I really enjoyed this blend of historical fact and page-turning excitement. The novel takes place in 1854 London where a grotesque murder seems to mimic some earlier murders committed in 1811 on the Ratcliffe Highway. These murders had terrorized London at the time and the current murders appear to have been a means to do likewise. Thomas De Quincey, who wrote the notorious Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, also wrote an essay titled On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts. This essay detailed the 1811 Ratcliffe Highway murders almost as if De Quincey had been present at the gruesome events. Is someone using this essay to mimic the original murders? De Quincey happens to be in London with his daughter when these second murders take place and he is considered to be a prime suspect. He is still hooked on opium and must take large quantities of laudanum every day to alleviate his pains and act almost normally. Along with his daughter and the help of two Scotland Yard detectives, he sets out to determine who really is behind these copycat murders and why.

This novel really provided a lot of historical background and it made you feel as if you were transported back to the London of 1854. De Quincey is well-portrayed and makes this novel well worth reading. At one time, I had a copy of Confessions of an English Opium-Eater but it must have been donated or lost during one of my moves. I'll probably seek it out again to read along with De Quincey's other works. Murder as a Fine Art is the first in a trilogy by Morrell featuring De Quincey. I'm looking forward to reading the other two books as well. Really good stuff!

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While I was in college, I read Thomas De Quincey's Confessions of an English Opium Eater. When I recently learned that David Morrell had written a mystery with him as a sleuth, I thought back to De Quincey's Confessions and knew what a marvelous character he could be. To my delight, Morrell has done him justice. And then some.

During this investigation, Scotland Yard detectives Ryan and Becker do the hard work while De Quincey is the ideas man. De Quincey was saying things about dreams and the subconscious (he even coined the word) many decades before Freud, so it is a definite battle of wills between this frail, brilliant, and odd little man and the detectives who are used to a more physical style of investigation. Ryan and Becker also have to get used to the bloomer-wearing Emily De Quincey who has been raised to think and speak for herself. As much as she shocks the two young men, she isn't the hindrance they're convinced she'd be. Quite the opposite in fact, and one of the pleasures of reading this book was watching the two men begin to admire her. Is there a budding romance in Emily's future? And with which of the detectives will it be? This is only one of the many reasons why I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Morrell brought Victorian London to life, and the action sequences were excellent. (Any time I read an action sequence and become worried or frightened, I know it's good.) We are treated to excerpts from Emily's diary throughout, and although these entries bring a needed break from tension, I have to admit that Emily's eye for detail had me wondering if she had a photographic memory.

Occasionally Morrell would change to a third person omniscient point of view to share facts about Victorian England that were important to the plot. As interesting as these passages were, I found that they took me out of the story, although I haven't got a clue how the author could've imparted this information in a less intrusive way.

With a hair-raising story, excellent action sequences, perfect period detail, and a marvelous cast of characters, I can't wait to get my hands on the next Thomas De Quincey book, Inspector of the Dead.

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Late one night in mid-century Victorian London, as a shopkeeper is about to close, one last customer shows up. As a gesture of goodwill, the shopkeeper agrees to make one last sale. It was the last mistake he would ever make. When Detective Ryan and Constable Becker arrive, they find a gruesome scene: an entire family brutally beaten to death. The only clue is a tool with the initials "J.P." As the investigation begins, Ryan realizes that the details of the crime bear a striking resemblance to on that happened less than 50 years prior and described in detail in a book written by a noted eccentric, Thomas De Quincy, known for using opium. De Quincy and Ryan work together to find out who the murderer is and where he might strike again.

Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell is one of the finest murder mysteries I have ever read. Morrell is perhaps best known for his creation of the character Rambo, which spawned 3 movies. Thomas De Quincy is a masterful character, as brilliant as he is flawed. Morrell's detailed description of life in Victorian London has no equal in my opinion. His research has produced a novel that makes the reader feel as if they are actually in Victorian London with its rigid codes of behavior and dress for men and women. Morrell has already written a second novel featuring De Quincy and I sincerely hope there will be many more. I give this novel 5/5 stars.

*This novel is the only compensation received from BestsellersWorld in exchange for this review.*

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