Thibault Busschots's Reviews > Except the Dying: 25th Anniversary Edition

I quite like Murdoch Mysteries the TV show, and I was curious to find out how it all began. This is the first book of the series that started it all.


A young woman’s body is found in the freezing streets of Victorian Toronto. Acting detective William Murdoch is tasked with finding out who she is, who killed her, and why. And the deeper the detective digs for the truth, the more questions rise to the surface.


Since it’s a murder mystery, the plot is the core of the story. It is a very solid plot with a gradual and natural pace, and plenty of revelations that keep your eyes glued to the pages. Though I have to admit that I am a little bit disappointed by the ending, even though it is quite good. Also, I do understand why this is done but, I would have preferred it had there been only one point of view character.


One of the things that stands out is how well the setting is brought to life. You can tell the author really made an effort and did a lot of research to get even subtle little details right. You can also tell that the foundations of the characters most people will already know and love from the TV show are definitely here. But it’s important to note that they are different characters from the ones you’re used to seeing on the show.


There are some interesting differences between the original book and the TV show. The most noticeable difference is the general tone of the story, which is a bit darker here than the usually rather lighthearted tone in the TV show. The biggest difference in terms of characters is probably the absence of doctor Julia Ogden. Acting detective William Murdoch is also a grittier character, motivated by his desire to be promoted in this book. And there isn’t really any focus on new technologies like there is in the TV show.


While there are a lot of differences between the TV show and the original book, they both have their merit. If you like the TV show, it’s worth taking a look at the books that inspired it if you keep an open mind. And even if you haven’t seen the TV show, this book is still worth reading if you’re looking for a solid historical murder mystery story.