Helpful Score: 4
I finished The Anatomist's Apprentice by Tessa Harris and what do I think? Well, in all fairness, it is her first book and she certainly created a mystery with many twists and turns. For Becky, I will say that this book is jammed with medical information of the time and Silkstone is definitely working himself into a postiion of being a forensics expert - and for that, I say good for him! As for the plot of the story, the MANY twists make the plot rather improbable, IMHO, even though she does manage to tie everything together. I had to raise my eyebrows on a couple of occasions wondering how anyone in that time period would be able to make the deductions that were made! My biggest gripe is our main female character - what a wimp! I wanted to slap her silly on a number of occasions. This is a real Doormat - too much simpering, crying, sobbing and being so totally helpless (very melodramatic). Her rare moments of trying to stand up for herself were always dashed - and it seems as if these were the very characteristics that attracted our protagonist to her! For shame!
Chances are that I will give her future books another shot to see how she handles the female character. I think she has a good concept going with the onset of forensic medicine but I wish she would put aside the bodice-ripper type romance- it really doesn't work well here. I give this one 3 stars.
Chances are that I will give her future books another shot to see how she handles the female character. I think she has a good concept going with the onset of forensic medicine but I wish she would put aside the bodice-ripper type romance- it really doesn't work well here. I give this one 3 stars.
Helpful Score: 1
How disapppointing. This book reads like an old fashioned penny dreadful-too many characters, poor dialog, overly dramatic court scenes, simplistic structure...I could go on. Trite is the first word that comes to mind. Sorry I wasted a wish-list space on this one.
Laura P. (hemmputnam) reviewed The Anatomist's Apprentice (Dr. Thomas Silkstone, Bk 1) on + 1114 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
An atmospheric mystery with a protagonist who is one of the first practitioners of forensic science. It was page turning, although I found the romance between he and the wife of a suspect a little hard to swallow.
Rosemary F. (canadianeh) reviewed The Anatomist's Apprentice (Dr. Thomas Silkstone, Bk 1) on + 242 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Forensic science was in its early days at the time of this murder mystery: not enough was known to always solve the crime. Dr. Silkstone is called to examine a corpse considered too decayed by other doctors, but perseveres for justice, consulting colleagues and medical text available, and for the sake of the wife of the deceased. It's based on the a murder trial at the Warwick Assizes in 1781, the first knowm occasion where an "anatomist" was called as a witness. Interesting characters, plot twists and fascinating details kept me going well past my bedtime. Highly recommended as an historical tale as well as a detective story.
