Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 3/9/2020 + 1223 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

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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