Except the Dying [Mass Market Paperback]

Maureen Jennings (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1999

As the brutal winter of 1895 bears down on Toronto, a young girl's body turns up in a desolate alley. When it's discovered that the girl was pregnant. Detective William Murdoch suspects someone was trying to hide a scandal. But when he learns more about the girl's life. he realizes her death is the work of someone with a far more sinister purpose. Just as Caleb Cart brought old New York to life in The Alienist, Maureen Jennings evokes Victorian Toronto in this darkly atmospheric novel rich in history and bone-chilling suspense.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Turn-of-the-century Toronto makes an evocative setting for murder in Except the Dying, a skillful first novel that is interesting both for its historical accuracy and its fully realized characters. The plot concerns the murder of a young housemaid, discovered naked in a snowy lane, and the cast of suspects spans the social strata. Yet it is William Murdoch, the detective in charge of the case, who breathes life into what might otherwise have been a conventional murder mystery. As he pursues his quest for justice, Murdoch also mourns the death of his fiancée; his manner of doing both reveals a compassionate, principled man--one whose fictional endeavors (readers hope) have only just begun. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

First novelist Jennings, herself a British transplant to Canada, provides a provocative look at a wealthy, turn-of-the-century British family living in Toronto. Acting detective William Murdoch handles a case that exposes not only the dysfunctional nature of the Rhodes family, whose young French-Canadian maid has been discovered dead, drugged, and pregnant in the snow, but also the peculiarities of a class-conscious society. Murdoch investigates and then spars with bigoted higher-ups until he uncovers the murderer. A finely flavored plot, credible characters, and detailed atmosphere make this a winner.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 322 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers; 1st HarperPaperbacks Print, March 1999 edition (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006109739X
• ISBN-13: 978-0061097393
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,527,572 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Welcome Debut in the Historical Mystery Genre, May 16, 2001

By 

P. Bigelow (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Except the Dying (Mass Market Paperback)

In Jennings' debut, it is winter in 1895 Toronto and the police have discovered the nude body of a young woman. Initially believing that she was a woman of the streets who froze to death on her way home, the police are disposed to dismiss the death as accidental. However, they soon discover that while there was no alcohol in her bloodstream there was opium and other indicators that have them believing that she was murdered. Detective William Murdoch is assigned the task of not only finding out who murdered her, but who she is as well.

This is a police procedural in the truest sense. We watch as Murdoch painstakingly follows one tidbit to the next. For each question he thinks he's answered two more arise in his mind. As we go along, we are introduced to many players any one of whom could be the murderer.

Jennings was very clever in her writing of this procedural. While the reader quickly suspects various characters, Murdoch remains an innocent - willing to suspect someone, but not willing to believe with no proof. The bits of proof are doled out slowly - as slowly as it takes Murdoch to discover them. When all the puzzle pieces finally come together, the furtiveness of several characters is adequately explained, the choice of murderer makes sense, and there is relief that that the book has finally ended. The book moves slowly, sometimes bordering on tediousness, and the temptation is to set it aside for a faster read, but resist that temptation. As Murdoch pieces the puzzle together, the book picks up speed so that it may seem like Jennings has rushed the ending, but the way she has handled it, it makes sense for this book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intense mystery with great effects, July 19, 2000

By 

Brenda "MYSHELFDOTCOM" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Except the Dying (Mass Market Paperback)

I considered Except the Dying a dark mystery. It takes place in Toronto in 1895. The townspeople come across as cold as the Canadian winter it occurs in. Detective Murdoch is trying to solve the crime of a young maid found frozen to death and he doesn't seem to be getting much help.

Maureen Jennings is a gifted writer. Her characters conversations made me feel a part of the story. The author has an ability to shock her readers at some points in her story and there was a couple of points in the first three of four chapters in which I was ready to bail. But, I stayed with it to try and solve the mystery. I would consider it a mature theme mystery.

Ms. Jennings has given us an interesting series. Can't wait to see it on film.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptionally Good!, April 4, 1999

By 

Lenore S. Schellinger "linn556" (Humble, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Except the Dying (Hardcover)

I read lots of mysteries, and this one especially delighted me with its well-drawn characters and period flavor. I didn't expect 1890s Toronto to be so interesting! The denouement is very exciting, and there are a couple of most-unusual crook nabbers who are particularly "fetching." EXCEPT THE DYING goes on my A#1 list.