Blog Book Tour | “Inspector of the Dead” (Book Two: Thomas De Quincey series) by David Morrell Included is a proper introductionary view into ‘Murder As A Fine Art’ the first in the dramatic series you simply cannot hesitate to read because of how it’s writ by Morrell to capture your curiosity!

Posted Wednesday, 15 April, 2015 by jorielov , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Ruminations & Impressions Book Review Banner created by Jorie in Canva. Photo Credit: Unsplash Public Domain Photographer Sergey Zolkin.

Acquired Book By:

I was selected to be a tour stop on the “Inspector of the Dead” virtual book tour through Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. I received a complimentary copy of “Inspector of the Dead” direct from the publisher Mulholland Books (an imprint of Little, Brown and Company via Hachette Book Group, Inc.), in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

Whilst I was requesting to be placed on this blog tour, I requested a copy of the first book in the series “Murder as a Fine Art” as I have never read a story by David Morrell; blessedly I received a complimentary copy of the book direct from the publisher Mulholland Books (an imprint of Little, Brown and Company via Hachette Book Group, Inc.) without being obligated to post a review, as my ruminations on behalf of this novel are for my own edification only.

Intrigued to Read:

I have been quite open about my passion for Cosy Mysteries, Cosy Historical Mysteries, Historical Suspense & Thrillers, inasmuch as a new directional curve to acquire a taste for what I refer to directly as ‘Cosy Horror‘ – an augmented slice of Horror’s original declarative section Psychological Suspense! How keen then, to discover within the opening pages of Murder As A Fine Art the mentioning of how this particular kind of suspense thriller was first spilt onto the page by Wilkie Collins (of whom I have earmarked to read during Horror October and of whom is listed on my tCC List!) You can further view my Story Vault’s classification system for genre-specific stories of which alight within my reading hours giving me the most joy a contented reader can ever hope to discover!

As a 2nd Year Book Blogger, it is quite interesting to realise I’ve started a new conversation about what constitutes ‘Cosy Horror’ and ‘Cosy Historical Mysteries’ as the terms were either under appreciated or not yet in use until I came onto the scene! I would love to claim both of them equally, but only ‘Cosy Horror’ could be linked to my creation as there was quite a heap of controversy surrounding ‘Cosy Historical Mysteries’ until I spent a considerable amount of time referencing what I believe it refers too and what it most decidedly doesn’t include as well.

Crime Fiction is a ready-at-hand section in Literature which whets a healthy thirst of interest because I love being able to step alongside the inspectors, detectives, as much as other curious sorts who dig through crime scenes and evidence to root out the truth of a crime which intellectually gives the reader a heap of sleuthing joy to read. I am not limited to appreciating reading about murder, suspense, and intrigue as I quite happily have become deeply attached to wicked sophisticated serials such as: Foyle’s War, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Sherlock, Rosemary & Thyme, Hetty Wainthroppe Investigates, NCIS, The Mentalist, Castle, Numbers, Murdoch Mysteries, The Pinkertons, Crossing Jordan, Inspector Morse & Lewis (*eager to meet Endeavour), Monk, Hart to Hart, Perry Mason, Columbo, Murder, She Wrote, Ironside, Quincy M.E., McMillan & Wife, Sherlock Holmes starring Basil Rathbone and the Thin Man movies starring William Powell and Myrna Loy to name a few.

What a treat for me, to realise the harkening reality of where and when the changes in literature occurred to give us such an enriched history of Crime Fiction, Drama, and Suspense! I had a sense Gothic Literature would not be too far behind, and Morrell did not disappoint me, as the writers he was speaking about took their cues from the Gothic stylings of the past eras before them to curate a new level of suspense – sensationalism. The Victorian Era has held my eye of attention for many a moon throughout my reading life (originating in childhood), and it did not surprise me one whit the Victorians took credence of stock of ‘what’ would draw their blood to coil most would be the haunting reality of psychosis over paranormal attributes of the unknown. Most of the topics discussed would fit well within the dialogue and story-lines of Law & Order: SVU and this goes to prove the point, we have not progressed but regressed.

I am not normally one to find myself attached to the grittier tomes of Suspense, much less a story which is parallel to Jack the Ripper as far as character motivations go, yet I found myself drawn to Morrell’s stories all the same. Sometimes it’s the unexpected stories set within a ‘theme of interest’ that tempt us to explore outside our own literary wanderings that will find us either grateful for the experience or merely proving to be a test of our will before jumping back into the familiar territories we knowingly love. We could also find a curious balance where stepping outside our zones of comfort can lend a curious window into an ‘otherworld’ of psychological suspense! Noting to myself, I did get caught up inside a story about Jack the Ripper, and thus, this is my second ‘step’ outside the norm of where my wanderings lead me in Crime.

Curiosity is a bird of it’s own feather which leaves a reader a bit wanton for understanding what causes the curiosity in the first place! Some doors should not be opened nor explored, for what they give to the eyes and mind might be a bit much for the sensitive heart to endeavour to understand. Ah, such pickles we bookish souls entangle ourselves into at times, eh!? The artwork is a work of beauty, how the fog is a character of it’s own kind, and present on both book covers for this series of thrillers.

The history behind how (the real) Thomas De Quincey had the forethought and insight to become Freud’s own ally in the field of psychology is impressive enough, but it’s the level of which he took his journey to understand the under-notes of insanity and subconscious I must agree with Morrell (as viewed in his author’s commentary on behalf of De Quincey at the bottom of this review) he isn’t quite the moral figure to empathsis in most circles, but credit is due to him for understanding the darker side of humanity.

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Blog Book Tour | “Inspector of the Dead” (Book Two: Thomas De Quincey series) by David Morrell Included is a proper introductionary view into ‘Murder As A Fine Art’ the first in the dramatic series you simply cannot hesitate to read because of how it’s writ by Morrell to capture your curiosity!Inspector of the Dead

Book Synopsis of Inspector of the Dead:

David Morrell’s MURDER AS A FINE ART was a publishing event. Acclaimed by critics, it made readers feel that they were actually on the fogbound streets of Victorian London. Now the harrowing journey continues in INSPECTOR OF THE DEAD.

Thomas De Quincey, infamous for his Confessions of an Opium-Eater,confronts London’s harrowing streets to thwart the assassination of Queen Victoria.
The year is 1855. The Crimean War is raging. The incompetence of British commanders causes the fall of the English government. The Empire teeters.

Amid this crisis comes opium-eater Thomas De Quincey, one of the most notorious and brilliant personalities of Victorian England. Along with his irrepressible daughter, Emily, and their Scotland Yard companions, Ryan and Becker, De Quincey finds himself confronted by an adversary who threatens the heart of the nation.

This killer targets members of the upper echelons of British society, leaving with each corpse the name of someone who previously attempted to kill Queen Victoria. The evidence indicates that the ultimate victim will be Victoria herself. As De Quincey and Emily race to protect the queen, they uncover long-buried secrets and the heartbreaking past of a man whose lust for revenge has destroyed his soul.

Brilliantly merging historical fact with fiction, Inspector of the Dead is based on actual attempts to assassinate Queen Victoria.


Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

Series: The Thomas De Quincey Mysteries, No. 2


Also in this series: Invincible


on 24th March, 2015

Pages: 342

Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards Badge created by Jorie in Canva. Coffee and Tea Clip Art Set purchased on Etsy; made by rachelwhitetoo.

Read an Excerpt of the Novel:

ONE
The Killing Zone
London, 1855

Except for excursions to a theater or a gentlemen’s club, most respectable inhabitants of the largest city on earth took care to be at home before the sun finished setting, which on this cold Saturday evening, the third of February, occurred at six minutes to five.

That time—synchronized with the clock at the Royal Greenwich Observatory—was displayed on a silver pocket watch that an expensively dressed, obviously distinguished gentleman examined beneath a hissing gas lamp. As harsh experiences had taught him, appearance meant everything. The vilest thoughts might lurk within someone, but the external semblance of respectability was all that mattered. For fifteen years now, he couldn’t recall a time when rage had not consumed him, but he had never allowed anyone to suspect, enjoying the surprise of those upon whom he unleashed his fury.

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As this excerpt is quite long and might give out too much information for new readers seeking their first David Morrell novel and/or a reader who might be sensitive to Crime Fiction, I hide the rest of this ‘excerpt’ provided by the publisher behind the ‘spoiler’ field. Please read at your own discretion when you click on the Spoiler link to expand this section.

View Spoiler »

Published By: Mulholland Books (@mulhollandbooks
{an imprint of Little, Brown and Company (@littlebrown) for novels of Suspense;
part of the Hachette Book Group, Inc.}

Available Formats: Hardback, Audiobook, Ebook

Audiobook Preview for Inspector of the Dead at Downpour.com

{ Book 1: Murder As A Fine Art : Book Synopsis On Riffle | Public Library | Downpour }

Converse on Twitter via: #InspectorofTheDeadBlogTour, #InspectorOfTheDead, #DavidMorrell, #HistoricalMystery, #HistFic, and #ThomasDeQuincey

About David Morrell

David Morrell is an Edgar, Nero, Anthony, and Macavity nominee as well as a recipient of the prestigious career-achievement Thriller Master away from the International Thriller Writers.

His numerous New York Times bestsellers include the classic espionage novel. The Brotherhood of the Rose, the basis for the only television mini-series to be broadcast after a Super Bowl. A former literature professor at the University of Iowa, Morrell has a PhD from Pennsylvania State University.

His latest novel is INSPECTOR OF THE DEAD, a sequel to his highly acclaimed Victorian mystery/thriller, Murder as a Fine Art, which Publishers Weekly called ”one of the top ten mystery/thrillers of 2013.”

Photo Credit: David Morell © Jennifer Esperanza

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

Murder As A Fine Art by David Morrell Book Trailer via CosProductions

Listen to an excerpt of Chapter 1 via SoundCloud

Listen to an excerpt of Chapter 3 via Downpour

Narrator: Matthew Wolf | iMDB | Cool Hand International

My thoughts on behalf of Murder As A Fine Art:

True to my nature, finding audiobook excerpts at two separate starting points for Murder As A Fine Art suited my sensibility, as I had precipitated the notion I might not be able to handle the full of Chapter 1 after having read the Introduction! C’est La Vie, Mon Chéri! Thus, I am grateful to both SoundCloud & Downpour!

Oh, dear — the excerpt for Chapter 1 only included a mere handful of paragraphs and sections, to where I felt a bit jibbed realising I’d have to carry on forward without the delight of hearing the narrator’s voice who had put my anxious mind at ease. I was expecting the bits of horror that even Morrell himself prompted the reader to realise were on fast approach to draw my eye and mind away from those passages as soon as I heard even a flickering of forethought to their arrival in the narrator’s voice; betwixt I am to continue but there is a scene here being set to give pause to the mindset of the criminal.

In due course, I imagine I shall pick up my skirts as they say and move into Chapter 2, a bit less for wear if I had read the full of Chapter 1, but it was here, in the narrated passages I had a flickering recognition on behalf of the internal mind of the criminal themselves: Murdoc, yes, most decidedly Murdoc in personality and nature. If your familiar with MacGyver, your aware of which Murdoc I’m speaking of.

The narrator Matthew Wolf has a distinctive voice for audiobooks, he eludes to the atmosphere of the piece he’s reading but he takes the narration and turns it into a tangible and beguiling experience. Quite happy to hear how he articulates certain words, giving weight and measure to the British nature of their origins, whilst grounding us in place and step to this darkening quick world of the Victorians!

The manner in which this person erased his own identity is the most distinctive line of familiarity to Murdoc, because they were equally determined not to be ‘known’ as themselves. To hide not only within shadows of where light dissipated out of view, but to create an unrecognisable ‘other person’ to shield their true selves completely. Meticulous methodology in action banking on observation, preparedness, and cunning confidence to execute whichever foul crime they envisioned for themselves to be party too, gives each of them a harrowing prism of how darkness can overtake the mind.

I did ‘skip over’ the bits Morrell mentioned were historically accurate yet shockingly horrific, although I must give him credit for keeping the sequencing brief and allowing me the grace to continue ‘just after’ in order to keep in time with a character of whom I hoped would be soon caught! Honestly, I had a heap more issues with getting through Genghis Khan’s biographical historical novel, than stepping over a few passages of this novel of suspense! I also admit, I hadn’t realised Morrell is the creator behind Rambo, (the novel of which) a motion picture (was based upon) I purposely avoided yet respected. Again, I lament curiosity is a fickle beast for a reader to circumvent!

I appreciated the short history of London’s police force (especially how ‘bobbies’ were first coined after the founding father of the police) and how ‘Scotland Yard’ became the attached name to a select force of detectives who did the work most officers were thankful to have provided for them, as they were elite in their observational skills as much as their detection and deduction. A clarity of seeing what others might miss at first glance could provide the instincts needed to take down the criminal underworld whilst keeping the streets safe and crime levels down. It was quite incredible to re-remember the science of criminology and forensics are quite new to the world, as they only harken backwards in time to the 1800s! Talk about being dedicated to your job without the understanding of how these advances led the men on the front lines forward to pick up where crime left off!

Morrell writes his story with a firm grip on the historical past, but in a narrative voice which allows you to dig inside his world whilst viewing it from a distance — curious yet cautiously stepping forward where he wants you to tread next. I did step around certain moments of Ryan’s investigation of the crime scene, as I honestly was more keen on understanding how he was going to proceed with finding the one responsible than how the crime scene looked outright. This is definitely a hard-boiled crime novel with historical truth grounded in true crime. Not my usual taste for Crime Fiction but it’s compelling to read due to how Morrell keeps the focus on the heart of the story and the characters who are involved in bringing justice forward on behalf of the dead.

The history of laudanum doesn’t surprise me, as it is oft-times included in stories of historical fiction* as it was the be-all cure-all for ailments of a variety of natures, yet there was a trepidation towards it’s use that only a few heeded. I was quite aghast at how (the real) Thomas De Quincey could even consume such large doses of it and find a way to function that not only gave him merit to his fields but the inclusion of his craft of choice. I agree with Morrell once again that the more you learn of his character and personality, you can give him credit for what he accomplished but not the method in which he produced his accomplishments directly.

*a small reminder I need to compose my final thoughts on The Anatomist’s Wife

Right in the midst of being caught up in the pursuit of a crime heinously committed, the story shifts it’s focus to Thomas De Quincey and his daughter Emily — as seen through her recollected account scribbled down in her journal of their days returnt to London. I must say, I was so caught up in Emily’s journal I nearly had to pinch myself to remember I was reading a murder mystery! Morrell’s clarity of place to secure us as readers to De Quincey’s mindset and the dedication his daughter has to ensure his well being is aptly written to draw the reader’s compassion. It is for this reason, as history kept inching closer to the heart of the story itself, I kept averting my eyes to the passages where the more alarmingly brutal crimes were on full display. I even skipped over most of the recollections of the Highway Murders as I simply felt more driven to read about the De Quincey’s role in this investigation and how Ryan took Becker under his tutelage.

Morrell writes a convicting thriller and gives his readers a lot to ponder as they turn the pages, which is quite fitting when seeking a novel of historical suspense! I am thankfully blessed the publisher surprised me with filling my request to read Murder As A Fine Art as it helped me establish myself into this world where regret and anguish are intermixed with gutting drama and sorrow — where the horrors of reality are bent against the mind’s unwillingness to remember the memories of where the past can haunt the present. Morrell pays homage to history but it is how his own compassionate heart can write such a compelling drama centered around Thomas De Quincey, a man who was deeply misunderstood and yet brilliant in his field is reason enough to delve into this Victorian world.

It is better to understand the beginning before proceeding forward inside an established series; you won’t understand the connections without first finding how everything knits together at the starting gate. How sombering to find De Quincey is nearly regretful in his pursuit to illumine the truth of a true crime, as the afflictions of his memory and the crossing of a path with a criminal mind who seeks to render him in perpetual anguish are nearly too much for his soul to bear. My favourite part of the story is how Emily takes the upper hand and gives back so much hope and joy to the less fortunate by what she requests of the police after the crime is resolved. A clever ending by far!

The Afterward was a special treat for readers like me who appreciate a bit more insight from the writer themselves. There are further delights for those of you of whom appreciate Appendixes, as there is a Q&A section and an essay which delve into the writer of whose pen this story immerses you into a singular year of the historical past in Victorian England. His research and his craft of writing are beautifully blended to reveal an account of soulfulness not typically found in Historical Suspense.

I wasn’t going to mention this but the identity of the party responsible was known to me even before I realised I had stumbled upon the truth of his ‘name’. I love word riddles and puzzles, especially on how you can ‘see’ through words and how how a word, phrase, or name can be spelt can be a clue to a larger picture than merely what is visible and obvious. It was a ‘rock on, Mr Morrell’ moment for me, as I celebrated seeing a writer spin a clever clue into a part of a story most would overlook!

My review of Inspector of the Dead:

listen to an excerpt of chapter 3 via soundcloud or downpour

I hadn’t mentioned this earlier, but Morrell has quickened and likened the atmosphere of his novels to be quite akin to the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s style of Classic Horror and Suspense motion pictures (such as Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes; Tracy’s Jekyll & Hyde or even Gaslight!) where elements of fog and the shadows that wick out the light are commonplace to the foreground action. It was a refreshing moment for me to alight inside Chapter 1 of Book 2 without any fear of what my eyes might greet on the page — the quick stealth of this villain barely left any time to clarify his motivations much less expand his actions! It was very much ‘matter of fact’ and ‘getting on’ with his intentions rather than a drawing out of why he was doing what he was doing and the method in which he inflicted his victims with pain. For me, I will always lament ‘less is more’ and here Morrell humoured me.

Ah, Mr Morrell has a wicked sense of humour — how delightful to see Emily, Ryan, Becker, and De Quincey stepping back into the scene of where we find ourselves right in line with where their lives are now! It is also quite keen that my imagination was a few farthings of a pace behind Morrell to where my own mind did not fully wrap itself round the murder in Chapter 2 but rather the shock of seeing a body just after being murdered from an onlooker who hadn’t realised what he was witnessing either! Most happily, I soaked inside the journals of Emily De Quincey after this scene was revealed — Morrell has a wicked style for giving us presence of the reality inside his stories and an elevated viewing of the same reality from a point of view just removed.

The introduction of the crime scene photographer and witness sketch artist was classically done, entertaining the tides of change in-step with the story itself. Morrell knits together the history of forensic science and criminology so seamlessly that you barely realise your seeing primitive tasks and actions being explored during an era of new research helping detectives solve crimes. He approaches it as if you were not familiar with the history, leading you into the scene as even the characters themselves are struggling to understand the new realities therein.

Par usual for me reading a Morrell novel now, I occasionally find myself ‘skipping over certain sequences’ which would equate best to be described as NCIS death / crime scenes of which I also avert my eyes awaiting the ‘investigative bits’ to continue!

What is unsuspecting to those in positions of power, is to realise that for whichever reason De Quincey has a keen knack for deducing the facts out of the myriad clues found on scene that tempt investigators to take a different route of course. I find his style of sleuthing refreshing because he challenges the system which was only in the elementary of it’s exploration to aide investigators during his era. He likes to keep everyone a bit out of step with where his own mind is connecting the dots; to stay ahead of his peers and nemesis at arms, whilst giving his mind freedom to ponder everything it absorbs.

I was happy to find the felicity of joy coming together between Emily and Ryan, whilst expanding on the friendship the three unlikely souls would encourage between themselves; as Becker was as much an equal to them now as anyone else could be. I liked the dynamic of them together because it takes out the need to validate age against experience. People can become attracted to each other based on similar interests and a depth for understanding life in ways that others might not attempt to acknowledge; for these three, it’s how they did not harden themselves against the criminal pool of experience they were collecting that gave them the most appeal to read.

The story inside Inspector of the Dead was quite difficult to read in most places due to the alarmingly sadness which blighted out a darker plot of concern for the villain. In retrospect, if prejudicial stigmas had not attached themselves to the young boy he had been, perhaps the story would have had a far different outcome than the one we were greeted by. The worst bit is truly how perception and intolerance can lead to a lifetime of woe spun out of anguish and vengeance where a young boy never truly grieved the loss of his family. Instead he took up a path that led him down a spiraling darkness of punishment that only disturbed his own soul whilst attempting to prove a point only he could understand.

Blessed to become introduced to David Morrell:

I was so bewitched by David Morrell’s compelling and soulful drama within Murder As A Fine Art, I was delayed a bit to proceed into the sequel. I appreciated getting a proper introduction to his writings, but more than that, finding a writer who writes outside my comfort zone but whose focus is on the heart and soul of his characters yielded my heart to find joy in reading his stories! I was originally delayed picking up these novels due to personal situations and circumstances arising out of the blue and taking my hours away from my reading queue. However, my review posted late on it’s re-scheduled day of the blog tour, simply because I felt consumed by the narrative itself and wanted to allow everything I read to percolate within my mind before I lay thought to how I wanted to compose my review!

My instincts to be willing to read the Thomas De Quincey Mystery series were bang-on as I found I can handle a writer taking me outside the folds of where cosies leave off if they compose a narrative such as this for me to find! I do admit, I skipped over passages here or there, but let’s face it, when I watch NCIS I’m hardly ever game for the murder scenes themselves much less the *morgue!* with Duckie, but it’s the investigative bits and the drama within the scope of where the context leads you — that’s what compels me to read the pages and admire the work left behind by the writer.

Morrell has a new appreciator now who is quite curious to know where Thomas De Quincey and his daughter Emily shall take us next if a third installment is produced!? I loved the extras included in the copy of Murder As A Fine Art because it helps see a glimpse of the writer’s process and inspiration to create the story at hand. I love extras — whether in fiction or motion picture, I like seeking out the ‘back’ stories behind the stories that give us such electric pause as we discover them.

Morrell writes with a definitive grasp of sociology and sociological behaviour stemming out of the horror of crime yet he tempers it with a resolute approach towards restitution and resolution. Morrell (and others I have found like him*) reminds all of us to remain vigilant in our open capacity to accept stories outside our regular spheres of delight; for even if the stories themselves achieve to challenge us into an edgier story-line, we can sit back and relax knowing we’re in the realms of masters of the craft! I loved his engaging spirit and conversations at the back of Murder As A Fine Art because he illustrates the exact kind of story I seek for myself: intellectually stimulating, executed in layers of dense narrative prose, and an underlit compulsion for a sociological portrait of humanity. His passion for bending perception against reality and reality against an internal recognition of how we  perceive our realities is bang-on brilliant! I love the dissection of how he creates his characters, the mindfulness approach he gives to how their internal make-up foreshadows their actions inasmuch as how forward-thinking he made Emily De Quincey, as she is a heroine to me equal to Huber’s Lady Darby!

*the writers who tempted me outside my sphere of comfort:

{ within the sphere of Historical Mysteries & Suspense }

  • The Iris Fan by Laura Joh Rowland includes reflections on “Shinju”, “The Incense Game”, and “The Shogun’s Daughter” as a preview of the series before I read “The Iris Fan”
  • Hunting Shadows includes reflections on “A Test of Wills” by Charles Todd
  • (a forthcoming review) The Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber

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This blog tour is courtesy of: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

The Virtual Road Map for “Inspector of the Dead” can be found here: I love discovering new wicked stories of the historical past as I am a regular hostess for HFVBTs! Kindly drop by my Bookish Events page to see which stories and authors are upcoming to Jorie Loves A Story!

Inspector for the Dead blog tour via HFVBTs

Previously, HFVBT’s hosted Murder As A Fine Art which you can follow via the tour route to discover more book blogger’s impressions on behalf of the first novel in this series:

Murder As A Fine Art blog tour via HFVBTs

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

David Morrell on Thomas De Quincey via MulhollandBooks

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com
Comment Box Banner made by Jorie in Canva.
Reader Interactive Question:
What is your personal barometer of choice? Traditional Historical Mysteries? Cosy Historical Mysteries? Hard-boiled Crime Dramas and Fiction? Stories rooted in history but based on True Crime Narratives? What do you find the most stimulating about reading murder mysteries, irregardless of the style in which you pick up off the bookshelf!? What kinds of characters do you enjoy meeting?

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

{SOURCES: Cover art of “Inspector for the Dead”, author photograph for David Morrell, author biography, book synopsis, Excerpt of “Inspector for the Dead” and blog tour banners were all provided by HFVBT (Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours) and used with permission. Ruminations & Impressions Book Review Banner created by Jorie in Canva. Photo Credit: Unsplash Public Domain Photographer Sergey Zolkin. Comment Box Banner made by Jorie in Canva. Tweets embedded due to codes provided by Twitter. The book trailer for “Murder As A Fine Art” and the commentary by David Morrell had either URL share links or coding which made it possible to embed this media portal to this post, and I thank them for the opportunity to share more about this novel and the author who penned it. Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards Badge created by Jorie in Canva. Coffee and Tea Clip Art Set purchased on Etsy; made by rachelwhitetoo.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2015.

Tweets shared as I read the novel:
{ share if inspired }

 Note of Apology to Mr Morrell: A bit of a slight dyslexic slip had me referring to Inspector of the Dead as ‘Inspector for the Dead’; it isn’t oft I find myself changing a title of a book or the name of an author, but it can happen. I kept the permanent url as it was when I first published my review to allow those who subscribe to my blog’s feeds to find this post, however, I’ve switched out the mistake for the proper title as quickly as I could post-publishing. It does make sense now why my hashtags were not routing to the blog tour earlier on Twitter! Oy vie, the woes of a dyslexic reader and writer! Forgive me! Somehow I misread the title!

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

  • 2015 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

About jorielov

I am self-educated through local libraries and alternative education opportunities. I am a writer by trade and I cured a ten-year writer’s block by the discovery of Nanowrimo in November 2008. The event changed my life by re-establishing my muse and solidifying my path. Five years later whilst exploring the bookish blogosphere I decided to become a book blogger. I am a champion of wordsmiths who evoke a visceral experience in narrative. I write comprehensive book showcases electing to get into the heart of my reading observations. I dance through genres seeking literary enlightenment and enchantment. Starting in Autumn 2013 I became a blog book tour hostess featuring books and authors. I joined The Classics Club in January 2014 to seek out appreciators of the timeless works of literature whose breadth of scope and voice resonate with us all.

"I write my heart out and own my writing after it has spilt out of the pen." - self quote (Jorie of Jorie Loves A Story)

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Posted Wednesday, 15 April, 2015 by jorielov in 19th Century, Addictions and Afflictions, Audiobook, Audiobook Excerpt, Based on an Actual Event &/or Court Case, Biographical Fiction & Non-Fiction, Bits & Bobbles of Jorie, Blog Tour Host, Book Trailer, Bookish Discussions, Bookish Films, Crime Fiction, Debut Author, Debut Novel, Detective Fiction, Diary Accountment of Life, England, Epistolary Novel | Non-Fiction, Excessive Violence in Literature, Father-Daughter Relationships, Geographically Specific, Good vs. Evil, Hard-Boiled Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, Historical Mystery, Historical Perspectives, Historical Thriller Suspense, Horror, Interviews Related to Content of Novel, Jorie Loves A Story Cuppa Book Love Awards, Medical Fiction, Passionate Researcher, Psychological Suspense, Realistic Fiction, Sociological Behavior, Specialised Crime Investigator, the Victorian era, Thomas De Quincey, True Crime, Vulgarity in Literature, Writing Style & Voice




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3 responses to “Blog Book Tour | “Inspector of the Dead” (Book Two: Thomas De Quincey series) by David Morrell Included is a proper introductionary view into ‘Murder As A Fine Art’ the first in the dramatic series you simply cannot hesitate to read because of how it’s writ by Morrell to capture your curiosity!

  1. Thanks so much for alerting me to this post earlier, Jorie. I haven’t read any books by David Morrell yet, and I’m really glad to find out more about them. I do love books set in historical London and I also like ones where fact and fiction overlap. I was interested in your comments about what constitutes ‘cosy’ mysteries too. I’m never exactly sure – I think what I like probably spans everything from cosy to reasonably hard-hitting, but not the truly gory stuff. I’ve come across some great writers where I’ve just had stop at a certain point, even though I admire their skill, because I come over queasy!

    • Hallo, Hallo Ms Chase,

      I love discussing #CosyCrime and #CrimeDrama’s with you – whether those are in books or in films or tv series! Such as the recently shared love I have for Instinct and the relationship featured brought to life by Alan Cumming! Would you believe despite my earnest attempts I’ve not been able yet to finish reading this series?! Sadly, somewhere over the years, a lot of the series I’ve discovered and/or were beginning to read have fallen by the wayside and I haven’t had the proper chance to pick them up again! One of these days… I would like to know how Morrell concluded this one and I still get a kick out of the fact he said I was one of the more surprising readers who enjoyed his book as I guess I was slightly outside his regular demographic! lol

      OOh my no! I truly believe we share that bit in common – where in order for a mystery to be “Cosy Historical” it cannot have gory and grisly bits of graphic violence inclusive to it! In fact, that is one reason I was dearly disappointed in the books by one of the Seventh Street Books authors I thought for sure was going to become a new favourite of mine – Bradly Harper? OOyy. I realised my mistake by the first book but though surely the second wouldn’t be as intense as he wasn’t writing about Jack the Ripper! Little did I know!

      This is why I’d rather finish this series by Morrell as I think I’d enjoy it far more than trying to sort out how to read Harper!! :( I’d love to know your thoughts about this series if / when you get round to it. I know we all have massive TBRs and you might not have even had the chance to read this anymore than I have! So thankful I have someone to share these moments and revelations with as it is hard to find others who like the kind of Crime Dramas & series you and I are mutually appreciative of!

      Thanks for always giving me such wonderful comments — they truly uplift my spirits, make me smile and give me a burst of joy!

      On that note, I am truly lookig forward to Saturday for our #SatBookChat! What a wonderful reprieve it will be!

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