The Devil's Breath

Dr. Thomas Silkstone, Book 3

By: Tessa Harris

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Eighteenth-century anatomist Dr. Thomas Silkstone travels to the English countryside to unravel a tangled web of mystery, medicine, and murder in this captivating new novel from Tessa Harris.

A man staggers out of his cottage into the streets of Oxfordshire, shattering an otherwise peaceful evening with the terrible sight of his body shaking and heaving, eyes wild with horror. Many of the villagers believe the devil himself has entered Joseph Makepeace, the latest victim of a "great fog" that darkens the skies over England like a biblical plague. When Joseph's son and daughter are found murdered - their heads bashed in by a shovel - the town's worst suspicions are confirmed: Evil is abroad, and needs to be banished.

A brilliant man of science, Dr. Thomas Silkstone is not one to heed superstition. But when he arrives at the estate of the lovely widow Lady Lydia Farrell, he finds that it's not just her grain and livestock at risk. A shroud of mystery surrounds Lydia's lost child, who may still be alive in a workhouse. A natural disaster fills the skies with smoke and ash, clogging the lungs of all who breathe it in. And the grisly details of a father's crime compel Dr. Silkstone to look for answers beyond his medical books - between the devil and the deep blue sea.

©2013 Tessa Harris (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A great story telling!

As the 3rd installment of this series, it was a terrific historical fictitious telling of the catastrophic Great Fog!
While the 1st 2 novels were a bit slower, this one was so packed with angst, I almost. couldn't take it! Fans of late 18th century England will appreciate this!

loved this history based novel

I was on the edge of my seat from the very beginning of this story. The suspense was well done. I also learned about some interesting historic and not so historic events of Europe.

Loved this book.

I read the first book in this series and really liked it. The second one was even better.

Great twists and intense

This is my third book of Dr. Silkstone, I love the story's context in old England, enjoy learning a bit of history and old customs .

Easy to read and follow, you will not be disappointed.

pleasantly surprised

I really enjoyed this book, the narrator and the story it's self. it had everything I enjoy in a book.

Smoke and Ash, Murder and Mayhem

Evil is afoot in almost every imaginable way, with great billowing clouds of smoke and ash taking over the towns, making people deathly sick. Lady Lydia Farrell is greatly distressed as she searches for her missing son, whom she fears is dead. And the heinous murder of a young boy and his sister has the town in fear. As Dr. Silkstone searches for the cause, and a cure for the illness caused by the "great fog", evil seems to grip the entire town, and superstition instead of common sense adds to the pandemonium. Instead of faith being a comfort at such a time, it turns into something sinister, After the minister's wife passes away, even he seems possessed. And a sinister plot seems to be underway to keep Lady Lydia from her son. This is a great, atmospheric story, that grips you from the beginning, and doesn't let go until the end. I've found the entire series to be excellent.

My favorite

This is the 3rd book Ive read in the series and so far the best!

Very entertaining

The story was exciting. Simon Vance has a beautiful voice and does such a good job.

absolutely delightful

Love these books. this story was so interesting and so different. it had the right amount of suspense and creativity, plus some history.

Different

I wasn't sure in the beginning that I was going to like this book but as it went on I couldn't seem to put it down