This is the third in the series of unputdownable Ambrose Parry medical mysteries. It's not essential to have read the books in the order in which they were written, but it helps to have the full backstories, not least for gauging how and why the dynamic between the two main characters, Will and Sarah, develops.

In common with the two previous books, "A Corruption of Blood " is written in a very readable, engaging style, and is full of interesting historical details of Edinburgh and of medical science. The various intertwining plots are totally gripping: even when the mysteries and cliffhangers have been resolved, this reader is left impatient to know what excitement happens next for Will and Sarah - and for their relationship.

With thanks to the publisher and the Netgalley for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for this honest review.

This book is the third in a series, but it didn’t matter a bit that I hadn’t read the previous two - it stands very well on its own. It is a romp through the Victorian city of Edinburgh, complete with its inequities, poverty, privilege, intrigues and developing medical knowledge. Young Doctor Will Raven and his friend Sarah Fisher are working for the eminent obstetrician Simpson when the body of a baby is unearthed in a muddy dock. Is this death a one off, or are there more? What is the connection between the death and the great and good of the city? The plot here is complex, but it is so well written that the reader is always guided carefully through it and is never confused. The ending is very satisfying and leaves the reader hoping for more - the mark of a fine writer in my view.

I loved this book. It seems to be in a series but I haven't read any others and it didn't make any difference to my enjoyment of this book - always the sign of a well-written book. Sarah Fisher and Will Raven are trainees in Edinburgh for the eminent Victorian obstetrician Professor Simpson (who is a real person). They are investigating the death of a baby found washed up in the river Leith. Could this death be one of many?

The plot is great, the writing flows and the action is fast paced. Great book

This is a stellar addition to the wonderful Ambrose Parry historical/medical series set in 1850s Edinburgh, an inspiring blend of fact and fiction, featuring the pioneering, compassionate real life Dr Simpson, and Dr Will Raven and Sarah Fisher that reside with him at 52 Queen Street. It immerses the reader in the grim realities of the city, its stench and poverty, the extreme inequalities, the dismal social norms and attitudes to women, and the hypocrisies, inhumanity and cruelties of the rich and powerful for whom reputation is all, cloaking the darker truths of who they really are. Sarah travels to Paris and Grafenberg with Mina in her quest to see the breaking Elizabeth Blackwell, a female doctor, a goal she is aspiring towards.

However, Sarah has her ambitions crushed, leaving her flailing, stranded and lost, wandering where she goes now and struggling with her sense of identity. The shock on her return of finding Will engaged to be married to Eugenie Todd, the daughter of a prominent physician, pulls her into a deeper despair, jealousy and depression, even though her feelings for Will are laced with ambiguity. Settling on the fact she is alone, she focuses on helping the distraught Christina, the maid, who had been forced to giving up her baby to a woman who has now gone missing. Will is in Leith, helping to deliver twins, when a package is fished out, its contents to be revealed to be the horror of a strangled baby. Eugenie has Will helping a man he disliked, the feckless Gideon, the son of Sir Alastair Douglas, who has been arrested for his father's murder and is facing the hangman's noose.

It is only when Sarah and Will begin working together that their different investigations begin to bear fruit and the connections between them begin to emerge, whilst simultaneously underlining the close relationship the two have with each other. Will's support of her has Sarah finding her old zest and ambitions, with the two of them discussing the truths of what they mean to each other. This is a hard hitting, twisted and dark read, of the nightmare realities and tragedies of baby farming, an inevitable consequence of the conditions poor women faced in a political environment dominated by the inhumanity of monsters like Sir Alastair Douglas, even women from wealthy families were not immune. We are given insights into the legal implications of ' a corruption of blood', and the state of the medical community and the science of the period. I must admit that I cannot wait to see how the Will, Eugenie and Sarah relationships develop in the future!! Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

This is my first book by Ambrose Parry, not realsing it was the third in the series. however, it work fine as a standalone, with sufficient background filled in for the story to makes sense. And what a story it was. Fantastic characters, an intriguing plot and a number of subplots to keep readers enthralled. Having a doctor as the main character gives us access to all echelons of society and enables to learn about life at the time in a very natural way. I absolutely LOVED it! I'm definitely going to go back and read the first two books. The writing flowed so well, the descriptions allowing me to visualise everything so clearly I felt I had gone back in time. Sad that I've finished really...

I just loved this book as I did the first book in the series, somehow I have managed to miss the second, something that will be rectified very shortly. I love the history and the depth of research that has gone into writing this. Set in Edinburgh, a city proud of its medical footprint, it is from the nineteenth century, the book is atmospheric and very believable. I felt it had credence and added to what I already know about early medical practise. The characters are fascinating. Will Raven is a qualified doctor but has some way to achieve recognition for his work. I was a bit impatient to get into this book but that probably was because I wanted to find out what happened from previously. I relaxed when I got a grasp of things and I sat back to enjoy the read. This book did give me some late nights as I became immersed and I am sad now that is all over. A historical novel with a difference, it ticks so many boxes, especially history, medical, and mystery. I cant wait for more by this couple they really have found a great partnership here.

This gripping murder mystery series featuring Will Raven and Sarah Fisher is just getting better and better.

It’s not only the suspenseful plotting but also the atmosphere and period details that make it so enjoyable. Historical facts and fiction are cleverly blended and late-Victorian Edinburgh with all its grime, smells and noises comes gloriously to life. It’s a fascinating time where scientific progress and some liberal views clash with strict traditions and the class system. Reputation is everything and a small misstep can ruin livelihoods and not only Will and Sarah have to negotiate their personal lives very, very carefully.

It’s an absorbing and entertaining novel that after much peril and aguish has got a satisfying ending.

The third book in this series about Will Raven and Sarah and a whole cast of real and fictional characters is as good, if not better than the previous two. I love the medical history as I studied the social history of medicine as part of my undergraduate degree and do wish I had taken my studies further to a Masters, like one of the authors who makes up Ambrose Parry did. Fascinating stuff about Victorian medical practices as well as a very strong storyline with plenty of intrigue and a wee bit of romance added for good measure, With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the authors for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC of this title.

This is a superb series set in Edinburgh in the 19th century. The skill of the authors to weave true tales of medical history within the plots of our duo Will Raven and Sarah Fisher have led to some excellent tales so far.
In this novel we become immersed in the world of baby farming and the consequences of 'motherhood' amongst women who need to resort to other means beyond money and a stable family.
When Will discovers a tragic child death this leads not only to a murderous pattern across the city but links in with his recent love interest Eugenie Todd. The 'do-gooders' of the city are looking to regain the moral high ground especially amongst the church and the professors and clinicians of the upper classes. "Ignorance was always fertile soil for the sowing of moral indignation".
Sarah returns to Edinburgh and her home also with Dr Simpson where she and Will met. But has their love now run its course? She had hoped to launch her own career travelling in the footsteps of the first woman to obtain a medical degree - Elizabeth Blackwell. But the American, although a trailblazer also faces tragedy.
Sarah and Will have investigated murders/medical blunders before and are soon immersed into the loss of babies, the poisonings of leading citizens and a murky life amongst the tea cups of supposedly best behaved rich households.
Connections between characters could at times seem a little too predicable but overall this follows in an excellent series of Victorian crime mysteries which use medical background in fascinating in history to provide real insight to the often murky world of the medics of Edinburgh's fine city. Do wonder how long the rumbling romance of Will and Sarah can be stretched out though!?

This is the third instalment in the Raven, Fisher and Simpson series and - if possible - I think they're getting better and better.

I loved this one and, in particular, the focus on Sarah and her pursuit of a future in medicine.

The historical Edinburgh setting is a treat for anyone who knows the city, and the characterisation (particularly of Will and Sarah) is just tremendous.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Cannongate for an advanced copy.

Having read the two earlier books in this series I was looking forward to meeting with the main characters - particularly Dr Will Raven and Sarah Fisher -along with the other characters at 52 Queen Street, Edinburgh in the mid 19th Century in this historical crime novel. As with the others in the series this is a well researched novel which educates as well as entertains ... I was only sorry I couldn't sit down and read this all in one go!

Medically two stories evolve through the novel - the discovery of a baby's body, wrapped in paper when pulled from the water at Leith and the death of Sir Ainsley Douglas. Initially Will is pulled into both of the deaths and, when Sarah returns from seeking out Dr Elizabeth Blackwell in Europe, the duo team up again complementing each other's skills and knowledge.

This has the feeling of the apex of a longer story (hopefully) with threads still left untied which hopefully hints at more to come. It would be possible to read this as a stand alone novel however you will be even more invested in it and the characters by reading the earlier novels ... and that way you don't miss out on a couple of other brilliant novels.

I found this a very slow boil of a story. I read the first in the series and enjoyed it, but this took me a long time to get into it. It's well written and knowledgeable about the era.

Thanks to Netgalley and the ppublisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

This is the third Will Raven and Sarah Fisher book, and I can thoroughly recommend every one of them!

The book starts with Sarah travelling through Europe trying to track down a Dr Blackwell, a woman doctor who Sarah wants to speak to about becoming a certified doctor.

Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, Will is caught up in a heartbreaking case when on the way back from delivering a baby he comes across the police dealing with the death of a baby found wrapped in brown paper in the harbour at Leith.

The story is interspersed with the death of Sir Ainsley Douglas, who uses fear and blackmail to get his own way and was trying to get a new law passed that will arrest women for various reasons.

In previous books Sarah and Will had a romantic relationship of sorts, we now find that Sarah has been married and widowed, and Will has transferred his attentions to Eugenie and they are engaged to be married, there is still an undercurrent between them (I really hope this situation doesn't take over the books!)

This was a dark, and gritty book that I absolutely could not put down, the painstaking research that must have gone into this book was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and as I live near Edinburgh found the descriptions of the area fascinating.

Highly recommended and cannot wait for the next book

Another amazing book from this brilliantly talented author. Ambrose Parry's writing style is unique and absolutely mesmerising, can't wait for the next book

Edinburgh, 1850. This city will bleed you dry.

Whilst on his way home from a call out, Dr Raven comes across a package that has been washed up at the Port of Leith, the contents of which were utterly horrifying. A few days later, one of Edinburgh's wealthiest men is found murdered, leaving his son and heir to his fortune the main suspect.

Dr Raven resides with the famous Dr James Simpson, the man who introduced the use of chloroform as anaesthesia in surgery and childbirth, along with Sarah Fisher who assists with medical procedures at the practice. Sarah is recently widowed and is now toying with the idea of pursuing her ambition to obtain a medical degree although, she has many obstacles in her way to overcome and decisions to be made.

Both Dr Raven and Sarah Fisher become involved in the recent events, with one seeking answers to help find a missing child and the other set on the task of finding out the truth behind the murder and in their quests, their paths cross bringing forth links between the two.

Firstly, I didn’t realise this was book three in a series, so my thoughts on this book are probably not fair as I didn't overly enjoy how it was executed. Although I have read other reviews saying it can work as a standalone, I don’t think it does as I feel I need to know the backstory of Dr Raven and Sarah Fisher to be able to submerge myself into the book. In a way it can work as a standalone as there are only a few references to the previous books and they are not required for solving this mystery, but I was missing the personal connection, the relationship built between characters and readers within a series

The premise of this story is brilliant, and I do love historical facts as I tend to research as I read. It is a good, interesting murder mystery where two threads, from two contrasting backgrounds, are entwined together in a well-researched and intriguing manner. However, I personally feel that the first two books should be read first.

"It was another instance where Sir Ainsley's demise made the problem go away. Suspects were beginning to pile up. Teddy, Mansfield, Findlay and his wife. All had readings to wish Sir Ainsley dead, but wish and doing were quite different things."

Edinburgh, 1850 and back in the house of Dr James Young Simpson, physician and the first to demonstrate the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic. Dr Simoson's assistant, Dr Will Raven and recently widowed Miss Sarah Fisher are separated by geography as Will continues his work and Sarah travels to meet Elizabeth Blackwell (the first female doctor). The sudden death of one of Edinburgh's most wealthy, influential and feared men, Sir Ainsley Douglas looks like murder and needs their attention, when his son Gideon (who studied medicine with Will) is incarcerated for his murder. There is also the case of 'unwanted' babies adopted by wealthy families because society would not allow mothers to keep them due to scandal. Will has a love interest just as Sarah returns, adding to the complexity of their relationship. Will they discover who killed Sir Ainsley and where the missing babies are?

The third installment in this atmospheric, historical crime series with a medical focus, based around the true story of Dr Simpson as well as Dr Blackwell. Character development, particularly for Will and Sarah, runs in tandem with plot development, both set against the backdrop of wealthy and impoverished Victorian Edinburgh. Both are still struggling with their roles in society and their feelings for one another, whilst short and pacy chapters made for ensconcing reading. It addresses some of the difficult issues of the day, including how differently men and women were treated and how Victorian society hid the unpalatable beneath a veneer of acceptability. I found this started a little slow, but soon made up for it and made for a great read, great to follow Will, Sarah and Dr Simpson on more adventures!

My first Ambrose Parry novel and, overall, an excellent, intelligent entertainment! I have definitely enjoyed this mix of mystery, detection, feminism, and historical fact. Dr Will Raven and Sarah Fisher are a rather attractive tandem: intelligent, independent... characters pretty well fleshed out: their backstories, intriguing. I am going back to the first two novels and look forward to the next offerings, as the glimpses of the beginnings of this relationship (not only among themselves but also within the household of their (historical) mentor, Dr Simpson) have wetted my appetite.
This particular storyline revolves about unwanted children in a number of guises, with the investigation developing around a number of avenues which allow for pertinent historical facts to be discussed and, in my case, learned about, adding hugely to my enjoyment of this thriller. There are parallel and criss-crossing narratives around the lives of the two ¨sleuths¨ as they move up in their careers and personal lives... the romance-love story element of the novel is great fun too and has its own suspense thread...
The writing wants to have a 19c graceful flavour, which I appreciated. The pace is good, with few longueurs. I resolved the mystery but there was a fun unexpected semi twist.
I thank Canongate via NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel which I totally recommend if entertainment and some factual new data is what you are looking for.

Well ... I suppose I will start with a word of warning. This is not a very easy subject to read about. Nothing is glorified and there is nothing taken to gratuitous lengths within the story, but it does feature a very taboo subject, and of the death of children will cause you distress then you may want to exercise caution because the opening to the book is quite stark, and later discoveries do nothing to make the heart fill with warmth. That aside, this was yet another brilliantly researched, authentic feeling story which blends humour, history and mystery to entertain, and enrapture this. read from the very first page to the last.

Over the course of the three books I have really come to like the character of Will Raven. I'll be blunt - he came across as a bit of knob to begin with, but he has quickly redeemed himself and is now a character driven by principles and doing the right thing, especially by Sarah, even if his head and his heart tell are torn. As for Sarah, she is a woman that many can recognise, held back by society but determined to make her own way in spite of it. This time around though she is plagued by some self doubts which are untypical of her, but believable of her circumstances. There is an amazing chemistry between the two characters and no matter what conflicts may occur and whatever circumstance, and the authors, throws in their way, they make a formidable pair. Somehow you just know that as soon as they are involved, the criminals do not stand a chance.

There are two different threads to this story that lead our protagonists in. different directions initially, but ultimately resulting in their proving that two heads are far better than one. First up we have the murder of a very prominent Edinburgh resident. A former University mentee, and adversary, of Will Raven stands accused of his murder. A mutual friend persuades Raven to look into the murder against his better judgment, certain that the wrong person is set to be convicted. What we face here is a story full of tension, corruption and hidden truths which are as believable as they are shocking, but very much if the time. It is a twisted story of a fractured family, instantly recognisable, but give a unique Ambrose Parry twist that had me smiling in approval.

Sarah's quest is one which will very much tug at the heartstrings and resonates with news stories from the not so distant past. It ties in with other elements of the story in a tragic and emotional way, one which will sadden even the hardest of readers. It has been handled with care but also with authenticity, and whilst it is easy to suppose we know where that particular thread may lead, always be prepared to expect the unexpected. Perhaps it shouldn't have been - with hindsight, the clues are all there - but it certainly makes for quite the eyebrow raising moment.

This wouldn't be an Ambrose Parry novel without a lunk back to the medical side of Raven and Sarah's life and once again we are brought into the world of Dr Simpson, a blend of the factual and the imagined, which really adds another dimension to the stories. It is a thriller based in the world of medicine, rather than a medical thriller, but I have to admit that those scenes fascinate me every but as much as the wonderful array of characters and the rich settings that Ambrose Parry portray so beautifully. There are plenty of the old favourite characters littered throughout the story, as well as some new who most definitely throw a spanner in the works as far as our Detecting duo are concerned. Potentially big changes afoot but it has left me all the more intrigued to see what may come next. Definitely recommended.

Really enjoyed this book. wonderfully set, intriguing, complex characters and a murder mystery plot that kept you guessing until the very end. Parry also did a very accomplished job of pulling all the strands together neatly, and it didn't feel particularly forced. I hadn't come across this author or his books but am now keen to seek out the earlier books in this series to learn more about Raven and Sarah's histories.

This is the third book in the series. I have read and loved the previous books. Set in Scotland in the Victorian era the theme of all the books is medical/detective fiction. What I enjoy about these books are the medical practices that were used and actually how knowledgeable the Victorians were. Even though this book is set so far in the past some things still haven't changed.

The story centers around Will Carver, Sarah Fisher and Professor Simpson. I've particularly enjoyed the development of Sarah throughout the books from an housemaid to a trusted member of the team. I found it fascinating about the actual corruption of blood and what it means. This book is well researched, well written out and absolutely brilliant.