Legendary thriller writer David Morrell transports readers to the fogbound streets of London, where a killer plots to assisinate Queen Victoria.
The year is 1855. The Crimean War is raging. The incompetence of British commanders causes the fall of the English government. The Empire teeters. Amid this crisis comes opium-eater Thomas De Quincey, one of the most notorious and brilliant personalities of Victorian England. Along with his irrepressible daughter, Emily, and their Scotland Yard companions, Ryan and Becker, De Quincey finds himself confronted by an adversary who threatens the heart of the nation.
This killer targets members of the upper echelons of British society, leaving with each corpse the name of someone who previously attempted to kill Queen Victoria. The evidence indicates that the ultimate victim will be Victoria herself.
Download and start listening now!
“Featuring opium-eater Thomas De Quincey, this thriller captivates the listener as a result of Matthew Wolfe’s adept presentation of its dialogue—which could have overwhelmed a lesser narrator…Although the evidence indicates that the queen may be the killer’s target once again, the novel goes far deeper and is both entertaining and brutally dark. The book requires a performer like Wolfe, who recognizes the need to create different voices and varied deliveries and does so in a memorable yet understated way.”
— AudioFile
“Riveting…Inspector of the Dead is a masterful work.”
— Associated Press“Blends historical fact and 1855 London ambience with thriller-laced fiction in a feat of brilliant storytelling.”
— Huffington Post“Taut, atmospheric…Morrell brings the period to vivid life with solid research and fascinating Victorian details…Grade: A-."
— Cleveland Plain Dealer“Morrell weaves a true web of lies, secrets, and cunning schemes that gives readers the sense that they are actually living and breathing the air of historical England…Morrell yet again shows that his character creation is second to none, and the pace will have readers losing sleep by telling themselves, ‘Just one more chapter.’”
— Suspense magazineMurder as a Fine Art is a masterpiece--I don't use that word lightly-a fantastic historical thriller, beautifully written, intricately plotted, and populated with unforgettable characters. It brilliantly re-creates the London of gaslit streets, fogs, hansom cabs, and Scotland Yard. If you liked The Alienist, you will absolutely love this book. I was spellbound from the first page to last.
— Douglas Preston, coauthor of the #1 bestseller Cold VengeanceLondon 1854, noxious yellow fogs, reeking slums, intrigues in high places, murders most foul, but instead of Sherlock Holmes solving crimes via the fine art of deduction, we have the historical English Opium-Eater himself, Thomas De Quincey. David Morrell fans--and they are legion--can look forward to celebrating Murder as a Fine Art as one of their favorite author's strongest and boldest books in years.
— Dan Simmons, author of Drood and The TerrorMorrell's use of De Quincey's life is absolutely amazing. I literally couldn't put it down: I felt as though I were in Dickens as he described London's fog and in Wilkie Collins when we entered Emily's diary. There were beautiful touches all the way through. Murder as a Fine Art is a triumph.
— Robert Morrison, author of The English Opium Eater: A Biography of Thomas De Quincey...AND FOR DAVID MORRELL:
An absolute master of the thriller.
— Dean KoontzThe finest thriller writer living today, bar none.
— Steve BerryEverything [Morrell] writes has a you-are-there quality, and that, combined with his ability to propel characters through a scene, makes reading him like attending a private screening.
— Washington Post Book WorldBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
David Morrell is one of America’s most popular and acclaimed storytellers, with more than eighteen million copies of his books in print. His thrillers have been translated into twenty-two languages and turned into record-breaking films and top-rated television miniseries. His 1972 debut novel, First Blood, became the basis for the Rambo films. A former professor of American literature at the University of Iowa, he now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Matthew Wolf has worked extensively as a voice, theater, radio, and television actor. He has appeared in many productions on the London stage, including the title role in a sell-out production of Macbeth alongside Twilight star Robert Pattinson. He is also the official voice of Thor for Mavel Studios’ animated films Hulk Vs. Thor and Thor: Tales of Asgard. He lives in Los Angeles, where he is also producing with his production company, Cool Hand International.