May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less See less

FREE delivery June 26 - July 2. Details

Or fastest delivery June 23 - 26. Details

Arrives after Father's Day. Need a gift sooner? Send an Amazon Gift Card instantly by email or text message.

In stock

$$13.00 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Details

${cardName} not available for the seller you chose

${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}.

Ships from and sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore.

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (47) from $3.03 + $3.98 shipping

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Ambrose Parry

Follow

The Art of Dying (A Raven and Fisher Mystery, 2) Paperback – March 2, 2021

by Ambrose Parry (Author)

1,559 ratings

Book 2 of 5: Raven and Fisher Mysteries

See all formats and editions

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$13.00","priceAmount":13.00,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"13","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"00","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"079notvORoFHtpp74NxcqXK%2FWMPa31SpSmwkrBaQOmRX1WUpVBvnnK53c8C1f9CO2uDS5Akv6pU0pwDe8NDUbdimEV3uAJeNWTpQzTcr5HeqTf2opk3QCHJpuvr%2F5G3YU9hitaQOzrSScPZuFEhF%2FvqWxWYwDmal07cMJLNUyohTwe9%2BWdY5HB3oiK2E%2FPVl","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$7.03","priceAmount":7.03,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"7","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"03","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"079notvORoFHtpp74NxcqXK%2FWMPa31Sp6T7R9oDhRZlbOMkV5WtDyk%2BXygkYKfE47U8OfSrz5tZbjmmP5UvajyOyLt0be0EQW8QUGcCDs3NKaT2IBM5S9vEQK6JarU%2BZCKU05PKaxQ9%2B2UNwwdrR2Rs2EwuuHsEbO9lj86yi6hyLWYPZxY%2FTbMBc%2F%2FV1NDp3","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

'Parry's Victorian Edinburgh comes vividly alive - and it's a world of pain' Val McDermid
'A rip-roaring tale of murder' Ian Rankin

SHORTLISTED FOR THE McILVANNEY PRIZE 2020

Edinburgh, 1849. Hordes of patients are dying all across the city, with doctors finding their remedies powerless. And a whispering campaign seeks to paint Dr James Simpson, pioneer of medical chloroform, as a murderer.

Determined to clear Simpson's name, his protégé Will Raven and former housemaid Sarah Fisher must plunge into Edinburgh's deadliest streets and find out who or what is behind the deaths. Soon they discover that the cause of the deaths has evaded detection purely because it is so unthinkable.

From the Publisher

Ambrose Parry is a pseudonym for a collaboration between Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman. The couple are married and live in Scotland. Chris Brookmyre is the author of over twenty novels. Dr. Marisa Haetzman is a consultant anesthetist of twenty years’ experience, whose research for her Master’s degree in the History of Medicine uncovered the material upon which this series, which began with The Way of All Flesh, is based.

Editorial Reviews

Review

PRAISE FOR THE WAY OF ALL FLESH: Parry's Victorian Edinburgh comes vividly alive - and it's a world of pain--VAL McDERMID

A gripping Victorian thriller-- "Sunday Express"

A menacing tale of murder amid the medical experiments of mid-19th century Edinburgh-- "iNews"

Full of twists and turns - a great read-- "Evening Times"

Gleeful, romping . . . The fog and stench of Edinburgh's Old Town definitely jump off the page . . . The central relationship between loveable rogue Raven and proto-feminist Fisher is the beating heart of The Art of Dying. Both characters are drawn with real empathy and nuance, and their complicated feelings for each other drive the book as much as the smart storylines. A great piece of storytelling-- "Big Issue"

Intriguing-- "i"

Offers more of the alluring combination of crime fiction and historical fact seen in last year's The Way of All Flesh . . . The reader may need a tiny dose of chloroform to relax after all of these thrills. . . For any reader in need of a swift-acting tonic, I prescribe picking up this thriller as soon as possible-- "Scotland on Sunday"

Some gore (historical gore doesn't count) but mostly nice historical detail (reminding you that doctors never do know everything) with a little overlay of romantic tension and a side of old-fashioned feminism. Compelling-- "Financial Times"

The central characters and their relationship are the book's strengths . . . worth a read - the characters and setting are wonderful-- "The Times"

Dark and visceral, gritty and charming, with a twisting plot and compelling characters - not least, Victorian Edinburgh at her deadliest. The immersive world of Ambrose Parry just gets better and better--JESS KIDD

Review

Full of twists and turns - a great read ― Evening Times

Dark and visceral, gritty and charming, with a twisting plot and compelling characters - not least, Victorian Edinburgh at her deadliest. The immersive world of Ambrose Parry just gets better and better -- JESS KIDD

Gleeful, romping . . . The fog and stench of Edinburgh's Old Town definitely jump off the page . . . The central relationship between loveable rogue Raven and proto-feminist Fisher is the beating heart of The Art of Dying. Both characters are drawn with real empathy and nuance, and their complicated feelings for each other drive the book as much as the smart storylines. A great piece of storytelling ― Big Issue

PRAISE FOR THE WAY OF ALL FLESH: Parry's Victorian Edinburgh comes vividly alive - and it's a world of pain -- VAL McDERMID

Intriguing ― i

A gripping Victorian thriller ― Sunday Express

Offers more of the alluring combination of crime fiction and historical fact seen in last year's The Way of All Flesh . . . The reader may need a tiny dose of chloroform to relax after all of these thrills. . . For any reader in need of a swift-acting tonic, I prescribe picking up this thriller as soon as possible ― Scotland on Sunday

The central characters and their relationship are the book's strengths . . . worth a read - the characters and setting are wonderful ― The Times

A menacing tale of murder amid the medical experiments of mid-19th century Edinburgh ― iNews

Some gore (historical gore doesn't count) but mostly nice historical detail (reminding you that doctors never do know everything) with a little overlay of romantic tension and a side of old-fashioned feminism. Compelling ― Financial Times

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Black Thorn
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 2, 2021
Edition ‏ : ‎ Main
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1786896737
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1786896735
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1 x 7.75 inches
Book 2 of 5 ‏ : ‎ Raven and Fisher Mysteries

Best Sellers Rank: #1,297,818 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,730 in Historical Mystery
- #2,744 in Historical Thrillers (Books)
- #6,945 in Science Fiction Crime & Mystery

Customer Reviews:
1,559 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Ambrose Parry

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

1,559 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Review this product

Write a customer review

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.

Patrick A. Mead
Absolutely perfect
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2019
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

I took a chance and ordered both of these books (I think more are planned). It paid off because they are fantastic. I'm a Scotsman from the Isle of Skye but I spent a lot of time in Edinburgh and I've read scores of books on its history. These authors (it's a husband and wife team) perfectly capture the classism, misogynistic, blinkered world of Edinburgh in the 1700-1800s. The mystery is real and reminds me of the best of Dickens or Dan Simmons. The characters are fleshed out and real, not cartoons. Loved it.

Read more

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Steph Warren
Gripping historical medical murder mystery with a feminist slant
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2019
Format: Kindle
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author, NetGalley and Canongate Books. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

The Art of Dying is both an excellent Victorian medical murder mystery, and an educational and entertaining treatise on the talents and restrictions of intelligent women of the age.

I haven’t read The Way of All Flesh (although I certainly want to now!), but that didn’t hinder me from picking up the characters and story here as I went along. The only slight effect I noticed on this book is that it starts with Will Raven in Italy – fighting off assailants, bantering merrily with his friend and enjoying the company of a ladyfriend – clearly in reasonable spirits despite past and current events. I can only presume whether this is the Raven met in the previous book, because most of this story is set after his return to Edinburgh and the sarcastic roisterer is completely subsumed by a morose and pompous man struggling to reconcile his love for a remarkable woman with her lowly position in life. He does not come out well in comparison to Archie Banks on this matter!

Sarah Fisher, said remarkable woman, fares much better in reader estimations. She keeps her focus firmly on her patients, the doctors she supports and her family responsibilities; still finds time to aid other women with their health and domestic concerns; and keeps a tight hold on her own hopes and dreams throughout, always open to an opportunity for more from life. Which all makes her the perfect counterpoint to the murderer.

We, the readers, get an insider glimpse into the murderer’s thoughts and past, via excerpts from a written account that features later in the plot. As a result, the identity of the murderer, and even their motives, are less the focus of the mystery than the question of whether Raven and Sarah will be able to resolve the matter without either of them being hurt, embarrassed, or imprisoned.

The historical medical information presented throughout the book – specifically the information related to anaesthetic and obstetrics – is fascinating and clearly well-researched by the authors. I could definitely read more Raven and Fisher books just for this aspect alone, so engrossing were the insights presented. Conversely, I was less fond of the romantic aspects of the story, as I strongly feel Sarah deserves better than Raven – not because of his self-confessed ‘monstrous person’ doubts, but due to his adherence to status above all, despite (or perhaps because of) his own lack of it.

Fans of historical mystery fiction will enjoy this well-written and thought-provoking series. I’m off to catch up the previous book, in preparation for the next one!

‘And once again, here I am, in your company in the bloody aftermath of a fight.’
‘Maybe you are the one who courts mayhem and you are merely fortunate to have me on hand to assist. Have you thought of it that way?’
‘Not once. But often have I said you’d be the death of me.’
Raven searched his memory.
‘You have never once said that.’
‘No,’ he admitted, ‘but I must have thought it. So please prove me wrong. And don’t forget to wash the knife.’

– Ambrose Parry, The Art of Dying

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

Read more

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Report
mystery reader
Quick delivery
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2023
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I would order again from the vendor. Delivery was quick and the book was in excellent condition.

Read more

Helpful

Report
Janet A Dooley
Great book
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were complex and intriguing. I would highly recommend reading “The Art of Dying”.

Read more

Helpful

Report
AnnieB
Victorian medical mystery
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2020
Format: Hardcover
The Art of Dying is the second book in the early Victorian era mystery series by Ambrose Parry (married writer duo Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman). Released 7th Jan 2020 by Canongate Books, it's 416 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. The ebook format includes an interactive table of contents with chapter headings. I've become very fond of interactive ebooks lately.

This is an engaging and well written Victorian medical mystery set (mostly) in Edinburgh in 1850. One thing which struct me early on was how meticulously researched both the medical and cultural aspects of the period and place were. The narrative is seamless and well written. Protagonist Sarah Fisher again joins forces with Will Raven (now a qualified doctor) to investigate discrepancies in one of her mentor's previous cases and in his household. She's intelligent and strong and fairly fearless in a world absolutely dominated by men who still hold almost all the power.

I did enjoy Sarah's character, intelligence, and conviction. I was less enamored of Dr. Will Raven's character and found myself rolling my eyes at his arrogance and unappealing classist snobbery. He is a patronizing twit. There was also a touch too much romance and mournful regret (especially on Raven's part) for me. Readers who want a shot of romance in their murder mysteries will no doubt disagree with me.

The book is undeniably well plotted and the narrative arc is a well engineered thing of beauty. I did enjoy it and it worked well enough as a standalone. The author provides the necessary back-story without relentless info dumping which is nice.

Four stars. Entertaining and well written.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Read more

Helpful

Report
Placentia Girl
Loved portrayal of 19th century Edinburgh
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Great story for anyone interested in 19th century history of science or Edinburgh. Will definitely follow this author/writing pair. Felt like I was there.

Read more

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

Laurie Reid
Thrilling and deeply involving
Reviewed in Canada on March 3, 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

The Art of Dying allows us to get to know Will Raven and Sarah Fisher better as they cope with a number of new mysteries and their own changing circumstances. I like the historical context for medicine as it finally begins to use science for healing and the dangerous, criminal streets of Edinburgh.

Read more
Report
Hamsun Lad
Great read. Pure and simple.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2024
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Thoroughly enjoyed this second instalment of our sleuths adventures. Better in some ways than book 1. Illuminating as regards early medicine and as ever focussed on the inequities of the treatment of females in society. Edinburgh is again richly evoked.
Could be a terrific TV series. Crime and medicine perfectly mixed, I look forward to the rest ov this terrific series.
Highly recommended.

Read more
Report
Dr. Klaus-peter Liere
Historischer Krimi
Reviewed in Germany on November 7, 2020
Verified Purchase
Eines der besten Bücher, die Geschichte, in diesem Falle Medizingeschichte, glaubhaft und textlich hervorragend erzählt.

Read more
Report
Translate review to English
millhall
Not all murders are as they seem.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2023
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
I moved straight from reading the first book in this series to this book, the second in the series. I enjoyed the first book ( see earlier review) and the second book maintains a high standard. The setting is the same as are the principal characters. For long periods I did feel that this book was something of a rehash of its predecessor but I forgave the authors because of an excellent and tense ending. Often the ending of a murder mystery is the hardest part to get right, but the husband and wife team managed this very well. The background research has clearly been meticulous and this is confirmed by the historical notes provided at the end. I'll pause now but will almost certainly read number three in due course.

Read more
Report
Dawnie
overall good second book
Reviewed in Germany on February 1, 2023
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
this was a nicely written and done second book in the series.

but it took me a while to find my footing in this story - it set a good while after the ending of the first and the exact changes that happens with each of the characters throughout the story aren’t very well explained, instead they are mostly sprinkled throughout the entire book.
not my favorite type of continuation in a series where each book feels like i need to be reintroduced to all the characters, their behaviors and reasons.

the mystery in this was interesting but felt a bit dragged out and in the end the solution of it came too easily to everyone especially considering that they all didn’t see it before.

i disliked the reintroduction of the person that Raven had owned money too but was supposed to have been cleared up at the end of book one but for no real reason brought back in this book.
everything in this story could have happened as it did just without those added scenes and to me it would have been more enjoyable to read that way.

nor did i see the need to include or drag out the stuff that happened in berlin. why was that even in this book?

the ending it self…. it seems that we get yet again a time jump and characters going to very different places.
which isn’t bad in itself i just hope it will be handled a little better in the next installment as it has been dealt with in this one.

all in all?
it was good.
i loved the historical moments and historical medical info was interesting and always and i liked the characters in the book.
i really enjoy the Simpsons household.

but i am also a little disappointed that this book could have also have been the first book in a series with how little it actually continued and build on the first book. only thing that kept going was the strange little thing of will they/ won’t they that’s happening between sarah and will.

still not a bad book.
but i do hope the next one will be a bit better.

Read more
Report

See more reviews

Follow the author

The Art of Dying (A Raven and Fisher Mystery, 2) Paperback – March 2, 2021

Purchase options and add-ons

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

Review

About the Author

Product details

Videos

About the author

Ambrose Parry

Customer reviews

Review this product

Images in this review

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely perfect

4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping historical medical murder mystery with a feminist slant

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick delivery

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book

4.0 out of 5 stars Victorian medical mystery

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved portrayal of 19th century Edinburgh

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling and deeply involving

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read. Pure and simple.

5.0 out of 5 stars Historischer Krimi

4.0 out of 5 stars Not all murders are as they seem.

4.0 out of 5 stars overall good second book

Absolutely perfect

Gripping historical medical murder mystery with a feminist slant

Quick delivery

Great book

Victorian medical mystery

Loved portrayal of 19th century Edinburgh

Thrilling and deeply involving

Great read. Pure and simple.

Historischer Krimi

Not all murders are as they seem.

overall good second book