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Jem Flockhart #3
The Blood
I knew the smell of death well enough. But here the sweetness of decay was tainted with something else, something new and different. It was a curious, moist smell; a smell that spoke of the ooze and slap of water, of gurgling wet spaces and the sticky, yielding mud of low-tide...
Summoned to the riverside by the desperate, scribbled note of an old friend, Jem Flockhart and Will Quartermain find themselves on board the seamen's floating hospital, an old hulk known only as The Blood, where prejudice, ambition and murder seethe beneath a veneer of medical respectability.
On shore, a young woman, a known prostitute, is found drowned in a derelict boatyard. A man leaps to his death into the Thames, driven mad by poison and fear. The events are linked - but how? Courting danger in the opium dens and brothels of the waterfront, certain that the Blood lies at the heart of the puzzle, Jem and Will embark on a quest to uncover the truth. In a hunt that takes them from the dissecting tables of a private anatomy school to the squalor of the dock-side mortuary, they find themselves involved in a dark and terrible mystery.
Summoned to the riverside by the desperate, scribbled note of an old friend, Jem Flockhart and Will Quartermain find themselves on board the seamen's floating hospital, an old hulk known only as The Blood, where prejudice, ambition and murder seethe beneath a veneer of medical respectability.
On shore, a young woman, a known prostitute, is found drowned in a derelict boatyard. A man leaps to his death into the Thames, driven mad by poison and fear. The events are linked - but how? Courting danger in the opium dens and brothels of the waterfront, certain that the Blood lies at the heart of the puzzle, Jem and Will embark on a quest to uncover the truth. In a hunt that takes them from the dissecting tables of a private anatomy school to the squalor of the dock-side mortuary, they find themselves involved in a dark and terrible mystery.
375 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2018
27 people are currently reading
709 people want to read
About the author
E.S. Thomson
7 books276 followersElaine Thomson has a PhD in the history of medicine and works as a university lecturer in Edinburgh. She was shortlisted for the Saltire First Book Award and the Scottish Arts Council First Book Award. Elaine lives in Edinburgh with her two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
March 13, 2018
I did not realise this was the third in the Jem Flockhart and Will Quatermain series, set in Victorian London but it works just fine as a standalone. Jem, an apothecary, and Will, an architect, make their way to The Blood, after receiving a urgent message from Dr Aberlady which reaches them late. The Blood is a floating seaman's hospital on the Thames, London is the gateway to the world, leading to the entry of diseases and ailments from all corners of the globe. However, Aberlady has disappeared and The Blood is in need of an apothecary. Will has acquired work to build a new warehouse at the toxic Tulip's Basin, aka Deadman's Basin, where a dead woman, Mary Mercer, is found. This is a murky tale of the state of medicine, the poor levels of medical care, and experimentation in the period. The story speaks of prejudice against women and people of colour in the medical profession, the ambition, and the rampant hypocrisy that riddled society and the profession. London reeks of desperate poverty, with the prevalence of diseases such as cholera, brothels, opium dens, and a river that often resembles an open sewer. Death is a common place occurrence, and whilst for men that is likely to be by accident, for women it is by design, with horrifying brutality and violence perpetrated on them by men.
As Jem and Will investigate, they become aware of the murder of other young women, that connect with The Blood, the Deadman's Basin and Sirens, a women's religious home set up to support prostitutes who wish to turn their lives around, providing they make full confessions, run by Dr Birtwhistle. Dr Aberlady is murdered. and there is something strange going on between the other doctors on the ship. A black doctor, Dr Proudlove, the most gifted doctor on board is treated with disdain and contempt by other doctors, who view themselves as far superior. It turns out there was more to Jem than you might expect, and that he loves Eliza who went on to leave him. As Jem and Will edge ever closer to the truth, they find themselves up against a swirling dark tide of danger.
ES Thomson has carried out impressive research in this well plotted novel, for example, The Blood is based on The Dreadnought, a hospital ship moored at Greenwich, which later became the birthplace of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In fact, if you are interested in medicine in the Victorian era, this is a great book to read. The city of London in this historical period is bought alive vibrantly, you can feel yourself practically recoiling from the stink, noxious overflowing mud and excrement. I am so delighted to have discovered this wonderful and atmospheric historical series, and recommend it highly. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
As Jem and Will investigate, they become aware of the murder of other young women, that connect with The Blood, the Deadman's Basin and Sirens, a women's religious home set up to support prostitutes who wish to turn their lives around, providing they make full confessions, run by Dr Birtwhistle. Dr Aberlady is murdered. and there is something strange going on between the other doctors on the ship. A black doctor, Dr Proudlove, the most gifted doctor on board is treated with disdain and contempt by other doctors, who view themselves as far superior. It turns out there was more to Jem than you might expect, and that he loves Eliza who went on to leave him. As Jem and Will edge ever closer to the truth, they find themselves up against a swirling dark tide of danger.
ES Thomson has carried out impressive research in this well plotted novel, for example, The Blood is based on The Dreadnought, a hospital ship moored at Greenwich, which later became the birthplace of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In fact, if you are interested in medicine in the Victorian era, this is a great book to read. The city of London in this historical period is bought alive vibrantly, you can feel yourself practically recoiling from the stink, noxious overflowing mud and excrement. I am so delighted to have discovered this wonderful and atmospheric historical series, and recommend it highly. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
March 22, 2018
Once again we enter the dank, filthy streets of Victorian London, where apothecary Jem Flockhart has received troubling news from an old friend aboard The Blood, a floating hospital on the Thames. Death finds Flockhart and her good friend, Will Chamberlain, so often that I picture them being tailed by a hooded figure carrying a scythe; if you are a Doctor in her vicinity, your days are truly numbered.
Sadly, so are the lives of so many of the less fortunate, including local prostitutes who are being found dead and mutilated. Flockhart must use all her knowledge and craft to work out how these murders are linked to her friend's message. As usual, as good as the plot is, it's her character that acts as the real draw, the layered deceits that dominate her life and relationships becoming ever more complex and precarious. The supporting cast are equally vividly drawn, if not always so appealing- the enthusiastic performer of autopsies, the aptly named anatomist Dr. Graves, is particularly rank. Yet even his outwardly repellent manner is no match for the cruelty and ambition that hold sway over others. It's all thrillingly ghastly, but genuine fun.
In any case, what's really impressive about this series is that it manages to address so many of the big questions of the period within the framework of a murder mystery and without it overwhelming the story or making it all about connections with contemporary society. So far Thomson has tackled gender identity, male/female roles and characteristics, class, medical knowledge, invention, and standards, the care of the mentally ill and poor, race and racism... Bearing in mind there's only been three books and I've only highlighted some of the main points, there's a great deal of scope for discussion- certainly a rewarding choice for reading groups. It's the kind of book that gets you thinking, but is also a bloody good read.
ARC via Netgalley
Sadly, so are the lives of so many of the less fortunate, including local prostitutes who are being found dead and mutilated. Flockhart must use all her knowledge and craft to work out how these murders are linked to her friend's message. As usual, as good as the plot is, it's her character that acts as the real draw, the layered deceits that dominate her life and relationships becoming ever more complex and precarious. The supporting cast are equally vividly drawn, if not always so appealing- the enthusiastic performer of autopsies, the aptly named anatomist Dr. Graves, is particularly rank. Yet even his outwardly repellent manner is no match for the cruelty and ambition that hold sway over others. It's all thrillingly ghastly, but genuine fun.
In any case, what's really impressive about this series is that it manages to address so many of the big questions of the period within the framework of a murder mystery and without it overwhelming the story or making it all about connections with contemporary society. So far Thomson has tackled gender identity, male/female roles and characteristics, class, medical knowledge, invention, and standards, the care of the mentally ill and poor, race and racism... Bearing in mind there's only been three books and I've only highlighted some of the main points, there's a great deal of scope for discussion- certainly a rewarding choice for reading groups. It's the kind of book that gets you thinking, but is also a bloody good read.
ARC via Netgalley
September 29, 2018
"The Victorian world is extremely dark and extremely bright." (Harry Treadaway)
All depends on which side of the ol' waterfront that you live. Life along the Thames in London brings visions of spices, tea, and cotton being unloaded by able-bodied men. The East India Company reaps the heavy bounty of plantations from distant shores. The hustle and bustle of goods being carried down the planks strikes one with awe. But the Victorians had a special penchant for keeping secrets deeply imbedded in back pockets.
Jem Flockhart has newly opened an apothecary not far from his father's St. Saviour's Infirmary. The honorable trade remains even though his father is no longer alive. Jem has become a wizard at prescribing remedies in the likes of tinctures, ointments, and herbs. Jem bears a portwine birthmark across the face as well as a secret identity known only to his best friend, Will Quartermain, a London architect who works in the area. Their friendship has remained firm after many horrendous situations of the past.
All the world seems to pass through London in this Victorian Era. And the darkness of the times is well established aboard The Blood, a floating seamen's hospital of sorts. Row upon row of hammocks and scantily prepared beds reveal The Blood to be an inevitable place of death. Thomson begins this story with a hastily written message sent to Jem by John Aberlady, a fellow apothecary aboard this ship at the docks. The urgency is well apparent and Jem rushes to the site.
But when Jem arrives, Aberlady has already jumped to his death. And his body will not be the only one that Jem and Will come upon. Thomson sees to that as the story unfolds with Jem and Will following down the dark streets and alleys along the waterfront in London. What was the impetus for Aberlady's death and are all the others connected somehow?
E.S. Thomson has an amazing flare for placing the reader in the troubled mix of opium dens, prostitute corners, murder, and mayhem. Thomson assures you that the mayhem is not only on the streets, but it is at the center of medical treatments of the time and the physicians who may just, in error, call themselves physicians. Poverty guaranteed an instant diagnosis of death.
Thomson is noted for a wide variety of deeply complicated characters as you have come to know in the character of Jem. We will be introduced to a bevy of doctors and the two agents at the mortuary, Toad and Young Toad. (Yep!) The plot deepens with the Siren House which was established by The League for Female Redemption. Thomson inserts letters written by the individual "ladies" who describe their experiences.
The Blood is a virtual time warp imbued with life along the waterfront of London. It reads as a standalone, but the true flavor is set into play with Beloved Poison #1 in this series. The Jem Flockhart Series is a treasure of a read.
I received a copy of The Blood through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Pegasus Books and to the talented E.S. Thomson for the opportunity.
All depends on which side of the ol' waterfront that you live. Life along the Thames in London brings visions of spices, tea, and cotton being unloaded by able-bodied men. The East India Company reaps the heavy bounty of plantations from distant shores. The hustle and bustle of goods being carried down the planks strikes one with awe. But the Victorians had a special penchant for keeping secrets deeply imbedded in back pockets.
Jem Flockhart has newly opened an apothecary not far from his father's St. Saviour's Infirmary. The honorable trade remains even though his father is no longer alive. Jem has become a wizard at prescribing remedies in the likes of tinctures, ointments, and herbs. Jem bears a portwine birthmark across the face as well as a secret identity known only to his best friend, Will Quartermain, a London architect who works in the area. Their friendship has remained firm after many horrendous situations of the past.
All the world seems to pass through London in this Victorian Era. And the darkness of the times is well established aboard The Blood, a floating seamen's hospital of sorts. Row upon row of hammocks and scantily prepared beds reveal The Blood to be an inevitable place of death. Thomson begins this story with a hastily written message sent to Jem by John Aberlady, a fellow apothecary aboard this ship at the docks. The urgency is well apparent and Jem rushes to the site.
But when Jem arrives, Aberlady has already jumped to his death. And his body will not be the only one that Jem and Will come upon. Thomson sees to that as the story unfolds with Jem and Will following down the dark streets and alleys along the waterfront in London. What was the impetus for Aberlady's death and are all the others connected somehow?
E.S. Thomson has an amazing flare for placing the reader in the troubled mix of opium dens, prostitute corners, murder, and mayhem. Thomson assures you that the mayhem is not only on the streets, but it is at the center of medical treatments of the time and the physicians who may just, in error, call themselves physicians. Poverty guaranteed an instant diagnosis of death.
Thomson is noted for a wide variety of deeply complicated characters as you have come to know in the character of Jem. We will be introduced to a bevy of doctors and the two agents at the mortuary, Toad and Young Toad. (Yep!) The plot deepens with the Siren House which was established by The League for Female Redemption. Thomson inserts letters written by the individual "ladies" who describe their experiences.
The Blood is a virtual time warp imbued with life along the waterfront of London. It reads as a standalone, but the true flavor is set into play with Beloved Poison #1 in this series. The Jem Flockhart Series is a treasure of a read.
I received a copy of The Blood through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Pegasus Books and to the talented E.S. Thomson for the opportunity.
July 7, 2018
3.5 stars ~~ 3rd book in the Jem Flockhart series
The apothecary and the architect are at it again. This third installment of the Jem Flockhart series takes place in an old ship - renamed The Blood - on the Thames River in Victorian London in the mid 1800's. The Blood is the dilapidated medical ship that sees surgeries done with only a taste of laudanum for pain, stack upon stack of filthy cots, seeping left over vile from prior occupants, and cabins full of bottled remains, often hard to identify.
Jem Flockhart, Apothecary, of dubious gender, has taken the temporary position of dispersing drugs on board, while best friend Will Quartermain, Architect, tries to clean up the river front with new buildings. Throw in a seething Minister trying to reform 'the women of the night', multiple murders, an unsettling tattoo, a swallowed key and a call for help and this chapter of the series is off and running.
E. S. Thomson has done a good job with this series. She stays embedded in the time period and introduces new characters as needed. The only fault is the time lag between books - once you finish one book you want to immediately pick up the next in the series.
The apothecary and the architect are at it again. This third installment of the Jem Flockhart series takes place in an old ship - renamed The Blood - on the Thames River in Victorian London in the mid 1800's. The Blood is the dilapidated medical ship that sees surgeries done with only a taste of laudanum for pain, stack upon stack of filthy cots, seeping left over vile from prior occupants, and cabins full of bottled remains, often hard to identify.
Jem Flockhart, Apothecary, of dubious gender, has taken the temporary position of dispersing drugs on board, while best friend Will Quartermain, Architect, tries to clean up the river front with new buildings. Throw in a seething Minister trying to reform 'the women of the night', multiple murders, an unsettling tattoo, a swallowed key and a call for help and this chapter of the series is off and running.
E. S. Thomson has done a good job with this series. She stays embedded in the time period and introduces new characters as needed. The only fault is the time lag between books - once you finish one book you want to immediately pick up the next in the series.
February 27, 2018
I love this series very much. Each is of a very high standard but The Blood is, with no doubt at all, the very best of the three so far. This is the finest of writing, the character development is fascinating and the story contains just the right mix of Victorian melodrama and historical reality. I was gripped by this from start to finish and I have no doubt that it will be among the books contending for my favourite historical novel of 2018. Loved it! Full review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
May 3, 2019
Ben echt fan van deze reeks, origineel hoofdpersonage, en je kan het Londen van de tijd bijna ruiken door de beschrijvingen :-)
August 24, 2018
A desperate plea for help from another apothecary brings Jem Flockhart and her friend Will Quartermain to the London waterfront and the Blood and Fleas, the seamens' floating hospital. Their arrival is too late. John Aberlady, with whom Jem had taken license exams, has gone missing.
This is only the first of the mysteries to confront Jem and Will aboard the Blood and in the teeming slums of the riverside.
As we've learned in previous books in the series, Jem is a woman, forced to take on the guise of a man to maintain independence and follow her father's trade as apothecary. Concerned about her missing friend, she agrees to temporarily fill the vacancy aboard the Blood, leaving Gabriel, her apprentice, to run the shop on Fishbait Lane. Will, an architect, has a commission on the waterfront, which keeps him on the scene as well.
A series of deaths follow, leading to suspicion of mysterious links between the medical staff of the Blood and inmates of Siren House, a sanctuary for the redemption of women of the streets. Investigating these links will put Jem and Will in mortal danger.
"Confessions" by the women of Siren House interspersed between chapters provide a glimpse into their lives and victimization.
Thomson draws the reader into the Victorian age, complete with the sights, sounds and even smells of the setting. Some descriptions of the medical practices and the squalor of the streets and soot-stained buildings may not be for the squeamish.
Jem is a fascinating character and her trials as a woman living the life of a man in a restrictive society is a fete in itself. Add the array of other intriguing characters, surprising plot twists and the juicy historical detail on medical practices and social mores of the time and you have a series worthy of recommendation.
This is only the first of the mysteries to confront Jem and Will aboard the Blood and in the teeming slums of the riverside.
As we've learned in previous books in the series, Jem is a woman, forced to take on the guise of a man to maintain independence and follow her father's trade as apothecary. Concerned about her missing friend, she agrees to temporarily fill the vacancy aboard the Blood, leaving Gabriel, her apprentice, to run the shop on Fishbait Lane. Will, an architect, has a commission on the waterfront, which keeps him on the scene as well.
A series of deaths follow, leading to suspicion of mysterious links between the medical staff of the Blood and inmates of Siren House, a sanctuary for the redemption of women of the streets. Investigating these links will put Jem and Will in mortal danger.
"Confessions" by the women of Siren House interspersed between chapters provide a glimpse into their lives and victimization.
Thomson draws the reader into the Victorian age, complete with the sights, sounds and even smells of the setting. Some descriptions of the medical practices and the squalor of the streets and soot-stained buildings may not be for the squeamish.
Jem is a fascinating character and her trials as a woman living the life of a man in a restrictive society is a fete in itself. Add the array of other intriguing characters, surprising plot twists and the juicy historical detail on medical practices and social mores of the time and you have a series worthy of recommendation.
April 20, 2019
'but in this city, building anything new seems to require the removal of the vilest and most decayed remnants of the past.’ he rubbed his hands together, and stared at his palms, at the way the dirt had gathered in the lines and fissures of his skin. ‘it’s as though it does not want to be forgotten; as if it does all it can to stay with us, oozing up, seeping through, sticking to everything.'
i thought i'd shaken off the weird fever dream feeling of the last two months. i hadn't, not really. maybe i'm getting closer now?
anyway, these books continue to be grotesque, compelling, unsettling, self-aware, clever penny dreadfuls, and i'm very fond of them.
i thought i'd shaken off the weird fever dream feeling of the last two months. i hadn't, not really. maybe i'm getting closer now?
anyway, these books continue to be grotesque, compelling, unsettling, self-aware, clever penny dreadfuls, and i'm very fond of them.
October 22, 2019
This is such good series.
Read
April 22, 2019Wow! This is a stunning book! The language is rich, lush and evocative; I was transported to dark, cold Victorian London and felt the creaking timbers as Jem Flockhart, an apothecary, and Will Quartermain, an architect, investigate a series of murders centered around a hospital on a docked ship. The author ramps up the tensions until you feel the cold finger of dread as you read to find out what will happen next. Jem is a delight; raised as a boy by her father, she keenly feels the pressures of continually trying to be something she is not and questions what would have happened had she been raised female. This adds another dimension to her experiences in this case as it centers around the murders of several former prostitutes. Occasional chapters share the victims’ vastly differing stories of what led them to sell their bodies and the powerlessness of females in a society that offers few options. Jem also struggles with her fondness for Will, who confesses his feelings but knows that Jem still loves her long-missing childhood (female) friend and will never be his. Will is a delight, too; he gamely follows along as they investigate and provides another dimension to the story. Though this is the third book in the series and I haven’t read the first two, I had no difficulty getting into the story. There are references to earlier events, but they don’t detract from the story. My sole complaint would be editing; there are several cases of missing (or duplicate) words and one case of a typesetting direction left in. - Lynn H.
June 29, 2023
Historical crime novel that is also queer?? Sign me up! Picked this up in oxfam after I finished reading The Way of All Flesh because it had a quote on the back from Kirsty Logan that included the words “unapologetically queer”.
I didn’t know this was the 3rd in a series but it works as a standalone, I think - I’m just now deeply curious about some of the past events hinted to and will probably pick up the rest of the books in the series eventually.
This is also a Victorian era historical crime novel, with medical men at the centre - I say “men” but the main character Jem (an apothecary) is a woman in man’s guise. She does have ruminations about gender as she sees herself as a man through life long conditioning but also a woman due to her physicality and there’s a lot of acting to blend in - she could easily be interpreted as a trans man or at least a genderqueer person.
Set in London. It really really does not let you forget how foul and filthy the city and the river was at the time. I live in modern London and I struggle with the smell of the Thames on the worst of days, I would not have lasted long in the 1800s…
I liked the plot (mysterious murders leading to a secret society and a fanatic experimenting doctor obsessed with recreating life - the chilling thing is the doctor is *right* and that by shocking people with electricity they can sometimes be brought back - that’s what defibrillators are today - but at the time he is considered mad. Well he did also kill people in his experiments, so there’s that…) and I loved the characters - particularly Jem and Will, and I now need to know everything about how they came to be friends and live together.
I’m realising that when it comes to crime I do not want protagonists who are cops or even amateur sleuths, I want protags who have a profession they’re passionate about who happen to stumble into something they need to solve. I also don’t care for modern settings because for me reading fiction is largely about escapism (it’s why I read so much SFF and romance) and modern crime/thrillers are like, the stuff you read about in the news. There’s no remove or distance. So the historical setting works really well for me because it has the distance of time but because it’s fiction there’s also an element of fantasy there. Both this and The Way of All Flesh are very meticulously researched as best I can tell, and it works to ground rye stories in a tangible, but removed, setting. And finally…I want it to be queer, lol. I’m tired of heterosexual nonsense and this was such a nice change, it essentially eliminated the one quibble I’d had with The Way of All Flesh.
I didn’t know this was the 3rd in a series but it works as a standalone, I think - I’m just now deeply curious about some of the past events hinted to and will probably pick up the rest of the books in the series eventually.
This is also a Victorian era historical crime novel, with medical men at the centre - I say “men” but the main character Jem (an apothecary) is a woman in man’s guise. She does have ruminations about gender as she sees herself as a man through life long conditioning but also a woman due to her physicality and there’s a lot of acting to blend in - she could easily be interpreted as a trans man or at least a genderqueer person.
Set in London. It really really does not let you forget how foul and filthy the city and the river was at the time. I live in modern London and I struggle with the smell of the Thames on the worst of days, I would not have lasted long in the 1800s…
I liked the plot (mysterious murders leading to a secret society and a fanatic experimenting doctor obsessed with recreating life - the chilling thing is the doctor is *right* and that by shocking people with electricity they can sometimes be brought back - that’s what defibrillators are today - but at the time he is considered mad. Well he did also kill people in his experiments, so there’s that…) and I loved the characters - particularly Jem and Will, and I now need to know everything about how they came to be friends and live together.
I’m realising that when it comes to crime I do not want protagonists who are cops or even amateur sleuths, I want protags who have a profession they’re passionate about who happen to stumble into something they need to solve. I also don’t care for modern settings because for me reading fiction is largely about escapism (it’s why I read so much SFF and romance) and modern crime/thrillers are like, the stuff you read about in the news. There’s no remove or distance. So the historical setting works really well for me because it has the distance of time but because it’s fiction there’s also an element of fantasy there. Both this and The Way of All Flesh are very meticulously researched as best I can tell, and it works to ground rye stories in a tangible, but removed, setting. And finally…I want it to be queer, lol. I’m tired of heterosexual nonsense and this was such a nice change, it essentially eliminated the one quibble I’d had with The Way of All Flesh.
December 7, 2018
This book hits the trifecta for me: vividly drawn characters that I care about; a setting so richly described you can see, smell, touch, hear and taste it; and an engrossing plot that keeps me turning pages.
Thanks to the publisher for providing this advance reading copy.
Thanks to the publisher for providing this advance reading copy.
January 6, 2019
Once again we are in the company of Jem Flockhart who dispenses remedies, along with the occasional glimmer of hope, in a harsh city where dense fog clogs an unforgiving heart and the resident parasites feed greedily upon a network of cold, damp veins riddled with despair.
Despite the distinct whiff of despair clinging to the living like a second skin, Jem, her good friend Will Quartermain, and apprentice Gabriel Locke attempt to diagnose people’s maladies and perhaps restore a little faith in humanity along the way.
Only a handful of people know Jem’s true ‘origins’: the gin-loving-pipe-smoking Mrs Speedycut and a couple of the girls from Mrs Roseplucker’s ‘Home for Young Ladies of an Energetic Disposition’ to name a few. But during their latest venture the bodies of former prostitutes are turning up dead in the vicinity of a hospital ship, aptly named The Blood , she risks exposing her own secrets while investigating their deaths.
It goes without saying that architect Will no longer leaves their home above the apothecary shop without his smelling salts, since every encounter with Jem Flockhart generally involves putrefied unpleasantness of some kind – this time he finds he needs them more than ever.
The book treads its familiar path of gender and social prejudices, but is accompanied by further discriminatory behaviour. It just goes to prove that any Doctor can easily prescribe a salve to aid most conditions, but there is no cure for arrogance. That is, unless the affected are willing to acknowledge the worth of those they believe are ‘inferior’.
This series never fails to provide a descriptive feast for all five senses to relish. As the characters evolve, together with the professions they practice, each page feels like it belongs to a gloriously dark Victorian ‘street theatre’ than a book. Thoroughly looking forward to the next!
Despite the distinct whiff of despair clinging to the living like a second skin, Jem, her good friend Will Quartermain, and apprentice Gabriel Locke attempt to diagnose people’s maladies and perhaps restore a little faith in humanity along the way.
Only a handful of people know Jem’s true ‘origins’: the gin-loving-pipe-smoking Mrs Speedycut and a couple of the girls from Mrs Roseplucker’s ‘Home for Young Ladies of an Energetic Disposition’ to name a few. But during their latest venture the bodies of former prostitutes are turning up dead in the vicinity of a hospital ship, aptly named The Blood , she risks exposing her own secrets while investigating their deaths.
It goes without saying that architect Will no longer leaves their home above the apothecary shop without his smelling salts, since every encounter with Jem Flockhart generally involves putrefied unpleasantness of some kind – this time he finds he needs them more than ever.
The book treads its familiar path of gender and social prejudices, but is accompanied by further discriminatory behaviour. It just goes to prove that any Doctor can easily prescribe a salve to aid most conditions, but there is no cure for arrogance. That is, unless the affected are willing to acknowledge the worth of those they believe are ‘inferior’.
This series never fails to provide a descriptive feast for all five senses to relish. As the characters evolve, together with the professions they practice, each page feels like it belongs to a gloriously dark Victorian ‘street theatre’ than a book. Thoroughly looking forward to the next!
July 7, 2022
"What wickedness might walk amongst us here, hidden in plain sight, concealed by the urgent press of bodies, the scramble for money, for life? I will tell you."
Once again we find ourselves on the cold, dark streets of Victorian London for another installment in the Jem Flockhart series. This is a beautifully crafted novel, from the stunning and evocative writing, to the delicious little mystery, it's just all so wonderful. Victorian London is brought alive in the most vibrant of ways. The cramped, stench ridden spaces of The Blood will almost have you recoiling, the cool, crisp night air will almost give you a chill.
Perhaps one of the most impressive things about this series is how it manages to address some rather serious talking points while not once bogging down the story. E.S Thomson has managed to elequently tackle the treatment of the poor and mentally ill, gender identity, racism, sexism, and the questionable moral standards of medicine at the time, all while fitting these topics into the framework of a murder mystery.
This is by far my favorite in the Jem Flockhart series so far, each book just keeps getting better.
Once again we find ourselves on the cold, dark streets of Victorian London for another installment in the Jem Flockhart series. This is a beautifully crafted novel, from the stunning and evocative writing, to the delicious little mystery, it's just all so wonderful. Victorian London is brought alive in the most vibrant of ways. The cramped, stench ridden spaces of The Blood will almost have you recoiling, the cool, crisp night air will almost give you a chill.
"I wish I was there beside her, dead too, so that I might keep her company in the grave, at least. But then the medical men come, and even that dream is taken from me."
Perhaps one of the most impressive things about this series is how it manages to address some rather serious talking points while not once bogging down the story. E.S Thomson has managed to elequently tackle the treatment of the poor and mentally ill, gender identity, racism, sexism, and the questionable moral standards of medicine at the time, all while fitting these topics into the framework of a murder mystery.
This is by far my favorite in the Jem Flockhart series so far, each book just keeps getting better.
February 9, 2019
"The Blood" is a great history mystery novel that is set in London during the Victoria era. An intriguing mystery work that touches class/sex inequalities, the harsh living conditions of the commoners, the development of medicine and etc back in the 19th century. The author creates a balance mix of suspense and historical elements into "The Blood" which makes it an excellent read overall. This is not a cozy historical mystery novel but a dark, grim and serious one instead; entertaining throughout but at times a bit heavy.
The plot is excellently crafted. The beginning is slow but the pace picks up quickly once the first victim is found. The unfolding of the mystery does not confine to merely guessing for the culprit but as well the yearning to learn of the unfortunate pasts of the victims. Well-developed characters, too. Both the recurring characters or the featured ones in this installment are vividly depicted; I seem to know the characters well even without reading the prior installments. Without being wordy, the author imbues the plot with the essentials elements and builds the characters in the most inconspicuous but effective way. In short, "The Blood" could be read as a standalone.
I honestly think this series has a lot of potential and it deserves to get more attention from readers especially those who adore quality historical fiction. I for sure will go back to read the previous two installments and to look forward to any future releases.
The plot is excellently crafted. The beginning is slow but the pace picks up quickly once the first victim is found. The unfolding of the mystery does not confine to merely guessing for the culprit but as well the yearning to learn of the unfortunate pasts of the victims. Well-developed characters, too. Both the recurring characters or the featured ones in this installment are vividly depicted; I seem to know the characters well even without reading the prior installments. Without being wordy, the author imbues the plot with the essentials elements and builds the characters in the most inconspicuous but effective way. In short, "The Blood" could be read as a standalone.
I honestly think this series has a lot of potential and it deserves to get more attention from readers especially those who adore quality historical fiction. I for sure will go back to read the previous two installments and to look forward to any future releases.
January 28, 2018
Jem Flockhart has received a desperate, scribbled note from a fellow Apothecary, an old friend who Jem hasn't seen in years, asking for help to defeat the very Devil himself.
Jem is intrigued by this plea and decides to see his old friend to find out what is going on. As Jem and Will Quartemaine head off to The Blood - The seamen's floating hospital - they are just in time to see a body being pulled from the Thames.
Book 3 in the Jem Flockhart series. A dark atmospheric Victorian murder mystery. I love these.
Jem is intrigued by this plea and decides to see his old friend to find out what is going on. As Jem and Will Quartemaine head off to The Blood - The seamen's floating hospital - they are just in time to see a body being pulled from the Thames.
Book 3 in the Jem Flockhart series. A dark atmospheric Victorian murder mystery. I love these.
December 25, 2019
I damn near had a heart attack finishing this book! My heart is genuinely pounding. That ending!!! Ahh. I have Surgeon’s Hall but I don’t want to start it right away so the wait for book five won’t seem as long. Anyway I love these books and I’m recommending them to everyone I pass by on the street lol. They’ve got crime, queer characters, beautiful friendships, mysteries, a very cool historical setting, everything.
Read
April 26, 2021
See the literary locations in this story
Soon to appear on the Crime Cymru digital festival. This series is gory, gothic and medically fascinating. Recommended!
November 17, 2022
I love to read how Jem Flockhart, a disguised female, works in a man's world and solves mysteries. This book has quite a few surprises in it that keep you turning pages until the end.
May 14, 2018
A good historical 'whodunnit', the 3rd in the series but can be read as a 'one off', a story about, Jem Flockhart a young apothecary in Victorian times and Will Quartermaine, an architect who make an unlikely pair of amateur detectives and one of the pair has a secret. I thought it was well researched historically and medically and felt as though I was walking the streets of London with Jem and Will.
May 26, 2019
The third Jem Flockhart book, and I think this might be my favourite to date. Once again, there's a nice balance between the character development and the murder mystery, and once again we get to see inside a different aspect of 'medicine' in Victorian Britain.
This time, Jem and Will become embroiled in the murder of another apothecary (and opium addict), who was posted aboard The Blood, a hospital ship at the docks for seamen. As ever, it's a complicated plot, with medical men of dubious morals in search of fame and fortune, experimenting on the weak and helpless, and as ever there's a strong sub-plot relating to the seamier, poorer, exploited side of London's underworld - this time the prostitutes who work the docks.
The issues of sexploitation in many forms underpins all of the Jem Flockhart stories, and it's one of the themes, handled with such irony, that I most enjoy. Jem is a woman working in disguise in a man's world. Will, her best friend who wants to be her lover in many ways is the more 'feminine' of the pair - he faints at blood, he carries smelling salts, he can't hold his drink as well as Jem, and he cries more! In this book, Jem meets a black woman who has the guts and the bravado to do the same work as she does, but without disguise, and instead of lauding her, Jem is confused by her emotions - she wants to admire her, but she can't help thinking it's wrong. Jem doesn't think of herself as a woman - so what is she? This question comes to the fore when Will finally declares his own feelings for Jem, forcing her to look more closely at herself - and then, characteristically, to run. Because there are some things brave, clever Jem doesn't want to confront. She wants things with Will to stay as they are. She wants, too, I think (though I could be wrong) to retain her superior position in the pharmacy's food chain, over will and the rest of them. So she trashes poor Will's feelings by confiding her secret to someone else, knowing full-well that he's going to be mortally offended, wanting to hurt him, but not wanting to lose him. In her personal life, Jem has none of the clear sight that serves her so well in her professional life.
I won't go into the plot, I don't want to spoil it, but the murder mystery at the heart of it is excellent, fascinating, macabre - all that you'd expect. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and once again I'm left eager for the next book in the series. If you've not read this I highly recommend it - but do go back to the start.
This time, Jem and Will become embroiled in the murder of another apothecary (and opium addict), who was posted aboard The Blood, a hospital ship at the docks for seamen. As ever, it's a complicated plot, with medical men of dubious morals in search of fame and fortune, experimenting on the weak and helpless, and as ever there's a strong sub-plot relating to the seamier, poorer, exploited side of London's underworld - this time the prostitutes who work the docks.
The issues of sexploitation in many forms underpins all of the Jem Flockhart stories, and it's one of the themes, handled with such irony, that I most enjoy. Jem is a woman working in disguise in a man's world. Will, her best friend who wants to be her lover in many ways is the more 'feminine' of the pair - he faints at blood, he carries smelling salts, he can't hold his drink as well as Jem, and he cries more! In this book, Jem meets a black woman who has the guts and the bravado to do the same work as she does, but without disguise, and instead of lauding her, Jem is confused by her emotions - she wants to admire her, but she can't help thinking it's wrong. Jem doesn't think of herself as a woman - so what is she? This question comes to the fore when Will finally declares his own feelings for Jem, forcing her to look more closely at herself - and then, characteristically, to run. Because there are some things brave, clever Jem doesn't want to confront. She wants things with Will to stay as they are. She wants, too, I think (though I could be wrong) to retain her superior position in the pharmacy's food chain, over will and the rest of them. So she trashes poor Will's feelings by confiding her secret to someone else, knowing full-well that he's going to be mortally offended, wanting to hurt him, but not wanting to lose him. In her personal life, Jem has none of the clear sight that serves her so well in her professional life.
I won't go into the plot, I don't want to spoil it, but the murder mystery at the heart of it is excellent, fascinating, macabre - all that you'd expect. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and once again I'm left eager for the next book in the series. If you've not read this I highly recommend it - but do go back to the start.
June 15, 2022
The Blood
An old friend of Jem Flockhart writes in anguish to ask for help. By the time Jem along with friend and partner Will, find the time to get to his place of work they see him flying to his death out of a window. He was an apothecary onboard The Blood, a floating hospital on the Thames, and finding out the circumstances of his death and why he was so afraid takes Jem onto the Blood to search for answers.
Jem is a apothecary, she is a woman brought up by her father as a man; how else could she move in this world otherwise, she is also a lesbian who feels disfigured by a large facial birthmark like a mask about her eyes. To add to the mix Will Quartermain, a young architect and also her helpmate in investigations, loves her.
So we get the story of the stinking fetid London along the Thames, the brothels, the opium dens the general squalor, the do-gooders trying to save the fallen women. We get the life aboard an old floating hospital, doctors playing God, secret societies and a general disregard for human life.
Jem and Will’s investigation is very low key. They just try to be where things are happening, listening and observing till they finally put together most of the storylines and what they don’t know is revealed.
Most characters are well drawn. Jem is a decent sort. She loves Will but like a brother, she says. Poor Will. He is not as strong in constitution as Jem but he proves himself in his gentle handling of people especially the old forgetful Dr Rennie and they warm to his attention and tell him things.
If you like the dark side if Victorian London with mysterious deaths and a bit of sexual ambiguity this will be for you.
An old friend of Jem Flockhart writes in anguish to ask for help. By the time Jem along with friend and partner Will, find the time to get to his place of work they see him flying to his death out of a window. He was an apothecary onboard The Blood, a floating hospital on the Thames, and finding out the circumstances of his death and why he was so afraid takes Jem onto the Blood to search for answers.
Jem is a apothecary, she is a woman brought up by her father as a man; how else could she move in this world otherwise, she is also a lesbian who feels disfigured by a large facial birthmark like a mask about her eyes. To add to the mix Will Quartermain, a young architect and also her helpmate in investigations, loves her.
So we get the story of the stinking fetid London along the Thames, the brothels, the opium dens the general squalor, the do-gooders trying to save the fallen women. We get the life aboard an old floating hospital, doctors playing God, secret societies and a general disregard for human life.
Jem and Will’s investigation is very low key. They just try to be where things are happening, listening and observing till they finally put together most of the storylines and what they don’t know is revealed.
Most characters are well drawn. Jem is a decent sort. She loves Will but like a brother, she says. Poor Will. He is not as strong in constitution as Jem but he proves himself in his gentle handling of people especially the old forgetful Dr Rennie and they warm to his attention and tell him things.
If you like the dark side if Victorian London with mysterious deaths and a bit of sexual ambiguity this will be for you.
May 28, 2018
Settled into work as an apothecary in the East End of London, Jem Flockhart hides his secret and tries to help those in need. When a note comes from an old acquaintance asking Jem to hurry to the hospital ship the Golden Fleece Jem is worried, and because the note was delayed he is concerned as to what he will fine. In fact Jem arrived just in time to see Dr Aberlour driven to madness and take his own life. The hospital ship is run by a group of proud yet prejudiced doctors who also have an unhealthy relationship with Siren House, a home for repenting prostitutes. As Jem investigated the death of Dr Aberlour, other bodies appear and a secret needs to be revealed.
I do quite like the premise of Jem as a character, the daughter of a medical man who cannot pursue her vocation in Victorian London because of her sex so she disguises it. I also like the way that Will loves Jem but Jem feels Will is a brother to her as she mourns the loss of Eliza. In this book there was a nice subplot about racism which amped up the theme of prejudice. There is no doubt that Thomson is developing as a writer, the stories have always been well plotted and this is no exception, twisty and complex, but the use of metaphors is very strong here and the research into both medicine and historical time and place is exceptional.
I do quite like the premise of Jem as a character, the daughter of a medical man who cannot pursue her vocation in Victorian London because of her sex so she disguises it. I also like the way that Will loves Jem but Jem feels Will is a brother to her as she mourns the loss of Eliza. In this book there was a nice subplot about racism which amped up the theme of prejudice. There is no doubt that Thomson is developing as a writer, the stories have always been well plotted and this is no exception, twisty and complex, but the use of metaphors is very strong here and the research into both medicine and historical time and place is exceptional.
October 6, 2019
Another great read by Thomson, murkier than ever with hospital hulks stranded in the open sewer that is the Thames and diabolical surgeons running rife, murders galore and London docklands not quite as inviting as they are now, the clientele not quite as upmarket😄.
Thomson delivers yet again.
Prostitutes seen as non-people. Dark skinned people seen as savages, not equal to their European counterparts and religion hiding a multitude of sins.
Oh and then there are the crimes.
What more could the reader ask for. Enjoy!!!
Thomson delivers yet again.
Prostitutes seen as non-people. Dark skinned people seen as savages, not equal to their European counterparts and religion hiding a multitude of sins.
Oh and then there are the crimes.
What more could the reader ask for. Enjoy!!!
December 3, 2019
The third in E. S. Thomson’s JEM FLOCKHART historical crime series is rich in period detail (especially in relation to medical practice of the time) and I really enjoyed the exploration of gender and race during this time but the plot sagged in the final quarter, with Jem doing some strange things for unconvincing reasons while the antagonist and their motives were a little under-baked, although I’d still check out the rest of the series.
April 16, 2018
Thomson does a marvellous job of vividly recreating the grim and effluvia of this stinking corner of London. At this point, the poor old Thames is little more than an open cesspit and London is generally draped in sooty smoke, with far more mists and fogs than you’d normally expect, caused by the runaway air pollution. Unsurprisingly, there is a high rate of illness, though The Blood specialises in the ailments brought into London from sailors and passengers who have returned from the Empire with all sorts of nasty complaints.
Jem Flockhart is an interesting protagonist – he is a young apothecary, continuing his father’s business and producing herbal remedies and medicines for the physicians coping with the high rate of illnesses. The team working on The Blood are mostly young medical practitioners without any money or support behind them, seeking to make a reputation by either publishing a brilliant paper on one of these new diseases, or catching the eye of an established medical man. However, the likes of Dr Proudlove, a black doctor whose mother ran a brothel, is highly unlikely to gain the reputation he wishes, despite being both clever and hard-working.
Jem teams up Will Quartermain, a young architect, when investigating this entangled case that lays open the seamiest side of London life, after they discover the body of a young woman in a derelict boatyard. While it’s evident she was drowned, the water in her lungs is clear, whereas she was discovered floating in a vile-smelling thick soup that could scarcely be described as water…
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Jem is a wary character who despite his obvious youth, clearly knows his way around this lawless, blighted area – and has an almighty secret of his own. This means that he is relatively free of many of the prejudices of the time – which also rings true. While there is clearly a rich backstory to his and Will’s current relationship, I had no difficulty in working out exactly what was going on and this book works well as a standalone, despite being the third in the series.
As for the mystery itself, it is one of those very twisty affairs, where one apparently solitary murder triggers a string of other incidents so that more people die, pulling in a wider circle of potential suspects. I thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle and the vivid world unflinchingly on display – though I’m humbly grateful that I don’t live in that time and place. I’ve thought about this one a lot since I finished reading it and will be looking out for the other books in this series. Recommended for fans of vividly depicted historical fiction, especially Victorian noir.
9/10
Jem Flockhart is an interesting protagonist – he is a young apothecary, continuing his father’s business and producing herbal remedies and medicines for the physicians coping with the high rate of illnesses. The team working on The Blood are mostly young medical practitioners without any money or support behind them, seeking to make a reputation by either publishing a brilliant paper on one of these new diseases, or catching the eye of an established medical man. However, the likes of Dr Proudlove, a black doctor whose mother ran a brothel, is highly unlikely to gain the reputation he wishes, despite being both clever and hard-working.
Jem teams up Will Quartermain, a young architect, when investigating this entangled case that lays open the seamiest side of London life, after they discover the body of a young woman in a derelict boatyard. While it’s evident she was drowned, the water in her lungs is clear, whereas she was discovered floating in a vile-smelling thick soup that could scarcely be described as water…
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Jem is a wary character who despite his obvious youth, clearly knows his way around this lawless, blighted area – and has an almighty secret of his own. This means that he is relatively free of many of the prejudices of the time – which also rings true. While there is clearly a rich backstory to his and Will’s current relationship, I had no difficulty in working out exactly what was going on and this book works well as a standalone, despite being the third in the series.
As for the mystery itself, it is one of those very twisty affairs, where one apparently solitary murder triggers a string of other incidents so that more people die, pulling in a wider circle of potential suspects. I thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle and the vivid world unflinchingly on display – though I’m humbly grateful that I don’t live in that time and place. I’ve thought about this one a lot since I finished reading it and will be looking out for the other books in this series. Recommended for fans of vividly depicted historical fiction, especially Victorian noir.
9/10
February 18, 2022
Star rating: 5 stars |
Jem and Will are back! This time, when a cryptic letter arrives for Jem from an old friend, both Jem and Will are thrown into an mystery. This time the centre of the mystery is The Blood, a floating hospital moored in the river Thames.
But they arrive too late, and soon the number of deaths begin to rise, including the death of Jems old friend. But will Jem be able to solve this mystery without loosing anymore friends or even them-self?
This book is very interesting. For the first time we get an in depth look into the mind of Jem regarding their gender and gender expression. Jem spends some time in the middle of the book considering what would have happened if their father never disguised them in mens clothes. While Jem never really comes to a solid conclusion, they do decide that even if they had been perceived as a woman that would never have been the full story (hence why I am using gender neutral pronouns).
It is also true that we get to see and discuss the privileges Jem holds but are often overlooked. To the world, Jem, is a man, but more than that, Jem is a white man in medicine which brings with it certain privileges that really shine through during their interactions with DR and Miss Proudlove.
At one point in their investigation Jem sides with the other Drs -instead of with Dr Proudlove - to be able to find out any secrets they are hiding. Something that would have been highly frustrating to any white doctor. however for Dr Proudlove, it was humiliating, and re-enforced the racism that proudlove suffered from his work colleagues and wider society.
During the book, Jem also works along side Miss Proudlove, a woman apothecary and Dr Proudlove’s sister. Through this experience Jem sees first hand the struggles that women, especially black women, go through not only in the medical profession, but also in everyday life. There is a passage where Jem and Miss Proudlove are walking down the street together, and Jem notes how confident Proudlove had to be to keep her head held high, and meet the glare of other passers by without flinching.
Overall this is an enlightening book that makes Jem face them-self and also the way the world sees them and how one differs from the other. Like all other Jem Flockhart books, it is not an easy read but it is definitely worth it.
“Would I have become the woman I was expected to be? I would not, I knew it in my heart and soul, I would not”
Jem and Will are back! This time, when a cryptic letter arrives for Jem from an old friend, both Jem and Will are thrown into an mystery. This time the centre of the mystery is The Blood, a floating hospital moored in the river Thames.
But they arrive too late, and soon the number of deaths begin to rise, including the death of Jems old friend. But will Jem be able to solve this mystery without loosing anymore friends or even them-self?
This book is very interesting. For the first time we get an in depth look into the mind of Jem regarding their gender and gender expression. Jem spends some time in the middle of the book considering what would have happened if their father never disguised them in mens clothes. While Jem never really comes to a solid conclusion, they do decide that even if they had been perceived as a woman that would never have been the full story (hence why I am using gender neutral pronouns).
It is also true that we get to see and discuss the privileges Jem holds but are often overlooked. To the world, Jem, is a man, but more than that, Jem is a white man in medicine which brings with it certain privileges that really shine through during their interactions with DR and Miss Proudlove.
At one point in their investigation Jem sides with the other Drs -instead of with Dr Proudlove - to be able to find out any secrets they are hiding. Something that would have been highly frustrating to any white doctor. however for Dr Proudlove, it was humiliating, and re-enforced the racism that proudlove suffered from his work colleagues and wider society.
During the book, Jem also works along side Miss Proudlove, a woman apothecary and Dr Proudlove’s sister. Through this experience Jem sees first hand the struggles that women, especially black women, go through not only in the medical profession, but also in everyday life. There is a passage where Jem and Miss Proudlove are walking down the street together, and Jem notes how confident Proudlove had to be to keep her head held high, and meet the glare of other passers by without flinching.
Overall this is an enlightening book that makes Jem face them-self and also the way the world sees them and how one differs from the other. Like all other Jem Flockhart books, it is not an easy read but it is definitely worth it.
“Would I have become the woman I was expected to be? I would not, I knew it in my heart and soul, I would not”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2024
Die Bücher von E. S. Thomson zünden für mich nicht. Ich habe mit "The Blood" das dritte Buch der Reihe gelesen und muss sagen, dass mir auch dieses nicht gefallen hat.
Das hat mehrere Gründe. Zum einen stelle ich nach drei Büchern fest, dass sich die Geschichten irgendwie wiederholen. Es geht in allen drei Büchern um eine Art "Klinik", die im Mittelpunkt steht. Im ersten Band war es ein normales Krankenhaus, im zweiten eine Psychiatrie, jetzt geht es um ein Krankenhausschiff. In diesen "Kliniken" kommt es dann zu mysteriösen Ereignissen, i.d.R. Mordfälle, in die unsere Heldin Jem Flockhart und ihr Kompagnon Will verwickelt werden und diese - natürlich - aufklären. Jedesmal sind die wichtigsten Charaktere der Handlung eine Gruppe Ärzte, die keinerlei Persönlichkeit besitzen und nur immer mit Dr. XYZ betitelt werden, und somit austauschbar sind. Jedesmal habe ich Schwierigkeiten, diese Figuren auseinanderzuhalten, weil sie keinerlei Allenstellungsmerkmale besitzen.
Kurz gesagt sollte die Autorin meiner Meinung nach ihr Muster einmal ein wenig aufbrechen und sich eine neue Geschichte und/oder ein neues Setting ausdenken, sonst wird es einfach langweilig und vorhersehbar.
Vorhin habe ich erwähnt, dass die Charaktere keine Persönlichkeit besitzen und dem Leser nicht nahe kommen. Dies gilt für mich leider auch für die Protagonisten Jem und Will. Auch diese sind für mich seelenlos und austauschbar, besonders Jem. Außer der Tatsache, dass sie sich als Mann ausgibt, besitzt sie keinerlei Merkmale. Ich frage mich auch, warum die Autorin Jem als Mann auftreten lässt, denn diese Tatsache spielt für die Handlung eigentlich keine Rolle. Ich hätte es viel interessanter gefunden, wenn sie als weibliche Apothekerin ihren Weg gefunden und sich im Laufe der Zeit entwickelt hätte. Es wäre interessant gewesen zu sehen, mit welchen Hindernissen sie zu kämpfen hat. Wenn man aus diesen inhaltlichen Besonderheiten aber nichts macht, sind sie völlig redundant.
Leider muss auch erwähnt sein, dass die Handlung nicht besonders spannend ist. Die Autorin beschreibt alles sehr bildhaft, aber auch in epischer Breite. So gelingt es ihr zwar, eine passende Atmosphäre zu kreiieren, allerdings bringt das die Handlung nicht voran.
Es gibt darüber hinaus endlose Diskussionen der Ärzte über medizinische Themen, die mich einfach nicht interessieren.
Für mich leider mittlerweile eine Reihe, die ich nicht weiterverfolgen werde.
Das hat mehrere Gründe. Zum einen stelle ich nach drei Büchern fest, dass sich die Geschichten irgendwie wiederholen. Es geht in allen drei Büchern um eine Art "Klinik", die im Mittelpunkt steht. Im ersten Band war es ein normales Krankenhaus, im zweiten eine Psychiatrie, jetzt geht es um ein Krankenhausschiff. In diesen "Kliniken" kommt es dann zu mysteriösen Ereignissen, i.d.R. Mordfälle, in die unsere Heldin Jem Flockhart und ihr Kompagnon Will verwickelt werden und diese - natürlich - aufklären. Jedesmal sind die wichtigsten Charaktere der Handlung eine Gruppe Ärzte, die keinerlei Persönlichkeit besitzen und nur immer mit Dr. XYZ betitelt werden, und somit austauschbar sind. Jedesmal habe ich Schwierigkeiten, diese Figuren auseinanderzuhalten, weil sie keinerlei Allenstellungsmerkmale besitzen.
Kurz gesagt sollte die Autorin meiner Meinung nach ihr Muster einmal ein wenig aufbrechen und sich eine neue Geschichte und/oder ein neues Setting ausdenken, sonst wird es einfach langweilig und vorhersehbar.
Vorhin habe ich erwähnt, dass die Charaktere keine Persönlichkeit besitzen und dem Leser nicht nahe kommen. Dies gilt für mich leider auch für die Protagonisten Jem und Will. Auch diese sind für mich seelenlos und austauschbar, besonders Jem. Außer der Tatsache, dass sie sich als Mann ausgibt, besitzt sie keinerlei Merkmale. Ich frage mich auch, warum die Autorin Jem als Mann auftreten lässt, denn diese Tatsache spielt für die Handlung eigentlich keine Rolle. Ich hätte es viel interessanter gefunden, wenn sie als weibliche Apothekerin ihren Weg gefunden und sich im Laufe der Zeit entwickelt hätte. Es wäre interessant gewesen zu sehen, mit welchen Hindernissen sie zu kämpfen hat. Wenn man aus diesen inhaltlichen Besonderheiten aber nichts macht, sind sie völlig redundant.
Leider muss auch erwähnt sein, dass die Handlung nicht besonders spannend ist. Die Autorin beschreibt alles sehr bildhaft, aber auch in epischer Breite. So gelingt es ihr zwar, eine passende Atmosphäre zu kreiieren, allerdings bringt das die Handlung nicht voran.
Es gibt darüber hinaus endlose Diskussionen der Ärzte über medizinische Themen, die mich einfach nicht interessieren.
Für mich leider mittlerweile eine Reihe, die ich nicht weiterverfolgen werde.
December 10, 2018
Apothecary Jem Flockhart and her friend, Will Quartermain, are back in E. S. Thomson’s “The Blood,” a thriller set in Victorian London. Jem, who is female, has been dressing as a male since she was a child (it was her father’s idea). Pretending to be a man enables her to pursue a profession from which females are traditionally excluded. Jem owns her own shop from which she dispenses herbs, potions, and other remedies. One day, she receives an urgent message from a fellow apothecary, John Aberlady, who serves on a rat-infested and malodorous floating hospital for sick and injured sailors. Thomson is a splendid descriptive writer who depicts the ship as “rotten and swollen, blotched with patches of mold, and scabrous with rude repairs.”
Will Quartermain is an architect who has been hired to design a warehouse in a dilapidated area near the waterfront. When he and Jem tour the property, they make a macabre discovery, and come to the horrifying conclusion that a sadistic killer may be at large. The local police, alas, pay scant attention to crimes involving destitute people who have no family ties. Thomson’s complex plot involves a strange tattoo that Jem cannot decipher; precise incisions on the corpses’ bodies; and a shelter for wayward girls operated by a pompous clergyman. Jem and Will make the rounds of filthy pubs and sordid houses of ill-repute in search of leads and witnesses.
Thomson transports us to a time when racism and abuse of women were commonplace. It is a bit jarring, however, that the author shoehorns her twenty-first century perspective into a nineteenth century narrative. Furthermore, this colorful and engrossing, albeit graphically violent tale (the characters spend an inordinate amount of time in the morgue), focuses on decadent and repulsive subjects. Fortunately, there are passages of bleak humor to offset the doom-laden atmosphere. “The Blood” may not brighten your day, but it is a compelling whodunit, and Jem and Will are appealing, energetic, and fearless protagonists. Unlike London’s indifferent detectives, who do little to further the cause of justice, Will and Jem risk their lives to stop a maniacal villain before he claims even more victims.
Will Quartermain is an architect who has been hired to design a warehouse in a dilapidated area near the waterfront. When he and Jem tour the property, they make a macabre discovery, and come to the horrifying conclusion that a sadistic killer may be at large. The local police, alas, pay scant attention to crimes involving destitute people who have no family ties. Thomson’s complex plot involves a strange tattoo that Jem cannot decipher; precise incisions on the corpses’ bodies; and a shelter for wayward girls operated by a pompous clergyman. Jem and Will make the rounds of filthy pubs and sordid houses of ill-repute in search of leads and witnesses.
Thomson transports us to a time when racism and abuse of women were commonplace. It is a bit jarring, however, that the author shoehorns her twenty-first century perspective into a nineteenth century narrative. Furthermore, this colorful and engrossing, albeit graphically violent tale (the characters spend an inordinate amount of time in the morgue), focuses on decadent and repulsive subjects. Fortunately, there are passages of bleak humor to offset the doom-laden atmosphere. “The Blood” may not brighten your day, but it is a compelling whodunit, and Jem and Will are appealing, energetic, and fearless protagonists. Unlike London’s indifferent detectives, who do little to further the cause of justice, Will and Jem risk their lives to stop a maniacal villain before he claims even more victims.
April 17, 2022
The Blood by E. S. Thomson is a darn good Victorian London murder mystery that I couldn't put down. Not for the weak of heart; this story has its gritty and gruesome moments!🙈
This is Book 3 of a 5 book series so far. I sort of jumped into the series smack in the middle. I enjoyed it very much so will be ordering the 1st installment soon.
Our two detectives are a unique duo that are a bit different in character to say the least. Jem Flockhart roams the seedy side of London dressed as a man but came into this world a girl. A girl born with a hideous port wine stain that covers her eyes like a raccoon and half of her face. After her mother dies, her father, an established apothecary, raises her as his son and passes the trade on to Jem. Now owning her own apothecary shop disguised as a man wearing a mask akin to that of the Phantom of the Opera, she also solves murders and does autopsies while she moonlights on a retired Napoleonic Wars ship turned hospital.
Will Quartermain, a talented architect has been a lifelong friend to Jem and is desperately in love with her. But Jem not only holds her secret of being a woman, but hides her love of the female sex.
Together they make a unique team solving the many murders that constantly arrive near the slimy wharfs on the Thames.
I cannot wait to start at the beginning with Book One and Two. 5 stars, for a fun and different mystery for sure!
This is Book 3 of a 5 book series so far. I sort of jumped into the series smack in the middle. I enjoyed it very much so will be ordering the 1st installment soon.
Our two detectives are a unique duo that are a bit different in character to say the least. Jem Flockhart roams the seedy side of London dressed as a man but came into this world a girl. A girl born with a hideous port wine stain that covers her eyes like a raccoon and half of her face. After her mother dies, her father, an established apothecary, raises her as his son and passes the trade on to Jem. Now owning her own apothecary shop disguised as a man wearing a mask akin to that of the Phantom of the Opera, she also solves murders and does autopsies while she moonlights on a retired Napoleonic Wars ship turned hospital.
Will Quartermain, a talented architect has been a lifelong friend to Jem and is desperately in love with her. But Jem not only holds her secret of being a woman, but hides her love of the female sex.
Together they make a unique team solving the many murders that constantly arrive near the slimy wharfs on the Thames.
I cannot wait to start at the beginning with Book One and Two. 5 stars, for a fun and different mystery for sure!
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