Brookmyre and his wife Haetzman to co-write historical crime series

Canongate is to publish the first novel in a new historical crime series by Ambrose Parry, set in the medical world of Edinburgh in the 1840s.

Ambrose Parry is a pseudonym for bestselling author Chris Brookmyre and his wife Dr Marisa Haetzman, a consultant anaesthetist.

Publishing director Francis Bickmore acquired world rights to The Way of the Flesh from Sophie Scard at United Agents.

The novel is set in Edinburgh in 1847, "a dual city, at once a place of sophistication that is home to brilliant advances in medical science, and a city of great poverty with a truly unsavoury, violent side," according to the blurb. Will Raven is an aspiring young doctor, apprenticed to the esteemed professor of midwifery, James Young Simpson. After a string of mysterious deaths in the city, Raven begins to pick his way through the dark motives and powerful alliances that are concealing the truth.

Bickmore said: "The Way of All Flesh is truly unique historical yarn, an alchemical marvel that meticulously mixes genres like medical tinctures, and feels like a major bestseller in the making. It’s a rattling good read, overflowing with attitude, atmosphere and fascinating medical insight. The personalities of the men – and women – in Edinburgh’s  medical milieu the 1850s were unknown to me before.

"In Brookmyre and Haetzman’s talented hands they come alive, as do the fetid crannies and fearsome resilience of 19th century Edinburgh. The past becomes buzzingly present. Everyone at Canongate was united in their passion for Ambrose Parry and this will be a super lead title for Canongate’s Autumn 2018 list."

Brookmyre and Haetzman have been married for 26 years. Brookmyre is the international best-selling and multi-award-winning author of 21 novels, including Black Widow (Little, Brown), winner of both the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year.

Dr Haetzman is a consultant anaesthetist of 20 years’ experience, whose research for her Master’s degree in the History of Medicine uncovered the material upon which this novel was based.

The pair said: "We are utterly thrilled that Canongate will be publishing The Way of All Flesh. This is a novel steeped in Edinburgh’s social, cultural and medical history (scenes of which take place literally on the Canongate) and we know that their passion for seeing this world brought to life matches our own."

Scard said: "Fans of Chris Brookmyre will know how skilled he is at writing dark, funny, boldly inventive books which leave their readers utterly gripped. All of these qualities and more besides are present in this new and exciting collaboration. We couldn’t be more thrilled by the prospect of Ambrose Parry’s launch on an unsuspecting world."

The novel will be published as a super-lead title in hardback in August 2018.

Chris Brookmyre’s solo fiction continues to be published by Little, Brown Book Group.