The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry

The Way of All Flesh
By Ambrose Parry
Published by Canongate Books (2 May 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

Edinburgh, 1847. Will Raven is a medical student, apprenticing for the brilliant and renowned Dr Simpson. Sarah Fisher is Simpson's housemaid, and has all of Raven's intelligence but none of his privileges.

As bodies begin to appear across the Old Town, Raven and Sarah find themselves propelled headlong into the darkest shadows of Edinburgh's underworld. And if either of them are to make it out alive, they will have to work together to find out who's responsible for the gruesome deaths.

My verdict
The Way of All Flesh is the first in a new series of historical crime novels. It's chilling, gripping and vivid and took me right into the heart of the darkness of 19th century Edinburgh.

I loved not only the historical background but the medical background too, both twined together by a common thread - the invention of anaesthesia and the rise of early modern scientific techniques. The authors have carefully placed real life characters and events within a largely fictional setting by focusing on a series of gruesome murders. Will Raven and Sarah Fisher make a believable pairing as they work together, somewhat reluctantly at first, to solve these crimes.

The Way of All Flesh is a must-read for all historical crime fiction fans. It was fun, entertaining, fascinating and brutal, with well-developed characters and a well-paced plot. The book features a strong mix of mystery, history of medicine, social history, science, art (photography) and even some romance. I can't wait to read the next one in the series (The Art of Dying), which is being published in hardback in August 2019.

Follow the Blog Tour