I really enjoyed reading this interesting tale of spiritualists and stealing corpses. I have not read too much about body snatching and this was a great way to learn something about this subject. This hints about the civil war but I was glad there was not much about it. I hope to read more books by this author. I received a copy of this book from Harlequin for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Orphan of Cemetery Hill

Author: Hester Fox

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: ghosts, Victorian books, gothic feels

Publication Date: September 15, 2020

Genre: Historical Paranormal

Recommended Age: 16+ (slight violence and gore, dead people)

Publisher: Graydon House

Pages: 384

Synopsis: Boston, 1844.

Tabby has a peculiar gift: she can communicate with the recently departed. It makes her special, but it also makes her dangerous.

As an orphaned child, she fled with her sister, Alice, from their charlatan aunt Bellefonte, who wanted only to exploit Tabby’s gift so she could profit from the recent craze for seances.

Now a young woman and tragically separated from Alice, Tabby works with her adopted father, Eli, the kind caretaker of a large Boston cemetery. When a series of macabre grave robberies begins to plague the city, Tabby is ensnared in a deadly plot by the perpetrators, known only as the “Resurrection Men.”

In the end, Tabby’s gift will either save both her and the cemetery—or bring about her own destruction.

Review: For the most part this book was pretty good. The book had some great storytelling and I really enjoyed the plot. The characters were also well developed.

However, the book didn't have a lot of world building and I was left wondering what the world looked like. The book also had very slow pacing in some spots.

Verdict: It was good! Recommend!

I've been wanting to try this author for a while now, and I confess that I was immediately intrigued by the blurb of The Orphan Of Cemetery Hill as well as the atmospheric cover. I love a good gothic story and this book most definitely delivered the perfect spooky gothic atmosphere. The Orphan Of Cemetery Hill is set in mid 19th century Boston, and this historical setting is what sets the tone for a suspenseful and creepy read that packs a mean paranormal punch. The perfect marriage of gothic and paranormal with plenty of historical details to savour!

There were quite a few things I enjoyed of this story, but let's start with the historical setting first. As far as a historical and gothic setting goes, I couldn't have wished for something more atmospheric with the mid 19th century Boston setting and its focus on the cemetery. The descriptions and details are used to create the perfect creepy vibe and really gave the story that extra touch. Later on, we even get a bonus with the London and Edinburgh settings, which fitted right in the same gothic vibe. The setting and historical details were definitely one of the strongest assets of this story!

Another thing I loved was the paranormal angle. I confess this element isn't always my cup of tea, but it worked really well in The Orphan Of Cemetery Hill and complemented the plot. The same goes for the whole mystery around the body snatching and grave robbing element... While it's not the first time I see it incorporated into a story, it is an element that always intrigues me and it definitely added an air of creepiness as well as suspense to the plot. It was interesting to see both elements develop over time and I had fun figuring out how much both influence the direction of the plot.

The story is mainly told with the help fo a dual POV, with an added extra POV later on. I personally loved Tabby as the main character; both her gift itself and her character development in general stood out for me. I especially loved her relationship with Eli, but her development and reactions to the things happening in the plot were a delight to follow as well. She might seem like your typical strong female character, but she will win you over quickly with her charm and strength as well as her quirkiness. That said, I do have to say that I wasn't too big of a fan of other main character Caleb though. I felt he was a bit too cliche and I just didn't get a good vibe off him... This might just be because of the whole mention of the cheating and love triangle though, which is a personal pet peeve I never react well to. We didn't see much of Tabby's sister Alice, which is for obvious reasons of course, but I did like what I saw. Tabby is clearly the true star of the show though.

The writing itself is solid, and especially the gothic vibe and historical descriptions are spot on. While the pace was a bit haltered in points, and I could have done without the romance, overall I had a great time with this story. If you are looking for something creepy and enjoy a historical setting as well as a paranormal angle, The Orphan Of Cemetery Hill is a great option. It's also perfect for the upcoming Halloween month!

If you love reading ghost stories in the dark, this gothic spin will surely put a little spook in your night!

This isn’t a scary story by any means, but the introduction of grave-robbing, speaking to the dead-vibes leaves you with a chill down your spine.

I really enjoyed getting to know the main character’s struggle with her gift and the people who continue to abuse and exploit her. It was interesting to see how it shaped into a paranormal, 1800s mystery surrounding a single cemetery. I also was fond of the relationship that developed towards the end of the book, and overall, I gave this one a 3 out of 5 stars.

This won’t be a new favorite, but it definitely fit the ghost-y vibes of the upcoming season. If any aspects of this book sounds right up your alley, I recommend you check this one out!

This wasn’t my first time reading a book by Hester Fox. I had previously read The Witch at Willow Hall and fell in love with her writing style and ability to bring all her characters (even the evil ones) to life before my eyes!

The Orphan of Cemetery Hill is set in 1844 Boston. Tabby and her sister Alice are orphans who have just escaped the abusive clutches of their Aunt and Uncle, and are separated during their escape. Little Tabby finds an old cemetery and finds refuge there. From here, she is adopted by the caretaker, Eli. Tabby holds the secret of her ability to communicate with the dead close to her as she grows up into a woman for fear of others not believing her or abusing her ability as her Aunt and Uncle did for profit.

From the beginning, Tabby and Caleb Bishop begin to cross paths with each other until they are thrown together in a murder mystery where Caleb is the suspect of his own fiancée’s murder. From here we follow the mystery and the dangers of the times as science and medicine are trying to advance, and the “Resurrection Men” who have Tabby in their sights. Will Tabby use her gift in order to save Caleb and herself, or will she keep her ability to speak with the dead a secret?

This book was the perfect way to kick off fall! There was the gothic element that tied everything together and brought the plot even more to life. The plot was not only intriguing but unique, and I had a hard time putting this book down. The plot flows seamlessly as I followed the twists and turns in Tabby’s life as she tries to help Caleb and save her own life at the same time. Seeing Tabby’s character develop and battle past the fear made me love her and cheer for her even more!

My favorite element of the story was the incorporation of the “Resurrection Men.” Doctors and professors really did rob the graves of the recent dead in order to further advance their medical studies. They also had some misguided ideas as man kind seems to always look for eternal life.

Fox also kept to the times and brings up the rights of women in the suffrage movement and the abomination of slavery. This story foreshadows the upcoming dark times of the Civil War, and knowing what was coming for these characters has me hoping for a sequel.

This book is something you are going to want to pick up for a gothic fall read!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Books for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Title: The Orphan of Cemetery Hill
Author: Hester Fox
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

Boston, 1844.
Tabby has a peculiar gift: she can communicate with the recently departed. It makes her special, but it also makes her dangerous.

As an orphaned child, she fled with her sister, Alice, from their charlatan aunt Bellefonte, who wanted only to exploit Tabby’s gift so she could profit from the recent craze for seances.

Now a young woman and tragically separated from Alice, Tabby works with her adopted father, Eli, the kind caretaker of a large Boston cemetery. When a series of macabre grave robberies begins to plague the city, Tabby is ensnared in a deadly plot by the perpetrators, known only as the “Resurrection Men.”

In the end, Tabby’s gift will either save both her and the cemetery—or bring about her own destruction.

I really enjoyed this read. It had a little bit of a creepiness factor, some mystery, romance, and great characters to tie it all together. Caleb wasn’t my favorite, but at least he did show a bit of character growth.

Tabby has been through a lot—but she keeps trying to help those around her. I cannot imagine spending the night in a cemetery—as a child, no less—and not totally freaking out over the smallest sound. This is a very atmospheric novel and a solid historical read.

Hester Fox lives outside Boston. The Orphan of Cemetery Hill is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Graydon House in exchange for an honest review.)

Tabby has the gift for seeing and speaking to the recently deceased. Something she doesn’t want her “family” to know. It’s 1840-1850’s and Spritualism is popular during this time. There were lots of charlatans, people like Tabby’s Aunt Bellefonte who pretended to have the gift of sight and would be paid to hold séance’s. When Tabby and her sister refuse to continue to be a part of their abusive aunt’s schemes, they run away to Boston. At this time, Tabby is just a child. Her sister leaves her on the steps of a church, with the promise to return soon. A promise that she doesn’t keep. Tabby lives in the cemetery next to the church until the caretaker takes her in and takes care of her.
Now that Tabby’s an adult, she’s kept her secret and doesn’t stray far from her home or cemetery. With a few friends, and some “family” she’s making a life for herself. When Eli, the son of one of the city’s recently deceased recognizes her as someone he’d had an interaction with at the cemetery in the past, they form a tenuous friendship. When his fiancée is brutally murdered and Eli is arrested for it, Tabby sets out to find the killer. After Tabby uncovers the real killer, and Eli escapes jail, Tabby’s life is in danger. Not only from the actual killer, but by a shadow group called “Resurrection Men” who are after her for her gifts.
This is the first book I read from Ms. Fox and it won’t be the last. This has become my favorite book of 2020 and I can’t speak out about it enough. Ms. Fox has perfectly created a spooky, gritty atmosphere of Boston in the mid 1800’s. It was very easy to figure out who killed Eli’s fiancée, but that’s not the mystery of this story. It’s the “Resurrection Men” and what they’re after.
There’s plenty of mystery and supernatural in this story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A wonderful world was created, with characters you root for, and a mystery to be solved. Great writing keeps you involved until the very last page and wanting more. I could not stop reading this book, and I’ve yet to stop talking about it. I can’t recommend this book enough if your fans of historical fiction, mysteries, and the supernatural.
**I received an ARC of this story from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Orphan of Cemetery Hill is full of Gothic/paranormal goodness, making it a fabulous book to pick up this fall. It’s evocative and creepy, really transporting you to the setting of the graveyards and seances. And while the pacing is a bit off, suffering a bit in the middle, I do feel it’s one of those stories where it ultimately pays off in the end.

Tabby is a fabulous lead, who I truly felt for in what she’d had to deal with, in terms of the abuse and later being separated from her sister. I also really liked the relationship Tabby has with Eli, and how they are more or less father and daughter.

Caleb is an okay love interest…I did like how things were navigated with him already being engaged, yet there’s something between them, as that can be tricky to do without veering into “cheating” territory, which can be uncomfortable for some readers. I did feel like his “traditional” views, while appropriate for the period, were a bit much, particularly with his need to constantly be the one “rescuing” Tabby.

I really liked this one, and given it is Fox’s third such book, I will definitely be checking out her others. And if you’re looking for a lush Gothic story to get you in the mood for fall/autumn and Halloween, I think this would be a great one to try.

My girl Hester Fox is back with another gothic story that consumed me.

Tabby and her sister are separated and Tabby runs away to hide in a cemetery. She sees the strangest sight...people come in and stealing a fresh corpse. She hides in a crypt - and eventually comes to see the caretaker - and later a young man who needs a little bit of help.

10 years later, the caretaker is now her 'father', and Tabby helps her father keep the cemetery clean. She watches a horse drawn carriage deliver a new casket to a crypt and soon is face to face with the young man from that evening 10 years ago. What follows is the story of a girl with a gift and her efforts to help those who she loves.

The Orphan of Cemetery Hill covers a wealth of topics - Boston society, slavery, murder, spiritualism, death, medical science and experimentation. As always, Hester Fox writes a well researched book - I've spent part of the afternoon looking deeper into the Spiritualism movement. There's always a sense of 'classic' in her writing, this book easily fits on the shelf next to Jane Eyre or The Woman in White.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers, and Hester Fox for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I’ve read both of Hester Fox’s other books and was very excited to see this one as well. Ever since The Witch of Willow Hall I’ve seen her as a current writer of gothic romance that has consistently enjoyable stories. The premise of this one is interesting, dabbling more into ghosts and the supernatural, but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me.

The story idea is an interesting ones, I really liked some of the supporting characters and the general plot. However, the romance and connection between Caleb and Tabby felt shallow and the pacing uneven.

I’ll definitely look for the next book by this author, but this one was a pass for me.

I'm sorry to say I didn't enjoy this as much as Fox's first two books. ORPHAN can't quite seem to settle into a mood in the same way. It's not as overtly gothic -- despite large portions taking place in or adjacent to a cemetery -- and at times wanders closer to murder mystery or even speculative fiction, but without ever fully embracing those genres. I was frustrated by the heroine, who kept walking into explicitly dangerous situations, or situations that would only make everything worse, and by the hero, who was rather feckless.

This was a spooky good book! It kinda grabs you from page one and keeps you turning the pages. It reminds me of another series by Amanda Stevens.
I really enjoyed this book, I think it would make a good series.
It’s a perfect book to add to your Halloween reading list
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I can always depend on Hester Fox for giving all the perfect Gothic vibes. I loved the Widow of Pale Harbor and I jumped for joy when I received The Orphan of Cemetery Hill. So thank you, Hester Fox, NetGalley, and Harlequin Publishing for the opportunity to read this book! The book takes place in Boston in the year 1844. Tabby and her sister Alice are orphans and they are fleeing their dangerous Aunt and Uncle and get separated. Tabby finds herself hiding in the cemetery and soon gets adopted the cemetery caretaker, Eli. Eli does not know that she possesses a gift. She can speak to the dead. Her path soon crosses with Caleb Bishop. His father’s body is taken by grave robbers. They soon get dragged into danger revolving around the “Resurrection Men.” She must use her gift and risk getting caught, even though that is something she has been keeping secret all her life.

This book is EVERYTHING I want during this time of year. If you are looking for something that has all the spooky, gothic goodness…this is it! Hester Fox has become one of my instant buy authors! Her plots are unique and intriguing. I always find it difficult to put down her books. I finished this book in two days. (And that is on top of work on monitoring virtual learning!) Tabby is a wonderful main character and has the best development! She lives her life run by fear of being used or tortured. It takes a great deal of courage and love to overcome that fear and use that gift to help those around you, even those who are already dead.

I loved the “Resurrection Men” plot. It gives a bit of history of grave robbing and the determination to study the human body. But it also gave me a lot of Frankenstein vibes. There are also mentions of women’s suffrage and ending slavery. One of the most haunting moments is one of the characters saying that there are dark times coming to the United States, referring to the Civil War. It gave me the chills. Everything just flowed together so perfectly.

I am telling you, this is the perfect book to read this Fall. The book publishes September 15th and you will not want to miss out! This book gets 5 out of 5 stars! —Also check out that gorgeous cover!

I ejoyed this book very much, although it suffered a bit from 'TV Movie Syndrome." You know, where it felt a little more like a period TV show than a historical novel... Nonetheless, the characters were mostly likeable and sympathetic (although it took me a while to come around to liking Caleb) and, although the history was clearly viewed through a modern lens, the book was fairly evocative of mid-1800s Boston. The mystery was lively and fun as well. I got the feeling that this might be the first in a series and I will certainly pick up book 2 if that is the case.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Tabitha, known as Tabby by those close to her, can speak to the dead; as orphans her and her sister get used as money makers by their Aunt and Uncle. When the girls run away, events don’t go as planned and Tabby gets abandoned on the church steps by her sister, Alice. She hides in a cemetery where she feels safe amongst the dead. Tabby helps a young man one night and years later is still thinking about him. Tabby has created a life for herself but a chance encounter at a burial brings her face to face with the man she helped years ago. As we follow Tabby’s story in creepy 1800s London, she ends embroiled in a murder mystery and trying to figure out who is snatching bodies from the cemeteries. Will Tabby’s abilities that she has kept secret help her or be her downfall.

Classic creepy gothic novel with a little romance for good measure. I enjoyed this book and read it during a thunder storm, which added to the ambiance of the story. Will definitely check out more books by this author.

There's a lot happening in this book. Tabby is an orphaned medium who lives in a cemetery. Her sister went missing years ago. Tabby witnesses body snatchers in the cemetery at night. She also meets a wealthy man whose father dies and is buried in the cemetery in which she lives. The romance was cute but overall I feel like there was too much going on in this story.

I was intrigued by this book. It is not normally one I would read but the description and cover pulled me in. The story focuses on a young girl who can communicate with the dead. She tries to keep her talent a secret but must use it to help a friend.

I enjoyed the book and the titles on each chapter. They were little insights into what the chapter would hold. I have not seen this writing style before but I really enjoyed it.

The perfect book for Fall! I've never wanted spooky season to arrive more than I do now after reading this. It was the perfect creepy vibe, so atmospheric, and the ghosts and murder mystery was top notch. I love this series of books and they make me excited for October every year.

4/5 Stars

I would classify this book as a gothic romantic thriller, with plenty of creepy atmosphere and just enough sweetness to lighten the mood a bit. The book really brings to light the darker side of the city of Boston, showing a whole industry that ran based on death - and I hadn’t really thought about any of it before. But it was so fascinating.

Tabby was a really great heroine in that she has a unique gift, but that’s not really her defining characteristic in the book, because we don’t really see her use it too much. We get to know her much more through her thoughts and feelings with the occasional foray with the dead tossed in there (The reasons for this are explained in the book). I liked that because it was an interesting twist on the psychic genre - the “reluctant, no one knows she’s psychic” psychic. (I also loved her getting her ultimate comeuppance on her aunt - it’s worth waiting for!)

The central mysteries of the book were really well done and I liked watching as Tabby puzzled out how everything fit together. It was an intricate plot that really fit together well and I liked seeing how everything came together in the end. I was very satisfied with the ending.

Overall, this book really was a delightful read that I throughly enjoyed. It had just enough romance and just enough creepiness to keep things interesting and kept me turning pages.

This novel is an enchanting twist of Penny Dreadful meets Nancy Drew. Tabby Cooke, the main character, is able to see souls and that gift is a driving force throughout the novel. For most of her life, Tabby has run from her gift or those who want to exploit it. But things all change when Tabby meets Caleb Bishop. And when Caleb Bishop is accused of murder, Tabby is willing to use her gift to help exonerate him and find the real killer. But will the killer find Tabby first.
This what I would consider a period piece and Hester Fox did a good job at respecting that period. By setting the novel during the mid-1800s when seances were all the rage, the acceptance of Tabby’s ability is more believable. And while Tabby’s actions throughout the story may have occasionally pushed the boundaries of what was considered proper behavior, it never felt that she actions were unbelievable for the time period. This allowed me to stay engaged and not jarring moments of not being able to relate the plot to the time period.
While I enjoyed the story line and the layers that Fox brought to her characters, I struggled with the evolution of some of the characters. It felt almost too sudden, I wanted to see that gritty turn about and redemption. This was the only downside in an otherwise well written novel.