This latest offering in the series by Ambrose Parry continues where the previous novel left off. It again captures well the ambience of Victorian Edinburgh and convinces by its references to contemporary characters and events. As readers of previous novels in the series will know the plot continues the development of the life and career of Will Raven and Sarah Fisher. As in previous works in the series Will and Sarah are challenged by events and the circumstances of their respective backgrounds. The author’s skill is not restricted to well-paced and engaging storytelling. One of his particular talents is exposing in an entirely natural way the many differences in social attitudes and medical practice between the times in which the novel is set and the present day. That may sound clumsy and contrived, or - at worst - allowing a preachy perspective to get in the way of a good story; trust me, it doesn’t!

This is the third book in the excellent series featuring Will Raven and Sarah Fisher, set in 19th century Edinburgh. As with the previous books, this is intelligently written with a wonderful underlying humour. The historical atmosphere and the medical details are fascinating. The story flows smoothly producing a delightfully easy to read story. The character dynamics are the key to this series and drive the story along. Even the minor characters are interestingly complex. There were times when I felt I had anticipated the likely outcome of the plot and then another twist had me reassessing my theory. I loved this book just as much as the earlier ones and highly recommend this book.

The mix of medical history and crime in Ambrose Parry's Edinburgh set novels has reeled me in from the get go and although this, the third in the series, takes a little while to get going it flies along once the scene is fully set.
Raven and Fisher proving once more to be both likeable and also relatable protaganaists.
As always the mix of real folk and familiar settings helps to create a weight of history on the page and the twin mysteries, an apparent murder of a key figure in Edinburgh society and the discovery of a baby in the Port of Leith weave together in fascinating ways.

A Corruption of Blood, released on the 19th August, is the third instalment of Ambroise Parry’s crime fiction series in which Dr Will Raven, and aspiring doctor Sarah Fisher solve murders in Victorian Edinburgh.

For those who are already fans of David Ashton’s McLevy, one of TCFs favourite crime drama radio series, this will not disappoint. Especially as McLevy himself makes more than one appearance, although seen through eyes who are less kind to him than his regular readers may be.

In this book Raven and Sarah set out on separate investigations. Raven’s into the death of a wealthy, and unloved pillar of the Edinburgh establishment, and Sarah’s into infants who have disappeared into a wall of silence. Parry takes us through both the high and low society of Edinburgh but we find in both of them calculated crime, devious intent and women struggling under rigid morality the consequences of which men often invade.

Amoung the two twisting plots, and the juicy developing love triangle, we glimpse real people and medical history, such as Charles Byrn the Irish Giant and the chloroform Guinee pig debacle, which have long since faded from popular memory. These details add a richness to Parry’s Edinburgh, and indeed the marriage of crime and medicine is a fruitful one.

Although Corruption does weave in and out of Victorian sex and consequences this is not a gritty expose with complex, ambiguous charactors. Indeed Raven’s frequent need to muse on his own propensity to violence while fingering his scar threatens at times to tips the charactor into slightly cartoonish territory, but manages to pull out at the last moment

First and foremost Corruption is a fun read, engaging and alive with detail. I’d thoroughly recommend this for those who particularly like their crime historical.

Also recommended: The Edinburgh Detective, the real life McLevy’s diary from his time policing Edinburgh. It was a best seller in his day, and is still not out of print. It is possible to find in it a compassion and understanding, that contemporary portraits of the Victorian’s don’t always show.

This is the first book I've read about Dr Raven and Sarah Fisher although I find there are previous titles, and I very much enjoyed it.
Set in Edinburgh in the mid 19th century during a time of social change and advances in medical knowledge and practices the story is one of murder and mystery.
Dr Raven has a new love, Eugenie Todd, who asks his assistance in helping an old friend, Gideon, who has been accused of murdering his wealthy father. Raven discovers he previously knew Gideon, and his encounter was not favourable but he has promised Eugenie he will do his best, so he begins and investigation, visiting Gideon in jail and the impressive house that his father owned.
Meanwhile Sarah has been asked by one of the maids in the house to help find her baby that she was forced to give up as an unwed mother. Sarah pursues a line of enquiry that takes her into the seedy underside of Edinburgh. Gradually these two storylines blend and merge until we come to a satisfying conclusion.
The story incorporates real life characters and events, and the descriptions of the time and city really bring it alive. The dark alleys and passageways populated with haberdashers, bookshops, public houses and the grim Mrs King who takes in unwanted babies are atmospheric. The characters of Raven, principled and helpful and Sarah, determined and progressive, push the story forwards and make an enjoyable read.
With huge thanks to Netgalley and Cannongate for the chance to read this book.

The wonderfully historic city of Edinburgh is home to this atmospheric murder mystery. Set in the mid-nineteenth century the medical advances, social behaviours, class system and exclusion of women from the professions, set the tone for this dark tale of deception and murder.

Dr Will Raven and Sarah Fisher are the two main protagonists who operate out of 52 Queen Street, the base of Dr James Young Simpson, the imminent doctor whose pioneering work with chloroform, especially in childbirth, is professionally renowned. The medical context is pervasive throughout the story and leads many of the clever connections and the wherewithal to solve the mystery. The research into the medical, societal and historical elements and their placement within the story builds an authentic narrative that is believable.

While Raven is returning home one evening, he is drawn into the discovery of a dead child pulled from the Leith with the body wrapped in a covering that will contain some clues. An upsetting theme of unwanted children, baby farming, is an unfortunate reality of the times where single mothers or poor parents tried to find an alternative life for their children. In the meantime, Sarah is travelling in Europe to meet Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, one of the first qualified women doctors to seek her advice on joining the profession – an eventual meeting that leaves Sarah deflated and perturbed.

There is a deep affection between Raven and Sarah although Raven doesn’t want to stymie her dream of becoming a doctor by starting a relationship that would interfere and be more of a block to her success. During her travels in Europe, Raven meets Eugenie Todd, daughter of another leading physician Dr Cameron Todd, and they develop their relationship to a point of marriage expectation. When Sarah returns, she discovers how things have changed for Raven and her feelings of loss and envy surface, creating a teasing ménage à trois. I’m not a romance reader but I felt a fascination being drawn into their relationship and I certainly was rooting for one in particular. Raven and Sarah have investigations that require the help of the other, and they provide a great double act as they investigate both mysteries together. Now you’re only asking for trouble!!

This is initially a very slow-moving story and I had to check with my Buddy Ceecee if anything happened in her reading of the first 40% of the book that I missed. You know this is slow when your main discussion comment to your Buddy is – are you doing anything nice this weekend? Fortunately, at 40% the story did gain some momentum and it took the death of the horrible and powerful Sir Ainsley Douglas to get things going. Sir Ainsley’s death is deemed death by arsenic poisoning and his son and heir, Gideon, is arrested as the murder suspect. Gideon’s old childhood friend, Eugenie, asks Raven to investigate and prove his innocence, even though Raven and Gideon’s past is acrimonious. If it wasn’t Gideon, and the murder was for the inheritance, then who would stand to gain. The answer explores the legal case of A Corruption of Blood, which is full of twists and surprises.

I would recommend reading this book because of the wonderful writing, characters and atmospheric tone. The mysteries are intriguing and well thought out but there are conveniences in the plot that take the shine off. The ponderous nature of the first 40% also causes a problem in staying engaged but becomes much better as the novel proceeds.

This was a Buddy read with the special Ceecee and her thoughts on this are well worth reading in her review. Thanks for another brilliant reading experience, Ceecee. I would like to thank Canongate Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest review.

This was just fantastic. Since finishing The Art of Dying, I have been impatiently waiting for part three of this series. Historical crime writing can be hard to do write and this is a masterpiece. Brilliantly written, with fully formed (if flawed) characters in a fascinating time period. Has me longing to visit Edinburgh again!

Wow this was a great book, corruption, blood spilt, lots of twists and turns....i couldnt put it down. The characters were great lots of detail about them, it made me feel as if was in that time period when i was reading it and really believe that was how things were.

The third book of this series and they seem to get better all of the time.
This story follows Sarah and Will and their continuing attraction for each other although it doesn’t quite end up as the reader might have wanted. Sarah’s position is expertly drawn – wanting to finish her studies and become a doctor but realising this might not be possible without the classical education she has obviously not been able to access. There are excellent parallels drawn to the position of women today; still not feeling safe to walk the street, the position of so called ‘fallen women’, and the problem of unwanted babies and what should be done about them; as well as very much wanted babies that are given up for adoption.
I hope this series runs and runs.

The Ambrose Parry duo have done it again - another well structured medical detective story, heavy in character development for Will and Sarah alongside the suitably convoluted plot. To no ones surprise, seemingly unconnected plot strands end up entangled but part of the joy is seeing how it will come together,
Historical Edinburgh is so well drawn it’s like an additional character, and the recognisable (as well as the long lost) fit together to really bring a genuine sense of place.
Once again I’m left looking forward to a fourth book.

A Corruption of Blood is the third outing for Dr Will Raven and Sarah Fisher set in 1850s Edinburgh.

Will is called upon to prove the innocence of Gideon Douglas of his father's murder while Sarah seeks out the elusive Mrs King who fosters out inconvenient babies.

Their probing of the underbelly of genteel Edinburgh brings them to the attention of the City police and criminals alike.

A riproaring tale which keeps you guessing until the end! A great read!

What I love about a great historical novel:
Being taken by the hand and led into unknown eras
Meticulous adherence to register and historical accuracy
Engaging characters, fleshed out and coming to life
Authentic description of background, love for detail
Interweaving plotlines to draw in the reader

This is my third Will Raven/Sarah Banks book, loved it as much as the previous ones. Once again, full marks for Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman (aka Ambrose Parry). Thanks to Haetzman and her extensive research into the history of Scottish medicine, the medical aspects all ring true, there is never any hesitation or vagueness in the description. Edinburgh is recreated in all its grime and splendour. Since there is a male and female author collaborating here, protagonists of either gender are portrayed equally sensitively and both stand their own ground.
The plot in a nutshell: Edinburgh magnate poisoned and his son the suspect, Will and Sarah have to muster all their sleuthing powers to find out what really happened.
The plot helterskelter towards the end will have you holding on to your hats whilst teetering on the edge of your seat!
Another elegantly written, brilliantly entertaining read!
Please, Sir, can I have MORE?

Well written, atmospheric, very gothic. As this was the third book in the series I did feel I was missing something, though this was no fault of the author, it was entirely my oversight. No doubt had I read the previous 2 books then this would have been 5 star. Not entirely sure it works as a stand alone, too much back story missing. Moral of the tale - read the books in order!

We return to Edinburgh for the third time to the household of Dr James Simpson. Dr Will Raven, en route home after attending the tricky birth of twins, witnesses a very disturbing discovery at the Port of Leith. Meanwhile, a newly widowed Sarah Fisher is in Europe trying to arrange to meet Dr Elizabeth Blackwell in the hope of pursuing her fo dream of achieving medical qualifications. She returns to Scotland somewhat dejected and she and Will work together to establish the truth surrounding the death of a key figure in Edinburgh society. The novel shines a beacon on the expanse of social division at this time and the situation for women.

First of all, these novels are so well researched, I love the medical asides which sets the unfolding drama firmly in its historical context and the authors bring real characters vividly to life. This is especially true of Simpson whose vibrant energy bounces off the pages! What a man! All the characters are well portrayed as you immerse yourself in the ups and downs of Sarah and Will’s relationship and their chemistry certainly comes across. Their views seem very modern in outlook and both have a strong moral compass. There are some unpleasant characters in this one and you could justifiably argue that one in particular gets his just desserts. There are some excellent and extremely atmospheric descriptions of Edinburgh and you can virtually smell Auld Reekie in its less salubrious quarters. This is a gritty, dark novel which exposes a very seamy side of life at the time especially with ‘baby farmers’ and I wish I could say it isn’t true ....

I really like the focus is on the situation for women especially those at the lower end of the social scale but you also feel the frustration of women such as Sarah who wish to pursue a career. Sarah’s journey to see Elizabeth Blackwell is symbolic of her hapless journey to achieve this although she does realise that widowhood gives her a good measure of independence which married women don’t have. Some of the treatment of working class women and male attitudes makes me so angry and some things haven’t changed much since then!! The plotting is good with the two seemingly unconnected threads merging well and the twists are good. It’s well written, very much in the style of a nineteen century novel which is especially obvious at the somewhat melodramatic end which is very reminiscent of the times. I love where the title comes from - a legal ability to disinherit in certain circumstances.

On the negative side, I think it’s bit slow to get going and sometimes the authors keenness to get in some medical asides halts the flow. There is one section that oddly backtracks to where Sarah meets Blackwell which jars a bit although I can see why it was done.

Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives as it’s so well written. This is a worthy addition to the series and I look forward to the next one.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Canongate for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

“A Corruption of Blood” is the third novel featuring Raven, Fisher and Simpson but I have to admit that it is the first one that I have read. The book stands up on its own and I didn’t need the characters back story to enjoy this novel. However, it may explain why I thought the book got off to a slow start. The nineteenth century setting took some getting used to but once the story grabbed me this became less of an issue.
The story is set in 1850’s Edinburgh and intermingles two very different sides of society. The protagonists as medical professionals sit somewhere between the gentry class who are mostly portrayed as a bunch of hypochondriacs and the lower classes who have to rely on a hospital for the poor when they are sick. The story follows two threads, one an investigation of a suspected murder and the other trying to locate a child that was given up for adoption. Needless to say both strands have a link.
There are many twist to this tale which keeps the reader guessing right to the end. All in all a very enjoyable read.

Populated with a host of real life characters A Corruption of Blood is the 3rd in the Raven and Fisher crime series. Set in Victorian Edinburgh, we find Fisher has gone to Paris to meet her hero Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, Raven however has met someone who may take the place of Fisher in his heart. He is also called upon to help an old 'enemy' out who has been charged with murder. Once again Raven and Fisher find they are drawn into the dark heart of Edinburgh where there is one law for the wealthy and another for the poor.

Yet again I really enjoyed this, I did work out a few things but that didn't spoil my reading experience one jot.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy.

Dr Will Raven is a man seldom shocked by human remains, but even he is disturbed by the contents of a package washed up at the Port of Leith. Stranger still, a man Raven has long detested is pleading for his help to escape the hangman. Back in the townhouse of Dr James Simpson, Sarah Fisher has set her sights on learning to practise medicine. Almost everyone seems intent on dissuading her from this ambition, but when word reaches her that a woman has recently obtained a medical degree despite her gender, Sarah decides to seek her out.

A Victorian murder mystery cleverly built on a twisty and devilish plot full of nasty and unforgettable characters, a fiendishly written whodunit that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat from start to finish. A richly detailed tapestry of 19th century Scottish society and a very compelling investigation conducted with "drums beating" by a very unique and very winsome couple! A delicious fictional treat that must be enjoyed without moderation!

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I’ve just discovered that A Corruption of Blood is the third book in a Raven, Fisher, & Simpson series. I wish I’d known before I read it as it would have more easily set the scene!
This is a crime thriller set in Edinburgh in the 1840's, when Edinburgh was leading the way in medical science.
Dr Raven agrees to help an old adversary to prove his innocence and escape the hangman's noose because the woman he hopes to marry has asked him to. But is he still in love with Sarah?
This is fiction with a lot of fact. It's dark, gritty with a fabulous cast of characters. I couldn’t put it down & can’t wait for the next in the series

Another excellent tale of Will and Sarah righting wrongs in and around Edinburgh. Loved the previous books and enjoyed this one too - it felt like meeting up with old friends.. Love the way the author teases us with their love lives and how their individual murder mysteries, baby snatching, wrongful arrests, intrigue and of course the fascinating medical side of things all manage to end up as one bigger challenge for them both to solve, which they do of course, though there were a few loose ends. These I hope will be nicely tied up in Ambrose Parry’s next book which I will very much look forward to!

I enjoyed Ambrose Parry’s first two books about Dr Will Raven, practising medicine in grim nineteenth century Edinburgh. Sarah, now widowed, has returned from a trip abroad chastened, believing her dream of studying medicine is over. She also finds that in the meantime Will has met a woman he wants to marry, the daughter of an eminent doctor. But why does the doctor seem so pleased to get her off his hands? This mystery will last for most of the book. There are two murder themes here. One is the sudden death of an important, unpleasant Edinburgh figure and the arrest of his son for the murder. The other is about the ghastly trade of baby farming and the heartless murder of babies. These two stories turn out to be strangely connected and yet again Will and Sarah work together to solve the murders, in spite of the new woman in Will’s life. As in the first two books, the atmosphere of Edinburgh, with its extremes of wealth and poverty, its snobberies and hopelessness, is very well conveyed. Reading it, I was constantly thankful for modern medicine and shuddered every time a doctor began treating a new patient without washing his hands. A brilliantly original series. I read this thanks to NetGalley.