Overview

The Wages of Sin is set in 1890s Edinburgh where Sarah Gilchrist, one of the first female medical students, battles prejudice and danger. After discovering the battered corpse of a patient in the university’s dissecting rooms, she is drawn into the city’s dark underworld of brothels, body snatchers and murder.

Writing & Voice

We found Welsh’s prose rich and atmospheric. She brings Edinburgh’s grimy streets and polite drawing rooms to life with vivid detail. Her voice balances historical immersion with a sharp sense of character, making Sarah’s internal struggles and external dangers grip the reader and sustain tension throughout.

Content & Perspective

The narrative blends social history with mystery. Sarah’s perspective as a woman challenging the medical establishment gives urgency and depth to both her investigations and her daily life. The portrayal of institutional attitudes towards women and the suffering of marginalised figures offers insight into the period’s moral and social dynamics.

Themes

The Wages of Sin explores gender, power and morality in a time when women fought for access to education and professional respect. It also delves into how society treats the most vulnerable and how truth can emerge from prejudice and silence in a world stacked against those seeking justice.

What Worked

• Evocative historical setting that transports us to Victorian Edinburgh.
• Strong central character with drive and complexity.
• Intriguing mystery blending social commentary and suspense.

Minor Quibbles

• Atmospheric mood sometimes slows the pace.
• Dark subject matter may be intense for some readers.

Final Thoughts

The Wages of Sin is a richly atmospheric historical crime novel we enjoyed for its fearless heroine, moral urgency, and vivid portrait of Victorian Edinburgh.

Rating: ★★★★½ / 5