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A review by jmatkinson1
The Blood by E.S. Thomson
4.0
Settled into work as an apothecary in the East End of London, Jem Flockhart hides his secret and tries to help those in need. When a note comes from an old acquaintance asking Jem to hurry to the hospital ship the Golden Fleece Jem is worried, and because the note was delayed he is concerned as to what he will fine. In fact Jem arrived just in time to see Dr Aberlour driven to madness and take his own life. The hospital ship is run by a group of proud yet prejudiced doctors who also have an unhealthy relationship with Siren House, a home for repenting prostitutes. As Jem investigated the death of Dr Aberlour, other bodies appear and a secret needs to be revealed.
I do quite like the premise of Jem as a character, the daughter of a medical man who cannot pursue her vocation in Victorian London because of her sex so she disguises it. I also like the way that Will loves Jem but Jem feels Will is a brother to her as she mourns the loss of Eliza. In this book there was a nice subplot about racism which amped up the theme of prejudice. There is no doubt that Thomson is developing as a writer, the stories have always been well plotted and this is no exception, twisty and complex, but the use of metaphors is very strong here and the research into both medicine and historical time and place is exceptional.
I do quite like the premise of Jem as a character, the daughter of a medical man who cannot pursue her vocation in Victorian London because of her sex so she disguises it. I also like the way that Will loves Jem but Jem feels Will is a brother to her as she mourns the loss of Eliza. In this book there was a nice subplot about racism which amped up the theme of prejudice. There is no doubt that Thomson is developing as a writer, the stories have always been well plotted and this is no exception, twisty and complex, but the use of metaphors is very strong here and the research into both medicine and historical time and place is exceptional.