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The Edinburgh Dead
1828
In the starkly-lit operating theaters of the city, grisly experiments are being carried out on corpses in the name of medical science. But elsewhere, there are those experimenting with more sinister forces.
Amongst the crowded, sprawling tenements of the labyrinthine Old Town, a body is found, its neck torn to pieces. Charged with investigating the murder is Adam Quire, Officer of the newly- formed Edinburgh Police. The trail will lead him into the deepest reaches of the city's criminal underclass, and to the highest echelons of the filthy rich.
Soon Quire will discover that a darkness is crawling through this city of enlightenment -- and no one is safe from its corruption.
The Edinburgh Dead is a powerful fusion of gothic horror, history, and the fantastical.
In the starkly-lit operating theaters of the city, grisly experiments are being carried out on corpses in the name of medical science. But elsewhere, there are those experimenting with more sinister forces.
Amongst the crowded, sprawling tenements of the labyrinthine Old Town, a body is found, its neck torn to pieces. Charged with investigating the murder is Adam Quire, Officer of the newly- formed Edinburgh Police. The trail will lead him into the deepest reaches of the city's criminal underclass, and to the highest echelons of the filthy rich.
Soon Quire will discover that a darkness is crawling through this city of enlightenment -- and no one is safe from its corruption.
The Edinburgh Dead is a powerful fusion of gothic horror, history, and the fantastical.
342 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
23 people are currently reading
1132 people want to read
About the author
Brian Ruckley
112 books169 followersI was born and brought up in Edinburgh. After studying at Edinburgh and Stirling Universities, and after a good deal of displacement activity (varying from spending three months in the rainforests of Borneo trying to record the dawn chorus of gibbons to briefly working in a tea warehouse / factory), I moved to England to enter the world of full-time employment.
As much by luck as judgement, I had a series of on the whole enjoyable and interesting jobs, mostly based in London. All of them save one have been in the charity sector, and at various times they have involved extensive overseas travel, environmental and community projects, nature conservation and fundraising.
Writing was a big feature of my childhood, and has ebbed and flowed as a spare-time occupation ever since. I sold a couple of short stories in the 1990s, but didn’t really start thinking seriously about writing novels until the 21st Century had got underway.
At the start of 2003, I turned myself into a freelance consultant on environmental projects, partly in order to devote more time to writing; since then, the writing side of things has taken over almost completely.
I am now back in Edinburgh, where I live with my lovely wife, and miss the excitement of London only a little, and only occasionally.
As much by luck as judgement, I had a series of on the whole enjoyable and interesting jobs, mostly based in London. All of them save one have been in the charity sector, and at various times they have involved extensive overseas travel, environmental and community projects, nature conservation and fundraising.
Writing was a big feature of my childhood, and has ebbed and flowed as a spare-time occupation ever since. I sold a couple of short stories in the 1990s, but didn’t really start thinking seriously about writing novels until the 21st Century had got underway.
At the start of 2003, I turned myself into a freelance consultant on environmental projects, partly in order to devote more time to writing; since then, the writing side of things has taken over almost completely.
I am now back in Edinburgh, where I live with my lovely wife, and miss the excitement of London only a little, and only occasionally.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
December 25, 2016
Wow! Edinburgh Dead by Brian Ruckley! Totally brilliant! It's rare that I can use the term 'unputdownable', but I definitely can say it about this one. Read it in less than 48 hours, which for me is pretty much unheard of. Could NOT put it down.
I'm fond of Historical fiction (albeit usually romantic) but to say I'm not usually a mystery reader is an understatement, not a single murder mystery comes to mind. The lure of the area near where I live used as a backdrop, coupled with zombie dogs just sucked me right in. There are zombie humans too but I mostly wanted to see the zom-dogs loose on Edinburgh's streets and closes.
I really, really loved that I knew all the places mentioned in the book. I'm in Edinburgh about once or twice a fortnight and all of the places and building's are familiar to me. Loved that. The people of the story are familiar 'faces' too...even the non-famous one's. Go to certain parts of Edinburgh on any given day and chances are you'll rub shoulders with just the sort of people mentioned in the pages. There's maybe 200 years separating them but their banter hasn't changed that much. As for the famous 'faces' well, in particular Burke and Hare the infamous body snatchers or 'Ressurectionists' as they were also know are common knowledge for anyone who spends any time in or around Edinburgh and I loved reading about them. Fictionalised in parts but great fun to read nonetheless.
And zombie's. Let's not forget the zombies. They're the reason that I wanted to read this so bad in the first place, although I did wonder how a person could fit the undead into an Historical murder/crime/mystery. The whole book has a dark, gritty feel to it and the air of supernatural 'going's on' didn't seem out of place or contrived at all. In fact, as unlikely as it all sounds Mr Ruckley writes in such a way as to have me think it was all quite plausible. It's very well done. They're not really apocalypse type zombies but they're no less effective for all that.
I loved all of the characters and really felt like I got to know them. Some of them I'd like to know even better and REALLY want there to be more cases for Adam Quire to solve... I'd read any and all stories if this were made into an ongoing series.
There's a bit of a twist in the tale at the end and being as unfamiliar with crime mystery as I am, I'm not sure if that's usual but whether it is or it isn't, the twist at the end just sealed the deal for me. It was a brilliant end to a brilliant story and I just hope I can find more stories like it.
I can't say enough good things about this, I'm all over the place but I just really, really liked this one. For now I'll just close by saying again....
Really liked it! A lot!
I'm fond of Historical fiction (albeit usually romantic) but to say I'm not usually a mystery reader is an understatement, not a single murder mystery comes to mind. The lure of the area near where I live used as a backdrop, coupled with zombie dogs just sucked me right in. There are zombie humans too but I mostly wanted to see the zom-dogs loose on Edinburgh's streets and closes.
I really, really loved that I knew all the places mentioned in the book. I'm in Edinburgh about once or twice a fortnight and all of the places and building's are familiar to me. Loved that. The people of the story are familiar 'faces' too...even the non-famous one's. Go to certain parts of Edinburgh on any given day and chances are you'll rub shoulders with just the sort of people mentioned in the pages. There's maybe 200 years separating them but their banter hasn't changed that much. As for the famous 'faces' well, in particular Burke and Hare the infamous body snatchers or 'Ressurectionists' as they were also know are common knowledge for anyone who spends any time in or around Edinburgh and I loved reading about them. Fictionalised in parts but great fun to read nonetheless.
And zombie's. Let's not forget the zombies. They're the reason that I wanted to read this so bad in the first place, although I did wonder how a person could fit the undead into an Historical murder/crime/mystery. The whole book has a dark, gritty feel to it and the air of supernatural 'going's on' didn't seem out of place or contrived at all. In fact, as unlikely as it all sounds Mr Ruckley writes in such a way as to have me think it was all quite plausible. It's very well done. They're not really apocalypse type zombies but they're no less effective for all that.
I loved all of the characters and really felt like I got to know them. Some of them I'd like to know even better and REALLY want there to be more cases for Adam Quire to solve... I'd read any and all stories if this were made into an ongoing series.
There's a bit of a twist in the tale at the end and being as unfamiliar with crime mystery as I am, I'm not sure if that's usual but whether it is or it isn't, the twist at the end just sealed the deal for me. It was a brilliant end to a brilliant story and I just hope I can find more stories like it.
I can't say enough good things about this, I'm all over the place but I just really, really liked this one. For now I'll just close by saying again....
Really liked it! A lot!
October 7, 2015
Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!
Having read and been none-too-impressed by Ruckley's first series, a high/epic fantasy set called The Godless World, I wasn't sure what I was in for here, with this interesting mix of genres. From horror to historical fiction, The Edinburgh Dead is strange, odd and a hell of a lot more lively than anything the author has produced to date. Though I've tagged this as a steampunk novel, it takes a backseat to the horror elements as well as being more proto-steampunk than actual steampunk. The funky but largely ignored aspect is rarely mentioned and adds little of note overall to the storyline of the novel. Lead man Adam Quire is an irascible, withdrawn and reclusive main character and can come across as more of an antihero than a straight man in this novel, and is at his best when doing so.
Adam Quire is a decent man living in an indecent time. Though his elevated standards of behavior and attitude may not seem noticeable or noteworthy for nowadays, in Quire's time it was extreme. With problems in his past and ghosts in his closet at age 37, Quire is no boy. This is a man - one that is deliberate, slow to anger but scary and scarily determined when roused to it. Quire is far from perfect - he even calls himself a "functioning" alcoholic - with trust issues and almost friendless; it's quite easy to fall into rooting for Quire to get his man even as he digs himself deeperand deeper into shit. Well interspersed and varied flashbacks occurring throughout the book provide additional background and personal history for the main character - such as he's an old soldier, strong sense of right and wrong - that Quire himself would never elaborate on presently. Quire is above ALL, a man who strives for justice -- even if that justice is whatever he decides.
Quire's antagonist is both cunning and almost comically evil. While I wasn't too impressed by Ruthven, Blegg was another matter. Him I found entirely foreboding and full of unnameable creepiness. Like Frankenstein's monster, Blegg is eventually outside his master's control and that was when I was most interested in the evil side of the tale. There was some nice and unanticipated maneuvering and sleight-of-hand with the cast of the villains of the piece, but I found their development lacking on the whole. Even the 'good' side of the conflict outside of Quire doesn't rate much better; the strength of this novel lies in the plot and atmosphere, not the characters themselves. There's even abland hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold to add a touch of romance to all the other goings-on; I just wasn't impressed.
A word for Ruckley's writing here - I was very impressed with the creepy, foreboding atmosphere present throughout The Edinburgh Dead. The unruly and unorganized Old Town, especially compared to the strict and boring New Town, had bustle, and even had the feel of cobblestones and dirt within an old and dangerous city. This alternate Edinburgh filled with 'medical Prometheanism" came alive from page one, chapter one. This Edinburgh may be creative and fascinating to read about, but Ruckley's imagination fashions a desperate and horrific place where a thriving corpse trade () make murder and grave-robbery a daily occurrence. It's a city where the living prey off the dead. . . until one fights back. Like many actual cities and the real capital of Scotland itself, there's a clear disparity between the populace of Edinburgh in The Edinburgh Dead. The poor are largely ignored, save when they can be abused for research. Quire's meddling with the uppercrust nobility reveals a much shadier world than the criminals hiding from Scotland Yard - a world where a gentleman's mere word suffices to avoid an investigation. This subplot of social segregation causes further and all too real problems for Quire in his due diligence after 'nobody' murder victims - it becomes a race against another murder as well as race to finish the case before Quire can be suspended, thrown off the case, or dismissed. It's both interesting and entirely fitting that one character would say that these were "the most enlightened of times" while concurrently, the most unspeakable and horrific acts are being committed throughout the city.
The third person was well-utilized here by the author - it shows both a lively (and deadly) Edinburgh as well as all sides of the tangled web of murder, kidnapping, deceit and zombies played out among its cobbled streets. I do wish a bit more detail had been provided and attention had be paid toward the process of creating the reanimated. The ending was actually one of my more favorite parts - rare as that is. Quire managed to wrap up his ties without a cliffhanger, all the while leaving a possibility for more in this vein/series later on. I have to admit, my opinion on this author has been changed.
Having read and been none-too-impressed by Ruckley's first series, a high/epic fantasy set called The Godless World, I wasn't sure what I was in for here, with this interesting mix of genres. From horror to historical fiction, The Edinburgh Dead is strange, odd and a hell of a lot more lively than anything the author has produced to date. Though I've tagged this as a steampunk novel, it takes a backseat to the horror elements as well as being more proto-steampunk than actual steampunk. The funky but largely ignored aspect is rarely mentioned and adds little of note overall to the storyline of the novel. Lead man Adam Quire is an irascible, withdrawn and reclusive main character and can come across as more of an antihero than a straight man in this novel, and is at his best when doing so.
Adam Quire is a decent man living in an indecent time. Though his elevated standards of behavior and attitude may not seem noticeable or noteworthy for nowadays, in Quire's time it was extreme. With problems in his past and ghosts in his closet at age 37, Quire is no boy. This is a man - one that is deliberate, slow to anger but scary and scarily determined when roused to it. Quire is far from perfect - he even calls himself a "functioning" alcoholic - with trust issues and almost friendless; it's quite easy to fall into rooting for Quire to get his man even as he digs himself deeper
Quire's antagonist is both cunning and almost comically evil. While I wasn't too impressed by Ruthven, Blegg was another matter. Him I found entirely foreboding and full of unnameable creepiness. Like Frankenstein's monster, Blegg is eventually outside his master's control and that was when I was most interested in the evil side of the tale. There was some nice and unanticipated maneuvering and sleight-of-hand with the cast of the villains of the piece, but I found their development lacking on the whole. Even the 'good' side of the conflict outside of Quire doesn't rate much better; the strength of this novel lies in the plot and atmosphere, not the characters themselves. There's even a
A word for Ruckley's writing here - I was very impressed with the creepy, foreboding atmosphere present throughout The Edinburgh Dead. The unruly and unorganized Old Town, especially compared to the strict and boring New Town, had bustle, and even had the feel of cobblestones and dirt within an old and dangerous city. This alternate Edinburgh filled with 'medical Prometheanism" came alive from page one, chapter one. This Edinburgh may be creative and fascinating to read about, but Ruckley's imagination fashions a desperate and horrific place where a thriving corpse trade () make murder and grave-robbery a daily occurrence. It's a city where the living prey off the dead. . . until one fights back. Like many actual cities and the real capital of Scotland itself, there's a clear disparity between the populace of Edinburgh in The Edinburgh Dead. The poor are largely ignored, save when they can be abused for research. Quire's meddling with the uppercrust nobility reveals a much shadier world than the criminals hiding from Scotland Yard - a world where a gentleman's mere word suffices to avoid an investigation. This subplot of social segregation causes further and all too real problems for Quire in his due diligence after 'nobody' murder victims - it becomes a race against another murder as well as race to finish the case before Quire can be suspended, thrown off the case, or dismissed. It's both interesting and entirely fitting that one character would say that these were "the most enlightened of times" while concurrently, the most unspeakable and horrific acts are being committed throughout the city.
The third person was well-utilized here by the author - it shows both a lively (and deadly) Edinburgh as well as all sides of the tangled web of murder, kidnapping, deceit and zombies played out among its cobbled streets. I do wish a bit more detail had been provided and attention had be paid toward the process of creating the reanimated. The ending was actually one of my more favorite parts - rare as that is. Quire managed to wrap up his ties without a cliffhanger, all the while leaving a possibility for more in this vein/series later on. I have to admit, my opinion on this author has been changed.
December 26, 2021
The nooks and crannies of Edinburgh have been brought alive through gripping storytelling. Sergeant Adam Quire discovers secrets about the dead, way beyond his pay grade, that take him on an adrenaline filled adventure.
Downsides of the book - in parts the story moves slower than I'd like. If you are not into fantasy this book will disappoint.
Downsides of the book - in parts the story moves slower than I'd like. If you are not into fantasy this book will disappoint.
March 6, 2014
Blurb - Edinburgh 1827: it's a city populated by mad alchemists who treat Frankenstein as textbook rather than novel and by a criminal underclass prepared to treat with the darkest of powers. And one officer, from the recently formed Edinburgh City Police, must follow the trail of undead hounds, emptied graves, brutal murders and mob violence into the deepest and darkest corners of Edinburgh's underworld - both literal and magical - and back again to the highest reaches of elegant, intellectual Edinburgh society.
About the Author
Brian Ruckley lives in Edinburgh. He has worked for a series of organisations dealing with environmental and youth development issues, but now writes full-time.
About the Author
Brian Ruckley lives in Edinburgh. He has worked for a series of organisations dealing with environmental and youth development issues, but now writes full-time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2012
Thoroughly enjoyed this, found the writing evocative and classy. I was interested from page 1, hooked by page 70, and emotionally involved throughout. An excellent blend of genres - historical, horror, fantasy, crime, and a genuinely creepy and atmospheric tale. Loved it.
April 15, 2013
Edinburgh 1827. In the starkly-lit operating theatres of the city, grisly experiments are being carried out on corpses in the name of medical science. But elsewhere, there are those experimenting with more sinister forces. Amongst the crowded, sprawling tenements of the labyrinthine Old Town, a body is found, its neck torn to pieces. Charged with investigating the murder is Adam Quire, Officer of the Edinburgh Police. The trail will lead him into the deepest reaches of the city's criminal underclass, and to the highest echelons of the filthy rich. Soon Quire will discover that a darkness is crawling through this city of enlightenment and no one is safe from its corruption.
A mash up of historical urban Gothic horror, with historical facts, fiction and fantasy all coming together to produce as one review put it Sharpe meets Dawn of the Dead. The appearance of historical characters like Burke and Hare is a great addition and are brilliantly imagined
The lead character, Adam Quire, is a tenacious, rebellious sergeant in the Edinburgh Police, a real life flawed anti hero with enough background history to fill a book with his own story.
But it is the pacing of the novel that stands out, too slow maybe for many readers, but I thought it worked well. The author gives a master class on how to build tension perfectly, showing the reader just enough to make you feel unsettled and want to carry on reading.
Very well written with rich historic detail and evocative scenes describing the dirt and despair of Edinburgh in 1828.
Contrary to the fact I am not a huge fan of the reanimated just a personal thing) I thoroughly enjoyed Edinburgh Dead.
A mash up of historical urban Gothic horror, with historical facts, fiction and fantasy all coming together to produce as one review put it Sharpe meets Dawn of the Dead. The appearance of historical characters like Burke and Hare is a great addition and are brilliantly imagined
The lead character, Adam Quire, is a tenacious, rebellious sergeant in the Edinburgh Police, a real life flawed anti hero with enough background history to fill a book with his own story.
But it is the pacing of the novel that stands out, too slow maybe for many readers, but I thought it worked well. The author gives a master class on how to build tension perfectly, showing the reader just enough to make you feel unsettled and want to carry on reading.
Very well written with rich historic detail and evocative scenes describing the dirt and despair of Edinburgh in 1828.
Contrary to the fact I am not a huge fan of the reanimated just a personal thing) I thoroughly enjoyed Edinburgh Dead.
October 20, 2011
I have to add a zombie shelf now. Awesome. ~_~
This was quite a struggle for me to get through, not only because of the subject matter (not a zombie or horror fan on the whole), but mostly because of the writing style. The endless expositions, the constant re-wording of exactly the same plot points/ideas/conversations/descriptions, speeches from characters that didn't fit with what was going on in the book *coughKnoxcough*, random and repeated bitch-slapping the reader with "ZOMG, look you guys, you can't explain everything with Teh Science!" was just too much for me. Granted, I typically don't read horror. Like, at all. So it may be that the writing style fit perfectly with the subject. In any case, it's not my cuppa and I'm glad I don't have to pick this book up again.
This was quite a struggle for me to get through, not only because of the subject matter (not a zombie or horror fan on the whole), but mostly because of the writing style. The endless expositions, the constant re-wording of exactly the same plot points/ideas/conversations/descriptions, speeches from characters that didn't fit with what was going on in the book *coughKnoxcough*, random and repeated bitch-slapping the reader with "ZOMG, look you guys, you can't explain everything with Teh Science!" was just too much for me. Granted, I typically don't read horror. Like, at all. So it may be that the writing style fit perfectly with the subject. In any case, it's not my cuppa and I'm glad I don't have to pick this book up again.
February 13, 2017
3.5
It wouldn't be fair to compare this book with Matthew Hawkwood series. There is nothing supernatural in Matthew Hawkwood series and this story is much, much slower at times. That doesn't mean it is poorly written, nor does it mean you will not enjoy it if you love reading historicals, paranormal or not.
As it is usually the case with the stories that have paranormal elements and they are set in the past, the author 'makes liberal use' of history. The infamous duo Burke and Hare and Dr. Knox appear in this book and their actions are well woven into the story. The resurrectionsts play a role in the events too.
It starts with a murder in the part of the town where that kind of thing is not uncommon. Still, the way he died is. Adam Quire, an ex soldier, now a police officer is told to leave it. The poor are not important, after all. Quire has a character 'flaw' though. He knows he will be under attack from Lieutenant Baird, one of his superiors who hates him, but he just can't leave the dead man be. His reasons are simple and honest enough and they are the reason why you would probably forgive Quire when he acts stupid later on. I know I did.
The story is slower than I had expected. At times Quire's obstacles seemed insurmountable, too realistic. But none of his enemies expected to wake up the Adam Quire he tried to hide, the one who was at Waterloo. All that because the dead deserve more respect than the anatomists, the resurrectionists and the higher-ups want to give.
It wouldn't be fair to compare this book with Matthew Hawkwood series. There is nothing supernatural in Matthew Hawkwood series and this story is much, much slower at times. That doesn't mean it is poorly written, nor does it mean you will not enjoy it if you love reading historicals, paranormal or not.
As it is usually the case with the stories that have paranormal elements and they are set in the past, the author 'makes liberal use' of history. The infamous duo Burke and Hare and Dr. Knox appear in this book and their actions are well woven into the story. The resurrectionsts play a role in the events too.
It starts with a murder in the part of the town where that kind of thing is not uncommon. Still, the way he died is. Adam Quire, an ex soldier, now a police officer is told to leave it. The poor are not important, after all. Quire has a character 'flaw' though. He knows he will be under attack from Lieutenant Baird, one of his superiors who hates him, but he just can't leave the dead man be. His reasons are simple and honest enough and they are the reason why you would probably forgive Quire when he acts stupid later on. I know I did.
"World’s full of fools. Might be I’m one of them. I had my chances to leave things be.” “And why didn’t you?” “Because there were dead men needing answers."********
“I’ve seen a lot of people killed in my time,” he said, allowing himself to sink back into a corner, resting his arm on the padded windowsill. “Most of them what you’d call inconsequential men, I suppose, slaughtering one another at the behest of those who think themselves better. I never thought them dying was a matter of no consequence. Never."You see, there are no unimportant men as far as Adam Quire is concerned. They all deserve answers and dignity in death, which is unfortunately 'like all else, unequally shared.' All this causes him the world of trouble. Not only he fights supernatural elements. He has corrupted officials, nobles and even his colleagues to consider.
The story is slower than I had expected. At times Quire's obstacles seemed insurmountable, too realistic. But none of his enemies expected to wake up the Adam Quire he tried to hide, the one who was at Waterloo. All that because the dead deserve more respect than the anatomists, the resurrectionists and the higher-ups want to give.
December 27, 2011
When writing an historical novel, even one delving into a bit of gothic horror as this does, the danger is always that of making sure you have your history spot-on. That has been a significant reason why I tend to steer away from it myself, because the moment you do get it wrong, nitpickers come flooding out of the woodwork to have a gripe. Like me.
From the interesting interview with the author located in the rear of the book, Ruckley describes his basic idea stemming from the thought that what if the infamous body snatchers who turned to murder to supplement their supply of corpses, Burke and Hare, were dealing with more than supplying medical schools? The novel only touches on Burke and Hare but does relate a particular ending to Hare which unfortunately overlooks the fact that there were supposedly confirmed sightings of him in England at a later date. That was my little historical nitpick.
From discussions with a friend of mine who knows Edinburgh very well, the descriptions of the New and Old Towns rang quite true, as did the policing of the time.
It is unfortunate that I have only not long finished reading and reviewing another historical novel also with a backdrop of body snatching, albeit in London. That protagonist and Ruckley’s protagonist have a number of similarities as does aspects of the plot. Please note that I am not suggesting plagiarism or anything of the sort, but merely that once you enter a historical setting like that with a protagonist who is a veteran of the Napoleonic wars, and there were plenty of those, the chances are that more than one writer is going to have similar ideas. But not all readers are going to have also so recently read a similar book.
The pace of the story drew me along pretty well until the closing stages which fell a little flat with me. There were also a few points within the story that puzzled me a little as to what they were intended to be doing. For example, an obviously darkly magical charm is placed in Quire’s room but we never really find out exactly who put it there or what it was intended to mean other than something dark and nasty was probably in Quire’s future.
If you like the mixture of history and gothic, then this is worth a read although it will not be making it into my final list of favourite books of the year. But then I can be a picky bugger.
From the interesting interview with the author located in the rear of the book, Ruckley describes his basic idea stemming from the thought that what if the infamous body snatchers who turned to murder to supplement their supply of corpses, Burke and Hare, were dealing with more than supplying medical schools? The novel only touches on Burke and Hare but does relate a particular ending to Hare which unfortunately overlooks the fact that there were supposedly confirmed sightings of him in England at a later date. That was my little historical nitpick.
From discussions with a friend of mine who knows Edinburgh very well, the descriptions of the New and Old Towns rang quite true, as did the policing of the time.
It is unfortunate that I have only not long finished reading and reviewing another historical novel also with a backdrop of body snatching, albeit in London. That protagonist and Ruckley’s protagonist have a number of similarities as does aspects of the plot. Please note that I am not suggesting plagiarism or anything of the sort, but merely that once you enter a historical setting like that with a protagonist who is a veteran of the Napoleonic wars, and there were plenty of those, the chances are that more than one writer is going to have similar ideas. But not all readers are going to have also so recently read a similar book.
The pace of the story drew me along pretty well until the closing stages which fell a little flat with me. There were also a few points within the story that puzzled me a little as to what they were intended to be doing. For example, an obviously darkly magical charm is placed in Quire’s room but we never really find out exactly who put it there or what it was intended to mean other than something dark and nasty was probably in Quire’s future.
If you like the mixture of history and gothic, then this is worth a read although it will not be making it into my final list of favourite books of the year. But then I can be a picky bugger.
January 12, 2012
With an aura of Edgar Allen Poe, a Dickensian style, and the creativity of Mary Shelley, Brian Ruckley pens his tale of The Edinburgh Dead with an incredible Victorian flourish. Steeped in historic atmosphere, this story takes place in the early 1800s amidst an Edinburgh Scotland still locked in the days of horse-drawn carriages, cobblestone streets, and lamplighters that nightly climb to the top of gas lit light posts so that one can see their way through the darkened alleyways and descending fog.
Ruckley introduces a new detective that readers may find a little akin to characters that Johnny Depp played in the movies From Hell and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Adam Quire is not quite refined, but no guttersnipe either. As a member of the Edinburgh Police force he is lately charged to investigate the murder of a man found dead in a doorway with his throat ripped out. Wounds show Adam that this was not a natural act or the act of man. Once this story takes off and Quire begins his hunt for the killer, readers will get sucked into an evocative and intoxicating world of both the elite and seedy sides of Scotland's Victorian era. Both a murder thriller and horror chiller combined, the author deftly concocts a mystery most gruesome and will have his readers locking doors and keeping candles burning in order to keep the beasts of the night at bay as they listen to the things that go bump in the night. This is an eerie tale told with panache and stamped with talent.
Quire's character is sharp and likeable. I am hoping that this book will be the first in a series of adventures featuring this humble and soulful detective who has a penchant for setting things aright. Going along for the ride in the background of this tale are some decent supporting role characters that I'd like to see become more involved in any future stories. The Edinburgh Dead definitely gets two thumbs up from this reviewer who highly recommends that you give it a try.
Ruckley introduces a new detective that readers may find a little akin to characters that Johnny Depp played in the movies From Hell and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Adam Quire is not quite refined, but no guttersnipe either. As a member of the Edinburgh Police force he is lately charged to investigate the murder of a man found dead in a doorway with his throat ripped out. Wounds show Adam that this was not a natural act or the act of man. Once this story takes off and Quire begins his hunt for the killer, readers will get sucked into an evocative and intoxicating world of both the elite and seedy sides of Scotland's Victorian era. Both a murder thriller and horror chiller combined, the author deftly concocts a mystery most gruesome and will have his readers locking doors and keeping candles burning in order to keep the beasts of the night at bay as they listen to the things that go bump in the night. This is an eerie tale told with panache and stamped with talent.
Quire's character is sharp and likeable. I am hoping that this book will be the first in a series of adventures featuring this humble and soulful detective who has a penchant for setting things aright. Going along for the ride in the background of this tale are some decent supporting role characters that I'd like to see become more involved in any future stories. The Edinburgh Dead definitely gets two thumbs up from this reviewer who highly recommends that you give it a try.
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September 12, 2011The Edinburgh Dead is a well-written period piece, atmospheric, with realistic and involving characters (including the town of Edinburgh) and a thoroughly engrossing story. Sergeant Adam Quire of the Edinburgh police finds himself caught in a disturbing mystery which starts with the discovery of a body in the street - a body which has been mauled in a disturbing fashion. As Quire digs deeper, he makes an enemy of the devious and powerful John Ruthven, and his cohorts. Graverobbing is only the beginning of the terrible truth behind Ruthven's obsession, an obsession which proves fatal to anyone who opposes him. As Quire stubbornly pursues the truth, he finds himself the focus of Ruthven's anger.
October 30, 2014
Got nearly 50% through, and I couldn't care less about anything going on. I'm so bored, and I was gonna try to push my way through, but I can't. I just can't...
Sad, really, because I had such high hopes for this one, especially since I'd just visited Edinburgh last month. :(
Sad, really, because I had such high hopes for this one, especially since I'd just visited Edinburgh last month. :(
January 2, 2025
Probably 3.5 rated according to me. When I picked it up it had a rating of 3.36, wich I think suites it good. Kinda like Sherlock Holmes mest frankenstein, and I'm all for it. Went on vacation to Edinburgh a month and a half ago, wich made it a bit more fun, recognising some of the locations mentioned. The description of scenery is exceptional, the one thing that brought it's rating down a notch was that sometimes I found it to not having a steady flow (In lack of better description) and by that I mean it got super intense, just to slow down again multiple times, wich made it feel a little bit repetetive at times. The ending was pretty good tho! If you're a fan of thrillers and fantasy you'll probably love this!
Bonus that Brian implemented real-life criminals/characters into the story; well done!
Bonus that Brian implemented real-life criminals/characters into the story; well done!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2018
Wow, what a find !! Not my usual genre either but I have to say it was so well written and the historical setting in my favourite Edinburgh was just fantastic. It really brought the period alive - the building of the ''new'' George IV bridge , gas lamps just being introduced in the New Town, the fact you had to take a mail coach to get out to the Pentland Hills, the new science of anatomy, the Sheeps Head in Duddingston - it was all absolutely wonderful to read and the author really had done his research.
Yes, the story drifts off into the Zombies and the Undead and a bit of Burke & Hare but it didn't put me off and I might even go as far as to say this is has been one of the best books I have read this year.
Yes, the story drifts off into the Zombies and the Undead and a bit of Burke & Hare but it didn't put me off and I might even go as far as to say this is has been one of the best books I have read this year.
January 8, 2024
Really enjoyed this. Put off reading it for like 10 years haha. I wish Ruckley had more books for me to read!
May 28, 2020
Entertaining page turner
December 4, 2021
Enjoyable horror. Ruckley's an author who creates interesting ideas and this quite historically grounded horror fantasy set against the background of real events in early 19th Century Edinburgh is an interesting read. I found the main protagonist either not especially likeable or not particularly well developed... still not sure. But that was actually part of its charm. No one walked away as a hero or particularly admirable. Yes, admirable qualities but offset by other characteristics. The plot moved along and the challenges set the main protagonist were not easily overcome which also was part of its charm. There were 'real world' consequences for his actions. Also something I liked. The fantasy/horror components were well realised and maintained their internal logic, so there wasn't a 'deus ex machina' at convenient moments. I have visited Edinburgh a couple of times as a tourist and was able to quite easily follow the geography and found the word pictures of the city as quite evocative. This was a book well worth the investment of time.
December 24, 2013
Edinburgh, 1828 is a dangerous place brimming with all kinds of violence from the dead and alive alike. For local police sergeant, Adam Quire, the fabled become a macabre reality. Body snatching is on the rise, the cemetery a shopping mall for the experimental, a quick cash grab occupation for undesirables for the purposes of the prosperous. Missing cadavers find their way into universities for medical students to craft their trade and for the lesser well intentioned to ply their dark arts.
When a man is found with his throat torn out, dead in horrific fashion, the Edinburgh police look to Quire to solve the murder. What he embarks upon soon turns personal when attempts are made on his life, his time on the force prematurely ended, and mysterious trinkets appear in his homestead. If that wasn’t enough, he faces man made monsters and dogs akin to zombies yet more like Frankenstein’s monster – without pain or remorse, driven by murder on command of their handlers. The streets of old and new town run red with blood of innocents and Quire, unrelenting in his plight, splashes in the sickly puddles to rid Edinburgh of this darkly strange menace.
THE EDINBURGH DEAD is different from the books I’ve previously read by Brian Ruckley (The Godless World trilogy) yet the fantastical and deep characterisation remain. Quire is a well developed former solider whose natural flair and sense of purpose are derived from his violent past. Just as well given the latest endeavour he so finds himself. The plot itself initially shifts from early 1800’s horror to urban fantasy encompassing a primarily linear focus with flashbacks to Quire’s past.
I enjoyed THE EDINBURGH DEAD. It’s got a uniqueness to it that embodies multiple genres as the story unfolds but is ultimately held together by the criminal elements. Published in 2011 (Orbit) I’m surprised to not have seen any more books in this setting from Ruckley, there’s certainly enough depth Quire to warrant further instalments, be it flashbacks to his policing or the event proceeding THE EDINBURGH DEAD.
This review also appears on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
When a man is found with his throat torn out, dead in horrific fashion, the Edinburgh police look to Quire to solve the murder. What he embarks upon soon turns personal when attempts are made on his life, his time on the force prematurely ended, and mysterious trinkets appear in his homestead. If that wasn’t enough, he faces man made monsters and dogs akin to zombies yet more like Frankenstein’s monster – without pain or remorse, driven by murder on command of their handlers. The streets of old and new town run red with blood of innocents and Quire, unrelenting in his plight, splashes in the sickly puddles to rid Edinburgh of this darkly strange menace.
THE EDINBURGH DEAD is different from the books I’ve previously read by Brian Ruckley (The Godless World trilogy) yet the fantastical and deep characterisation remain. Quire is a well developed former solider whose natural flair and sense of purpose are derived from his violent past. Just as well given the latest endeavour he so finds himself. The plot itself initially shifts from early 1800’s horror to urban fantasy encompassing a primarily linear focus with flashbacks to Quire’s past.
I enjoyed THE EDINBURGH DEAD. It’s got a uniqueness to it that embodies multiple genres as the story unfolds but is ultimately held together by the criminal elements. Published in 2011 (Orbit) I’m surprised to not have seen any more books in this setting from Ruckley, there’s certainly enough depth Quire to warrant further instalments, be it flashbacks to his policing or the event proceeding THE EDINBURGH DEAD.
This review also appears on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
July 21, 2011
You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/07/...
1828 Edinburgh is a fascinating place. New medical discoveries are being made every day, and art and science are held in high esteem. It’s a time of change and enlightenment, but there are also dark forces at work. Adam Quire struggles with his own darkness, as a veteran of the Napoleanic wars, and a survivor or countless battlefields. He’s seen plenty of death, but when he finds a body that looks like it’s been attacked by some sort of dog, his throat torn and ripped, Quire is pulled into an underworld of death and depravity that he never knew existed.
I enjoyed The Edinburgh Dead, although I don’t feel it was quite what it could have been. Adam Quire is certainly my kind of protagonist; a bit tortured, but strong of will and determined to see things right. I enjoyed accompanying him through the murky streets of Edinburgh as he followed the twisting trail of a group of killers involved in otherworldly evil. Quire soon finds out that some of the perpetrators of these crimes are members of elite society, and he knows that getting to the bottom of things may cost him his job. It also doesn’t help that his heart belongs to a prostitute, and he’s been known to enjoy more than a drink or two in his past. The Edinburgh Dead is atmospheric and full of dread, and when you add zombie hounds and reanimated corpses to the mix, it makes for quite a heady brew. I think maybe I would have liked to get into more detail with the villians and find out more about their motivations and the source of the evil that they’re using for their nefarious means. However, this was my only quibble, and I found the history of the Resurrectionists (body snatchers) and their methods of providing bodies for medical study fascinating. The author is a master at creating dread, and manages to ratchet up the tension with a sure hand. If you enjoy your historicals with plenty of suspense and a liberal dose of the supernatural, you’ll surely enjoy The Edinburgh Dead!
1828 Edinburgh is a fascinating place. New medical discoveries are being made every day, and art and science are held in high esteem. It’s a time of change and enlightenment, but there are also dark forces at work. Adam Quire struggles with his own darkness, as a veteran of the Napoleanic wars, and a survivor or countless battlefields. He’s seen plenty of death, but when he finds a body that looks like it’s been attacked by some sort of dog, his throat torn and ripped, Quire is pulled into an underworld of death and depravity that he never knew existed.
I enjoyed The Edinburgh Dead, although I don’t feel it was quite what it could have been. Adam Quire is certainly my kind of protagonist; a bit tortured, but strong of will and determined to see things right. I enjoyed accompanying him through the murky streets of Edinburgh as he followed the twisting trail of a group of killers involved in otherworldly evil. Quire soon finds out that some of the perpetrators of these crimes are members of elite society, and he knows that getting to the bottom of things may cost him his job. It also doesn’t help that his heart belongs to a prostitute, and he’s been known to enjoy more than a drink or two in his past. The Edinburgh Dead is atmospheric and full of dread, and when you add zombie hounds and reanimated corpses to the mix, it makes for quite a heady brew. I think maybe I would have liked to get into more detail with the villians and find out more about their motivations and the source of the evil that they’re using for their nefarious means. However, this was my only quibble, and I found the history of the Resurrectionists (body snatchers) and their methods of providing bodies for medical study fascinating. The author is a master at creating dread, and manages to ratchet up the tension with a sure hand. If you enjoy your historicals with plenty of suspense and a liberal dose of the supernatural, you’ll surely enjoy The Edinburgh Dead!
July 19, 2012
Urban fantasy meets historical accuracy in this engaging and riveting novel of early 19th century Edinburgh, Scotland-a city priding itself as a bastion of Reason and Enlightenment, a city ruled by anatomists and medical school professors; a city where resurrectionists were a class by themselves, supplying cadavers to meet the Universities’ demands for anatomy lesson examples. Remember Burke & Hare, that famous body-snatching pair? Well, not only they, but many others, ruled the “underworld” of Edinburgh, and oftentimes the Police Bureau looked away. Not so Sergeant Adam Quire, a man in whom violence became ingrained during the lengthy Napoleonic Wars, an upright man who wishes to police morally, but whose downfall stems from violence, alcohol, and a magnetic streetwalker named Catherine Heron. Black magic also abounds in this intricate novel, and amazing Supernatural yet scientific events occur, entrapping Quire as he strives to bring down the wealthy kingpin of Edinburgh’s Dark Arts.
October 8, 2011
I really bought this book because its set in Edinburgh, one of my all-time favourite cities in the world and a perfect setting for a Victorian mystery novel. And perhaps it was because I had just finished reading Anne Perry’s book, Sins of the Wolf, which was also set in Edinburgh, and had enjoyed it so much. The Edinburgh Dead is a quite different book altogether, having a large dose of supernatural terror to it, but I absolutely loved it. The tagline should probably have prepared me; it reads: ‘There is a law against murder. But there are no laws for the dead.’ However, the horror elements came as a complete surprise to me, but not unpleasantly. I love books that mix elements of different genres together, and this book does it particularly well.
February 27, 2012
One of those books that, in theory, I should have loved; murder, body-snatching, an element of the supernatural, Gothic historical setting ... but something in the writing style was just lacking for me, and the character of Quire didn't feel 'real' enough. I ended up skimming the last couple of chapters just to make sure I guessed the ending right. I did.
September 11, 2011
Very interesting book that i thoroughly enjoyed, atmospheric and gritty. Really paints a picture Scotland in the 1800s, recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery; paranormal slant was what got me reading it, not for the faint of heart there are some gruesome scenes in this one.
December 7, 2011
Adam Quire is a police sergeant in 19th century Edinburgh who gets involved in a murder case that leads him on an interesting path. I loved this. Part historical fiction, part crime novel with a bit of historical fact and supernatural elements thrown in. I do hope we get to read more of Adam Quire.
November 8, 2011
This book caught me early. A historical horror novel. I liked the characters and enjoyed the setting and history. I was not a big fan of Ruckley's Wintbirth series so I was Leary but I would read another story with these characters.
March 22, 2016
Pretty decent urban-fantasy book. Solid main character, excellent sense of story environment, great historical time period early 1800's Edinburgh. Recommend to anyone who likes urban and normal Fantasy.
November 28, 2012
this took a while to get going-but loved story centre round old Edinburgh
October 15, 2012
Enjoyable story made all the more so by working in edinburgh and in the old town. Loved the characters and the author breathes life into old edinburgh and its streets giving an excellent atmosphere.
July 8, 2023
Edinburgh, 1828
In the starkly-lit operating theatres of the city, grisly experiments are being carried out on corpses in the name of medical science. But elsewhere, there are those experimenting with more sinister forces.
Amongst the crowded, sprawling tenements of the labyrinthine Old Town, a body is found, its neck torn to pieces. Charged with investigating the murder is Adam Quire, Officer of the newly-formed Edinburgh Police. The trail will lead him into the deepest reaches of the city's criminal underclass, and to the highest echelons of the filthy rich.
Soon Quire will discover that a darkness is crawling through this city of enlightenment -- and no one is safe from its corruption.
~~~
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the backdrop of the Scottish Enlightenment behind a riveting tale of murder, mystery and the blend of magic and science. A time of discovery for those of science, but behind that veil Brian Ruckley brings to life the city that also saw "a darkness crawling through" it. Reading this book, it was interesting to go through the streets of a city I know very well. But also, it also showed me a darker side of Edinburgh's history that is hidden behind a veil of its glorified achievements and discoveries
Adam Quire is a complex man stuck in stifling circumstances. For me, Quire stands out as a character in the novel, because although his attitude and actions may seem less than noteworthy for today's crime-busting PCs, for early 19th-century Scotland he would be more than volatile and a loose cannon that turns vigilante judge, jury and executioner. The thing about this novel is that it doesn't need a hero, it needed an anti-hero and Quire takes up the mantle perfectly, showing in the novel that justice is corrupt and bought by those with influence.
In comparison, I found Ruthven to be almost comically "villainous"; an influential member of Edinburgh's high society with a not-so-secret reason for falling out with his associates. Since his introduction, Ruthven feels as if he would go either one of two ways; a Moriarty-like overseer who will go without consequences, or a red herring for a greater antagonist. And the character, Blegg is an entirely different matter. Along the lines of Frankenstein's Monster if possessed by a malevolent spirit that captivates each chapter he is in or mentioned. Perhaps, like with Frankenstein's monster, the mystery of the creature overshadows the creator. One thing that I loved about Blegg's character is the ambiguity of his origins; he neither tells nor answers who or what he is to anyone and remains a mystery that Quire is happy to leave unsolved.
Through many elements, The Edinburgh Dead very much feels like a retelling of Frankenstein with a darker, phantasmic atmosphere and the dealings overshadowed by the real-life murders and trials of Burke and Hare. The inclusion of a new version of the zombie trope also adds a new layer of intrigue to the mystery. Ruckley blends the Galvanism of Mary Shelley with a mystic flare that feels like the myths of curses from Pharaoh tombs, which is more of a look through the eyes of those living during this Era of Enlightenment but are not connected to the societies involved.
At times the novel does feel off pace with minute things extended into something that could've been done in two or three sentences. Overall, The Edinburgh Dead is an interesting read if you want to escape the modern world and travel into the past to where good and bad are greyer than the smoke billowing from the chimneys of Auld Reekie.
In the starkly-lit operating theatres of the city, grisly experiments are being carried out on corpses in the name of medical science. But elsewhere, there are those experimenting with more sinister forces.
Amongst the crowded, sprawling tenements of the labyrinthine Old Town, a body is found, its neck torn to pieces. Charged with investigating the murder is Adam Quire, Officer of the newly-formed Edinburgh Police. The trail will lead him into the deepest reaches of the city's criminal underclass, and to the highest echelons of the filthy rich.
Soon Quire will discover that a darkness is crawling through this city of enlightenment -- and no one is safe from its corruption.
~~~
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the backdrop of the Scottish Enlightenment behind a riveting tale of murder, mystery and the blend of magic and science. A time of discovery for those of science, but behind that veil Brian Ruckley brings to life the city that also saw "a darkness crawling through" it. Reading this book, it was interesting to go through the streets of a city I know very well. But also, it also showed me a darker side of Edinburgh's history that is hidden behind a veil of its glorified achievements and discoveries
Adam Quire is a complex man stuck in stifling circumstances. For me, Quire stands out as a character in the novel, because although his attitude and actions may seem less than noteworthy for today's crime-busting PCs, for early 19th-century Scotland he would be more than volatile and a loose cannon that turns vigilante judge, jury and executioner. The thing about this novel is that it doesn't need a hero, it needed an anti-hero and Quire takes up the mantle perfectly, showing in the novel that justice is corrupt and bought by those with influence.
In comparison, I found Ruthven to be almost comically "villainous"; an influential member of Edinburgh's high society with a not-so-secret reason for falling out with his associates. Since his introduction, Ruthven feels as if he would go either one of two ways; a Moriarty-like overseer who will go without consequences, or a red herring for a greater antagonist. And the character, Blegg is an entirely different matter. Along the lines of Frankenstein's Monster if possessed by a malevolent spirit that captivates each chapter he is in or mentioned. Perhaps, like with Frankenstein's monster, the mystery of the creature overshadows the creator. One thing that I loved about Blegg's character is the ambiguity of his origins; he neither tells nor answers who or what he is to anyone and remains a mystery that Quire is happy to leave unsolved.
Through many elements, The Edinburgh Dead very much feels like a retelling of Frankenstein with a darker, phantasmic atmosphere and the dealings overshadowed by the real-life murders and trials of Burke and Hare. The inclusion of a new version of the zombie trope also adds a new layer of intrigue to the mystery. Ruckley blends the Galvanism of Mary Shelley with a mystic flare that feels like the myths of curses from Pharaoh tombs, which is more of a look through the eyes of those living during this Era of Enlightenment but are not connected to the societies involved.
At times the novel does feel off pace with minute things extended into something that could've been done in two or three sentences. Overall, The Edinburgh Dead is an interesting read if you want to escape the modern world and travel into the past to where good and bad are greyer than the smoke billowing from the chimneys of Auld Reekie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2013
You can find the original review here: http://descentintoslushland.wordpress...
Isn’t it refreshing when you read a book you can’t quite classify but absolutely love? That’s how I feel about The Edinburgh Dead. This book is part murder mystery, police procedural, historical fiction, and gothic horror. Think Sherlock Holmes meets Frankenstein…in 1828 Edinburgh, Scotland.
From the publisher:
Edinburgh: 1828
In the starkly-lit operating theaters of the city, grisly experiments are being carried out on corpses in the name of medical science. But elsewhere, there are those experimenting with more sinister forces.
Amongst the crowded, sprawling tenements of the labyrinthine Old Town, a body is found, its neck torn to pieces. Charged with investigating the murder is Adam Quire, Officer of the newly- formed Edinburgh Police. The trail will lead him into the deepest reaches of the city’s criminal underclass, and to the highest echelons of the filthy rich.
Soon Quire will discover that a darkness is crawling through this city of enlightenment – and no one is safe from its corruption.
This is one of those books where the blurb doesn’t really do the story justice. I understand you can only squeeze so much into a blurb, but c’mon, this is as whittled down as it gets. Had I never read Mr. Ruckley’s previous books, I probably wouldn’t have given this one a second look. I’m pleased to say I had enough sense to purchase The Edinburgh Dead.
Mr. Ruckley has yet to disappoint me with his writing style. His prose effortlessly leaps from the page and is easy to follow, even for a guy who has never been to Edinburgh. The setting, 1828 Edinburgh, was a breath of fresh air. Brian’s descriptions puts readers there among the squalor of Old Town with the common folk scratching and clawing out an existence any way they can. Although there were times when I would have liked a little less description, overall the setting becomes a vivid and viable part of the story.
The star of our story is Sergeant Adam Quire, a veteran who fought to quell Napoleon’s rebellion. Quire is a man who excelled at being a soldier and keeps cool under pressure. He’s also a man holding demons in his head like anyone who has seen so much carnage would. Yet, on a police force where men aren’t paid enough to always go above and beyond the call of duty to solve crimes, especially when it comes to the poor denizens of Old Town, Quire has earned the city’s respect for doing just that. His dogged pursuit of justice is what eventually lands him in hot water with his superiors. I rather enjoyed my time with Sergeant Quire. He was a believable, and flawed, character that was easy to root for. Even when you knew his actions would come back to haunt him, readers are right there egging him on. He’s a common guy with morals, like most anyone else.
The gothic horror comes into play as grave robbers dig up and sell the recently dead to various institutions for medical experimentation. Some use the cadavers to learn about the human body, while others have other, nefarious, plans. In an interview in the back of the book, Mr. Ruckley says he was inspired by the story of Burke and Hare, two of the most famous grave robbers of the time. Both men play a part in this story giving it an air of real history, which I like.
If you’re a fan of gothic horror, historical murder mysteries, and tightly woven stories with three dimensional characters, this book is for you. I’m to the point where whatever Brian releases next, I’ll buy. I don’t care what the book is about. He has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I’m looking forward to reading whatever he produces next. Yes, I find his writing to be that good.
What I liked:
•The setting. Mr. Ruckley brings readers back in time when stagecoaches, oil lamps, and poverty were the norm. He paints a vivid portrait of Edinburgh, circa 1828.
•The characters. Adam Quire is a full realized and believable main character. I rather enjoyed all the characters, from the minor to the major. They all seemed like real people in the midst of their lives and I was peeking in on them.
•The horror aspect. Mr. Ruckley does a marvelous job of not giving, or showing, too much about these abominations walking around. His effective, and often subtle, use of horror techniques is superb and should be read by writers looking for an example of how to give without giving away too much, too soon. His use of sounds when crafting tension is also superb.
•The pacing. I never once was bored reading this book. Mr. Ruckley keeps the plot moving along at a nice trot and never strays from that pace making it easy to turn the page.
•The use of history. I loved learning about every day life back in 1828 as I read. I also enjoyed how he incorporated the real life story of Burke and Hare into his fiction.
•Logic versus mysticism. Mr. Ruckley covers all the medical bases with his use of cadavers as well as the mystical through his use of wards, incantations, and spell. The contrast, like the one between New Town and Old Town, adds a whole other layer to the story, and book. Characters can’t help but wonder if the Devil is involved in these murders, and that’s exactly what they would do. Even the sensible Sergeant starts to wonder if there are “other” forces at work.
What I didn’t like:
•The ending, while satisfactory, didn’t feel grand enough to me. Mr. Ruckley does such a wonderful job building up to it that when you get there you’re like, “That’s it?”
•There are times where he gives a little too much description.
Overall: I’m giving The Edinburgh Dead four and a half stars out of five. This was a solid, and easy, read. Mr. Ruckley quickly sucks readers into his world and holds them until the ride is over. I was pleased to find everything I could possibly want in this book and more. It exceeded my expectations and helped etch Brian Ruckley’s name on the list of my favorite authors. I’d highly recommend you shamble your way to the book store and pick up a copy today. Sherlock Holmes meets Frankenstein, who wouldn’t want to read that?
Isn’t it refreshing when you read a book you can’t quite classify but absolutely love? That’s how I feel about The Edinburgh Dead. This book is part murder mystery, police procedural, historical fiction, and gothic horror. Think Sherlock Holmes meets Frankenstein…in 1828 Edinburgh, Scotland.
From the publisher:
Edinburgh: 1828
In the starkly-lit operating theaters of the city, grisly experiments are being carried out on corpses in the name of medical science. But elsewhere, there are those experimenting with more sinister forces.
Amongst the crowded, sprawling tenements of the labyrinthine Old Town, a body is found, its neck torn to pieces. Charged with investigating the murder is Adam Quire, Officer of the newly- formed Edinburgh Police. The trail will lead him into the deepest reaches of the city’s criminal underclass, and to the highest echelons of the filthy rich.
Soon Quire will discover that a darkness is crawling through this city of enlightenment – and no one is safe from its corruption.
This is one of those books where the blurb doesn’t really do the story justice. I understand you can only squeeze so much into a blurb, but c’mon, this is as whittled down as it gets. Had I never read Mr. Ruckley’s previous books, I probably wouldn’t have given this one a second look. I’m pleased to say I had enough sense to purchase The Edinburgh Dead.
Mr. Ruckley has yet to disappoint me with his writing style. His prose effortlessly leaps from the page and is easy to follow, even for a guy who has never been to Edinburgh. The setting, 1828 Edinburgh, was a breath of fresh air. Brian’s descriptions puts readers there among the squalor of Old Town with the common folk scratching and clawing out an existence any way they can. Although there were times when I would have liked a little less description, overall the setting becomes a vivid and viable part of the story.
The star of our story is Sergeant Adam Quire, a veteran who fought to quell Napoleon’s rebellion. Quire is a man who excelled at being a soldier and keeps cool under pressure. He’s also a man holding demons in his head like anyone who has seen so much carnage would. Yet, on a police force where men aren’t paid enough to always go above and beyond the call of duty to solve crimes, especially when it comes to the poor denizens of Old Town, Quire has earned the city’s respect for doing just that. His dogged pursuit of justice is what eventually lands him in hot water with his superiors. I rather enjoyed my time with Sergeant Quire. He was a believable, and flawed, character that was easy to root for. Even when you knew his actions would come back to haunt him, readers are right there egging him on. He’s a common guy with morals, like most anyone else.
The gothic horror comes into play as grave robbers dig up and sell the recently dead to various institutions for medical experimentation. Some use the cadavers to learn about the human body, while others have other, nefarious, plans. In an interview in the back of the book, Mr. Ruckley says he was inspired by the story of Burke and Hare, two of the most famous grave robbers of the time. Both men play a part in this story giving it an air of real history, which I like.
If you’re a fan of gothic horror, historical murder mysteries, and tightly woven stories with three dimensional characters, this book is for you. I’m to the point where whatever Brian releases next, I’ll buy. I don’t care what the book is about. He has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I’m looking forward to reading whatever he produces next. Yes, I find his writing to be that good.
What I liked:
•The setting. Mr. Ruckley brings readers back in time when stagecoaches, oil lamps, and poverty were the norm. He paints a vivid portrait of Edinburgh, circa 1828.
•The characters. Adam Quire is a full realized and believable main character. I rather enjoyed all the characters, from the minor to the major. They all seemed like real people in the midst of their lives and I was peeking in on them.
•The horror aspect. Mr. Ruckley does a marvelous job of not giving, or showing, too much about these abominations walking around. His effective, and often subtle, use of horror techniques is superb and should be read by writers looking for an example of how to give without giving away too much, too soon. His use of sounds when crafting tension is also superb.
•The pacing. I never once was bored reading this book. Mr. Ruckley keeps the plot moving along at a nice trot and never strays from that pace making it easy to turn the page.
•The use of history. I loved learning about every day life back in 1828 as I read. I also enjoyed how he incorporated the real life story of Burke and Hare into his fiction.
•Logic versus mysticism. Mr. Ruckley covers all the medical bases with his use of cadavers as well as the mystical through his use of wards, incantations, and spell. The contrast, like the one between New Town and Old Town, adds a whole other layer to the story, and book. Characters can’t help but wonder if the Devil is involved in these murders, and that’s exactly what they would do. Even the sensible Sergeant starts to wonder if there are “other” forces at work.
What I didn’t like:
•The ending, while satisfactory, didn’t feel grand enough to me. Mr. Ruckley does such a wonderful job building up to it that when you get there you’re like, “That’s it?”
•There are times where he gives a little too much description.
Overall: I’m giving The Edinburgh Dead four and a half stars out of five. This was a solid, and easy, read. Mr. Ruckley quickly sucks readers into his world and holds them until the ride is over. I was pleased to find everything I could possibly want in this book and more. It exceeded my expectations and helped etch Brian Ruckley’s name on the list of my favorite authors. I’d highly recommend you shamble your way to the book store and pick up a copy today. Sherlock Holmes meets Frankenstein, who wouldn’t want to read that?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews