Edinburgh, 1847 & Will Raven is starting an apprenticeship in midwifery with respected & renowned obstetrician Dr James Young Simpson. Things don't get off to the best of starts when Raven turns up on Simpson's doorstep, bruised & bloodied, having been cut with a knife over a debt. Sarah Fisher, the Simpsons' housemaid is certainly unimpressed & wonders why such a person should get an opportunity that Sarah can only dream of.

As his apprenticeship gets underway, Raven is made aware of the deaths of several young women, thought to be pregnant & looking for a way out. Their deaths look to have been particularly painful given the condition of their bodies, & even worse, Raven knows one of the victims. He starts to look into what happened & Sarah becomes involved in the investigation when a friend goes missing, & they form a tentative truce to work together.

I tend to be a fan of most things set in the 19th century, & I had high hopes for this first book of three. The plot itself is ok, although it is easy to work out who the culprit is, but unfortunately the narrative suffers from very slow pacing, whilst Raven & Sarah have the sexual chemistry of two planks of wood. There was no emotional depth at all to the scenes where they supposedly discover their attraction to each other & I didn't feel invested in their relationship at all. I'm torn over whether to bother with the second in the series. 2.5 stars (rounded up)

I finally really enjoyed this book, even though at first it was difficult to get in. The first half of the book I was unsure about the plot, or even about liking the characters, but it quickly changed as the pace of the plot accelerated.

I liked the Scottish atmosphere, the characters (especially Sarah) and the whole crime plot (even if I guessed right about who was the murderer quite quickly). It's a nice book, not an excellent one, but it is quite fun and interesting, especially if you like historical fiction like I do.

Be aware that some medical procedures can be quite graphic and horrifying at times...

"People often hypothesize the sensational, and become inexplicably blind to the obvious that is before their very eyes." ~The Way of All Flesh~

Will Raven, a low born aspiring Dr., finds a dead body of his friend at her whore house. Her body has an indication of great agony, and Will suspects that she has been poisoned to death. He starts his apprenticeship under a prestigious Dr called Simpson and starts living under Dr.’s roof, but soon finds himself in a hostile relationship with his housemaid Sarah… As new dead bodies of women discovered in the city, Will and Sarah do their best to find out the connection among those women. Were they all pregnant? Who is behind the dark arts?

First thing first, I have a very mixed feeling about this book even a day after I have finished it. Did I like it? Yes and No.

There were some parts of the story, mostly towards the end, that I had enjoyed truthfully. However, looking back, I remember I was most irritated for the first half of the book because of Sarah. I have read many historical fiction where a female protagonist struggles in the male dominant society. But they were mostly humble or women in high status (so they use their power to solve the mystery). This Sarah was completely different from those ladies. She appeared rather arrogant and nosy as a housemaid. I understand that she must have been very frustrated in her situation as a low born girl with an intelligence that could match with a man of the good profession such as a Dr., but that kind of forwardness didn’t fit in 1847 Edinburgh situation. It was almost like the author misplaced a woman from modern times to 1847, and made her disgraceful by being ungrateful with a loudmouth. She seems to poke her nose to everyone’s life and too self-assertive as a maid. I wished Sarah had been a higher born lady if they wanted to keep her personality, or a maid with a much humbler personality. To me, Sarah was an annoyance.

Also, I failed to connect to one of the “exciting” aspects of the story: Romance. They say opposite attracts, and that is so true in this book. I don’t want to spoil the readers, so I don’t want to explain details, but I could tell the author was a man lol To me as a woman, the process of Sarah and Will becoming attracted to each other all the sudden from a cold foe like state was nothing but physical attraction. That’s what I expect men would feel if they ever found themselves in the situation Sarah and Will were in. Their romance indicated quick lust and I didn’t care much.

Having said that, the mystery itself was very interesting, and the revealing of the killer was a great surprise and enjoyable. I’m curious how the sequel goes since the second book of the series is already out. But when it comes to my rating, I had to ask myself if I liked this book enough to buy it. My answer was probably not.

I absolutely loved this book! So much so that I want to get my hands on the second in the series and then reread this one before I start it to ensure I don't miss anything.

I cannot even put into words how much I loved this book and Will and Sarah <3<3<3

I went to university in Edinburgh and its one of those places where you can feel the history leaking out of the stones all around you. So a historical story set here, and in one of my favourite historical periods to read about, was a definite 'yes' from me. The book starts just before Will starts an apprenticeship with a doctor. Before he can get there, he discovers that a young woman he'd been visiting has died, and it doesn't seem like natural courses. Will is determined to investigate, even if it jeopardises his new position.

Dr Simpson is wealthy, but treats many patients who could never normally afford a doctor as well, and his specialism is childbirth. Midwifery is a key part of the book, and I found it fascinating and horrifying to see some of the medical practices of the period. It was one of those books where I paused to google quite a few times and learn a little bit more about what was happening in the wider medical and legal community at the time that fell outside the immediate view of the book. Pain relief in childbirth is just starting to be experimented with, but half of the doctors using it have no idea what they're doing, and many women tragically died.

There's a gripping crime plotline through the middle of the book, which I really enjoyed, and an examination of privilege and the position of women at the time through the character of Sarah. But it was the historical aspects that I really found fascinating. Beyond the midwifery, it's woven wonderfully into the story, from the setting of Edinburgh itself, to episodes like when Will spends a day with some photographers and sees how their art is developing.

I really enjoyed this book, and I'm so glad it's the start of a series. If like me you'd like to know more about the author, I was interested to learn that it's actually a writting team: Scottish crime writer Christopher Brookmyre, and his wife, who got interested in some of the topics explored in the book while working on her PhD.

Overall, I'm giving this one 9/10, and I will definitely be reading the sequel at some point.

I picked up this book sometime ago but just couldn't get into it. So I tried again months later.

I found it a little slow but loved the historical accuracy. I dare say its researched to its teeth. I learned a lot and it really kept me interested.

Would definitely recommend.

To be honest, I finished this book ages ago and just realized I'd never left feedback on it. I enjoyed it immensely and particular appreciated both the period detail and the strong cast of characters. I've read one more book in this series since then and look forward to more.

A wonderful period piece that reminded me a bit of Crimson Petal and the White. The research that went into this story is really impressive however at times the writing felt a little long winded.

Certain aspects, such as Sarah's desire to break out of her role as housemaid and Raven's desperation to fit in with the upper class could have benefited from more subtle less repetitive writing.

Nevertheless, this is a compelling and colourful novel and was well worth the read.

In Edinburgh 1847, at the house and surgery of renowned Dr Simpson, new apprentice Will and housemaid Sarah find themselves invested in the recent murders of young women across the Old Town.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the dynamic between the two main characters; starting off with a dislike that changes when they must work together. Both Will and Sarah are interesting with very different pasts and problems that they are faced with.

I thought there was a strong sense of place with an assortment of dark and interesting characters populating the Old Town streets of 19th century Edinburgh. I also like the medical issues explored, including child birth and the use of anaesthesia.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys gritty historical stories and murder mysteries with a sense of danger.

I look forward to reading the second book in this series, The Art of Dying, which is out now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate Books for the opportunity to read and review this title.

"The only antidote to being confronted with death was the hearty embrace of life, even if that embrace was smelly sweaty and rough."
What a great first installment in a new historical crime series!

I won't go into the plot as this is a mystery but suffice to say it's the perfect winter read. Wonderfully atmospheric and gritty. By the end I cared very much for the characters. The character building was expertly done by the authors as we find out more via the main characters getting to know each other. It was such an organic and natural way to get to know them and I'm definitely invested in their stories now. I will be picking up the next installment upon it's 2020 release!

Fair historical crime fiction. Does a good job of capturing the atmosphere and the world leading medicine of Edinburgh at that time. Enjoyable if not a little predictable.

an expert in historical moody fiction. He captures the mood and time with atmosphere and suspense. A true legend.

Thank you Canongate for the review copy!

I really wanted to love this one after getting really excited by the blurb (and that cover ahhhh) but the writing style threw me off and made it hard to really immerse myself in the story. A bit jilted although I'm not sure why.

The Way of All Flesh introduces the reader to Will Raven, about to start a prestigious medical apprenticeship but burdened by secrets in his past, an unhealthily close connection to a murder victim, ruthless debt collectors on his trail and a self-confessed dark side to his character.

Despite Raven’s initial determination that the death of a woman he was close to should not become just another unsolved murder of a ‘fallen woman’, readers need to exercise some patience for his investigation into the murder to get fully under way. Not, in fact, until other similar victims start to turn up. It’s some time as well before the initial antagonism between Sarah, housemaid to the Simpson household,and Raven gives way to an uneasy investigative partnership which Sarah is determined should be one of equals. “You will keep nothing from me, and in this endeavour, you will at all times treat me as your equal.”

The authors have created an interesting character in Sarah. Intelligent, independent-minded and keen to better herself, she nevertheless finds her ambitions thwarted by social conventions and preconceptions based on her gender. A theme of the book which the reader will find difficult to miss is the inferior status of women, at all levels of society, and the potential for their mistreatment by men. As Sarah observes, “…it wasn’t only women below stairs who would never be permitted to realise their potential. Those above could aspire to no more than marriage and motherhood.” The latter is exemplified by Mina, unmarried sister-in-law of Dr. Simpson, who finds herself dependent on others for financial support and valueless without the status of wife. And, of course, there’s Sarah who, despite her intelligence and self-acquired knowledge of medicines, finds even the role of druggist’s assistant out of reach because she’s a woman and for customers ‘only a man will do.’

Alongside the crime mystery element, the book conjures up the atmosphere of 19th century Edinburgh, both its gentrified streets and seedy alleyways. It also brings to life a time of medical and scientific experimentation in the search for developments in anaesthesia and surgical techniques. The monetary and reputational rewards for pioneers of such developments may be great and, as becomes clear, not all possess the scruples of others. They may go to any lengths, seeing their actions as ‘a necessary sacrifice on the altar of progress’.

As a historical crime mystery, the book is more of a slow burn than a raging conflagration but the pace does pick up markedly in the final chapters. Making forays into subjects such as photography and homeopathy, it’s nevertheless full of atmosphere and, in Raven and Sarah, introduces an engaging central partnership, that sets things up nicely for future books.

This novel tells the story of Raven and Sarah, an unlikely team who work together in 1840s Edinburgh to solve a series of murders. It's a gripping historical crime novel with a background of medicine and the discovery of anaesthetic.
This novel is the excellent work of 2 authors; Chris Brookmyre crime and sci-fi writer and Marisa Haetzman a consultant anaesthetist, who happen to be husband and wife! Here they have joined forces to write a novel full to the brim with action and excitement and incredible historical accuracy. Sometimes I find, that with two authors the writing can be fairly clunky and the different authors' work is very obvious which makes reading the novel difficult and jarring as the styles change. However, with this novel this was not an issue. The whole novel flows seamlessly. It is impossible to see the seams between what the two authors have written and where they link together.
The setting of the novel is well-crafted, the attention to detail is excellent. It's an atmospheric novel, and this well-created setting/atmosphere of 1840s Edinburgh is crucial in this. The authors perfectly manage the setting, it has depth and dimension and seems to come off the page and totally envelope the reader in the smoke of the city.
This is a very quick read. The plot is so fast-paced. The combination of historical novel and crime novel means the novel is difficult to put down! The plot twists and turns as suspects are met and dismissed, and the action takes the reader and the main characters on a rollercoaster of adventures and emotions as we all try to figure out "who-dunnit"!
I really loved the character in the novel too, Sarah was my particular favourite. I was so frustrated by the lack of options and opportunities available to her and other woman in similar situation in the past, and the way she felt during the novel was so understandable and made her very easy to relate to.
Overall I loved this novel. It's an excellent historical crime novel and the medical background makes it interesting and different from other historical crime novels set in the 1800s. If you like E.S Thomson or Laura Purcell you should check this novel out!!

The Way of All Flesh is a great historical fiction crime novel. Parry (a husband and wife writing duo) combine his years of writing mysteries and her expertise as a doctor to create a fascinating book starring Will Raven, a medical student turned amateur detective. Raven is joined by housemaid Sarah, and together they go about looking for clues of the death of Raven's friend, Evie, and soon others.

Parry does a great job detailing 1847 Edinburgh and at the medical procedures of that time. You get completely immersed in the descriptions they wrote. It is clearly a well-researched piece of fiction, one that I believe historical fiction and mystery lovers alike will enjoy.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Description
"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."

This is very atmospheric story telling, set in the dark Edinburgh underworld of poverty and prostitution. Throw in a young medical student with a past, a bright but uneducated housemaid and a murder or two and you have a thoroughly engaging tale with enough twists to keep the suspense going from start to finish. However, I did find some of the more descriptive medical practices a little gruesome and distracting hence 4 not 5 stars. I had not come across this author before and this is the first of a new series of related stories. I would recommend this book and look forward to future installments.

I really wanted to like this book! Atmospheric neo-Victorian medical mystery is exactly my aesthetic, but I ended up not even getting half way through it. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood, but this book didn't feel gritty enough. It felt a little too modern, particularly the character of Sarah.
My library did purchase it and I wouldn't steer a patron away from it, but I probably wouldn't recommend it myself.

I loved the historical accuracy of The Way of All Flesh. It's a slow burn, but worth the wait. It really pays off. It was a dark, atmospheric murder mystery that I'll definitely be recommending to fans of the genre.

This is a fun mystery! Well, not fun - a lot of women die, unfortunately. But this gritty tale takes as its main characters a young man studying to become a doctor in order to move past his inauspicious youth and a young woman who must encounter sexism at every turn in her role as housemaid slash budding doctor. When the two discover that young women across the city are dying painful deaths, they band together to expose the truth. The part of me that wishes I could time-travel to find out who Jack the Ripper was really appreciated this book. I wouldn't have minded it being a little more feminist, though!