If you’re already a fan of the Raven and Fisher series, you’re in for a treat with The Death of Shame. And if you’re not, this is a brilliant place to start. Once again we’re right back in 19th-century Edinburgh, full of dark alleyways, fog, hidden corners and a whole lot of secrets. This one feels a bit deeper than the last few: it’s more emotional, more psychological but still with that clever mystery at the heart of it.
What really struck me is how well it looks at shame. Not just as something society uses to control people, especially women, but also how it eats away at you from the inside. It’s all tied into the story in a way that feels really human and very relevant, even though it’s set over a hundred years ago.
Will Raven and Sarah Fisher are still such a brilliant pair to follow. Their relationship has this lovely tension running through it — a bit of spark, a bit of frustration, loads of mutual respect. Sarah, in particular, continues to be the kind of female character I love: she’s smart, capable, determined and not afraid to push against what’s expected of her. Watching her navigate the world she’s in is one of the best parts of the book.
Parry (the pen name of husband and wife duo – bestselling author Chris Brookmyre and Dr Marisa Haetzman, a consultant anaesthetist with a passion for medical history) also brings in lots of fascinating detail about early medicine without making it too heavy. You get a real sense of what it would’ve been like to live through that time. I think my favourite thing about these novels is the setting! I can picture all of the dark alleys and closes and Edinburgh actually feels like another character — moody, mysterious and absolutely full of atmosphere.
If you love a historical crime novel with real depth, strong characters and a good dose of tension, I can’t recommend this enough.
Oh and I loved the historical note at the back and ended up down a Titanic rabbit hole.
Despite it feeling a tiny bit preachy about two third of the way in, it’s still five stars from me!
A huge thanks to the publishers Canongate Books and NetGalley for this advanced copy. This novel is due to be published in June 2025.
