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Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries #1
A Feast of Carrion
The first Eisenmenger forensic mystery. John used to work as a forensic pathologist but he is irredeemably scared by what he has seen. Now he seeks a quieter life as a hospital pathologist and curator of the great pathology museum at St Benjamin's medical school.
Nikki Exner wasn't an ordinary medical student, but it wasn't clear quite how out of the ordinary she was until she is found hung, drawn and quartered in the pathology museum. Eisenmenger is drawn back into the world of forensic pathology when the police - in the personification of Beverley Wharton - arrests the assistant curator, and Eisenmenger has serious doubts. Solicitor Helena Flemming has her own reasons for wanting to hurt Beverley Wharton, and she encourages him to investigate. Together they uncover Nikki Exner's hidden life and secret relationships.
Nikki Exner wasn't an ordinary medical student, but it wasn't clear quite how out of the ordinary she was until she is found hung, drawn and quartered in the pathology museum. Eisenmenger is drawn back into the world of forensic pathology when the police - in the personification of Beverley Wharton - arrests the assistant curator, and Eisenmenger has serious doubts. Solicitor Helena Flemming has her own reasons for wanting to hurt Beverley Wharton, and she encourages him to investigate. Together they uncover Nikki Exner's hidden life and secret relationships.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 21, 2003
40 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Keith McCarthy
64 books27 followersKeith McCarthy is a pathologist and writer of crime fiction, known for his Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries. He also writes under the name Lance Elliot.
Series:
* Dr. Lance Elliot
* Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries
Series:
* Dr. Lance Elliot
* Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 6, 2015
Carrion: The noun carrion refers to the dead and rotting flesh of an animal. Ever seen a dead opossum or cat in the road? You can call that road kill carrion. The word carrion comes from a Latin word caro, which means "meat," but carrion is usually considered unfit for human consumption.
In this instance, it refers to human flesh. The museum of Anatomy and Pathology in St. Benjamin’s Medical School is one of a kind. Displaying thousands of medical oddities, one of the things you would not expect to see is a young woman, raped, then brutally executed, and left displayed in the brightest of lights.
John Eisenmenger, a former forensic pathologist, is charged with investigating this case, despite his desire to forget the haunting past of his professional life. The police have fingered a suspect for the murder but Eisenmenger thinks they are wrong.
Partnering with solicitor Helena Flemming — who has her own personal reasons for wanting to prove the police wrong — Eisenmenger sets out to discover what really did happen to the victim.
It was a little slow going in the first few chapters. But once I got comfortable with names and places, it became the fast-paced medical thriller I was hoping it to be.
Eisenmenger has skeletons in his closet ..skeletons he absolutely does not want to revisit, but this case is bringing them to the forefront causing flashbacks. Helena Fleming also has secrets. And Police officer Beverly Wharton is determined that no one questions her initial assessment of the crime .
The characters are finely written, bold, dauntless, human in every way. The story line is thorough and engaging on all levels.
Many thanks to the author / Endeavour Press / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
In this instance, it refers to human flesh. The museum of Anatomy and Pathology in St. Benjamin’s Medical School is one of a kind. Displaying thousands of medical oddities, one of the things you would not expect to see is a young woman, raped, then brutally executed, and left displayed in the brightest of lights.
John Eisenmenger, a former forensic pathologist, is charged with investigating this case, despite his desire to forget the haunting past of his professional life. The police have fingered a suspect for the murder but Eisenmenger thinks they are wrong.
Partnering with solicitor Helena Flemming — who has her own personal reasons for wanting to prove the police wrong — Eisenmenger sets out to discover what really did happen to the victim.
It was a little slow going in the first few chapters. But once I got comfortable with names and places, it became the fast-paced medical thriller I was hoping it to be.
Eisenmenger has skeletons in his closet ..skeletons he absolutely does not want to revisit, but this case is bringing them to the forefront causing flashbacks. Helena Fleming also has secrets. And Police officer Beverly Wharton is determined that no one questions her initial assessment of the crime .
The characters are finely written, bold, dauntless, human in every way. The story line is thorough and engaging on all levels.
Many thanks to the author / Endeavour Press / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
March 31, 2014
Not for the squeamish, this book makes Kathy Reichs novels seem tame by comparison!
May 18, 2016
Nikki Exner, a young medical student, is found hanging and theatrically mutilated in a pathology museum attached to St. Benjamin's, a high-status British medical school.
John Eisenmenger, current head of the museum and former forensic pathologist, is asked by Helena Flemming, a solicitor, to carry out a second autopsy. Flemming has an axe to grind; there is some history between her and the Detective Inspector in charge of the case, Beverly Wharton. Wharton is an ambitious and manipulating career woman who likes to get results no matter how. One of her "victims" is another detective who joins Eisenmenger and Flemming in their independent investigation into the horrific murder.
This is the first book in the Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries series. The prose is very dense and distinct and coupled with the large number of characters that were being introduced, it took me a little while to get into this. But once I got used to the style and the array of characters, I thoroughly enjoyed it and really started to appreciate the witty observations. The plot is really complex and the characters are truly multi-faceted. Most of them carry around a heap of emotional baggage, have secrets and personal problems galore. The term bat-shit crazy comes to mind for some of them. There were some rather gory details, which I didn't mind, though.
I listened to the audio narrated by Sean Barrett, which was simply perfect. He did a fantastic job giving the characters distinct British voices using different accents and making each character unique. I have the second in the series, The Silent Sleep of the Dying (, as an eBook provided by NetGalley but can't actually imagine reading this now without listening to Sean Barrett's voice. He was that good.
If you like British crime fiction with adroit use of language and enjoy forensic mysteries, I would recommend this.
John Eisenmenger, current head of the museum and former forensic pathologist, is asked by Helena Flemming, a solicitor, to carry out a second autopsy. Flemming has an axe to grind; there is some history between her and the Detective Inspector in charge of the case, Beverly Wharton. Wharton is an ambitious and manipulating career woman who likes to get results no matter how. One of her "victims" is another detective who joins Eisenmenger and Flemming in their independent investigation into the horrific murder.
This is the first book in the Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries series. The prose is very dense and distinct and coupled with the large number of characters that were being introduced, it took me a little while to get into this. But once I got used to the style and the array of characters, I thoroughly enjoyed it and really started to appreciate the witty observations. The plot is really complex and the characters are truly multi-faceted. Most of them carry around a heap of emotional baggage, have secrets and personal problems galore. The term bat-shit crazy comes to mind for some of them. There were some rather gory details, which I didn't mind, though.
I listened to the audio narrated by Sean Barrett, which was simply perfect. He did a fantastic job giving the characters distinct British voices using different accents and making each character unique. I have the second in the series, The Silent Sleep of the Dying (, as an eBook provided by NetGalley but can't actually imagine reading this now without listening to Sean Barrett's voice. He was that good.
If you like British crime fiction with adroit use of language and enjoy forensic mysteries, I would recommend this.
May 7, 2014
RATING: 4.75
One of the greatest discoveries that a seriously mysteriously addicted reader can find is that magical book that knocks them over from the first word on the first page and continues to leave them breathless until the book comes to its conclusion, an event that is viewed with much regret. Such a book is A FEAST OF CARRION by Keith McCarthy. This book is dark, complex and written with such an assured hand that surely Mr. McCarthy is a seasoned professional. To find that this is his first book is a welcome surprise, as one can hope for a prodigious output of similarly excellent works in the future.
John Eisenmenger was formerly a forensic pathologist who is now serving as the head of the Museum of Pathology at a medical school in the UK. Although his actual responsibilities are interesting and professionally rewarding, the colleagues that he must work with could serve as specimens in the Museum of Deviant Individuals. The dean, his fellow professors, the head curator—each is dysfunctional and unpleasant in one way or another. All of their baser characteristics come out in full when a gruesome discovery is made in the museum. A young woman by the name of Nikki Exner is found drawn and quartered. Exner was a student at the medical school who was not above using her physical charms to get what she wanted, whether that be drugs, good grades or an academic prize.
The case is handled by an extremely ambitious detective inspector by the name of Beverly Wharton, who is not above manipulating evidence or people to achieve her own ends. She immediately settles upon a young man who was a source of Nikki's drugs and who had been her lover as the killer. An incompetent pathologist by the name of Charles Sydenham prepares a flawed autopsy report, and the case is about to be closed. However, Eisenmenger knows that there's more to this death than the conclusions that are drawn by Wharton and the pathologist. He is asked to prepare a new autopsy report by a solicitor named Helena Flemming who has an ax to grind. A detective constable who has been victimized by Wharton also lends a hand in investigating the murder.
A FEAST OF CARRION succeeds on every level. The focus is on the forensic pathology of the murder victim and attempting to understand the symbolism of the murder. Although at times the descriptions are graphic, they are never titillating. At the same time, there is a multi-dimensional dance going in between the various characters. At times, one does not know who is leading, who is following and indeed, who is partners with whom. It's impossible to determine who the villain is, as so many of the characters have good motives for the killing. All the characters seem to be carrying around a lot of emotional baggage, but the way they are presented makes each of them intrinsically interesting, if not lovable. McCarthy's prose is dense yet highly readable, with a complex plot that pulls the reader through the pages. McCarthy's expertise in writing about forensic pathology is due to the fact that he has been a pathologist since 1985 and lends the narrative a strong sense of authenticity.
Although this book was not perfect, having a few "first book" type flaws, it gets an unqualified thumbs up from this reader. I can't wait until the second book in the series, THE SILENT SLEEP OF THE DYING, is released. McCarthy is going to occupy a place of honor on this collector's bookshelves.
One of the greatest discoveries that a seriously mysteriously addicted reader can find is that magical book that knocks them over from the first word on the first page and continues to leave them breathless until the book comes to its conclusion, an event that is viewed with much regret. Such a book is A FEAST OF CARRION by Keith McCarthy. This book is dark, complex and written with such an assured hand that surely Mr. McCarthy is a seasoned professional. To find that this is his first book is a welcome surprise, as one can hope for a prodigious output of similarly excellent works in the future.
John Eisenmenger was formerly a forensic pathologist who is now serving as the head of the Museum of Pathology at a medical school in the UK. Although his actual responsibilities are interesting and professionally rewarding, the colleagues that he must work with could serve as specimens in the Museum of Deviant Individuals. The dean, his fellow professors, the head curator—each is dysfunctional and unpleasant in one way or another. All of their baser characteristics come out in full when a gruesome discovery is made in the museum. A young woman by the name of Nikki Exner is found drawn and quartered. Exner was a student at the medical school who was not above using her physical charms to get what she wanted, whether that be drugs, good grades or an academic prize.
The case is handled by an extremely ambitious detective inspector by the name of Beverly Wharton, who is not above manipulating evidence or people to achieve her own ends. She immediately settles upon a young man who was a source of Nikki's drugs and who had been her lover as the killer. An incompetent pathologist by the name of Charles Sydenham prepares a flawed autopsy report, and the case is about to be closed. However, Eisenmenger knows that there's more to this death than the conclusions that are drawn by Wharton and the pathologist. He is asked to prepare a new autopsy report by a solicitor named Helena Flemming who has an ax to grind. A detective constable who has been victimized by Wharton also lends a hand in investigating the murder.
A FEAST OF CARRION succeeds on every level. The focus is on the forensic pathology of the murder victim and attempting to understand the symbolism of the murder. Although at times the descriptions are graphic, they are never titillating. At the same time, there is a multi-dimensional dance going in between the various characters. At times, one does not know who is leading, who is following and indeed, who is partners with whom. It's impossible to determine who the villain is, as so many of the characters have good motives for the killing. All the characters seem to be carrying around a lot of emotional baggage, but the way they are presented makes each of them intrinsically interesting, if not lovable. McCarthy's prose is dense yet highly readable, with a complex plot that pulls the reader through the pages. McCarthy's expertise in writing about forensic pathology is due to the fact that he has been a pathologist since 1985 and lends the narrative a strong sense of authenticity.
Although this book was not perfect, having a few "first book" type flaws, it gets an unqualified thumbs up from this reader. I can't wait until the second book in the series, THE SILENT SLEEP OF THE DYING, is released. McCarthy is going to occupy a place of honor on this collector's bookshelves.
November 29, 2015
Set in St. Benjamin's medical school, this is about the grisly murder of Nikki Exner.
John Eisenmenger, a former forensic pathologist is determined to find out why she was murdered and to find the perpetrator.
A fast paced murder mystery with well written characters.
This was one book I couldn't put down 'til I reached the end.
I was given a digital copy of this novel by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
John Eisenmenger, a former forensic pathologist is determined to find out why she was murdered and to find the perpetrator.
A fast paced murder mystery with well written characters.
This was one book I couldn't put down 'til I reached the end.
I was given a digital copy of this novel by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
December 9, 2015
First, a prospective reader is quite right to be put off by the title. The book is indeed such, but my advice is to persevere; it really is quite good, despite the comments I am about to make. For one thing, it is well-written, and in the beginning, when the characters are being introduced, it is really witty. We are in good hands.
The story is set in a prestigious British medical school, St. Benjamin’s, which has an equally renowned library and museum attached to it. Many of the professional staff members hold appointments in both institutions. The action starts in the monumental entrance hall of the museum, where the body of a young medical student, Nikki Exner, is found hanging from the central dome. She has been horribly mutilated, essentially drawn and quartered, and even the hardened policemen and medics summoned to the scene are sickened at the spectacle. The rest of the story is concerned not only with finding who committed the crime, but why it took such a gruesome form.
Here we are faced with a whole array of characters, both from the school/museum but also from the local constabulary, all involved in the politics of their respective institutions, and all struggling with personal problems of their own. This is one of my objections: there are all too many such problems. One man has a wife who dies from cancer during the action; another’s wife has a stroke which almost wholly debilitates her and leaves her husband as a hapless caregiver. A veteran policeman is framed by a rival colleague, who plants large sacks of cash in his house in order to force his retirement, and so on. Another gripe is concerned with the gratuitous and vivid descriptions of pools of blood, excrement, and vomit scattered here and there. Even considering the medical ambience, this is Too Much, and fails the test of relevance. As a matter of fact, everything seems to have been given a touch of Day-Glo paint to camouflage what seems essentially to be padding.
Finally, the flow of the story is lumpy. This I attribute to the absence of a strong, unifying central personality, a Holmes or Poirot. Attention moves from place to place, and as different characters are highlighted, perspectives change. I think John Eisenmenger, the pathologist who conducts the revealing autopsy, and his sidekick, a solicitor named Helena Flemming, are to be carry-forwards for further adventures. They are intended to provide such focus, but are not yet sufficiently dominant.
Nevertheless, the book is an excellent read. If I ever come to face a period of idleness, like a recuperation, I would like to tackle it again.
Perry B. Alers, “peebee”
Clinton, MD
8 December 2015
The story is set in a prestigious British medical school, St. Benjamin’s, which has an equally renowned library and museum attached to it. Many of the professional staff members hold appointments in both institutions. The action starts in the monumental entrance hall of the museum, where the body of a young medical student, Nikki Exner, is found hanging from the central dome. She has been horribly mutilated, essentially drawn and quartered, and even the hardened policemen and medics summoned to the scene are sickened at the spectacle. The rest of the story is concerned not only with finding who committed the crime, but why it took such a gruesome form.
Here we are faced with a whole array of characters, both from the school/museum but also from the local constabulary, all involved in the politics of their respective institutions, and all struggling with personal problems of their own. This is one of my objections: there are all too many such problems. One man has a wife who dies from cancer during the action; another’s wife has a stroke which almost wholly debilitates her and leaves her husband as a hapless caregiver. A veteran policeman is framed by a rival colleague, who plants large sacks of cash in his house in order to force his retirement, and so on. Another gripe is concerned with the gratuitous and vivid descriptions of pools of blood, excrement, and vomit scattered here and there. Even considering the medical ambience, this is Too Much, and fails the test of relevance. As a matter of fact, everything seems to have been given a touch of Day-Glo paint to camouflage what seems essentially to be padding.
Finally, the flow of the story is lumpy. This I attribute to the absence of a strong, unifying central personality, a Holmes or Poirot. Attention moves from place to place, and as different characters are highlighted, perspectives change. I think John Eisenmenger, the pathologist who conducts the revealing autopsy, and his sidekick, a solicitor named Helena Flemming, are to be carry-forwards for further adventures. They are intended to provide such focus, but are not yet sufficiently dominant.
Nevertheless, the book is an excellent read. If I ever come to face a period of idleness, like a recuperation, I would like to tackle it again.
Perry B. Alers, “peebee”
Clinton, MD
8 December 2015
August 6, 2016
Forensic pathologist John Eisenmenger had left the world of criminal investigation, traumatised by the death of a child. He sought solace in academe, running a museum of medical samples for a university. But savage death finds him once more when a female student is slaughtered and left on ostentatious display on the premises...
Eisenmenger skills in interpreting the story that the dead body can tell become invaluable to the attractive lawyer on the defence team. Their interpretation of events puts them at odds with the establishment in general and one promotion hungry CID officer in particular. And then it becomes obvious that the dismembered victim was no Snow White herself.
The detail of pathological description is brilliantly conveyed, not in sterile lab-speak but with a passionate humanity that makes it all the more convincingly gruesome. The medical and procedural insights are convincing and substantial – and it’s a pleasure to be challenged by some unusual technical and creative vocabulary. For some readers, the author’s magnificently embellished and scientifically descriptive writing style will feel too much like hard work, but Keith McCarthy’s wickedly perceptive pen portraits of his characters are definitely worth putting in a little intellectual effort.
This book was obviously written a while ago and, indeed, it has a traditional, ‘English mystery’ atmosphere about it. At times this sits strangely alongside the graphic violence and explicit ‘adult’ encounters – but I enjoyed the overall result.
As well as a convoluted whodunit, ‘Carrion’ also examines the somewhat slimy side of life on the faculty of a medical university – the scheming rivalries, the manipulation of vulnerable young students, the sordid sex lives of almost everyone involved. McCarthy deftly opens up even more disturbing cans of worms; the debilitating onset of obsessive compulsive disorder and how it can dominate lives, or the fragility of the human psyche when subjected to the stresses at the end of a relationship. He examines some deeply disturbing subjects and produces more than one jaw-dropping moment of emotional impact.
As a mystery, the resolution of the plot is so complex that it challenges credibility – but as a densely engaging novel, ‘Carrion’ is immensely satisfying. If you enjoy the nuanced density of Scandi crime, where everyday banality can be so magnificently contrasted with graphic violence, then this may well appeal to your reading tastes too. it's also the first in a series, so if you're converted to the cause then there are more to read immediately.
8/10
Eisenmenger skills in interpreting the story that the dead body can tell become invaluable to the attractive lawyer on the defence team. Their interpretation of events puts them at odds with the establishment in general and one promotion hungry CID officer in particular. And then it becomes obvious that the dismembered victim was no Snow White herself.
The detail of pathological description is brilliantly conveyed, not in sterile lab-speak but with a passionate humanity that makes it all the more convincingly gruesome. The medical and procedural insights are convincing and substantial – and it’s a pleasure to be challenged by some unusual technical and creative vocabulary. For some readers, the author’s magnificently embellished and scientifically descriptive writing style will feel too much like hard work, but Keith McCarthy’s wickedly perceptive pen portraits of his characters are definitely worth putting in a little intellectual effort.
This book was obviously written a while ago and, indeed, it has a traditional, ‘English mystery’ atmosphere about it. At times this sits strangely alongside the graphic violence and explicit ‘adult’ encounters – but I enjoyed the overall result.
As well as a convoluted whodunit, ‘Carrion’ also examines the somewhat slimy side of life on the faculty of a medical university – the scheming rivalries, the manipulation of vulnerable young students, the sordid sex lives of almost everyone involved. McCarthy deftly opens up even more disturbing cans of worms; the debilitating onset of obsessive compulsive disorder and how it can dominate lives, or the fragility of the human psyche when subjected to the stresses at the end of a relationship. He examines some deeply disturbing subjects and produces more than one jaw-dropping moment of emotional impact.
As a mystery, the resolution of the plot is so complex that it challenges credibility – but as a densely engaging novel, ‘Carrion’ is immensely satisfying. If you enjoy the nuanced density of Scandi crime, where everyday banality can be so magnificently contrasted with graphic violence, then this may well appeal to your reading tastes too. it's also the first in a series, so if you're converted to the cause then there are more to read immediately.
8/10
August 9, 2017
I found this a rather difficult book to get into for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the writing was quite complicated and clinical, dry and dense. Secondly, the subject matter (Necrophilia right from the start, quickly followed by a museum of dissected bodies in gruesome display cases, then to the young body of a hung, drawn & quartered rape victim) was hard to get through.
It was a claustrophobic start, too, one that forced me to spend an incredibly long time in the room with the dangling corpse whose intestines & bloody bits of whatnot were all over the place. I thought the author did a very good job in that respect as I REALLY wanted to get out of there.
However, the writing instantly became more palatable when the police were introduced, and their personalities piqued my interest immediately, especially Wharton - what a bit*h!
I would have preferred a little less drudgery & morbidity, maybe just one happy couple - Hell, just one happy person! - but that is just my personal preference. I can't say that it was enjoyable exactly, but it was well written and I will read the next in the series.
If you like serious crime books that are dark and clinical, A Feast Of Carrion is one for you.
It was a claustrophobic start, too, one that forced me to spend an incredibly long time in the room with the dangling corpse whose intestines & bloody bits of whatnot were all over the place. I thought the author did a very good job in that respect as I REALLY wanted to get out of there.
However, the writing instantly became more palatable when the police were introduced, and their personalities piqued my interest immediately, especially Wharton - what a bit*h!
I would have preferred a little less drudgery & morbidity, maybe just one happy couple - Hell, just one happy person! - but that is just my personal preference. I can't say that it was enjoyable exactly, but it was well written and I will read the next in the series.
If you like serious crime books that are dark and clinical, A Feast Of Carrion is one for you.
May 28, 2016
The writing! The writing!! The writing!!! What a gift this author has. Much like an expensive 7 course meal it's to be enjoying slowly. The characters are very well developed which leaves no red herrings to follow and makes your journey all the more delectable.
January 18, 2016
British language use a bit confusing at times. The end was left without a clear conclusion to the case, which was frustrating. Yet good enough to keep reading more.
March 17, 2017
Great mystery
The prose in this book was awesome. The mystery was as good. You will love or hate the characters. Recommended.
The prose in this book was awesome. The mystery was as good. You will love or hate the characters. Recommended.
June 14, 2017
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
The museum of Anatomy and Pathology in St Benjamin’s Medical School is the greatest of its kind.
Any death occurring within its walls would have created ripples within the academic world, but the death of Nikki Exner is far from being ordinary.
Raped, and then grotesquely executed, her theatrical murder horrifies everyone.
John Eisenmenger, a former forensic pathologist, finds himself dragged unwillingly into the Exner case, despite his desire to forget the haunting past of his professional life.
He suffers awful flashbacks and his partner Marie feels the strain as the investigation takes him further away from her.
Full of rage she threatens him in a manner he initially thinks is bizarre, until she explodes when he least expects it...
The police have fingered a suspect for the murder but Eisenmenger thinks they are wrong.
The results of his second autopsy just don’t add up to the findings of the first.
Teaming up with solicitor Helena Flemming — who has her own personal reasons for wanting to prove the police wrong — Eisenmenger sets out to discover what really did happen to Nikki Exner.
His suspicions are confirmed as evidence slowly comes to light, but Police officer Beverly Wharton is hell bent on ensuring her initial assessment of the crime is not questioned.
Despite Wharton’s panic, both Eisenmenger and Flemming persevere to uncover the truth, as disturbing as that truth might be.
They find there is much more at stake than uncovering the identity of a murderer.
There are scores to be settled, demons to be exorcised and, not least, vengeance to be had.
Having read some reviews prior to selecting this book to read, I was somewhat excited about it. However, although the writing was, at times, quite good, I just got weighed down with excessive characters - most who have "secrets", arcane words from the medical field and there were some sub-plots that I think were completely unnecessary - all they did was drive me further away from the actual plot...and that annoyed me.
What should have been a really good story was, for me, weighed down by trying to achieve too much in the first book of a series.
Paul
ARH
The museum of Anatomy and Pathology in St Benjamin’s Medical School is the greatest of its kind.
Any death occurring within its walls would have created ripples within the academic world, but the death of Nikki Exner is far from being ordinary.
Raped, and then grotesquely executed, her theatrical murder horrifies everyone.
John Eisenmenger, a former forensic pathologist, finds himself dragged unwillingly into the Exner case, despite his desire to forget the haunting past of his professional life.
He suffers awful flashbacks and his partner Marie feels the strain as the investigation takes him further away from her.
Full of rage she threatens him in a manner he initially thinks is bizarre, until she explodes when he least expects it...
The police have fingered a suspect for the murder but Eisenmenger thinks they are wrong.
The results of his second autopsy just don’t add up to the findings of the first.
Teaming up with solicitor Helena Flemming — who has her own personal reasons for wanting to prove the police wrong — Eisenmenger sets out to discover what really did happen to Nikki Exner.
His suspicions are confirmed as evidence slowly comes to light, but Police officer Beverly Wharton is hell bent on ensuring her initial assessment of the crime is not questioned.
Despite Wharton’s panic, both Eisenmenger and Flemming persevere to uncover the truth, as disturbing as that truth might be.
They find there is much more at stake than uncovering the identity of a murderer.
There are scores to be settled, demons to be exorcised and, not least, vengeance to be had.
Having read some reviews prior to selecting this book to read, I was somewhat excited about it. However, although the writing was, at times, quite good, I just got weighed down with excessive characters - most who have "secrets", arcane words from the medical field and there were some sub-plots that I think were completely unnecessary - all they did was drive me further away from the actual plot...and that annoyed me.
What should have been a really good story was, for me, weighed down by trying to achieve too much in the first book of a series.
Paul
ARH
August 7, 2018
Quite a slow building story although brimming with detail. The characters were well built out and it was easy to get a sense of their personalities and this greatly influenced their likability. Like all cohorts of people there were some that were easy to identify with and in turn be immensely likable and there were others that were just not nice people. The medical terminology and descriptions were spot on and never felt forced or unnecessary. Despite the story being a slow burner it was filled with intrigue and kept me guessing until the end. I am looking forward to reading some more books from this series in the not too distant future once I get through my current backlog.
September 30, 2017
Enjoyed this book. Slow start but the character grew on me. Kind of. There was an arrogance about the main character that I didn't like, but in the University world of pathology, his arrogance was nothing compared to that of the Dean and others.
Looking forward to the next one.
Looking forward to the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2020
Great series starter
Full cast of characters, interesting crime, unlikable police detective create compelling basis for the start of the mystery. Add a determined attorney, honest detective, and great forensic pathologist, and the story really gets good.
Full cast of characters, interesting crime, unlikable police detective create compelling basis for the start of the mystery. Add a determined attorney, honest detective, and great forensic pathologist, and the story really gets good.
April 21, 2019
too many medical vocabs, uninteresting characters, story was ok
February 2, 2019
I was on the look out for a new series so I tried this out of the blue and I'm pleasantly surprised. Its a slow burning murder mystery set within a medical museum/teaching facility which had enough twists and turns to keep me fully engrossed. Yes there's gore and other nasty stuff but really that's a very small part of it. The characters are all engaging and the forensic stuff is easy to understand.
My only quibble was the ending seemed a bit weak to me. Hence the four stars. The marvellous Sean Barrett narrated, which just added to the experience.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series, as it was well written and well performed.
My only quibble was the ending seemed a bit weak to me. Hence the four stars. The marvellous Sean Barrett narrated, which just added to the experience.
I look forward to reading the rest of the series, as it was well written and well performed.
February 6, 2017
Have a dictionary at hand.
I enjoyed the book but felt like I needed a thesaurus or dictionary near by to look up all the arcane words the author used.
I enjoyed the book but felt like I needed a thesaurus or dictionary near by to look up all the arcane words the author used.
December 22, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
As interesting as this book sounds, it did grip me at all. I found the writing to be quite...arrogant almost. The author blabbered on quite a bit in my opinion. The story itself was ok, decent even. But the writing style completely put me off.
As interesting as this book sounds, it did grip me at all. I found the writing to be quite...arrogant almost. The author blabbered on quite a bit in my opinion. The story itself was ok, decent even. But the writing style completely put me off.
February 1, 2011
This book is too long with too many sub-plots that are not important to the story.
January 9, 2012
Keith McCarthy is a British writer and it took me a few pages to get used to the British language. I love to read about Forensic science and law enforcement and was not disappointed.
March 9, 2013
Riveting! I couldn't stop listening until I was finished. Bizarre ending. A well wrought mystery about a forensic pathologist and a horrible murder in a medical school museum.
February 4, 2015
Solide Story, die ich hätte noch mehr genießen können, wäre die Formatierung des ebooks nicht so schlecht gewesen (inklusive Tippfehler und fehlende Worte).
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July 2, 2017Very Good
This filled in a lot of blanks for me, as I read this series out of order, so that was enjoyable . I was a bit disappointed in the ambiguous ending of the Exner case, though. Left much unexplained.
This filled in a lot of blanks for me, as I read this series out of order, so that was enjoyable . I was a bit disappointed in the ambiguous ending of the Exner case, though. Left much unexplained.
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