The Anatomy of Deception

by Lawrence Goldstone
The Anatomy of Deception  
published 2008 by Delacorte Press
binding Hardcover
isbn 0385341342   (isbn13: 9780385341349)
pages 352
description A mesmerizing forensic thriller that thrusts the reader into the operating rooms, drawing rooms, and back alleys of 1889 Philadelphia, as a young doct...more
date added
10-01-07



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 113)



Christia
Christia rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
02/28/08

Read in February, 2008
An interesting glimpse into the medical field in the late 1800's. A medical student finds himself involved with a mystery surrounding the identity of a cadaver, his professor, a fellow medical student, and a missing woman's best friend. A great historical fiction novel. Who knew heroin was originally marketed as an over the counter drug, and was considered a more important development than aspirin?! The fact that some of the characters turned out to be real people made this book that much mo...more
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Deborah
Deborah rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/17/08

Read in February, 2008
This was a fantastic book set back in the days when the medical community was looked down on by the church as being desecrators of the dead. The story revolves around a community of young doctors completing their training and the medical mysteries that surround them daily. Mr. Goldstone takes you through the life of one particular doctor named Dr. Carrol and the ethical decisions he has to make to clear a Doctor's name even if it means destroying another. This was a wonderful and fascinating rea...more
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Jess
Jess rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
03/18/08

bookshelves: historical, medicine, mystery
Read in March, 2008
The protagonist has that sort of personality that grates me a little (hopelessly naive and idealistic), but the historical grounding in the history of medicine keeps things moving. I prefer Goldstone's non-fiction work to this one (which he even references in the text here) - his prose style is much more surefooted when handling the history.
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Amy
Amy rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/20/08

bookshelves: historical-fiction, mystery
Read in March, 2008
Overall, I really liked this book. The mystery was good (probably would have been even better had I not peaked at the ending!) and the historical stuff was really fascinating! I loved all the 1889 medical information and learning about parts of the story that are non-fiction. A good read if you are into historical fiction.
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Emily
Emily rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
05/13/08

Read in May, 2008
Not as good as The Bone Garden, but still very good. I love historical fiction about medicine and murder! This book was mysterious without keeping me from walking alone at night scared of my own imagination. Very likeable narrator/protagonist and interesting tidbits on the history of modern medicine.
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Christen
Christen rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/20/08

Read in March, 2008
recommended to Christen by: Salt Lake Tribune
This book was very interesting and entertaining. I loved that it was a historical fiction. There was a lot of interesting information on the history of surgery and it's progression in the late 1800s and early 1900s. That combined with a good mystery made for a great read!
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Keri
Keri rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
04/05/08

Read in April, 2008
I thought this book was good. However, there were many times when I felt like I needed to be a first year med student to understand all the jargon (he did a good job of explaining all the terms) and the history of what he was talking about.
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E
E rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
03/16/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
Read in March, 2008
*(I own a copy of this book and I wouldn't be willing to sell/swap it, I'd rather gift you a copy)* I'm particular about my books.

Pretty gruesome for a beginning but I'm still bearing through the crap, hope it gets better.
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Donna
Donna rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
04/11/08

Read in March, 2008
recommended to Donna by: I found this book on the public library recommended new books li
This book was set in the late 1800 early 1900's and reminded me of the Caleb Carr books which I love!

A forensic mystery with twists and turns. Historical medical forensic information. Interesting characters.
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Patty
Patty rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/08/08

An interesting mystery set in the early 1890's when the skills of surgery and autopsy were just being developed. Not for the faint of heart, the descriptions of surgery and autopsy are pretty graphic in places.
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CLM
CLM marked it as to-read
01/24/08

bookshelves: to-read
Just read an interesting review of this book:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200...
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Marsha
Marsha rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
02/29/08

bookshelves: read-mysteries--thrillers
Read in February, 2008
Atmospheric mystery involving Doctors in 1890's Philadelphia, the beginnings of forensic autopsy, drug addiction and "modern surgery". Very interesting
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Sarah
Sarah rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
05/09/08

Read in February, 2008
Again, interesting historical fiction. Some parts of the autopsies made me pretty squeamish, but I liked it overall. The ending was a bit weak.
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Kij
Kij rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
03/19/08

Read in February, 2008
recommends it for: fans of "Dante Club"
An entertaining thriller chock full of interesting historical facts and characters. If you enjoyed "The Dante Club," you like this one.
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Sandra D
Sandra D rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
03/10/08

bookshelves: fiction, historical-fiction, medical-health
Read in March, 2008
The medical history was interesting, but the plot was a little too melodramatic.
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Connie
Connie rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
04/23/08

A so-so mystery, the main interest is view of medicine in the late 1800's.
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C
C rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
04/04/08

Read in March, 2008
Interesting but a little slow for my taste
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Julie
Julie rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/12/08

bookshelves: read-in-2008
Read in March, 2008
Read for SDMB group.
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Jennita
Jennita is currently reading it
04/23/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
 

Kristen
Kristen marked it as to-read
04/11/08

bookshelves: to-read
 


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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.70 (44 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.70 (44 ratings)
number of reviews: 18






other editions

The Anatomy of Deception (Paperback)
The Anatomy of Deception (Hardcover)
The Anatomy of Deception (Hardcover)