The 18th-century meets the sharp blade of forensic science…

It is not just the living who are prey to London’s criminals and cutpurses.

Corpses, too, are fair game - dug up from fresh graves and sold to men of science for dissection. Dr. Thomas Silkstone’s unscrupulous rival, Dr. John Hunter, has learned of the imminent death of eight-foot-tall Charles Byrne, known as the ‘Irish Giant’, and is obsessed with obtaining the body for his research. When Dr. Hunter is implicated in the horrific murder of a young castrato, Thomas must determine how far the increasingly erratic surgeon will go in the name of knowledge. For as Thomas knows, the blackest hearts sometimes go undetected until it’s too late…

Praise for Tessa Harris:

‘A densely plotted yarn about a crafty 18th-century poisoner wreaking havoc on the Oxfordshire estate of a noble family … we await - indeed, demand - the sequel’ New York Times Book Review

‘Harris’ research is meticulous. The results are a historical CSI with a romance and excellent mystery’ Romantic Times

‘Populated with real historical characters and admirably researched, Harris’s novel features a complex and engrossing plot’ Library Journal

‘The author will have you flipping the pages at each unexpected turn in the plot. The novel is an absorbing read with a shocking twist at the end’ Historical Novel Society

‘Well-rounded characters, cleverly concealed evidence, and an assured prose style point to a long run for this historical series’ Publishers Weekly Starred Review

‘The exceptionally strong historical background in this 1780s London-set novel makes it impossible to put down. With each book, the mysteries have become stronger … Silkstone is an admirable character and he captures readers’ emotional interest’ RT Book Reviews

The Dr Thomas Silkstone Mysteries:

The Anatomist’s Apprentice

The Dead Shall Not Rest

The Devil’s Breath

The Lazarus Curse

Shadow of the Raven

Secrets in the Stones