I received an Advanced Readers Copy last year but, unfortunately, due to work-related constraints I could not finish it until now. I am, however, really glad that I kept reading.

The story starts off a little slow and, admittedly, it took some time to get into the pacing. I don’t mind slower paced books, or slow beginnings, so it wasn’t much of an issue for me. Truthfully, the hardest part was probably keeping hope that the main character would become more palatable. James is a posh boy and my god does he never let you forget it in the first few chapters. The way he talked was a little bit aggravating at first BUT I will say I think that tolerating James at his most posh and naive will pay off in the long run. By the beginning of the first quarter I grew fonder of him. I think it really helped to introduce Nye, his love interest, and watch how their budding relationship changes James as a character. Nye really brings out the human in him and I loved that. I love their dynamic and I especially like that I really did’t see it coming at first. I honestly thought it might be Charlie (Nye would hate that) but I’m so glad it was Nye. For the romance plot I think it’s a 10/10.

I also absolutely love the grave digger aspect and how it’s the low-key booming business in town because of the medical school. It’s such an interesting plot and I appreciated how much detail there was in setting up the environment surrounding the private academies and how, during this time, they really were more of spectacles. Science wasn’t very well trusted yet (sounds too familiar) and seeing how the medical profession mingled with the underground crime scene was captivating.

While I loved the attention to detail, I will say that there were times when inserting medical terms pulled me out of the story a bit. Near the end, during the big scene near the story’s conclusion, the descriptions become a little too medical for (who I assume is) the average reader. I was too busy anticipating how the scene would play out to pause and look up what medical term was being used. There were also some moments that seemed a little too good to be true, almost so convenient that it gave camp. But, again, I ended up liking that. I can’t explain it, but I think that if you think about it as a book that is taking itself very seriously then, yes, the “too good to be true” parts will be weird. But if you take it as a book that is trying to be humorous and a little bit campy, you’ll really love it.

Overall, I’m super happy with this book and enjoyed reading it. I'm torn between giving it a 3.5 or 4 stars, but I'll go with 4 because I really had fun reading through the book!

I took a chance on reading this one, as several friends loved it. But unfortunately, gothic horror is just not for me. Such an interesting premise though!! Great book, I'm just not the target reader for this one. I can see why those that love this genre loved it!

“I was, in my core, a man of science…not just any science: human science, the study of the body, of man himself…To a modern man, a call to be a physician was a call to Edinburgh, shining beacon of medical discovery, home of…the New Enlightenment.”

James Willoughby, third son of a gentleman of means, had his life mapped out. Unfortunately, he was not suited for a military or an ecclesiastical career. His passion for medicine led to Edinburgh “to unlock the mysteries of the human form.” Having enrolled in University, he sought lodging at the Hope and Anchor Inn. His entitled upbringing had not prepared him for life amongst the common populace. To some, he was just a toff-boy.

In the year 1828, University classes could not provide hands-on experience with cadavers. For medical training and technique within an Operating Theatre, a student needed to pay an additional fee for a private surgical school. The ‘Parisian Manner’ of dissection was a method of learning in which a corpse was provided for each anatomy student. James, along with his new friends and fellow students, chose to attend Dr. Malstrom’s Private Medical School in Surgeon’s Square.

Dr. Malstrom noticed and encouraged James’ burgeoning talent as a future surgeon. It was shocking when James was informed that his father had died deep in debt and funds for his education could no longer be provided. His sister demanded that he return home and “submit to family obligation”. With no other option available, James entered the world of resurrectionists, a job that would come with a fifty percent reduction of private school tuition. Aneurin MacKinnon, Malstrom’s private secretary, hired James as a digger at the kirkyard which bordered the Hope and Anchor Inn. By day, James was determined to successfully complete his University studies. By night, he learned the skills of grave digging and resurrecting newly interred corpses for dissection and skeletal assembly.

James’ belief in “reverence and respect” for those interred in the kirkyard was tested. The crew, organized by Aneurin, were not grave robbers. Their goal was not to steal jewelry and mementos. Their quest was to carefully procure a body, under cover of darkness, and transport the cadaver to Malstrom's medical facility.

Part Gothic Victorian Mystery and part True Crime, this read of historical fiction highlights the story of notorious murderers Burke and Hare. While James and Aneurin strived to advance medical science in the Age of Enlightenment, with a shortage of bodies available for dissection, Burke and Hare murdered for profit, killing selected victims and selling their corpses. The practice became known as “Burking”. By 1832, The Anatomy Act “allowed doctors, anatomy lecturers and medical students greater access to cadavers and allowed for the legal donation of bodies to medical science…calling an end to the illegal body-snatching trade.”

“The Resurrectionist” was a gentle love story as well. A secret love…a taboo, in Edinburgh would face an uphill battle with dire consequences in the social climate of London when James returned home at the end of the school semester, as demanded by his sister. Would he bend to the moral code of the times or carve out his own path? An excellent, informative read.

Thank you Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such an enjoyable read. I love when I get to learn more previously unknown history in my reading. This one was a fascinating fictional look into the medical schools of the time and the dark practices of procuring the bodies for the students to learn from.

I DNF at 15%. I stopped and came back to this a few times, but I couldn’t stay engaged. I did not feel invested with the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I thought I’d love this book, and it missed that particular mark just a hair but I did really enjoy it. The premise of a young man pursuing a career in science who ends up joining a body snatching scheme is delicious, to me. The descriptions were great and I loved the atmosphere; the characters, especially James and Nye, felt realized. I think there’s a handful of anachronisms, which are forgivable, and I thought the romance felt like it developed naturally. I will say that my attention started to wane at some point in the second half of the novel and I didn’t feel as engaged as I had at first. I think overall I just wanted something a little more, and while it’s definitely fun, I just don’t know if it lived up to the standards that I had based on the synopsis.

An atomospheric and fictional tale that delves into the orgins of modern medicine. Body snatching, organ harvesting, and hands-on anatomy lessons - what else could an aspiring physician wish for? And a little forbidden romance on the side? Yes, please!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having heard different podcasts and things about body snatchers and this was an interesting and entertaining account to teach more about this era!

Genre-blends are everywhere these days, but The Resurrectionist is so successful at combining historical fiction, romance, and mystery. The book almost feels like it shifts from genre-to-genre the further you get in, but it's done seamlessly, and suddenly you find yourself in a queer romance, and then suddenly the tension is ratcheted up. Despite the more gruesome (though fascinating) body snatcher/dissection content, this is a surprisingly charming read.

The Resurrectionist had all the ingredients for a five-star dark academia banger—gritty Edinburgh setting, forbidden science, queer tension, and that deliciously morbid body-snatching vibe—but something about the execution didn’t totally hook me. It’s got major atmosphere, and I wanted to be obsessed with it, but the pacing felt uneven and I struggled to connect with the characters beyond surface-level intrigue. It gave me The Alienist meets A Dowry of Blood energy, just not as emotionally gripping. If you’re into morally gray med students and a touch of gothic gore, it’s worth checking out, but for me it was more “glad I read it” than “can’t stop thinking about it.”

I loved this!!!
I was smiling pretty much the whole time I read this
I absolutely adored Aneurin and James’ relationship
Their banter was everything

I guess for me to really enjoy a romance I need queer body snatchers in 19th century Scotland with a side of serial killers

Marketing The Resurrectionist as a thriller or horror really does a disservice to the story. In actuality, it's historical fiction set in the dark of 19th-century Edinburgh and illuminated by a queer love story.

The storyline is very character-driven as James comes into his own and as his relationship with Aneurin develops.

Historical details and context concerning the time, place and grave robbing serve as the foundation for much of the story, which even includes an appearance by the infamous murders Burke and Hare.

It's truly lush, bloody and beautiful.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for my review.

Wow what a wild ride! The characters were super deep, and the plot kept me hooked the whole time. I loved the gothic vibes and how it set the scene for the medical school and all the creepy stuff like autopsies and grave robbing. It really brought that time period to life.

A truly amazing historical fiction book that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and wondering how the mystery would be resolved. The characters had so much depth and there was so much character development, and the plot was so well written, while based around a true story, it was a unique take on that part of history. I loved the gothic descriptions and vibes that were described throughout the book, and it really set the scene and tone for the medical school, science, autopsies, and grave robbing, and set the stage for that time period so well.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing, A. Rae Dunlap, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

This novel is beautiful, haunting, gory—and gay as hell. I loved every second of it.

The story follows James, a medical student in 19th-century Scotland, determined to leave behind a life of privilege in pursuit of something meaningful. But when his family suffers a financial disaster, James suddenly finds himself in desperate need of a way to pay for tuition and boarding.

Enter Aneurin “Nye” MacKinnon.

A self-proclaimed resurrectionist—or body snatcher—Nye and his crew dig up fresh corpses from graveyards to sell for medical study at a private university. At first, James is appalled by the practice. But soon, he becomes addicted to the thrill of the snatch—and to Nye himself.

This book is a love letter to science, a celebration of queer joy, and a treat for true crime fans with its nods to historical events. I wholeheartedly recommend it. But reader beware—this is not for the faint of heart. The dissection scenes don’t shy away from the grisly details, and you’ll get up close and personal with every bit of it.

I can see why this one was pointed towards readers of M. L. Rio… but I feel like that’s not quite, right is it?

I felt the similarities, I did, but I feel like where IWWV chose to not push the envelope for certain things… The Resurrectionist kind of threw those things to the wind and said ‘fuck it, we got bigger fish to fry.’ NOT A BAD THING BY ANY MEANS! Just.. I don’t know, to be honest…
For example (This is kind of spoilery so I’ll be vague): In IWWV, our boys didn’t get together. There was longing, yearning for one another. But in the end it was left to the reader to imagine them together. What their relationship would have been if they had crossed that barrier. In The Resurrectionist they crossed that barrier and you got to see into their life spent together.

You would think I would have preferred the happy ending with The Resurrectionist, right? But… I’m conflicted. It feels like I read this too late in my life. Like, had I read this in the same year as IWWV I would have SLURPED that shit up. I was longing for something to fix the hole IWWV had created and this would have patched me right on up for sure.

But now that I’ve had time to heal, grow… learn that the world can be harsh and you don’t always get what you want… This one fell a little flat. Had I gone into this NOT thinking of IWWV then maybe I wouldn’t feel that way.

Go into this with no comparisons. It was a great book standing on its own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 stars

It was really good! Personally? I just feel I needed a bit more of a struggle between the blooming relationship. That’s a personal opinion, but it’s my honest opinion.

My thanks to Kensington Publishing, the Author, and NetGalley for the Digital ARC. This book is ALREADY OUT!!! Go check it out for yourself and see what you think!

This book was an interesting read. Has some of the same elements as Anatomy: A Love Story. This dark academia genre is something I have recently begun to explore. If you like historical fiction and horror, then this is a great option for your next read. I will be scheduling this read for our October book club. I think it is a great start to the darker months.

While this book was good, the story line often felt as though it was moving too slowly. I found myself putting it down more often than I would like.

DNF at 52%…
I really wanted a YAgothic historical fiction but ended up reading a cute YA romance 😩

Prose was stunning but just not what I signed up for.

A well executed gothic historical fiction - the romance reads more as a subplot, and this is in no way a negative. As someone who grew up with a health dose of curiosity and a great deal of disturbance in regards to the various sordid histories of all things pertaining to the medical field, this book, while not a favorite, is an enjoyable read.