A gripping read. The mesmerism and magic references were a little belaboured and overdone, but I still raced through this and found it thoroughly enjoyable.

Voices of the Dead
If we cannot know how people think and act in the future then we can only write as we would behave and act and chose to set the story either in the future or the past. As such historical fiction where there are huge gaps in our knowledge are just as speculative as any future based story. In every case it is not the setting that the most import
Will Raven and Sarah Fisher return in this historical mystery series. Set in the mid nineteenth century Scotland it features Will as the assistant to Doctor Simpson a real life doctor who popularised the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic. Simpson experimented freely on himself and colleagues and helped push forward obstetrics, saving lives of women and babies.
In this fictionalised form Will often finds himself at the centre of a mystery and requires the help of Sarah Fisher. She also works for Simpson but would really like to train as a Doctor. This is a world where women are unable to progress and recently widowed Sarah is frustrated by her life.
The main focus on this episode aside from the discovery of body parts around the city of Edinburgh is on the science of mesmerism. Sarah is drawn to it thinking it might be possible to learn it without incurring the wrath of the authorities. Will is sceptical but is also drawn into the mystery. He has conflicting feelings for Sarah also, despite being married with a child and another on the way.
I love a mystery and doubly an historical setting. This book ticks all the boxes and full of detail about life in Victorian Edinburgh. This is the fourth in the series and I recommend starting at the beginning to enjoy the way Sarah and Will interact along with the returning supporting characters will make The Voices of the Dead more meaningful.

Raven and Fisher are back and body parts are turning up randomly all over Edinburgh, ok maybe two places, one of which happens to be surgeons hall and funnily enough the new boss isn’t particularly happy about it and tasks Raven with sorting the whole mess out without bringing the establishment into disrepute even though it is rank with the stench of corruption. Meanwhile Sarah is still striving to make something of herself and thinks this new fangled theory of mesmerism might just be the thing to help her achieve her dreams of becoming some kind of medical professional.
I’m kind of losing patience with series a little bit, there are things about it that a really very good - the mystery, the social history, the character development etc. but I find myself exasperated by the back and forth of Will and Sarah, I find Sarah especially tiresome and I feel I should hand in my feminist card for saying so but I’ve always found her slightly irritating. She always makes the wrong decisions. I also find Will slightly spineless and weak. Does this make them more realistic? Do I care? I starting not to.

I love everything that Chris Brookmyre writes, and this series, written with his wife under the pen name Ambrose Parry, is no exception. While they are very different to his usual style, there is so much to enjoy in these books. As well as the mystery to be solved, there are lots of interesting historical details. Accompanying Raven and his colleagues as they live through a time of rapid development in the history of medicine is fascinating, and the atmosphere of the Edinburgh streets is so well described you can imagine yourself there. I also love the way Sarah's life as an intelligent and capable woman unfolds as she tries to find her place within the medical establishment of Victorian Britain.
This fourth book in the series focusses on a series of grizzly finds dotted around Edinburgh, and the race to discover and apprehend the killer before he strikes again, possibly with disastrous consequences for our heroes. But it is also so much more than that, and you turn the last page a little better apprised of this period of history, and wanting already to read the next book to find out what happens next in the lives of Will and Sarah.

Voices of the Dead was an entertaining read. Set in Edinburgh in Victorian times it depicts the fine line between medicine and superstition.

Although this part of a series of books it can be read as a standalone, as I did.

Thanks to Canongate for the Advanced Reader copy. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book that I have read from this series, I believe this is the 4th book. Loved the characters of Sarah Fisher and Will Raven (fantastic name) and the undoubted chemistry between. Its clear that the author has done medical research of the mid 19th century...this entwined with a crime makes for a fantastic story for us, the readers. I will have to read the first book and learn more about this series. It is truly a fantastic book

I was excited to start this book but unfortunately found it quite dense to read. Maybe it is a re-read as it is well written and the setting is attractive.

Mornay I like Parry very much .. but I guess this time, the references to past events (presumably in early books in this world), and the requisite bits about women being as smart as,men, but blocked, etc. Are overdone; asking with the rather sketchy ideas of hypnotism and mesmerise, just got me swamped (and bore!) .. Raven is boring too .. I cannot get clear picture of his moral choices. Things are set up for him to contravene (and we even know it when he makes choices) for example, abt autopsy on giant he promised he would prevent, and then his inability to judge people ..fulton, and, even Sarah his fellow medical worker; and pregnant wife, eugenie, who has friendship with Sarah too.

I understand author wants to show complexities but the explanations are so drawn out! And not unsurprising!

This is the fourth in the series around doctors in Victorian Edinburgh. It follows Dr Simpson is a renowned physician, one of the first people to advocate the use of chloroform, especially in childbirth. Will came there as a new doctor & has been an associate to the practice, along with Sarah- a highly intelligent young woman who in another age would have been a gifted doctor. This time the story follows the use of mesmerism & how it may be useful but how it can also be used to fool & exploit.

As always, I felt as though I walked the streets of Edinburgh & it was good to meet old friends again. It could be a read alone but I think following the characters from the start is the most enjoyable. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

The latest in the series of books featuring Dr Will Raven.
Will is now married with a son, something that he struggles with. Sarah Fisher has continued her medical studies and, despite Will being married, the pair remain very close. Maybe too close.
When the dismembered remains of a body turn up around Edinburgh, Will is asked to help solve the case. Just when they think they know who the victim is, another body part appears that throws all previous theories out of the window.
Dipping into mesmerism, which was popular at the time, this a clever, if sometimes complicated story which comes together nicely in the end. I will confess that in the early stages, I wondered why so much time was given to certain parts over others, but once you know the outcome, you can see why things were as they were.
There are a few references to previous stories in the series, but this book could be read as a standalone.
Many thanks to the authors, publishers and NetGalley for an SRC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in Edinburgh in 1853, Voices of the Dead is the fourth book to feature Dr Will Raven and Sara Fisher. Body parts have been found in various locations around the city, and Will has been helping with the investigation into their identity. Meanwhile, Sara is learning to use Mesmerism, hoping it will prove helpful alongside traditional medicine. It could be a way for her to extend her skills as she is frustrated at not being able to undergo medical training simply because she is female. Is her ambition blinding her to what Will and Dr Simpson can already see?
The two plots strands run separately for most of the book, but gradually merge towards the end as everything falls into place. Various themes are explored throughout the narrative, especially those with a theatrical connection, such as sleight of hand, misdirection, illusion and disguise. A lot of the characters are not what they seem, or are pretending to be.
The skillful story telling incorporates real people and historical research into the narrative, while still ensuring the readers will be thoroughly entertained. At the heart of this series are Will and Sara – their relationship continually evolves and changes but holds everything together. In Voices of the Dead, unlike in the previous books, Dr Simpson is absent for much of the story, leaving Will and Sara as the main focus. Will is faced with a moral dilemma that would solve his financial problems, but we see how far he has come by the decision that he makes.
Victorian Edinburgh is almost a character in its own right, as the atmospheric descriptions immerse the reader in the sights, sounds and smells of Auld Reekie. This was a time of great change and progress, and Ambrose Parry (husband and wife team Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman) really bring it to life. I particularly enjoyed the stories of Gregor and The Great Kimble – they were good examples of characters who were not what they initially appeared to be. I have loved all the books in this series and they just keep getting better and better. Thanks to Canongate and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. I really wanted to like this one but sadly I couldn't get into it.

The 4th book in the Raven, Fisher and Simpson series and Ambrose Parry never fail draw you into an atmospheric Victorian Edinburgh.

A gruesome discovery is found at Surgeon’s Hall which seems to connect the theatre with the operating theatre. Voices of the Dead is fully immersive with many twists and turns. As ‘mesmerism’ and seances are a primary focus in this novel, you always feel one step behind with the authors trying to “pull the wool over your eyes”.

Ambrose Parry are amongst the best in creating atmospheric historic crime fiction which keeps you guessing until the very end,

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I anticipate a new Ambrose Parry book, keen to be immersed in the world of Raven and Fisher. This was a welcome addition to the series, in particular it was nice to see Sarah shine in her own storyline, pursuing her own field of interest at a slight remove from Queen Street.

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

I am rarely a fan of historical books but knowing the authors behind this book I decided to give it a try. Its safe to say they ve converted me.

Edinburgh, 1854 and bodies are appearing.
With Raven taking the lead on investigating we meet a whole cast of characters I couldnt get enough of.
(I must admit I didnt realise I was starting at book four and have since gone back and read the first three. I would complety reccomend reading the whole series, because although this story can stand alone why would you want to deprive yourself?!)
This book explores the challenges, beliefs and processes that we believe those in the 19th century to have held and how they worked though and around those with differing views.

I really enjoyed this book. I was born and have lived my life in Edinburgh and really enjoyed reading about the places I know so well. This was a gripping tale and a real page turner, A great plot with some very interesting characters.

Thank goodness Ambrose Parry have brought out another Raven and Fisher mystery. This time we have mesmerism and spiritualism, and of course a murder. An old adversary makes a return to confuse. Body parts have been found around London and Will and Sarah find themselves personally involved. Poor Sarah is still very frustrated about not being allowed to play a 'real' part in medicine, which is denied to women. I think to get the most from the books, they should be read in order.

The world of Will Raven simply expands and becomes richer in detail with each book. Mid-nineteenth century Edinburgh brought to life with the most wonderful characters: giants, criminals, charlatans, magicians alongside the employer, lover, children and wife. The twists and turns keep you riveted to the story, and the characters are wonderfully believable and interesting. What more could you ask?

This is a great series that never disappoints. The research behind it all is fantastic and I love to see where the members of the Simpson household will find themselves next.

Will is about to be a father and Sarah is feeling that she is not using her talents to the full. Enter the strange and interesting new craft of mesmerism, and we find ourselves in the middle of yet another exciting Edinburgh mystery.

Is Sarah thinking clearly or is she grasping at straws for a way to move herself and her career forward?

Are even the members of the household telling each other the truth?

Another impressive read and one which only leaves me wanting to know more

I think I should have started with the first in this series - as the characters have already developed in the past three books and understanding the background too. However, it was still an engaging read.
What particularly drew me in was that all of these advancements in medicine were made at the time, combine this with a murder mystery and voila! You have yourself the Voices of the Dead book.

An Arc was sent to me via NetGalley.