The Art of Dying by Ambrose Parry
Having read and enjoyed The Way of All Flesh by this husband and wife team Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman I was keen to read the further adventures involving Will Raven and Sarah Fisher. This novel opens in Germany with Will Raven in Germany becoming involved in yet another altercation which results in him fleeing back to Edinburgh where he takes up a post as assistant to Dr Simpson. He however finds much changed upon his return.
This book once again deals with the difficult role which women had in the 1850’s: despite her skill and aptitude Sarah would be unable to train to be a doctor. There are suggestions that this may be possible in other countries such as America. This is historical crime fiction of the highest calibre and interwoven amongst the events of the novel are real people and events. Will and Sarah are again called upon to investigate a series of unexplained deaths and also to rescue the reputation of Dr Simpson.
I am keen to see where this pair are led in the future and am grateful to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book is the sequel to The Way of All Flesh, and it definitely didn't disappoint. I loved reading about the same characters in this historical setting.
It's really engaging, interesting, fast paced read.
If you like historical mysteries, I'd highly recommend.
Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This sequel to The Way of All Flesh does not disappoint. It's another great romp through Edinburgh's dark past with some wonderful characters. It is historical fiction at its best and most entertaining.
Will Raven is in Germany, towards the end of a year of study and learning new skills; he is now Dr Raven. He soon returns to Dr Simpson's home and practice and we are reintroduced to some of the characters from the first book, and some new ones to add spice and excitement. I galloped through this book as it was such a good, fast paced read. I wish it could have taken longer as it will be a long wait now for the third which I hope will be forthcoming as Ambrose Parry make a good team. I am thankful to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review an e_ARC of this novel. Five very solid stars and highly recommended.

This is a brilliant book, continuing the adventures of Will Raven and Sarah Fisher. The medical background of nineteenth century obstetrics and anisthetic is enthralling, and has clearly been thoroughly researched. Will is a flawed character, but eminently likeable. The book gives a good insight into life during this period, particularly the unequal position women were in. I did guess one twist in the plot, but that did not spoil my enjoyment at all. To get the most out of this book, I think the reader has to have read the previous volume: The Way of all Flesh. I sincerely hope there are more books to follow!

A cunning jigsaw of medicine, murder and mayhem, whose title, ‘The Art of Dying’, perfectly portrays the puzzle that lies ahead of Doctor Will Raven and medical assistant Sarah Fisher.

Much has changed since their last encounter. Will has been abroad, expanding both his knowledge and horizons, still finding that his past is stealthily stalking him. Although Sarah remains an assistant at their mutual mentor’s surgery in 52 Queen Street, Edinburgh, time proves that nothing, not even a lowly ‘housemaid’, can stand still for too long.

Combine the era and their chosen professions and yes, as you’d expect, a queue of unpleasant (but morbidly fascinating) ailments raise their ugly heads. Regardless of your social status, wealth, or moral standing, only a professional offering an accurate diagnosis, followed by the correct remedy, and a period of dutiful after-care may save you.

Whether you flourish or flounder is quite literally in their hands. Given the means, motive and opportunity this is something the more perverse among us might take advantage of – a horror not synonymous with such a respected field.

These ‘primitive’ times make investigating anomalies remarkably more challenging than your average contemporary crime thriller. The characters are restricted by technology, communication and rely on the calibre of a witness, living or deceased, and how far they want to personally pursue the matter.

It’s a great story that leaves a question mark over the next stage of this impressive duo’s lives. It also demonstrates the massive gender inequality at that time, and the competitive nature of those wishing to be celebrated by their peers for their achievements above all else.

Thoroughly looking forward to the next :)

Another wonderfully atmospheric tale of the Edinburgh doctor Will Raven . Set in the 1800s the sense of the old and new towns is perfectly portrayed in a tale of mass murder with a seemingly unlikely suspect but with the aid of Sarah,newly married,whilst our hero studied(and became involved in more violence) around Europe finally sees the truth. Interesting side plots keep it all bubbling along with various characters from the previous tale reappearing.. Well researched one can only look forward to move adventures of these gripping characters.

This is a second trip into Victorian medical history from the husband and wife team of Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman. The duo cover lots of ground here, from surgical advancements in the nineteenth century, to the opportunities for women in that world, to the criminal underworld of Edinburgh, to a tragic romance, and an ever increasing death toll. They juggle all these balls well, with my interest kept throughout, and the various plotlines dovetailing neatly. The research is obviously thorough, but always worn lightly as the pages keep turning. It's a fast and gripping read, recommended for all fans of historical crime fiction.

A really good sequel, The Art of Dying brings back the brilliant Raven, now Dr Raven, and Sarah, now married. I love how these books tackle important topics such as women's access to education and social class, as well as offering an insight into Victorian Edinburgh. A strong follow-up, looking forward to the next instalment.

After enjoying the first book I thought I'd give this a try. Overall I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first since it focused a but too much in the romantic drama. Will annoyed me a lot in this book, he is so intelligent in a lot of ways but he can be a real idiot at times, I think Sarah is the real brains of this outfit. However the trouble he gets himself into keeps me entertained and he has a good heart really. Sarah is my favourite, she's smart, open minded and she has ambition. I think without her the murders wouldn't have been solved nearly as quick!

I have to say that the gang that Will got mixed up with in the first book made for a interesting subplot and I strangely have a bit of a soft spot for "Gargantua".

I loved the chapters with the killer's POV. They were so interesting and let us see into the mind of a psychopath and their history.

The theme of woman's rights throughout out both books is very well done, the historical accuracy of the attitudes towards women at the time seemed spot on but it also showed hope that things were going to start changing.

There was a character that I think was only there to serve as a plot point and catalyst for changes to Will and Sarah's relationship and it didn't quite sit well with me.

I thought that the authors were going to end this a certain way and was getting ready to hate it, I'm so glad I was wrong. I loved the ending, I can't wait to see what happens in the next.

A historical novel based on facts on the medical profession in the Edinburgh of Victorian times. Newly graduated Doctors need to establish themselves and become obsessed with the need to become eminent by making some medical advance. This is a risky business, to try and fail is to be condemned and to succeed causes envy and back stabbing and slander by those who feel overlooked. It is also a male dominated profession into which a young woman is determined to break. When the young Doctor and his friend a young woman become aware of a series of deaths that is associated with one particular nurse there is excitement as it what it is. Could it be a new transmittable disease waiting to be discovered, or in the mind of the more down to earth, just a simple case of murder, how it all unfolds makes the story.

The Art of Dying is a sequel to The Way of all Flesh, about medicine and murder in nineteenth century Edinburgh. The prologue is written by a murderer but we have no idea yet of any killings; the murderer’s thoughts are spaced throughout the book, without giving anything away. We then travel to Berlin, where Raven, the chief protagonist of the previous book, is studying with his friend Henry; he gets himself into violent trouble, as is his wont. He’s an able chap but flawed, with demons he finds it hard to control.

On his return to Edinburgh, Raven is working closely with Dr James Simpson and his (sometime hair-raising) experiments with chloroform. He is displeased to find that in his absence Sarah (the housemaid bright enough to have become Simpson’s assistant and hungry for more medical knowledge), has married another doctor, but he has only himself to blame because he foolishly thought her beneath him and therefore an impediment to his career. The two still work closely when professional jealousy amongst the medics of Edinburgh starts a rumour that Simpson has killed a patient. They find that there have been too many deaths of a certain kind to be a coincidence and eventually they suspect murder. The reader knows from the parallel narrative that there is indeed a murderer at large but not how the murders are achieved. Raven’s past comes back to haunt him in the form of criminals who think he still owes them favours. This actually works to his advantage as the story reaches its crisis. I found this just as good a thriller as The Way of all Flesh: gripping. The authors even pinch a joke from Crocodile Dundee!

I read this thanks to Net Galley and it’s out on 29th August.

I loved Ambrose Parry's first book so was eager to eeadt this. The book is set a time after the first with Will Raven in Europe and an incident bring him back to Edinburgh under Dr Simpson's guidence. Sarah's life too has changed since the first book now married and also more of a figurehead than the lowly servant of the first book. The book again pulled me in however Raven's personality seems to have changed in this book. He's no longer a diamond in the rough but believes himself above reproach. I believed he saw Sarah as an equal in the first book but I didn't like this side he had of belittling her, the story still had the fun of a mystery but I struggled to get past the irksome nature of Raven. It was a good three quarters of the way into the book before I started to mildly like him again. The big reveal in this book I guessed early on. Overall it was an interesting read but i felt it paled slightly from the first. This won't stop me reading the next in the series as a love Sarah's character the most.

This is the second book in the Will Raven/Sarah Fisher series after the truly excellent 'The Way of All Flesh'. They are written by a husband and wife team - he's an award-winning thriller writer and she is a medical doctor with an interest in the history of medicine, so they really know their stuff on all fronts. I could not wait to read this book after loving the first one.

This is a fascinating, pacy and engaging story set in Victorian Edinburgh a while after the first book. Dr Will Raven has just returned to the city after a period travelling in Europe developing his medical knowledge. He returns to the house of Dr James Simpson, leading developer of chloroform as an anesthetic, where his former partner in investigations Sarah has been elevated above her status as housemaid and is learning medical skills for herself. It's an awkward reunion between the two former allies, although they soon have to work together when they notice a worrying pattern of deaths occurring in the city.

This book met all my high expectations. It's cleverly plotted and brings alive the setting of Victorian Edinburgh, from the hospital wards to consulting rooms, from the wealth of the doctors' lives to the less salubrious areas lived in by some of their patients. Sarah is a very appealing heroine, fighting for her right to learn medicine in a time and place that denied women such education. In comparison, Will is a rather infuriating hero who makes bad decisions and whose motives are not always pure, yet he also seems real and flawed and interesting; he definitely developed as a character during this book in a positive way.

I would whole heartedly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or who has an interest in medical history. However, the book should have much wider appeal - it is engrossing and well-researched and engaging, albeit a bit graphic in relation to the medical issues. Anyone and everyone should give it a go!

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed the The Way of all Flesh I was looking forward to its sequel and being reacquainted with both the characters and early Victorian Edinburgh. I certainly was not disappointed as Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman in the collaborative pseudonym of Ambrose Parry have not only developed the characters here but have also again addressed the themes of the progress of medical science and most importantly gender equality that lies at the heart of this book. You do not have to read The Way of all Flesh before The Art of Dying but it is certainly recommended in order to gain a full appreciation of the characters and unfolding plot.

Based on the the authors artistic interpretation of true events the novel sees Will Raven returning to Edinburgh after a deadly time abroad to work for the famous Dr James Simpson. He quickly learns that the object of his affection Sarah Fisher is now married. Now Will and Sarah must team up to clear Dr Simpson from accusations emanating from the death of a patient in mysterious circumstances. From an alternating first person narration we learn that there appears to be a female serial killer at large who's exploits are made invisible by means of her gender and occupation.

Like the previous book this is a real page turner with all that hurrying around the city trying to uncover who is responsible for an increasing number of unexplained deaths. There is a great attention of detail here both in the medical writing and historical details which I'm sure was the result of much research. As someone with a knowledge of Edinburgh I could easily picture the topographical scenes depicted in my mind. I wonder if we will have more to read from Ambrose Parry I certainly hope so.

Another atmospheric and intriguing adventure with Will Raven and Sarah. A lot has changed since the last book. Will has returned from his European travels to take up his place with Dr. Simpson and is dismayed that his youthful prejudices have cost him dearly. This book is as much about Sarah and Will growing up, accepting their own foibles and starting to carve their own place in society as it is about the mysterious spate of deaths across Edinburgh. Working together Will and Sarah's relationship deepens as they race to solve the crimes and restore their mentor's reputation. It is a tense and exciting read and once again ends leaving me wanting more, much more. I do hope that this series continues as I want to know what direction the pair go in next and whether it will be together or apart.

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

Will Raven is back. I loved the first book in the series, The Way of All Flesh, and was delighted to be sent an advance copy of The Art of Dying. I enjoyed it very much. It didn't take long for me to be completely engrossed. The chores just had to wait.

Will finds himself back in Edinburgh after travelling and studying in Europe. He is now a qualified doctor and returns to take up a position as Dr Simpson’s assistant. However he returns to find there have been changes in the Simpson household. There are new members of staff and Sarah Fisher is no longer the housemaid. Sarah does have a role within the household but there also seems to be a bit of distance between them.

There have been a large number of unexplained deaths throughout the city, often involving entire families. The symptoms don’t seem to follow the usual pattern of any known disease and Will thinks he may have discovered a new disease. However when a whispering campaign is started, blaming Dr Simpson for the death of a patient in suspicious circumstances, Will and Sarah try to find the true cause of these deaths and also clear Dr Simpsons name.

There are many reasons for recommending this book. Firstly, it's good storytelling. The writing partnership that is Ambrose Parry has a lovely writing style and I got completely engrossed.

Secondly the writers make the locations seem so real it's as if you were actually there in 19th century Edinburgh. The dialogue is believable and there's a good pace to the story .

Thirdly the characters are very likeable. Will has his rough edges and has been known to get into fights and altercations but at heart he is a good surgeon.

Lastly while the book could be classed as historical fiction/ crime fiction, it is also a medical mystery. There is also a bit of humour and the possibility of romance. While The Art of Dying could be read as a stand-alone novel I would recommend reading the first book in the series, The Way of All Flesh, to get background on the characters.

I hope there will be more in this series. I don't think we've heard the last of some of the characters.

The Art of Dying is an enjoyable follow up to the Way of All Flesh, and nicely develops the story and characters, again with the interesting emphasis on Sarah’s - and women generally - position in society as an adjunct to a man, not seen as capable of being a professional in their own right. That makes the novel sound overtly worthy, and that couldn’t be more wrong - it’s a thriller that happens to be in 19th century Edinburgh with the medical revolution underway.
I didn’t find this book as strong as it’s predecessor, partly as the twists seemed more telegraphed in advance. An enjoyable journey nonetheless and i look forward to the next in the series (and to Brookmyre’s next solo work!).

I was thrilled to be granted an early copy of this book, having not long finished the first (which I bought before I finished the advance copy) and pre-ordering the second (The Art of Dying) as soon as I realised there was going to be more!

I was so happy to be back in the company of Will Raven and Sarah, and I simply adored the way their relationship continues to grow in this 2nd instalment - what I need to know, immediately, is will there be more?

Edinburgh was bought back to life, we were introduced to new characters and spent time with old favourites, and all the twists and turns left me with 6 pages of notes and numerous ideas as to who, what and why - turns out I was only part right!
The real life events that inspired this particular novel are intriguing and I really loved that we had the chapters from the view of the murderer this time too, it added a wonderful, extra, level of creepiness to the whole thing.

I adored the inspiring new female characters in this one, they lent a depth to Sarah's continued frustrations about her lack of options, and allowed her to head off (as she does) with even more purpose this time.
During one conversation with a patient who worries her illness maybe punishment for the sin of not doing as her father bid, but forging her own life with a man she loved instead of one picked for her, Sarah tells her, "You simply lived your life as you wanted to, and I can see no fault in that. The sin is that more of us do not do likewise."

The beauty of this continuation, that by the end of it Raven would chose Sarah over his own reputation, something he failed to do in the first instalment, and also that she has made him realise that 'the devil in him' is his to control, not the other way around. For Raven (and Sarah) moving forward, I feel it will be his making!

Highly recommended, entirely possible to read as a single novel. but much better enjoyed as part of the series, it should be on the shelf of anyone who loves Edinburgh, the history of medicine, strong female characters and forward thinking men. Plus with a multi stranded tale that is woven together fantastically to bring us to a thoughtful and satisfying conclusion you would be a fool to miss out.

Anyone who enjoyed ‘The Way of All Flesh, Ambrose Parry’s first novel, set in Edinburgh in the mid-1800s, will be delighted to continue reading about the adventures of Will Raven and Sarah Fisher, two talented and unusual ‘outsiders’, working for the renowned Dr Simpson in Victorian Edinburgh. At the beginning of this novel Will has just returned from medical studies in Berlin whilst Sarah has been on an equally life-changing personal journey.
Once again, the writers have used historical facts as inspiration for this tale of detection. A serial killer is at large – a qualified nurse no less – who brings order to her chaotic life by controlling the lives of those close by, as referenced by the novel’s title. In ‘The Art of Dying’, we are led to understand why she has such a macabre penchant through extracts from her diary. Thus, her identity is no mystery for us to solve. However, Ambrose Parry executes a clever twist in the closing chapters of the story which reinforces just how calculating and clever this woman is.
Whilst ‘The Art of Dying’ is first and foremost a detective story, it is also a fascinating portrayal of Victorian Edinburgh seen through the experiences of the professional classes, the labouring poor, medical practices and the penal system. The city continues to feature strongly, by turns beautiful, grimy, misty and elegant. One moment, the stylish New Town and the next a filthy back alley off Canongate. Most memorable for me is the significant feminist thread running throughout the novel. Sarah grows more and more aware of the limited choices ahead of her but is inspired by the writing and actions of radicals such as Mary Wollstonecraft.
‘There is not a woman in this realm who does not understand what it is to be afraid…’ states the murderer of this tale and, of course, she is right. Let’s hope that Sarah Fisher will continue to battle for equality in Ambrose Parry’s next novel in this series, and let’s hope that Will Raven learns to encourage her to do so!
My thanks to NetGalley and Canongate for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

I just love these books by Ambrose Parry - they are so atmospheric and full of history. The characters come from different backgrounds, so there is the whole above/below stairs thing going on. In this second novel in the series there is more about the emerging rights of women, in addition to the latest medical developments. I can't wait for the next instalment of Will and Sarah's adventures.