judenoseinabook's review
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Fast paced thriller detective story based in Victorian Edinburgh. 2nd featuring Sarah and Will Raven. Hope there are more to come.
lomas's review against another edition
4.0
Great follow up to The way of all flesh
We've moved on a year,and despite seeing Europe,not a huge amount has changed for Will. Sarah however has had a complete change of circumstances... a Drs wife and pregnant too.
I can't help but feel making her a Drs wife is paving the way for her and Will to get together later.
There's a cold hearted killer,murdering people for what seems to be sexual gratification,and our two are on her trail when nobody else has noticed the killings.
Throw in some more medical stuff (which is always interesting) a few thugs,a thief and a dying husband and it's all very entertaining.
I say it a lot,but I've yet to find a Brookmyre book I don't like.
As Ambrose Parry,he just adds to that.(though credit also to Marisa Haetzman.)
We've moved on a year,and despite seeing Europe,not a huge amount has changed for Will. Sarah however has had a complete change of circumstances... a Drs wife and pregnant too.
I can't help but feel making her a Drs wife is paving the way for her and Will to get together later.
There's a cold hearted killer,murdering people for what seems to be sexual gratification,and our two are on her trail when nobody else has noticed the killings.
Throw in some more medical stuff (which is always interesting) a few thugs,a thief and a dying husband and it's all very entertaining.
I say it a lot,but I've yet to find a Brookmyre book I don't like.
As Ambrose Parry,he just adds to that.(though credit also to Marisa Haetzman.)
georgi_lvs_books's review against another edition
5.0
‘There's a fine line between kill and cure.’
I adore Historical Fiction and when you piece that together with 19th century Edinburgh, it is just exquisite!
I loved The Way Of All Flesh and was really excited when The Art Of Dying became available. I actually loved this even MORE than book 1!
It was exciting and engaging from the start.
The twists, the medical terminology, the characters, Victorian edinburgh all made this the PERFECT read.
If you are a fan of historical fiction, mystery and thrillers then this is a series you will enjoy.
I adore Historical Fiction and when you piece that together with 19th century Edinburgh, it is just exquisite!
I loved The Way Of All Flesh and was really excited when The Art Of Dying became available. I actually loved this even MORE than book 1!
It was exciting and engaging from the start.
The twists, the medical terminology, the characters, Victorian edinburgh all made this the PERFECT read.
If you are a fan of historical fiction, mystery and thrillers then this is a series you will enjoy.
lucy_t_firefly's review against another edition
3.0
3.5? Weird plot structure and pacing, and some underwhelming bits, but decent 'twist' and bro feels at the end.
pezski's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I enjoyed the first novel in this series, The Way of All Flesh, but this second instalment is truly superb.
Set in Edinburgh in the 1850s, newly qualified doctor Will Raven and former housemaid and medical assistant Sarah Fisher meet again a year after the events of the previous book, but things have changed for both of them. Working again for respected Dr Simpson, they have to cope with bitter rivalry amongst the Edinburgh medical profession, the local gangster and a spate of mysterious deaths.
The authors build a gripping plot with fully-fleshed characters in a tale with several parallel themes.
Highly recommended.
Set in Edinburgh in the 1850s, newly qualified doctor Will Raven and former housemaid and medical assistant Sarah Fisher meet again a year after the events of the previous book, but things have changed for both of them. Working again for respected Dr Simpson, they have to cope with bitter rivalry amongst the Edinburgh medical profession, the local gangster and a spate of mysterious deaths.
The authors build a gripping plot with fully-fleshed characters in a tale with several parallel themes.
Highly recommended.
kchessrice's review against another edition
4.0
Edinburgh 1849. Dr Simpson's invention of chloroform has begun to transform medical practice, but it's still very new and remains unreliable. With patients continuing to die across the city even after being treated with chloroform, a whispering campaign against the good doctor takes hold - can Will Raven and Sarah Fisher uncover who is behind it, at the same time as keeping their own struggles under control?
This is the second novel in the Raven, Fisher and Simpson series and was just as enjoyable a medical/historical fiction/detective story as the first, The Way of All Flesh. 19th century Edinburgh is brought to life, in all its dark, smelly and painful glory. I particularly enjoy the strong female characterisation and watching Sarah Fisher navigating her way through a man's world feels realistic - she is easily just as intelligent and capable as the male doctors, however just because she is a woman, she can expect to reach no further in a medical career than a nurse. At least, in the UK... I am already looking forward to the third instalment, which I hope will see Sarah continue her efforts to become a medical doctor.
As this is a historical fiction novel with a medical theme, this book might be best avoided if you are at all squeamish! There are graphic descriptions of various types of surgery including the removal of an ectopic pregnancy that had me feeling a little green about the gills and I'm fairly hardy! There is still plenty to enjoy including social commentary, politics and the frisson of attraction between Will and Sarah.
This is the second novel in the Raven, Fisher and Simpson series and was just as enjoyable a medical/historical fiction/detective story as the first, The Way of All Flesh. 19th century Edinburgh is brought to life, in all its dark, smelly and painful glory. I particularly enjoy the strong female characterisation and watching Sarah Fisher navigating her way through a man's world feels realistic - she is easily just as intelligent and capable as the male doctors, however just because she is a woman, she can expect to reach no further in a medical career than a nurse. At least, in the UK... I am already looking forward to the third instalment, which I hope will see Sarah continue her efforts to become a medical doctor.
As this is a historical fiction novel with a medical theme, this book might be best avoided if you are at all squeamish! There are graphic descriptions of various types of surgery including the removal of an ectopic pregnancy that had me feeling a little green about the gills and I'm fairly hardy! There is still plenty to enjoy including social commentary, politics and the frisson of attraction between Will and Sarah.
dmbraimundo's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alba_marie's review against another edition
5.0
I love the Victorian era. It's dark, it's strange, people are somehow both stubbornly-small minded as well as curious about - well everything. The Art of Dying is the 2nd book by husband/wife team Ambrose Parry. I really liked The Ways of All Flesh but I must say - I think that The Art of Dying is actually better. I never really got around to liking Will Raven (though I do love Sarah Fischer!) in book one, but I must admit he went through some character growth in book 2, and became much more likeable.
The Historical Note at the end is really interesting - I love that most of the secondary characters - and some of their actions - are real people, and that they (well probably the wife Marisa, who is a doctor herself) consulted Victorian-era textbooks to get both the science and the thinking of the 19th cent right. I also think the story - particularly the murder mystery part - is more believable and more fascinating in The Art of Dying and in the first book. (It was nice too that there was less surgery / childbirth in this book. The regular usage of recently-discovered chloroform as a sedative [book 1] means less terrifying surgical procedures as well).
And I love how Edinburgh itself has such an important role in the story. It is a place I know well, and Parry does a fab job of transporting us back to the city in the 18oo's.
I don't want to give away the story but in general, it is about Will (now an assistant doctor) and Sarah (who dreams of breaking gender norms to be a doctor), their work for top Edinburgh doc, Dr Simpson. To clear his name of malpractice, they must investigate a suspicious death and possible outbreak...but as usual, all is not as it seems.
Can't wait to see if Marisa and Chris come up with a 3rd installment! I would LOVE to meet Sarah again as Dr Fischer :)
The Historical Note at the end is really interesting - I love that most of the secondary characters - and some of their actions - are real people, and that they (well probably the wife Marisa, who is a doctor herself) consulted Victorian-era textbooks to get both the science and the thinking of the 19th cent right. I also think the story - particularly the murder mystery part - is more believable and more fascinating in The Art of Dying and in the first book. (It was nice too that there was less surgery / childbirth in this book. The regular usage of recently-discovered chloroform as a sedative [book 1] means less terrifying surgical procedures as well).
And I love how Edinburgh itself has such an important role in the story. It is a place I know well, and Parry does a fab job of transporting us back to the city in the 18oo's.
I don't want to give away the story but in general, it is about Will (now an assistant doctor) and Sarah (who dreams of breaking gender norms to be a doctor), their work for top Edinburgh doc, Dr Simpson. To clear his name of malpractice, they must investigate a suspicious death and possible outbreak...but as usual, all is not as it seems.
Can't wait to see if Marisa and Chris come up with a 3rd installment! I would LOVE to meet Sarah again as Dr Fischer :)
rowenaschild's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0