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A Codex of Metal
Edinburgh 1787. How many chemists does it take to solve a murder?
Elizabeth Fulhame is having a hard time convincing the scientific establishment of Georgian Edinburgh to take her amateur chemistry research and magical experimentation seriously. Just when she thinks she's earning the respect of its two most prominent luminaries - Dr Joseph Black and Dr William Cullen - the three of them are implicated in the shocking murder of an aristocrat.
It's bad enough that the three were ambivalent at best about the deceased. But clues point to an unidentified individual bringing dangerous magic to Edinburgh. Can Fulhame, Black and Cullen set aside their differences and track down the culprit before destruction is unleashed?
Only Murders In The Building meets the gritty streets of 18th century Edinburgh in this thrilling conclusion to the Edinburgh Doctrines series.
Elizabeth Fulhame is having a hard time convincing the scientific establishment of Georgian Edinburgh to take her amateur chemistry research and magical experimentation seriously. Just when she thinks she's earning the respect of its two most prominent luminaries - Dr Joseph Black and Dr William Cullen - the three of them are implicated in the shocking murder of an aristocrat.
It's bad enough that the three were ambivalent at best about the deceased. But clues point to an unidentified individual bringing dangerous magic to Edinburgh. Can Fulhame, Black and Cullen set aside their differences and track down the culprit before destruction is unleashed?
Only Murders In The Building meets the gritty streets of 18th century Edinburgh in this thrilling conclusion to the Edinburgh Doctrines series.
306 pages, Paperback
Published September 17, 2024
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
C.L. Jarvis
6 books31 followersCL Jarvis holds a PhD in chemistry and worked as a science journalist, healthcare copywriter, and medical writer before sitting down to write her first novel. Originally from Scotland but living in Philadelphia, USA, she's held together by cat hair and double espressos.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 8, 2024
Satisfying, if a touch bittersweet
I have a huge soft spot for George and Elizabeth, and I was excited to have them both in this book. A few years have passed since the ending of Chronicles of Earth and even though we weren’t there for it, everyone’s lives have moved on.
It was easy to fall back into this world, to connect with the characters, and to see the changes wrought to late 1780s Edinburgh through their eyes. There is quite a bit of action and Elizabeth, poor woman, bears the brunt of it. No spoilers, but there are a lot of threads in this story and not all of them come together as you would expect them to.
Now for the bittersweet.
As when you only see a friend every once in a while and when next you meet them they have changed, grown older, and had experiences that you weren’t a part of, so it was for the characters here. You can see in the story how everyone’s lives have taken different routes, how the seemingly unflagging personality of Dr. Cullen is finally bowing to age, and the price Dr. Black has had to pay for his brush with death in the previous book. I suppose that is something that makes these books unique, the characters aren’t frozen in time on the pages they occupy, but rather they seem to live on. And for me, what was very evident in this book is that all things change. To quote Elizabeth – “She wished there was a way to capture Edinburgh at this moment in time, before the town she knew—the college, the warren of wynds around Cowgate—were lost forever. If she could put the town in front of her on silver nitrate soaked papers and let the sunlight capture its silhouette.”
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have a huge soft spot for George and Elizabeth, and I was excited to have them both in this book. A few years have passed since the ending of Chronicles of Earth and even though we weren’t there for it, everyone’s lives have moved on.
It was easy to fall back into this world, to connect with the characters, and to see the changes wrought to late 1780s Edinburgh through their eyes. There is quite a bit of action and Elizabeth, poor woman, bears the brunt of it. No spoilers, but there are a lot of threads in this story and not all of them come together as you would expect them to.
Now for the bittersweet.
As when you only see a friend every once in a while and when next you meet them they have changed, grown older, and had experiences that you weren’t a part of, so it was for the characters here. You can see in the story how everyone’s lives have taken different routes, how the seemingly unflagging personality of Dr. Cullen is finally bowing to age, and the price Dr. Black has had to pay for his brush with death in the previous book. I suppose that is something that makes these books unique, the characters aren’t frozen in time on the pages they occupy, but rather they seem to live on. And for me, what was very evident in this book is that all things change. To quote Elizabeth – “She wished there was a way to capture Edinburgh at this moment in time, before the town she knew—the college, the warren of wynds around Cowgate—were lost forever. If she could put the town in front of her on silver nitrate soaked papers and let the sunlight capture its silhouette.”
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 21, 2024
C. L. Jarvis has outdone herself with this finale of her Edinburgh Doctrines series. I've been privileged to read of several of her books, and this one is my favorite!
A Codex Of Metal is, in big-picture form, a murder mystery. This historical fantasy is full of dark academia vibes — profesors and doctors and intelligent people "behaving badly" as the author puts it!
Once again, I love that many of the characters are reimaginings of actual historical figures, as is the setting and even many events. Especially the craziest ones! (You know what they say about truth and fiction!)
I appreciate the theme of feminism, not something I advocate strongly for in the present, but appreciate in history. Elizabeth, the main character, continues to struggle for respect for her scientific work as well as her voice in the investigation of the murder.
I thought the characterizations were strong, the humor is subtle, but amusing, and the overall story had me intrigued!
There are a few instances of strong language, but not unwarranted.
A Codex Of Metal is, in big-picture form, a murder mystery. This historical fantasy is full of dark academia vibes — profesors and doctors and intelligent people "behaving badly" as the author puts it!
Once again, I love that many of the characters are reimaginings of actual historical figures, as is the setting and even many events. Especially the craziest ones! (You know what they say about truth and fiction!)
I appreciate the theme of feminism, not something I advocate strongly for in the present, but appreciate in history. Elizabeth, the main character, continues to struggle for respect for her scientific work as well as her voice in the investigation of the murder.
I thought the characterizations were strong, the humor is subtle, but amusing, and the overall story had me intrigued!
There are a few instances of strong language, but not unwarranted.
October 9, 2024
I have been a fan of this series since inception. I love the historical detail, the unique magic system, and the entire ambiance of 1790’s Edinburgh, Scotland. I do enjoy George and it was nice to get a little more of his perspective. However, the story is mainly told from Elizabeth Fulhame’s viewpoint as a woman scientist.
I was heavily distracted by the modern cursing, casual interactions, and events that just not would have happened in that timeframe. There were also more misspellings and grammar errors than I would expect. Three and a half stars rounded up to four.
I was heavily distracted by the modern cursing, casual interactions, and events that just not would have happened in that timeframe. There were also more misspellings and grammar errors than I would expect. Three and a half stars rounded up to four.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews