The Anatomy of Deception - Lawrence Goldstone [0]
THE ANATOMY OF DECEPTION
“A lucky break for mystery lovers. Fans of historical fiction will also love this tale that evokes the evolving medical profession and the art world in late 19th-century America…. A cameo appearance by painter Thomas Eakins and an exploration of his artistic philosophy add to the novel’s colorful and highly informative background.”
—USA Today
“Goldstone’s research informs every page.He weaves history, atmosphere, medical procedures, and forensic details into a fascinating story….”
—Boston Globe
“Vivid period setting and amazing medical detail.”
—Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review
“An increasingly complex tale of murder, body-snatching, and skullduggery … A clever and entertaining tale.”
—Los Angeles Times
“Packed with historical asides.”
—Entertainment Weekly
“If you enjoyed The Interpretation of Murder, you’ll be gripped by this haunting and atmospheric thriller.”
—Tess Gerritsen
“This is really good stuff…. A must-read.”
—The Gazette (Montreal)
“Compelling … With this top-notch historical page-turner and his proven versatility in nonfiction, Goldstone can expect to win over many new fans.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“What makes [Goldstone’s] book so fascinating is the attention to the medical procedures and innovations of the time…. Readers who enjoy Anne Perry’s and Caleb Carr’s psychological thrillers will welcome Goldstone’s brooding, paranoiac addition to the genre.”
—Booklist
“For audiences increasingly drawn to CSI-type murder mysteries, Lawrence Goldstone reminds them that crime fighting can be just as gripping without all the high-tech wizardry. The Anatomy of Deception is an intriguing tale of death and dishonesty that takes the reader through 19th-century Philadelphia during the infancy of modern medicine…. [Anatomy will] hold a reader’s attention from the first page to the last.”
—Associated Press
“An intriguing tale of death and dishonesty.”
—London Free Press
“Will appeal to readers who enjoy historical novels or have an interest in medical history.”
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“Intelligent and clever … Will have you living in their times, on their terms, and rooting hard for the honorable people at their centers—outnumbered, as honorable people often are, but not necessarily overwhelmed.”
—Sullivan County Democrat
“Goldstone has blended the history of the scientific process with compelling suspense to provide an intriguing read.”
—MLB News
“The vividly described medical procedures of the time create a fascinating background to this forensics whodunit…. Style and imagination … Compelling suspense.”
—Mystery Scene
Also by Lawrence Goldstone
Dark Bargain
with Nancy Goldstone
Deconstructing Penguins
The Friar and the Cipher
Out of the Flames
Warmly Inscribed
Slightly Chipped
Used and Rare
To Nancy and Emily
March 14, 1889
FOR DAYS, CLOUDS HAD HUNG over the frigid city, promising snow, an ephemeral late winter veneer of white, but the temperature had suddenly risen and a cold, stinging drizzle had arrived instead. Jostled along in the derelict hansom, clad in her maid’s blue worsted dress and plain wool cloak, her fingers and feet felt bloodless. The gloom that hung over the river penetrated the thin walls of the coach until it seemed as though she were breathing it.
She tried to peer out but rain obscured the dirty window. The gas streetlamps were set so far apart that what little she could see came sporadically, in brief flashes. She had no idea where she was, and she wanted desperately to pound on the trap and tell the driver to turn around. She could hear the beating of her own heart.
As the last haze of daylight vanished, the carriage turned. When she was very young, she had hated the dark, but here there would be no sympathetic, whispering adult rushing to comfort her. The cab slowed, the driver making his way carefully on the rutted streets. An odor of filth and decrepitude be-fouled the air.
Finally, the driver reined the horse to a halt and she could hear his muffled voice telling her she