Inspector of the Dead by David Morrell

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours/Netgalley

Read: March 25, 2015

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.

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I was pretty excited about reading David Morrell's Inspector of the Dead. Books one of the Thomas De Quincey series, Murder As A Fine Art, was one of my favorite reads of 2013 and I was eager to dive into its sequel.

Like its predecessor, I quickly fell for the feel and atmosphere of the Morrell's England. The dark and gritty descriptions, paired with Thomas and Emily's unconventional lifestyle make highly entertaining material and like how the backdrop emphasizes the more sinister elements of the mystery at the heart of the story.

Morrell takes a couple of artistic liberties, but I found them highly appropriate to the story and actually liked the references to Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. I also liked how Morrell used Queen Victoria and the numerous attempts on her life as a foundation for a much darker intrigue. 

Genuinely thrilling and impossible to put down, Inspector of the Dead  is an absolute must. A thoroughly satisfying read that kept me on the edge of my seat beginning to end. 

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Despite the pretense that the Great Exhibition celebrated the brotherhood of nations, he had no doubt that Albert’s purpose was to emphasize the power of Great Britain. How the revenger seethed when people spoke glowingly about the Victorian age, a term that Albert had championed. The revenger fantasized about using the cover of night to sneak gunpowder into the Crystal Palace and blow it apart. But what point was there in destroying a building? It was people that he wanted to destroy: Victoria, Albert, and many others.

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Check Out All the Stops on David Morrell's Inspector of the Dead Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, March 24
Review at Unabridged Chick
Excerpt at Boom Baby Reviews

Wednesday, March 25
Review at Back Porchervations
Interview & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick

Thursday, March 26
Review at JulzReads

Friday, March 27
Interview at JulzReads

Monday, March 30
Review at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Spotlight at Tales of a Book Addict

Tuesday, March 31
Interview & Excerpt at Oh, For the Hook of a Book

Wednesday, April 1
Spotlight at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Guest Post at Mina’s Bookshelf

Thursday, April 2
Review at Build a Bookshelf
Review & Giveaway at Mina’s Bookshelf

Friday, April 3
Review at Peppermint, Ph.D.

Monday, April 6
Review & Giveaway at To Read, or Not to Read
Excerpt & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Tuesday, April 7
Review at Book Lovers Paradise

Wednesday, April 8
Interview at Back Porchervations
Spotlight & Giveaway at Words and Peace

Thursday, April 9
Review & Giveaway at 100 Pages a Day – Stephanie’s Book Reviews

Friday, April 10
Review at Layered Pages
Review, Excerpt & Giveaway at Drey’s Library

Saturday, April 11
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book

Monday, April 13
Review at Flashlight Commentary

Tuesday, April 14
Interview at Flashlight Commentary

Wednesday, April 15
Review & Excerpt at Jorie Loves a Story
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Thursday, April 16
Review at Editing Pen
Review at Luxury Reading
Review at The Maiden’s Court

Friday, April 17
Guest Post & Giveaway at Editing Pen

Monday, April 20
Review & Giveaway at A Literary Vacation

Tuesday, April 21
Review at A Book Geek
Review at Books and Benches

Wednesday, April 22
Spotlight at Historical Fiction Connection

Thursday, April 23
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Friday, April 24
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict