This is book three of this series. To get the very best from it with respect to main characters' development and backstories, I really would recommend starting from book one and reading in order. In my opinion they have all been cracking books so... why wouldn't you?!
When we first reconnect with Will, Sarah is away trying to track down a lady who has managed to obtain a medical degree, no mean feat for a woman in the time the book is set. He is missing her but spends his time getting on with his lot in life. But one day he is disturbed to make a grisly discovery down at the docks in the form of a washed up package. But things in his life aren't all so bad, In fact, his social and, if I might say love, life is looking up. Socially he is still a bit lacking but manages to get to a few events with his mentor Dr Simpson. And it is after one such event that the host is found dead, his son accused of murder. The son just happens to be known to Will, from student days, and not in a good way, But he has heard of Will's prowess with investigation and wants him to help clear his name...
I love this series. The clever way that the author merges fact with fiction. Weaving new stories around characters that existed in real life; seamlessly. And often, as in this case, unearthing some rather dark happenings. Punches are most definitely not pulled herein. But not sensationalised I hasten to add. Shocking though, nonetheless.
Plotting is excellent and so very well executed. And the time in which the book is set is perfectly described and, within my limited knowledge, true to life, politically and socially. And also adopting the language of the time too. I do love learning new words to slip into every day modern conversation with my peers!
And we have the starting of a love triangle to continue forward to future books. Really can't wait to see how that all gets resolved! Roll on book four.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A corruption of blood is a clever historical crime based medical drama, following Dr Will Raven as he unwittingly stumbles across a macabre death of an infant pulled from the river. Supported by a cast of beguiling characters, personal and professional lines quickly become blurred as Raven's fiancé pulls him into a murder investigation involving a childhood acquaintance.
Although Raven is the central protagonist, it is the strong female characters who stay in the memory after reading as they struggle against the societal expectations of the time where marriage, obedience and the power of men limit opportunities despite intelligence and drive.

I loved the first two books in this series, but feel that the writing team have really hit their stride with this third instalment. The period atmosphere is still almost tangible as Will and Sarah make their way between the dire Edinburgh tenements of the poor and the grand houses of the rich and titled. At the core of the book is the ever developing relationship between Sarah and Will that appears to have settled into a comfortable friendship. However, there are moments that are deliciously tantalising where each, in turn, wonders whether they are being honest with themselves about their true feelings.

The mystery is one that raises interesting questions of the day. The idea that criminality and degenerateness was somehow hereditary was being challenged at the end of the 19th century as evidence was collected that examined the effects of poor environment, poverty and poor parenting. These ideas are explored, but never at the expense of the plot.

As in the previous books women's place in society is woven skilfully into the plot. Sarah is initially crushed as she tries to cope with the fact that the world she lives in is controlled by men. Slowly though she starts to see that there is scope to subvert societal expectations from within and play men at their own game. This is an interesting development in the series and one I am keen to see progress in future books.

The ending is both incredibly satisfying and thoroughly whetted my appetite for further adventures.

My thanks go to the publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

The third book by the husband and wife partnership featuring Dr. Will Raven and Sarah Fisher set in 19th century Edinburgh. They are in the employ of the eminent Dr. Simpson.
Sarah who is now a widow, is travelling with Mina Dr. Simpson's sister. Sarah wishes to meet Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell who is the first qualified female doctor of medicine. She emigrated to America but is now living in Paris France.
Will has fallen in love with a remarkable woman - Eugenie who is the aughter of a well known doctor - Dr. Todd. When Dr. Simpson asks Will to accompany him to a fund raising charity event at Crossford House which is the home of sir Ainsley Douglas. He has a son Gideon ( who is known to Will ) and a widowed daughter.
sir Ainsley is a bully and enoys making mischief.. Will is soon involved in a murder, baby selling and Dr.. Simpson is struck down with a fever.
This is a good historical mystery and is now an established and informative series. The attraction has always been between Will and Sarah - can they keep apart?
Very enoyable and recommended.

This is the third in a very solid historical crime series written by husband and wife Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman. The combination of their professional backgrounds, Brookmyre, an established best-selling crime author and Haetzman, an expert on anaesthesia, is tailor-made for this mid-nineteenth century series set in Edinburgh featuring two fictional characters working for Dr Simpson, a real-life medical pioneer who developed the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic.
Good groundwork has already been laid in the first two novels “The Way Of All Flesh” (2018), a book I often recommend to our library users, and “The Art Of Dying” (2019). Firstly, the will-they-won’t-they relationship between main characters Will Raven and Sarah Fisher is enthralling as are the ongoing obstacles for a nineteenth century woman attempting to prove herself as anything other than a wife and mother. At the start of this novel, in 1850, Sarah has set off to meet with another real life figure, Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to obtain a medical degree and be registered with the UK General Medical Council for advice, but she is not encouraging.
In fact, the malaise experienced by Sarah as she returns to Edinburgh following this encounter seems to infiltrate the novel as the first half feels a little flat compared to its predecessors. Raven should be in celebratory mood as he has developed an understanding with a doctor’s daughter, Eugenie, but she feels under-drawn here (purposely so?) making it hard to appreciate why Raven would choose her over Sarah. However, the Victorian Era is full of contradiction and hypocrisy and the victim of one of the crimes, which occupies Raven’s time, is an advocate for ill-treatment of prostitutes who may have been poisoned by his son. The title refers to the term for total disinheritance should the heir be convicted of such a crime.
Sarah, at the same time, is engaged on locating the whereabouts of an unfortunate housemaid’s baby, given away at birth. It’s not until the two main characters come together that the pace picks up enhanced by the chemistry between them. The last quarter of the novel is very strong indeed which lifts this book back up onto a par with the other two. Further crimes are revealed, some particularly horrific, and careful plotting leads to an impressive exciting climax and resolution.
There is plenty of mileage left in this series and I look forward to finding out what the writers have in store for these characters.
A Corruption Of Blood is published in the UK in hardback by Canongate on 19th August 2021. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

An excellent read. Very good storyline and includes many historical features. I would throughly recommend this to readers interested in historical events.

This is the third book in the series and having read the previous two I was looking forward to reading this new story and I wasn't disappointed .Set in Edinburgh in the 1850's this is a wonderful atmospheric, sometimes dark story .Dr Will Raven and Sarah Fisher are again continuing to be brilliant but this time investigating separate mysteries .This is a gritty sometimes dark story with a great plot ,very enjoyable .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

This series keeps on delighting. A fascinating blend of fact and fiction (pleasingly, they tell you in the end notes which is which) set in the very real 52, Queen Street in in late-Victorian Edinburgh. This is the third book featuring the intrepid pair Dr Will Raven and Sarah Fisher who live in the house of Dr James Simpson, a medical pioneer who developed the use of chloroform in medical operations.

Will is studying with Dr Simpson and Sarah, who started these books as an intelligent and curious housemaid, and who progressed to Dr Simpson’s trusted assistant, through marriage and subsequent widowhood, now finds herself in a position where she should be able to pursue her aspirations.

Sarah has gone on a voyage abroad with Dr Simpson’s sister, Mina as companion, but all she really wants to do is to speak to Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman practicing Doctor. She is Sarah’s role model and she wants to find out all she can from her about how she achieved her role. But the answers that Sarah receives leave her dejected and she returns to Edinburgh her spirit crushed and feeling a not a little lost. Society is not ready to receive a woman doctor and even if it were, Sarah has much to learn before she can achieve her dream.

Will, meanwhile has mostly recovered from Sarah’s marriage and has himself taken more than a liking to the daughter of another prominent Edinburgh physician, Dr. Todd. Making such a match would elevate Will in Edinburgh society, which is why it is a mystery that Dr Todd, if not wholly approving, is prepared to countenance the match.

Ambrose Parry’s rich and descriptive writing steeps us in the contrasts that abound in this Edinburgh. The emphasis on learning while the poor are left in poverty, squalor and despair is stark. The casual attitude to the loss of human life when the subject is poor and has no influence is hard to consider. Here the affluent flaunt their transgressions while maintaining a veneer of civility lest their carefully guarded reputations should slip and reveal their true depravities.

A Corruption of Blood follows a dual plot-line with Sarah pursuing her quest for Christina’s baby and Will, after the discovery of a murdered baby in the harbour at Leith, against his inclination, trying to find out if an old enemy has really committed the murder of a prominent Edinburgh high society figure, Sir Ainsley Douglas. Though the facts seem clear and redoubtable Edinburgh Inspector of Police, James McLevy is certain he has his man, the more Will looks into the case, the more doubts he has. But the truth is hard to come by and it will take both Will and Sarah, working together, to solve these mysteries. Their chemistry is undeniable and I really enjoyed the difficult but frank conversation they have which paves the way for them to work together again.

Though this is a highly enjoyable story that rattles along at a fair old pace and is full of warmth and affection for its central characters, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that at the heart of this story is a tense and heart-breaking story based on real life events which is both shocking and indicative of just how hypocritical this society’s attitudes towards women really was.

Verdict: A Corruption of Blood tackles some difficult and heart-breaking subjects and, as always, it is laced with some pertinent observations on the position of women at the time. I love the research that gives authenticity to these dark and sobering tales and the way the hypocrisy and mores of ‘polite’ Edinburgh society the times shines through in these stories. This is a fantastic addition to a terrific series, well researched and full of riveting moments. I loved it.

A Corruption Of Blood is the third outing in the excellent historical series featuring Dr Will Raven, Sarah Fisher and Dr James Simpson, who was a distinguished obstetrician in 19th century Edinburgh, a real historical figure who began introducing the use of ether for difficulties in childbirth, and later discovered the anaesthetic qualities of chloroform. A compassionate doctor, he often treated the poor pro bono and with as much care as the rich, and sought to make childbirth a much less dangerous experience.

Sarah left Edinburgh with Mina, Mrs Simpson’s sister, to travel to Paris in the hopes of meeting Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to achieve a medical degree. Although Sarah assisted Dr Simpson, her burning ambition is to become a doctor in her own right despite the profession being male dominated and not considered suitable for women. The trip left Sarah disillusioned and discouraged, the advice she was hoping for unforthcoming and her objective seeming even less likely. On her return to Edinburgh another blow awaited her.

Meanwhile Raven witnesses the discovery of a tragic and gruesome package fished out of the ocean. An old adversery needs his help. He has also found the woman he wants to marry.

Raven finds himself involved in two separate cases. As he becomes interested in the investigation being conducted by Inspector McLevy into the package washed up by the ocean, it becomes obvious this was no isolated incident and the full extent and horror is slowly uncovered. Then the wealthy and influential Sir Ainsley Douglas is murdered. A former adversary of Raven’s is the accused, and regardless of the fact Gideon scorned Raven when they were students he’s not averse to accepting his help.

Despite the fact that Raven is engaged, there is still a strong chemistry between him and Sarah, which is evident as they join forces in the investigations, combining their knowledge and leading them down dangerous paths. Skilfully plotted, atmospheric and suspenseful, with certain aspects sensitvely handled, A Corruption Of Blood is a well written and very entertaining read.

This series is a wonderful blend of fact and fiction, a combination that adds a realistic edge. It’s very easy to imagine life in Victorian Edinburgh, with the deep divide between the classes from one part of town to the other, the vivid and evocative historical details, social injustices of the time, medical practices and opinions, the frustration with inequalities, particularly for women. Another all round compelling read.

Another interesting book from Mr P that successfully weaves fact and fiction to build a believable story about life in Edinburgh during the second half of the 19th Century and the inequalities and sense of entitlement that the factual part highlights.

This is the third in the series and I have volume 4 on my want list.

A Corruption of Blood has all the period atmosphere that was such a feature of its predecessors, The Way of All Flesh and The Art of Dying, transporting the reader to a 19th century Edinburgh in which seedy, crowded tenements inhabited by the poor coexist with the elegant, spacious houses of the wealthy. Although the third in the series, A Corruption of Blood can be read as a standalone although there are references to key events in the earlier books making them best read in order.

Dr. Will Raven is no longer Dr. James Simpson’s apprentice but his assistant. However, he still battles to control what his friend Henry describes as his ‘perverse appetite for mayhem' and remains plagued by fears he has inherited the violent tendencies of his father. In fact, the debate over whether character traits are inherited or is a theme of the book, with some believing that indolence and immorality are destined from birth and others arguing that poverty is the cause of many of society's ills. It later transpires that the idea of the 'corruption of blood' of the title can have other consequences.

Sarah Fisher has left behind her former life as a servant in the Simpson household. However, even helping Dr. Simpson with the patients who attend his clinic is no longer sufficient for her. She longs to pursue a career in medicine, a profession in which few other women have succeeded, not least because of opposition from men who believe medicine an unsuitable job for a woman. As Sarah observes, the world is one controlled by men.

The spark of attraction between Will and Sarah that looked likely to ignite in the first book seems to have become friendship and mutual respect. Will is still aware of the difference in their social status and Sarah has reason to fear her position in Will's affections has been usurped by someone who offers greater social advantages, especially for someone who has ambitions to set up his own practice. Despite all this, do they have a future together? This reader certainly hopes so.

Will and Sarah soon find themselves engaged in investigating the death of a wealthy member of Edinburgh society. As they discover, 'powerful men accumulate powerful enemies', especially if they are in possession of secrets. Together they make an effective team, possessing complementary skills: Will with his medical knowledge, familiarity with the city's 'underbelly' not to mention being handy with his fists, and Sarah with her ability to elicit information from the lower sections of society. They're not the only one on the case as there's an appearance by James McLevy, the famous Edinburgh detective (also brought to life in fictional form in David Ashton's historical mystery series).

As Will and Sarah press ahead with their enquiries, keen for their investigation bear fruit, the reader may believe they know exactly who the culprit is but there are times when it’s wise to wait for a second opinion or to revisit your initial diagnosis. And, along the way they uncover a shocking secret that sets the city alight with outrage and a demand for justice.

A Corruption of Blood is another skilful combination of intricately plotted mystery, engaging leading characters and great period atmosphere. The pace is helped by the short chapters, particularly as the book reaches its climax. For me, it's just what the doctor ordered and I’m hoping for a repeat prescription before too long.

I felt the plot took a a bit of a long time to really start but, once it got going, my interest was piqued. It's clear that there was a lot of historical research involved - the novel's portrait of Edinburgh and its social history is of particular interest -, and I liked the fact that there's a feminist twist to this otherwise fairly classical whodunnit. Definitely something I would recommend to lovers of historical crime fiction.

The third book in this series and it is the best one yet in my opinion. Set in Edinburgh, we again meet up with Will Raven as he continues his medical studies under the tutelage of Sir James Simpson, but this time, Sarah is absent, she has gone travelling around Europe to find Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female to gain a medical degree, Sarah is also interested in the possibility of being so trained, but is realising that so many jobs are closed off to females.
The theme of this book is the trade in babies. Both illegitimate and inconvenient babies are taken away for adoption for a price, but we discover that this is a cruel and heart breaking deception, in fact the most disturbing and upsetting part of this story concerns this very fact.
Edinburgh is very well portrayed and the characters of Will and Sarah are so well developed by now, you feel a great deal of impatience as their on/ off relationship falters and is then reignited!!
It is best to read the first two books, The Way of All Flesh and The Art of Dying in order to appreciate the subtle relationship of the two central people.
Reading about medical practices of the 19 th century makes you understand how far medical knowledge has progressed. It went from butchery, to the use of chloroform to the absolute necessity today of having clean, germ free hands!!
This is a dark and stylish murder mystery, with a punching story line. It is thought provoking and obsessive, so full of historical detail, interspersed with fiction, so cleverly done as to be utterly compelling. I do so hope there will be a fourth book in the making!!
My thanks to Netgalley and Cannongate publishers for my advance copy. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and other outlets later.

Another great installment in the stories of Sarah and Will.
characters that I can't help but wishing they both have a happy ending,but can't see how it can happen.
There's a couple of crimes to keep them busy.
Some grim reading,but very much fitting of the times.
Everything ties up so neatly at the end,yet I'm sat here wondering if I'm happy with the outcome.
This gave my slight reading slump a much needed boost,and I'm only sorry its such a long time to wait till the next book. There must be a next book?

Thank you to Netgalley, Cannongate Books & Ambrose Parry for my arc of A Corruption of Blood in exchange for an honest review.

Publishing 19th August 2021

This is the third book in the Raven, Fisher & Simpson series but could potentially be read as a standalone.

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series which were enjoyable mixing the history of medicine in Edinburgh with the detective genre.

For some reason this one didn’t grab me as much as the first two. It felt like it was quite a slow pace and then more rushed towards the end.

The mystery begins when a baby is washed up on the shore of the river and Raven begins an investigation. Meanwhile Sarah is also investigating missing babies and eventually the two investigations will collide. Meanwhile, the relationships between the characters are filled with fresh troubles and dramas.

I don’t know why I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the others but I would definitely still read the next one in the series.

I love this book series and would highly recommend it to people who enjoy historical thrillers that mix real-life characters with the fictional world.
Atmospheric, dark, meticulously plotted and executed with panache! I really do enjoy these books and the third in the series is no exception. 'A Corruption of Blood' can be read as a standalone I'm sure, but to understand the principal characters and their relationships, I'd highly recommend you start at the beginning.
A brilliant setting is the key to these books, the city really comes as life; it's like time-travelling. I love the well researched medical information, it really elevates the book and doesn't bog it down at all.
I also love the relationship between Will and Sarah and it certainly doesn't conform to the readers' expectations.
Highly recommended - these are also stunning looking books!

I loved this novel! As the third in a series concerning Will Raven,a medical man in Victorian times, there isn’t the need to have read the previous two ( although I had read the first) This is an intricate tale about dead babies,the murder of a thoroughly unpleasant gentleman and the burgeoning love affair between Will and his friend Sarah.The narrative deftly combines all three parts with plenty of action but with equally beautifully nuanced writing.It’s a wonderful book to sit down with and allow yourself to be transported back to the streets of the 19th century .Five stars!

This is the third novel in which Dr Simpson, Dr Will Raven and Sarah are the lead characters. However, Dr Simpson and his medical practice on Queen Street are not as central to the action as in the earlier novels but rather the floor is passed to Will Raven and his on/off relationship with Sarah, who has recently returned to Queen Street from travelling in Europe. Sarah gets drawn into doing some detective work to try and find a baby, sent into care at birth, by Dr Simpson's newly appointed housemaid .This baby has mysteriously disappeared and the mother now desperately wants her back. Meanwhile Eugenie, Will's new love, persuades him to try and prove the innocence of Gideon, who has been accused of murdering his father. Over the course of this novel the overlap between these events is gradually revealed but the conclusions, I suggest, are not what the reader might expect..
The contrast, between elegant New Town Edinburgh and the ramshackle poverty of the Old Town and Leith docks, provides the perfect backdrop against which to frame the behaviour and duplicity of the residents. Social class certainly doesn't equate to decency and, arguably, we find the most insidious crimes are committed behind the elegant facades of Georgian Edinburgh. But, ultimately, as it should, love wins the day.
Reading the previous novels in this series certainly will undoubtedly give added dimension to the main characters but "The Corruption of Blood" is a thoroughly entertaining read in its own right.

Another great book from Parry.
We once more join Dr Will Raven, a fictional assistant to the real Professor Simpson, in his seemingly mundane daily cases and baby deliveries. After an unremarkable case in Leith, Raven stumbles across the recently discovered body of a baby, seemingly dumped in the Water of Leith river. He then accompanies Simpson to a charity event, the host of which subsequently dies, apparently poisoned. Raven is then tasked by his new fiance to prove the innocence of her friend, and Raven's onetime obnoxious tutee, the dead man's son.
Meanwhile, Raven's partner in investigation, and in Simpson's clinic, Sarah Fisher, is travelling Europe hoping to get some inspiration and insight for her burgeoning medical career from real life Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman allowed to study medicine. Back from her travels, somewhat downhearted from the advice given, Fisher herself is asked to find her new colleague's, Simpson's housemaid, baby, who had been given into the care of a local woman due to her circumstances at the time of his birth.
The story gradually unfurls as Raven looks into the apparent poisoning of the prominent man, met at every turn with high profile peoples' unwillingness to have any scandal revealed, and Sarah tries to locate the woman who had been charged with looking after babies.
There is more societal dealings than in previous books, and this becomes a little tiresome at times, taking the place of previous books' murky underworld atmosphere. The need to be seen to be doing the right thing by the right people, and being careful not to upset the wrong ones, gets a little frustrating.
However, as with previous books, the weaving together of a fictional story with real world events and people, is something that kept me gripped and I read it voraciously.
A wonderful historical crime fiction book.

Book III in the Raven and Fisher series opens in Edinburgh around 1850. Sarah, recently returned from Paris, where she had hoped to advance her unconventional quest to become a doctor, finds more unpalatable news awaits at Queen St.
Its not long before her assistance is sought, this time concerning missing babies, and independently, Raven gets involved in the aftermath of a sudden death.
Eventually Will and Sarah accept the additive effect of their joint efforts and despite all the obstacles, achieve resolution of sorts.
Ambrose Parry has discovered a winning formula in these atmospheric novels set in a time when medical knowledge and application was advancing apace. The interesting and entertaining lead players, Raven and Fisher plough on regardless, hampered at every turn by villains and the barriers of class and gender.
The balance is perfect; background information, action, love interest and whether Will can keep up his selflessness in the face of it. I cannot get enough of this series.