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INSPECTOR OF THE DEAD
by David Morrell
Mulholland Books, March 2015
339 pages
$26.00
ISBN: 0316323934


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

David Morrell's INSPECTOR OF THE DEAD is an oddly compelling novel—oddly because it is, at turns, sensational, fast-paced, plodding, didactic, fascinating, and coincidence-driven. Overall, in spite of its imperfections, it's a good read, especially for those interested in Victorian England and twisting plots.

In an introduction and an afterword, Morrell is careful to explain how much research he's done and how we, as readers, should view Thomas de Quincey's opium addiction. The research is palpable: throughout the novel lots of details reveal life in Victorian England, and if that's not enough, an omniscient narrator occasionally steps in to give a history lesson for those who might not be familiar with the events of the age. At the beginning of the novel, these interruptions are stiff and a bit off-putting, but they become smoother the deeper into the novel the reader goes - or perhaps modern sensibilities simply recede a bit. In his afterword, Morrell explains that he chose many of his techniques to be in keeping with Victorian novels rather than sticking with more modern ways to present the story. In addition to the omniscient narrator intrusions, Morrell also uses first-person journal entries and alternates between first and third person throughout the narrative. The jumps in point-of-view can be startling, but for the most part, all the techniques work well. But you don't have to read Morrell's explanation of Victorian literary devices or be an English major to enjoy this novel, because what makes the devices work as well as they do is the plot.

Thomas de Quincey and his daughter Emily are about to return to Scotland from London following their escapades in an earlier adventure, MURDER AS A FINE ART, in which they helped Scotland Yard detectives Ryan and Becker solve a case. But before they leave, they, along with Ryan and Becker, become involved in an horrific murder during a service at St. James's Church. This murder quickly leads to others, including a harrowing scene in which Commissioner Mayne, one of the founders of Scotland Yard, and his family fight for their lives. All the murders take place among the upper echelons of society, culminating in an attempt on the lives of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their children, and all of the murders are particularly gruesome and disturbing. Woven among these grisly scenes are the real-life problems of the Crimean War, the collapse of the British government, oppressive poverty, and terrible abuse of power. De Quincey is there at every turn reminding the police and the readers of Kant's questioning of whether reality exists outside of us or only in our minds. It is that question, ultimately, upon which everything turns, and the exploration of the power of the ability to manipulate reality is one of the things that makes this novel particularly interesting.

INSPECTOR OF THE DEAD is the second in Morrell's series starring Thomas de Quincey, and there are brief references throughout to events in the prior novel (MURDER AS FINE ART), but it isn't necessary to have read the first book to follow the actions and characters in this one. However, considering Morrell's stated fascination with De Quincey, there are certain to be more mysteries in this series, so now is a good time to get to know these characters.

§ Meredith Frazier, a writer with a background in English literature, lives in Dallas, Texas

Reviewed by Meredith Frazier, February 2015

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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