The Way of All Flesh

Firstly, thankyou to Netgalley, Canongate Publishing and Ambrose Parry for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel.
In my opinion, the author has delivered a fantastic novel set in Edinburgh in 1847. The central characters of Raven and Sarah have a wonderful dynamic between them as they investigate the murders of young women in the area. The setting itself was so vivid, it made the book seem to come alive. The story is face-paced and keeps you intrigued from start to finish. If you enjoy murder mysteries/ historical novels, this book is well worth a read.
I can't wait to read more from this author.

The Way Of All Flesh is a terrific new novel by Ambrose Parry. It is not for the faint-hearted. Set in Edinburgh in 1847, there are some very descriptive passages of medical procedures I knew little about, but will not soon forget. Don't let that put you off.
Our two heroes are: Will Raven, apprentice doctor to charismatic Dr Simpson, and Sarah Fisher his inquisitive and highly intelligent housemaid. Will has a shady past, and has reinvented himself. Sarah is a woman out of time. She is scientifically inclined, but the time prevents her from fulfilling her ambitions. Both are reckless characters, and the more interesting for it
There is a dark mystery to solve, largely in dangerous parts of old Edinburgh. It is set at a time on the brink of scientific advances . Sarah is reading Jane Eyre by Currer Bell, just before the Bronte sisters came forward. Chloroform is invented, making anaesthesia much easier. Will assists Dr Simpson in emergency midwifery, and there are some desperate scenes of childbirth gone badly wrong.
The book sets the scene nicely for further blood-stained adventures of Will and Sarah. The quality of writing and the level of gory details elevate this book above the penny dreadful style it is paying homage to.

It is easy to get into that book. Only reading the first couple of lines and you are hooked. I enjoyed the characters and how they were were written. It was intriguing and the whole book a page turner. Well done Ambrose Parry! I really enjoyed reading this book and will recommend to friends.

This tale of murder takes place in mid 19th century Edinburgh, where the city is at the forefront of the world's advances in medicine - both medical practices and procedures and also drugs and anaesthetics. Many nights are spent with some of the city's top surgeons sitting round the dinner table in the post-prandial slumber sampling various substances looking to find the perfect anaesthetic.

Will Raven, a recently qualified doctor, starts a new job as apprentice to Edinburgh's pre-eminent midwifery expert, Dr James Young Simpson. But he has recently found the dead body of a female friend and starts to investigate the mysterious circumstances of her demise.

The book takes several strands: we have the true history of Edinburgh's medical revolution where doctors like Simpson vied to get the job done but also find better ways to do it for their patients, we have the murder mystery angle, we have the capable and frustrated women who are refused to even attempt to do jobs they are clearly able to do, and we have the class system in full evidence and while many go along with it, some people like Simpson try to get past this and make their households more inclusive for all.

The threads are all interwoven brilliantly and combine to give a story that is both thrilling and interesting.

Having read a lot of Chris Brookmyre, I had high expectations for his storytelling and these were more than met with a brilliantly paced and enjoyable page-turner. I believe writing with his wife has helped tone down the language a little and the tone of the dialogue is very different to his previous work.

My one gripe would be that the climax of the story was a little laboured, with every single event, decision and twist explained numerous times from different perspectives. Given I had spotted a number of hints quite early on and knew who the perpetrator was, and was happy to assume certain things had happened, I didn't feel the need to have this confirmed at length in great detail.

Otherwise an excellent book and the start of a new series that I will be avidly waiting for the next instalment of.

Having just enjoyed a vacation in Edinburgh, I was thrilled to come across this medical mystery set in 1840's Scotland, already set to become a televised series with the rights snapped up by Benedict Cumberbatch! There are several mysteries presented in The Way of All Flesh: a series of tortuously constricted corpses, main character Will Raven's shady origins, and how in the world women back then (like heroine Sarah Fisher) kept from going insane given their limited rights and resources.
Ambrose Parry's writing is first-rate, which makes sense since it's the pen name for best-selling author Christopher Brookmyre and his anesthesiologist wife Dr. Marisa Haetzman; ergo the cheekily recurring reference to Currer Bell's Jane Eyre. Colorful Scots language-derived bon mots like "sphincter-blossom" abound and titillate, and descriptions of Edinburgh with its closes, the Forth, the Scott Monument, and "public decorum and private sin, city of a thousand secret selves. Aye."

I received this ARC from NetGalley and will definitely look for more reads from Canongate in future.

This has to be one of the most gothic visits to Edinburgh town
I ever did make in my life. Ooh that sounds like the start of a rhyme doesn’t it? The cover opened and what a cover it is by the way! and immediately I was sucked into a world of vice, dark deeds and a ‘Fetid labyrinth’ that was Edinburgh in 1847.

Novels like this are thrilling if done right and boy was this done right. Evoking sights, sounds and smells of a time gone by, with a little bit of history thrown in such as the “Irish invasion from Glasgow”

I loved this from the first page. A fully immersive novel with a great plot and mysterious threads throughout. It’s extremely vivid read and I hear it’s the first of many. Bring them on! Missing Raven and co already.

I went into this book thinking I knew a good outline of the premise because of the awesome Publisher's Weekly article on it, and I was totally wrong, in good, bad, and simply unexpected ways. I won't elaborate too much, because spoilers, but I'd describe this as a medical historical fiction story that also becomes a slow-paced mystery eventually, which totally works for it.

A few things I'd note:

➝ Simpson's (and therefore Raven's) medical practice is obstetrics, which I didn't realize going in. If you're squeamish about things that might involve obstetrics, like [unhappy child delivery and births, reproductive rights, birth control methods and experimentation, a woman's lack of say in said areas, and anything else in that field (hide spoiler)], you'll probably want to take a hard pass on this one. Parry doesn't hold back with details on the medical procedures or how heartbreaking it all is. There was one scene in particular that upset me, and my shriveled heart is extremely non-squeamish when it comes to medical things (unless it's eyes, then screw it, I'm running). But I'd say the detail of gruesomeness is non-gratuitous—there's a reason behind it rather than shock value.

➝ One of the strongest elements of the book revolves around the medical and scientific scene in Edinburgh, 1847. It really delves into issues surrounding it at the time and how grotesque and wide that fallout can be, whether it's salary for the physicians, research methods, patient consent, or another tiny little things. This was super fascinating, especially from Raven's perspective as a new practitioner from one background and then Sarah's not-as-privileged background.

➝ My other favorite part was the setting and the historical details. I've been going through a ridiculous historical fiction phase lately, and the details in this were delightful. When it comes to historical fiction, I'm not necessarily draconian about anachronisms or details; I love that it takes me out of the modern world and into a different world, and how the different time and setting affects that story. But this was definitely a story that you couldn't really pick up and flop into a different time period or city without changing many major or minor details—that's how strong a role the setting played—and that's lovely.

➝ I loved Sarah right away, but Raven started on the unsympathetic side for me; some things I liked, and then at times I felt a douche vibe. However, he really improved as the book progressed. Simpson played less of a part then I anticipated, but the part he did play was interesting.

➝ Cons: Sometimes Raven could be grating as a narrator (that changes later, thankfully); if you're looking for a mystery-mystery, you'll probably get annoyed because it's a very slow build.

tl;dr: This was an interesting medical historical fiction with a mystery. The setting and details were everything, the medical reality in 1847 is horrifically engrossing, and the mystery is good, although it is definitely a slow build. But if you're at all sensitive to obstetrics issues and unhappy baby deliveries, I'd proceed either with extreme caution or pass it all together. I feel like there's some sequel potential; I'd probably read it if there was one.

Actual rating 4 ½
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book and it has carved out a spot on my Favorites Shelf. This book had a perfect blend of mystery, murder, intrigue, and just a touch of romance. In other terms it has everything I love in book. I can’t wait for the rest of the series to come out.

Characters:

My favorite character in this book was by far Sarah. Sarah was never content with her lot life and she was always to trying to better herself in someway and reach for the stars. Even though Sarah knew that there was not much she could do as woman it did not prevent her from learning new material and trying to expand her horizons. I especially love how she rallied against the idea that men were superior and that because she was a woman she couldn’t possibly be competent or think for herself in anyway. Sarah was also incredibly loyal to everyone who was close to her. For instance, she believed that something was amiss with Mina’s (the sister-in-law of the man she worked) suitor; so she searched for answers even though Mina could be rude and degrading towards Sarah. In all Sarah was a compassionate, loyal, and smart woman who was before her time.

I also loved Raven. Even though he could be very ignorant he always tried to better himself when he realized what he had done was wrong. I loved the fact that Raven felt complex emotions while he was dealing with such morbid and disturbing circumstances. His reactions were very realistic and created a very dynamic character that someone could connect with. Raven was also incredibly loyal towards those he cared for especially Sarah, Professor Simpson, and Evie. Raven’s inner dialogue lent a very revealing picture of what it must have been like for the surgeons and midwifes of the time and it shed light on the difficulties and struggles felt by medical men during a time when advancements were just beginning. Overall Raven was a great character who I felt I could connect with and understand.

I personally either loved or hated the secondary characters, but I think the ones that I hated I was supposed to hate. I loved Professor Simpson; his kindness was beautiful to see and showed that doctors and medical men were not in the business just for the money. I also felt that his reaction to the loss of life (a mother or a baby alike) was believable and completely understandable. I detested Dr. Duncan; he was a man who felt that having emotions for patients prevented you from being a great doctor. Not to mention that his constant search for glory was aggravating and I must admit it was slightly disturbing just how single mindedly he sought glory. In the beginning I liked Beattie but towards the end something about him became a little suspicious and at the end my fears were confirmed.

Overall the characters were expertly crafted. Every single one added a special element to the plot that pushed the story towards its ending. I absolutely can’t wait for the rest of the books to released and I eagerly await the opportunity to read them.

Plot:

Oh man, the plot of this story was amazing. Never before have I read such an expertly crafted mystery that contained the perfect amount of intrigue and romance. I must admit that the plot was a little slow to begin with but once it picked up speed it didn’t stop gathering momentum until the very end.

The mystery at the heart of the story was the most intriguing thing to me. The basis of the mystery was the deaths of several women who were believed to have been in desperate situations and sought out abortions. These abortions however were not of the typical verity; no, these botched abortions came in the form of a “potion” to rid the desperate woman of there burdens and the end result was a wretched and painful death. The entire time Raven and Sarah were searching for the culprit I was right there with them trying to put the clues together and let me tell you the culprit was very much a surprise to me. The ending of this novel was not what I thought it would be but it worked out perfectly and left me feeling satisfied yet craving more.

The romance of this novel was my kind of romance. The relationship between the two main characters was not instant love. It took time for each of them to realize what they were feeling. I think this romance was very believable and worked with the main plot of the story very well. I hope that I get to see Raven’s and Sarah’s relationship develop in the upcoming books of the series.

Overall the plot was amazing and raised the standard by which I shall judge all other mystery novels I read in the future.

Recommendations:

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an amazing historical fiction mystery. I must say that this novel covered some very mature issues such as the death of babies and mother in childbirth as well as some of the very graphic procedures used. It also involves prostitution and the poor conditions the women of the night lived in as well as the injustices they faced in life and in death. I believe that only mature audiences should read this novel. With all this being said I think that the people who enjoy these types of novels will absolutely love this book and its characters.

The story is about Edinburgh in the 19th century. It was at the time the leading centre for medical research and the advancement of medicine in the world. It concerns a young medical student who having completed his studies has become an apprentice to a professor of Obstetrics. In following his life the reader will learn quite a bit about the complications that can be met in child birth. However the story carries a tale of murder and intrigue and also of how the young penniless doctor is pursued by debtors and barely escapes with his life. He becomes involved with an intelligent housemaid with ambitions for better things and they both become dedicated to finding the person behind the death of friends where all is at risk in their endeavours to unmask the villain involved. An interesting story of the social norms of the times embedded with a rich tapestry of events.

I was so curious about this book, and I'm a sucker fora Victorian crime mystery.
The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry didn't let me down. You should read it!
The story is set in Edinburgh in 1847. We follow the two main characters Will Raven and Sarah Fisher, and they are investigating some weird deaths.
It's more interesting to me to read about ordinary people trying to resolve a crime. And I really enjoyed these two. The story was easy to follow, pulling you in. There are some grimy scenes just to warn.

Overall, a solid Victorian crime novel fitting October vibes.

Thanks a lot to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tantalizing • Eerie • Magnificent

"No decent story ought to begin with a dead prostitute, and for that, apologies, for it is not something upon which respectable persons would desire to dwell."
- Ambrose Parry

Think about that title! THE WAY OF ALL FLESH. What is the way of all flesh? Is there a commonality in the behavior of all flesh? Is it a reaction of all flesh? Is it the growth or decomposition of all flesh? Or is it merely the greed of those with flesh? As I was reading this novel, it made me think more and more how powerful of a title this really is.


Edinburgh 1847

"That was Edinburgh for you: public decorum and private sin, city of a thousand secret selves."
-Ambrose Parry

Will Raven, medical student, finds a prostitute friend dead in her place in a mangled, aggravated position telling of a gruesome death. As some say, she was just another “deid hoor”, however Raven keeps thinking there has to be more to this case.

Sarah Fisher, the house maid of Dr. Simpson, also helps out in the practice waiting room. The daily cases include consumption, ringworm, scabies, coughing, fevers etc. and the waiting area is always packed. Sarah is fascinated in medicine, but her place in society leave her but poor without opportunities. Luckily for her, she has access to medical journals and textbooks, so she studies on her own. Her interest lie in the idea of compounds of certain chemicals to aid in surgeries. The common practice at the current time is the use of ether.

Raven’s cases involve mostly the use of ether in childbirth. Often in those days, there weren’t many options when complications arose, and mother and or child were lost. The alleviation of all pain and suffering seemed a lofty ambition. One Raven isn’t sure if it is possible.

"In such circumstances, we can save the life of the mother by sacrificing that of her pregnancy. By opening the head of the infant by means of perforating instruments, we can remove the contents of the cranium and then break down the vault of the skull, bringing away the fragments until only the base of the cranium and the bones of the face remain to be extracted by means of the crochet."
–Ambrose Parry

(So cruel)

Reverend Grissom from a local church is campaigning against the use of ether in childbirth. He believes the Bible verse: “in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children” and is advocating against the practice of ether.

This novel explores themes of money, social status and ethical questions or beliefs, as well as the abuse of those in the advancements of medicine. Chloroform is the next great discovery in the aid of anesthetizing patients. An area that Raven is in the beginnings of exploration.

Many woman ‘afflicted’ with pregnancy resort to suicide or to the “relief of obstruction” (the unborn child), often with the risk of of death. There is word on the streets, that a midwife from Paris is selling pills to do just that without the aid of knitting needles. The added numbers of dead bodies of woman found around town and the body parts of infants rotting in canals, challenge Raven to do his own investigations.

Will Raven with the help of Sarah be able to sort through government corruptions and disguises? How about those brutes he still owes some money too? How close will he come to losing his career?

***

This novel has that gothic feel….foggy cobblestone streets, low lighted streetlamps, and ale and pleasure houses. Very atmospheric.

The thematic is interesting and gruesome at the same time. 19th century medicine made leaps and grave missteps in its development of anesthetics. These early practices were cutting edge at the time in a field mainly destined for male practitioners. A slice or division of the cultural and socioeconomic picture in the plot shows the role of woman at that time. Wrapped into a mystery, this historical fiction novel is a page turner with respect. It is just a snippet into the darker side of medicine and early practices in surgery and childbirth. I want to say that I am glad to not have lived through those crude beginnings, yet my knowledge interjects this thought. There are still new advancements with experiments being made today just at a much grander scale and level (of terrifying).

Fall is a great time to read book 1 of this series. It simply complements this atmospheric novel perfectly.

Enjoy.

The Way of All Flesh is a highly atmospheric and thoroughly engrossing mystery full of historical medical fact and details, which are, at times, rather gruesome. If you're a fan of C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr historical mystery series, The Way of All Flesh is not to be missed.

Will Raven is a young medical student who is beginning an apprenticeship with a renowned and celebrated gynaecologist, Dr. Simpson. Before starting at his new position, Raven discovers a young woman dead, and soon after more and more woman turn up deceased in a similar matter. What connects all of these women is the fact that they had sought out some means of terminating a pregnancy. Due to the class of many of these women, the police aren't exactly working that hard to find the culprit. For Raven, he can't quite let go of the death of his friend, Ellie, and starts making the connection between Ellie and the other women found. Assisting Raven is Sarah, a housemaid in Dr. Simpson's household, who is interested in medicine but redistricted by her gender.

While this historical details about medicine are fascinating, the characters of Raven and Sarah are what really drive the plot. Raven is a young man with many secrets, and Sarah accidentally stumbles upon some of them. Sarah was driven by a desire for more but felt keenly the restrictions of her sex, and its that drive that I found the most compelling. Both of these characters are flawed (especially Raven and his somewhat morally ambiguous choices), making the mystery all the more engaging because of these two interesting and developed characters. There is a hint of romance between these two, but it's not something that overwhelms the plot.

The Way of All Flesh is a fantastic introduction to a new series in historical Edinburgh. Fans of historical fiction and historical mysteries will find lots to love in this one. Looking forward to book 2!

The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry is a great crime novel, a definite must read.
The story is set in Edinburgh in 1847. We follow the two main characters Will Raven and Sarah Fisher as they investigate some weird deaths.

One of the thing I most enjoyed were the characters. It"s always more fun for me when ordinary people investigate crimes not cops. That makes me feel closer to a character, feels like they have more reason to find out what really happened.

The plot was easy to follow.. It was exciting and sometimes nauseating to read about how obstetricians helped children to born.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

Superb historical thriller! Parry knocks it out of the park with this exciting read!! Definitely looking for more books from this author.

An atmosphere, almost gothic read peppered with lots of facts to bring the dark and dingy time period to life. Clearly well-researched. I'll definitely pick up the next book the comes out, though I hope it is a bit shorter. I guessed some of the developments and felt it took a while to get to the ultimate conclusion.

An interesting story and historically fascinating. I enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Cannongate Books for a review copy of The Way of All Flesh, a historical crime novel set in Edinburgh, 1847.

Will Raven is eager to start his apprenticeship with famous obstetrician Dr Simpson but on the eve of it he discovers his friend Evie dead from convulsions. He suspects poison but has no way of investigating until he hears about a similar death from housemaid Sarah Fisher. Despite their mutual antipathy they start to investigate together.

I enjoyed The Way of All Flesh which is an engrossing read. I was attracted to it when I learned that Christopher Brookmyre was one of the authors and although very different from his usual offerings it didn't disappoint. Like many historical novels it is slow to start, apart from the discovery of Evie's body and Raven's troubles, with much of the first third of the novel being taken up with scene setting and character establishment. It is well done, seeming effortless and natural in the way all the relevant information is imparted. It has a very readable style and is obviously extremely well researched, especially in the detailed descriptions of the prevailing (and, to my mind, barbaric) medical procedures which may not appeal to the more squeamish. Once the plot gets going it fairly bowls along with a series of well paced reveals, some unexpected twists and a very clever ending which I loved.

The characters are as well drawn as the setting with Raven being the main protagonist. He is a strange mixture of arrogance and insecurity, the latter probably producing the former, with secrets to hide. It is easy to forget that he is young, poor and desperate to make his mark. Sarah is a woman ahead of her time who chafes at her position in life. Smart and inquisitive she is unable to make the most of her skills because she is poor and female. It is difficult to know if modern sensibilities have shaped her character or if women really did feel as she does at the time. Dr Simpson is the third main character. He is in stark contrast to his colleagues, having none of their pomposity, a genuine interest in helping his patients, a sense of humour and a zest for new discoveries. Again, is he too modern or were there people like that?

The Way of All Flesh is a good, interesting read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Set in 1800's Edinburgh, the story follows Raven, a doctor in training, who interns with the preeminent obstetrician of his time. Raven has come from nothing and now finds himself living in a wealthy home with servants and doctors alike. When he discovers his friend dead from apparent poison of some sort, he and his employer's maid link it to another mysterious death.

The book is extremely detailed; so much so that I at times I found it difficult to sledge through. The characters are interesting and flawed, like good characters should be. The plot was interesting enough to pull me through to the end, but dragged at some points. While the first half or more I found myself thinking "Will this book never end?" by the end I was was really enjoying it and wishing that there was more. If you like detailed, atmospheric, historical fiction, this book will sing to your soul.

I was attracted to this by the Chris Brookymre connection. It's very different from those novels (there's a lot less swearing, for a start), but it's still a good read. It's a very atmospheric book. The historical setting is well evoked, and it switches easily between the class divisions rampant in society at this time. The medical element of the story comes across as very authentic (not that surprising seeing as the other author, Marisa Haetzman, has a Masters in the history of medicine), and some of the descriptions of nineteenth century labour and associated problems are genuinely horrific. The actual crime element is maybe backgrounded a little too much and wrapped up a tad too easily, but it's a price I'm willing to pay for the atmosphere and characterisation. More volumes are promised and the central three characters could become a great series team.

Engaging from page 1, Ambrose Parry managed to deliver an atmospheric and exciting historical thriller.
The story is set in Edinburgh in 1847 and thus the medical procedures described in the book are quite gruesome at times so as to be as realistic as possible. This might not be for everyone and I definitely flinched a few times and found myself thankful that I wasn’t alive back then. But still, it was fascinating to read about the medical advances back then.
The crime and crime-solving part of the book definitely is where the story shines. In retrospect, I could have done with one or two fewer medical procedures and a bit more crime-solving but the case was truly exciting and I was kept on my toes until the end.
I found the two protagonists, ethically ambiguous medical student Will and widely read housemaid Sarah, to be very engaging. Sarah’s continued indignation that men are allowed to study things like medicine but women aren’t just because they don’t have ‘dangly bits between their legs’ was particularly fun to read about and so I was delighted to find out that there will be more books featuring these two characters. All in all, a very entertaining read.

"Science never solves a problem without creating ten more." (George Bernard Shaw)

It's the winter of 1847 in Edinburgh. Medical science seems to pounce upon new and innovative means of so-called advancements. Avant-garde, experiemental methods are in both the hands of the charlatans and in the hands of the highly skilled. Your social status, unfortunately, will determine whose hands will guide your fate.

Will Ravens, a young medical apprentice, quickly closes the door of Evie's room. Until this moment, Evie was a young woman who sold her wares for a determined price. Although engaging, at times, in Evie's trade, Will became friends with the young woman. When she appeared frightened over a debt, Will took on some unseemingly bad loans on the street in order to help her himself. Behind that closed door now lay a lifeless Evie on the floor with a liquor bottle next to her. Was it the drink or something else that opened death's door to the unfortunate Evie?

Ambrose Parry presents a well-researched glimpse into medical practices during the Victorian era. Over zealous physicians tended to experiment on the old and the young. A life of privilege would provide access to the latest developments. However, even societal mavens would suffer a painful end because of lack of precisement in dosage and a rush for doctors to engage in experimental practices in order to appear at the top of their professions. Heaven help the poor whose lives held little or no value.

Parry introduces the readers to Sarah Fisher, housemaid extraordinaire, who sidelines for her employer, the renowned Dr. James Simpson. Dr. Simpson allows Sarah to pursue her highly evolved interest in herbs and salves. She is adept at working with his patients within his at-home practice. It is here that Will becomes taken with Sarah as he pursues his apprenticeship under Dr. Simpson.

Soon other young women are found dead in Old Town. Several have disappeared without a trace. Will tells Sarah about Evie and they both combine their efforts into finding out what happened to these unfortunate women.

The Way of All Flesh is a smart, highly entertaining read with eye-opening views into medical practices of the time period. It is my hope that Ambrose Parry will give consideration to turning this into a forthcoming series. After all, nothing like an intelligent woman with the skills of a Madame Currie on the horizon.......

I received a copy of The Way of All Flesh through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Canongate Books and to Ambrose Parry for the opportunity.

I was looking forward to starting this book, and it certainly did not disappoint.

I loved that it was set in Edinburgh, which is one of my favourite cities, and even though the book is set in the 1840s, I could imagine the streets and the layout of the town. It is a city rich with history, particularly relating to the medical profession, and also a very gruesome history in a lot of aspects. I think the author did Edinburgh justice in the descriptions, and the story suited the setting well. I also thought that the language used helped to set the scene and reinforce the place in history,

Character wise I really liked Raven, his roll as a loveable rogue worked well, and he's just the sort of 'rough around the edges' character I like to read about. Sarah irritated me at first, but I soon became enamoured with her too. I think Parry did a good job of developing both the main characters and also the supporting cast, well enough that I had a good impression of who they all were and the personalities involved.

I enjoyed the storyline, and thought the plot moved along really well. Within the first few pages I was fully into the story and wanted to keep reading. I read the last 50% in pretty much one sitting, which says something about how engrossing the story is.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, and will be looking out for more in the series

What do you do when you really are too busy to read anything, but you have a book that intrigues you so much, you just have to read on? That was my situation with “The Way of all Flesh” and I begged, stole and scrimped snatches of time to delve into the tale of Wilberforce Raven. Coming from the rough end of Edinburgh in the early 19th century and newly apprenticed to Dr Simpson, a surgeon in fashionable New Town Raven is leaving behind a dead friend and a gaggle of ruthless debt collectors. The surgeon’s family with which he lodges has an interesting dynamic of upstairs and downstairs characters that bring about Raven’s near constant sense of awkwardness. Painstakingly (!) described scenes of operating theatres and Simpson’s surgery alternate with decriptions of Raven’s state of mind, his ambition, his relation to peers and his fears. When the maid of a nearby family is found dead, Raven is reminded of his dead friend. Is there a poisoner about town, were both deaths caused by the ubiquitous quackery of the time? Or are there sinister motives at play where a clergyman tries to cover his tracks? Together with the ambitious housemaid Sarah, he pursues the case. I admit I followed all the red herrings like a hungry cat. The last bit I read at four in the morning, peeking out from Raven’s pocket, willing him on, shouting a warning. And in the end I wanted to shake Sarah’s hand, wishing her the very best of luck for the future. And THAT’S a GOOD book!

•Amazingly Well Written Novel

•Set In Edinburgh In The Year 1847. Well Researched Historical Background For Sure.

•Very Well Developed Characters. Both Raven And Sarah Are Relatable In Some Sort Of Way, They're Full Of Intrigue, Mistery And Depth In My Opinion.

•Its A Great Ride And I Would Definitely Recommend.

I enjoyed this historical mystery set in 1840s Edinburgh.

The story revolves around Will Raven, an assistant to a prominent male midwife, who along with a brilliant housemaid, sets out to solve some gruesome deaths of pregnant lower class women.

My only complaint here is the length. At 400+ pages it was simply too long and could have been wrapped up much sooner.

Good character development, interesting anesthesia history from that time but be forewarned that there is quite a bit of medical gruesomeness owing to the lack of knowledge/technology at that time.

Apparently there are to be a few more in this series, and yes, I’d definitely read more. However I do hope the pacing issue will be resolved in future efforts. There was not a lot of mystery solving taking place until around 75% through.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Canongate for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

This had all the ingredients to mean that it would be an ideal read for me: historical fiction, crime thriller, set in Scotland, sounding a bit like Conan Doyle or Poe.

The principal characters Will Raven and Sarah are well-drawn and I found them utterly believable. The descriptions of Old Town Edinburgh are nightmarish and atmospheric. The authorial team (here known under the pseudonym "Ambrose Parry") live in Scotland and no doubt have their own experience to drawn upon for this. The second half of the book really picks up in pace and the way in which the mystery is wrapped up is very satisfying.

Having said the above, as much as I like the medical problem-solving in Sherlock or Dupin fashion, I found the medical descriptions in this book in some cases, totally overwhelming and shocking (particularly one labour that I will struggle to forget) and while I'm all for being as realistic as possible, some realities are too horrific. I went on to read that one of the authors has a medical background and no doubt that added to the realism and also to the grotesque descriptions of operations in that era.

If you can get past the birth gore, this is a good book and is the first in a longer series. For me it's a 3.5***

Many thanks to NetGalley, Canongate Books US and the authors for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ambrose Parry is the writing partnership of Chris Brookmyre (one of my very favourite authors) and his wife. He is an expert at writing thrillers, she has an expert knowledge of the history of medicine. Together they have produced this book, the first in a series about Will Raven (who is a doctor apprenticed to Edinburgh obstetrician Dr Simpson - an actual historical character) and Dr Simpson's housemaid Sarah. Set to a background of Edinburgh society and the invention of chloroform, the plot concerns a series of gruesome deaths of young girls, but this book is about so much more than that. The medical descriptions were fascinating, the characters really well drawn, and by the end I was reluctant to leave their company and their world. Although this is very different to Brookmyre's usual books, I loved it and I cannot wait to read the next in the series.

'The Way of All Flesh' written by husband and wife writing duo Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman under the pseudonym Ambrose Parry is a gloriously atmospheric and authentic 19th century historical crime novel. It really is superb! I read a lot of crime stories, but I don't come across a lot that are set in such wonderful surroundings as this. Victorian era Edinburgh is a dangerous place with all kinds of misadventure and misdemeanors taking place. The plot fizzes with kinetic energy, and the descriptions were so vivid that I could almost taste the haggis, neeps and tatties!

This is both crime fiction and historical fiction at its finest. The writing is compulsively readable, and you find yourself being drawn into the story from the first few pages. You truly know when you're turning those pages that you are reading something incredibly special. Produced by a rare and talented pair, this book deserves to be appreciated by a wide audience. I feel it will be particularly enjoyable to both those who are partial to a gruesome and gory crime novel, and those who love historical fiction - this book excels in both of those genres.

Many thanks to Canongate Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Will Raven has got a coveted position as a medical apprentice to the renowned Dr Simpson and begins assisting him in births and daily patients calling at the doctors house. Two women have died and their bodies were found in a contorted manner and there are rumours afoot that a french midwife has been offering abortions. Sarah the housemaid wishes to elevate her position to something more than a maid but its a male centric world, so opportunities are not open to her. Meanwhile Sarah takes a dislike to Will but eventually they are drawn together making an unlikely alliance investigating the deaths of two women they knew, working together to solve the crime before more women are found dead.

I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline set in the mid 1800s in Edinburgh. Its a cross between medical procedures that seem totally alien today, and frankly barbaric and a murder mystery. It also provides an insight into the lower classes and upper workings of the time. Will and Sarah worked well together and they story was told from both their points of view.

There seemed to be somethings that were revealed about characters that I felt should be left as a mystery and others that were left unanswered (though the characters had left for good) but should have been tied up that weren't.

If this set of characters were made into a series, I'd certainly read more of them in the future.

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

This book is a joint venture of Chris Brookmyre (established novelist) and his wife Marisa Haetzman, and I understand that it is intended to be the first in a series featuring central characters Will and Sarah.
The setting is Edinburgh in 1847, and the city is split into two very different halves. Will Raven has spent the last several years growing up and studying in the poverty stricken and seedy Old Town, and now takes up a medical apprenticeship in midwifery under the famous obstetrician Dr Simpson, moving to live under his roof in the respectable and affluent New Town just over the river. Here he meets housemaid Sarah who, despite it being a man's world, is secretly keen to study sciences and healing to better herself if possible. Will also has secrets he wants to keep, in his case rather murky ones from his past. Despite a disliking of each other at first, together they are drawn into investigating a series of suspicious deaths of young women in the town. There are plenty of likely suspects. And are some doctors so keen to make breakthroughs that they will do so at any cost?
I found the book to be rather a slow burner at first (there's a wealth of information and description of life on both sides of the city) until at least halfway through when the pace picked up a little and then even more so to an exciting finish. It is very descriptive, particularly of new scientific advances in medicine and also of rather gory scenes of surgery and childbirth gone wrong.
The scene and main characters having now been established, I am looking forward to further stories in this series. Well worth a read if you enjoy murder mystery with an historical flavour.

This book was brought further into life for me as I was up in Edinburgh last week on holiday so it seemed the perfect time to bring it forward to the top of my skyscraper of a TBR pile!! And also, today is publication day for this gem of a book 🥂

Having done some of the touristy things we went and saw the Edinburgh Dungeons and The Real Mary King’s Close tour to see the rooms, streets and spaces underneath the famous Royal Mile, and Edinburgh’s only preserved 17th century street, so even though that was 2 centuries further back in time to when this novel is set it still went a massive way to bringing the past even further into my cozy reading chair!!

Set in 1840’s Edinburgh, when Edinburgh led the world in the field of medicine, in both medical practices and procedures and also pioneering drugs and anaesthetics.

As well as being a historical medical thriller it also brings to life Dr Simpson who was a real, pioneering figure of the time. Wanting to find better drugs and anaesthetics for his patients we get some great scenes of the research done by these medical practitioners of old which included nights spent with some of the city’s top surgeons sitting round the dinner table sampling various substances looking to find the perfect anaesthetic!!

Dr Simpson makes his discovery of chloroform following some of these sampling sessions 😂

The plot is simply brilliant full of twists and turns, and some great characters, especially Sarah and Raven. They stole the show for me. Will Raven is a young medical student recently apprenticed to Dr Simpson and Sarah, a housemaid for Dr Simpson who has her own ambitions to work in medicine herself, despite their being little opportunity to do so for those born the ‘inferior sex’ as well as her social status.

When a couple of young women are found dead in similar suspicious circumstances, Sarah and Raven take it upon themselves to investigate the deaths as they both fear a more unscrupulous doctor operating illegally and naturally their investigations lead them into a whole host of trouble!

The medical reality in 1847 is horrifically compelling with some fairly narly procedures described throughout the book but they haven’t just been thrown in for a gross out factor, they serve a purpose and bring the story further to life.

Blending a historical tale with an intriguing mystery and even a little splash of romance this book really does have something for everyone.

If you are a fan of historical fiction or maybe interested in medical procedures and their histories you really don’t want to miss this book. I will go as far as to say that this is by far, hands down, the best historical fiction book you will read this year!!

And now for the cherry on top of the cake – It’s the first in a new series 😍 The only downside to that is the wait for the sequel to hit the shelves 😭

I’m already looking forward to it and can’t wait!!

And if you need an even bigger cherry on top to read this book, well apparently there are already rumours flying around that it is set to become a tv series starring Benedict Cumberbatch!! 🙀

The Way of All Flesh was published today 30th Aug 18 and you can grab a copy now

As a huge fan of historical fiction, the synopsis instantly captured my interest. Edinburgh 1847, medicine, money and murder = SOLD! Within the immediate opening scenes you are aware that the writing is without a doubt intelligent and skilled. The novel is packed full of interesting and insightful information regarding the history of medicine. This is a huge part of this novel and it is not a typical Victorian era, murdered prostitute thriller, it is very much more than that!

‘That was Edinburgh for you: public decorum and private sin, city of a thousand secret selves’

In the opening scenes protagonist Will Raven discovers the murdered corpse of prostitute Evie Lawson. He is horrified at the scene but flees fearing he will be blamed. Raven is a client of Evie’s and it is this that leads him to become obsessed with finding her killer!

‘It was not a night for solitude, or for sobriety’

Raven’s background is explored, and we learn that contrary to his public persona, he is not a man of financial means. In fact, he is wanted by Edinburgh’s most feared loan sharks. With the brutal warning find the money or lose an eye. All hope resides on his new apprenticeship with Dr Simpson.

Raven arrives at Dr Simpson’s and introduced to an array of characters. Jarvis the butler, David and Walter the elder children of the Simpson family and Miss Mina Grindlay, Dr Simpson’s demanding and selfish sister-in-law. But it is not any of these that catch his eye or irritate him. But it is Sarah the housemaid. Sarah is quite the force to be reckoned with, as Raven will come to discover himself.

Dr Simpson is a professor of midwifery and assists all patients rich and poor. At first Raven is completely taken aback by this approach but eventually with experience, comes to appreciate what Dr Simpson is hoping to achieve. Raven is shocked to when he is informed that Sarah assists with morning clinics and even more surprised by the depth of her knowledge. Needless to say the pair do not get off to a great start.

When Sarah learns that the Sheldrake family’s housemaid Rose has absconded and gone missing she is concerned. Mr Sheldrake was known to have quite the temper and Rose was known to be no angel herself. But something eats away at Sarah about the case and she becomes determined to gather some more information.

Evie’s body is finally discovered and quickly assumed to be a suicide via alcohol. Which Raven knows to be untrue given the gruesome scene and the signs upon the corpse. But in this era, women are second class citizens, let alone women of the night.

There are various scenes with patients which all assist Raven in his education and apprenticeship. As the readers they are often truly insightful case studies of what it was like to be a woman in the Victorian era. When you had little say/rights over your own reproductive system, in the medical sense.
Raven continues to have disagreements with Sarah and it is clear to see Raven believes a servant especially a female servant should know her place! At times I found Raven quite hypocritical given that he is staff himself. But Sarah can hold her own and makes it quite clear what she thinks of Raven in return!

“It is my duty to assess those waiting and to recommend the order of urgency by which they ought to be admitted” – Sarah

Sarah longs for a career in medicine, she is intelligent, driven and more than capable. However, the era has a long way to go. She attempts to apply for a position at the local druggist’s. When she is simply scolded for even thinking such an idea would work. . .
‘Our assistant must inspire confidence in our customers. For that, only a man will do’ – Mr Duncan

Raven, Sarah and Dr Simpson all have very credible and interesting backstory’s. They read like real people from history.
Raven and Sarah continue to investigate the two recent deaths and through a bizarre twist of events end up working together. This I absolutely loved, the characters slowly grow on you, but none more so, than when they eventually team up.

But who is the killer targeting women? Is it an illegal abortionist gone wrong? When Raven accompanies Dr Simpson to the local hospital, he witnesses first hand the dangers of women with no access to adequate medical healthcare.
‘Desperate people are often driven to do desperate things’ – Ziegler

As you read on, you begin to question the killer’s motives. Is this a form of medical experimentation? Are the women being punished? When Rose’s body Is found to be with child, it adds further weight to these theories. Raven begins to sympathise with the desperation the women must have felt. . .
‘Desperation is often the mother of misplaced faith’ – Raven

The novel has a clear feel for more literary/historical fiction than crime fiction. Despite the murders that take place. As the focus remains on the medicine within the era. You really get a sense of how dire the situation was for women in 1847.
The novel has such a literary feel and I had so many quotes I wanted to use. I shall leave you with my favourite. . .
‘The only difference between a medicine and a poison is the dosage’

Unique, incredibly well-researched and insightful historical fiction 4.5*

I found this book engrossing. It was nicely paced and the storyline was an intelligent murder mystery without the usual melodrama. As much as I love steampunk novels, it made a nice change to read something based in Victorian Britain that didn’t include clockwork men or dirigibles.
The slow build of the Will Raven’s was done well as was his transformation into an enlightened gent. The social history of the importance of and desire for female rights and education was welcomed as was delving into the history of anaesthesia and obstetrics. A great deal of work and research has gone into this novel and it shows in every page. I look forward to further collaborations of Raven and Fisher.

This is a story about medical student Will Raven and his apprenticeship as a midwife in Edinburgh. He has taken a place with the noted inventor of chloroform, Dr. Simpson. His home is a mixture of classes and students where he holds surgeries for poor and gentry alike and encourages his students and staff to read, learn and explore medical knowledge. Raven has become indebted to a money lender and, between ducking his minions and acting as staff with Dr. Simpson, he finds himself mixed up in a badly done medical abortion. With the house maid Sarah he tries to track down the killer, putting both himself and Sarah in danger. This was a longer book that moved quickly with a surprise ending. I recommend this book.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

What a wonderful historical thriller! There's a great plot, full of twists and turns, great characters and a well researched historical background.
The two main characters are realistic and well developed, and their relationship is interesting and engaging.
The book is atmospheric and enthralling and once you start reading you cannot put it down.
One of the best piece of historical fiction read this year.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Canongate Books and Netgalley for this book.

Parry has successfully managed to combine child birth, poverty, women's rights, use of anaesthetics and murder in 19th century Edinburgh. Although the main characters, Will and Sarah are fictional Dr Simpson is real. Some of the descriptions of difficult childbirths can be a bit graphic.
It is a very enjoyable book that defies catagorisation. Hopefully this is the first of a series.

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review**

Set in 1847 Edinburgh, THE WAY OF ALL FLESH is a frightfully riveting novel revolving around Raven and Sarah, two women on the hunt for answers to the mysterious murders taking place. Told in such a vivid manner, I love how the story jumps from the page and maintains a fast pace that never seemed to disappoint me.

LOVED it and would recommend.

— DISCLAIMER: I received a eARC of this novel via NetGalley – thank you to both Netgalley and Canongate Books! All opinions expressed in this review are my own. —

What I liked best about this historical crime novel is that the characters are actually human. The authors (Ambrose Parry is a pseudonym for the authorial team XX and XX) kept surprising me with their multi-faceted protagonists. Both Raven and Sarah, the two central characters, are utterly understandable and have reasonable flaws. The relationships between the different characters evolve organically, which makes for a wonderful read. Through Sarah, a smart, curious house maid, they also address the social implications of being a woman, and even foreshadow the suffragette movement later in the century. As they say, it needs women willing to fight for change to instigate changes happening.

Another really cool aspect was the detailed use of the state of the medical profession in Edinburgh at the time, going into practical midwifery, but also public surgeries, and even the beginning use of anaesthesia. This is a subject I didn’t know much about beforehand, and I found it fascinating to learn more about how medicine worked and developed in a period not that far from ‘modern science’, but often perceived to be almost as dark as the Middle Ages in popular conception.

I really enjoyed the novel, and could barely put it down at times, even if the culprit of the overarching mystery was rather obvious to me – though it made sense from the characters’ point of view that it took them so long to figure out the solution. The resolution at the end was well crafted, and gave the book a nice stand-alone end (although there are going to be further novels in the series).

The Way of All Flesh is a twisty mystery and a historical thriller set in Scotland in the mid-1850s. If you know anything of Scotland at that time, you will know that Edinburgh had become the seat of medical innovation. This story is set when the use of anesthetic concoctions were just beginning to be formulated, tested and used on patients. There are plenty of fascinating medical tidbits to satisfy those with an interest in the macabre history of medicine, and it was nice to read them embedded in a work of fiction.

The story also revolves around a young apprentice doctor and a housemaid determined to rise above her station. They both work with a lauded obstetrician who is at the forefront in using new techniques in the hopes of better survival rates for mothers and babies. Unfortunately, there is someone killing working women - housemaids and prostitutes - who find themselves in the "family way" and looking to remedy the situation. This, and the sketchy backgrounds of a couple of the physicians introduced in the book, make for an intense read.

This is an interesting, well-written book by two authors, Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, writing under a pseudonym. I will definitely be picking up any other books they collaborate on.

Thank you Netgalley and Canongate Books for the ARC.

A lot is happening in 1847's Edinburgh. Will Raven is set upon by thugs for not returning money borrowed from a loanshark. Then the girl he borrowed the money for is found dead. Meanwhile he's moving from the old to the new part of town to start as an apprentice for Dr. Simpson, obstetrician. In between seeing patients he also helps his collegues in finding a workable anesthetic.
The book gives a good account of the use of ether and its sometimes fatal results, while the discovery of chloroform also makes an entrance. The medical world is buzzing with excitement and fear for the unknown. And who would have thought peri-peri could do anything other than spice up a good meal?
Last but not least there's an abortionist poisoning the desperate. Oh, the mysteries, this book just won't stop!
Edinburgh is oozing muddy streets, dirty alleys, nasty operating theatres, fancy ladies and department stores.
Wonderful historical fiction, with an exit line that put a big smile on my face. Highly recommended reading!

The Way of the Flesh is a brilliant, atmospheric, historical, crime fiction novel that had me completely enthralled. The story is rich in history surrounding medical advancements and butchery during the period particularly those surrounding the development of anaesthesia. A full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer on October 1st.

Edinburgh 1847, a time when ruthless medical experiments were being carried out, quite often by the unscrupulous, those whose patients were of no consequence, who’s lives mattered little when set against the desire for fame and fortune.

Against this backdrop, Will Raven secures himself an apprenticeship with the much respected obstetrician Doctor Simpson.

The story begins with the suspicious death of Will’s prostitute friend Evie, but her death ( as we are about to find out) is only just the beginning!

Will is determined to discover who killed Evie and along with his sidekick, housemaid Sarah, he is dragged into Edinburgh’s very dark and seamy underbelly.

The author has brought 19th century Edinburgh very much to life, in particular, the medical experiments of this period. Descriptions of medical procedures won’t be for everyone, particularly those involving difficult births, these proved to be particularly gruesome, and remember, this was a time when these procedures were carried out without the use of anaesthetics! Although some doctors were experimenting with ether and chloroform, Scotland’s religious leaders were denouncing such methods as going against God.

I must say, I found our two main protagonists to be very engaging, and descriptions of Old Edinburgh with it’s cobbled streets and dark and dirty alleyways, along with some really fascinating facts , lent great atmosphere to the proceedings.


The writing flowed effortlessly, and this would have been a 5 star read for me, had the crime not taken something of a backseat in favour of the medical research at times. However, once the crime took centre stage again, the pace was relentless and I certainly found it to be an interesting and enjoyable read.

* Thank you to Netgalley and Canongate for an ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *

What a brilliant book, I absolutely loved it! Set in Edinburgh in the mid 1800s, it combines a murder mystery with an accurate historical account of medical research and practice of the time. Student doctor Will Raven joins forces with housemaid Sarah to investigate the suspicious deaths of several young women. The way Sarah's obvious intelligence was disregarded was true to the conventions of the time, and I loved the way she began to command the respect of the men she was considered subordinate to. You can feel yourself immersed the culture and atmosphere of 19th century Edinburgh, it was so authentically written and evocative of the period. Some gruesome medial scenes right enough but that is the way things were then! Also some extremely dodgy characters masquerading as respectable members of society. Excellent book, I would certainly recommend it.

I would like to thank Canonbooks US and Netgalley for issuing me with ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Way of All Flesh is one of the best historical novels I have read recently. Set in the mid 1840s in Edinborough, it focuses around mysterious murders committed in the city, but not only the mystery is the best part of this novel. All details regarding the period such as the descriptions of women's clothes, lively characters, witty dialogues and superbly created atmosphere of the Scottish city add massively to the attractiveness of the novel. And one other thing, the medical discoveries and research of those days are one of the strongest points of this novel. Hope to read more by the author(s) in the not so distant future!

The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry a pseudonym for the husband and wife authors Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman. Historical fiction that takes place in 1847 Victoria Edinburgh. The characters and settings are so realistic you feel as if you are there watching every event. Excellent characters especially Raven and Sarah the reader knows them well. Wonderful insight into medical practice, knowledge and latest medications. The authors show in detail how medicine can be used for good or evil. Plenty of thrills, suspense, mystery romance and secrets. I look forward to reading all the books in this series and other books by the authors. My thanks to the authors, publisher and netgalley for making this book available to me to read and review. Well done.

The way of the Flesh grabbed me from the book cover .... I know you should never judge a book by its cover but so glad I did ....

But I will say this book starts off slow but builds momentum, Its a fantastic book sent in Edinburgh in the 1847 and Ambrose Parry really sets the scene and you can really imagine what it was like living there during that time in history and having kids with not much medical help but with the invention of Cholorform to help patients during childbirth its makes for educational but interesting read.

The characters are really well written and you really feel for them and book has some really great moments between the two main characters Raven and Sarah. I would quite happily read another from Ambrose Parry and would recommended anyone who enjoys a historical thriller with midwifery aspects .... this is the book for you !!

"Mrs. Graseby sat by the fire, sipping her Darjeeling." #thewayofallflesh #ambroseparry #canongate #netgalley

I LOVED this book, by far the best one I've read all summer. So atmospheric with great characters and witty, sharp and intelligent writing. I saw the villain coming a mile away, and some plot points wrapped up a little too conveniently, but it didn't matter. Will Raven and Sarah Fisher are wonderfully drawn, and I look forward to reading more of their adventures, as the authors indicate this is the first in a series. Fascinating, and fun, with some good scares thrown in. "An eerie silence settled upon the room, broken only by the disconcerting sound of dripping. Then the baby began to cry."

P.S. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a terrific read, a historical novel set in Edinburgh, well researched and full of excitement. Will Raven, an aspiring young doctor, finds a friend of his dead. She is a prostitute, one he has known in the biblical sense in the past but now a friend who he has tried to help. When he finds that her death is not to be investigated he vows to find out what has been going on but in the meantime he has to avoid the thugs hired to beat him up by the moneylender he owes money to and to start an apprenticeship with the renowned Dr Simpson. He is joined in his endeavours by Sarah Fisher, Simpson's housemaid who is bright and resourceful and is ambitious in her own right. Together they track down the mysterious Madame Anjou who appears to be behind a number of unexplained deaths in the city. Ambrose Perry is a husband and wife team, Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman. Brookmyre is a renowned crime writer and Haetzman an anaesthetist who has studied the history of medicine in particular that of midwifery and anaesthesia. And what a gory history this is. This is to be the first in a series which follows Raven as he progresses in his career. I can't wait to read more. Thanks to Canongate and NetGalley for the ARC.

Ambrose Parry is the pen name of multi-award winning Scottish crime writer Chris Brookmyre and his wife Marisa Haetzman. It was Haetzman’s research into medical practice in Edinburgh in the 1850s that put the two down the track of collaborating on a novel set in the period.

Being a crime novel, The Way of All Flesh opens with a death – a prostitute named Evie, found by one of her regular clients, but also friend, Will Raven. Raven runs from the scene, straight into the arms of the debt collectors looking for repayment of the money he had borrowed to help Evie out. Raven is hoping that his new apprenticeship with famous “male midewife” (aka obstetrician) James Simpson, will help him earn the money that he needs. In Simpson’s house, which also serves as his clinic, is housemaid Sarah who has the capacity to be more and yearns for something better.

It takes some time for the murder mystery to come into focus. Some news about other deaths slowly builds in both Raven and Sarah a suspicion that something strange is afoot. They form a loose partnership as they tentatively investigate. Both characters are engaging and distinctive enough to avoid usual crime fiction stereotypes even when navigating some familiar plot beats.

Regular crime readers will pick this one pretty early on. But the draw of this book is not the plot. Rather it is the use of the crime genre to explore the development of medical techniques at the time. Parry charts the early use of ether to assist with pain in delivery and moves on to the discovery of use of chloroform. On the way, readers are treated to some fairly gruesome and explicit birthing techniques and surgery without anaesthetic.

Parry creates a great feel of the Edinburgh of the time, including the upper class New Town and shady Old Town. In particular the book explores the development of the medical profession as it transitioned from glorified butchery to something else. The bodice ripping (at times) plot, allows for a fun and interesting exploration of attitudes and beliefs of the time. And the afterward suggests that there is plenty more source material to build a long running series around.

I read an unproofed copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you. There was a lot to like about this book but it didn't hit the five star spot for me. Quite a lot of repetition which I think a good edit could have cleared up - and it might have by the time the book is published. It's a mix of genre, pretty undefinable, sci-fi meets family saga meets murder mystery and intrigue. It is well written and I enjoyed Kate Mascarenhas's style and use of language.

This first book in the series takes place in Edinburgh in 1847
where there is great leaps in scientific medicine. The first trials of chloroform changes people’s lives. It shows how women were restricted in their choices at this time and how darker medicine was been practiced. Into this story comes Sarah a housemaid who wishes to better herself and Will Raven who becomes apprentice to Professor Simpson in the field of midwifery. Women’s bodies are turning up having died in horrific pain. Will believes there is more to these deaths as his friend had been one of the first. Sarah and Will have a dark journey to finally come to the truth of the mystery.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The novel is set in Edinburgh in 1847, a dual city, with both the Old Town and the New Town, once the home to brilliant advances in medical science, but a city of great poverty with a truly unpleasant, violent side. In New Town the book focuses on the Home of Dr Simpson, His house is like no other, full of visiting luminaries and daring experiments in the new medical frontier of anaesthesia. Dr Simpson is a well-known gynaecologist and surgeon, who was instrumental in discovering the anaesthetic properties of a substance chloroform. chloroform was used to ease the discomforts of child birth and to assist with difficult births, which in were frequently fatal. Also living in his house were his assistants, Drs Mathew Duncan and George Keith, all real people.

While the principal characters, are all imaginary. Will Raven is given the post of apprentice to Dr Simpson, Raven is also given a room in the Simpson home and there he encounters Sarah, a maidservant who has a fascination for medical matters and secretly reads books on the subject, borrowed from Dr Simpson's library and assists in a basic capacity with clinics. As Sarah is of lowly birth and more importantly, female, is destined to never rise above this station in life. However, she is a strong willed young woman, Sarah has hopes of one day working in the medical profession an outrageous idea for a woman at that time in history. One especially good theme throughout the book is that of misogyny and class in the 19th century which helps you really grasp what little opportunity there was for those born of the ‘inferior sex’ or on the wrong side of town.

On the other side in the city’s Old Town several young women have been found dead, all having suffered similarly gruesome ends. Just before Raven joins the Simpson household, Evie - a prostitute who's become a friend of Raven - is found dead, her face and body hideously contorted and similar deaths in the poorest parts of Edinburgh have him believing these women may have been murdered. Raven begins to pick his way through the dark motives and powerful alliances that are concealing the truth.

As Dr Simpson treats patients from the richest to the poorest in Scotland's capital city, he and his colleagues carry out daring experiments. Meanwhile, Raven and Sarah have their own motive to look deeper into the city’s spate of suspicious deaths and find themselves forced into the darkest shadows of Edinburgh’s underworld, where they will have to overcome their differences if they are to make it out alive. The couple, initially disliking each other, gradually share a mutual respect

This is an atmospheric and intriguing murder mystery set in Edinburgh during the mid 19th century. Raven is the apprentice to the obstetrician Dr Simpson who is keen to elevate his status in life, learn all that he can from his mentor and solve the mystery of the prostitutes death. He is an intriguing character, and I really enjoyed the tension between him and the housemaid Sarah, who has similar aspirations in life.
There is so much woven into the pages of this book; a woman's place in society, the seedy underside of Edinburgh, how medical breakthroughs were discovered, but never at the expense of the tense murder mystery that Raven and Sarah are determined to solve.
It's a great start to a new series and I'm really looking forward to reading future books from this writing team.

My thanks go to the publishers and net galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Great historical debut for what promises to be an interesting husband/wife writing duo. Very atmospheric and captured the spirit and essence of the time/place very well indeed. Some dark moments alongside sparklingly good writing, and definitely one I'll be recommending.

Truly a history-lover's historical novel. "Parry" really reveled in the historical detail, especially medical detail, of Edinburgh in the 1840s and the life of Dr. James Young Simpson. The main character, Wil Raven, is deeply flawed but aware of his faults and seeking to amend them as he begins his medical career. Sarah Fisher is a remarkable character, a modern feminist and intellectual stuck in the wrong century. There are several plot points that are, well, less than believable, but those were easy to overlook, outshone by the quality of the characters and the writing about the medical issues that dominate their motivations. Dr. Simpson is greatly concerned with the suffering of patients and dedicated to finding anesthetics. And there is a lot of suffering. There are several grisly scenes, which made me flip the pages a little more quickly than perhaps I ought -- I was glad I wasn't listening to this one.

I admit that the book started out far to slow for me and the first few chapters did not raise high hopes. The characters have heavy Scottish accents in the first few and then the last few chapters, to hit us over the head with the setting, I suppose, but the accents are absent for much of the action, and the book is better for it. So there was what I felt an overuse of words like "wee" in the first few chapters. And I also noticed a strange doubling of a lot of descriptors -- rooms or persons described with two metaphors in the same sentence, double adjectives describing someone's tone. The style was bothering me as undisciplined, and then I looked up the book online and saw that it was written by a husband and wife team, which made me chuckle a bit, and I ceased to notice them deeper into the book. I can't quite say whether it stopped or I just stopped noticing.

So this one is a slow build. But it's a lovely read, with lots of early medical science, good folks and bad guys, a bit of romance and a bit of mystery. The mystery is not really the point of the novel (and I must say the guilty party seemed so from the beginning -- I would call him the Wickham character, identifying his type from the first book I read with such a man in my adolescence), so don't read it solely for that, but it adds some good direction to the story.

I got a copy to review from Net Galley.

The Way of All Flesh is a weird book, but I don't necessarily dislike weird. It's an unusual, deeply atmospheric story with a very nicely drawn out setting and engaging characters. The pace is quick and I was never bored as I raced towards the finish, eager to see how the story could end. I'll be happy to read more by this author in this future!

Excellent ripper like thriller but leavened with excellent historidal underpinnings and an examination of the history of medicine thrown in as well. This looks like it will be a series and I look forward to the next one. Highly recommended.

Great historical crime set in mid 19th century Edinburgh. The descriptions of childbirth during this time are enough to put anyone off getting pregnant but the atmosphere of medical advancement and experimentation makes for an interesting, exciting read. Loved the characters who are all complex and although I sort of guessed the twist, the story is well told, fast paced, humorous in parts, shocking in some and well worth a read. Sarah is a very strong female character, ahead of her time and I look forward to meeting her again in a further adventure. I guess that she and Will Raven will become a team and further medical adventures will ensue. Good stuff.

THE WAY OF ALL FLESH finds Will Raven, a medical student, and Sarah Fisher, a housemaid, as a reluctant team sleuthing out horrendous murders of young women in 1847 Edinburgh. An extremely scary and well-written read that will have you reaching for your blankie before the last page is turned. 5/5

I received a complimentary copy from Canongate Books US through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheWayOfAllFlesh #NetGalley

This is an entertaining – and often illuminating – novel set in 1840s Edinburgh from husband and wife team Christopher Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman, writing as Ambrose Parry.

Women are dying, and young Will Raven, newly apprenticed to the renowned Dr James Young Simpson, has his own reasons for trying to find the culprit. The story is well-paced and keeps the reader entertained, and the backdrop of Edinburgh in the 1840s – the juxtaposition between the squalor of the Old Town and the genteel façade of the New Town – is the setting for an array of characters from all walks of life. Raven is aided in his quest by Sarah Fisher, a maid in the Simpson household but who has ambitions to use her intelligence and determination to improve her position in a male-dominated society and profession.

Planned as the first in a series of adventures, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The setting is an excellent way for the author to explore wider issues of the advancement of medicine, the position of women in society, and the contrasting social worlds of rich and poor. The two main characters have their own flaws, and as the book develops their respective stories reveal aspects of their own personal reasons for wanting to solve the series of murders. There is much to commend this book; if you are looking for a fast-paced, intelligently written crime novel with an historical setting then you should find this an enjoyable read. Throw in the Edinburgh setting, some breathless chasing around the city, a few ne’er-do-well lowlife thugs, and the development of medical practices with some suitably grisly descriptions, and you have a very satisfying read. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series!!

Will Raven gets the opportunity of a lifetime, just after receiving a devastating blow. Even as he moves into his new position and future, his past is chasing him and he chases answers. This book brings history to life without sugarcoating it!

I love a good historical mystery! And this was a <i>great</i> historical mystery. I loved Sarah – her ambition and gumption! If you were a fan of Mercy Street and lamented its cancellation – this is its Scottish cousin! Plus some mystery! It was really good historical fiction, with lots of facts mixed in and plenty of atmosphere-setting, but it didn’t drag. It was rich in detail and took you back to Edinburgh in 1847, but you weren’t meandering in the streets – you were racing down them!

<u>The Way of All Flesh</u> felt like an amazingly realistic trip into the past, showing the gritty underbelly of society’s view of women of all stations, poverty, the primitive quality of medicine… But it was full of the hope of development and change! I truly loved it.

<i>You</i> need this book if you are a fan of historical fiction, mystery, women’s fiction… It reminded me a bit of Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood as it was historical fiction that dealt with a lot of facts and sometimes the uglier side of history.

Entertainment Value: 5
Characters: 4.5-5
Voice: 5
Plot: 5
Overall: 5 stars

<i>Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!</i>
See my reviews @ mamaneedsabook.blogspot.com

This was a very solid book. It has more substance than a cozy mystery, but still quick and compelling read. The writing was somewhat flowery, as you might expect from a book writing during this time period. I didn't find it detrimental, but some might. I liked how Will and Sarah played off one another. The two make a good team. Overall I think many will enjoy. I'm looking forward for more in the series.

An intriguing story of a young man, Will Raven, trying to forge a medical career in 19th century Edinburgh, an apprentice to an obstetrician whose housemaid Sarah could be a rival to Raven's position were it not for her unfortunate gender and low social status. Together they seek to find out what happened to the many who died in strangely similar circumstances, in a fresh and gritty, vivid historical crime novel.

Picture if you can: Edinburgh, 1847. City of Medicine, Money, Murder. Here, we find young Will Raven, apprentice of Dr. James Y. Simpson, and Sarah Fisher, a lady absolutely brimming with medical knowledge aka. a maid in the Simpson-house. Together, they will be annoying as all heck, solve mysteries, and probably fall in love. Because that is, apparently, something that has to happen. I digress.

In the midst of all this, women are dying horrible deaths and it is up to Will and Sarah to figure out the what, who and why. That's it, that's the plot. Oh, and anaesthesia.

I was a bit on the edge about this one until about halfway through, solely because I didn't like Will and Sarah. Both of them were obtuse, the bad kind of stubborn and just generally being prickly cacti whose antics I didn't care for. They did, however, grow into decent human beings along the way - and, really, none of this mattered in the end because I was sucked in by the mystery of these strange deaths and the wide cast of characters acting all mysterious and murderous.

The Way of All Flesh is gritty, bitter and realistic while maintaining that air of "this is something that could have happened but it hopefully didn't"-vibe that I love about historical mysteries. Yes, the main characters took some getting used to for me, but the general setting and vibe of this is just.. yes. Also, that cover.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the time period and the mystery kept me turning pages until the end. I loved the history of the anesthesia development. I look forward to reading more from these authors.

Fantastically atmospheric and fabulously detailed, this book is the perfect historical mystery. Obviously the story reminds of Jack the Ripper but is also very original the way it's been plotted and told. The atmosphere is superb, as if you're walking amongst people in Edinburgh, Old Town in 19th century. The medical subject in the books felt overshadowing the true crime elements in the book, hence I am dropping the 5 stars to a 4. Highly recommended for historical crime fans.

What an absolute delightful book, this story revolving around a poor young man who suprisingly aspires to become a gynecologist, in a day and time that there were not even female physicians. Although the mystery in this book is important, I enjoyed especially what I learned about the discovery and usage of 'modern' anesthesia.

A dark and atmospheric thriller set in Victorian era Edinburgh, this richly detailed and layered work of historical fiction made for a gripping read. Dr Raven, a young medical man recently employed by one of the cities foremost doctors comes from humble beginnings. When one of his friends, a prostitute, dies in what looks like agony given the contorted state of the body, he is drawn into trying to solve the mystery of her death, and not just because he is on the hook to an unsavoury loan shark because of her, Meanwhile his mentor's maidservant Sarah knows that he is keeping secrets, and when they begin to open up to each other, he learns that his friend is just one of a number of young women to die in strangely similar and unpleasant circumstances.
Attention to detail and historical accuracy are the hallmarks of this book, and it seems like this could be the first in an ongoing series, which would please me greatly. The characters of Raven and Sarah work well together, and their chemistry leaps from the page. There is a real attempt to accurately convey the medical practices of the era, never shying away from the barbarity and brutality that masqueraded as surgery in that era, when anaesthesia was in its infancy. While Dr Raven is more than just the medical detective, and we learn more about his difficult childhood in the book, for me Sarah is the real highlight, Her independence, determination and questioning spirit make her a character you want to root for.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

A superbly written historical crime novel set in Edinburgh in 1847. The main characters live at the house of Dr James Young Simpson (who was famous in the fields of obstetrics and anaesthetics). Will Raven is Dr Simpson’s new apprentice and Sarah Fisher is his housemaid and unofficial surgery receptionist. They come together to try to work out what has happened to many women in Edinburgh, why it happened and who is involved.
This is a wonderful book, so well written, and the coupling of this husband and wife team of a novelist and anaesthetist make the perfect combination for this genre.
I was delighted to discover at the end of the book it is the first of series and I cannot wait to read the next one!
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy this book! A great story! Interesting characters. I look forward to more of their adventures and hopefully see more of a romance develop. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

Edinburgh 1847 I have never read anything by this author, but when I read the blurb I was very intrigued. I have always been fascinated by Jack the Ripper and I wondered if this would follow along those lines. Well it was much more, bringing the new blossoming scientific and medical experiments to light which was often gruesome and with no care to the person.
Medical student Will Raven starts his apprenticeship with obstetrician Dr. Simpson. But Will is soon faced with the death of his friend Evie, a prostitute. He takes Sarah, his housemaid along to search in Edinburgh's dark underworld to try to find the killer.
This author brought the characters and the surroundings to life and at times it was almost too much. Some of the medical procedures passages were tough to read, but it brought the suspense and mystery of the story together.
As more bodies and missing women start turning up, they become frantic in trying to find the murderer. Do yourself a favor. When you pick this book up, be sure you have the time to finish it because even after I closed the last page, I know this is one I will remember. Cannot wait to read the next story by fabulous duo

I knew going in to this that Ambrose Parry is a collaboration between Christopher Brookmyre, who is arguably my favourite Scottish author (neck & neck with Val McD) and his wife, Marisa Harzman, who I knew was an anaesthetist. Had I gone in blind, I would never have guessed the former, but I would definitely picked the author to be a doctor who knows Edinburgh well. This takes my favourite genres - crime, historical, and medical, with a strong female heroine - what's not to love - but without a good story, what's the point - so the collaboration is just brilliant.

1847, and young medical student Will Raven is beginning his apprenticeship with the illustrious obstetrician, James Young Simpson, who is pioneering the use of ether as an anaesthetic to help with difficult deliveries. A true historical character, Simpson treated rich and poor - not necessarily alike, but all with respect and compassion. Sarah Fisher, his housemaid, who is super bright and fascinated by medical matters, helps out in the clinic and chafes under the limitations of her gender and social status, but longs to learn more. Initially suspicious of Will, who arrives at the house scarred and battered after an altercation with a moneylender's henchmen, she discovers a shared interest in the recent suspicious deaths of poor young women, and together they undercover Edinburgh's dark secrets.

Some of my all time favourite books have featured women learning medicine way before their time (eg Clan of the Cave Bear, Outlander) and I do hope that Sarah, a character I liked immediately, will get to pursue her dreams in future books. By the time I started at Edinburgh Medical School, 141 years later, our class was 50% women, and I believe that nowadays it's more like 70%. Ironically, and some would argue consequently, medicine has neither the status nor the high income of the 19th century, but at least many of the attitudes and ideologies of the book are long gone. (As an aside, I do find it ironic that nowadays women feel compelled to shun pain relief in labour not for religious reasons, as here, but because other women shame them into insisting on a 'Natural birth'.)

Will took longer to win me over as a character, but his impulsive arrogance and short temper made him far more interesting than your average hero, and his introduction into practices of the day was a great way to read about the innovations that truly changed medicine. I love that they included the true anecdote of Simpson, Keith & Duncan knocking themselves out with their first experiment with chloroform. Some scenes may make gruesome reading to those without a medical background. The harsh realities of the lives of the poor are also brutally described.

This is a wonderfully written atmospheric historical mystery and leaps into my top 5 books of the year, and I can't wait for the next one. I think it was published over a month ago in the UK, but my NetGalley gives today as the publication date, so am pleased to have my review in just in time! Very many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a voluntary honest review.

This was an extraordinary book that I deeply enjoyed, the mystery was what kept me reading while the background in medicine it's the true jewel of the book. The book starts with a dead prostitute and with the statement: “No decent story ought to begin with the death of a prostitute”, nonetheless the book proves itself wrong, there is much more than a decent story in its pages.

The book walked us through the use of ether as an anesthetic and the posterior find of chloroform as a better option. How religious groups opposed to the use of anesthetics while giving birth for being anti natural, pain was desirable. Abortions with terrible consequences and we follow the lives of these doctors that trained as men midwives. I was shock to learn how in some cases, the baby's head had to be broken during birth to permit extraction in order to save the mother.

The main characters Will and Sarah are fantastic. Will has a dark past but he wants to better himself to find redemption, while Sarah is a housemaid with bigger ambitions. She tells to Dr Simpson that she does not want to be the best-read housemaid of the City and I loved her for that, and Simpson for replying, “It may not always be thus,’ he said softly. ‘And if things are ever to be different, it will take women like you to change them.” The whole Simpson’s household is full of wonderful characters that I’m sure will have their share of protagonism in the books to come.

This book was written under the pseudonymous Ambrose Parry by husband-wife Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman and honors Edinburgh as a leading city in the field of medicine.

Many Thanks Canongate Books, Ambrose Parry and Netgalley for the opportunity.

Historical mysteries have always fascinated me and to find one focusing on the medical world of the 19th century was something I couldn’t miss.

The story revolves around Will Raven, a young medical student, who becomes apprenticed to a renowned obstetrician, and Sarah Fisher, Dr Simpson’s housemaid, a young intelligent woman who would love to study medicine but due to her gender and class cannot. Although taking a dislike to each other, Will and Sarah end up working together when they find out that women have been found dead under suspicious circumstances.

This was a pretty engrossing read, one that focused more on the medical angle, with some pretty gruesome scenes of childbirths and operations, as well as the growing field of anaesthetics. The difficulties the ‘doctors’ had to face, not just physical / medical, but also social ones, were telling. The investigation ends up taking a step back but I didn’t mind, far too absorbed in the story.


I received a copy of The Way of All Flesh through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Canongate Books and to Ambrose Parry for the opportunity.