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The Anatomy of Ghosts
1786, Jerusalem College, Cambridge
The ghost of Sylvia Whichcote is rumored to be haunting Jerusalem ever since student Frank Oldershaw claimed to have seen the dead woman prowling the grounds and was locked up because of his violent reaction to these disturbed visions.
Desperate to salvage her son’s reputation, Lady Anne Oldershaw employs John Holdsworth, author of The Anatomy of Ghosts "a stinging account of why ghosts are mere delusion" to investigate. But his arrival in Cambridge disrupts an uneasy status quo as he glimpses a world of privilege and abuse, where the sinister Holy Ghost Club governs life at Jerusalem more effectively than the Master, Dr. Carbury, ever could.
And when Holdsworth finds himself haunted "not only by the ghost of his dead wife, Maria, but also by Elinor, the very-much-alive Master’s wife" his fate is sealed. He must find Sylvia's murderer, or else the hauntings will continue. And not one of this troubled group will leave the claustrophobic confines of Jerusalem unchanged.
CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger winner Andrew Taylor returns with an outstanding historical novel that will simultaneously keep the reader riveted, and enchant with its effortless elegance.
412 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2010
123 people are currently reading
2,150 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Taylor
58 books690 followersAndrew Taylor (b. 1951) is a British author of mysteries. Born in East Anglia, he attended university at Cambridge before getting an MA in library sciences from University College London. His first novel, Caroline Miniscule (1982), a modern-day treasure hunt starring history student William Dougal, began an eight-book series and won Taylor wide critical acclaim. He has written several other thriller series, most notably the eight Lydmouthbooks, which begin with An Air That Kills (1994).
His other novels include The Office of the Dead (2000) and The American Boy (2003), both of which won the Crime Writers’ Association of Britain’s Ellis Peters Historical Dagger award, making Taylor the only author to receive the prize twice. His Roth trilogy, which has been published in omnibus form as Requiem for an Angel (2002), was adapted by the UK’s ITV for its television show Fallen Angel. Taylor’s most recent novel is the historical thriller The Scent of Death (2013).
His other novels include The Office of the Dead (2000) and The American Boy (2003), both of which won the Crime Writers’ Association of Britain’s Ellis Peters Historical Dagger award, making Taylor the only author to receive the prize twice. His Roth trilogy, which has been published in omnibus form as Requiem for an Angel (2002), was adapted by the UK’s ITV for its television show Fallen Angel. Taylor’s most recent novel is the historical thriller The Scent of Death (2013).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 330 reviews
September 29, 2024
Atmospheric and slow-paced Victorian investigation + secret college societies with their repulsive and disturbing "rituals". Well-written and intriguing but nothing especially original or interesting.
Probably only for those who like this particular genre.
Probably only for those who like this particular genre.
March 29, 2011
I loved The Anatomy of Ghosts and wonder why I haven’t been reading all of Andrew Taylor’s books. I certainly intend to make up for what I’ve been missing.
The Anatomy of Ghosts takes place at eighteenth century (1786) Cambridge College and revolves around bookseller and bookbinder John Holdsworth. John is a tragic figure. After his small son, Georgie, drowns in the Thames, John cannot forgive himself for failing to save the boy, and his wife, Maria, also overcome with grief, spends all her time with a so-called psychic who claims to be able to contact Georgie’s spirit. This angers the grief-stricken John, but he doesn’t take his anger out on poor Maria. Instead, he pores it into the writing of a book denouncing the spirit world, a book known as “The Anatomy of Ghosts.”
Though the book is somewhat of a success, John Holdsworth cannot stem the downward spiral of his life. When Holdsworth informs his wife that the two must move due to finances and a series of business reversals, Maria refuses to leave the house where she and John lived with Georgie, and the next morning, she, too, is found dead in the Thames.
Maria’s death is declared an accident, and John, now broken and without funds and haunted by his own ghosts, is forced to sell his home and what little remains of his business. He has no idea where he’ll go or what he’ll do next. Enter Lady Anne Oldershaw.
Lady Anne Oldershaw has come to know of John Holdsworth through his book, the above-mentioned “The Anatomy of Ghosts.” Her beloved son, Frank, a student at the fictional Jerusalem College in Cambridge, has lost his wits after claiming to have seen the ghost of Sylvia Whichcote, a friend’s wife, one misty night, and sure enough, Sylvia Whichcote did drown that very night in the College’s Long Pond. Lady Anne believes that if the author of “The Anatomy of Ghosts” can convince her son that ghosts do not, in actuality, exist, and that the young man must have been the victim of a prank of some kind instead, Frank’s sanity can be restored. And, when John isn’t busy restoring Frank’s sanity, Lady Anne would like for him to organize her late husband’s library.
Lady Anne loves her son, and she may think him a nice young man, but the reader already knows different, for the reader has met Frank in Chapter One of this mystery, and knows that Frank Oldershaw is a member of Jerusalem College’s Holy Ghost Club, a club whose members are dedicated to drunkenness and debauchery, and none more so than Frank. But one can’t blame a mother for loving her son and wanting the best for him. I liked Lady Anne. Like all of Andrew Taylor’s characters, she’s complex and complicated and not wholly reliable.
At this point in his life, John Holdsworth has no other option but to accept Lady Anne’s offer, and off he goes to the corrupt and crumbling halls of Jerusalem College, hoping to disprove the existence of ghosts to Frank Oldershaw.
I loved the atmosphere Andrew Taylor created at Jerusalem College. It’s not only corrupt and crumbling, it’s claustrophobic and also rather gothic, with its swirling mists, dense fogs, and dark buildings that thrust their spires into skies leaden with dark clouds and loom ominously over all who stand below. I thought Taylor did an especially good job of bringing the asylum where Frank is being held to life. It made me squeamish and sometimes uneasy just reading about it, and though I love books, they don’t usually evoke a physical response in me. The atmosphere is the kind of atmosphere Sarah Waters evokes so well and has made a part of her signature style. I had thought that perhaps it was hers and hers alone, though it should come as no surprise to those familiar with his work that Andrew Taylor can conjure up this forbidding type of atmosphere, too, and conjure it well. History gave him ample material to work with, and Taylor certainly mined it well. The eighteenth century, Taylor writes, was not the most illustrious time for English universities:
Individual colleges followed their idiosyncratic paths, which were to guide them apart from their own statutes, which were at least two centuries out of date, as were the syllabuses that the universities prescribed for their students to study.
Most of the time, I felt as though I were reading an “old” book, one unearthed from the library of some Georgian manor house down in Kent or Somerset, rather than a modern mystery, written by a living author. The atmosphere was that good, that palpable, and that claustrophobic.
Taylor is also very skillful at educating his readers without his readers being aware that they are being educated. (And that’s the best way to educate some people.) I learned what a “night-soil” man was (and learned it would never be one of my career options), what a “gyp” was, and much about the unfair class divisions that existed at Cambridge during the eighteenth century. And speaking of “gyps,” I really liked the sly and wily Mulgrave, who refused to kowtow to those who considered themselves his “betters” simply because they had more money than he.
As Holdsworth seeks to “cure” Frank Oldershaw and convince the young man that whatever he saw, it couldn’t have been a ghost, he also comes to realize that Sylvia Whichcote’s death by drowning couldn’t possibly have been “self-murder” as the coroner concluded, nor could it have been an accident. But who could have killed her? John comes to the conclusion that it had to have been someone within Jerusalem College, itself. The gate to Jerusalem Lane was locked. The college was locked. The Master’s Lodge and its garden, which are situated within the College gates, were locked. The gate over the bridge was locked. If John Holdsworth can’t find Sylvia Whichcote’s murderer, then perhaps John Holdsworth needs to reassess his feeling about the existence of ghosts.
Taylor not only does a wonderful job with atmosphere in The Anatomy of Ghosts, he is very skillful when it comes to creating believable characters and choosing a narrator. (Most of the characters in this book are men; the one female character who stands out is Elinor Carbury, the long-suffering wife of the Master, and she isn't wholly likable since her motives are less than pure.) Like him or not, John Holdsworth was nothing less than the perfect narrator. As an outsider, he knows as little about the College as the reader does. Just as Holdsworth learns about the secret societies, the mysteries, and the inner workings of eighteenth century English university life, so, too, do we. And, as John obsesses about “curing” Frank Oldershaw, he, himself, becomes obsessed and the victim of more than one “haunting” by persons both living and dead.
So, is The Anatomy of Ghosts really a ghost story? In the truest sense of the word, yes, I think it is, though it doesn’t revolve around paranormal activity. It does, however, revolve around hauntings. In fact, the narrative is fairly drenched in hauntings, however those readers coming to this book expecting to find a “traditional” ghost story will be disappointed, even though the book is elegantly and stylishly written, for The Anatomy of Ghosts is more murder mystery than anything else, and if the reader approaches it as such, he or she is sure to find an enjoyable and unforgettable read. In fact, readers who’ve been lucky enough to read one of Taylor’s previous books, The American Boy, might begin comparing The Anatomy of Ghosts to that masterpiece of mystery and suspense, and to their delight, find that The Anatomy of Ghosts doesn’t come up wanting.
A few people have told me they found this book a bit slow. I didn’t. Yes, the period detail and the formal style of writing, so befitting a story set in the eighteenth century, does slow down the pace of the book a bit, but even in the novel’s slowest passages, Taylor is an author who knows how to build suspense and layer on intensity. And just when the reader thinks he/she has it all figured out, Taylor adds yet another twist.
The Anatomy of Ghosts is a book to read and savor, and then read again.
5/5
Recommended: Lovers of mysteries and especially historical mysteries can’t go wrong with this book. And, if you liked this book, you might also like Taylor’s novel, The American Boy.
Read my reviews at literarycornercafe.blogspot.com
The Anatomy of Ghosts takes place at eighteenth century (1786) Cambridge College and revolves around bookseller and bookbinder John Holdsworth. John is a tragic figure. After his small son, Georgie, drowns in the Thames, John cannot forgive himself for failing to save the boy, and his wife, Maria, also overcome with grief, spends all her time with a so-called psychic who claims to be able to contact Georgie’s spirit. This angers the grief-stricken John, but he doesn’t take his anger out on poor Maria. Instead, he pores it into the writing of a book denouncing the spirit world, a book known as “The Anatomy of Ghosts.”
Though the book is somewhat of a success, John Holdsworth cannot stem the downward spiral of his life. When Holdsworth informs his wife that the two must move due to finances and a series of business reversals, Maria refuses to leave the house where she and John lived with Georgie, and the next morning, she, too, is found dead in the Thames.
Maria’s death is declared an accident, and John, now broken and without funds and haunted by his own ghosts, is forced to sell his home and what little remains of his business. He has no idea where he’ll go or what he’ll do next. Enter Lady Anne Oldershaw.
Lady Anne Oldershaw has come to know of John Holdsworth through his book, the above-mentioned “The Anatomy of Ghosts.” Her beloved son, Frank, a student at the fictional Jerusalem College in Cambridge, has lost his wits after claiming to have seen the ghost of Sylvia Whichcote, a friend’s wife, one misty night, and sure enough, Sylvia Whichcote did drown that very night in the College’s Long Pond. Lady Anne believes that if the author of “The Anatomy of Ghosts” can convince her son that ghosts do not, in actuality, exist, and that the young man must have been the victim of a prank of some kind instead, Frank’s sanity can be restored. And, when John isn’t busy restoring Frank’s sanity, Lady Anne would like for him to organize her late husband’s library.
Lady Anne loves her son, and she may think him a nice young man, but the reader already knows different, for the reader has met Frank in Chapter One of this mystery, and knows that Frank Oldershaw is a member of Jerusalem College’s Holy Ghost Club, a club whose members are dedicated to drunkenness and debauchery, and none more so than Frank. But one can’t blame a mother for loving her son and wanting the best for him. I liked Lady Anne. Like all of Andrew Taylor’s characters, she’s complex and complicated and not wholly reliable.
At this point in his life, John Holdsworth has no other option but to accept Lady Anne’s offer, and off he goes to the corrupt and crumbling halls of Jerusalem College, hoping to disprove the existence of ghosts to Frank Oldershaw.
I loved the atmosphere Andrew Taylor created at Jerusalem College. It’s not only corrupt and crumbling, it’s claustrophobic and also rather gothic, with its swirling mists, dense fogs, and dark buildings that thrust their spires into skies leaden with dark clouds and loom ominously over all who stand below. I thought Taylor did an especially good job of bringing the asylum where Frank is being held to life. It made me squeamish and sometimes uneasy just reading about it, and though I love books, they don’t usually evoke a physical response in me. The atmosphere is the kind of atmosphere Sarah Waters evokes so well and has made a part of her signature style. I had thought that perhaps it was hers and hers alone, though it should come as no surprise to those familiar with his work that Andrew Taylor can conjure up this forbidding type of atmosphere, too, and conjure it well. History gave him ample material to work with, and Taylor certainly mined it well. The eighteenth century, Taylor writes, was not the most illustrious time for English universities:
Individual colleges followed their idiosyncratic paths, which were to guide them apart from their own statutes, which were at least two centuries out of date, as were the syllabuses that the universities prescribed for their students to study.
Most of the time, I felt as though I were reading an “old” book, one unearthed from the library of some Georgian manor house down in Kent or Somerset, rather than a modern mystery, written by a living author. The atmosphere was that good, that palpable, and that claustrophobic.
Taylor is also very skillful at educating his readers without his readers being aware that they are being educated. (And that’s the best way to educate some people.) I learned what a “night-soil” man was (and learned it would never be one of my career options), what a “gyp” was, and much about the unfair class divisions that existed at Cambridge during the eighteenth century. And speaking of “gyps,” I really liked the sly and wily Mulgrave, who refused to kowtow to those who considered themselves his “betters” simply because they had more money than he.
As Holdsworth seeks to “cure” Frank Oldershaw and convince the young man that whatever he saw, it couldn’t have been a ghost, he also comes to realize that Sylvia Whichcote’s death by drowning couldn’t possibly have been “self-murder” as the coroner concluded, nor could it have been an accident. But who could have killed her? John comes to the conclusion that it had to have been someone within Jerusalem College, itself. The gate to Jerusalem Lane was locked. The college was locked. The Master’s Lodge and its garden, which are situated within the College gates, were locked. The gate over the bridge was locked. If John Holdsworth can’t find Sylvia Whichcote’s murderer, then perhaps John Holdsworth needs to reassess his feeling about the existence of ghosts.
Taylor not only does a wonderful job with atmosphere in The Anatomy of Ghosts, he is very skillful when it comes to creating believable characters and choosing a narrator. (Most of the characters in this book are men; the one female character who stands out is Elinor Carbury, the long-suffering wife of the Master, and she isn't wholly likable since her motives are less than pure.) Like him or not, John Holdsworth was nothing less than the perfect narrator. As an outsider, he knows as little about the College as the reader does. Just as Holdsworth learns about the secret societies, the mysteries, and the inner workings of eighteenth century English university life, so, too, do we. And, as John obsesses about “curing” Frank Oldershaw, he, himself, becomes obsessed and the victim of more than one “haunting” by persons both living and dead.
So, is The Anatomy of Ghosts really a ghost story? In the truest sense of the word, yes, I think it is, though it doesn’t revolve around paranormal activity. It does, however, revolve around hauntings. In fact, the narrative is fairly drenched in hauntings, however those readers coming to this book expecting to find a “traditional” ghost story will be disappointed, even though the book is elegantly and stylishly written, for The Anatomy of Ghosts is more murder mystery than anything else, and if the reader approaches it as such, he or she is sure to find an enjoyable and unforgettable read. In fact, readers who’ve been lucky enough to read one of Taylor’s previous books, The American Boy, might begin comparing The Anatomy of Ghosts to that masterpiece of mystery and suspense, and to their delight, find that The Anatomy of Ghosts doesn’t come up wanting.
A few people have told me they found this book a bit slow. I didn’t. Yes, the period detail and the formal style of writing, so befitting a story set in the eighteenth century, does slow down the pace of the book a bit, but even in the novel’s slowest passages, Taylor is an author who knows how to build suspense and layer on intensity. And just when the reader thinks he/she has it all figured out, Taylor adds yet another twist.
The Anatomy of Ghosts is a book to read and savor, and then read again.
5/5
Recommended: Lovers of mysteries and especially historical mysteries can’t go wrong with this book. And, if you liked this book, you might also like Taylor’s novel, The American Boy.
Read my reviews at literarycornercafe.blogspot.com
February 15, 2017
Wonderful recreation of 18th-c Cambridge atmosphere marred by whether to take the spooky stuff literally. That is my preference.
March 5, 2025
"It had been a matter of shadows and nuances, of things half seen, half heard and half understood."
The year is 1786, and at Jerusalem college Cambridge, the ghost of murdered Syliva Whichcote has been sighted prowling the grounds by student Frank Oldershaw. When his anxious mother employs John Holdsworth, author of “The Anatomy of Ghosts”, a stinging account of why ghosts are a mere delusion, to investigate the sighting, the uneasy status quo at Jerusalem college is rapidly torn apart.
I did enjoy this. It’s not really a ghost story, more of a mystery, a story of secret societies, grief, privilege, powdered faces, wigs and pies. I won’t lie, I struggled with the start of the book, it really does take a while to get going but once it does, it’s very satisfying with some truly despicable characters.
Definitely worth your time if you like historical mysteries.
The year is 1786, and at Jerusalem college Cambridge, the ghost of murdered Syliva Whichcote has been sighted prowling the grounds by student Frank Oldershaw. When his anxious mother employs John Holdsworth, author of “The Anatomy of Ghosts”, a stinging account of why ghosts are a mere delusion, to investigate the sighting, the uneasy status quo at Jerusalem college is rapidly torn apart.
I did enjoy this. It’s not really a ghost story, more of a mystery, a story of secret societies, grief, privilege, powdered faces, wigs and pies. I won’t lie, I struggled with the start of the book, it really does take a while to get going but once it does, it’s very satisfying with some truly despicable characters.
Definitely worth your time if you like historical mysteries.
October 1, 2012
There are all sorts of reasons why The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor should have been a winner: it's a historical mystery; it's a historical mystery with academic ties; it started out so very promising and held that for about the first 100 pages. But then it just kind of lost me. And it isn't the first time that Taylor has done that to me--although I didn't realize it until after I had gotten all interested in the book (when I first heard about it last year) and put it down for a few challenges. Several years ago I picked up his book Caroline Miniscule which also had academic ties. I remember that it started out fine...only to lose steam about mid-way through. His Bleeding Heart Square is better than either of the other two.
But, back to the review....The story revolves around Frank Oldershaw, the only son of Lady Anne Oldershaw and a student at Jerusalem College, Cambridge. Frank has gotten himself mixed up with the Holy Ghost Club (read a hellfire club) and after some unpleasant experiences there, he begins seeing the ghost of the deceased wife of one of the College's members. He becomes quite violent and is tucked away in a madhouse as a result. Lady Anne Oldeshaw calls upon John Holdsworth to get to the bottom of what exactly has happened to her son and charges him with bringing the young man back to sanity. Holdsworth is no doctor and has no experience with mental disease--but that's not why she wants his help.
As the result of personal tragedy (the deaths of both his son and his wife), Holdsworth has written a book called The Anatomy of Ghosts--discrediting the idea of ghosts and the charlatans who claim to put the grieving in touch with them. Lady Oldershaw wants Holdsworth to prove to her son that ghosts don't exist and believes that this will be enough to return his reason to him. Holdworth finds that he must find out what really happened to Sylvia (the dead woman whose "ghost" was seen) before he can help Frank. But that is no easy task....and the answers may not be ones that either the College or Lady Oldershaw want to hear.
As I mentioned, this book started out promising enough. The stage was well-set and Taylor took me back to the 18th Century with very little effort. The historical details were terrific without being overwhelming. But after introducing the characters with very interesting scenes, he did not sustain the same sort of story-telling throughout. I hit the mid-way point and found that I didn't much care about these people or what really happened. I soldiered on just to find out who did it and why it affected Frank so much....but, honestly, if I hadn't needed the book for some challenges, I might not have finished. Two stars--for the promising beginning and the fine quotes I gathered.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting.
Quotes:
Books are not luxuries. They are meat and drink for the mind. [Ned Farmer; p. 22]
The footman had conducted Holdsworth across the hall, through an anteroom and into a long and shabby apartment at the back of the house. The books were everywhere--in cases ranged along the walls, stacked on tables, and the floor, overflowing from the doorway of a closet at the end of the room. [p. 29]
He had seen the libraries of too many men, both living and dead, to be surprised by what they contained. A man's library was like his mind: some of its contents might not be suitable for young gentlemen at the University, or indeed for his grieving widow or his fatherless children. [p. 33]
Money was a powerful thing, Holdsworth thought, the true philosopher's stone, with the power of transmuting dreams. [p. 45]
"Money makes it very serious. Her ladyship has given you all this before you have lifted a finger for her. She will expect a return. The rich always do."
Holdsworth smiled at him. "That is why they are rich." [Ned Farmer; John Holdsworth; p. 46]
Ghosts, whether real or alleged, usually have an identity, and that is, in itself, of significance. [Elinor Carbury; p. 51]
EC: ...Jerusalem [College] is a world within a world. So is any college in this University, or perhaps at any university. A college is a world with its own laws and customs.
JH: It might be a world of savages for aught I know.
[Elinor Carbury; John Holdsworth; p. 59]
Horace's recipe advises only a dash of folly in one's wisdom, and Mr. Archdale appears to have mistaken the proportions in his moral cookery. [Mr. Richardson; p. 62]
But, back to the review....The story revolves around Frank Oldershaw, the only son of Lady Anne Oldershaw and a student at Jerusalem College, Cambridge. Frank has gotten himself mixed up with the Holy Ghost Club (read a hellfire club) and after some unpleasant experiences there, he begins seeing the ghost of the deceased wife of one of the College's members. He becomes quite violent and is tucked away in a madhouse as a result. Lady Anne Oldeshaw calls upon John Holdsworth to get to the bottom of what exactly has happened to her son and charges him with bringing the young man back to sanity. Holdsworth is no doctor and has no experience with mental disease--but that's not why she wants his help.
As the result of personal tragedy (the deaths of both his son and his wife), Holdsworth has written a book called The Anatomy of Ghosts--discrediting the idea of ghosts and the charlatans who claim to put the grieving in touch with them. Lady Oldershaw wants Holdsworth to prove to her son that ghosts don't exist and believes that this will be enough to return his reason to him. Holdworth finds that he must find out what really happened to Sylvia (the dead woman whose "ghost" was seen) before he can help Frank. But that is no easy task....and the answers may not be ones that either the College or Lady Oldershaw want to hear.
As I mentioned, this book started out promising enough. The stage was well-set and Taylor took me back to the 18th Century with very little effort. The historical details were terrific without being overwhelming. But after introducing the characters with very interesting scenes, he did not sustain the same sort of story-telling throughout. I hit the mid-way point and found that I didn't much care about these people or what really happened. I soldiered on just to find out who did it and why it affected Frank so much....but, honestly, if I hadn't needed the book for some challenges, I might not have finished. Two stars--for the promising beginning and the fine quotes I gathered.
This review was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting.
Quotes:
Books are not luxuries. They are meat and drink for the mind. [Ned Farmer; p. 22]
The footman had conducted Holdsworth across the hall, through an anteroom and into a long and shabby apartment at the back of the house. The books were everywhere--in cases ranged along the walls, stacked on tables, and the floor, overflowing from the doorway of a closet at the end of the room. [p. 29]
He had seen the libraries of too many men, both living and dead, to be surprised by what they contained. A man's library was like his mind: some of its contents might not be suitable for young gentlemen at the University, or indeed for his grieving widow or his fatherless children. [p. 33]
Money was a powerful thing, Holdsworth thought, the true philosopher's stone, with the power of transmuting dreams. [p. 45]
"Money makes it very serious. Her ladyship has given you all this before you have lifted a finger for her. She will expect a return. The rich always do."
Holdsworth smiled at him. "That is why they are rich." [Ned Farmer; John Holdsworth; p. 46]
Ghosts, whether real or alleged, usually have an identity, and that is, in itself, of significance. [Elinor Carbury; p. 51]
EC: ...Jerusalem [College] is a world within a world. So is any college in this University, or perhaps at any university. A college is a world with its own laws and customs.
JH: It might be a world of savages for aught I know.
[Elinor Carbury; John Holdsworth; p. 59]
Horace's recipe advises only a dash of folly in one's wisdom, and Mr. Archdale appears to have mistaken the proportions in his moral cookery. [Mr. Richardson; p. 62]
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February 5, 2024This was an interesting premise, but sadly I couldn't connect to the writing style and found myself struggling with the violence against women/attitudes toward women that permeated the novel due to the time period.
December 16, 2015
A good friend of mine raves about Andrew Taylor, and now I know why. I'd never read anything by him before, so when I saw The Anatomy of Ghosts available to advanced reviewers, I jumped on the chance to read it - and I very much enjoyed it. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of his books.
The story takes place mainly at Cambridge University, where a young student claims to have seen a ghost and is taken to a nearby sanitarium for treatment. His mother, Lady Anne, who is connected with the University and is concerned for her son, hires a down-on-his-luck man to investigate the matter and restore her son to his right mind.
This story is chock full of interesting characters, all of whom step right off the page and into living color. Jerusalem college (a college within the larger University), is almost a character in itself with secrets and habits and its own lifestyle. The young men who go there to learn come away with much, much more than the degree they studied for. It was quite intriguing, and put me in mind of rumors and whispers that one hears about old campuses like that.
I particularly loved the writing, though. The story takes place in the late 18th century, and the writing set the tone, character, and pace perfectly, without venturing off into wordy exposition, all the while keeping the suspense and the intrigue going. Quite a feat! Too often historical fiction forgets itself and strays into modernity in order to ramp up the tension and suspense, but Taylor did not lapse at all.
I also really enjoyed the slight social commentary running throughout the novel, with regards to rank and position and power. Of course this is a popular theme throughout history, as people have always been obsessed with rank and position and power, but I felt that here it was put on display, in a way. It's hard to say just what I mean, because I don't mean that the writing was Austen-esque in terms of satirical social commentary, but rather that it was so gritty and real feeling that a modern reader would see it as such. It was not glorified or glamorous, but rather what I think was an accurate representation of the lengths that some will go to to attain power and the lengths some will go to to keep it. Fascinating stuff.
I would have given this book 5 stars, except that I feel that one portion of the plot was not resolved at all in the end, and I was left a little disappointed. The ending itself was satisfying, and I could not guess any of the twists and turns that the story would take (and there were quite a few!), but this one little detail was irksome for not being resolved, and so I had to drop down the rating a bit. Otherwise, I was drawn in and engaged in the story, and felt as if I was watching from the sidelines rather than reading, and I love the feeling of falling through the pages of a book.
I definitely recommend this one to historical fiction, mystery and thriller fans.
The story takes place mainly at Cambridge University, where a young student claims to have seen a ghost and is taken to a nearby sanitarium for treatment. His mother, Lady Anne, who is connected with the University and is concerned for her son, hires a down-on-his-luck man to investigate the matter and restore her son to his right mind.
This story is chock full of interesting characters, all of whom step right off the page and into living color. Jerusalem college (a college within the larger University), is almost a character in itself with secrets and habits and its own lifestyle. The young men who go there to learn come away with much, much more than the degree they studied for. It was quite intriguing, and put me in mind of rumors and whispers that one hears about old campuses like that.
I particularly loved the writing, though. The story takes place in the late 18th century, and the writing set the tone, character, and pace perfectly, without venturing off into wordy exposition, all the while keeping the suspense and the intrigue going. Quite a feat! Too often historical fiction forgets itself and strays into modernity in order to ramp up the tension and suspense, but Taylor did not lapse at all.
I also really enjoyed the slight social commentary running throughout the novel, with regards to rank and position and power. Of course this is a popular theme throughout history, as people have always been obsessed with rank and position and power, but I felt that here it was put on display, in a way. It's hard to say just what I mean, because I don't mean that the writing was Austen-esque in terms of satirical social commentary, but rather that it was so gritty and real feeling that a modern reader would see it as such. It was not glorified or glamorous, but rather what I think was an accurate representation of the lengths that some will go to to attain power and the lengths some will go to to keep it. Fascinating stuff.
I would have given this book 5 stars, except that I feel that one portion of the plot was not resolved at all in the end, and I was left a little disappointed. The ending itself was satisfying, and I could not guess any of the twists and turns that the story would take (and there were quite a few!), but this one little detail was irksome for not being resolved, and so I had to drop down the rating a bit. Otherwise, I was drawn in and engaged in the story, and felt as if I was watching from the sidelines rather than reading, and I love the feeling of falling through the pages of a book.
I definitely recommend this one to historical fiction, mystery and thriller fans.
June 3, 2011
The Anatomy of Ghosts is a murder mystery set in seventeenth century Britain, in the city of Cambridge, at the fictional Jerusalem College, which the preface tells us is modeled after the nonfictional Emmanuel College. The amateur detective called in to investigate the deaths has just written a scathing indictment of psychic phenomenon of any kind, chiefly ghosts. Because some Cambridge residents have claimed to see ghosts of the victims, the officials at the college think an amateur skilled in debunking the supernatural will be more effective than any further police work in the matter.
So our hero arrives, gathers the usual suspects, makes a close friend of one of them who had been mistakenly put in an asylum for the criminally insane, even falls in love with another one, the wife of one of the college officials who is on his deathbed. The emotions our detective feels for these people “haunt” him more than any supernatural entity could.
And that’s what makes this a really good read. The reader feels for the ghost hunter as he goes about his business, and his friendships. The stifled eroticism of every character in the story comes through as a determining factor in how everyone views all aspects of their lives, their belief in the supernatural or in rational thought, or both. It makes for some wonderful character work, and some wonderful scenes, both sad and suspenseful, and sometimes even a little funny.
So our hero arrives, gathers the usual suspects, makes a close friend of one of them who had been mistakenly put in an asylum for the criminally insane, even falls in love with another one, the wife of one of the college officials who is on his deathbed. The emotions our detective feels for these people “haunt” him more than any supernatural entity could.
And that’s what makes this a really good read. The reader feels for the ghost hunter as he goes about his business, and his friendships. The stifled eroticism of every character in the story comes through as a determining factor in how everyone views all aspects of their lives, their belief in the supernatural or in rational thought, or both. It makes for some wonderful character work, and some wonderful scenes, both sad and suspenseful, and sometimes even a little funny.
February 27, 2019
For the most part, I enjoyed this, although the attitude fostered in the young men of the Holy Ghost club towards women, is going to be a bit much for some readers to swallow. But then that's kind of the point. On its surface, The Anatomy of Ghosts is a classic gothic novel where the ghostly subplot mirrors and enhances the themes and conflicts of the main and non supernatural plot. Beneath that, the book takes a look at how the vulnerable in society - the young and inexperienced, the poor, those with no social status of their own eg women, the grieving - are taken advantage of and exploited by those with dubious morals. Holdsworth is an engaging if not always entirely likeable character as he emerges from the grief of losing his wife and son to solve the mystery surrounding a young aristocrats supposed madness. His quest leads him to confront and question all his previously held beliefs, as logic and reason battle against superstition and wish fulfilment.
Don't go into this one expecting creepiness of the ghostly variety. This is not horror and the only monsters are the very entitled men of Jerusalem College in Cambridge. It's still a good book and if you like a mystery, this is for you.
Don't go into this one expecting creepiness of the ghostly variety. This is not horror and the only monsters are the very entitled men of Jerusalem College in Cambridge. It's still a good book and if you like a mystery, this is for you.
October 10, 2022
This one stumped me, one moment I was completely and utterly enthralled and the next totally bored.
A wonderfully atmospheric whodunnit, that kept me reading but didn't keep me hooked....
A wonderfully atmospheric whodunnit, that kept me reading but didn't keep me hooked....
February 21, 2017
Meh.. this is not the book I am looking for (to coin a phrase)
I was looking for: a 'post-halloween'creepy book with atmosphere and some ghosts.
I got: insight into 1780s English society and the dire straits of academia (events take place against a 'Cambridge college' background). AND...
I found out how privies were emptied (I had actually wondered about this in the past - honest!)
In summary:
The pace of the narrative was slow, especially in the first half. For me, the book lacked atmosphere and most of the characters left me cold. When the pace did pick up, I looked forward to a satisfying solution and a clever twist to the tale; there were well-placed hints after all... I was disappointed on both counts.
To be fair, although the novel wasn't what I was expecting, it did have real possibilities. There were some good moments of wry humour and the historical detail was very believable. The quaint historical English was still easy to read and a few ghost sightings were mentioned (and explained away), but the execution just wasn't for me. I felt the book didn't keep its promises - it climaxed, then fizzled out leaving a whole lot of loose ends behind
: (
I was looking for: a 'post-halloween'creepy book with atmosphere and some ghosts.
I got: insight into 1780s English society and the dire straits of academia (events take place against a 'Cambridge college' background). AND...
I found out how privies were emptied (I had actually wondered about this in the past - honest!)
In summary:
The pace of the narrative was slow, especially in the first half. For me, the book lacked atmosphere and most of the characters left me cold. When the pace did pick up, I looked forward to a satisfying solution and a clever twist to the tale; there were well-placed hints after all... I was disappointed on both counts.
To be fair, although the novel wasn't what I was expecting, it did have real possibilities. There were some good moments of wry humour and the historical detail was very believable. The quaint historical English was still easy to read and a few ghost sightings were mentioned (and explained away), but the execution just wasn't for me. I felt the book didn't keep its promises - it climaxed, then fizzled out leaving a whole lot of loose ends behind
: (
January 19, 2011
I was disappointed by this historical mystery. My main problem was with the plot. It was intruiging at the start, but got slower and slower as the book progressed. I got half way through and realised that I really didn't care what happened, so I abandoned it. I think part of the problem was that none of the characters particularly "stood out", and I had trouble remembering who some of the minor characters were, so I didn't have a "need" to read on when the plot slowed down.
I didn't think the historical period was particularly well portrayed either. In my opinion, Restoration (Rose Tremain), An Instance of The Fingerpost (Iain Pears) and the Shardlake series (C.J Sansom all much better at evoking a period of history (not necessarily the same period as The Anatomy of Ghosts).
Finally, there was an irritating would-be supernatural theme which didn't come across at all to me. It seemed to me that the author forgot it for pages and pages, and then threw in some reference to someone thinking they had seen a ghost, and that was it.
I didn't think the historical period was particularly well portrayed either. In my opinion, Restoration (Rose Tremain), An Instance of The Fingerpost (Iain Pears) and the Shardlake series (C.J Sansom all much better at evoking a period of history (not necessarily the same period as The Anatomy of Ghosts).
Finally, there was an irritating would-be supernatural theme which didn't come across at all to me. It seemed to me that the author forgot it for pages and pages, and then threw in some reference to someone thinking they had seen a ghost, and that was it.
Read
August 11, 2018Required reading to help my mother host her mystery book club.
July 18, 2010
Andrew Taylor is a very prolific author with over forty novels under his belt but he didn't come to my attention until 2003 with the publication of his first historical crime novel, The American Boy which was one of the Richard and Judy Book Club choices. I have been a fan ever since and equally enjoyed Bleeding Heart Square published in 2008.
In The Anatomy of Ghosts we are plunged into the murky, quirky world of Cambrige University in 1786, focussing particularly on the goings on at Jerusalem College (modelled, structurally anyway, on the actual Emmanuel College). Hedonism is the order of the day with the lavish excesses of the paying students contrasting sharply with the deprived, straitened circumstances of the scholarship pupils aka "sizars". John Holdsworth, recently widowed and down on his luck, has been employed by Lady Anne Oldershaw to recover and rehabilitate her son Frank who seems to have experienced a nervous breakdown following high jinks at the Holy Ghost Club. There are two suspicious deaths, rumours of ghosts, much political manoeuvring amongst lecturers and not much real studying going on in this academic environment!
In Taylor's previous historical novels, I was very impressed by his fluid storytelling and how he completely immerses the reader in the sights, sounds and smells of the period. I'm pleased to report that these skills are equally at play here to the extent that even the less pleasant smells are vividly recreated, for example Tom Turdman, the night soil man who collects the excretions of the students. None of the characters are particularly likeable and one has the impression that everyone is strongly in favour of self-advancement by whatever means necessary. It is a predominantly male cast as befits the era and environment, with the exception of Elinor Carbury, much suffering wife of the Master but then again she doesn't entirely gain our sympathies given that she, like her male neighbours, is equally set on personal gain.
This is a real page turner of a novel, the 480 pages flew by in a couple of sittings and I really felt I had an insight, however brief, into the curious world of Cambridge in the late 18th century. It is reminiscent of Tom Sharpe's excellent Porterhouse Blue and although obviously in a much earlier setting, it confirms the unofficial power of the porters and "gyps" (college runners) - yet another example of profiteering and self-gain! Considering I've been experiencing a bit of reader's block recently it is yet further recommendation of this novel as it has pulled me out of the literary wilderness - highly recommended.
In The Anatomy of Ghosts we are plunged into the murky, quirky world of Cambrige University in 1786, focussing particularly on the goings on at Jerusalem College (modelled, structurally anyway, on the actual Emmanuel College). Hedonism is the order of the day with the lavish excesses of the paying students contrasting sharply with the deprived, straitened circumstances of the scholarship pupils aka "sizars". John Holdsworth, recently widowed and down on his luck, has been employed by Lady Anne Oldershaw to recover and rehabilitate her son Frank who seems to have experienced a nervous breakdown following high jinks at the Holy Ghost Club. There are two suspicious deaths, rumours of ghosts, much political manoeuvring amongst lecturers and not much real studying going on in this academic environment!
In Taylor's previous historical novels, I was very impressed by his fluid storytelling and how he completely immerses the reader in the sights, sounds and smells of the period. I'm pleased to report that these skills are equally at play here to the extent that even the less pleasant smells are vividly recreated, for example Tom Turdman, the night soil man who collects the excretions of the students. None of the characters are particularly likeable and one has the impression that everyone is strongly in favour of self-advancement by whatever means necessary. It is a predominantly male cast as befits the era and environment, with the exception of Elinor Carbury, much suffering wife of the Master but then again she doesn't entirely gain our sympathies given that she, like her male neighbours, is equally set on personal gain.
This is a real page turner of a novel, the 480 pages flew by in a couple of sittings and I really felt I had an insight, however brief, into the curious world of Cambridge in the late 18th century. It is reminiscent of Tom Sharpe's excellent Porterhouse Blue and although obviously in a much earlier setting, it confirms the unofficial power of the porters and "gyps" (college runners) - yet another example of profiteering and self-gain! Considering I've been experiencing a bit of reader's block recently it is yet further recommendation of this novel as it has pulled me out of the literary wilderness - highly recommended.
February 27, 2011
The Anatomy of Ghosts is an entertaining historical mystery set in and around Cambridge University in the late 18th century. I should read historical mysteries more often because I almost always enjoy them - and this one was no exception.
When London bookseller John Holdsworth's son is drowned in a tragic accident, his wife insists that their little boy is communicating with them from the spirit world. Holdsworth doesn't agree and is so disgusted by his wife's claims that he decides to write a book in which he attempts to prove that ghosts don't exist. The title of Holdworth's book is The Anatomy of Ghosts and it soon brings him to the attention of Lady Anne Oldershaw. Her son, Frank, has suffered a nervous breakdown after apparently seeing the ghost of a friend's wife, Mrs Whichcote, at Jerusalem College, Cambridge. Holdsworth agrees to help Frank - and at the same time he begins to uncover the truth behind what really happened to Mrs Whichcote.
This is the first book I've read by Andrew Taylor and I really liked his writing style - it's detailed yet flows nicely and is easy to read. Some might find the book too slow to begin with, but it does pick up pace. Something that really impressed me about Taylor's writing was the way he managed to bring his settings so vibrantly to life. Whether he was describing John Holdsworth pushing his barrow of old books through the bustling streets of 18th century London or a couple of students in their caps and gowns strolling through the quiet courtyards and gardens of Cambridge, the sounds, sights and even the smells are incredibly vivid. As a historical novel, though, I think it would have benefited from a few points of reference to anchor the story in the 1700s, as it did at times feel more like the Victorian period to me.
The characters, unfortunately, were not the most likeable of people. In fact, I didn't like any of them, not even Holdsworth, but it didn't matter too much - the strength of this book was definitely its plot rather than its characters. And I've been left intrigued about what was actually in John Holdsworth's book, The Anatomy of Ghosts. It would have been a nice addition to the story if we could have read a few excerpts!
When London bookseller John Holdsworth's son is drowned in a tragic accident, his wife insists that their little boy is communicating with them from the spirit world. Holdsworth doesn't agree and is so disgusted by his wife's claims that he decides to write a book in which he attempts to prove that ghosts don't exist. The title of Holdworth's book is The Anatomy of Ghosts and it soon brings him to the attention of Lady Anne Oldershaw. Her son, Frank, has suffered a nervous breakdown after apparently seeing the ghost of a friend's wife, Mrs Whichcote, at Jerusalem College, Cambridge. Holdsworth agrees to help Frank - and at the same time he begins to uncover the truth behind what really happened to Mrs Whichcote.
This is the first book I've read by Andrew Taylor and I really liked his writing style - it's detailed yet flows nicely and is easy to read. Some might find the book too slow to begin with, but it does pick up pace. Something that really impressed me about Taylor's writing was the way he managed to bring his settings so vibrantly to life. Whether he was describing John Holdsworth pushing his barrow of old books through the bustling streets of 18th century London or a couple of students in their caps and gowns strolling through the quiet courtyards and gardens of Cambridge, the sounds, sights and even the smells are incredibly vivid. As a historical novel, though, I think it would have benefited from a few points of reference to anchor the story in the 1700s, as it did at times feel more like the Victorian period to me.
The characters, unfortunately, were not the most likeable of people. In fact, I didn't like any of them, not even Holdsworth, but it didn't matter too much - the strength of this book was definitely its plot rather than its characters. And I've been left intrigued about what was actually in John Holdsworth's book, The Anatomy of Ghosts. It would have been a nice addition to the story if we could have read a few excerpts!
December 2, 2010
The Anatomy of Ghosts – a great title.
A mystery – one of my favorite genres.
Ghosts – love those, too, or rather I love to read about them.
Cambridge in 1786, a small college, a secret society – put them all together and you have a novel with great promise.
The prologue and first chapter are quite creepy. And then Holdsworth, a down-on-his-luck printer and bookseller, is sent from London to Cambridge, ostensibly to assess the college's library, but actually to help a rich student who has apparently gone insane, and sees ghosts. Holdsworth has been hand-picked because he published a book, The Anatomy of Ghosts, which debunks their existence.
The book didn't quite live up to my expectations. Holdsworth isn't particularly likeable. A couple of pages after saying he will not betray a trust, he does exactly that. And he is the best of the lot. I just couldn't connect with the characters. There was a bit of romance that seemed to me not particularly romantic but also not particularly believable. The mystery was not, to me anyway, especially compelling. There was too much description, especially of physical layouts of the college and town, and not enough action, a sparsity of ghosts. There was some complexity in the various characters and their connections to one another, and I did like that. I also liked the rather formal language that seemed appropriate for the time. The plot was interesting, it just moved too slowly for me.
This book has already received some very positive reviews. I did think it was a pleasant read, but perhaps I am just not the right audience for this novel.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, for which I am grateful.
A mystery – one of my favorite genres.
Ghosts – love those, too, or rather I love to read about them.
Cambridge in 1786, a small college, a secret society – put them all together and you have a novel with great promise.
The prologue and first chapter are quite creepy. And then Holdsworth, a down-on-his-luck printer and bookseller, is sent from London to Cambridge, ostensibly to assess the college's library, but actually to help a rich student who has apparently gone insane, and sees ghosts. Holdsworth has been hand-picked because he published a book, The Anatomy of Ghosts, which debunks their existence.
The book didn't quite live up to my expectations. Holdsworth isn't particularly likeable. A couple of pages after saying he will not betray a trust, he does exactly that. And he is the best of the lot. I just couldn't connect with the characters. There was a bit of romance that seemed to me not particularly romantic but also not particularly believable. The mystery was not, to me anyway, especially compelling. There was too much description, especially of physical layouts of the college and town, and not enough action, a sparsity of ghosts. There was some complexity in the various characters and their connections to one another, and I did like that. I also liked the rather formal language that seemed appropriate for the time. The plot was interesting, it just moved too slowly for me.
This book has already received some very positive reviews. I did think it was a pleasant read, but perhaps I am just not the right audience for this novel.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, for which I am grateful.
January 5, 2011
I wish there were more stars to give because I don't know when I've enjoyed a book more.
John Holdsworth is a printer and bookseller who has a series of misfortunes that devastate his life. His son is drowned and his wife slowly goes mad with grief, giving money to mediums who tell her they have messages for her from her son. This terrible situation leads John to write a book called The Anatomy of Ghosts, in which he debunks ghostly sightings and messages from the dead.
Sadly, his wife then drowns herself and John loses both his home and business. He's forced to sell the remainder of his books out of a wheelbarrow on the street.
Just when things are at their worst for John, Lady Anne Oldershaw hires him to assess her husband's library. She has an ulterior motive, however, for her son has become mentally deranged after meeting the ghost of a woman on the grounds of Jerusalem College in Cambridge.
John is an outsider to this closed college community, but somehow, he finds his way through the social complexities. He applies his skepticism to the problem of Frank, Lady Anne Oldershaw's son, and the ghost, which leads him to the murder of Sylvia Whichcote, the wife of the President of the Holy Ghost club of Jerusalem College.
This hardly serves to give a feel for the rich complexity of the story. I loved the characters and the wonderful glimpses into both the everyday life and the cloistered life of small colleges during the 18th century. I sincerely hope to see future books featuring John. He's an attractive, thoughtful character who I'd love to see again.
John Holdsworth is a printer and bookseller who has a series of misfortunes that devastate his life. His son is drowned and his wife slowly goes mad with grief, giving money to mediums who tell her they have messages for her from her son. This terrible situation leads John to write a book called The Anatomy of Ghosts, in which he debunks ghostly sightings and messages from the dead.
Sadly, his wife then drowns herself and John loses both his home and business. He's forced to sell the remainder of his books out of a wheelbarrow on the street.
Just when things are at their worst for John, Lady Anne Oldershaw hires him to assess her husband's library. She has an ulterior motive, however, for her son has become mentally deranged after meeting the ghost of a woman on the grounds of Jerusalem College in Cambridge.
John is an outsider to this closed college community, but somehow, he finds his way through the social complexities. He applies his skepticism to the problem of Frank, Lady Anne Oldershaw's son, and the ghost, which leads him to the murder of Sylvia Whichcote, the wife of the President of the Holy Ghost club of Jerusalem College.
This hardly serves to give a feel for the rich complexity of the story. I loved the characters and the wonderful glimpses into both the everyday life and the cloistered life of small colleges during the 18th century. I sincerely hope to see future books featuring John. He's an attractive, thoughtful character who I'd love to see again.
January 4, 2018
Ian so glad I have discovered Andrew Taylor. I just want to devour anything written by him. I am trying to be sensible and read the hundreds of other books on my kindle, some which have been waiting patiently to be read for some time, but am really struggling to disengage from his books.
I absolutely adored The Roth Trilogy (my first encounter with Andrew Taylor) and didn't have high hopes for this as I thought nothing could surpass this utterly exceptional trilogy; but I should have had more faith as this is stunning.
I am just love historical novels and totally immerse myself in them, especially when they are beautifully written and the writing flows effortlessly, like this one does. The book is set in 1786 in a University known as Jerusalem College,
I won't cover any of the story as this has been covered by other reviewers, save to say that I really liked John Holdsworth and his efforts to uncover the truth of recent shocking events which had taken place at Jerusalem.
I was so engrossed in the story I felt I had been transported back to that time and could visualise the terrible living conditions of the poor, together with the dress of the day; I honestly didn't want it to end.
Wonderful and highly recommended.
I absolutely adored The Roth Trilogy (my first encounter with Andrew Taylor) and didn't have high hopes for this as I thought nothing could surpass this utterly exceptional trilogy; but I should have had more faith as this is stunning.
I am just love historical novels and totally immerse myself in them, especially when they are beautifully written and the writing flows effortlessly, like this one does. The book is set in 1786 in a University known as Jerusalem College,
I won't cover any of the story as this has been covered by other reviewers, save to say that I really liked John Holdsworth and his efforts to uncover the truth of recent shocking events which had taken place at Jerusalem.
I was so engrossed in the story I felt I had been transported back to that time and could visualise the terrible living conditions of the poor, together with the dress of the day; I honestly didn't want it to end.
Wonderful and highly recommended.
December 29, 2010
I'm rounding up from 2.5 stars...
This novel was very slowly paced, I grew to like the characters by the end but it was a very slow growth. I would not characterize this novel the way the publisher has by calling it a "suspenseful thriller", doing so will only serve to set readers up for disappointment. I also disagree with Rhys Bowen's description of this novel, she says that it is "...a journey into an exquisitely detailed Eighteenth Century".
Period details are not particularly abundant and they did not feel specific to the eighteenth century.
Taylor's pacing is plodding, the characters a very sparingly revealed to the reader and it is only by the very end of the novel that we have a sense of who the main players are, which is part of the mystery of course but may require a patient reader to enjoy.
This author is very prolific having published over twenty-five other books. I would consider reading another one of his novels, he is a good writer. But I'm afraid that this novel may be suffering from false advertising, if readers had more realistic expectations about the story they might enjoy it more. I believe that was true for this reader as well.
This novel was very slowly paced, I grew to like the characters by the end but it was a very slow growth. I would not characterize this novel the way the publisher has by calling it a "suspenseful thriller", doing so will only serve to set readers up for disappointment. I also disagree with Rhys Bowen's description of this novel, she says that it is "...a journey into an exquisitely detailed Eighteenth Century".
Period details are not particularly abundant and they did not feel specific to the eighteenth century.
Taylor's pacing is plodding, the characters a very sparingly revealed to the reader and it is only by the very end of the novel that we have a sense of who the main players are, which is part of the mystery of course but may require a patient reader to enjoy.
This author is very prolific having published over twenty-five other books. I would consider reading another one of his novels, he is a good writer. But I'm afraid that this novel may be suffering from false advertising, if readers had more realistic expectations about the story they might enjoy it more. I believe that was true for this reader as well.
May 23, 2011
The one thing I took away from this book was how bad Cambridge smelled in the 18th century. Every chapter, right to the bitter end, describes the stink ad nauseum. No doubt this adds to the authenticity, but what with the frequent vomiting, ritual rape of virgins as an initiation ceremony (by men calling themselves Jesus and the twelve apostles), and the general corruption of the university, I had a hard time finishing this one.
November 30, 2016
A bit of a mixed bag! Very well written in parts, particularly the first half, but unfortunately lost the plot a bit after that. I am being generous with my rating!
This story isa period mystery set in Cambridge college at the end of the 17th century. As a mystery it had great potential but it became convoluted with too many characters and poorly developed threads. As a social commentary it was really interesting.
This story isa period mystery set in Cambridge college at the end of the 17th century. As a mystery it had great potential but it became convoluted with too many characters and poorly developed threads. As a social commentary it was really interesting.
October 17, 2011
My favorite of all of the Andrew Taylor books I've read. He has a sure touch with historical atmospherics as well as creating characters that are modern enough to be intelligible, but that don't seem out of place with their milieu. Most enjoyable.
July 14, 2012
This elegant story of ghosts & madness takes place in Cambridge in late 1700's. It’s a fabulous read full of the interesting twists & turns of a well developed mystery story. I’d highly recommend it.
October 29, 2018
Visit the locations in the novel
I really enjoyed this one! From the first page I felt immersed in the time and setting and then as the pages turned, the intrigue and fear about going off to Cambridge in search of a spirit....
I should say first of all that I was expecting more of a ghost/supernatural story which this wasn’t and that pleased me. It was more of a mystery and a who dunnit in the classic sense and so some people might find the ghost aspect lacking.
The first few chapters were a bit grim though! Death and human waste, suicide and more of the brown stuff...I felt a bit queasy if I’m honest. But I put on a face mask and carried on. And I’m pleased that I did.
Starting off in London with the story of a bookbinder, John Holdsworth was a fascinating character. He writes a book called The Anatomy of Ghosts ( basically saying that they don’t exist) and that leads him to becoming involved in an investigation. He is tasked with searching for a ghost (ie denouncing the existence of) in Cambridge for a rich lady who is worried about her son. Her son, a student at the esteemed university has lost his wits having seen an apparition.. John is tasked with proving that no such ghost exists
Well, that’s not going to be as straight forward as you might think and the author recreates the feel of an old gothic thriller and book which might have been the kind to be in serialisation back in the day.
And therein lies the haunting nature of the Cambridge college, its secretive
Holy Ghost Club and the debauchery and corruption this world reveals. The setting (luckily fictional) is gothic, dark, creepy, claustrophobic and more and you’ll be holding on your face mask with one hand, and holding a candle in the other whilst propping up your book on a lectern. It reveals a lot about a hidden world of secrets societies and ghostly beliefs and it’s a fascinating read.
There’s a page at the start of the book which reads like a scroll of paper - announcing the ghostly investigation to follow which I thought was brilliant. Really helped set the scene and the rest flowed from there. I felt as if I’d unearthed a book lost in a dusty library somewhere, written in a time long gone and to think that a modern author has done all of this in one book made me shiver with excitement.
Brrrrr. I can see why he created a fictional college though! Booktrailers will still find plenty to explore for real. London and Cambridge are evoked with style and gothic splendour.
January 5, 2018
Now here's a writer of historical novels I only found because my friendly librarians recommended the author and the novel. A classic case of word of mouth being an author's friend. Well, I am now on the list for his next novel and a waiting list for his past novels. I like Andrew Taylor's style of writing and his way with historical details.
This novel is set in the late 18thC, but we do not have our noses constantly rubbed in the muck and mess. It's there but in proportion to how the characters would see/smell it. Our MC and hero is John Holdsworth, who is a common man, and unlucky bookseller and printer who lost first his son and some months later, his wife, drowned in the river Thames. He wrote a book about ghosts to help assuage his grief. After a fire burns down his business he is forced to take employment to catalogue a library in Jerusalem College, Cambridge and find out the truth about a ghost. Of course what he uncovers are the ghosts of old crimes and sins as well as the truth about the one he was sent to investigate.
This is a good solid historical. Research seems spot on, and not overloaded onto the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who likes a well written hit-myst, or to readers who like a good read.
This novel is set in the late 18thC, but we do not have our noses constantly rubbed in the muck and mess. It's there but in proportion to how the characters would see/smell it. Our MC and hero is John Holdsworth, who is a common man, and unlucky bookseller and printer who lost first his son and some months later, his wife, drowned in the river Thames. He wrote a book about ghosts to help assuage his grief. After a fire burns down his business he is forced to take employment to catalogue a library in Jerusalem College, Cambridge and find out the truth about a ghost. Of course what he uncovers are the ghosts of old crimes and sins as well as the truth about the one he was sent to investigate.
This is a good solid historical. Research seems spot on, and not overloaded onto the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who likes a well written hit-myst, or to readers who like a good read.
June 16, 2021
För snart 20 år sedan läste jag Andrew Taylors Rothtrilogi. Som jag inte alls var speciellt förtjust i. Sedan upptäckte jag att det här tydligen var en väldigt populär författare, omtyckt av många. Alltså tänkte jag att jag måste ge honom en andra chans. Jag köpte Nattvandraren på bokrean 2012 och nej, den har inte lockat till läsning. I år tog jag med den i min Vi möts igen-utmaning.
Om jag ska vara helt ärligt så hade jag nog ingen koll på vad den här boken handlade om och jag blev lite överraskad när jag plötsligt befann mig i slutet av 1700-talet. Miljön är både spännande och intressant, dessutom beskrivs den på ett fantastiskt sätt, så jag nästan kan känna stanken. Det är så otroligt äckligt, smutsigt och illaluktande. Det är inga trevliga omständigheter för vare sig kvinnor eller fattiga. När jag skulle skriva ihop det här inlägget så upptäckte jag att det tydligen finns en genre som heter aka-porr (akademisk porr alltså) och ja, det kan nog passa på denna. Collegelivet verkar inte ha ändrats nämnvärt på dessa, drygt, 200 år; mer fest än plugg.
Det tog mig nästan en vecka att läsa ut Nattvandraren, vilket är onormalt för en bok på lite drygt 400 sidor. Detta är dock en riktigt bra skildring av klassamhället, om man nu går igång på det. Likaså om man bryr sig mer om stämning och utanpåverk än substans och innehåll. Mig passar det inte alls.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
Om jag ska vara helt ärligt så hade jag nog ingen koll på vad den här boken handlade om och jag blev lite överraskad när jag plötsligt befann mig i slutet av 1700-talet. Miljön är både spännande och intressant, dessutom beskrivs den på ett fantastiskt sätt, så jag nästan kan känna stanken. Det är så otroligt äckligt, smutsigt och illaluktande. Det är inga trevliga omständigheter för vare sig kvinnor eller fattiga. När jag skulle skriva ihop det här inlägget så upptäckte jag att det tydligen finns en genre som heter aka-porr (akademisk porr alltså) och ja, det kan nog passa på denna. Collegelivet verkar inte ha ändrats nämnvärt på dessa, drygt, 200 år; mer fest än plugg.
Det tog mig nästan en vecka att läsa ut Nattvandraren, vilket är onormalt för en bok på lite drygt 400 sidor. Detta är dock en riktigt bra skildring av klassamhället, om man nu går igång på det. Likaså om man bryr sig mer om stämning och utanpåverk än substans och innehåll. Mig passar det inte alls.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
October 8, 2011
It's 1786 and John Holdsworth has had a string of unfortunate events occur. He has lost his son, wife and means of making a living. He gladly accepts the employment of a rich old lady, Anne, to discover what has happened to her grandson Frank Oldershaw. Frank has been locked away in a psychiatric institution (if the place can be called such, given the time) and is being kept from his friends. Frank claims to have seen the ghost of the recently deceased Sylvia. So John sets off to Cambridge, to the college of Jerusalem, to discover what is really going on.
This book is boring, uninteresting, uninspiring and one long yawn from beginning to end. Not once does the author manage to stir up a semblance of emotion in me. I do not give a rat's ass about Frank, John or any of the other characters and what they have to hide. The fairly poor rating on Goodread made me hesitate - but not enough to prevent reading. After all, I had already bought the book. Unfortunately, this book is not badly written - there are no obvious illogic passages, poor grammar or spelling or any of the like - so I spent the first 300 pages thinking it would get better and by the time I realized it wasn't, I was almost done anyway. This isn't a bad read. It's just b o r i n g.
This book is boring, uninteresting, uninspiring and one long yawn from beginning to end. Not once does the author manage to stir up a semblance of emotion in me. I do not give a rat's ass about Frank, John or any of the other characters and what they have to hide. The fairly poor rating on Goodread made me hesitate - but not enough to prevent reading. After all, I had already bought the book. Unfortunately, this book is not badly written - there are no obvious illogic passages, poor grammar or spelling or any of the like - so I spent the first 300 pages thinking it would get better and by the time I realized it wasn't, I was almost done anyway. This isn't a bad read. It's just b o r i n g.
July 4, 2013
This is the second novel I've read written by Andrew Taylor, and like the first it's atmospheric, filled with mystery, darkness, and love, redemption, and many layers. Several of themes resonant with me -- university politics, 19th century class tensions, book collections, ghosts, and marriages of conveniences. The book is basically about ghosts, or more specifically hauntings people have because of past actions. The Anatomy of ghosts refers to a short book written by Holdsworth-- the main character. As a way of dealing with his wife and young son's death he writes a short book, which attempts to prove why ghosts don't exist. This book is read by a wealthy, high class woman who has a son whose life has been destroyed by a ghost, and the lady hires Holdsworth to help try and save her son from his ghosts. Holdsworth agrees and what follows is a fascinating trip into Jerusalem college life, its esoteric and immoral men's clubs, and most importantly an exploration of why ghosts do exist. Taylor presents a different tale on ghosts-- one that is quite believable. One of the strengths of this book is that the story is told from several points of view. A riveting mystery. I plan on reading more of Andrew Taylor's novels.
January 2, 2012
I like it. A fun read. Good world building: England 230 years ago is as foreign, if not as obscure, as Rome 2000 years ago. Competent--if not dazzling plotting. Though the solution to the mystery was obvious early on, Taylor unravels it slowing enough to maintain interest.
One irritating devise is Taylor's restricting the reader to the point-of-view characters knowledge and thoughts, but not all of what the character knows or conjectures. At several critical plot points, revelations are further restricted to what the point-of-view character communicates to another. It increases tension, but its glaringly artificial.
Occasionally dramatic developments are obscured because they occur "off stage" from the point of view of some minor character, leaving the reader knowing less than the main characters. Frustrating.
Many loose ends at the end, but appropriate to life going on (or even setting the hook for a follow-on novel. The fate of the main characters is unknown, but we now know them--and they know themselves--fully. Our protagonist is left healed of, if not unhaunted by, his "ghosts."
One irritating devise is Taylor's restricting the reader to the point-of-view characters knowledge and thoughts, but not all of what the character knows or conjectures. At several critical plot points, revelations are further restricted to what the point-of-view character communicates to another. It increases tension, but its glaringly artificial.
Occasionally dramatic developments are obscured because they occur "off stage" from the point of view of some minor character, leaving the reader knowing less than the main characters. Frustrating.
Many loose ends at the end, but appropriate to life going on (or even setting the hook for a follow-on novel. The fate of the main characters is unknown, but we now know them--and they know themselves--fully. Our protagonist is left healed of, if not unhaunted by, his "ghosts."
April 7, 2011
Reviewers have come to expect the best from Andrew Taylor’s historical mysteries. As the Guardian critic pointed out, he does not write “whodunits” so much as “whydunnits”—mysteries that ultimately help explain why people in the past thought and behaved the way they did. Most reviewers argued that Taylor did just that in this novel. While a few critics felt the plot was somewhat strained, they felt his descriptions and characters were spot-on, which helped readers imagine the mix of superstition and Enlightenment that characterized 18th-century England. This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.
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