Anatomist's Apprentice, The [Paperback]

Rating: 4.5 stars

One of the more interesting books I have enjoyed recently is this one...not so much for any one thing I can put my finger on, but for a variety of reasons.

To begin, I especially enjoyed the author's sense of the period. Readers will not be overwhelmed with detailed regarding England in the late 1700s, but there are enough references to attitudes, personalities and the general environment to pull one into the era. As noted into overview, Thomas Silkstone Is an brilliant anatomist, educated in Philedelphia, who has come to London to continue his studies and lecture. Recognized as perhaps the best anatomist in England (although we never really are told how he obtains that distinction,) he is approached by one Lady Lydia Farrell to determine the death of her brother.

Readers should not be fooled into thinking that Silkstone is an early version of Sherlock Holmes. On the contrary, whereas Holmes uses his skills of observation for deduction, Silkstone depends upon science to ascertain his findings. By incorporating the limitations and understandings of the time, one can imagine The good doctor struggling by candle light to dissect cadavers before the natural heat decomposes the body. It is Holmes' brilliance at deducing people that makes him successful. Sillkstone's brilliance stems from deducing science.

I also liked that Silkstone has heart. Unlike many super sleuths (Holmes of course) He not only wants to find the answer because of his scientific nature, but because he is attracted to Lady Farrell. That combination makes his quest for finding the answers he seeks more personal.

I was also drawn to the book because of the characters. Some, like Sir Theodisius the inquiring coroner, may be too Dickensonian, but Silkstone's mentor Dr. Carruthers and Professor Hans Hascher of Christ Church College are quite imaginary.

This is not a deeply inquisitive and complicated book, but for readers enjoying period pieces with interesting characters and situations, then I think they will enjoy it. I very much look forward to more tales involving Dr. Silkstone in the colonies and abroad.

Harris sets her tale in 1780 London and Oxfordshire, England, where the shocking death of young Lord Crick unleashes a barrage of gossip and innuendo. Writhing in agony as he breathes his last, Crick's unearthly screams leave the household reverberating with tension and suspicion, most of which falls on the young man's brother-in-law, Captain Michael Farrell, who will inherit the estate. Wracked with grief, Lady Lydia Farrell visits Dr. Thomas Silkstone, an anatomist from Philadelphia studying in London. At twenty-five, Silkstone is pioneering the field of forensic detection, the perfect candidate for Lady Lydia's request to have the cause of her brother's death determined- and whether her husband is implicated in the horrific event. Thus begins the systematic unraveling of a mystery that culminates in deadly conflicts and long-buried secrets.

While timing the pace of her novel to fit the era, the slow and precise evolution of the story is perhaps its biggest obstacle- one that is belied by an action-filled second half and an ample supply of devious characters and suspicious circumstances. Once the young anatomist is fully involved in the case- and more than a little enamored of the lovely Lady Lydia- the action accelerates until the final denouement. To be fair, Harris is grounding her tale in the history of anatomy and the scientific community, not to mention the reluctant embrace of new theories by an entrenched status quo. The protagonist is engaging, a blend of scientist and gentleman unskilled in the devious nature of his fellow humans, but certainly a quick study. It remains to be seen whether Harris will flesh out her forensic detective Dr. Thomas Silkstone in a projected series. Luan Gaines/2011.

I received this book in a book club deal, choosing it for its subject matter, historical milieu, and mystery genre. Generally, I make a judgment about the quality of a novel in the first 10 pages, and in this case, The Anatomists' Apprentice struck me as poorly written, cliche-ridden, florid in places, and more bodice-ripper in tone than a mystery. Finishing the book, my initial opinion was unchanged. I continued reading because of the medical intricacies, and not for the poorly named characters (a melodramatic nod to Dickens?), the predictable plot, or for a main character, Dr. Silkstone, who seemed more a device than a person of substance. Finally, I found that there was a literary trade off--a story poorly written in exchange for period accuracy and an interesting and fascinating chronicle of the discoveries of a "medical examiner", or anatomist of that age. It could have been so much more--more mature, more provocative, more engaging, deeper characters, better written (where was her editor in this???) and more genuine. Writing historical fiction, done well by authors skilled in writing as well as weaving their story into the social conventions, culture and physical world of the period (Anne Perry, Ken Follett, Ariana Franklin for example), compel readers to want more, to follow the evolution of the main characters, and invest in their adventures. Where Harris cheated readers most was giving the us interesting period and medical details book-ended by poor writing and cliched characters. It wasn't horrible, it just left me feeling profoundly disappointed. Sadly, I can't recommend this novel.