The Apple Falls Not Far

Raven, Fisher, and Simpson #0.5

by Ambrose Parry

Edinburgh, 1826

In this city you're only as valuable as what you bring to the table. And youth gets no quarter.

Cal may only be twelve years old, but his father has threatened to throw him onto the streets if he doesn’t start earning his keep. Keen to prove himself, he unearths an opportunity through stealthy eavesdropping. Two gentlemen need help transporting an unnamed cargo across the Firth of Forth, no questions asked. Cal is happy to secure the job, but soon discovers that holding up his end will entangle him in a ruthless underworld of thievery, smuggling and body snatchers.

In this digital exclusive short story from the world of Raven and Fisher, take a tumble down dirty cobblestoned streets, sail across icy black waters and hide anywhere you can to observe the dark dealings of Victorian Edinburgh.

Genres: Historical, Crime, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Short Stories, Mystery

Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2025

About the author

Ambrose Parry is the pen name for husband and wife Chris Brookmyre (known mostly for his crime novels) and Dr Marisa Haetzman, a consultant anaesthetist. It is the latter's interest in medical history that lead to their first collaboration, The Way of All Flesh.

Reviews

[Andy Marr · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent short story. Kept me guessing until the final page.

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This. novella by Ambrose Parry exposes the impoverished side and criminal activities in Edinburgh, 1826. The author supplies facts, indicating that much of the story is based on history. A bonus chapter at the end provides the opening for 'The Death of Shame, ' the fifth book in the Raven and Fisher Mystery series.

For a short story, this is a dark, gritty and atmospheric, with compelling characters.
Cal is a twelve-year-old boy living in poverty. His father is often drunk, leaving a lack of fuel and food in the house. In his alcoholic rages, he frequently exposes the mother to brutal beatings. Cal tries to stand between his parents to protect his mother and receives injuries. He gets a small sum as a messenger boy. His father threatens to kick him out of the house unless he starts earning a man's wages.

Being young and poor, Cal considers himself invisible and eavesdrops on the conversations of others.
He listens to a couple of well-dressed young men who are probably college students. He hears about transporting illegal cargo across the Firth of Froth. Cal steals a boat and offers to transport the goods, but insists on being paid up front.

This entangles Cal in the dangerous criminal world of thievery, smuggling and body snatching. Recently buried bodies are needed for study and dissection by the medical schools.
The conclusion has a surprising and satisfying twist. I received this short story from Kindle Unlimited.

[Ian Collier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small but perfectly formed.

A snapshot of a different part of the world we’ve come to know in these stories.

[Chrystyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Apple Falls, Not Far by Ambrose Parry - Good

More of a short story than a novella, this was a free kindle read in the run up to the release of the latest Raven and Fisher book. This one takes us back in time to give us a little taste of one character's back story in Victorian Edinburgh.

#review

[Ross Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short read but a captivating wee story none the less, featuring smuggling and body snatching with a neat little twist at the end.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly unremarkable, nothing much to say one way or another. Flint's origin story fits neatly into the canon. A few editorial mistakes slipped through.

[Rich B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novella set 20+ years before the events of the main series of the Will Raven / Sarah Fisher books, but featuring earlier versions of some of the characters in those books.

You don’t need to have read those books to enjoy this story, but it adds an extra delight if you have, particularly when the story does its final reveal.

In short, it’s about a young kid called Cal from a poor Edinburgh family with an abusive father. He’s struggling to find his feet. Using his wits and cunning, he gets involved with grave robbers and smugglers to try to get a foothold in life.

If you’re going to write something this short, it needs to pack a punch, and this one does exactly that.

If you’re a fan of this series, this one’s a great addition to the setting up of these characters. Excellently done.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yessss! But get into the series first...don't start here as it's a bonus book not a staple for the series.
I can't say more- just come back to this one later... :)

PS the series is totally worth it!

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short story that still packs a punch. Bonus is getting the first chapter of book 6.

[Marjolein · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - nice little mystery & origin story

[Joshkun Mehmet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story set in 1826 Edinburgh about a 12 year old boy trying to survive in a dangerous world. Great twist at the end. Very enjoyable.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great short story. it captures 19th century Edinburgh beautifully.

[Kirsten Hivon · Rating 4 out of 5]

would have liked the story to be longer, I really liked the Character and his life. felt there was more to be said. A character for the future, perhaps?

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful short addition to the canon. Readers of the books will enjoy this sneak peak into Mr. Flint's background

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a good read but just lost track a couple of times with the audio.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 4 🌟.

One more to mark off my "Have The Book - TBR" Goals list.

[Lars · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure what the point was it was so short. Got on Amazon free and can’t imagine money being taken for such a tiny vignette. Pity it wasn’t developed in something more. (Note to self to remind me what read and whether liked.)

[TheCoffeeDiaries · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant short story taking us back in time to the origin of a certain character (and his connection to Raven).