This is the second book in a new series of historical mysteries written by Ambrose Parry, a pseudonym used by husband and wife team Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman. The books are set in 19th century Edinburgh, where great advances are taking place in the world of medicine, and with Brookmyre being an experienced crime writer and Haetzman a consultant anaesthetist, they each bring different strengths to their collaborations.

The Art of Dying opens with a brief and dramatic section set in Berlin in 1849, before the action switches back to Edinburgh, where Will Raven has just returned from studying medicine in Europe to take up a position as assistant to the renowned obstetrician Dr James Simpson. Will had previously served as Simpson’s apprentice (as described in the previous novel, The Way of All Flesh), but he is now a qualified doctor himself and is eager to start building his own career and reputation.

Working with Simpson again brings Will back into contact with Sarah Fisher, Simpson’s former housemaid who is now assisting him at his clinic, having displayed a passion and aptitude for medicine. Sarah is deeply frustrated by the lack of equality for women, as she is sure she has the ability to become a doctor herself if only she could be given the same opportunities as men. This had been a source of conflict between Will and Sarah when we met them in the first book, but he has still been looking forward to seeing her again and is disappointed to find that during his absence she has married another man. When one of Dr Simpson’s patients dies under suspicious circumstances, however, and his rivals start to point the finger of blame, Will and Sarah must work together to try to clear Simpson’s name.

The crime element of the novel comes in the form of a number of unusual, unexplained deaths taking place around the city. At first Will is excited, thinking he has discovered a new disease to which he’ll be able to give his name, but Sarah is convinced that something more sinister is happening. My main criticism of The Way of All Flesh was the weakness of the murder mystery, but I found this one much stronger. It was easy enough to guess who or what was causing the deaths, because we are given plenty of hints right from the start, but what I didn’t know was why or exactly how it was being done and I enjoyed watching Will and Sarah (mainly Sarah at first) putting the clues together to find the culprit.

As with the first book, though, it was the medical aspect of the story that I found most interesting. In The Way of All Flesh, we learned that James Simpson had been carrying out experiments into the use of chloroform to ease the pain of childbirth. This book continues to explore the development of anaesthetics, showing not only the potential benefits for surgery and obstetrics, but also the dangers of administering too much of a substance which was still not fully understood.

I enjoyed this book more than the first one and I think it does work as a standalone, but I would still recommend starting with The Way of All Flesh so you will understand the background to Will and Sarah’s relationship. Both characters have changed and grown since the beginning of the series and I’m sure there’s lots of scope for more development ahead; I’m hoping we won’t have to wait too long to find out!

The cover and description of this book really intrigued me , however I found the story to be lacking .

I read this book as a stand-alone so I’m unsure as to whether that is why I didn’t enjoy it. I found that nothing really seemed to happen in the story until the very end of the book . A lot of rather mundane events and a dragged out storyline .

There are also a lot of uncommon and unneeded words in this book that I had to look up the meaning of in order to understand what the characters where saying . I found that this ruined the flow of the book and would made it feel like chore to read .

The characters in this book were well written and their personalities really came through which was enjoyable .

An interesting concept but I don’t feel it was well executed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Cannongate for sending me a copy of this book to read and review . I greatly appreciate the opportunity.

I enjoyed this Victorian crime novel with a medical background. Fast paced with a fascinating storyline. I haven't read the preceding book but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of this one.

In "The Art of Dying," by Ambrose Parry (a pseudonym for the husband and wife team of Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman), Dr. Will Raven returns to Edinburgh after spending a year abroad, with stops in London, Paris, Vienna, Leipzig, and Berlin. During his travels, Raven learned a great deal from renowned medical practitioners and teachers, enjoyed the company of a beautiful older woman, and had a violent altercation with an armed assailant in a dark alley (Will admits that he has a "perverse appetite for mayhem"). Now a fully licensed physician, Will has been hired to assist his mentor, Dr. James Simpson, a fine diagnostician who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology. The generally well-regarded Simpson pioneered the use of chloroform as an anesthetic. Unfortunately, there are prominent individuals who have been spreading ugly rumors about him in an effort to tarnish his reputation.

This sequel to "The Way of All Flesh" is as evocative, intense, and compelling as its predecessor. Parry demonstrates that there was a huge chasm in Edinburgh between the haves and have-nots. Furthermore, although physicians had made strides in their understanding of anatomy and disease, many patients still died because of infections, botched operations, and "relentless purging, blistering, and bloodletting."

The authors seamlessly combine a variety of engrossing plot elements: a sadistic nurse reveals details of her sordid past and heinous crimes; Raven is desperate to free himself from the clutches of a moneylender whose thugs keep stalking him; much to Will's surprise, the feisty and brilliant Sarah, a former housemaid and close friend, has moved on with her life. Parry also explores such themes as the importance of social status, and the desire of some women to flout convention by seeking to fulfill themselves professionally and personally. This tale has a Dickensian cast of characters and evocative settings that transport us to a bygone era. "The Art of Dying" is an intense and compelling work of historical fiction, as well as a morality tale. Parry implies that, although no one is born evil, under certain circumstances almost everyone is capable of deplorable deeds. "Every true demon was once a child, one that knew fear and suffering."

A fascinating and seamless blend of fiction and historical fact, The Art of Dying is set in 1850s Edinburgh when advances in medicine due to the use of chloroform are starting to make themselves felt. It is told from the viewpoints of Will Raven, Sarah Fisher and an anonymous voice we later find out belongs to the killer; her identity is not in question, but can they catch her before any one else dies?
Now back in Edinburgh and working for Dr James Young Simpson, Will is a product of his time with regard to his attitudes to women; but he soon learns what Sarah is capable of. He is still young and a bit impulsive, but he thinks about his actions and learns from his mistakes – you can’t help but like him. Sarah feels confined and frustrated by the restrictions placed on her (and all women) by these narrow Victorian attitudes. She dreams of going on to greater things, and takes inspiration from the few pioneers who have blazed a trail, defied expectations, and risen above the limitations placed on them by a patriarchal society to become something more than just a wife and mother. There is a sense that long-overdue change is coming.
A cast of believable, well-rounded characters bring the story to life, and we see both extremes of life in Victorian Scotland – the genteel life of the middle-classes, and the squalid living conditions of the poor.
It was only after I had finished reading The Art of Dying that I discovered it was the second in a series. I did not affect my understanding, but I will certainly read The Way of All Flesh next and hope there will be a third instalment before too long. The main reason I chose to read this book was that Ambrose Parry is a collaboration between Chris Brookmyre and his wife Dr Marisa Haezman. I love the Jack Parlabane series written by Chris, and knew this would also be a great read; I was not wrong. Thanks to Canongate and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Netgalley & Canongate for an advance copy of this book in exchange of an unbiased review. I try to avoid spoilers and do not go into plot details except when it is unavoidable.
I have not read Ambrose parry before and at the start found some references obscure until I realised the characters were referring back to a previous volume in the series "The Way of All Flesh". Had I done my research properly I think I would have read it before this book.
Like many others I enjoyed the book and the pace. Not what I would call a page turner but one that was loooked forward to when next I had the chance to sit and read.
I hope that future volumes move on a little form a somewhat hackneyed theme of rival protagonists and expands more into the Victorian world it so richly portrays.
Four stars from me.

Let me start off saying this is book two in a series, I didn't realise and I don't think I have been hampered by not reading book one. There are a few throwbacks and brief recaps of things that happened with book one so you can get away with starting with this one, if starting mid series doesn't make you twitchy.

The time is 1850, the place is Edinburgh and as is nature, people are dying. However some of them are not as should be and one well respected doctor, doctor Simpson, one of the patients was his. With a smear campaign kicking off and whispers of wrongful death of this patient, his understudy Will Raven reluctantly looks into the case and finds more than he bargained for. Will is prompted into action by Sarah, once a house maid to Doctor Simpson, now married to a doctor herself, Sarah has always been interested in medicine. At a time when women should be seen and not heard, married and tied to the sink, Sarah has always been supported and encouraged by doctor Simpson so she has a dual interest in the case.

The book has quite a few layers to it, Will and Sarah have a past, Sarah is now married, Will is very career focused and being involved with a house maid, for him, would negatively impact his career. Yet now he is back, Sarah is in a very different social standing and Will is having to battle his actions and consequences. Investigating who would have it out for doctor Simpson, the mysterious deaths and one of my fave things about this book, medicine back then! Add to all that we get wee snippets from the killer, an insight into their mind and what they are doing, I think when this is done well it really adds to a story. I do like a book is woven with historical facts, considering I never used to bother with historical fiction I do find myself enjoying them more as I get older. I also like books where you learn stuff as you go coupled with the fact is it set somewhere I have visited! Medicine itself is always evolving, practices changing, attitudes and procedures so I do like when you read of things past and then go off to read more in depth around X subject. I liked this one so much I will be buying book one and looking out eagerly for the next in the series, 4.5/5 for me this time. If you like murder mystery, medicine, books in the past, relationships and investigation this one will tick all the boxes for you!

This is the second book in the series which follows the lives of Sarah, Will Raven and Dr Simpson. I read the first book, The Way of All Flesh, and I really enjoyed it, so I was pleased to be able to read the second book as well.

This book continues the story from the first, but I wouldn't say it was necessarily vital to have read the first book before reading this one. I would recommend it though, to fully understand the relationships between the characters and the backstory.

There are quite a few things going on in the story. Will Raven has been continuing his studies abroad, but his adventures are brought to a close he returns to Edinburgh to become Dr Simpson's assistant. He returns to find that Sarah has married another doctor, and he realises his feelings for her are as strong as ever.

The two are brought together when Dr Simpson is accused of negligently killing a patient by some of his peers. With his reputation at stake, Sarah and Will are determined to find out what really happened and clear his name. However, their investigations take them somewhere they would never have guessed.

I really enjoyed this book. There are lots of things going on with lots of different characters, some new and some I fondly remembered from the first book. I especially enjoyed following the growth of Sarah and Will, both on their separate journeys and also their relationship with each other. I love the character of Dr Simpson too, because he is so enigmatic and I like the fact that he is based on a real person. This gives the book an authenticity because a lot of what happens in the story is actually based on real events and real people.

The book is really well written. The author uses language appropriate to the time period, but it is still easy to read and doesn't seem antiquated. I also love the fact that the author pays a lot of attention to the plight of women at the time, and really this is the main focus of the story in lots of ways. It is thoughtfully done and doesn't take away from the mystery and twists that are also integral to the book..

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries and historical fiction.

What an opening! Women the world over, rejoice. I was intrigued by this joint project and had no idea what to expect. Even as a confirmed Brookymre fan, I was pleasantly surprised and intrigued by this collaboration. I also listened to the audiobook, which is brilliantly narrated by an ensemble cast. The plot was engaging, the characters interesting and well-drawn. Overall, an excellent and exciting contribution to the historical crime fiction genre. I particularly enjoyed hearing the women's stories, which are so often absent in history. In "The Art Of Dying" those stories and perspectives form an integral part of the novel. I look forward to reading the other books in the series. This is the second book but works well as a standalone.

This is the second book in this series by Ambrose Party that I have had the pleasure to review; in the first review I suggested that the characters and setting could form the basis of an enjoyable series, and this second title certainly justifies that initial belief. All the main characters that the reader had got to know in the first book are present again, together with some - shall we say surprising - newcomers. That said, there is plenty in here that would be equally enjoyable to a reader new to the series, although they would be missing an enjoyable introduction to the time, setting and medical background found in ‘Way of All Flesh’. Will, now a newly qualified doctor, and Sarah, medical assistant, continue their investigations - in this case seeking to uncover the reasons behind a series of suspicious deaths.

The setting, in nineteenth century Edinburgh, coupled with the medical themes that weave their way cleverly through the developing narrative, again add to the credibility and enjoyment of this book. There are some interesting new subplots to add some novelty to the way in which key characters have developed, whilst the reliable bedrock of developing science and medical practice inform the key characters’ investigations.

Highly recommended.

Received from Canongate and Netgalley for honest read and review.
This is the second book in the series and I have to say I liked this one better than the first.it is as if Ambose Parry has found a cracking character and just keeps getting better.
The main characters Will and Sarah are brilliantly written and I felt for both of them from the start and to see how the managed to solve the mystery of the patients dying.

A great story and I am hoping for more to come

I Have not yet reviewed this book professionally but I must say it was a good continue to the previous one and I'll be keen on reading more of this series.
The one criticism i have is that it had to be a part of a series and have not really met my criteria of a standalone book. I also thought that the killer's identity was too easy to discover, and that the self-confession which is used to explain the end to the readers - was a bit lazy.
I have ranked this book high thouhg 4 stars and can attest that i've enhoyed it. thanks.

I haven't read the previous book but this one was brilliant. Luckily this book could be read as a stand alone. Definitely looking forward to the next one!

The Art of Dying is the follow-up to Ambrose Parry's The Way of All Flesh in this medical crime series set in Victorian Edinburgh and featuring Dr Will Raven. It's a brilliant read with enough drama, mystery, medical shenanigans and vivid description of 1850s Edinburgh to keep even the most demanding reader satisfied. It's historical fiction at its finest with great attention to detail and nothing being left to chance. Let’s hope this series continues for the long haul!

This is the second in a book series following the life of Dr Will Raven in his employment as assistant to Dr James Simpson obstetrician. I received an ARC from Netgalley and Canongate publishers.

It is a while since I read the first book but it was very easy to get back into the narrative. The whole book is evocative of time and place. I like the fact that the main characters are nearly all flawed in some way and yet have something that makes you like them. I think the author has taken his story on and that whilst this has medical undertones there is a balance with the personal life of the Characters. The mystery is woven in well and twists in unexpected ways.

I am looking forward to perhaps more in the series because if there isn't more the end is deeply unsatisfying - I just want more

The historical, atmospheric setting, the insights in to early medical practices and the fast paced crime narrative all worked together to provide and entertaining read. Very much looking forward to the next instalment!

A second in this excellent series of medical historical crime novels. Will Raven is trying to understand a series of mysteries, but also to clear his employer's name. His fledgling love affair with former housemaid Sarah Fisher has been disrupted by her unexpected marriage.

Dense and satisfying story full of historical detail.

In The Art of Dying, Sarah and Will stumble onto a surprising number of deaths, all associated with one nurse. Will pursues these cases in hopes of discovering a new disease and making his name. Sarah suspects something more sinister.

The characters range from Edinburgh society to its slums and its criminals. Some jealous doctors are attempting to stain Dr. Simpson's reputation, Will is feeling increasingly trapped by a debt he owes Edinburgh's most notorious loan shark. Sarah finds herself pregnant as it becomes clear that her new husband has terminal cancer.

Pick up this title for the excitement it provides, the fascinating glimpse into a specific moment in medical history, and the characters who you will come to care about deeply.

The second novel from this interesting author collaboration. Set in the era of the medical experimentation around anaesthesia in 19th century Edinburgh and mixing fictional characters and elements with the real medical pioneers and discoveries of the time leads to a compelling sequel to "The way of all flesh". Dr Raven is drawn into the workings of what appears to be a serial poisoner who is getting away with murder. Tightly plotted and well paced, this is a good read.

Travelling in Europe Will Raven has cause to kill a man in an attack. As a doctor he is filled with remorse but on retiring to Edinburgh and finding that his love Sarah has married another is another pain. Raven resumes working for the renowned Doctor Simpson and starts investigating a series of unexplained deaths which are linked to one woman.
This is another excellent outing for the writers that make up Ambrose Parry. Again the setting is 19th century Edinburgh of contrasts in society and the history of medicine is to the fore. Here the focus is on the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic and the dangers of it as well.