Many thanks to both NetGalley and to Canongate Books for letting me see an advance reader's copy of The Art of Dying.

Ambrose Parry is a collaborative husband-and-wife partnership. One is an established mystery writer, the other is a consultant anaesthetist.

I really enjoy these historical medical mysteries, to the extent that I have even started to read the books written by the husband half of the team.

The Art of Dying sees the return of Will Raven and Sarah Fisher in 1840s Edinburgh. Their beloved employer and mentor has been accused of causing the death of one of his patients, and Raven and Sarah want to clear his name. 

The story follows their adventures and investigations through the seedier side of Victorian Edinburgh and has several sub-plots running throughout. Parry brings the milieu wonderfully to life with some engaging characters.

I love these romps. Only a couple of niggles with this one.

The first niggle is the inordinate amount of time that Raven takes to carry out an urgent procedure. He thinks back to a book that he read and remembers quotes from it inside his head whilst his patient, meanwhile, is likely dying on his operating table.

The second niggle is that I felt some of the loose ends were not tied up before the end. I can't say which ones because those would be spoilers. But they were both quite important storylines.

Apart from it falling a little flat at the end because of these loose endds, I'm still looking forward to the next one. These are good reads for anyone who likes to mix their genres. Four stars.

The Art of Dying is the follow up to The Way of All Flesh so it may be worthwhile reading its predecessor before picking up this one, although the storyline itself is a standalone one. And it is once again set in Victorian Edinburgh, a city that has a history of being at the forefront of medical research and invention.

Dr James Simpsons name is synonymous with the use of medical chloroform and it’s widely known that many who thought that they should have some credit weren’t particularly happy he was getting lots of attention. So when a number of patients across the city start dying, he is the one that others seek to blame. His protégé Will Raven and former housemaid Sarah are determined to clear his name and find the real culprit but there could be an unthinkable reason behind the deaths and that is that a serial killer is hiding behind a respectable facade ready to strike again…

I loved being back in the company of Will and Sarah again. Lots has happened since we last met them-none of which I want to spoil for you! But they are united in their determination to clear Dr James Simpsons name even if it means facing a rather shocking conclusion about who is to blame for a series of unexpected deaths. I like Sarah and her involvement in the medical profession when women were still seen as second class citizen’s no matter how intelligent they were.

The author has clearly well researched this era and paints an iconic picture of Edinburgh in the late 19th century; social standing, money, social engagements, nice clothes and servants. On the flip side of that we see brothels, disease, opium dens, prostitutes and poverty, and on occasion these two sides overlap each other. Their exquisite writing brings the Victorian era alive from the pages, and I could clearly imagine the horrific sights and smells from the underbelly of Edinburgh.

The characterisation is perfection, each individual multi-dimensional and varied. A lot of characters are not as they first seem, and I changed my opinions on them multiple times as another layer of their personality was peeled back to reveal something even more surprising.
The medical details throughout this book have been well researched and often graphic but they show a true representation of the dark and disturbing side of the profession during the Victorian era. The scenes describing gynaecological procedures especially were macabre and terrifying in their intensity as were the vile acts performed by the murderer. Not a pleasant experience at times but one that was spine tingling in its authenticity.

I throughly enjoyed the first book in the series, The Way of The Flesh, so I was keen to read this next book – The Art of Dying. We find Will Raven, now a fully qualified doctor in Berlin, but he soon heads back to Edinburgh and the setting for The Way of All Flesh and a return also of some heartwarming characters. Sarah – no longer a Fisher – now married and Mrs Banks, wife of Dr Archie Banks. She’s moved up in class, by marrying a doctor, and is no longer just the maid. She’s now Dr Simpson’s assistant in his surgery, helping with his patients and preparing medicines and has become very adapt at using chloroform under Dr Simpson’s instruction.

Will, as before is trying to avoid several undesirables, who seem to think he’s the Dr for the job now. Will is also trying to avoid thinking about his ‘colleague’ Mrs Banks too much.

Sarah is finding it hard to concentrate too, but for other reasons to do with her new home life and its outcome. And during this, they are also trying to dismiss any question about Dr Simpsons qualifications and any nonsense surrounding his abilities as a doctor, that are under local debate, it would seem, from Will’s predecessor and whilst trying to dispel any myth about his work, Sarah and Will uncover another medical mystery, which sees them working together again and brings their friendship back round from the awkward silences that seemed to surround them.

Its the mystery that sparks a series of visits around the ‘old town’ of Edinburgh and its that brings about some old unsavoury characters from Will’s past that bring about a change in him that he hadn’t seen coming.

Sarah and Will play off each other perfectly, working in Dr Simpsons practice treating patients and their medical issues with ease. I love historical crime fiction and medical crime historical fiction even more. And this does not disappoint. For fans of Stacey Halls as well as Nicci French as the squalidness of old Edinburgh seeps from the very pages. They take chances and Sarah even more so, due to her status and of course being female, she’s truly up against the odds.

I ask only one thing, more please. And I am hoping by the mentions of an Italian gang, that book 3 continues Will and Sarah’s next adventures.

So interesting to read through a time when medicine was not as advanced today and how research opens an investigation that was truly gripping.
Enjoyed from beginning to end. Looking forward to more in this series.

The Art of Dying is the sequel to The Way Of All Flesh, it can be read as a stand-alone too, but I feel you miss out on the background to Will and Sarah.

Again set in Victorian Edinburgh, Will has returned from Europe, after gaining medical experience, and he is now a qualified medic. He becomes an assistant to Dr Simpson and Sarah, now married to another doctor, still has dreams of becoming a doctor herself, something unheard of at that time.

When people begin dying of an unknown illness, Sarah is the first to believe something darker is causing these deaths. She convinces Will and together they delve deeper and begin to hunt for a killer.

The Art Of Dying is historical crime fiction at its very best, superbly written and full of wonderfully atmospheric descriptions you really get a sense of time and place. It has a dark, twisty plot and well rounded, likeable characters that all add up to a thoroughly compelling read. Just brilliant.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of The Art Of Dying.

I’m now on a mission to read any other books by this author. A beautifully atmospheric tale set in Victorian Edinburgh. I love the depiction of the city.

Will Raven (doctor) and Sarah Fisher (maid) are together again in Victorian Scotland. I enjoyed the previous book 'The Way of the Flesh' and this one continues the story and doesn't disappoint. Medical procedures or lack of, are well researched. Good historical fiction and a good read. One I recommend.

After loving Will Raven's first outing in The Way of All Flesh, I knew that I wanted to request this sequel as soon as it became available. Medical mysteries have quickly become one of my favorite things to read, and this series is heading up the pack as some of the best out there.

In The Art of Dying, Will returns to Edinburgh to work under his mentor, Professor of Midwifery Professor James Young Simpson. In this superb sequel, Simpson is not only Will's mentor but also the accused, and based on a real-life figure to boot. What a plot!

The Art of Dying has everything that I look for in a great book: engaging and fully-formed characters; and evocative backdrop; it was well written and expertly plotted, and was full of substance without feeling like a weighty tome,

A series that I will continue with for as long as the books are published, which is not something I say often.

And what became of Sarah? Well, you'll just have to read it to find out, won't you!

The Art of Dying is the second outing for Will Raven and Sarah Fisher by the husband and wife writing team that make Ambrose Parry. Having moved forward by a couple of years things have certainly changed for both of them. I loved The Way of All Flesh as it really played to my love of history, so I was excited about the next instalment in this series as I couldn’t wait to find out what life would throw at these two people. I am just such a slow reader it has taken me until now to find the time to give the book the attention it deserved. It was worth the wait as it definitely matched the first book and kept me hooked until the end.
Will is now a qualified doctor and has been moving around gaining further experience of medical procedures. On his return to Edinburgh to take up a position back with Dr Simpson, this time as his assistant rather than his apprentice, he discovers that Sarah is now married. This information throws him, but when he discovers that she is actually married to a Doctor herself, he begins to realise what he has lost and how much of a coward he had been.
The relationship between Will and Sarah does still provide some of the tension and drama in this book but the main focus is on discovering who is responsible for multiple deaths of Edinburgh citizens. What initially starts out as a discreet investigation to clear Dr Simpsons name after the death of the wife of a fellow doctor, turns into something far more disturbing. Once again Will finds himself dragged into the association of some of the more undesirable elements of the city, that could put both his life and career in danger, but nothing will stop him from discovering the truth.
God I love this series. The historical element draws me in as actual events are merged with fiction to make the story believable and intriguing. I am really enjoying discovering more about medical practices of the time, expanding on the bits that I learnt about at school when we did medicine through time. If you are a history nut like me then they really will be right up your street. But even if you are not necessarily into historical fiction, I really think you should give these books a try as the characters and the stories are really engaging. The interaction between Will and Sarah can at times bring a smile as you witness the countless push against society constraints of the time and the genuine affection they have for each other. Now that I have finally read the book I am a little bit lost but also eagerly awaiting the next outing for these two fabulous characters

Having read back on my previous 4 star review for Ambrose Parry’s first book in this series ‘The Way of all Flesh’, I realise I could pretty much copy and paste the same review for this one!

Just like the previous book I enjoyed that the plot is so well-researched and many of the characters and events portrayed are based on real history. This gives a gritty, realistic atmosphere to the whole book and makes it easy to get lost in the world created for you by the very capable hands of Ambrose Parry. There’s also a very strong medical knowledge in place throughout the book which is due to Dr Marisa Haetzman’s background as a consultant anaesthetist. This is great for realism but did make for a bit of ‘dry’ reading at times with sections I didn’t quite understand.

I liked the fact we got more of an insight into our main characters Raven and Sarah in this follow-up. Sarah in particular is a well-rounded, headstrong woman who is battling with the obstructions of society on her gender as she tries to pursue a career in medicine. I felt this was a lot less ‘preachy’ and annoying than it felt in the first book though; there were more subtleties and nuances to it rather than hitting the reader over the head with the point. Raven is also struggling to work out who he is as a person and his relationship towards Sarah after the events of the last book. I did feel that Sarah’s storyline and character progression since the first book got wrapped up a little too easily into a neat bow to lead onto book 3 but I did really enjoy the final few chapters which threw in a real curve ball.

I also really enjoyed the main crime plot and villain of the piece. Mary’s character is well developed with her flashbacks and monologues of her feelings which are interspersed throughout the book. The whole plot line was really well paced and there were some nice twists which got me hooked into reading more.

Overall, The Art of Dying is another well-researched thriller which is a great follow-on from the first novel. Thank you to NetGalley & Canongate for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ambrose Perry takes us to Victorian Era Edinburgh in this novel. Apparently this is a sequel, but I had no problem reading it as a stand-alone. This is a wonderful medical whodunit with strong male and female main characters. The historical aspects make it so much more than just a mystery, adding another layer to this multi-faceted novel. The characters and the setting are so well-developed and the story is very well executed. Very satisfying.

I really enjoyed Ambrose Parry’s first book, The Way of All Flesh, and was keen to catch up with the protagonists in this sequel.

Will Raven is now qualified as a doctor and following some further training (and a shocking incident) in Europe he returns to Edinburgh to begin a post as assistant to his mentor, the respected Professor of Midwifery Professor James Young Simpson. Raven is slightly apprehensive about returning to the place where he completed his training, predominantly due to the way his relationship with Simpson’s housemaid turned nursing assistant Sarah Fisher ended. Raven is shocked to find out that Sarah is now a married woman and initially their interactions are hostile and strained, but as they both become involved in an investigation into an increasing number of mysterious sudden deaths, including one which the sainted Professor Simpson is accused of causing, their former closeness and respect for one another returns.

This is a series where you really do need to have read the first book to understand and appreciate the relationships and events which are described in the sequel. With both Simpson and the main villain in this story being based on real figures from 19th century Edinburgh, I really enjoy the blend of historical fact and fiction in these medical crime thrillers. Both Raven and Sarah are developing into very believable and engaging characters and the dark and foggy streets of Victorian Edinburgh provide a suitably atmospheric backdrop.

As a writer of Victorian/medical/crime books set in Victorian Edinburgh (Dr Pritchard the Poisoning Adulterer), I enjoyed this book. I wish I had read the first book, but nevertheless a well-written narrative with some great detail,

A very enjoyable read. Soon after starting I realised that there was a substantial backstory, so I bought The Way of All Flesh - the second time recently that a free ARC has led me to spend money with the publisher :) - so I was up to speed with Will and Sarah's history.
Some very interesting detail of life of the period, especially the state of medicine and the real-life practioners. A bit melodramatic at times, but pleasing nevertheless. I look forward to more in this series.

The second installment of this medical/mystery series. When we return to Edinburgh we find Will Raven left Sarah Fisher behind while he went to Europe. Sarah is still with the Simpsons but is no longer "just" a housemaid. She works in Simpsons surgery now but her gender still holds her back. Will returns to find much more than he could have imagined has changed and that a mystery illness blights the city, killing many. A whispering campaign blaming Simpson pushes Will and Sarah back together as the endeavour to clear their mentors name. Soon they realise there is more to the deaths than any one could have feared.

Well written and plotted this is proving to be a great series. The writer throws a few curve balls right from the off, Will and Sarah are definitely not living how we might expect. Theres twists galore and an ending that opens up the world to this series. Fab stuff.

I really enjoyed the first outing of this series - an easy-reading (but not without substance) caper that was a huge amount of fun. So I'd been looking forward to the follow up. And basically, this instalment is more of the same - a top quality historical crime/detective romp that is a joy to read. To wit, I was not disappointed. The estranged Sarah (budding feminist) and Raven (bad boy come good) are reunited over another nicely gripping murder mystery, clashing and bonding and misunderstanding each other all over the place in a satisfyingly frustrating way. While, I have to say, it's nothing breathtakingly original, it's all done with such a huge amount of verve that it is compelling and enthralling and ridiculously entertaining. A genuine page turner and a whole heap of fun with a great set up for the next instalment at the end. I'm looking forward to it already as I want to see more from these characters and I think (hope) they've got a lot more in store for us.

Enjoyed this historic medical crime drama, based on true events. Easy read and interesting to see how the medical practices we take for granted today evolved over time.

This is the second book featuring Sarah Fisher and Will Raven. If you haven't read The Way of All Flesh I highly recommend it, however it is worth noting that both books can be read as standalone novels.

A few years have passed since Raven and Fisher solved their first crimes and went their separate ways. For some reason Raven seems to think swanning off to embark on a prestigious path of education for quite some time made time come to a complete standstill where Sarah is concerned. I truly believe he expected to find her still working as a housemaid for Dr Simpson.

Not that it isn't an assumption that wouldn't usually be true of a young woman in that era, however he seems to have forgotten just how ambitious Sarah is. In a way Raven is also guilty of adhering to the patriarchal systems and automatically presuming Sarah will not advance in her own endeavours to educate herself and become part of the medical establishment.

Sarah the housemaid is now Sarah the respectable wife of a man who supports her ambitions and thirst for knowledge. The fact Sarah isn't found pining and waiting awakens Raven to his feelings for her.

This time the two of them are caught up in a malicious campaign to ruin the career of a man they both respect. Little do they know that behind all the whispers something and someone more nefarious lurks.

It's historical crime fiction that blends fact and fiction perfectly to create a compelling read. Parry is right up there with Sansom and Perry, although I would argue that Parry focuses on medical crime of the time period and is less inclined to pull pure political machinations into the plot.

The series is entertaining and riveting, and at times also an intriguing learning experience, which is the best kind of historical fiction.

I loved the first book and i love this one too! It's great to continue Will and Sarah's story and is full of rich history. Being a born and bred Edinburgh girl I love to read about my home town. Ambrose Parry has delivered another great read. I highly recommend this!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Art of Dying is a gothic murder mystery. The sequel to The Way of All Flesh, the story is inspired by real historic events and in part a history lesson about the birth of modern medicine. Atmospheric and rich in detail, I look forward to more novels from this writing team.