Dr. Spilsbury and the Camden Town Killer

A hugely entertaining and very satisfying murder mystery story. Dr Spilsbury is a terrific character as he does not dominate proceedings but makes his presence felt every time he makes an appearance. Almost every chapter ends on a cliff hanger which makes it impossible to stop reading. Just as I thought I had things figured out a new piece of evidence usually discovered by aspiring detective PC Abbot twists the story in another direction until all the loose ends are drawn together in a dramatic and surprising climax. I loved the London setting and the historical and forensic detail added authenticity to a quite complex story increasing my enjoyment. The characters were lifelike and very credible and despite the twists and turns of the story I always felt that the author was in control.I was very impressed by this debut novel and look forward to another instalment.Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Excellent Victorian novel of murder and police. At least not ALL the police are portrayed as stupid, though the Detective Sergeant is almost music hall in his idiocy. Nice use of blind alleys and red herrings to emulate how difficult , in a world devoid of forensic accuracy, it must have been to track down and connect evidence to convict the right person. Cosy in its atmosphere, with very little blood and mayhem, I enjoyed this. Recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish and I hope it will lead to more. Unusually Dr Spilsbury isn't the main character but just one of a few who I hope to see more of as Spilsbury is the usual lone weird person who seem to feature in this types of books . The mystery is full of twists and turns that kept me guessing to the end so I couldn't put it down until the answer was revealed. Looking forward to more. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the first in a series of books featuring Bernard Spilsbury, a real life forensic pathologist who was as infamous as some of the trials he gave evidence at, including the Crippen murders. By all accounts he could be cold and arrogant but D.L Douglas has brought him to life in fascinating detail. The plot is fantastic, very cleverly crafted, with many twists and turns. I read it in two sittings and as a lover of crime fiction, I’m really hoping this will be the start of a lengthy series.