This is a brilliant, gritty and gripping historical series that always keeps me hooked and guessing.
I loved the mysteries and the great characters, Sarah above all, but I'm always fascinated by the historical part as it''s like travelling in time to a moment when a lot of new discoveries were taking place.
Edinburgh is the non human MC, well described and vivid,.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The fan in me thought it was a new one, already read and reviewed

This is my favourite in Ambrose Parry's superb historical medical crime series set in Edinburgh, a blend of fact and fiction, featuring by the now well established Dr Will Raven, assistant to the famous obstetrician Dr Simpson, responsible for what is now becoming the accepted use of chloroform in medicine, and the ambitious Sarah Fisher, desperate to train as a doctor in a profession that refuses to let in women. It is 1853, Will is a different place now, he is a father, and wife, Eugenie, is expecting their second child, but all is not well, his past is interfering with him building a relationship with his young son, James, who is playing up and crying something rotten. This makes him seek any excuse to be away from home and distractions come in many forms. He is called by his friend, Dr Henry Littlejohn, to The Surgeon's Hall, where a foot has been discovered in a drawer.

This has Will investigating a case, with James McLevy, where dismembered body parts are found throughout the city, but who are the victims? A new scandal rag called The Hoolet is exaggerating the gory details for its growing circulation of readers. A spiritualist denounced as a charlatan at the Adelphi Theatre, ends up at Simpson's home, causing upset within the family, and has Will lashing out. Sarah's relationship with Will remains strong despite him being a married man, but conflict rises to the surface. Sarah feels there might be an opportunity for her to train as a mesmerist in this newly emerging field, she shows considerable promise as she trains under the American Dr Harland Malham. However, Will and the medical profession are sceptical. Will is under pressure to establish his own medical practice, an old foe re-enters his life and he finds himself tempted to break a promise.

A major highlight is how the authors excel in their major character developments in this addition, the surprising re-evaluations in past relationships that arise, the understanding that there might be more to a person than might be initially perceived, and that everyone has inherent flaws that might blind them. This is a cracking read, of illusions, charlatans, secrets, blackmail, magicians and showmen, packed with medical details from this period of history, culminating in a thrilling finale, ending on a intriguing and promising note for the future. This is one of my favourite historical crime series, informative, with a brilliant sense of location and time, and the kind of complex characters that have you looking forward with great anticipation to the next in the series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

A really good and chilling novel! I enjoyed meeting again the main characters and follow their development. I loved the way the author wove a story around real facts, making the storyline quite captivating! Intricate plot, interesting insight into the concept of medicine, quite a bit of action make this novel a real page turner!
I received a complimentary ARC of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

4.5

I just love this series! I loved being back with Will and Sarah.
Will has definitely grown as a person throughout the books!