A review by alba_marie
The Art of Dying, by Ambrose Parry
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 :)