A Dark Anatomy by Robin Blake

According to the case notes, and checked against my private journal, it was on Tuesday the 18th of March, 1740, that a succession of disturbing events ran their course through the life of our tidy Palatinate town of Preston.

This is old school, classic exposition. No inciting incident or conflict, no distinguishable character - just the promise of a story that I kind of expected anyway as it is, after all, a book that I picked up. I assumed there would be a succession of events and don't really need to be told there will be a succession of events.

However, as I said, this is an example of classic exposition and a relatively harmless way of easing into the story and problem which comes quickly with the second sentence.

That was the day on which, three hours after dawn, Dolores, wife to Squire Ramilles Brockletower of Garlick Hall, was found lying in the forest in her riding clothes, beneath an ancient oak tree.

We assume dead, but that is not immediately made known until the next page. In any case, not much time is wasted before the story begins to unfold. As well, old school intros are quaint.

First thing said:

"Well, Jonah. What's the matter?"

Verdict: Pass

Sincerely,
Theodore Moracht