The Resurrectionist Review

Hello, all!

Did you enjoy Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco? If so, I think you should check out The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap.

Pub Date: 12-24-24
Adult - Historical Fiction

It's 1828, and James Willoughby has just arrived in Scotland against his family's wishes to attend medical school. James left his cushy life and education at Oxford to pursue study as a surgeon in Edinburgh. Still, James quickly realizes the city's university offers everything but the hands-on experience he desires. For that, he must enroll in one of the private schools in Surgeon’s Square, but James can barely afford the tuition.

James will do anything for this opportunity, including striking a deal with Aneurin “Nye” MacKinnon, a handsomely roguish dissectionist. Nye promises to help James fund his scholarly endeavors in exchange for James helping procure the bodies that fill the schools. At first, James is appalled by the idea of becoming one of these bodysnatchers-- or Resurrectionists--but he's soon lured in by the thrill of it all. But James and Nye find themselves in over their heads as they catch the eye of a rival gang led by Burke and Hare, a pair of unsavory men who don't think twice about killing to get what they want.

I went into this pretty blind. I hadn't heard of it or seen anyone talk about it, and it was mostly a cover buy, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The setting and premise were right up my alley. The Edinburgh setting felt grimy and gritty. You could tell how much research Dunlap must've done to get the feeling of this period just right. I also loved our main character, James. At first, he's very polished and naive, but he comes into his own by the end. He was intelligent and ambitious, and it was nice seeing him loosen up with Nye. The pair complemented one another well, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. The pacing was slow, but I was engaged the entire time. I'd recommend checking it out if you like a mix of historical fiction and true crime.

Rating: 3.5/5