Sawbones
As seen:
By Catherine Johnson
avg rating
4 reviews
“Gentlemen!” William McAdam addressed the room, a knife in each hand. “Your watches, please! I guarantee you the fastest amputation ever performed anywhere in the world…”
Sixteen-year-old Ezra McAdam has much to be thankful for: trained up as an apprentice by a well-regarded London surgeon, Ezra’s knowledge of human anatomy and skill at the dissection table will secure him a trade for life. However, his world is turned on its head when a failed break-in at his master’s house sets off a strange and disturbing series of events that involves grave robbing, body switching … and murder. Sparky, persuasive young Loveday Finch, daughter of the late Mr Charles Finch, magician, employs Ezra to investigate her father’s death – and there are marked similarities between his corpse and the others. The mystery takes Ezra and Loveday from the Operating Theatre at St Bart’s to the desolate wasteland of Coldbath Fields; from the streets of Clerkenwell to the dark, damp vaults of Newgate Prison; and finally to the shadowy and forbidding Ottoman Embassy, which seems to be the key to it all…
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Great story, beautifully written. Loved the character development
I enjoyed this historical fiction book, I felt that it was well researched and explored interesting facets of history. I did feel that the ending lacked closure - it was clearly setting itself up for a sequel, but the main plot points were resolved well and the pace was good throughout.
I loved this book but I was reading it through the eyes of an adult and I suspect that the age group for which it is pitched would find it too difficult. I think the politics of the Ottoman Empire need to be explained more clearly. However the portrayal of the early development of more advanced surgery was wonderful. I was in the operating theatre with the surgeons and their dirty knives, bloody aprons and questionable technique. Ezra, a freed slave is a wonderfully empathetic character - I really rooted for him. There is also a whole sub cast of believable goodies and baddies from flame haired side kick, Loveday to the villainous and incompetent Lashley. Catherine Johnson has a wonderful style, pacy, authentic but utterly readable. For readers of 11 and above.
A hugely enjoyable adventure thriller. The idea of a story about a 16 year old apprentice surgeon did not fill initially me with much excitement but how wrong I was! This is a brilliantly written, exciting and intriguing tale that superbly takes us into the heart of Victorian London and follows how Ezra has to come out of his comfort zone to assist the marvellously feisty Loveday Finch who is trying to find out why her own father , a celebrated magician , died so suddenly and mysteriously. When his own father figure dies in similarly dramatic circumstances , Ezra and Loveday , find themselves in a race against time to bring the real villains to justice and not end up as the bodies on one of the macabre operating tale themselves.
A finale that promises a sequel too- so let's hope we see a Sawbones II before long! Come on Ms Johnson!
