Voices of the Dead by Ambrose Parry

 Voices of the Dead by Ambrose Parry

Voices of the Dead by Ambrose Parry was published on 

15th June 2023 by Canongate Books.

My thanks to the authors and publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Random Book Tours for inviting me to take part on the tour.

Synopsis

EDINBURGH, 1853.
In a city of science, discovery can be deadly . . .

In a time of unprecedented scientific discovery, the public’s appetite for wonder has seen a resurgence of interest in mesmerism, spiritualism and other unexplained phenomena.

Dr Will Raven is wary of the shadowlands that lie between progress and quackery, but Sarah Fisher can’t afford to be so picky. Frustrated in her medical ambitions, she sees opportunity in a new therapeutic field not already closed off to women.

Raven has enough on his hands as it is. Body parts have been found at Surgeons' Hall, and they’re not anatomy specimens. In a city still haunted by the crimes of Burke and Hare, he is tasked with heading off a scandal.

When further human remains are found, Raven is able to identify a prime suspect, and the hunt is on before he kills again. Unfortunately, the individual he seeks happens to be an accomplished actor, a man of a thousand faces and a renowned master of disguise.

With the lines between science and spectacle dangerously blurred, the stage is set for a grand and deadly illusion . .

My Review

Before I even opened the book to explore the contents within I was captivated by the cover, wondering what the significance of the pocket watch was, all of which is revealed during the story !!!

Even though this is the fourth book in the series it reads equally well as a standalone in its own right. The narrative draws you in straight away, leading you into the compelling story that takes place in Edinburgh in 1853, not long after the fear and trepidation caused by the notorious duo, Burke and Hare. Following on in their ilk, body parts are found at various locations around Edinburgh and Raven is drawn in severa\l directions as he works to solve the mystery whilst also looking at his own family life and medical future.

I was hooked with this story, gruesome and medically fascinating as it is, form the beginning, and the incorporation of a map on the inside cover works well in giving the reader some knowledge of the seedier areas of Edinburgh.

The story has many interesting slants as it develops, and there are many times during the latter part when differents aspects of some characters leave you surprised, and at times, wondering how you didn't pick that up earlier.

Ambrose Parry are a brilliant pairing as a writing team and their combined medical knowledge and understanding of medical history is put to good use in the teling of this story. This is the first time i have read any of their books and I now have the first three books in this series waiting to be rad on my bookshelf. If they are as good as Voices of the Dead I am not going to be disappointed.

Looking forward to the next 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 instalment in the lives of Raven and Sarah.

About the Authors

Ambrose Parry is the penname for two authors – the internationally bestselling and multi-award-winning Chris Brookmyre and consultant anaesthetist of twenty years’ experience, Dr Marisa Haetzman.

Inspired by the gory details Haetzman uncovered during her History of Medicine degree, the couple teamed up to write a series of historical crime thrillers, featuring the darkest of Victorian Edinburgh’s secrets.

They are married and live in Scotland.

The Way of All Flesh, The Art of Dying and A Corruption of Blood were shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year.
A Corruption of Blood was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger in 2022.

@ambroseparry