The brilliant anatomist Dr. Thomas Silkstone returns in the second installment of Tessa Harris' vivid and compelling mystery series set in 1780s London.
It is not just the living who are prey to London's criminals and cutpurses. Corpses, too, are fair game—dug up from fresh graves and sold to unscrupulous men of science. Dr. Thomas Silkstone abhors such methods, but his leading rival, Dr. John Hunter, has learned of the imminent death of eight-foot-tall Charles Byrne—known as the "Irish Giant"—and will go to any lengths to obtain the body for his research.
Thomas intends to see that Byrne is allowed to rest in peace, but his efforts are complicated when his betrothed, Lady Lydia Farrell, breaks off their engagement without explanation. When Dr. Hunter is implicated in the horrific murder of a young castrato, Thomas must determine how far the increasingly erratic surgeon will go in the name of knowledge. For as Thomas knows too well, the blackest hearts sometimes go undetected—and even an unblemished fa├ºade can hide terrifying secrets.
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"Number 2 in the Dr. Thomas Silkstone series. Historical fiction based upon real people. The year is 1782. Thomas Silkstone is an American practicing medicine in London. He is also an anatomist which makes him a leading forensic specialist. This story centers around Charles Byrne, the Irish Giant. After reading the book I looked up some of the people in the story. They are not all as depicted but I guess we're way beyond the statute of limitations when the relatives could have complained about the author's artistic license. For the most part it was a good story with a couple of hokey parts to tie up the loose ends. Audio narrated by Simon Vance." — Lee (4 out of 5 stars)
"Number 2 in the Dr. Thomas Silkstone series. Historical fiction based upon real people. The year is 1782. Thomas Silkstone is an American practicing medicine in London. He is also an anatomist which makes him a leading forensic specialist. This story centers around Charles Byrne, the Irish Giant. After reading the book I looked up some of the people in the story. They are not all as depicted but I guess we're way beyond the statute of limitations when the relatives could have complained about the author's artistic license. For the most part it was a good story with a couple of hokey parts to tie up the loose ends. Audio narrated by Simon Vance."
“Outstanding…Well-rounded characters, cleverly concealed evidence, and an assured prose style point to a long run for this historical series.”
“Populated with real historical characters and admirably researched, Harris’ novel features a complex and engrossing plot…A touch of romance makes this sophomore outing (after The Anatomist’s Apprentice) even more enticing.”
“This second in the Dr. Thomas Silkstone series shows the same excellent historical setting, well-developed characters, careful plotting, and suspenseful tension as the first…The history is exact and fascinating from this period. Both Hunter and Byrne were historical personages of this time, which adds even more interest to the story. Additionally, excellent research and writing make this series a continuing fascination for historical mystery lovers.”
" Not as good as the first. But still worth a read. "
" I have really enjoyed the first two entries into this series. Wonder if there will be a 3rd? Set in England at the time of the American Revolution. "
" I struggled getting through this book because I thought the plot line was really stupid and gross. Then I found out it was based upon real people and relieve events. I guess you just can't make this stuff up. "
" I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun to read about what doctors were like in the late 1700s. Awful to see what they did to get bodies to autopsy.. "
" This installment of the series continues some of the story lines while bringing us a new mystery. I thought the mystery was kind of weak but did enjoy the "ride". I will continure to watch this author develop. "
" Started listening to the book and gave up after a while. The book till the part I have read is not connecting with me and do t really see a mystery in it. Maybe will come back to it at some point. "
" Much better than the first book. Harris manages to juggle a plot with a giant, a dwarf, 2 castrati, grave robbers, and a bunch of scheming surgeons without turning the book into a freak show. Will keep reading the series. "
" I liked this book as well as the first. "
" This had some parts that made me nauseous to read, but really like the main character and hope to see the series continue! "
" Tress Harris has brought back Dr Thomas Silkstone in a book that is filled with giants "
" Love the setting - an American doctor in England at the time of the American Revolution. "
" This is definitely the best historical fiction I've ever read. I'd even say that Harris' work was better that Julian Rathbone's and that, for me anyway, is really saying something. Right then, I'm off to Google Tessa Harris so that I can track down the rest of her work. "
" I liked the first one better, but liked that this story was rooted in a true story. "
" I found the subplot involving Lady Lidia melodramatic, her character a bit schizoid, and the whole thing completely pointless to the storyline. "
" I really wanted to like this series, but I just couldn't get into it. I thought that it was well researched for the time period, and the subject seemed interesting, but the plot fell short. Some of the plot developments just seemed ridiculous and silly. "
" Tessa does it again!! Book two of the Dr. Thomas Silkstone series is here!! And it is great! Based on a true historical happening!! Pick it up now!! kj :) "
" Does not disappoint! Anxiously waiting for more adventures of "Dr. Thomas Silkstone" "
Tessa Harris, an English author born in Lincolnshire, holds a history degree from Oxford University. After four years of working with local newspapers, she set her sights on women’s magazines. She is regularly heard on local BBC radio and over the years has interviewed such people as Margaret Thatcher, Jeffrey Archer, Anthony Hopkins, Susan Hampshire, Alan Titchmarsh, Jackie Stewart, Boris Johnson, and Uri Geller.
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.
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