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A Marshall House Mystery #3
The Dead Among Us
“Half of the bodies brought to my morgue are that of children, dead from starvation, exposure or wounds inflicted on them in life.” - Dr. Peter Ainsley London 1868 – The newspapers call him The Surgeon, a killer targeting pauper children in Limehouse district leaving their bodies discarded in death as they were in life. Discouraged by the lack of physical clues Dr. Peter Ainsley joins Scotland Yard's Inspector Simms as he scours the city to learn where the children came from and how they fell into the clutches of one of London's worst criminal minds. When clues emerge connecting the children to a foundling school, the matron's son, Elliot Holliwell falls under suspicion but without enough evidence Simms and Ainsley are forced to monitor him from a distance. Frustration mounting, Ainsley throws himself into his work apprenticing an orphaned boy in the trade of morgue porter but when the adolescent fails to report to work one day Ainsley can no longer hold back and decides to approach his number one suspect with or without Scotland Yard's blessing. Nothing during his medical training could have prepared him for what he finds and when Ainsley finally catches up with the child killer neither of them will ever be the same. Be advised, in keeping with British tradition, this Canadian author has chosen to use "-our", "-re" and "-ize" spellings throughout the manuscript. These are not proofreading errors.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2014
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About the author
Tracy L. Ward
13 books83 followersA former journalist and graduate from Humber College's School for Writers, Tracy Ward has been hard at work developing her favourite protagonist, Peter Ainsley, and chronicling his adventures as a young surgeon in Victorian England. Her first book featuring Peter Ainsley, titled CHORUS OF THE DEAD, was released in 2012. Since then the series has grown to include six books with a seventh, a Christmas mystery, set for release in Fall 2018.
Her website can be found at www.gothicmysterywriter.blogspot.com. Tracy Ward is currently working on a new Victorian series set in Toronto. She lives near Barrie, Ontario with her husband and two teenagers.
Her website can be found at www.gothicmysterywriter.blogspot.com. Tracy Ward is currently working on a new Victorian series set in Toronto. She lives near Barrie, Ontario with her husband and two teenagers.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 12, 2020
Historical fiction with a central character with too many flaws
-Very disappointing 3rd book in the series. The main character, Peter Marshall, aka Dr. Peter Ainsley, was originally a heroic figure that had personal aspirations that were to be commended, and which were against the wishes of his wealthy father. Surprisingly, both the character and the writing have changed dramatically, in a negative way. Peter is now a drunk, and a womanizer, with an atrocious temper, as if he’s now become the type of person of the upper classes (of 19th Century British society) that he always abhored. In addition, his choice of profession, that of a surgeon, is now grudgingly done.
-The book starts off with Peter’s father planning a trip to the Caribbean islands, to look after certain of his business ventures and he leaves Peter in charge of hiring a new butler. Peter’s sister, Margaret, is given the task of disposing of her recently deceased mother’s items from their home. Peter’s parents were living apart for years, and his father had no love for his mother and vice versa, which shows from the way his father speaks of his former wife.
-Peter had shied away from his hospital duties after his mother’s death, to the delight of his father, as any work in any sort of trade is looked down upon by those in society. Peter is pulled back into it, though, by a series of horrible murders in London being carried out against orphan children. Their lifeless bodies are found with their stomachs cut open and certain of their organs removed.
-Peter got involved because his mother had been assisting an orphanage with both her time and money, and it’s from this orphanage that several of the murdered children were from.
-Peter has now turned into quite an aggressive and violent person, and actively boxes, so that his aggressions can be released. But there is a great deal of spillover of his now violent personality, as he easily resorts to hitting those whom he finds distasteful. He is no longer the hero that you look up to, who, against the wishes of his father, solved crimes through examination of forensic evidence, but he is now almost like the criminal who displays periodic flashes of virtue that make him strive at rare times to do the right thing.
-The writing, as well, has taken a step down. Actions and emotions which were so artfully described in earlier books now feel very wooden - very below what the author is capable of, judging from the first two installments. It’s with hope that the author brings back the interesting writing style and the characters’ virtues in future novels that made this story line so interesting.
-Very disappointing 3rd book in the series. The main character, Peter Marshall, aka Dr. Peter Ainsley, was originally a heroic figure that had personal aspirations that were to be commended, and which were against the wishes of his wealthy father. Surprisingly, both the character and the writing have changed dramatically, in a negative way. Peter is now a drunk, and a womanizer, with an atrocious temper, as if he’s now become the type of person of the upper classes (of 19th Century British society) that he always abhored. In addition, his choice of profession, that of a surgeon, is now grudgingly done.
-The book starts off with Peter’s father planning a trip to the Caribbean islands, to look after certain of his business ventures and he leaves Peter in charge of hiring a new butler. Peter’s sister, Margaret, is given the task of disposing of her recently deceased mother’s items from their home. Peter’s parents were living apart for years, and his father had no love for his mother and vice versa, which shows from the way his father speaks of his former wife.
-Peter had shied away from his hospital duties after his mother’s death, to the delight of his father, as any work in any sort of trade is looked down upon by those in society. Peter is pulled back into it, though, by a series of horrible murders in London being carried out against orphan children. Their lifeless bodies are found with their stomachs cut open and certain of their organs removed.
-Peter got involved because his mother had been assisting an orphanage with both her time and money, and it’s from this orphanage that several of the murdered children were from.
-Peter has now turned into quite an aggressive and violent person, and actively boxes, so that his aggressions can be released. But there is a great deal of spillover of his now violent personality, as he easily resorts to hitting those whom he finds distasteful. He is no longer the hero that you look up to, who, against the wishes of his father, solved crimes through examination of forensic evidence, but he is now almost like the criminal who displays periodic flashes of virtue that make him strive at rare times to do the right thing.
-The writing, as well, has taken a step down. Actions and emotions which were so artfully described in earlier books now feel very wooden - very below what the author is capable of, judging from the first two installments. It’s with hope that the author brings back the interesting writing style and the characters’ virtues in future novels that made this story line so interesting.
June 3, 2017
This story was set in London back in the mid 1800's. It is about a young surgeon who was born into a wealthy family that looks down on anyone that works at a trade, so his working in the morgue at the local hospital is frowned upon. Dr. Peter Ainsley/Marshall is asked by Scotland Yard to assist in the murders of some of the town's orphans that have been butchered. The local paper has titled the serial killer The Surgeon, which upsets the doctor. He slowly picks out a clue here or there to help with the case, but they don't have the details that they need to solve the crime. While he tries to help solve this crime, he visits the local orphanage that his mother used to do charity work for. He is still grieving the loss of his mother, who has been murdered within the last year and so is his sister, Margaret. While their stern father leaves on business he leaves orders for Margaret to clear out his deceased wife's belongings and puts this task on Margaret. She decides to have an auction to benefit this orphanage since it was her mother's charity. While trying to solve these crimes, Peter visits the orphanage and reconnects with the overseer and befriends one of the orphans and acquires Benjamin an apprenticeship at the hospital after promising to tutor the head surgeon's nephew, Sidney. While handing out invites to her charity auction event, Margaret runs into Bethany, one of the socialites in the town who agrees to help out by handing out all the invites. After the auction is over, Bethany invites Margaret on a tour that is happening in the town that takes you to each scene of the Surgeon's killings. She agrees to go and meets a man on the tour that sort of gives her the creeps. Meanwhile, the young boy that Peter got the apprenticeship for is missing and he is searching the city for him. This creepy man on the tour suddenly disappears and Margaret is none too happy to see him go. Then, out of the darkness when the carriage stops, Margaret finds Ben hiding. He tries to tell Margaret that the Surgeon is after him, but then she gets bonked on the head from behind and the creepy guy from the tour is behind it. After he attacks her, it is learned that he is the surgeon. When Peter finds his sister attacked and then finds Ben hiding, he learns of the surgeon's identity and goes after him. It ends with Peter killing the guy and the cop that he is working with knows, but overlooks it after giving him a stern warning to stay away and never help Scotland Yard again.
***I received this book as part of a Good Reads Giveaway***
***I received this book as part of a Good Reads Giveaway***
November 3, 2019
A scary story.
December 26, 2014
I really enjoyed this series
I stumbled upon the Peter Ainsley series flipping through kindle book sales pages. I love reading historical pieces. I am fascinated with the past and the class systems in England. I liked these books very much. I love Peter Ainsley and the cast of characters Tracy has created. I especially like the relationships that cross class line boundaries. The dead among us is probably my favorite of the three, though I found the apprehension and dispatch of the villain a bit anticlimactic all the while most satisfying. None the less I look forward to reading more about Peter, Jonas, Margaret and Julia. I am also wondering if Peter and detective Simms will become collaborates once again. Oh the possibilities... I cannot wait for the next book.
I did not want to give anything away in my review, that is why it is so nondescript. You must take the plunge for yourself and draw your own conclusions. I for one am a fan!
I stumbled upon the Peter Ainsley series flipping through kindle book sales pages. I love reading historical pieces. I am fascinated with the past and the class systems in England. I liked these books very much. I love Peter Ainsley and the cast of characters Tracy has created. I especially like the relationships that cross class line boundaries. The dead among us is probably my favorite of the three, though I found the apprehension and dispatch of the villain a bit anticlimactic all the while most satisfying. None the less I look forward to reading more about Peter, Jonas, Margaret and Julia. I am also wondering if Peter and detective Simms will become collaborates once again. Oh the possibilities... I cannot wait for the next book.
I did not want to give anything away in my review, that is why it is so nondescript. You must take the plunge for yourself and draw your own conclusions. I for one am a fan!
December 6, 2016
Amazing! The crimes in this story tore at my heart just as they did Ainsley. I really liked reading the subtle growth he's going through. I expect that to continue in the 4th book Sweet Asylum.
Ainsley's sister Margaret, who I really liked in the Chorus of the Dead, continues as she was in the second book, The Dead Among Us. Margaret, though, seemed more lost in a world of femininity she had been avoiding for most of her life. She wants to rebel, but she is absolutely terrified of her father and she is crumbling in this story. I am hoping that she will shake that off and get back the backbone she had originally.
Ainsley's sister Margaret, who I really liked in the Chorus of the Dead, continues as she was in the second book, The Dead Among Us. Margaret, though, seemed more lost in a world of femininity she had been avoiding for most of her life. She wants to rebel, but she is absolutely terrified of her father and she is crumbling in this story. I am hoping that she will shake that off and get back the backbone she had originally.
July 28, 2014
Ward really ups her game with this 3rd installment... like a great BBC miniseries, she has given us characters who we love for their charm and even more so for their flaws. In the 3rd book we go deeper into the world she has created and the plot becomes even more personal. Peter is drawn out of his grief by a case that will lead him into darker places and Margaret struggles to claim her own identity and independence. Don't expect to walk away from this one not wanting more! This series is dark, twisted, intense and it gets more exciting with every book. I eagerly await the next installment!
May 22, 2015
A thoght provoking book. Needed a little better editing but it did not detract from the story.
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March 12, 2017I really like this one. Despite the disturbing subject it was very intriguing. I had 3 possible guilty parties but I bounced around many times.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews