• The Anatomy of Deception

  • A Novel of Suspense
  • By: Lawrence Goldstone
  • Narrated by: David Ackroyd
  • Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins
  • 3.7 out of 5 stars (254 ratings)

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The Anatomy of Deception  By  cover art

The Anatomy of Deception

By: Lawrence Goldstone
Narrated by: David Ackroyd
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Publisher's summary

A mesmerizing forensic thriller that thrusts the listener into the operating rooms, drawing rooms, and back alleys of 1889 Philadelphia, as a young doctor grapples with the principles of scientific process to track a daring killer.

In the morgue of a Philadelphia hospital, a group of physicians open a coffin and uncover the corpse of a beautiful young woman. Within days one of them strongly suspects that he knows the woman’s identity...and the horrifying events that led to her death. But in this richly atmospheric novel, the most compelling moment is yet to come, as young Ephraim Carroll is plunged into a maze of murder, secrets, and unimaginable crimes....

Dr. Ephraim Carroll came to Philadelphia to study with a leading professor, the brilliant William Osler, believing that he would gain the power to save countless lives.

As America hurtles toward a new century, medicine is changing rapidly, in part due to the legalization of autopsy - a crime only a few years before. But Carroll and his mentor are at odds over what they glimpsed that morning in the hospital’s Dead House. And when a second mysterious death is determined to have been a ruthless murder, Carroll can feel the darkness gathering around him - and he ignites an investigation of his own.

Ultimately, Carroll is forced to confront an agonizing moral choice - between exposing a killer, undoing a wrong, and, quite possibly, protecting the future of medicine itself.

©2008 Lawrence Goldstone (P)2008 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Compelling....[A] top-notch historical page-turner." (Publishers Weekly)

“Long before CSI, the dead were offering up their clues....will thrill lovers of history, medicine, forensics and, of course, a good mystery.” (Parade)

"You'll be gripped by this haunting and atmospheric thriller." (Tess Gerritsen)

What listeners say about The Anatomy of Deception

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

not good

I found the parts of the book focused on the history of medicine quite interesting. The author seems to be attempting to make the characters complex but often their motivation doesn't make sense. The mystery part is ok, but the authors antiabortion beliefs are too apparent and offensive to prochoice readers.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Could have been better

I just finished the Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen and was looking for some more historical intrigue and medical beginnings. While the book started off that way it quickly started to be more of just a mystery. The medical parts fading away. I wasn't impressed. Not what I was expecting.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

EXCEPTIONAL!!

This book was captivating. The story line with fiction interspersed with such detailed and accurate historical persons and events was well done. So interesting were the characters I had to learn more about the lives and accomplishments of the "true" physicians. I was very sad when it was over because it was so enjoyable that I wanted to driver the long way home. The narrator has a pleasant speaking voice.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

LOVABLY OLD-FASHIONED

SET IN THE LATE 1880ies THIS THRILLING NOVEL IS PRESENTED BY THE AUTHOR IN A SLIGHTLY OLD-FASHIONED BUT VERY PLEASING STYLE CHARACTERÍZED BY THE CONSPICUOS ABSENCE OF THE FOUR-LETTER WORDS SO ABUNDANT IN MODERN AMERICAN PROSE. I VERY MUCH ENJOYED LISTENING TO THIS BOOK AND THE FINE RENDITION BY MR ACKROYD.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Medical Mystery

What did you love best about The Anatomy of Deception?

I come from a medical background so I enjoyed the details of medical school/instruction and autopsies with an interesting story woven into the details.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous!

I love this book. I hate to get out of my car and I am going to be sad when it's over. Very suspenseful and a great whodunit!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Goldstone does a great job...

Where does The Anatomy of Deception rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10

If you’ve listened to books by Lawrence Goldstone before, how does this one compare?

First listen, looking forward to more

What about David Ackroyd’s performance did you like?

The narrator disappears.... blends in with the story... as a good narrator should... he lets the story be the star

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The good old days, weren't always so good...

Any additional comments?

love it when I learn new things

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