The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor

The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 5 days

Pages - 469

Publisher - Michael Joseph

Source - Waterstones buy

Blurb from Goodreads

1786, Jerusalem College, Cambridge. The ghost of murdered Sylvia Whichcote has been sighted prowling the grounds by Frank Oldershaw, a disturbed fellow commoner. When his anxious mother employs John Holdsworth, author of The Anatomy of Ghosts- a stinging account of why ghosts are mere delusion - to investigate the sighting, the uneasy status quo at Jerusalem is rapidly torn apart. Holdsworth grows to realise that the sinister Holy Ghost Club governs the privileged life at Jerusalem with a rigour far more effective than anything the Master, Dr. Carbury, could muster. And when Holdsworth finds himself haunted - not only by the ghost of his dead wife, Maria, but also Elinor, the very-much-alive Master's wife - his fate is sealed. He must unravel the circumstances surrounding Sylvia's death ... or the hauntings will continue.



My Review

The opening chapter is a bit weird, it is Jesus, his apostles and an offering of a pure young lady awaiting a chosen apostle. The time in the 1786s so I had no idea what was going on, however as the book goes on you start to understand what the chat is.

John Holdsworth is hired by a very wealthy woman to investigate what is happening to her son. He is as college and has become unhinged after seeing a ghost. John is hired after he wrote a book "The Anatomy of Ghosts" penned after he lost his son and his wife spent their money on a medium desperate to connect with her lost child. John doesn't believe in ghosts and that is what the good lady needs, John is in financial straits and over a barrel so reluctantly he goes.

What follows is a view into some very entitled folk, secrets within the college and a young man whose mental health is suffering and is volatile. I took a bit to settle into the book it goes at a sedate pace, the writing isn't the issue but I took a while to get what was happening and why it was relevant. A lot of the characters are pretty pompous and I felt for John who has already lost so much and now has to go ghost chasing. I think he was the only character I had any kind of feeling toward and mostly that was sympathy for what he had endured. 3/5 for me this time, this was my first time reading this author, if I came across his works I would give me another go.

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ARC - The Scent Of Death by Andrew Taylor

The Scent of Death by Andrew Taylor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 6 days

Publisher - HarperCollins

Blurb From Goodreads

From the No. 1 bestselling author of THE AMERICAN BOY comes a brilliant new historical thriller set during the American War of Independence. Manhattan, 1778. A city of secrets, profiteers, loyalists and double agents. As the last part of America under British rule, New York is home to a swelling tide of refugees seeking justice from the British crown. Edward Savill is sent from London to investigate the claims of dispossessed loyalists. No sooner does he land than he becomes embroiled in the case of a gentleman murdered in the city's notorious Canvas Town. An escaped slave hangs for the crime, but Savill is convinced they have executed the wrong man. Lodging with the respected Wintour family, Savill senses the mystery deepening. Judge Wintour's beautiful daughter-in-law, Arabella, hides a tragedy in her past, while his son plans a dangerous mission into enemy territory. And what of Mr Noak, the enigmatic clerk seemingly bent on a dubious course of his own? One thing is clear - the killing in Canvas Town was just the start of a trail of murder, and it's leading directly to Savill...

My Review

The first thing I need to mention is the cover on this book. Not the actual visual aspect although it is a mix of smoldering effect colors, simplistic and nicely done with only a feather with blood as the main focal point. It is the paper it is print on, the feeling is rich and has a beautiful texture on both the paperback and the hardbak.

Edward Savill is our lead main character traveling over from London, England to new York by his superiors to investigate claims of English loyalists being evicted by Republican rebels from their land. After a hectic journey across the waters he has no sooner arrived than the gets caught up in the murder of a gentleman and things go from bad to worse.

It is set in the 1700s, and focuses on the murder of the gentleman which, when Savill starts to investigate finds there is a lot more to it than first was apparent. Because of the time period, slavery features throughout which makes for uncomfortable reading in parts but adds authenticity to tale. The story also centers around Savill's interactions with Arabella, the daughter of the judge he is residing with during his stay. Savill is away from his family in a new and hostile environment, Arabella is beautiful, aloof and intriguing, a powerful mix.

The story is very slow going, I felt, for large parts. There is a lot of small incidents and events throughout that keep your interest and the last quarter of the book is where it really kicks off. Once the plot had thickened and the pace cranked up I didn't want to put it down however for me it took an age to get there. The writing is very well done and some of the descriptive passages are wonderful, you can clearly visualize the scene. This is my first time reading this author and I would try them again although maybe a different time period. Thanks so much to HarperCollins for sending me an ARC copy. Available from all good retailers from the 28th of February 2013.

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