What do you think?
Rate this book
Cragg & Fidelis Mystery #1
A Dark Anatomy
The year is 1740. George II is on the throne, but England’s remoter provinces remain largely a law unto themselves. In Lancashire a grim discovery has been a squire’s wife, Dolores Brockletower, lies in the woods above her home at Garlick Hall, her throat brutally slashed.
Called to the scene, Coroner Titus Cragg finds the Brockletower household awash with rumour and suspicion. He enlists the help of his astute young friend, doctor Luke Fidelis, to throw light on the case. But this is a world in which forensic science is in its infancy, and policing hardly exists. Embarking on their first gripping investigation, Cragg and Fidelis are faced with the superstition of witnesses, obstruction by local officials and denunciations from the squire himself. A Dark Anatomy marks the arrival of a remarkable new voice in mystery and a pair of detectives both cunning and complex.
Called to the scene, Coroner Titus Cragg finds the Brockletower household awash with rumour and suspicion. He enlists the help of his astute young friend, doctor Luke Fidelis, to throw light on the case. But this is a world in which forensic science is in its infancy, and policing hardly exists. Embarking on their first gripping investigation, Cragg and Fidelis are faced with the superstition of witnesses, obstruction by local officials and denunciations from the squire himself. A Dark Anatomy marks the arrival of a remarkable new voice in mystery and a pair of detectives both cunning and complex.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2011
51 people are currently reading
612 people want to read
About the author
Robin Blake
24 books35 followersRobin Blake is the author of acclaimed works on the artists Van Dyke and Stubbs. He has written, produced and presented extensively for radio, is widely published as a critic, and is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Brunel University. He lives in London.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
August 15, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. Being born in Preston and having an ancestor named Titus Cragg (my Titus Cragg was a Lancashire farmer born in 1700) made this book even more enjoyable. I especially enjoyed reading about Preston in the 1740s. For me I liked Titus and Dr Luke Fidelis and I hope there will be more books featuring them.
December 21, 2012
For a novel that begins with a grisly murder and takes a weird turn midway through, it's supremely dull. The protagonist, Titus Cragg, serves as coroner in 18th century Lancashire, a role that's very different from the medical coroner of today. He acts as a pseudo-homicide detective and is one of the most boring narrative voices I've ever read.
The wife of the local squire is found with her throat slit. Blake's Cragg manages to make this horrific discovery sound about as important as if his trousers had just been returned from the laundry. For the next 200 pages we are treated to Cragg wandering about, completely clueless, until his friend Dr. Luke Fidelis stumbles over what has been glaringly obvious since page 20 and accidentally solves most of the case.
The final insult to the reader is the brilliant deduction made by Cragg that wraps everything up. I won't give it away. I will say that Robin Blake has some nerve for ripping off a story written by one of the greatest mystery writers who ever lived.
I give this book two stars because it does illuminate how deaths were investigated before England instituted an official police force, and because of a few truly interesting characters/suspects. Otherwise, this is dud-city.
The wife of the local squire is found with her throat slit. Blake's Cragg manages to make this horrific discovery sound about as important as if his trousers had just been returned from the laundry. For the next 200 pages we are treated to Cragg wandering about, completely clueless, until his friend Dr. Luke Fidelis stumbles over what has been glaringly obvious since page 20 and accidentally solves most of the case.
The final insult to the reader is the brilliant deduction made by Cragg that wraps everything up. I won't give it away. I will say that Robin Blake has some nerve for ripping off a story written by one of the greatest mystery writers who ever lived.
I give this book two stars because it does illuminate how deaths were investigated before England instituted an official police force, and because of a few truly interesting characters/suspects. Otherwise, this is dud-city.
December 6, 2015
First Sentence: According to the case notes, a checked against my private journal, it was on Tuesday the 18th of March, 1740, that a succession of disturbing events ran their course through the life of our tidy Palatinate town of Preston.
Coroner Titus Cragg is called to view the body of Dolores Brokletower, wife of the local squire. The body is moved to the ice house until an autopsy by Cragg’s friend, doctor Luke Fidelis, can be done and then an inquest called. Before that can happen, the body disappears and more deaths occur. Who is trying to prevent the inquest and why?
I really like Blake’s voice and that the story is told in first person. While that’s not usually my favorite, it really works here as it helps provide a sense of time; a bit before Jane Austen. There is even a nod to “Dear Reader” of Charlotte Bronte. Yes, there is a mild portent, but I was willing to forgive it.
There is delightful, natural humor incorporated in the narrative, which adds to the appeal of the protagonist. “I let her [Cragg’s wife] sign of the cross go without comment. She was always more the papist when she had been with her mother.” Cragg’s discussions with Fidelis on medicine versus religion, and with his wife on witchcraft, religion and spiritualism are very well done. They a provide perspective on attitudes and science during that time and the information is well incorporated into the story through both dialogue and the narrative of Cragg.
Blake has created wonderful characters in Cragg, his wife, Elizabeth, his clerk Furzey and friend Fidelis. These are characters about whom we come to care and want to know more. What’s nice is that both they, and the less than appealing characters, are fully dimensional and interesting.
Blake definitely knows how to create a dramatic moment. It leads to a startling twist and, thus, a fascinating discussion.
“A Dark Anatomy” is filled with wonderful characters, a strong sense of time and place, excellent dialogue and a cracking good plot. I can’t wait to read his next book, “Dark Waters.” Highly recommended.
A DARK ANATOMY (Hist Mys-Titus Cragg/Luke Fidelis-England-1740) – VG+
Blake, Robin – 1st in series
Minotaur Books, 2011
Coroner Titus Cragg is called to view the body of Dolores Brokletower, wife of the local squire. The body is moved to the ice house until an autopsy by Cragg’s friend, doctor Luke Fidelis, can be done and then an inquest called. Before that can happen, the body disappears and more deaths occur. Who is trying to prevent the inquest and why?
I really like Blake’s voice and that the story is told in first person. While that’s not usually my favorite, it really works here as it helps provide a sense of time; a bit before Jane Austen. There is even a nod to “Dear Reader” of Charlotte Bronte. Yes, there is a mild portent, but I was willing to forgive it.
There is delightful, natural humor incorporated in the narrative, which adds to the appeal of the protagonist. “I let her [Cragg’s wife] sign of the cross go without comment. She was always more the papist when she had been with her mother.” Cragg’s discussions with Fidelis on medicine versus religion, and with his wife on witchcraft, religion and spiritualism are very well done. They a provide perspective on attitudes and science during that time and the information is well incorporated into the story through both dialogue and the narrative of Cragg.
Blake has created wonderful characters in Cragg, his wife, Elizabeth, his clerk Furzey and friend Fidelis. These are characters about whom we come to care and want to know more. What’s nice is that both they, and the less than appealing characters, are fully dimensional and interesting.
Blake definitely knows how to create a dramatic moment. It leads to a startling twist and, thus, a fascinating discussion.
“A Dark Anatomy” is filled with wonderful characters, a strong sense of time and place, excellent dialogue and a cracking good plot. I can’t wait to read his next book, “Dark Waters.” Highly recommended.
A DARK ANATOMY (Hist Mys-Titus Cragg/Luke Fidelis-England-1740) – VG+
Blake, Robin – 1st in series
Minotaur Books, 2011
July 4, 2012
Preston, Lancashire, 1740, and a breathless boy appears with a message for the coroner, Titus Cragg. The body of the local squire’s wife has been discovered in the woods with her throat cut. Titus is obliged to hold an inquest. However, this turns out to be merely the first in a series of inter-connected deaths and as he struggles to understand the complicated chain of events that lie behind them, he has to deal with the aristocratic hostility of the squire, the superstitious imaginings of local peasants, and the petty-jealousies of rival officials.
A cleverly crafted mystery with an unexpected plot twist, this is also a well-researched piece of historical fiction. What's most impressive is the sense of authenticity that derives not only from the inclusion of period detail but also from the narrative voice which perfectly evokes the patient, meticulous and slightly fussy character of the embattled coroner as he weighs the conflicting claims of duty and conscience.
A cleverly crafted mystery with an unexpected plot twist, this is also a well-researched piece of historical fiction. What's most impressive is the sense of authenticity that derives not only from the inclusion of period detail but also from the narrative voice which perfectly evokes the patient, meticulous and slightly fussy character of the embattled coroner as he weighs the conflicting claims of duty and conscience.
abandoned
June 30, 2016Olde English is not my forté and I found myself struggling so I put it aside, my intention was for awhile, but then I forgot to pick it back up again xD
I will have to start it over again, of course, but I don't mind :-) If I ever get excited about this one again :-) If not I might pass it along :-)
I will have to start it over again, of course, but I don't mind :-) If I ever get excited about this one again :-) If not I might pass it along :-)
December 15, 2014
Meh.
That pretty much sums it up. I have read worse books for sure but this one was rather unremarkable. Five pages in I started asking myself if I was sure I wanted to continue reading...and I always finish books I start.
The story was set in 1740s England. The main character, Mr. Cragg, is the town Coroner who must look into the suspicious death of Mrs. Brockeltower, the Squire's wife. She is found in the woods with her throat slit and it starts to look like the 'honorable' Mr. Brockeltower is the murderer. But wait! Mrs. Brockeltower asked someone for fishing line! (I mention this as it was kind of made a big-ish deal in the story... so clearly this will return later in the story.)
The story drags on using the antiquated language of the time (with copious 'big words' thrown in for good measure) and then 3 more people die in various ways: An accidental hanging, a hatchet to the back of the head, and a mysterious gun shot/horse accident/fainting spell.
On top of that it is discovered the the Squire is in fact attracted to men and THEN it is discovered during the autopsy that Mrs. Brockeltower is in fact a hermaphrodite (which really is the only thing in this book that isn't predictable). Various religious quotes and soul searching ensues and finally a jury is called and the cases are settled.
It was found that Mrs. Brockeltower in fact killed herself by slashing her throat with a pair of scissors that were tied to a piece of fishing line and then a horseshoe. Yeah.
So now she can't have a Christian burial and must have a stake pounded through her heart a midnight according to law. The end.
Really. That was it. You are welcome, you don't have to read it now.
That pretty much sums it up. I have read worse books for sure but this one was rather unremarkable. Five pages in I started asking myself if I was sure I wanted to continue reading...and I always finish books I start.
The story was set in 1740s England. The main character, Mr. Cragg, is the town Coroner who must look into the suspicious death of Mrs. Brockeltower, the Squire's wife. She is found in the woods with her throat slit and it starts to look like the 'honorable' Mr. Brockeltower is the murderer. But wait! Mrs. Brockeltower asked someone for fishing line! (I mention this as it was kind of made a big-ish deal in the story... so clearly this will return later in the story.)
The story drags on using the antiquated language of the time (with copious 'big words' thrown in for good measure) and then 3 more people die in various ways: An accidental hanging, a hatchet to the back of the head, and a mysterious gun shot/horse accident/fainting spell.
On top of that it is discovered the the Squire is in fact attracted to men and THEN it is discovered during the autopsy that Mrs. Brockeltower is in fact a hermaphrodite (which really is the only thing in this book that isn't predictable). Various religious quotes and soul searching ensues and finally a jury is called and the cases are settled.
It was found that Mrs. Brockeltower in fact killed herself by slashing her throat with a pair of scissors that were tied to a piece of fishing line and then a horseshoe. Yeah.
So now she can't have a Christian burial and must have a stake pounded through her heart a midnight according to law. The end.
Really. That was it. You are welcome, you don't have to read it now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2021
I came across this author in the monthly newsletter from the CRA. It is an historic murder mystery, which sparked my interest, set in the 1700s - which was a new period in historic fiction for me and set around Preston in Lancashire which was another first. I have never considered Preston as a particularly olden ( cant use 'historic' again) place but that appears quite wrong and its industrialized overcrowded grime featured as Coketown in Hard Times by Dickens.
To start , I wasn't sure about the authors style. It didn't 'feel' as if it was set almost three hundred years, but the narrative flowed more as I would imagine a contemporary novel. There is only occasional mentions of the food and clothes and travel and certainly nothing over the top as other historical (oops, again) novels seem to find useful for padding. I soon found it was a style that suited me.
The series is named from the two main characters. Titus Cragg a lawyer and the Borough Coroner and Dr Luke Fidelis a younger and forward thinking medic.
This story begins with the discovery of the body of the wife of the local Squire in the woods where she took her morning rides. The investigation by the coroner is hampered by the differing allegiances of the civic and legal figures but is well presented. The crux of the story is most unusual one that the reader is unlikely to guess.
Did I solve it? Ha ! Nowhere near although my idea of method got close .
A promising start to the series in which I can foresee developments in medical research causing problems between the main characters in the series ahead. I will certainly read more.
To start , I wasn't sure about the authors style. It didn't 'feel' as if it was set almost three hundred years, but the narrative flowed more as I would imagine a contemporary novel. There is only occasional mentions of the food and clothes and travel and certainly nothing over the top as other historical (oops, again) novels seem to find useful for padding. I soon found it was a style that suited me.
The series is named from the two main characters. Titus Cragg a lawyer and the Borough Coroner and Dr Luke Fidelis a younger and forward thinking medic.
This story begins with the discovery of the body of the wife of the local Squire in the woods where she took her morning rides. The investigation by the coroner is hampered by the differing allegiances of the civic and legal figures but is well presented. The crux of the story is most unusual one that the reader is unlikely to guess.
Did I solve it? Ha ! Nowhere near although my idea of method got close .
A promising start to the series in which I can foresee developments in medical research causing problems between the main characters in the series ahead. I will certainly read more.
June 3, 2021
A remarkably detailed novel, demonstrating considerable research and attention to detail. Distinctly grizzly in parts, but reflecting an early law enforcement in society, where justice came at the hands of a coroner and was subject to class distinctions and money. I read it straight through, and recommend it for period feeling and good writing.
September 15, 2021
'A Dark Anatomy' by Robin Blake (A Cragg and Fidelis Mystery #1).
Rating: 2.75/5.
Strengths:
1) A short quick read that can be devoured within a couple of days at the most.
2) Perfectly portrays the mood of mid 18th century England, with the setting, ideologies, and the workings of the society back then.
3) Irrespective of its weaknesses, I still think it to be an interesting, if not great, mystery. The story gets particularly interesting, in my opinion, after the revelation following Mrs Brockletower's autopsy.
Weaknesses:
1) The story somewhat meanders for a long time in the middle 3/5ths of the book.
2) The main characters appear to be bland, and there is not much character development for both these characters as well as not sufficient bonding (in terms of camaraderie) between them.
3) The character interactions and dialogues seem to be lacking and are quite plain.
4) The plot seems to have 'borrowed' largely from the famous Sherlock Holmes story - The Problem of Thor Bridge.
Despite my problems with the author's debut book, I still hold out some hope that these issues might have been taken care of in the second book of the series. I do intend to read it but not immediately. Shall probably keep the second book in the series in the backburner for now.
Rating: 2.75/5.
Strengths:
1) A short quick read that can be devoured within a couple of days at the most.
2) Perfectly portrays the mood of mid 18th century England, with the setting, ideologies, and the workings of the society back then.
3) Irrespective of its weaknesses, I still think it to be an interesting, if not great, mystery. The story gets particularly interesting, in my opinion, after the revelation following Mrs Brockletower's autopsy.
Weaknesses:
1) The story somewhat meanders for a long time in the middle 3/5ths of the book.
2) The main characters appear to be bland, and there is not much character development for both these characters as well as not sufficient bonding (in terms of camaraderie) between them.
3) The character interactions and dialogues seem to be lacking and are quite plain.
4) The plot seems to have 'borrowed' largely from the famous Sherlock Holmes story - The Problem of Thor Bridge.
Despite my problems with the author's debut book, I still hold out some hope that these issues might have been taken care of in the second book of the series. I do intend to read it but not immediately. Shall probably keep the second book in the series in the backburner for now.
June 23, 2021
The time is 1740 and the setting Preston in Lancashire. Titus Cragg is a lawyer and the local coroner who sets out to discover how the squire's wife, Dolores Brockletower has met her death. He immediately suspects the husband but is he correct. His friend Dr. Luke Fidelis makes a shocking discovery that throws the whole case on its head.
At first, the writing style appeared quite tight in the sentence structure but it either frees up or I became more used to it. The story provides enough twists and turns to make it enjoyable reading. I didn't get sufficient feeling for the life of the era and it could have been set over the next 100 years.
Good enough read for 3 stars and enough to bring me on to the next episode.
At first, the writing style appeared quite tight in the sentence structure but it either frees up or I became more used to it. The story provides enough twists and turns to make it enjoyable reading. I didn't get sufficient feeling for the life of the era and it could have been set over the next 100 years.
Good enough read for 3 stars and enough to bring me on to the next episode.
November 9, 2023
I know the story takes place in 1740, and that the world was definitely viewed through a different lens.
However, that lens is sadly homophobic, sexist, racist etc and this book does cover these thoughts which ruined it for me. It's appropriate to the time, and the writing was good, so if this doesn't bother you, you'll likely enjoy this tale.
It's a slower moving mystery, and I felt sort of let down by how it ended
However, that lens is sadly homophobic, sexist, racist etc and this book does cover these thoughts which ruined it for me. It's appropriate to the time, and the writing was good, so if this doesn't bother you, you'll likely enjoy this tale.
It's a slower moving mystery, and I felt sort of let down by how it ended
September 2, 2018
I couldn’t put this book down, had me hooked from start to finish! The book is set in Preston in the 1700s and I constantly tried to imagine how it looked when places I know were referenced.
June 11, 2015
2.5 stars
It's not often you read a murder mystery set in 1740s England. This should have been right up my Anglophile alley, but it just felt like a slog, with an unearned denouement at the end.
Titus Cragg is a prosperous attorney in the town of Preston, and he does double-duty as the town's coroner. He's called out to investigate the discovery of a body in the woods, which turns out to belong to the wife of the local hot-headed squire. With his physician friend Luke Fidelis, Cragg uncovers facts implicating this person and that person. As always, there are red herrings and false trails, with another couple of bodies piling up along the way.
Strengths: Preston was (and is) an actual town in the U.K., and the picture of life back then is well done. I have to admit I didn't know much about what happened in England in the years between the plague era and the Regency period, so it was interesting from that perspective.
Weaknesses: I mentioned the problems with pacing above. Add to this a lack of character development--except for the deceased, none of the characters are materially changed because of the events of the book. Finally, Titus Cragg is not a particularly sympathetic character--he's got all the classist and sexist trappings of a well-to-do man of his time, and looks down on "Papists" as irrational while simultaneously arranging for a stake to be driven through the heart of a corpse to keep its spirit from haunting the town. Right. He also lies when it serves his purposes. I do think he's probably historically accurate, so if that's your cup of tea, go for it.
It's not often you read a murder mystery set in 1740s England. This should have been right up my Anglophile alley, but it just felt like a slog, with an unearned denouement at the end.
Titus Cragg is a prosperous attorney in the town of Preston, and he does double-duty as the town's coroner. He's called out to investigate the discovery of a body in the woods, which turns out to belong to the wife of the local hot-headed squire. With his physician friend Luke Fidelis, Cragg uncovers facts implicating this person and that person. As always, there are red herrings and false trails, with another couple of bodies piling up along the way.
Strengths: Preston was (and is) an actual town in the U.K., and the picture of life back then is well done. I have to admit I didn't know much about what happened in England in the years between the plague era and the Regency period, so it was interesting from that perspective.
Weaknesses: I mentioned the problems with pacing above. Add to this a lack of character development--except for the deceased, none of the characters are materially changed because of the events of the book. Finally, Titus Cragg is not a particularly sympathetic character--he's got all the classist and sexist trappings of a well-to-do man of his time, and looks down on "Papists" as irrational while simultaneously arranging for a stake to be driven through the heart of a corpse to keep its spirit from haunting the town. Right. He also lies when it serves his purposes. I do think he's probably historically accurate, so if that's your cup of tea, go for it.
May 26, 2015
I always like being introduced to a new author and have decided to find the next two books in this series that have been published to date. I truly enjoyed the first third of this book because of the uniquely crafted characters and linguistic style designed to portray a somewhat slow-topped coroner. There are no super heroes to be seen in this tale and those who should be able to figure things out are a tad slow in doing so. The remainder of the book I did become impatient with various people, situations and actions or lack of follow through. I did appreciate the writing and literary references as well as some obscure religious beliefs of dissenters, and I believe this was my first literary observance of purgation. In other words, while this was not a perfect book, it was an original...out of the mold. This author has a flair for drama, so I do look forward to reading the next two books despite my impatience.
August 1, 2018
I began to read this book knowing that it is historic fiction so maybe I’m not in my right to hold against it that it is very historical and very fictional. Both in the worst of ways...
The language is constructed and dull. Large passages are without any consequence to the plot and does not do anything for character building - in other words large passages could be cut without being missed.
The progression of the plot is - though perhaps true to the coroner practice at the time, I don’t know - quite illogical and the main character is not very interesting or very apt it appears.
The murderer and the motive is either very inventive or down right ridiculous - I fall on the side of the latter.
My recommendation is that you skip this one.
The language is constructed and dull. Large passages are without any consequence to the plot and does not do anything for character building - in other words large passages could be cut without being missed.
The progression of the plot is - though perhaps true to the coroner practice at the time, I don’t know - quite illogical and the main character is not very interesting or very apt it appears.
The murderer and the motive is either very inventive or down right ridiculous - I fall on the side of the latter.
My recommendation is that you skip this one.
July 16, 2012
Bland, I think, would be the best description for this. It had all the ingredients to make an interesting read but it just didn't deliver. Part of the problem, I feel, was the lack of character development--I simply didn't feel anything towards them, couldn't get a true sense of the character beyond what I was informed by the narrator and even then, the characters remained fairly one dimensional card board cutouts. Rather than being shown or immersed into the story, I was merely told a series of facts, like bullet points or some outlined draft. Overall, very disappointed as I had been looking forward to reading a Georgian-era murder mystery.
October 22, 2015
Probably more of a 3.5, but the author is great at bringing characters to life, so I'll bump it up for that.
I'm not a huge mystery fan but I do sometimes enjoy historical ones (this is set in 1740, in the English countryside). The characters are engaging, and even the minor ones are given real personalities by the author. There are also some good twists in the plot, though I did guess one before it was revealed; it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book, however. The last 1/4 of the book felt a bit rushed after a more measured pace of the first 3/4 and I felt some plot points were tied up a little too quickly and carelessly, but overall it was a good start to what I see has become a series.
I'm not a huge mystery fan but I do sometimes enjoy historical ones (this is set in 1740, in the English countryside). The characters are engaging, and even the minor ones are given real personalities by the author. There are also some good twists in the plot, though I did guess one before it was revealed; it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book, however. The last 1/4 of the book felt a bit rushed after a more measured pace of the first 3/4 and I felt some plot points were tied up a little too quickly and carelessly, but overall it was a good start to what I see has become a series.
April 30, 2021
Like most mystery novels, A Dark Anatomy opens with a grisly murder. Dolores Brockletower has been found in the woods near her home. Her throat has been brutally slashed but other than that she is untouched. Her fine clothes, her jewelry, all is as it was when she was last seen leaving Garlick Hall for her morning ride.
While this is certainly an intriguing enough lead up, sadly the follow through is rather lacking. Told from perspective of lawyer and coroner Titus Cragg, we the reader are subjected to long stretches of novel that more often that not have little affect on the overall story. While Cragg is supposedly a well renowned lawyer, he spends a good deal of the narrative stumbling from one person to the next. The clues are so blatant that any reader paying attention would likely have figured things out in the first fifty pages.
Though the prose itself is at often dry and bland, what I truly found upsetting was the way the characters themselves were handled. Generally the first book in a series is used to introduce recurring characters to readers. To endear them to the reader so that they care about what happens to the characters in subsequent books. This unfortunately was not done very well in A Dark Anatomy. Instead of introducing us to the main characters of Titus Cragg and Dr. Luke Fidelis, rather they are plunked down in front of the reader. We are given little to no information on them and as such it is hard to care about them in any way.
I will give Blake points for illustrating just how deaths were investigated in England before the advent of a true police force. When local persons were often forced to play multiple roles. That in itself was interesting. The rest of the book though? Sadly, not so much.
June 21, 2019
A pity I can't give it zero stars. This is not a book to be set aside lightly, but nopetopused away from with great vigor.
I should have stopped reading in the first chapter. The main character is unlikable and views everyone around him through an extremely unpleasant lens. (Or maybe it's the author that views everyone as grotesque and unpleasant. As the book is in first person, it's very difficult to tell whether it's the character's viewpoint or the author's that's ruining everything.) At times, I couldn't tell whether it was supposed to be humorously unpleasant, which is really not winning it any points.
I figured out the "surprise" about the murdered woman way early. The title is, unfortunately, a dead giveaway. And, yes, it's just as bad as you think.
But that's okay, because the book is terrible about every kind of person imaginable. With particular note for the dead woman, women in general, poor people, and the disabled. Whee.
(Also the plot makes no bloody sense. )
I should have stopped reading in the first chapter. The main character is unlikable and views everyone around him through an extremely unpleasant lens. (Or maybe it's the author that views everyone as grotesque and unpleasant. As the book is in first person, it's very difficult to tell whether it's the character's viewpoint or the author's that's ruining everything.) At times, I couldn't tell whether it was supposed to be humorously unpleasant, which is really not winning it any points.
I figured out the "surprise" about the murdered woman way early. The title is, unfortunately, a dead giveaway. And, yes, it's just as bad as you think.
But that's okay, because the book is terrible about every kind of person imaginable. With particular note for the dead woman, women in general, poor people, and the disabled. Whee.
(Also the plot makes no bloody sense. )
January 27, 2022
Ahhh the ending is where this book lost some points!!! Before I get into it, let me tell you what I love about this book! The author captured the mood of 1740 England. The whole time I was reading this, i felt that it gave me Sherlock Holmes vibe. The writing was really good, the author shows more than tell, which I appreciates. The store was a little bit slow, i didn’t felt “shocked” until page 214. But that’s okay you know, the characters were interesting enough and I was so focus on learning each character, I didn’t noticed the pages passed.
Anyway. The ending!!! I felt like it was not very thought through, it seemed like the author had a great plan but didn’t know how to make everything make sense, so all these “accidents” started to happen. What a coincidence that as Ram Brockletower was about to kill Titus, he “accidentally” stepped on a bunch of pens that he “accidentally” dropped earlier, which saved Titus’ life. And how Ram Brockletower died? I felt like it was a stretch that’s all. And also, I find that with these detective stories, once I find out who the killer is, I instantly lose interests in the rest of the store, that’s just me tho, I don’t think that’s the author’s fault. But after the inquest was closed, the story didn’t last much longer anyway, so I’m thankful!
Characters, I enjoyed learning about each characters, I had to annotate this book to keep track who I’ve met. But I really do wanna know who got Abby pregnant!
Anyway. The ending!!! I felt like it was not very thought through, it seemed like the author had a great plan but didn’t know how to make everything make sense, so all these “accidents” started to happen. What a coincidence that as Ram Brockletower was about to kill Titus, he “accidentally” stepped on a bunch of pens that he “accidentally” dropped earlier, which saved Titus’ life. And how Ram Brockletower died? I felt like it was a stretch that’s all. And also, I find that with these detective stories, once I find out who the killer is, I instantly lose interests in the rest of the store, that’s just me tho, I don’t think that’s the author’s fault. But after the inquest was closed, the story didn’t last much longer anyway, so I’m thankful!
Characters, I enjoyed learning about each characters, I had to annotate this book to keep track who I’ve met. But I really do wanna know who got Abby pregnant!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
October 6, 2024My bad really, because my instinct told me I was gonna find where this was going discomforting and I kept going.
Poor Dolores tbh. About 25% in I got a sinking feeling that I knew what was gonna be the 'plot twist', and yep, it all got very anatomical and brutal – in language, intent and actions towards a thoroughly 'othered' character – from that point onwards. Her character, aside from physically in a lot of detail, wasn't explored much – apart from referencing a quote she liked about hating herself and how she was all wrong – oh, and a few more tropes around, you guessed it, biology. So Dolores becomes a plot device not a character.
I know there's a case for stuff that's rooted in the time it's set being as 'historically accurate' as possible but I think the 'burn the witch' mob vibes here as a queer reader felt rougher to read than in other historical fiction I've read because the central character to some degree is also buying into the tropes.
Finishing this, especially with the final scene – where she's kinda made 'monstrous' as if to confirm all the suspicion and hate towards her – felt like being on your own silently shouting at the page because there's no one standing up for her, all the power, autonomy and dignity is stripped from her...idk. The story all hinged on Dolores yet it felt like she wasn't given any actual space in the story at all. It left me feeling kinda gross.
Poor Dolores tbh. About 25% in I got a sinking feeling that I knew what was gonna be the 'plot twist', and yep, it all got very anatomical and brutal – in language, intent and actions towards a thoroughly 'othered' character – from that point onwards. Her character, aside from physically in a lot of detail, wasn't explored much – apart from referencing a quote she liked about hating herself and how she was all wrong – oh, and a few more tropes around, you guessed it, biology. So Dolores becomes a plot device not a character.
I know there's a case for stuff that's rooted in the time it's set being as 'historically accurate' as possible but I think the 'burn the witch' mob vibes here as a queer reader felt rougher to read than in other historical fiction I've read because the central character to some degree is also buying into the tropes.
Finishing this, especially with the final scene – where she's kinda made 'monstrous' as if to confirm all the suspicion and hate towards her – felt like being on your own silently shouting at the page because there's no one standing up for her, all the power, autonomy and dignity is stripped from her...idk. The story all hinged on Dolores yet it felt like she wasn't given any actual space in the story at all. It left me feeling kinda gross.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2024
I really wanted and expected to love this book, a murder mystery set in 1750s England. The author is certainly well-researched as to the time, and the parts I enjoyed the most were some of the parts that other reviewers said were the most dull -- reading about the characters going about their daily lives, and learning about the system of government and law enforcement, such as it was.
When you write historical fiction, it is entirely fair, I think, to give your characters the realistic prejudices that they would have had in that time. Plenty of novels (even ones that were written contemporaneously) focus on the oppression and injustice of their time, in order to educate the reader. However, when you do this as a modern author, you need some way of signaling to the audience that *you* know your characters' bigotry is problematic.
**spoilers below**
What we get in this book is an intersex character whom everyone -- even Titus's compassionate, soft-hearted wife -- refers to as a "monster" when they learn the truth. Again, this is fair and realistic for the 1750s, but then what I would expect is for the author to treat that intersex character with some care, giving her complex character motivations, strengths and flaws. Instead, we don't meet her until after she is already dead, and what we learn is that she was a one-dimensional, vindictive, nasty person whom everyone hated even before it was revealed that she was intersex. It doesn't even really justify her bizarre crime -- a cis woman trapped in a bitter and childless marriage could have had just as much motivation to do what she did.
The only purpose of her being intersex is to be a prop in a story designed to shock and titillate when the unexpected penis makes its appearance. Sorry, but it's not the 1990s any more, and even in The Crying Game, the trans character was treated with some compassion. The whole thing left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
When you write historical fiction, it is entirely fair, I think, to give your characters the realistic prejudices that they would have had in that time. Plenty of novels (even ones that were written contemporaneously) focus on the oppression and injustice of their time, in order to educate the reader. However, when you do this as a modern author, you need some way of signaling to the audience that *you* know your characters' bigotry is problematic.
**spoilers below**
What we get in this book is an intersex character whom everyone -- even Titus's compassionate, soft-hearted wife -- refers to as a "monster" when they learn the truth. Again, this is fair and realistic for the 1750s, but then what I would expect is for the author to treat that intersex character with some care, giving her complex character motivations, strengths and flaws. Instead, we don't meet her until after she is already dead, and what we learn is that she was a one-dimensional, vindictive, nasty person whom everyone hated even before it was revealed that she was intersex. It doesn't even really justify her bizarre crime -- a cis woman trapped in a bitter and childless marriage could have had just as much motivation to do what she did.
The only purpose of her being intersex is to be a prop in a story designed to shock and titillate when the unexpected penis makes its appearance. Sorry, but it's not the 1990s any more, and even in The Crying Game, the trans character was treated with some compassion. The whole thing left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2020
I was at the library when the latest Cragg & Fidelis mystery caught my eye on the new book shelf, and I very nearly picked it up until I realized it was part of a series. So I requested this one in order to start at the beginning.
I can see why some reviewers feel like it’s a rather slow-moving book. It’s true that there isn’t a whole lot of action, but since I just finished The Pull of the Stars, I really needed something that wasn’t going to leave me quite as breathless. What I did enjoy was how well Blake described the world of 1740s England; he really brought it to life.
One of my favorite relationships is the novel is that between Cragg, the county coroner, whose job it is to determine how Dolores Brockletower met her grisly end, and his wife; it’s so sweet, and his wife isn’t just a bland housewife. He keeps asking her opinion on things, and she has intelligent points for him to ponder. We also get a peek into that society’s opinions on unwed mothers and suicide, plus a bit about medical “monstrosities,” though to my modern mind, that plot point was a bit difficult for me to swallow.
If you’re looking for a richly detailed historical fiction, this could be the book for you. I look forward to reading more in this series.
I can see why some reviewers feel like it’s a rather slow-moving book. It’s true that there isn’t a whole lot of action, but since I just finished The Pull of the Stars, I really needed something that wasn’t going to leave me quite as breathless. What I did enjoy was how well Blake described the world of 1740s England; he really brought it to life.
One of my favorite relationships is the novel is that between Cragg, the county coroner, whose job it is to determine how Dolores Brockletower met her grisly end, and his wife; it’s so sweet, and his wife isn’t just a bland housewife. He keeps asking her opinion on things, and she has intelligent points for him to ponder. We also get a peek into that society’s opinions on unwed mothers and suicide, plus a bit about medical “monstrosities,” though to my modern mind, that plot point was a bit difficult for me to swallow.
If you’re looking for a richly detailed historical fiction, this could be the book for you. I look forward to reading more in this series.
November 2, 2020
A new favourite author! Can't wait to read more...
Hilarious w/o comedy or slapstick.
Rude w/o being crude.
Amazing imagery, would love to see it on film.
No breaking conversations up w back story. Yay!
Learned loads about the time period and that even in the 1700s some things were considered 'ancient'.
Tragic w/o leaving the reader in deep depression.
I did get a bit annoyed about the autopsy. Seems like several lingering questions should have been answered at that point. Or at least more information given to the reader.
I usually don't try to work out the mystery, so was concerned when I thought I could tell from the beginning a few of the things that the characters didn't know, but of course there were other surprises that were intriguing. Also, the cover art is a bit dark and I wasn't sure the book would be for me, but I'm SO happy that I opened it and started reading. I couldn't put it down.
Eager to read another Robin Blake.......
Hilarious w/o comedy or slapstick.
Rude w/o being crude.
Amazing imagery, would love to see it on film.
No breaking conversations up w back story. Yay!
Learned loads about the time period and that even in the 1700s some things were considered 'ancient'.
Tragic w/o leaving the reader in deep depression.
I did get a bit annoyed about the autopsy. Seems like several lingering questions should have been answered at that point. Or at least more information given to the reader.
I usually don't try to work out the mystery, so was concerned when I thought I could tell from the beginning a few of the things that the characters didn't know, but of course there were other surprises that were intriguing. Also, the cover art is a bit dark and I wasn't sure the book would be for me, but I'm SO happy that I opened it and started reading. I couldn't put it down.
Eager to read another Robin Blake.......
December 4, 2020
Titus Cragg is a well-known attorney in the town of Preston, and he is also the town's coroner. One day he is called to investigate a body in the woods, which turns out of Dolores Brokletower, wife of the local squire. The body is moved to the ice house until an autopsy by Cragg’s friend, doctor Luke Fidelis, can be done and then an inquest called. Before that can happen, the body disappears and more deaths occur. With his Doctor friend, Cragg tries to uncover facts as to why all this is happening. Who killed Dolores and who is preventing the inquest?
The language is just like old times as it happened something around the 1740s and this books felt like a true story because it was said to be notes and journal entries. The book has all the ingredient to be a bestseller just because of the suspense which will keep you hooked and the ending was unexpected. Overall a must-read.
The language is just like old times as it happened something around the 1740s and this books felt like a true story because it was said to be notes and journal entries. The book has all the ingredient to be a bestseller just because of the suspense which will keep you hooked and the ending was unexpected. Overall a must-read.
July 27, 2019
This is the second book in the Cragg & Fidelis Mysteries that I have read, having read the most recent one called Rough Music first. As I love history and a good mystery, I found Mr. Blake combines these perfectly. The characters are well developed and the descriptions of the practices, and culture within the town of Preston and the surrounding villages in the Georgian era gives a wonderful historical perspective of what it was like to conduct a criminal investigation surrounded by superstition, class barriers, and the limitations of forensics at that time. Both Cragg, a coroner, and Fidelis, a doctor are opposites in many ways, yet their search for the truth no matter where it leads them makes them a wonderful sleuthing pair. Definitely plan to read the whole series.
October 19, 2017
Interesting historical perspective on death, murder and suicide in 1700's England as well as early forensic science and the systems of governance and power. Cragg is a lawyer, the area coroner and appointed as such for life. Fidelis is a local physician with an interest in forensic science. The gruesome death of the local squire's life when out riding, while her husband is away, has many reverberations while Cragg and Fidelis attempt to find the causes and hold an inquest. The subsequent deaths of her husband and the architect working on his house, add more layers of complexity.
At the end of the book, the author gives some historical informayion about the particular form of governance in the area of Lancashire, and Preston as a charter city during that era. I have previously read the 4th of books in the series, so always interesting to read the first.
At the end of the book, the author gives some historical informayion about the particular form of governance in the area of Lancashire, and Preston as a charter city during that era. I have previously read the 4th of books in the series, so always interesting to read the first.
February 5, 2020
An interesting find
As a native of Preston and a local history writer, mostly of the Victorian period I was glad to find that there was a series set in the town in the Georgian period. I thought the characters worked well and were developed effectively and the settings were realistic and imaginative. As far as the plot goes, I thought the first quarter made an effective and intriguing start and the third and fourth quarters were interesting and had real tension. If there was a weakness to the novel it would be in the second quarter where I thought the plot drifted. I will be reading the others.
As a native of Preston and a local history writer, mostly of the Victorian period I was glad to find that there was a series set in the town in the Georgian period. I thought the characters worked well and were developed effectively and the settings were realistic and imaginative. As far as the plot goes, I thought the first quarter made an effective and intriguing start and the third and fourth quarters were interesting and had real tension. If there was a weakness to the novel it would be in the second quarter where I thought the plot drifted. I will be reading the others.
April 12, 2024
Well...that was a brilliant read!This has been sat on my bookcase for a long time and I kept thinking I must read that at some point but there always seemed another book or three on the go.Well,I am so glad I got round to starting it .The story was fascinating,the characters really interesting,the actual plot was grim but gripping.It was also nice that the locale was Preston as I live in Blackpool so I know the area quite well.Also of course the book was just written so well....I can't wait to begin the next one in the series!!
August 17, 2024
This eighteenth century tale features a coroner who must determine the cause of a lady’s death. On the surface, it appears to be murder, but appearances can easily deceive. Sadly, this reader figured out the cause far too quickly, and had to endure some 200 pages or so before the plot caught up to the cause of death. Three other significant and repugnant characters also met their final moments, which only added to the tedium. There were a couple of anachronistic statements in the book that I found worrisome, but the research into the law and the practice of an inquest made up for those.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews