Where's My Bookmark: The Edinburgh Dead by Brian Ruckley

Morning, readers. Happy Monday to you (though it's Sunday as I write this). Just got back from seeing Contagion and thought it was a worthy pic. Mike said it's just Outbreak, and while there are certainly similarities in plot, I still enjoyed it.

As we speak, I'm reading in 19th century Edinburgh courtesy of author Brian Ruckley, the author of the Godless World trilogy (Winterbirth, Bloodheir, and Fall of Thrones). His latest, The Edinburgh Dead is a cross-genre historical that caught my eye as an upcoming release earlier this year.

Here's a bit about the book from the author's website:

Edinburgh 1828: it’s a city populated by mad alchemists who treat Frankenstein as textbook rather than novel and by a criminal underclass prepared to treat with the darkest of powers. And one officer, from the recently formed Edinburgh City Police, must follow the trail of undead hounds, emptied graves, brutal murders and mob violence into the deepest and darkest corners of Edinburgh’s underworld – both literal and magical – and back again to the highest reaches of elegant, intellectual Edinburgh society.

The Edinburgh Dead was released last month (trade paperback). I might ask you, what could possibly be better than a gothic historical mystery set in 1828 Scotland? It's intriguing, to be sure and now that I've had a chance to dive in, I can tell you that the book delivers.

One of the things I love about historicals (and by this, I mean any book with a historical setting) is the effort a good author makes in accuracy on all levels. Sure, this is a book about zombie dogs and graverobbers and crazy experiments, but it's all set in 1828 and Ruckley seems to have paid all the appropriate attention to detail here, making it so easy to be transported by the story. I'm enjoying it quite a bit and am about halfway through at the moment.

Oh, btw, if you happen to be taking public transportation soon, take along The Edinburgh Dead. Ruckley mentioned his recent observations of folks reading (and not reading) on trains and I'm sure the thought of some American reading one of his books in transit would be good news. I don't have a train to offer, but I do have my back porch and patio chairs.