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9th out of 21 books
—
17 voters
The Anatomist's Apprentice (Dr. Thomas Silkstone #1)
by
Tessa Harris (Goodreads Author)
The death of Sir Edward Crick has unleashed a torrent of gossip throughout Oxfordshire. No one mourns the dissolute young man--except his sister, Lady Lydia Farrell. When her husband comes under suspicion of murder, Lydia seeks expert help from Dr. Thomas Silkstone, a young anatomist from Philadelphia.
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
January 1st 2012
by Kensington
(first published December 1st 2011)
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Things that drove me crazy about this book:
1 - The title. Dr. Silkstone is highly regarded in his field and pretty much does his own thing in this book, with a couple of mentors (who basically are just there as window-dressing), so who is supposed to be the apprentice?
2 - The romance. Wow - this was a tacked on, unnecessary invention (I wonder if the publisher thought it would sell better?). There was nothing like a developing interest - it was way too fast - and it really didn't add anything t...more
1 - The title. Dr. Silkstone is highly regarded in his field and pretty much does his own thing in this book, with a couple of mentors (who basically are just there as window-dressing), so who is supposed to be the apprentice?
2 - The romance. Wow - this was a tacked on, unnecessary invention (I wonder if the publisher thought it would sell better?). There was nothing like a developing interest - it was way too fast - and it really didn't add anything t...more
It's a sad fact that my complainy reviews are often much longer than my happy ones. Perhaps it's easier to see where something goes off the tracks than to see why something stays humming along; that might be part of why there are so few truly great books. Perhaps it's just catharsis to – in the language of this book – perform a thorough post-mortem on a bad book. Or perhaps it's just more fun to eviscerate a truly bad book. Don't know. I'll put some here, and save the rest for my blog; it's less...more
Author seems addicted to adjectives, and attempts "period dialogue." Reads like a first novel, which I believe it is.
If I see a "forsooth" I'm out of here.
If I see a "forsooth" I'm out of here.
Interesting story that really makes one think about how much happenstance was involved in solving crime before modern forensics. It is also (marginally) a love story.
Although it was an enjoyable and relatively quick read,I am left with a couple of issues after finishing The Anatomist's Apprentice. First of all, who is the apprentice? Certainly not Dr. Silkstone who is presented as a famous guy, a high achiever and a lecturer. Is it the cousin? Is it supposed to be Silkstone and he is the Anatomi...more
Although it was an enjoyable and relatively quick read,I am left with a couple of issues after finishing The Anatomist's Apprentice. First of all, who is the apprentice? Certainly not Dr. Silkstone who is presented as a famous guy, a high achiever and a lecturer. Is it the cousin? Is it supposed to be Silkstone and he is the Anatomi...more
I had a difficult time choosing how many stars to rate this book. I listened to the audio version and the reader, Simon Vance, was absolutely fantastic. I especially enjoyed his interpretation of Sir Theodisius! After I realized I shouldn't eat while reading the book, I enjoyed the medical/scientific passages greatly. I quickly found my favorite characters and the characters that I hated (because they were meant to be, of course).
However, I had several problems with this book. The first being -...more
However, I had several problems with this book. The first being -...more
The Anatomist's Apprentice is the first in a new historical (18th century) mystery series, in which Dr. Thomas Silkstone applies his scientific studies of anatomy to solve crimes. In this debut, he is called to Oxford by the Lady Lydia, to do a postmortem on her dissolute brother, Lord Crick. Rumor has it that he was poisoned, and the favorite suspects of the gossips is Lydia's husband.
It's fun to read this mystery, written in the style of the old silent pictures in which the villains gnash thei...more
It's fun to read this mystery, written in the style of the old silent pictures in which the villains gnash thei...more
I read “The Anatomist’s Apprentice”, by Tessa Harris. It is of the mystery genre. I choose it because the book title intrigued me and it just grabbed my attention when I saw it. The story unfolds all over the place in England during the later 1700s. Locations such as Oxfordshire, Boughton Hall, and London. Young Dr. Thomas Silkstone is the man chosen to inspect the strange circumstances of Lord Crick’s untimely death. Lord Crick owned Boughton Hall at the time, he lived there with his sister; La...more
Started well but ended up a bit tedious, to be frank. Beach book fare at best. Hidden behind all the quasi period, "Age of Reason" stuff is a pretty standard "Murder on the Orient Express" grade tale of poisoning, bludgeoning and strangling (Oh My!). For a book that teased with science, many of the key "Aha!" moments were left as limp cliffhangers where the protagonist realised something (what? NO idea) and then moved on with a square jaw, a sense of honour and a resolve to do the right thing, b...more
By all rights, I should love this book, which is billed as "a historical forensic mystery," but I was distinctly underwhelmed. There were several times when I just thought I was too bored to finish it.
The premise is great--set in England, just before that little unpleasant business with the Colonies--a young doctor, an anatomist, comes to England to further his knowledge at Oxford.
There's a mysterious death of a young lord, and his beautiful (but married) sister implores Dr. Silkstone to investi...more
The premise is great--set in England, just before that little unpleasant business with the Colonies--a young doctor, an anatomist, comes to England to further his knowledge at Oxford.
There's a mysterious death of a young lord, and his beautiful (but married) sister implores Dr. Silkstone to investi...more
I took this book to Curacao with me to read on the beach because of all books, I enjoy historical mysteries best. And as a historian, I appreciate it when the author does the research to accurately set the scene, something Tessa Harris accomplishes very well. The story takes place at the time of the American Revolution, but it is set in London and Oxford where an American-born anatomist has come to study this new science with the foremost English expert.
Dr. Thomas Silkstone is asked to examine...more
Dr. Thomas Silkstone is asked to examine...more
Well, I managed to get through this book by skipping over boring passages where nothing important was happening, so I won't mention a few of the plot points that seemed to come out of nowhere, because I can't guarantee I didn't miss something along the way. However, there were factual errors that irritated me throughout: an English kitchen garden with "cinnamon" as one of the medicinal "herbs" growing in it? A four-days-dead corpse with rigor mortis? A chancre on the penis of a man who had caugh...more
The Anatomist's Apprentice is the first (and debut) book in Tessa Harris's new series featuring Dr. Thomas Silkstone.
I initially picked up the book based on the description - 18th century, London, England, mystery, early forensic detection, as it seemed to fall into one of my favourite genres - historical mysteries.
Lady Lydia Farrell's brother dies a horrible death in his own bed. Was he the victim of some unknown condition? Or was helped along the way to his Maker - by her husband? She seeks th...more
I initially picked up the book based on the description - 18th century, London, England, mystery, early forensic detection, as it seemed to fall into one of my favourite genres - historical mysteries.
Lady Lydia Farrell's brother dies a horrible death in his own bed. Was he the victim of some unknown condition? Or was helped along the way to his Maker - by her husband? She seeks th...more
Reviewed By~Marissa
Review Copy Provided By~ARC from Publisher
This is a first book from Tessa Harris and she has done a brilliant job! It is also the first in a mystery series featuring Dr. Thomas Silkstone. For those of you who like period mysteries featuring forward thinking men, this is the book you need to read. I liken it to the Sarah Woolson Mysteries by Shirley Tallman or the Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourn, both of which feature progressive women sleuths in historical references...more
Review Copy Provided By~ARC from Publisher
This is a first book from Tessa Harris and she has done a brilliant job! It is also the first in a mystery series featuring Dr. Thomas Silkstone. For those of you who like period mysteries featuring forward thinking men, this is the book you need to read. I liken it to the Sarah Woolson Mysteries by Shirley Tallman or the Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourn, both of which feature progressive women sleuths in historical references...more
This mystery is set in the 1700’s just as the Revolutionary War kicks off. Dr. Thomas Silkstone is from the Colonies but has returned to England to study medicine. These are the days where doctors paid crooks to bring them bodies for dissection and forensic science is pretty much non-existent. Thomas is a young man studying under a doctor who has lost his sight but is still a font of knowledge. He’s also lecturing at the academy. He’s approached by a student to help his cousin, Lady Lydia Farrel...more
Historical Mystery
The death of Sir Edward Crick has unleashed a torrent of gossip throughout Oxfordshire. No one mourns the dissolute young man--except his sister, Lady Lydia Farrell. When her husband comes under suspicion of murder, Lydia seeks expert help from Dr. Thomas Silkstone, a young anatomist from Philadelphia.
The premise sounds simple but the book is not. In 1780’s England anatomist Dr. Thomas Silkstone is treading a new path in forensic pathology. He must use existing methods but also...more
The death of Sir Edward Crick has unleashed a torrent of gossip throughout Oxfordshire. No one mourns the dissolute young man--except his sister, Lady Lydia Farrell. When her husband comes under suspicion of murder, Lydia seeks expert help from Dr. Thomas Silkstone, a young anatomist from Philadelphia.
The premise sounds simple but the book is not. In 1780’s England anatomist Dr. Thomas Silkstone is treading a new path in forensic pathology. He must use existing methods but also...more
Turns and twists and subterfuges and surprises confound the reader. Just when you are SURE you know what's going on, something else comes up. If I had read that the Romantic Times had reviewed this book, I might have ignored it. As it is, this is one that I saw in a review and decided to try. It's really terrific. I'm already looking forward to the author's next book! Dr. Thomas Silkstone is learning the finer points of his craft as an anatomist from a well known London doctor. He has recently a...more
As soon as I saw the ridiculously attractive cover-art and intruiging title, I couldn't wait to tear into the story. To my disappointment, I found I really shouldn't have judged this one by its cover.
The story takes place in England in the late Georgian period--about twenty or thirty years before Jane Austen's time. The main character, a surgeon from Philadelphia, is brought into the case of a suspicious death by the beautiful Lady Lydia. Graphic death scenes, a shallow and improbable InstaLove...more
The story takes place in England in the late Georgian period--about twenty or thirty years before Jane Austen's time. The main character, a surgeon from Philadelphia, is brought into the case of a suspicious death by the beautiful Lady Lydia. Graphic death scenes, a shallow and improbable InstaLove...more
I'm writing this review as a persoanl viewpoint because this book was an unique reading experience for me. I bought it with the understanding that it was a period murder mystery. Well, it was. However, it was also, a romance set in 1780, a medical forensic mystery, a murder mystery, a look at life on an Estate in England where the differences of the Nobility vs the servants was clearly shown. Also, we are given a glimpse into the attitudes of the Colonials just after the Revolutionary War.
The bo...more
The bo...more
I really enjoyed this Georgian-set mystery, and I'm a bit baffled by the negative reviews. I found the protagonist, Thomas Silkstone, to be a very sympathetic character, and I look forward to seeing him in future books. Admittedly, the mystery isn't too complex, so if you read mysteries for the fun of trying to figure out who the villain is, you won't have much of a challenge. But if you read for characterization and historical atmosphere, you may enjoy The Anatomist's Apprentice. There's a bit...more
Towards the end I couldn't stop thinking how this must be the equivalent of the penny-dreadfuls of yore. There were simply far too many small details that bothered me to the point of distraction. Why wasn't the daughter of an Earl EVER IN MOURNING DRESS (not to mention respecting mourning periods)? I'm no expert on this particular time period but I couldn't help but feel that their attitudes towards the "colonialist" in their midst (what with the American Revolutionary War going on and all) was...more
Tessa Harris’ The Anatomist’s Apprentice is the first book in a new series focusing on the exploits of 18th Century anatomist, Dr. Thomas Silkstone. While studying in England in October 1780, Dr. Silkstone is summoned to investigate the mysterious death of Sir Edward Crick. As his investigation progresses he falls deeper and deeper in love with Sir Crick’s beautiful sister, Lady Lydia Farrell. Lady Farrell is married but trapped in a somewhat now loveless union.
I really had a difficult time gett...more
I really had a difficult time gett...more
I imagine it’s difficult to imbue urgency into a period piece like this, what with the trappings of propriety and all. Although I found the story to be compelling while I had it in my hands, the same didn’t necessarily hold true once I’d put it down. I was able to put it down just before the climax, which is a very rare thing for me. I understand that in the period, it wasn’t as acceptable to exhibit emotion in public, but the restrictions of the characters removed some of the color from them, l...more
Three and a half stars
Firstly and most importantly: DO NOT read this over dinner. Also be careful with snacking- no beef jerky, sausages, or liverwurst sandwiches. (As if anyone eats the latter.)
Okay, we may proceed.
After finishing this book and feeling somewhat at a loss as to how to rate it, I read through a bunch of reviews to see what everyone else was saying. Strangely, I agreed with almost all of them, from one-star to four-star. (I seldom read five-star reviews.)
The bad reviews are all co...more
Firstly and most importantly: DO NOT read this over dinner. Also be careful with snacking- no beef jerky, sausages, or liverwurst sandwiches. (As if anyone eats the latter.)
Okay, we may proceed.
After finishing this book and feeling somewhat at a loss as to how to rate it, I read through a bunch of reviews to see what everyone else was saying. Strangely, I agreed with almost all of them, from one-star to four-star. (I seldom read five-star reviews.)
The bad reviews are all co...more
Dr. Thomas Silkstone is the titular apprentice--though he seems to be a fully qualified anatomist--who is called upon when the young Lord Crick dies in mysterious circumstances.
I wanted to like this book, I really did. The idea of early forensic science is one that should provide a good deal of interest. Unfortunately, in Tessa Harris's hands, the story became one of a muddled romance more than a mystery. To me, the real mystery is how the book was published at all. It's as if the manuscript ne...more
I wanted to like this book, I really did. The idea of early forensic science is one that should provide a good deal of interest. Unfortunately, in Tessa Harris's hands, the story became one of a muddled romance more than a mystery. To me, the real mystery is how the book was published at all. It's as if the manuscript ne...more
I was really surprised when I came onto Goodreads to rate this book and saw how poorly it has been received. I wonder if my experience was different because I listened to the audio book instead of reading it? And since I was listening to it, I was always doing something like dishes or sewing at the same time. Several of the readers have stated that the author had poor language skills: overuse of similes, and a constant passive verb tense. I didn't notice any of these things. But, again, half of...more
I listened to this as an audiobook, and thoroughly enjoyed it! Dr. Thomas Silkstone is a well-renowned young anatomist from Philadelphia, studying and lecturing in England. When Lady Lydia Farrell's young brother, Sir Edward Crick, dies writhing in pain, gossip casts suspicion upon her husband, Irish Captain Michael Farrell, she entreats Dr. Silkstone to travel to Oxfordshire to see if he can determine the cause of the dissolute young lord's death. Captain Farrell and his disfigured friend are f...more
This started off very promising, with an exciting murder, lots of intrigue and unsavory characters, plus a rather dull damsel in distress. The character's name is Lydia, so of course in my head I can't help but call her Lydia Languish. Our hero, Thomas Silkstone, steps in with a novel idea- trying to solve the mystery through science.
The character of Thomas Silkstone is very well done; he's an American in England to further his anatomist studies. The relationship Silkstone has with his mentor w...more
The character of Thomas Silkstone is very well done; he's an American in England to further his anatomist studies. The relationship Silkstone has with his mentor w...more
Tessa Harris has delivered a powerhouse first book and is receiving a great deal of justified praise for it.
It is the last 1780's and Dr. Thomas Silkstone is an anatomist who studies and teaches the art of anatomy and dissection. His passion is uncovering the cause of death be it accidental, natural or murderous.
One day he is visited in his offices in London by Lady Lydia Farrell who wants to know how or why her young brother Edward, the Earl of Crick died. She is horrified that blame has falle...more
It is the last 1780's and Dr. Thomas Silkstone is an anatomist who studies and teaches the art of anatomy and dissection. His passion is uncovering the cause of death be it accidental, natural or murderous.
One day he is visited in his offices in London by Lady Lydia Farrell who wants to know how or why her young brother Edward, the Earl of Crick died. She is horrified that blame has falle...more
I wanted to like this one, I really did. In general, I like historical mysteries and expected this one, set in England in the 1780s to be enjoyable. The plot sounded good, the early foray into forensics, and a young doctor who is an outsider when it comes to British society had potential to be a worthwhile detective. But I was disappointed. I listened to all 9+ hours, but even the end couldn't redeem it.
Reasons I wasn't a fan (may contain a couple of spoilers):
•Lydia - Really, how many times can...more
Reasons I wasn't a fan (may contain a couple of spoilers):
•Lydia - Really, how many times can...more
Second book I've read with the same pattern: Interesting historical period and place (Georgian Oxford), intriguing premise (forensic anatomist in relatively primitive time) but uncomplicated, annoying characters, manipulative and unbelievable plot twists, resulting in a deeply irritating reading experience. It's very frustrating, because obviously the authors of such books are very smart people with a vast historical knowledge. Couldn't they work just bit harder in understanding the human experi...more
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From the author's website:After studying History at Oxford University, I began my journalistic career on a newspaper in my home town of Louth, in Lincolnshire. I progressed onto a London newspaper, where I became women's editor. From there I moved to become a feature writer on Bestmagazine. After two years I was made editor of a regional arts and listings publication. This was followed by another...more
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