The Anatomist’s Apprentice

The Dr. Thomas Silkstone Mysteries, Book 1

By: Tessa Harris

Narrated by: Simon Vance

In the first in a stunning mystery series set in eighteenth-century England, Tessa Harris introduces Dr. Thomas Silkstone, anatomist and pioneering forensic detective.

The death of Lord Edward Crick has unleashed a torrent of gossip through the seedy taverns and elegant ballrooms of Oxfordshire. Few mourn the dissolute young man - except his sister, the beautiful Lady Lydia Farrell. When her husband comes under suspicion of murder, she seeks expert help from Dr. Thomas Silkstone, a young anatomist from Philadelphia.

Thomas arrived in England to study under its foremost surgeon, where his unconventional methods only add to his outsider status. Against his better judgment, he agrees to examine Lord Edward’s corpse. But it is not only the dead but also the living to whom he must apply the keen blade of his intellect. And the deeper the doctor’s investigations go, the greater the risk that he will be consigned to the ranks of the corpses he studies.

Tessa Harris, born in Lincolnshire, holds a history degree from Oxford University, and 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. She lives in Berkshire with her husband and their two children.

©2011 Tessa Harris (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“ CSI meets The Age of Reason…Welldrawn, intriguing cast of characters…Full of twists and turns…Vivid details…A pageturner!” (Karen Harper, New York Times best-selling author)

Great Period Mystery

I loved the mystery and medicine in this book but the female love interest was very bland. She mainly batted her big doe-eyes and waited to be rescued.

Probably worth a credit

Decent book. The story was well thought out and it moved but it wasn't great. Having listened to a lot of mysterys based in London, this one was a little different because of the time period - late 1700s.

Vance does a good narration, four starts for him.

Good Central Character

Enjoyed the twists and turns. Wish Lydia had been a stronger character to compliment the character of Dr. Silkstone. Look forward to the next book.

Beginning of Forensic Science

For those of us that are interested in forensics and the science behind it, this will be an interesting listen, albeit a bit gruesome. Dr. Thomas Silkstone, an accomplished surgeon is studying under a well-know, but now blind doctor and anatomist who had pioneered in the field of forensic science. With specimens in jars and bottles, preserved for future use, the two work, side by side, researching and dissecting newly dead bodies, learning more and more about what caused them to die. Grave robbers bring them corpses for a few coins (a common practice, it seems). This tale is about the death of Lord Edward Crick, a young man from a wealthy family, whose death the coroner quickly ruled a suicide. However, his sister, Lady Lydia Farrell doesn’t believe her brother killed himself. True, the man was a card-playing, womanizing fool, that no one in particular mourned . . . except for his sister, but suicide? Not willing to let his death go without further investigation, Lady Lydia enlists Dr. Silkstone’s help to uncover the truth . . . leading to the arrest of Lady Lydia’s husband for the murder of his brother-in-law. Things get stranger and stranger from there. A pile of secrets lies hidden in the wealthy family’s closets, and none of them pretty. Dr. Silkstone and his blind mentor continue to conduct a myriad of experiments of the decomposing body of Lord Edward Crick attempting to discover if he was poisoned, but the trial of Lady Lydia draws closer and closer. I never suspected who the murderer was, and there were so many twists and turns that it made my head spin. Very good period mystery, with excellent forensic and medical tidbits!

a real good 'un

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