This was a story along the lines of Frankenstein, with a monster terrorising the community. It is based in Barcelona and there is a lot of description of this city. I found the story very slow moving and had difficulty in attaching to any of the characters.

After the Shadow of the Wind, and another book across time in Barcelona, (the title escapes me), and now "The Secret of Vesalius" it is very clear that the city lends itself to these evocative, gothic tales. Each time, the city itself becomes a key protagonist in the tale.
Jordi Llobregat leads us a merry dance through the dark alleys, the sewers and subterranean passages all the way to the highest echelons of late 19th century Barcelona, with key visits along the way to the university, asylum, power station and historic theatre. No major landmark of gothic Barcelona is omitted and it all feels integral to the plot.
With a significant nod to Mary Shelly, the dark, gothic tale of madness born of lost love still manages to evoke the optimism of the city and the age. a story born from the headlong crash of the medieval into the back end of the juggernaut of the industrial revolution.
The cliched characters are all a bit cartoonish, the moustachioed baddy, the raffish newspaper man, the femme fatale, the good hearted bandit, the loving prostitute, the evil genius, the corrupt cop, the liberal doctor, the smart street kid, the stupid hard man. They are all here, beautifully depicted and behaving exactly as expected and yet it is to Señor Llobregat's credit that the familiarity enhances the overall work rather than detracts from it. Stereo-typing clearly has its advantages.
I avidly turned the pages of this book and was lost when I finished, really the highest praise for any novel.

Daniel Amat has tried to make a new life for himself far away from Barcelona and the family tragedy of seven years ago, however the death of his father draws him back. Pau Gilbert is a brilliant trainee surgeon who is harbouring a secret. Bernat Fleixa is a talented but struggling journalist convinced that there is a monster on the loose in Barcelona mutilating young street girls. Together they must try to solve the mystery of the murders despite the animosity of the powerful and the corrupt on the eve of the World's Fair.

This book has had many rave reviews and is a best-seller worldwide and it is easy to see why. The plot is labyrinthine, the characters larger than life and complex and the setting is unusual. Of course at its heart it is a gothic horror adventure which leans heavily on Frankenstein for structure but adds a few twists along the way. As a read it is perfectly enjoyable if a little overwrought.

A gotic tale set in nineteenth century Barcelona just before the World's Fair.. Daniel fled Barcelona 7 years previously following a tragic accident, brought back t Barcelona by the death of his father he is drawn into the mystery his father was investigating. Mutilated bodies are being discovered around the site of the Fair, The authorities are at pains to hide what is going on. A journalist and a young doctor with a secret are also drawn into Daniels' quest.
The books labyrinthine plot reflects the nature of the city. It moves at a fast pace and is an enjoyable read. I'm not sure that it can be compared to the Shadow of the Wind but is a good first novel.

Barcelona in 1888, in the run up to the World Fair in that city. Daniel Amat, just appointed to a teaching position at Magdalen College, Oxford, is summoned home to Barcelona to the funeral of his estranged father, a doctor. At the funeral he meets a journalist, Bernat Fleixa, who tells him that Dr Amat was investigating a series of murders, and believes that Daniel’s father was killed to prevent his uncovering the murderer. Daniel is initially sceptical, and just wants to return to his agreeable life in Oxford, but he soon accepts that the truth is murkier than he first believed. A young medical student Pau Gilbert also gets involved in the investigations and they uncover a dangerous set of secrets that in various ways imperils them all. Both Daniel and Pau also have mysteries in their respective backgrounds, which emerge and ramify the tale as the narrative unfolds. There is madness, selfishness cruelty and corruption, concluding in a bizarre grand guignol of Lovecraftian horror.
There is a weird, Gothic feel to the novel, a sensation that the characters are in ethereal and disturbing times. It is an enjoyable, racy read, though it took a fair time for me to become fully engaged in the lengthy story, and there are a few unfeasible plot developments that demand the reader has to entirely suspend disbelief for the duration.

I love thrillers that keep me guessing until the very end and this book did just that. It is a thoroughly enjoyable gothic romp through Barcelona in 1888 in the few days prior to the World Fair.

If you can imagine Dan Brown combined with Wilkie Collins then you will get an impression of the pace and style of this book. It is an easy yet gripping read that benefits from not taking itself too seriously.

This is a lovely debut novel from Jordi Llobregat that has been published in 18 countries. However, I really can envisage myself reading lots more from Mr. Llobregat

This story is written in a style reminiscent of the high-level penmanship equal to a Dan Brown novel. With deep, compelling mystery keeping us on edge and constantly wheeling the reader in with a vital piece of backstory or just gradually, patiently peeling away the layers of the plot bit by bit, you'll be gnawing on your fingers right through to the last page. I started reading this book four days ago and, finally, I'll be catching up on my sleep.

This is a good tale from a first time author, not a great one. It builds with dogged persistence from about 200 pages in, delivering a closely woven plot of deceit, betrayal and gruesome slaughter and although the main protagonist's character is sound I would have liked to see a little more development with the minor players.
Nevertheless, the setting of old Barcelona was a delight and evoked a feeling of a decaying era on the cusp of change.
Lovers of the Gothic genre will love this story; there is no lack of dark destruction, immolation and blood.
But very little romance.

I was sent a copy of The Secret of Vesalius by Jordi Llobregat to read and review by NetGalley.
This was a very entertaining and at times gripping novel, set in Barcelona in the lead up to the 1888 World Fair. There is plenty of intrigue, action and gothic horror to keep the story rattling along with quite a large cast of characters – which could actually be quite confusing at times!
Though generally well written there was the odd occasion when the writing did seem to get a bit sloppy. For example; sometimes there would be a turn of phrase that you wouldn’t consider likely to be used in the late 1800s. There is a possibility of course that this may have had more to do with the translation than the original writing in itself. Don’t let this put you off though, it is quite a compelling read with many twists and turns to keep you guessing, but be warned – it’s called gothic horror for a reason!

I can see why this thrilling historical and accomplished historical fiction has been compared to The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (they’re both set in Barcelona) and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (they share the Gothic horror atmosphere). In fact, for me it had distinct touches of Edgar Allen Poe with a bit of Jack the Ripper and The Hound of the Baskervilles for good measure. In other words, it’s got just about everything you want (well, at least, what this reader wants) from a compelling historical mystery.

I adored the atmospheric period setting and the author’s descriptions that really made turn-of-of-the century Barcelona come alive.

‘Exiting the alleyway, Fleixa came out onto Las Ramblas, which teemed with people. Fruit and vegetable carts, headed for La Boqueria market, vied with horses and traps. Along came the Catalonia Line tram, handbell ringing out. Match sellers, newspaper vendors and florists cried their wares as the housekeepers hurried past, and well-to-do ladies and gentlemen strolled by. Fleixa dived through the mass of people, crossed to Calle del Pi and, after a few minutes’ walk, arrived at the newpaper offices.’

If you’re familiar with Barcelona, you’ll enjoy spotting the different places mentioned and if you’re not, then The Secret of Vesalius would be the perfect appetiser for a visit to that city.

I also loved the intriguing cast of characters, such as Bernat Fleixa, the rather down-at-heel journalist whose scruffy exterior hides an unrelenting passion for the truth and a unexpectedly soft heart. It has to be said, though, that the author does rather put his main characters through the mill!

The plot is as labyrinthine as the tunnels beneath Barcelona and the author kept me guessing about the solution to the mystery all the way through the book. And I’ll admit to having a ‘Well, I wasn’t expecting that moment’ towards the end. Along the way, the action is dark, violent and, at times, a little gruesome (but then I’m squeamish) and this is a Gothic thriller after all. There’s one bit that made me shudder…well, I’ll leave you to read the book and guess the bit I’m referring to!

As well as being utterly entertaining, I found the oppositions explored in the book really interesting:

Ancient versus modern: the works of a 16th century anatomist and the historic catacombs beneath the city juxtaposed with new technology being displayed at the World Fair.
Darkness versus light: the pitch black, rat-infested of the tunnels beneath Barcelona contrasted with the brightness of the streetlights powered by the newly-constructed electricity power station.
Rich versus poor: the nobility and power brokers of the city sipping fine wines at the theatre or in their lavish mansions at the same time as the poor of Barcelona inhabit rundown hovels in dark, rubbish strewn streets.
Truth versus lies: the determination of Daniel and his companions to reveal the truth behind the dreadful murders taking place in the city, whilst others try their best to protect their own positions by suppressing information and spreading false rumours.
Science versus superstition: the latest surgical advances being studied whilst, elsewhere in the city, people believe there is a Black Hound from Hell stalking the dark streets, inflicting terrible wounds on its victims.
If you like your historical mysteries to have an atmospheric period setting, a cast of colourful characters and be replete with murder, passion and intrigue, then The Secret of Vesalius will thrill you as much as it did me. An impressive debut.

I received an advance reader copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers riverrun in return for an honest review.

Thanks Quercus Books and netgalley for this ARC.

Twisted experiments, family secrets, and demonic possession. This is one of those books that keep you on the edge of your seat with excitement.

Super gothic novel complete with a Frankenstein style villain and a typical hero,a masquerading medical student and crusading journalist thrown together in a plot around the Barcelona world fair. Told at breakneck speed with many a twist and turn the entertainment never flags. Excellent!

A really atmospheric thriller set in Barcelon circa 1888. Was there really a devil hound tearing flesh from its victim or perhaps a more plausible explanation? Frankly, Barcelona will never be the same again for me unless I can get the stench of the sewers off my clothes! For some of the novel is set down in the labyrinths below the city in a twilight zone. Will the rats get you or the storm surges, or maybe the poor underclasses who inhabit the rancid depths? Quite a good twist at the end of the novel which I didn't see coming.
Whoever translated the book from its native language did a sterling job.

A beautifully written unusual book set in atmospheric Barcelona. Barcelona is so well described I could imagine walking along las Rambles. A very clever plot which is brilliantly put together to produce a very memorable story. This is a gripping thriller that I want to read again to see what I missed the first time.

I found this book to be a throughly mesmerising account of early dissections and the experiments performed upon dead bodies in the quest for eternal life. Nowadays we use resuscitation techniques to restart the heart after cardiac arrest to shock the heart into a regular beat, this book asks if earlier experiments were performed in attempts to bring loved ones back to life. This book discusses the works of Galen and Vesalius and the study of anatomy to see if eternal life could be achieved. It compares the worlds of Medicine and Science and the opposites of death and resurrection and the quest of eternal life and uses the quote that ' Mans ingenuity is his only way to eternal life' .
An intense and thought provoking book, quite confusing at times, but the central message is how the loss of a loved one can corrupt the soul of an innocent and make him attempt the impossible feat of resurrection, rather than be grateful for the shared memories that love has given a person.
An unusual read, plenty to think about. I read this book over the Halloween period, it added to the general spookiness of this book !!
I have posted this review to Goodreads today.

Rarely do I time the reading of books with the appropriate season but I managed it flawlessly with The Secret of Vesalius. What a perfect read for Halloween! Gothic horror at its best which ably brings to mind the acclaimed The Shadow of the Wind. There are striking similarities in the smooth and beautiful prose plus the otherworldly nature of the story. If you loved Carlos Ruiz Zafon's book, you must read this!

Daniel innocently returns in 1888 to Barcelona for his father's funeral. Much happens while there and he remains far longer than intended to unearth an even greater mystery than he bargained for. This is a classic thriller with the ability to make your skin crawl. Nothing chills the soul quite like a dark and spooky book when colder weather descends and darkness encroaches fast upon the day. Tucked into a warm bed, The Secret of Vesalius is the perfect companion sharing its wealth of gore, tension, fear, mystery and adventure.

"Barcelona was a place of wonder, but it could also be cruel to any person who failed to stay alert."

A Gothic thriller set in 'fin-de-siecle' Barcelona, The Secret of Vesalius appealed to me right away, especially as I read it while I was in Barcelona and so irritated my husband by constantly pointing out places mentioned in the book.

I enjoyed The Secret of Vesalius, it's what my Dad would call 'a good yarn'. It's a murder mystery adventure with a Gothic setting, but there's not much originality in it; most of the characters are stock and the plot twists were sometimes so obvious they had the subtlety of a sledgehammer. However, I found this book fun, and if you're looking for a thriller with a big dollop of history thrown in then this is for you.

The Secret of Vesalius is an odd mix of Frankenstein and the lethal weapon films. Yes, it deals with strange murders, scientific experiments and a Gothic setting of the murkier side of the famous city, but it also has all the aspects of an eighties action film; deliciously deranged baddie, heroes with conflicting personalities who ultimately work together to save the day, bad one liners, predictable plot twists and even a car chase, well carriage chase. It definitely lacked subtlety in both plot and characters, which I was a little disappointed about. However, once I'd found that this wasn't going to be the low burning exploration of the psychology of a murder that I thought it was, I accepted it for what it was, a rip-roaring (I can't believe I just wrote those words) story that entertains, disturbs but won't scratch any deeper than the surface.

Ultimately it is a fun read but not a particularly original. However, the setting is what really stands out and adds a bit of depth to the somewhat stock story.

The warren streets of Barcelona and it's contrast of poverty and wealth made an excellent background, and I enjoyed reading a book set in a city that maybe doesn't get as much attention as its more literary sisters, such as London, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome (although the current situation in Barcelona at the moment is bringing a lot of attention to the city).

I did enjoy the Gothic horror feeling of the novel, though from very early on you can see which way the plot is going, the blurb pretty much gives it away. But this, coupled with the brilliant Catalonian setting, adds a little depth and interest to the story.

My Rating: 3 Stars

I received a copy of The Secret of Vesalius via NetGalley in return for an honest review, my thanks to the author and publisher.

While it was interesting to read about Barcelona in the late 1800s, I found the pacing of the story was very patchy and found it hard to sustain my focus. I did not feel attached to any of the characters.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Even if is really well written and interesting on the whole I did not like this book very much. I found it a bit confused and it needed quite an effort to finish reading it.

This is a gothic horror thriller with echoes of Frankenstein, set in the bustle of 19th century Barcelona, with its old port, myriad of alleyways, dank underground tunnels where dark deeds flourish. It begins in 1888, in Oxford, where Daniel Amat is on the cusp on achieving his dreams of a post in the Ancient Languages faculty and engaged to marry Alexandra, the daughter of Sir Edward Warren, the head of the faculty. Seven years ago, Daniel left Barcelona, his home, in the the aftermath of a tragic fire which killed his brother and Angela, the woman he was engaged to, although he loved Irene, her sister. He can forsee no circumstances that would see his return to Barcelona until he receives a telegram informing him of the death of his father.

With the World Fair being staged in Barcelona soon, Daniel returns for his father's funeral where he meets some familiar faces including Irene, the woman he ran out, now married to Bertomeu Adell, and Bernat Fleixa, a journalist who had been working on a story with his father. A number of strangely mutilated macabre corpses of women and girls have been discovered, and dark rumours fly of ancient curses and the return of the mythic black hound. Daniel's plan for a quick return to Oxford are scuppered by the knowledge that his father was murdered and the recovery of a notebook belonging to Dr Frederic Homs that his father had hidden in the tunnels. Pau Gilbert is a medical student training to be a surgeon. He has many secrets to keep safe and a number of enemies. Daniel is advised by many to leave the city and drop his inquiries into his father's death, but he is not to be put off. Daniel, Fleixa and Pau come together to explore the dark mysteries that pervade Barcelona and the work of Andreas Vesalius, a sixteenth century anatomist, that is motivating an insane serial killer to commit horrific crimes. However, the group find themselves in deadly danger as Daniel stands accused of being behind the murders and finds his quest leads a little too close to home for comfort.

This is a great and atmospheric debut novel with echoes of The Shadow of the Wind. However, I think, whilst its a wonderful read, it does not quite reach those standards. The plotting and the story would need to be more seamless and less laboured on occasions. That does not mean this is not a worthy read, because it is, it evokes the old Barcelona beautifully, capturing the uneasy and febrile mood that sweeps through and the tensions that grow prior to the World Fair. I was particularly enamoured by Pau Gilbert, a gifted medic and the courage he displays. This is a story of twists that effortlessly takes us into a Barcelona riddled with menacing forces and desperate poverty. A novel that I so enjoyed reading and recommend. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.