3.5 out of 5 stars (3.5 / 5) This was a dark thriller of a serial killer that felt in the times of the early 1900’s or so. Molly’s best friend mysteriously dies and it leads her on the hunt for the killer.

I enjoyed the detective work and the desire for her to make things right. Molly became a student at a medical school where she was very much not wanted because of her gender. I admired her grit to ensure her place in the medical field but to also excel at what she did. At night, she was paid to retrieve dead bodies for her aunt who supported the medical school. The bodies were brought in for study.

I was entertained but not immersed. Even though I did not see the end coming, it didn’t wow me like I expected. Parts of it left me feeling a bit let down and unfulfilled. It did remind me of the Jack the Ripper series and I recommend this to those who enjoy that series.

Content Summary: The highest content would be for the body descriptions. It regularly describes the smell, how they feel and how they look. This book is not for the squeamish.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

The book releases September 14, 2021.

This is a historical fiction which follows Molly in the aftermath of her best friend being found dead, and a wealthy woman claiming to be Molly's aunt requesting she come live with her. When Molly meets this woman she discovers that her wealth comes from the business of graverobbing (and other means of procuring fresh bodies for a medical school). Molly agrees to work for her and becomes fascinated by the medical school she now lives in proximity too. But there is still a killer lose, one who likes to take trophies from his victims, and who Molly believes killed her best friend.

This was such a great historical fiction, it had so many immersive details from the time period and the state of medicine, science, and social issues such as women's rights, class disparity, and the culture around death. The characters come from all different walks of life, and I loved getting to know all of them. It was creepy but also fun, and the atmosphere was perfect for a spooky fall read. The mystery kept unfolding and I was on the edge of my seat for almost the entire book waiting to see what would happen and how Molly would handle it.

There’s a lot of great historical fiction out there, and yet it’s not every day I find one that especially impresses me with how well-researched it is down to the minutest detail, the way this book did. This book is also so full of twists, and I could barely put it down.

I really enjoyed this book! The book follows a girl named Molly, whose friend kitty was found drowned in the river. Her tail, found missing. After Kitty’s death, someone claiming to be Molly’s aunt requests she comes to live with her in Philadelphia. But this aunt isn’t just anyone, she is the notorious Corpse Queen and wants to help Molly procure bodies for a medical school. This is an ominous, and dark YA book that is a perfect fall read! The setting of the book was definitely one of the highlights. I really enjoyed how vividly it was portrayed. Also Tom, is such a fun character and I loved getting to know him. He’s sweet, but definitely a little bit spicy. If you’re a fan of burden falls I feel like it has a similar vibe!

Thank you to Penguin Teen for an eARC of Corpse Queen in exchange for an honest review!

Molly's friend, Kitty, was found drowned in the river, her tail missing. Following her death, someone claiming to be her aunt requests she stay with her in Philadelphia. Her aunt isn't just anyone, though, she is the notorious Corpse Queen, and she wants Molly to help procure bodies for a private medical school.

This was a fantastic, creepy and dark YA historical! I loved the setting and the mystery behind her aunt and the school. Molly spends much of the book looking for Kitty's murderer, but also gaining a passion for medicine. I also loved the small romantic sub plot with Tom. He's sassy, but a total cinammon roll who looks out for Molly and his family.

Overall a great read and fantastic for the Fall!

CW: bodies, dog death

This spooky mystery/horror novel is perfect for those who love strong female characters in worlds that are full of gruesome detail and terror. I did have some issues with the romance in this as I felt it did not add much to the story, but I fell in love with the character Molly. I did think she acted too predictably at times, but I enjoyed the narrative and story enough that it did not bother me all too much. If you've read and enjoyed MAGIC DARK AND STRANGE I think you will easily find this one a breath of fresh (read: hot, humid, and rotten) air. Thank you for the e-arc.