελαγχολικό παρελθόν δίνοντας μου την ευκαιρί�� να ζήσω, και να μάθω για γεγονότα που δεν γνώριζα, και να κατανοήσω καλύτερα τα σημερινά πλεονεκτήματα που έχω σαν άνθρωπος στη δική μου εποχή.
Να σεβαστώ και να θαυμάσω για ακόμα μία φορά τους ανθρώπους που πάλεψαν πριν από μένα, για να έχω εγώ μία καλύτερη ζωή να μην θεωρώ τα πιο απλά πράγματα δεδομένα, γιατί για τα δεδομένα αυτά κάποιοι έχασαν τη ζωή τους. 😊
Από την πρώτη κιόλας σελίδα οι Ambrose Parry σε απομονώνει από το δικό σου κόσμο, και ξεκινάει ένα ταξίδι μαζί σου, στην πιο σκοτεινή, υγρή εποχή του 19ο αιώνα. Στο Εδιμβούργο του 1847, σε μία εποχή που όλα ήταν αλλιώς.
Το πεπρωμένο της σάρκας είναι ένα βιβλίο που έχει στοιχεία από τα βιβλία της αγαπημένης Αγκάθα, όσον αφορά την ατμόσφαιρα και την εποχή. Η ιστορία του βιβλίου είναι εναρμονισμένη με την εποχή τής.
Είναι ένα ιστορικό, ιατρικό, κοινωνικό, θρησκευτικό μυθιστόρημα, που διαδραματίζεται σε μία εποχή, που η θρησκεία και η ιατρική είναι οι θεοί του σύμπαντος. Από την άλλη όμως το πιο σκληρό του θέμα, είναι η θέση της γυναίκας στην κοινωνία.
Η αρχή η μέση και το τέλος του βιβλίου, περιστρέφονται γύρω από τα τρία αυτά θέματα., Που οι συγγραφείς τα "παντρεύουν" με ένα απόλυτα άρτιο τρόπο, δίνοντας στον αναγνώστη το εισιτήριο για ένα ταξίδι, σε μία άλλη εποχή, σε μία συναρπαστική περιπέτεια, τόσο σκοτεινή γεμάτη δαιδαλώδεις λαβύρινθους, ώσπου να φτάσει ο αναγνώστης στις αλήθειες που θέλουν να φέρουν στο φως οι συγγραφείς μέσα από τους ήρωες τους.
Πόρνες, γιατροί, ιερείς, υπόκοσμος, παμπ που μυρίζουν ποτό και άφιλτρο τσιγάρο είναι η αφετηρία για να ξεκινήσει κινηματογραφικό - συγγραφικό ντεμπούτο με την Φίσερ και τον Ρειβεν ως "επιθεωρητές" που καλούνται να λύσουν το μυστήριο των θανάτων που κάποιοι θέλουν να μείνουν ανεξιχνίαστοι.
Όπως ανέφερα παραπάνω το αστυνομικό κομμάτι κάποιες φορές είναι υποδεέστερο και σε άλλες σκηνές παίζει τον κυρίαρχο ρόλο του παιχνιδιού. Δε θα χαρακτήριζα το βιβλίο αυτό θρίλερ υπό την έννοια που έχουμε συνηθίσει εμείς οι αναγνώστες των αστυνομικών θρίλερ.
Όμως τα στοιχεία που το περικλείουν σύμφωνα με τις αντιλήψεις καθώς και τα ήθη, τις σκέψεις και τα ταμπού της εποχής του, το κατατάσσουν σε σκληρό, ανθρώπινο από συναισθηματικής και ηθικής άποψης θρίλερ. Δε είναι φλατ όπως τα βιβλία της Αγκάθα όμως από την άλλη δεν είναι και από τα βιβλία που θα κάνουν τον αναγνώστη να πλήττει.
Το βιβλίο έχει αυτή την πιπεράτη μυρωδιά για τους ψαγμένους αναγνώστες. Για αυτούς τους αναγνώστες που εκτός από την ανάγνωση αγαπούν και την έρευνα που θα κάνουν οι ίδιοι για τα γεγονότα που παραθέτει το βιβλίο, τους αναγνώστες που γκουγκλάρουν για να βυθιστούν πιο βαθιά στην ιστορία.
Οι ανατροπές είναι δυνατές γιατί εναρμονίζονται απόλυτα, με την ιστορία, τους ήρωες και την εποχή. Διαβάζοντας το μυθιστόρημα αυτό, αναγνώστης έρχεται αντιμέτωπος με γεγονότα ιστορικά και θρησκευτικά που ίσως να μη γνωρίζει ή ίσως να μην είχε ερευνήσει ποτέ για αυτά.
Τον ρόλο του αιθέρα στον ιατρικό κόσμο που ξεκίνησε ένα χρόνο πρ��ν, το 1846. Στο βιβλίο αναφέρεται σε συνδυασμό με τη ροή της ιστορίας το πόσο βοήθησε τους τότε ιατρούς αλλά και το πόσο επικίνδυνο μπορούσε να γίνει.
Από την άλλη βλέπουμε και το ρόλο της εκκλησίας απέναντι στις πρακτικές της ιατρικής, τον πόλεμο που έκαναν κάποιοι ιερείς, διαπράττοντας έγκλημα με κίνητρο τη θρησκεία, στις ανθρώπινες ψυχές.
Η αγωνία δεν είναι ένα κομμάτι που με κάλυψε, παρά μόνο στις τελευταίες σελίδες του βιβλίου, αν και αυτό θα έπρεπε να το περιμένω για όλα τα παραπάνω που αναφέρω.
Το αρνητικό για μένα στο βιβλίο, που δεν είναι τόσο αρνητικό για το βιβλίο αλλά και τη δική μου οπτική, είναι ότι το βιβλίο κινείται περισσότερο γύρω από τα κοινωνικά, ιατρικά, ανθρώπινα θέματα, παρά στο αστυνομικό κομμάτι, δίνοντας βάση σε αυτό το κομμάτι στις τελευταίες σελίδες.
Πέρα από αυτό όμως, είναι ένα βιβλίο που για τους αναγνώστες που αγαπούν τα βιβλία εποχής, τα διαφορετικά βιβλία εποχής, το συγγραφικό ντεμπούτο θα γίνει το αγαπημένο τους. Και σε αυτό το βιβλίο πραγματικά βλέπουμε διαφορετικά πράγματα, διαφορετικά γεγονότα και καταστάσεις, που εγώ προσωπικά δεν τα έχω συναντήσει σε βιβλία άλλης εποχής παρά μόνο αναφορικά.
Το πεπρωμένο της σάρκας για μένα είναι ένα βιβλίο ταξίδι, ένιωσα σαν να ανοίγω το βιβλίο και να επιβιβάζομαι σε ένα τρένο, για να ταξιδέψω στο παρελθόν, σε ένα σκοτεινό, υγρό, ομιχλώδες, μελαγχολικό παρελθόν δίνοντας μου την ευκαιρί�� να ζήσω, και να μάθω για γεγονότα που δεν γνώριζα, και να κατανοήσω καλύτερα τα σημερινά πλεονεκτήματα που έχω σαν άνθρωπος στη δική μου εποχή.
Να σεβαστώ και να θαυμάσω για ακόμα μία φορά τους ανθρώπους που πάλεψαν πριν από μένα, για να έχω εγώ μία καλύτερη ζωή να μην θεωρώ τα πιο απλά πράγματα δεδομένα, γιατί για τα δεδομένα αυτά κάποιοι έχασαν τη ζωή τους. 😊
February 19, 2019
Edinburgh 1947 and medical student Will Raven has found himself apprenticed to the very famous Dr Simpson. Will is not the usual gentleman... In fact he is quite penniless and owes money to a cutthroat gang who he tries to dodge as he attends procedures with Dr Simpson. At the same time he is convinced there is a murderer targeting prostitutes and housemaids, including someone quite close to him.
Sarah, the very smart and intuitive housemaid to Dr Simpson, works out quickly something is a bit different about Will and they end up sharing information that leads them to become a bit of a team trying to solve the mystery of these (possible) murders.
The character development was fantastic, with Sarah and Will taking their societal roles, but not necessarily in the expected ways. The setting is also really interesting as Dr Simpson (a real historical figure) tries to find something to ease patients pain that is safer and more effective than Ether.
Ambrose Parry is the pen name of a husband and wife team ; crime writer Chris Brookmyre and consultant anaesthetist Dr Marisa Haetzman. This combination is a great one and the book is set up nicely for really interesting storylines in the future. Although not yet shown in Goodreads, I have read articles suggesting this will be a 7-8 book series and that the TV rights have been bought by Benedict Cumberbatch. What fun that will be!
Highly recommended to historical fiction readers who like a bit of mystery and interesting characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah, the very smart and intuitive housemaid to Dr Simpson, works out quickly something is a bit different about Will and they end up sharing information that leads them to become a bit of a team trying to solve the mystery of these (possible) murders.
The character development was fantastic, with Sarah and Will taking their societal roles, but not necessarily in the expected ways. The setting is also really interesting as Dr Simpson (a real historical figure) tries to find something to ease patients pain that is safer and more effective than Ether.
Ambrose Parry is the pen name of a husband and wife team ; crime writer Chris Brookmyre and consultant anaesthetist Dr Marisa Haetzman. This combination is a great one and the book is set up nicely for really interesting storylines in the future. Although not yet shown in Goodreads, I have read articles suggesting this will be a 7-8 book series and that the TV rights have been bought by Benedict Cumberbatch. What fun that will be!
Highly recommended to historical fiction readers who like a bit of mystery and interesting characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2019
Solid four stars! This turned out way better than I expected! The plot summary caught my interest, and that title was really neat, but I have to be honest, the first few pages I was worried I was reading another male author who would write about women as ‘females’ and in the worst light. Then I realized two things: this Ambrose Parry is a husband and wife writing duo, and the female influence quickly becomes apparent. The wife is a real doctor, and it changes everything. This book was spectacular from a women’s rights vantage point.
The plot blurb I read didn’t mention it, but the doctors mentioned are actually “male midwives” as one says at one point, early OBGYNs who make emergency house visits for childbirth crises. One note – trigger warning for extreme detail in women’s health issues, from birthing, to birthing difficulties, to early abortion methods and some pretty grisly medical tactics for, uh, saving the mother rather than the pregnancy. I appreciated that it didn’t shy away from women’s medical issues, as understanding them can help improve general opinion and policy writing and law-making…
That said, this book was timely for having taken place in 1847. Everything under fire for women in the western world right now – the right to walk on the street un-assailed, birth control, abortions, - it’s all here. The protagonist starts out as a bit of a cocky mansplainer, but he quickly became more likeable through his acceptance of the main female characters’ wisdom in many matters. His willingness to accept being wrong etc. is the opposite of so much going on right now; funny throwaway, characters are discussing Irish immigration at one point, and a character rips off a bigoted quote from the current U.S. president…Very funny and all too apt.
Apart from medical issues, there’s a significant portion of plot dedicated to bonding the reader with Sarah’s struggle as a poor, woman, servant of the times. She wants to educate herself, does educate herself with the books of the household, but comes up so many times against the wall of “you’re a woman so you can’t do X Y Z…” and it’s equally frustrating for the reader because we see she is just as capable as the men in this story, if not more. It’s really her who cracks the case, and I will say, while parts of the mystery were predictable, there were a couple twists that I really appreciate. As we think they’ve sunk into a trope, something else happens.
Overall mystery-wise, I want to say this wasn’t necessarily groundbreaking, but as an interesting social commentary piece with a message and by happenstance a mystery attached, it made a Very Good Book. Also, the Scottish brogue narration by Bryan Dick and Louise Brealey was a joy to listen to.
The plot blurb I read didn’t mention it, but the doctors mentioned are actually “male midwives” as one says at one point, early OBGYNs who make emergency house visits for childbirth crises. One note – trigger warning for extreme detail in women’s health issues, from birthing, to birthing difficulties, to early abortion methods and some pretty grisly medical tactics for, uh, saving the mother rather than the pregnancy. I appreciated that it didn’t shy away from women’s medical issues, as understanding them can help improve general opinion and policy writing and law-making…
That said, this book was timely for having taken place in 1847. Everything under fire for women in the western world right now – the right to walk on the street un-assailed, birth control, abortions, - it’s all here. The protagonist starts out as a bit of a cocky mansplainer, but he quickly became more likeable through his acceptance of the main female characters’ wisdom in many matters. His willingness to accept being wrong etc. is the opposite of so much going on right now; funny throwaway, characters are discussing Irish immigration at one point, and a character rips off a bigoted quote from the current U.S. president…Very funny and all too apt.
Apart from medical issues, there’s a significant portion of plot dedicated to bonding the reader with Sarah’s struggle as a poor, woman, servant of the times. She wants to educate herself, does educate herself with the books of the household, but comes up so many times against the wall of “you’re a woman so you can’t do X Y Z…” and it’s equally frustrating for the reader because we see she is just as capable as the men in this story, if not more. It’s really her who cracks the case, and I will say, while parts of the mystery were predictable, there were a couple twists that I really appreciate. As we think they’ve sunk into a trope, something else happens.
Overall mystery-wise, I want to say this wasn’t necessarily groundbreaking, but as an interesting social commentary piece with a message and by happenstance a mystery attached, it made a Very Good Book. Also, the Scottish brogue narration by Bryan Dick and Louise Brealey was a joy to listen to.
March 11, 2019
I’m afraid I didn’t really get on with The Way Of All Flesh. I like Chris Brookmyre’s Jack Parlabane novels very much, but this, co-written by him and his wife Marisa Haetzman who is an anaesthetist, isn’t anything like as good.
Set in Edinburgh in 1850, Will Raven is an impoverished medical student (with a dark secret in his past, of course) who begins as an apprentice to the renowned Dr Simpson. There is a series of unexplained deaths (of women, naturally) which Raven and the housemaid Sarah begin to investigate.
There are some good things about the book. The medical history is very well researched and graphically and unflinchingly portrayed, for example. However, I found the whole thing a rather turgid read and pretty much a familiar set of stale clichés with an attempt at a historical setting which for me didn’t really convince. For example, Sarah is – you’ve guessed it – a spirited, intelligent young woman with ideas and attitudes imported straight from the early 21st Century. (Not again!) Raven begins to learn a few life lessons, while also being dragged into something which looks suspiciously like the Rebus/Big Ger Cafferty relationship...and so on. The language didn’t convince, either; it’s largely modern prose and the characters tend to speak in a non-Victorian way (the book closes with someone saying the two-word sentence, “Your choice.” for example) while the odd slightly archaic word or phrase just sticks out and sounds wrong. For example, a carriage pulls up drawn by two “lively steeds.” Apart from the jarring occurrence of the archaic word “steed” in modern prose, it’s incorrectly used; a “steed” is a horse being ridden or available for riding, not one drawing a carriage.
I’m sorry if I appear to nitpick, but all of this meant that I got no real sense of place or period and I found the story and characters rather stale and unconvincing. I had hoped for better from Brookmyre; I’ll wait for his next Parlabane book but in the meantime I can’t recommend this.
(My thanks to Canongate for an ARC via NetGalley.)
Set in Edinburgh in 1850, Will Raven is an impoverished medical student (with a dark secret in his past, of course) who begins as an apprentice to the renowned Dr Simpson. There is a series of unexplained deaths (of women, naturally) which Raven and the housemaid Sarah begin to investigate.
There are some good things about the book. The medical history is very well researched and graphically and unflinchingly portrayed, for example. However, I found the whole thing a rather turgid read and pretty much a familiar set of stale clichés with an attempt at a historical setting which for me didn’t really convince. For example, Sarah is – you’ve guessed it – a spirited, intelligent young woman with ideas and attitudes imported straight from the early 21st Century. (Not again!) Raven begins to learn a few life lessons, while also being dragged into something which looks suspiciously like the Rebus/Big Ger Cafferty relationship...and so on. The language didn’t convince, either; it’s largely modern prose and the characters tend to speak in a non-Victorian way (the book closes with someone saying the two-word sentence, “Your choice.” for example) while the odd slightly archaic word or phrase just sticks out and sounds wrong. For example, a carriage pulls up drawn by two “lively steeds.” Apart from the jarring occurrence of the archaic word “steed” in modern prose, it’s incorrectly used; a “steed” is a horse being ridden or available for riding, not one drawing a carriage.
I’m sorry if I appear to nitpick, but all of this meant that I got no real sense of place or period and I found the story and characters rather stale and unconvincing. I had hoped for better from Brookmyre; I’ll wait for his next Parlabane book but in the meantime I can’t recommend this.
(My thanks to Canongate for an ARC via NetGalley.)
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