What do you think?
Rate this book
Dr Dody McCleland #1
A Dissection of Murder
A compelling new series about Dr Dody McCleland, the first female autopsy surgeon. Murder treats everyone equally...
A woman. A doctor. A beastly science. At the turn of the twentieth century, London's political climate is in turmoil, as women fight for the right to vote. Dody McCleland has her own battles to fight. As England's first female autopsy surgeon, she must prove herself as she also proves that murder treats everyone equally... After a heated women's rights rally turns violent, an innocent suffragette is found murdered. When she examines the body, Dody is shocked to realise that the victim was a friend of her sister - fuelling her determination to uncover the cause of the protester's suspicious death. For Dody, gathering clues from a body is often easier than handling the living - especially Chief Detective Inspector Matthew Pike. Pike is looking to get to the bottom of this case but has a hard time trusting anyone - including Dody. Determined to earn Pike's trust and to find the killer, Dody will have to sort through real and imagined secrets. But if she's not careful, she may end up on her own examination table ...
A woman. A doctor. A beastly science. At the turn of the twentieth century, London's political climate is in turmoil, as women fight for the right to vote. Dody McCleland has her own battles to fight. As England's first female autopsy surgeon, she must prove herself as she also proves that murder treats everyone equally... After a heated women's rights rally turns violent, an innocent suffragette is found murdered. When she examines the body, Dody is shocked to realise that the victim was a friend of her sister - fuelling her determination to uncover the cause of the protester's suspicious death. For Dody, gathering clues from a body is often easier than handling the living - especially Chief Detective Inspector Matthew Pike. Pike is looking to get to the bottom of this case but has a hard time trusting anyone - including Dody. Determined to earn Pike's trust and to find the killer, Dody will have to sort through real and imagined secrets. But if she's not careful, she may end up on her own examination table ...
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Felicity Young
16 books94 followersI was born in Germany and educated at an English boarding school while my parents travelled the world with the British army. I think the long boring plane trips home played an important part in helping me to develop my creative imagination.
I settled with my parents in Western Australia in 1976, became a nurse, married young and had three children. Not surprisingly, it took ten years to complete an Arts degree (English lit) at UWA.
In 1990 my family and I moved to a small farm 40 kilometers NE of Perth (Western Australia) where I established a Suffolk sheep stud, reared orphan kangaroos and embarked upon a life of crime writing.
I settled with my parents in Western Australia in 1976, became a nurse, married young and had three children. Not surprisingly, it took ten years to complete an Arts degree (English lit) at UWA.
In 1990 my family and I moved to a small farm 40 kilometers NE of Perth (Western Australia) where I established a Suffolk sheep stud, reared orphan kangaroos and embarked upon a life of crime writing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
April 16, 2015
This is a historical mystery with the emphasis heavily on the history rather than the mystery but I enjoyed it anyway. The story takes place at the time of the Suffragist movement in England and there is one very informative and distressing description of force feeding which told me more than I really wanted to know. Nevertheless the main characters are charmingly British and the mystery such as it is, is solved with a bit of a twist in a satisfactory way. The book is nicely written and is full of examples of the attitudes of the day. Recommended for readers who like fact with their fiction!
January 29, 2016
Dr Dody McCleland returned from a year in Edinburgh where she had qualified as an autopsy surgeon. Back in London and at home with her sister Florence, she was to discover that her job as England’s first female autopsy surgeon wouldn’t be accepted by many. It was early in the twentieth century and change was coming – but many didn’t want that change. And with the suffragette movement gaining momentum, the violence at a women’s rights rally wasn’t unexpected.
The horrible death of one such woman was a shock to Dody – but the further shock as she viewed the body was that this woman was a close friend of her sister; Florence was a suffragette herself and though Dody supported the women’s views, she didn’t condone the violence and wished Florence wasn’t so passionate about her cause.
When Dody met with Chief Detective Inspector Matthew Pike in the course of the investigation into the identity of the killer, she realised that the distrust by the women toward the police was universal. But she was also finding that Pike had a quiet sympathy to their cause - one that wasn’t reciprocated by his peers. And it seemed that he didn’t trust anyone either. Dody would need to work on getting him to trust her if they were to work together.
As the investigation deepened and they moved closer to the killer, events took a turn for the worst. What would happen as the violence escalated? The danger caused a fear that was terrifyingly real…
I thoroughly enjoyed A Dissection of Murder by Aussie author Felicity Young. A great historical mystery, the plot is an intriguing one. The twists are fantastic and the resolution totally surprised me as I hadn’t seen it coming. I read a later one in the series recently and enjoyed it immensely, so am now starting at the beginning. Highly recommended.
The horrible death of one such woman was a shock to Dody – but the further shock as she viewed the body was that this woman was a close friend of her sister; Florence was a suffragette herself and though Dody supported the women’s views, she didn’t condone the violence and wished Florence wasn’t so passionate about her cause.
When Dody met with Chief Detective Inspector Matthew Pike in the course of the investigation into the identity of the killer, she realised that the distrust by the women toward the police was universal. But she was also finding that Pike had a quiet sympathy to their cause - one that wasn’t reciprocated by his peers. And it seemed that he didn’t trust anyone either. Dody would need to work on getting him to trust her if they were to work together.
As the investigation deepened and they moved closer to the killer, events took a turn for the worst. What would happen as the violence escalated? The danger caused a fear that was terrifyingly real…
I thoroughly enjoyed A Dissection of Murder by Aussie author Felicity Young. A great historical mystery, the plot is an intriguing one. The twists are fantastic and the resolution totally surprised me as I hadn’t seen it coming. I read a later one in the series recently and enjoyed it immensely, so am now starting at the beginning. Highly recommended.
July 11, 2015
More a cosy crime than a gripping murder mystery, this book is set in an interesting period of British history with interesting characters. Set around 1910, Dorothy McCleland, Dody to her friends has recently qualified as a doctor in Edinburgh. Unable to be trained as a surgeon because she is a woman, she instead trains to be an autopsy surgeon and finds a part time position in London with the Home Office. Her family, although wealthy, are accepting of this as they are also less than conventional. Her parents are Fabians who lived in Russia for many years while Dody was young and her sister Florence has joined the Bloomsbury suffragette movement. During one suffragette protest march, hired thugs and some willing policemen throw themselves in to the crowd and beat up with women. When a prominent society woman, Lady Catherine Cartwright is found dead, Dody and Florence suspect that this was no accident and she was murdered.
I enjoyed that the description of the period is based around known facts (such as the suffragette riot) and people (such as Bernard Spilsbury, the chief pathologist at the Home Office). The descriptions of autopsies around that time, as well as description of a hanging that Dody must attend was well researched as well as what it would have been like for the first female autopsy surgeons. Dody also volunteers her time at a free clinic for poor East End women so we also see the poor health problems caused by poverty and deprivation. We are also introduced to the London Police force and Inspector Matthew Pike, an ex soldier from the Boer wars, assigned to investigate the death of Lady Cartwright. An unexpected twist at the end tied up the murder mystery nicely and left me looking forward to the next book.
I enjoyed that the description of the period is based around known facts (such as the suffragette riot) and people (such as Bernard Spilsbury, the chief pathologist at the Home Office). The descriptions of autopsies around that time, as well as description of a hanging that Dody must attend was well researched as well as what it would have been like for the first female autopsy surgeons. Dody also volunteers her time at a free clinic for poor East End women so we also see the poor health problems caused by poverty and deprivation. We are also introduced to the London Police force and Inspector Matthew Pike, an ex soldier from the Boer wars, assigned to investigate the death of Lady Cartwright. An unexpected twist at the end tied up the murder mystery nicely and left me looking forward to the next book.
July 8, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating crime mystery which takes us on a nice historical look at the times while solving a crime.
Factual details about the Suffragette movement and women fighting for the right to vote and get equal rights make this a fascinating read and gives insight to the plight of women's roles in England in the 1900's.
The protagonist is Dr. Dody McCleland, England's first female autopsy surgeon who is struggling for recognition in a male dominated area, and where not only females are frowned upon, but also the modern sciences which are introducing new advances in medical technology such as blood matching and forensics.
An easy yet captivating read in the vein of Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh.
I look forward to following this author and books in this series.
A nice cosy crime 5★s
April 6, 2018
This book caught my eye right after Christmas. I was coming off of a historical mysteries binge and I was eager for another new heroine. I was so excited to read this one but I had to get through a couple of other books on my review calendar before I indulged.
Then the urge disappeared and I didn’t pick it up again for a couple of months. I was finally ready for something new and was eager to get to know Dr Dody McCleland. Not only is this book based in the Edwardian era (my favorite) but Dody is also a medical examiner and I thought that would be an interesting angle for the series.
Something about this book just didn’t live up to my expectation. It started off so strong. I was intrigued by Dody and her profession. I thought that the author did a decent job with her historical research and it added a lot of interest to the plot, but I don’t think she capitalized on it as much as she could have. Dody had grit and pluck, so did her profession, but in this book we don’t really get to see much of her profession nor did Dody carry that pluck through to the end. In the beginning she started off way more fierce than she did later in the book which I found disappointing.
I also felt that the suffragette movement took up way too much of the narrative. I am not overly interested in the suffragette movement, but I was willing to wade through some of the propaganda. However it just consumed the narrative in my opinion. I never warmed up to Florence, she was a little too extreme for me and I had a hard time relating or feeling sorry for her.
Pike was kind of bland for me. I don’t know that I ever bought into the ‘feelings’ that her and Dody supposedly had. I felt let down because their romance could have added a lot to this book but I didn’t feel like the author went all in for it. She hinted but nothing ever seemed to fully develop.
But what I think bothered me the absolute most about this book was Dody and Pike never seemed to actually be working on a case. There was never any exchange of clues really. There was some consultations but nothing close to sharing info or even discovering new info. Then all of a sudden they were solving the case….on a chance discovery. I prefer my mysteries to be more about solving the crime rather than happenstance.
So why did I keep reading you ask? I kept hoping that things would fall into place more and then by the time I realized that they weren’t, I was so far in that I felt like I was at least committed to reading the rest of the book. Was it a had book? No. It had a promising premise but was poorly executed. Others might feel differently. Would I continue the series? Probably not. I wanted to love this one so much. It had all the elements that I was expecting to love but sadly I just didn’t love it. It was ok but not good enough to make me want to keep reading the series. I just didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters. Sadly it just wasn’t for me.
see my full review here
Then the urge disappeared and I didn’t pick it up again for a couple of months. I was finally ready for something new and was eager to get to know Dr Dody McCleland. Not only is this book based in the Edwardian era (my favorite) but Dody is also a medical examiner and I thought that would be an interesting angle for the series.
Something about this book just didn’t live up to my expectation. It started off so strong. I was intrigued by Dody and her profession. I thought that the author did a decent job with her historical research and it added a lot of interest to the plot, but I don’t think she capitalized on it as much as she could have. Dody had grit and pluck, so did her profession, but in this book we don’t really get to see much of her profession nor did Dody carry that pluck through to the end. In the beginning she started off way more fierce than she did later in the book which I found disappointing.
I also felt that the suffragette movement took up way too much of the narrative. I am not overly interested in the suffragette movement, but I was willing to wade through some of the propaganda. However it just consumed the narrative in my opinion. I never warmed up to Florence, she was a little too extreme for me and I had a hard time relating or feeling sorry for her.
Pike was kind of bland for me. I don’t know that I ever bought into the ‘feelings’ that her and Dody supposedly had. I felt let down because their romance could have added a lot to this book but I didn’t feel like the author went all in for it. She hinted but nothing ever seemed to fully develop.
But what I think bothered me the absolute most about this book was Dody and Pike never seemed to actually be working on a case. There was never any exchange of clues really. There was some consultations but nothing close to sharing info or even discovering new info. Then all of a sudden they were solving the case….on a chance discovery. I prefer my mysteries to be more about solving the crime rather than happenstance.
So why did I keep reading you ask? I kept hoping that things would fall into place more and then by the time I realized that they weren’t, I was so far in that I felt like I was at least committed to reading the rest of the book. Was it a had book? No. It had a promising premise but was poorly executed. Others might feel differently. Would I continue the series? Probably not. I wanted to love this one so much. It had all the elements that I was expecting to love but sadly I just didn’t love it. It was ok but not good enough to make me want to keep reading the series. I just didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters. Sadly it just wasn’t for me.
see my full review here
July 8, 2016
The word "Meh" comes to mind to sum up my thoughts on this book. It was ok. Not horrible. Not amazing. Not atrocious. Not even terrific. Just a shoulder shrug and a "meh" kind of book. Which did bum me out because the premise for the female lead character as one of the first forensic medical examiners was a good one that interested me. Yet, I found the story to be rushed, characters would start to develop and then stutter along for awhile, and overall, I think with everything happening in the story it became roughly developed rather than smoothly honed into novel. It was an easy summer read.
March 1, 2012
Against the backdrop of the suffragette movement in turn of the century Britain, Felicity Young introduces Dr Dody McCleland, the first female autopsy surgeon. Fresh from training with the preeminent surgeon of the time, she is eager to start her job at St Thomas Hospital but finds she must recuse herself from her very first case for the corpse is an acquaintance, a suffragette, who has died in a vicious riot sparked during a peaceful demonstration calling for women's right to vote. Despite being only nominally concerned with the strident calls of the suffragettes, Dody allows herself to be convinced by her sister, Florence - an avid supporter of the cause- to investigate the autopsy findings. It becomes obvious that Lady Catherine Cartwright was savagely murdered and a member of the police force is suspected to be to blame.
As the first book in a new series, Young takes time to establish the historical and social backdrop of the book, having chosen quite a unique era in which to set A Dissection of Murder. The turn of the century was a period of budding social change, as evidenced by the suffragette movement, as well as being a period of emerging medical competency and forensic science and I love that Young has chosen to combine the two. Though I am not generally keen on historical fiction, yet a fan of the crime genre, particularly forensic and medical mysteries, I am surprised at how intriguing I found both aspects of the novel. The mystery behind the cause of Lady Cartwrights death is well plotted though it does drift a little as a central plot as Young is distracted by grounding the series, but that is to be expected in the first book of a series.
Dody McCleland proved to be a surprise, I was expecting her to be a stalwart feminist, intimately involved in the cause, having fought to become an autopsy surgeon against social convention. However it is Dody's younger sister, Florence, who is militant, and Dody vaguely supportive in principal, but uninterested in becoming actively involved. Daughters of wealthy, 'bohemian' parents the McCleland sisters are strong-willed women but with different approaches to life. Even though Dody has taken an unconventional path she wants only to use her interests and skills to do the job that fascinates her. While she is concerned about injustice, it is her intellectual curiosity that drives her rather than the passion in this case.
Chief Detective Inspector Matthew Pike of New Scotland Yard is in charge of the investigation into the cause of the riot and Lady Cartwright's death. A principled man he refuses to allow his superiors to sweep the matter under the carpet, despite not being particularly sympathetic to the suffragette movement.
The interaction between Pike and Dody is enjoyable and though there is a frisson of romantic interest, that the relationship is complicated by the social expectations, opinions and conflicts of the time, adds an additional layer of interest.
While I hope that the next book concentrates a little more on Dody's role in forensic autopsy, as she did not have the opportunity to do so in A Dissection of Murder, I am very impressed by this debut series. The concept is unique, the scope for development is wide and the characters are appealing. Felicity Young has earned herself a fan and I can't wait for the next installment.
Great news for US and UK readers as well, A Dissection of Murder is also being distributed overseas (in the US as The Anatomy of Murder)
As the first book in a new series, Young takes time to establish the historical and social backdrop of the book, having chosen quite a unique era in which to set A Dissection of Murder. The turn of the century was a period of budding social change, as evidenced by the suffragette movement, as well as being a period of emerging medical competency and forensic science and I love that Young has chosen to combine the two. Though I am not generally keen on historical fiction, yet a fan of the crime genre, particularly forensic and medical mysteries, I am surprised at how intriguing I found both aspects of the novel. The mystery behind the cause of Lady Cartwrights death is well plotted though it does drift a little as a central plot as Young is distracted by grounding the series, but that is to be expected in the first book of a series.
Dody McCleland proved to be a surprise, I was expecting her to be a stalwart feminist, intimately involved in the cause, having fought to become an autopsy surgeon against social convention. However it is Dody's younger sister, Florence, who is militant, and Dody vaguely supportive in principal, but uninterested in becoming actively involved. Daughters of wealthy, 'bohemian' parents the McCleland sisters are strong-willed women but with different approaches to life. Even though Dody has taken an unconventional path she wants only to use her interests and skills to do the job that fascinates her. While she is concerned about injustice, it is her intellectual curiosity that drives her rather than the passion in this case.
Chief Detective Inspector Matthew Pike of New Scotland Yard is in charge of the investigation into the cause of the riot and Lady Cartwright's death. A principled man he refuses to allow his superiors to sweep the matter under the carpet, despite not being particularly sympathetic to the suffragette movement.
The interaction between Pike and Dody is enjoyable and though there is a frisson of romantic interest, that the relationship is complicated by the social expectations, opinions and conflicts of the time, adds an additional layer of interest.
While I hope that the next book concentrates a little more on Dody's role in forensic autopsy, as she did not have the opportunity to do so in A Dissection of Murder, I am very impressed by this debut series. The concept is unique, the scope for development is wide and the characters are appealing. Felicity Young has earned herself a fan and I can't wait for the next installment.
Great news for US and UK readers as well, A Dissection of Murder is also being distributed overseas (in the US as The Anatomy of Murder)
September 17, 2013
LOVED this book. I have nothing bad to say about it. It has everything a strong woman could possibly desire in a fiction book.
Suffragettes. Dody's sister Florence is a suffragette becoming further embroiled in the militant movement. There's riots, force feedings, passion for the cause, foiled attempts to make a statement...
A rule-breaking heroine. It's pre 1910 and we have a lady medical examiner. She even works at a women's clinic free just to get experience because back then hardly a soul would hire a woman doctor. She's tough and compassionate at the same time.
Mystery. What was supposed to be a peaceful Votes for Women parade goes awry when police begin beating up the ladies. But when one society woman ends up dead, it appears there's a cover up and Dody is placed in the middle of it in more ways than one. Her sister could be involved somehow and while Florence accuses her of taking the police's side, the police are distrustful of her.
Mild romance. With Police Inspector Pike. It doesn't leap off the page. It's barely worth mentioning, rather giving us hints of things to come and I was totally fine with this. I love that we have a novel here that doesn't make it seem as though us women do nothing but sit around and pine for men and wish for love.
I found this very well written, decently paced, and while I was almost able to tell whodunit, I wasn't certain or 100%. I only had a vague idea and I like that. I'll be reading the rest of the series. I foresee lots of tension coming between Pike and Dody, Dody and her mentor/another doctor, and Dody with the police force, period. I also think that thanks to Florence, we'll be seeing a lot of women's rights issues in this series. This combination makes a winner for me.
Come read my favorite part on my blog: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
Suffragettes. Dody's sister Florence is a suffragette becoming further embroiled in the militant movement. There's riots, force feedings, passion for the cause, foiled attempts to make a statement...
A rule-breaking heroine. It's pre 1910 and we have a lady medical examiner. She even works at a women's clinic free just to get experience because back then hardly a soul would hire a woman doctor. She's tough and compassionate at the same time.
Mystery. What was supposed to be a peaceful Votes for Women parade goes awry when police begin beating up the ladies. But when one society woman ends up dead, it appears there's a cover up and Dody is placed in the middle of it in more ways than one. Her sister could be involved somehow and while Florence accuses her of taking the police's side, the police are distrustful of her.
Mild romance. With Police Inspector Pike. It doesn't leap off the page. It's barely worth mentioning, rather giving us hints of things to come and I was totally fine with this. I love that we have a novel here that doesn't make it seem as though us women do nothing but sit around and pine for men and wish for love.
I found this very well written, decently paced, and while I was almost able to tell whodunit, I wasn't certain or 100%. I only had a vague idea and I like that. I'll be reading the rest of the series. I foresee lots of tension coming between Pike and Dody, Dody and her mentor/another doctor, and Dody with the police force, period. I also think that thanks to Florence, we'll be seeing a lot of women's rights issues in this series. This combination makes a winner for me.
Come read my favorite part on my blog: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...
September 4, 2015
The Anatomy of Death
4 Stars
One of the first female pathologists, Dr. Dorothy “Dody” McCleland is called in to autopsy the body of a suffragette killed during a riot. Upon learning that the victim is a friend of her rebellious sister, Dody is determined to uncover the truth about her death even if it means trusting Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Pike, the man assigned by the police to investigate or perhaps cover up the crime …
An entertaining mix of historical fiction, mystery and romance.
The social and historical background on the suffragette movement is well-researched and expertly detailed. Unfortunately, the characters, both real and fictitious, are not as fully fleshed out and come across as one dimensional whether they be feminist extremists, militant Irish, or corrupt police officials.
The burgeoning relationship between Dody and Pike has definite potential despite its rocky start, and it is refreshing when the couple in question is older, wiser and more practical in their realistic perceptions of the world and each other.
The mystery is good although it does take a back seat to the characterization and portrayal of the political issues of the time. The investigation moves along at a strong pace and the climax and resolution are exciting albeit a little predictable.
All in all, a satisfying read and I look forward to reading more about Dody and Pike.
4 Stars
One of the first female pathologists, Dr. Dorothy “Dody” McCleland is called in to autopsy the body of a suffragette killed during a riot. Upon learning that the victim is a friend of her rebellious sister, Dody is determined to uncover the truth about her death even if it means trusting Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Pike, the man assigned by the police to investigate or perhaps cover up the crime …
An entertaining mix of historical fiction, mystery and romance.
The social and historical background on the suffragette movement is well-researched and expertly detailed. Unfortunately, the characters, both real and fictitious, are not as fully fleshed out and come across as one dimensional whether they be feminist extremists, militant Irish, or corrupt police officials.
The burgeoning relationship between Dody and Pike has definite potential despite its rocky start, and it is refreshing when the couple in question is older, wiser and more practical in their realistic perceptions of the world and each other.
The mystery is good although it does take a back seat to the characterization and portrayal of the political issues of the time. The investigation moves along at a strong pace and the climax and resolution are exciting albeit a little predictable.
All in all, a satisfying read and I look forward to reading more about Dody and Pike.
February 11, 2017
I enjoyed this first in the Dr Dody McLeland series set in London in 1910, around the time of the Suffragette movement. It starts with a peaceful march on Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament to protest for votes for women with protesters brutally disbanded by police. It was interesting to read more of the fight for women’s suffrage.
During the fight between police and protesters, people are killed, and Dr Dody McLeland is called on to autopsy the bodies. It was also interesting to read more about forensics at that time - and to see Dody leaning towards belief in the ability to assess a person’s nature from the size and shape of their head and other anthropometric measurements, which we now know is not valid science.
It was a light and easy read and I was reading it while I was walking on the treadmill, so I'm sure I missed some details in the story, but it didn't matter. It kept me entertained during an otherwise ho-hum activity!
Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
During the fight between police and protesters, people are killed, and Dr Dody McLeland is called on to autopsy the bodies. It was also interesting to read more about forensics at that time - and to see Dody leaning towards belief in the ability to assess a person’s nature from the size and shape of their head and other anthropometric measurements, which we now know is not valid science.
It was a light and easy read and I was reading it while I was walking on the treadmill, so I'm sure I missed some details in the story, but it didn't matter. It kept me entertained during an otherwise ho-hum activity!
Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
March 24, 2018
It's the early 1900s and the Suffragette movement is making serious waves in England. At a protest march, things turn ugly and 3 women are killed, including Lady Catherine Cartwright. It is at this time that Dr Dorothy 'Dody' McCleland has returned to London as a newly-qualified autopsy surgeon; the first female in the field.
Dody happens to be called on by the Home Office, as the very first engagement of her brand new employment contract, to conduct the autopsies on the 3 victims, but when she realises she knows Lady Catherine (a close friend of her sister Florence), she has to decline to perform the autopsy. But the police are looking for a swift resolution - and absolution - so a third rate doctor is called in to take her place, delivering questionable findings. For her sister's sake, Dody agrees to follow up the results of the autopsy, and what she reads casts serious doubt in her mind. She shares her reservations with DCI Pike, and so begins what I expect will become one of those classic partnerships of science and law enforcement.
What I really liked about this book was the two main characters, Dody and DCI Pike, and also the fact that the story was built around actual historical events. Some of the detail of the women's meetings dragged a bit, but overall the pace wasn't too bad. And it was pretty short!
This is #1 in a series, and I'll happily continue on to read #2 in due course.
Dody happens to be called on by the Home Office, as the very first engagement of her brand new employment contract, to conduct the autopsies on the 3 victims, but when she realises she knows Lady Catherine (a close friend of her sister Florence), she has to decline to perform the autopsy. But the police are looking for a swift resolution - and absolution - so a third rate doctor is called in to take her place, delivering questionable findings. For her sister's sake, Dody agrees to follow up the results of the autopsy, and what she reads casts serious doubt in her mind. She shares her reservations with DCI Pike, and so begins what I expect will become one of those classic partnerships of science and law enforcement.
What I really liked about this book was the two main characters, Dody and DCI Pike, and also the fact that the story was built around actual historical events. Some of the detail of the women's meetings dragged a bit, but overall the pace wasn't too bad. And it was pretty short!
This is #1 in a series, and I'll happily continue on to read #2 in due course.
February 6, 2018
Not a bad outing for a series first.
Dr Dorothy (Dody) McCleland is one of the first female pathologists in London, and an assistant to the great Bernard Spilsbury.
The case revolves are the suffragette movement, making this a timely read, as 2018 is the 100th anniversay of women getting the vote in the UK.
There is a march that is attacked by the police and women are assaulted and several turn up dead. Dody along with Inspector Matthew Pike must find the killer.
A workmanlike book, but not outstanding. I'll read the others if I come across them, but I won't actively seek them out.
Dr Dorothy (Dody) McCleland is one of the first female pathologists in London, and an assistant to the great Bernard Spilsbury.
The case revolves are the suffragette movement, making this a timely read, as 2018 is the 100th anniversay of women getting the vote in the UK.
There is a march that is attacked by the police and women are assaulted and several turn up dead. Dody along with Inspector Matthew Pike must find the killer.
A workmanlike book, but not outstanding. I'll read the others if I come across them, but I won't actively seek them out.
June 17, 2015
I can't tell you how long I've been waiting to read this book! At least a couple of years. It's one of those that publisher priced ridiculously high in e-format, and it took them that long to put it on offer which reduced it from £9 to under £4.
Anyway, I knew when I read the synopsis that I'd like it, and in this regard Felicity Young did not disappoint. It's a mild murder mystery, and you don't have to strain your brain too hard to understand who is the villain, but it's a curious take on the radical suffragettes in the beginning of 20th century, and here they are not painted in an inspiring light like it was in A Mad, Wicked Folly. Instead the women are portrayed as reckless fanatics.
Dr. McCleland herself is a fantastic character. She is a first female forensic pathologist in London, simply because as a woman she was not allowed into her chosen field of surgery, and she had found a different way to practise her skills and put her education to use. She supports mild suffragettes and simply believe that women should strive to change the world by example, not by loud and violent rallies. Unfortunately her younger, hotheaded sister doesn't agree, and keeps getting into trouble.
While working on a case involving murders of three suffragettes both Dody McCleland and inspector Pike find evidence indicating that there were high ranking officials involved and it all gets messy really quickly. Dr. McCleland also can't stop worrying about her younger sis.
Pike is an interesting character as well. Stoic, acerbic, observant and non-judgemental, he is a mild mannered guy with a tragic past and a grievous injury. Overall, it's an understated, quiet book, but I enjoyed the atmosphere very much and looking forward to reading the rest of this series. Recommended!
Anyway, I knew when I read the synopsis that I'd like it, and in this regard Felicity Young did not disappoint. It's a mild murder mystery, and you don't have to strain your brain too hard to understand who is the villain, but it's a curious take on the radical suffragettes in the beginning of 20th century, and here they are not painted in an inspiring light like it was in A Mad, Wicked Folly. Instead the women are portrayed as reckless fanatics.
Dr. McCleland herself is a fantastic character. She is a first female forensic pathologist in London, simply because as a woman she was not allowed into her chosen field of surgery, and she had found a different way to practise her skills and put her education to use. She supports mild suffragettes and simply believe that women should strive to change the world by example, not by loud and violent rallies. Unfortunately her younger, hotheaded sister doesn't agree, and keeps getting into trouble.
While working on a case involving murders of three suffragettes both Dody McCleland and inspector Pike find evidence indicating that there were high ranking officials involved and it all gets messy really quickly. Dr. McCleland also can't stop worrying about her younger sis.
Pike is an interesting character as well. Stoic, acerbic, observant and non-judgemental, he is a mild mannered guy with a tragic past and a grievous injury. Overall, it's an understated, quiet book, but I enjoyed the atmosphere very much and looking forward to reading the rest of this series. Recommended!
January 30, 2013
After checking this title out three(!) times at the library, I finally got around to reading it, having continually been put off by the artwork on the front cover and the synopsis on the back cover. Both hinted at a more romantic bent to the novel, rather than a forsenic storyline. I was right and wrong at the same time.
Dr. Dorothy McCleland arrives back in London as a specialist in the "beastly science" - autopsy, the only speciality open to women doctors in 1910. She is quickly called to her first autopsy of women killed in a riot at a suffragette march, where she discovers that one of the dead women is a high ranking friend of her sister. Lady Catherine Cartwright was a close friend of Dorothy's sister Florence, who is actively involved in the women's rights movement. After excusing herself from the autopsy, she follows up with the detective on the case, Chief Inspector Matthew Pike, who is charged with discovering how Lady Catherine died. When the autopsy report contains findings that both Dorothy and Pike find troubling, they both separately go about trying to find the truth.
The novel is well paced and contains interesting information about both the women's rights movement and of criminal justice during the time period. Both main characters Dorothy and Pike are developed nicely, with definitive views that put them on opposite sides, but with the abiblity to see the other's viewpoints. An enjoyable debut.
Dr. Dorothy McCleland arrives back in London as a specialist in the "beastly science" - autopsy, the only speciality open to women doctors in 1910. She is quickly called to her first autopsy of women killed in a riot at a suffragette march, where she discovers that one of the dead women is a high ranking friend of her sister. Lady Catherine Cartwright was a close friend of Dorothy's sister Florence, who is actively involved in the women's rights movement. After excusing herself from the autopsy, she follows up with the detective on the case, Chief Inspector Matthew Pike, who is charged with discovering how Lady Catherine died. When the autopsy report contains findings that both Dorothy and Pike find troubling, they both separately go about trying to find the truth.
The novel is well paced and contains interesting information about both the women's rights movement and of criminal justice during the time period. Both main characters Dorothy and Pike are developed nicely, with definitive views that put them on opposite sides, but with the abiblity to see the other's viewpoints. An enjoyable debut.
November 26, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this book much to my surprise. The cover is not the best I've ever seen to be sure! But this author has definitely convinced me I need to pick up more mysteries, particularly if they contain such plucky women. The suffragette era fascinates me and this book made it vivid and alive, exploring the view points of the time in a way that was neither boring nor judgemental. I love the main character Dody (what an odd name) who is sensible, intelligent and courageous. If you like mysteries and Victorian era fiction I highly recommend this book to you.
May 21, 2024
The novel opens with a scene from a real historic event of a riot in November 1910 where a peaceful march by suffragists turned violent causing the deaths of 3 women. And this is the incident our protagonist, Dr Dody McCleland, a up and rising forensic pathologist, is called to consult. The crime itself is fictional and so are most characters in this book.
I'm not one for extremes myself and Dody isn't either so I found her quite easily likeable though I guess it is easy for me to speak so, far in the future. It is, however, very interesting to have different perspectives on how to tackle the issue of women having votes. I found that it formed a big part of this book in addition to the crime solving and I didn't mind as it was presented quite vigorously.
And I'll just also add a sidenote, that I'm keen to see how the romance in this one will develop...
I'm not one for extremes myself and Dody isn't either so I found her quite easily likeable though I guess it is easy for me to speak so, far in the future. It is, however, very interesting to have different perspectives on how to tackle the issue of women having votes. I found that it formed a big part of this book in addition to the crime solving and I didn't mind as it was presented quite vigorously.
And I'll just also add a sidenote, that I'm keen to see how the romance in this one will develop...
March 29, 2019
While there is a murder which is investigated and excitingly solved in this novel, it's not the sole focus of the narrative. There is a lot about the suffragette movement, the treatment of the suffragette's in prison, early forensic science, and so on - wonderfully engaging. Dr Dody is wonderful, I definitely want to read the next book in the series.
June 14, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating novel. It combined facts from an interesting period (set in London at the time of the suffragette movement) with a crime mystery. It was very easy to read and kept me captivated until the end. A "cosy" along the lines of the authors from the Golden Age, in the vein of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and Ngaio Marsh.
June 16, 2013
What is better than a work of historical fiction in which the history is well-researched and powerfully presented? .... Nothing, I tell you! Young's first mystery novel about Dr. Dorothy McCleland and Chief Inspector Matthew Pike is a gem.
Dody is not an entirely original leading lady as far as personality and moral fiber goes, but Young has managed to present her as a heroine we can both enjoy hearing from and admire. Her quick mind and capable demeanor give us the strength we like to see from female sleuths in historical mysteries during time periods of male supremacy. She offers a surprise, though, in that while she stands for women's rights, she is not subject to the fervor of her fellow suffragettes (her sister for example). While the story revolves around an incident involving women's suffrage, it is not driven by any sort of personal vendetta on Dody's part. Her concern is establishing herself as a doctor and keeping her more demonstratively-minded sister out of prison. It is only because of an accident of circumstance that she becomes involved in the case of a suspiciously dead suffragette at all. Dody's an interesting woman in a time when history generally cataloged women as either radical protestors or "properly-minded" housewives. Her intelligence and levelheadedness makes her an ideal partner for the emotionally scarred, traditionalist Chief Inspector Pike. Each works to open the others eyes on issues important to them and they eventually develop a rapport which serves to allow them to put their heads together and work out the tangle of clues.
The history behind this story is a volatile topic and leads to some tense moments. I would warn those considering picking this book up for reading that there are a few scenes which may be considered disturbing. Due to Dody's career as a doctor of forensic science it shouldn't be much of a surprise that she performs autopsies, however, some of the description might be considered mildly to moderately graphic by some. In addition, there is a scene in which forced feeding is described - a political response to incarcerated suffragettes who went on hunger strike. Nothing in this book really crosses any lines as far as I'm concerned, but it is not for the faint-hearted. The inclusion of these activities and historical details add both accuracy and power.
Although it has the occasional editorial mishap as far as word order or grammar goes, the writing is fluid - eloquent when needed and at all times coherent. Young has successfully drawn me into Dody and Pike's story and I look forward to continuing the series. Bravo!
Dody is not an entirely original leading lady as far as personality and moral fiber goes, but Young has managed to present her as a heroine we can both enjoy hearing from and admire. Her quick mind and capable demeanor give us the strength we like to see from female sleuths in historical mysteries during time periods of male supremacy. She offers a surprise, though, in that while she stands for women's rights, she is not subject to the fervor of her fellow suffragettes (her sister for example). While the story revolves around an incident involving women's suffrage, it is not driven by any sort of personal vendetta on Dody's part. Her concern is establishing herself as a doctor and keeping her more demonstratively-minded sister out of prison. It is only because of an accident of circumstance that she becomes involved in the case of a suspiciously dead suffragette at all. Dody's an interesting woman in a time when history generally cataloged women as either radical protestors or "properly-minded" housewives. Her intelligence and levelheadedness makes her an ideal partner for the emotionally scarred, traditionalist Chief Inspector Pike. Each works to open the others eyes on issues important to them and they eventually develop a rapport which serves to allow them to put their heads together and work out the tangle of clues.
The history behind this story is a volatile topic and leads to some tense moments. I would warn those considering picking this book up for reading that there are a few scenes which may be considered disturbing. Due to Dody's career as a doctor of forensic science it shouldn't be much of a surprise that she performs autopsies, however, some of the description might be considered mildly to moderately graphic by some. In addition, there is a scene in which forced feeding is described - a political response to incarcerated suffragettes who went on hunger strike. Nothing in this book really crosses any lines as far as I'm concerned, but it is not for the faint-hearted. The inclusion of these activities and historical details add both accuracy and power.
Although it has the occasional editorial mishap as far as word order or grammar goes, the writing is fluid - eloquent when needed and at all times coherent. Young has successfully drawn me into Dody and Pike's story and I look forward to continuing the series. Bravo!
August 13, 2012
The Anatomy of Death is the first in a new series by Felicity Young. It features Dorothy (Dody) McCleland, a young woman who has gone into the medical field at the turn of the twentieth century. Denied the chance to become a surgeon for the living (because of her sex), she trains as an autopsy surgeon and becomes England's first female doctor of this type. She has just returned to London from her studies in Scotland--all set to take up her post as an assistant to Bernard Spilsbury--Scotland Yard's autopsy surgeon--and is greeted at the train station with a note calling her to her very first case. The Superintendent of Police is none too pleased to find that his new "man" is a female surgeon, but Spilsbury is out of town and unavailable, so he lays the facts before her.
What started as a peaceful protest in support of voting rights for women turned very ugly indeed when roughs and toughs from the dock area were incited to assault the marchers. Three women are struck down in the violent attack--including one of the prominent suffragettes. Dody must excuse herself from the autopsy because the woman, Lady Catherine Cartwright, was a friend of her sister. However, when it is rumored that the death was actually from police brutality and it seems that the incident is going to be swept under the carpet, Dody begins working on her own to determine whether the rumors are true. She earns the trust of Chief Inspector Pike--who has his own reasons for looking into the events of that day--and the two of them gather clues to determine whether a police officer let his emotions get the better of him or if the killer is closer to home.
This is an interesting start to a very promising historical series. The time period is an intriguing one--right at the turn of the century and watching the fight for women's rights. There are so many things that women today take for granted now that were just being thought of and fought for. Dody is a pretty strong character--although it is evident that there is much room for growth. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and look forward to future installments. I found her and the other central characters believable and interesting. The mystery itself had a nice twist and it was pretty fairly clued. A solid opening and worth three stars.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting.
What started as a peaceful protest in support of voting rights for women turned very ugly indeed when roughs and toughs from the dock area were incited to assault the marchers. Three women are struck down in the violent attack--including one of the prominent suffragettes. Dody must excuse herself from the autopsy because the woman, Lady Catherine Cartwright, was a friend of her sister. However, when it is rumored that the death was actually from police brutality and it seems that the incident is going to be swept under the carpet, Dody begins working on her own to determine whether the rumors are true. She earns the trust of Chief Inspector Pike--who has his own reasons for looking into the events of that day--and the two of them gather clues to determine whether a police officer let his emotions get the better of him or if the killer is closer to home.
This is an interesting start to a very promising historical series. The time period is an intriguing one--right at the turn of the century and watching the fight for women's rights. There are so many things that women today take for granted now that were just being thought of and fought for. Dody is a pretty strong character--although it is evident that there is much room for growth. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and look forward to future installments. I found her and the other central characters believable and interesting. The mystery itself had a nice twist and it was pretty fairly clued. A solid opening and worth three stars.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting.
September 1, 2013
I enjoyed this. Early twentieth century London, social issues of the time, strong female characters and a murder to solve. What's not to like?
When Dr. Dody McCleland returns home to London from her medical training in Edinburgh - as one of the first women to be trained as an autopsy surgeon - she learns her sister Florence's dedication to the cause of female sufferage has increased in a major way. The group has become militant and is beginning to consider violence along with demonstrations and demands for equal rights.
When a protest of the suffragettes turns violent, three women are killed, possibly by members of the police force, Dody is asked to examine the body of one of the dead, who's death may have been foul play rather than misadventure as the other two have been ruled.
But when Dody arrives, she realizes the dead woman is not only a suffragette and member of society, but also a close friend of her sister's. Although Dody cannot perform the post-mortem due to conflict of interest, she quickly finds a kindred spirit in the police detective who is investigating the death - Inspector Pike. Pike and Dody find themselves bumping into one another time and again as they investigate in their differing ways.
This was a well-written, and gritty portrait of the time-period when English women were beginning to agitate for equal rights. The fight was brutal, with women arrested, going on hunger-strikes and being force-fed to allow the authorities to avoid having to explain dead bodies of women in their prisons. While the book is fiction, much of what is depicted actually happened, and the way it is dealt with - in the context of the fictional story - was truthful without being excessive.
The main character of Dody is a wonderfully strong and determined character and I found the actions she takes in the story to be believeable and entertaining. You really root for Dody, not only to find the truth about the death, but to continue to expand her career, to help her sister [who starts out as a strong intelligent, if headstrong, character, but at the end makes some very foolish choices] and to possibly turn friendship into more.
I enjoyed this book very much, and recommend it to people who like early 20th Century London as a setting/time-period, strong female characters, or social-issue historical fiction. Also a very fast and easy read.
When Dr. Dody McCleland returns home to London from her medical training in Edinburgh - as one of the first women to be trained as an autopsy surgeon - she learns her sister Florence's dedication to the cause of female sufferage has increased in a major way. The group has become militant and is beginning to consider violence along with demonstrations and demands for equal rights.
When a protest of the suffragettes turns violent, three women are killed, possibly by members of the police force, Dody is asked to examine the body of one of the dead, who's death may have been foul play rather than misadventure as the other two have been ruled.
But when Dody arrives, she realizes the dead woman is not only a suffragette and member of society, but also a close friend of her sister's. Although Dody cannot perform the post-mortem due to conflict of interest, she quickly finds a kindred spirit in the police detective who is investigating the death - Inspector Pike. Pike and Dody find themselves bumping into one another time and again as they investigate in their differing ways.
This was a well-written, and gritty portrait of the time-period when English women were beginning to agitate for equal rights. The fight was brutal, with women arrested, going on hunger-strikes and being force-fed to allow the authorities to avoid having to explain dead bodies of women in their prisons. While the book is fiction, much of what is depicted actually happened, and the way it is dealt with - in the context of the fictional story - was truthful without being excessive.
The main character of Dody is a wonderfully strong and determined character and I found the actions she takes in the story to be believeable and entertaining. You really root for Dody, not only to find the truth about the death, but to continue to expand her career, to help her sister [who starts out as a strong intelligent, if headstrong, character, but at the end makes some very foolish choices] and to possibly turn friendship into more.
I enjoyed this book very much, and recommend it to people who like early 20th Century London as a setting/time-period, strong female characters, or social-issue historical fiction. Also a very fast and easy read.
June 12, 2012
Well, this is not a first book, but it does read like one. The author really crammed too much into this--so much so that I was confused about the focus of the book.
Dr.Dorothy (Dody--unfortunate nickname)McCleland has just won the privilege of being an autopsy surgeon for the London police in 1910. But, we hardly see her at work at all, so don't get too excited about that.
Her younger sister Florence is a militant suffragette, so we get a lot about the suffrage movement. Indeed, at least half of the book is focused on Florence, not Dody.
The two plot strands come together at the beginning, when it appears that a member of the police killed a very upper crust suffragette during a demonstration that quickly disintegrated into a riot.
But don't get too excited about solving the murder, because it gets forgotten for vast stretches of time. And then Dody and Florence seem to go their separate ways (plot-wise).
Of course we need a sympathetic policeman and we get one in Detective Chief Inspector Pike (if he has a first name I've already forgotten it. My impression is that he doesn't). He's not overly tall and has a limp, has no love for suffragettes but he's willing to dismiss members of the force who overstepped their bounds during the riot. And he seems taken with Dr. Dody.
We are also introduced to the eccentric McCleland family(they are Fabians) and a couple of semi-charming Irish rogues who are quite active in the violent side of the drive for Irish independence(i.e. Fenians).
By the end of the book we finally find out who smashed Lady Catherine on the head during the riot--I can't say that who did it was a surprise because we hadn't really seen any investigating going on, so we had no list of suspects.
All in all, it was disappointing as a mystery, it was disappointing at seeing Dr Dody in action as a forensic doctor. But it did okay in the setting a romance in motion department. And it was readable. So I may remember to pick up book two when it comes out, but I won't beat myself up if I forget.
Dr.Dorothy (Dody--unfortunate nickname)McCleland has just won the privilege of being an autopsy surgeon for the London police in 1910. But, we hardly see her at work at all, so don't get too excited about that.
Her younger sister Florence is a militant suffragette, so we get a lot about the suffrage movement. Indeed, at least half of the book is focused on Florence, not Dody.
The two plot strands come together at the beginning, when it appears that a member of the police killed a very upper crust suffragette during a demonstration that quickly disintegrated into a riot.
But don't get too excited about solving the murder, because it gets forgotten for vast stretches of time. And then Dody and Florence seem to go their separate ways (plot-wise).
Of course we need a sympathetic policeman and we get one in Detective Chief Inspector Pike (if he has a first name I've already forgotten it. My impression is that he doesn't). He's not overly tall and has a limp, has no love for suffragettes but he's willing to dismiss members of the force who overstepped their bounds during the riot. And he seems taken with Dr. Dody.
We are also introduced to the eccentric McCleland family(they are Fabians) and a couple of semi-charming Irish rogues who are quite active in the violent side of the drive for Irish independence(i.e. Fenians).
By the end of the book we finally find out who smashed Lady Catherine on the head during the riot--I can't say that who did it was a surprise because we hadn't really seen any investigating going on, so we had no list of suspects.
All in all, it was disappointing as a mystery, it was disappointing at seeing Dr Dody in action as a forensic doctor. But it did okay in the setting a romance in motion department. And it was readable. So I may remember to pick up book two when it comes out, but I won't beat myself up if I forget.
October 23, 2013
Not bad for a debut book at all. Dr. Dody McLeland is one of the first female anatomists in London and the story kicks off with her returning home after being gone for a year studying for and training in her craft. The author notes at the end that she fudged the history by a decade as the firt records of female anatomists in England don't occur until 1820. That suits me fine because I'm primarily looking to be entertained - as opposed to getting a completely accurate history lesson - and this book delivered on that front.
At times this felt like more of a story about the early days of the suffragist movement in London than a mystery but it helped to foster a feeling for the political climate of the times. The pacing was sometimes uneven but that's not uncommon for first books, when characters and the world have to be established.
The author did deliver some interesting characters in both Dody and Chief Inspector Pike. I actually think Pike is the more interesting given his sad personal history. Dody herself is more middle of the road, not too extreme in her thinking but not a wall flower either. I could have done without her penchant for smoking a pipe since, being a non-smoker, I don't find the habit appealing in any way. I did enjoy reading about Dody's and Pike's interactions. They regard each other with a certain respectful wariness in the beginning and it's always fun to see those dynamics start to shift. There is no overt romance here but there are seeds that may bloom with time.
All in all, this was a quick read and I liked enough about it to continue with book two.
At times this felt like more of a story about the early days of the suffragist movement in London than a mystery but it helped to foster a feeling for the political climate of the times. The pacing was sometimes uneven but that's not uncommon for first books, when characters and the world have to be established.
The author did deliver some interesting characters in both Dody and Chief Inspector Pike. I actually think Pike is the more interesting given his sad personal history. Dody herself is more middle of the road, not too extreme in her thinking but not a wall flower either. I could have done without her penchant for smoking a pipe since, being a non-smoker, I don't find the habit appealing in any way. I did enjoy reading about Dody's and Pike's interactions. They regard each other with a certain respectful wariness in the beginning and it's always fun to see those dynamics start to shift. There is no overt romance here but there are seeds that may bloom with time.
All in all, this was a quick read and I liked enough about it to continue with book two.
May 25, 2012
Well, I also finished the book and I am just as enthousiastic as hazeleyes. One of my favourite historical mysteries of all time. Of course I loved the (subtle) MK references, I think my favourite one was the remark regarding the height regualations.
In addition to the Murdoch mysteries it made me think a little bit of Casualty1900 and Bramwell, two series I absolutely adored. But don't get me wrong it stands very much on its own.
Please tell me that this is the beginning of a series. I would so love to revisit Dody’s and Pike’s universe. And I would love to see an adaptation, I think that could work very well.
Wholeheartedly recommended and 5 points on goodreaeds. Thanks Fe, I enjoyed it so much.
One tiny remark regarding the Kindle edition. The first letters of a chapter are a little bit difficult to make out, as they are light grey on light grey. Apart from that the formatting is perfect and very pleasant to they eye.
In addition to the Murdoch mysteries it made me think a little bit of Casualty1900 and Bramwell, two series I absolutely adored. But don't get me wrong it stands very much on its own.
Please tell me that this is the beginning of a series. I would so love to revisit Dody’s and Pike’s universe. And I would love to see an adaptation, I think that could work very well.
Wholeheartedly recommended and 5 points on goodreaeds. Thanks Fe, I enjoyed it so much.
One tiny remark regarding the Kindle edition. The first letters of a chapter are a little bit difficult to make out, as they are light grey on light grey. Apart from that the formatting is perfect and very pleasant to they eye.
May 27, 2012
Lots of promise here, but the writing was clunky enough that this never really hit the detail-saturated, atmospheric historical/romantic mystery zone I was hoping for. Certainly this was nowhere close, to, say, Anne Perry's Hester and Monk. It almost felt like a spot of YA (is it YA?). I loved the choice to set the book in Downton Abbey London (definitely jonesing for 1900-1918 set fiction right now) and the promise of a female forensic patholigist lead. Pike was endearing enough, and his daughter humanized him nicely. However, the characters were sketchier than they needed to be (Dody seems almost detached from her career!) and the historical detail was provided through awkward 3rd person narration rather than through flashes of dialogue and detail.
I would read the next book, out of mild curiousity if nothing else. If the writing improves, there might be a series worth reading here.
I would read the next book, out of mild curiousity if nothing else. If the writing improves, there might be a series worth reading here.
July 5, 2013
I enjoyed this historical mystery, first in a series based on Dr Dody McCleland, an autopsy surgeon at a time in history when women are still struggling to be given the vote. Dody's opposite number is Chief Detective Inspector Matthew Pike, a man with issues of his own.
A Dissection of Murder begins with the death of a suffragette during a women's rights rally. Dody is pretty sure the obvious explanation is not the true one, and sets about assembling a case while also attempting to gain Pike's trust.
This was overall a good read, but was weighed down here and there by blocks of historical information that could have been better integrated into the story. Young has certainly done her research. I was not sufficiently captured by the novel to rush out and buy the next in the series, but I think lovers of historical mysteries will enjoy this.
A Dissection of Murder begins with the death of a suffragette during a women's rights rally. Dody is pretty sure the obvious explanation is not the true one, and sets about assembling a case while also attempting to gain Pike's trust.
This was overall a good read, but was weighed down here and there by blocks of historical information that could have been better integrated into the story. Young has certainly done her research. I was not sufficiently captured by the novel to rush out and buy the next in the series, but I think lovers of historical mysteries will enjoy this.
December 21, 2012
A Dissection of Murder is a nuanced, well-written novel, vivid with historical detail and peopled with interesting characters. I really liked Dody and Pike, the two main characters, and they came fully to life for me - I can picture them in my head as if they're standing in front of me.
Perhaps because of the sympathetic 'voice' of Dody, A Dissection of Murder had a gentle feel to it, surprising considering the pathological details, description of a hanging and the harrowing scene where hunger-striking Olivia gets force-fed. Pike, too, is a man with strong morals and caring nature, and this adds to a strong sense of humanity throughout the story.
The ending, by the way, really had me on the edge of my seat! I will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.
April 26, 2013
This is a great book - one that not only entertains you with plot and character but always makes you feel like you are learning something along the way. In this case it is about the Suffragettes and the different ways in which they sought the right to vote. I was very impressed by Young's specific attention to historical detail - at the end she describes the many different real events and characters which feature throughout the story - and I looked up a few things as I was reading.
I liked the Victorian London setting and the characters, without giving too much away some good 'red herrings' were used too. I have already ordered the second book in the series.
I liked the Victorian London setting and the characters, without giving too much away some good 'red herrings' were used too. I have already ordered the second book in the series.
July 17, 2016
This is the first book in the Dr. Dody McCleland series. I had inadvertently read the second one first, so wanted to read this now, After the two books, I've decided not to continue with this series. My main complaint is that the main characters in the series are not likeable. Dody is too sanctimonious and her sister Florence too ditzy. And as I had noticed in the book I read first, there is too much emphasis on social issues and women's rights. I like to read a book for enjoyment, not for unending propiganda with a little story mixed in. That is what I feel like after I read these books. I cannot recommend them.
March 14, 2016
It took me forever to read this book. Part of it was my schedule with work and classes that got overwhelming and part of it was I realized after putting it down that I didn't have a burning desire to pick it up again. The writing wasn't bad and I liked the historical information on the period and the suffragettes. It just wasn't particularly engaging either. The characters were a bit flat for me, not particularly one dimensional but not particularly interesting either. It was just one of those things were the blurb sounded completely up my alley but it just wasn't what I was hoping for.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews