One of Dr. Simpson’s cases has died and he is being blamed for the woman’s death. Is it just jealous colleagues smearing his name or is there foul play?
Edinburgh as the hub of the medical avant-garde is alive in this novel set during Victorian times. This book is the second in a series involving Sarah and Raven. Raven is a conflicted newly graduated doctor battling past indiscretions and a fiery nature.
It is 1849 and Dr. Raven arrives back from a tour of Europe’s medical centres upset at finding Sarah, his former love now married to a Dr. Banks. Sarah acknowledges there are still feelings for Raven and the situation is further complicated as her husband is dying. Sarah enlists Raven to help clear the name of his new employer and previous mentor, the famous Dr. Simpson. Dr. Simpson is credited as the discoverer of chloroform as an anaesthetic, amongst other uses. Jealous colleagues believe he has taken all the glory of the discovery for himself alone.
Interspersed in the story of medical practices and the controversial use of chloroform is a narrative by a woman we gradually come to know as Mary Dempster. Mary is a girl with a hard past who became a nurse and is now killing people in Edinburgh, making the deaths seem like illness, natural causes or medical mishap.
As Sarah and Raven investigate Dr. Simpson’s case they begin to track down the clues. Their conclusions remain disparate until the quick witted and perceptive Sarah is proved right.
Subplots abound which are cleverly linked into the main story. Raven’s links with the criminal underworld in Edinburgh come back to haunt him and he is blackmailed into repaying a debt to the men who previously harmed him. The realisation that these criminals have feelings and loyalties dawns upon Raven. It is a lesson which saves his life later in the novel. Whilst abroad Raven has slit the throat of an attacker. Raven was involved with a woman called Gabriella and the story behind this is gradually revealed. Raven also has to confront his morals about mercy killing, with both enemies and friends. Dr. Banks dies, but his death is not without drama as Raven is accused of murdering him using chloroform by Mr. Quinton, Simpson’s thieving accountant. Sarah, who is pregnant, suffers an ectopic pregnancy and Raven is forced to a surgery of last resort. The final drama comes when the imprisoned Raven realises the nurse he has left in charge of Sarah, is Mary, the killer who seeks sexual gratification by holding the dying in close embrace.
The notion of women with power is alien for this period. Mary Dempster, the nurse has found a power over life and death. Sarah Banks (nee Fisher) dreams of becoming a doctor and can finally start on that journey. Gabriella has fled her murderous husband and is living an independent life. Sarah books passage to go and study in America but Raven believes she would happily stay with him. The idea of women shackled into roles and being kept there by men is satisfyingly blown apart in this story.
Ambrose Parry, the author, is in fact two people. Brookmyre and Haetzman have hit upon a winning formula in writing together. The medical information is inspired by true life cases researched by Dr. Marisa Haetzman, a consultant anaesthetist. The first book in the series is “The Way of All Flesh” and features Raven and Sarah when they first meet. You don’t need to have read this first, but you might want to for a lovely, full treat.
Felicity Burke, On The Page
The Art of Dying by Ambrose Parry. Allen & Unwin $29.99
