Inspector of the Dead

By: David Morrell

Narrated by: Matthew Wolf

Legendary thriller writer David Morrell transports readers to the fogbound streets of London, where a killer plots to assisinate Queen Victoria.

The year is 1855. The Crimean War is raging. The incompetence of British commanders causes the fall of the English government. The Empire teeters. Amid this crisis comes opium-eater Thomas De Quincey, one of the most notorious and brilliant personalities of Victorian England. Along with his irrepressible daughter, Emily, and their Scotland Yard companions, Ryan and Becker, De Quincey finds himself confronted by an adversary who threatens the heart of the nation.

This killer targets members of the upper echelons of British society, leaving with each corpse the name of someone who previously attempted to kill Queen Victoria. The evidence indicates that the ultimate victim will be Victoria herself.

Critic reviews

PRAISE FOR MURDER AS A FINE ART:

" Murder as a Fine Art is a masterpiece--I don't use that word lightly-a fantastic historical thriller, beautifully written, intricately plotted, and populated with unforgettable characters. It brilliantly re-creates the London of gaslit streets, fogs, hansom cabs, and Scotland Yard. If you liked The Alienist, you will absolutely love this book. I was spellbound from the first page to last."—Douglas Preston, coauthor of the #1 bestseller Cold Vengeance

"London 1854, noxious yellow fogs, reeking slums, intrigues in high places, murders most foul, but instead of Sherlock Holmes solving crimes via the fine art of deduction, we have the historical English Opium-Eater himself, Thomas De Quincey. David Morrell fans--and they are legion--can look forward to celebrating Murder as a Fine Art as one of their favorite author's strongest and boldest books in years."—Dan Simmons, author of Drood and The Terror

"Morrell's use of De Quincey's life is absolutely amazing. I literally couldn't put it down: I felt as though I were in Dickens as he described London's fog and in Wilkie Collins when we entered Emily's diary. There were beautiful touches all the way through. Murder as a Fine Art is a triumph."—Robert Morrison, author of The English Opium Eater: A Biography of Thomas De Quincey

...AND FOR DAVID MORRELL:

"An absolute master of the thriller."—Dean Koontz

"The finest thriller writer living today, bar none."—Steve Berry

"Everything [Morrell] writes has a you-are-there quality, and that, combined with his ability to propel characters through a scene, makes reading him like attending a private screening."—Washington Post Book World

A surprisingly good story

The mystery is engaging but slow. The picture of Victorian England and how the police operates is. Thomas De Quincey is a Sherlock Holmes type of detective. Holmes imbibes his drugs in private. De Quincey is a retched, junkie-talent, author. His talent and resignation/acceptance of his addiction infuriates members of “society”. He satiates his addiction by “eating” Opium or drinking his landrum in public completing totally disregarding society’s sensibilities and morals.

De Quincey is not as physical athletic as Holmes. His diminutive is stature and tattered clothing engenders a dismissive attitude from others. That is a strong visual to reinforce his place in society. De Quincey has amazing deductive abilities which functions despite his drug induced haze. His opinions are first dismissed as the ramblings of a drug addict. After a few intelligent insights his detractors usually come around. De Quincey’s daughter, Emily, acts as his nurse. She intelligent, liberated and acts as his conscience

The plot is driven around the British aristocratic hierarchical separations of people. The bigotry based on working verses inherited wealth or titled family verses titles acquired from the queen, facilitates the British upper echelons being victims. You are not with the murder while he is committing the crime. There are only a couple of actions scenes or rather running and chase.

What is amazing? The ability of people to remember the particular details from events from 20 years ago.

Haunting and Fascinating Crime in Victorian London

This is the second book (the first being "Murder as a Fine Art") in which Thomas De Quincey, his daughter Emily, and detectives Ryan and Becker work together to solve an intriguing string of brutal murders set in 1850s London. De Quincey was a very real person whose "Confessions of an Opium Eater" was mentioned in my high school English class when discussing Coleridge. I never realized he coined the term "subconscious" decades before Freud.

The point of view goes back and forth between the third person and Emily's first person journal. This book has a depth and poignancy that surprised me.The ending was especially satisfying.

I hope Mr. Morrell writes more books with these people/characters. I bought the Kindle version so I could savor the writing and more easily search for passages that were particularly memorable. Be sure to listen to the author's Afterword to appreciate all the research and historical detail that went into the writing of this book.

fun story

Great reading, fun way to learn some history. good story, character development and flow to the story

Great Afterword

He explains the non-fiction history mixed into his story. Characters and events may be real and non-coincidental.

Story was gripping with Victorian slaughter

Story bloody and riveting. Narrator needs to put longer pause betwwen scene changes, it's confusing.