The author combined real-life events by inserting Thomas de Quincey, a sensational novelist known as the Opium Eater, into a reproduction of the Ratcliffe Highway murders that took place in 1811. The story takes place around the time of the Crimean War in Victorian England. Mr. Morrell has done a fine job of detailing the history and weaving a believable murder mystery. I was immersed in how he wrote about Victorian society and learned a lot, not only about the poverty-stricken residents of the East End of London but the hypocritical morals of the upper classes.
The characters are diverse, but the best parts of the story for me are told as journal entries by De Quincey's daughter, Emily. She is a much more forthright female for that era, and her observations are a delight.
It's a very enjoyable read, with an engaging story and setting. ( )

1854 and London is again hit with a spate of murders that seem to be a copycat of the Ratcliffe Highway murders of 1811. Thomas De Quincey, famed for his 'Confessions of an English Opium-Eater', is decreed to be the main suspect. Can the De Quinceys with the help of D.I. Ryan and Constable Becker find the murderer and determine his motives.
Really enjoyed this story, like the characters and got involved in the telling. I look forward to reading the next in the series. ( )

This is one of those fully realized books that worked for me on pretty much every level. The attention to detail is incredible but it is not obtained at the cost of plot or action. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and felt as if I had been transported back to 1850s London. ( )

Oh my, what an awesome book this is.

And it all started when I read about the follow up book on the web and that this author wrote the original Rambo novel. I was like, there was a novel to this movie? Oh well, that must be trash literature then (thought the first Rambo movie was great).

Anyway, so I bought this book, because you can't judge without having read and I am glad I read it because I absolutely enjoyed it from the first to the last page. My fear that this will be some steampunk crap was luckily extinguished early on. It is a classic detective story, playing during the Victorian time in London.

I am now really looking forward to the next book in this series and I am also intrigued by De Quincey "Confessions of an English Opium-Eater" and want to read that too. ( )

Murder as a Fine Art is exactly the kind of book I love. An historical mystery/thriller with just the right elements for it to have one leg in the horror genre. The opening chapter of the book is so shocking, it's like reading about a murder committed in our modern times. Hard to believe that it occurred in Victorian times. From the moment I started reading, I knew this was the book for me.

What I found most interesting was the criminology aspect of the book. The action takes place just ten years after the newly established detective bureau of the Scotland Yard had its detectives educated in France by the father of modern criminology, Eugene Francois Vidocq. There is a reason that all of these television shows, such as CSI and the new Hannibal, are so popular. We are fascinated by the solving of crimes. Morrell fills the bill with his meticulous investigator, Sean Ryan and his assistant, Constable Becker.

It is also the allure of Victorian times with the gaslight and the fog that make for great storytelling. Conjuring images of a dark figure intent on malicious acts walking the streets of London gives the reader a feeling of dread in the pit of the stomach. The palpable fear of the public as they live in fear that they might possibly be the next victim. This is edge-of-the-seat reading!

Morrell has impressed me previously with his thriller, Creepers--a book that has stuck with me since the day I finished reading it. There is no doubt that he is a masterful storyteller and this new foray into historical mysteries is something I hope he plans to continue. If you are fascinated by Victorian London with all its dark underbelly, then I highly recommend that you read this book...now!

Check out more of my reviews at http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/ ( )