Thank you A. Rae Dunlap, NetGalley, and Kensington Publishing for allowing me to review.

I was very excited for this as I thought this would be very atmospheric and interesting. I DNF'd this at 25%. Unfortunately, I felt like I was making myself read this, I wasn't connecting to the characters, and just did not feel that this had depth. I don't believe that this was for me and felt that this may be better suited for a male audience.

The cover is well done and part of what attracted me to this novel.

Thank you again and I am sorry that I did not connect with this book. I will not be posting a review anywhere.

This was an incredibly cool and trippy thriller, but most of all I loved all the actual true crime story interwoven with a beautiful love story. It was way more than I expected and I truly enjoyed every minute! The whole book was amazing, can’t wait to read more from the author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for sending me an advance copy of The Resurrectionist.

After reading The Burial Plot earlier this year, I was left wanting more of the grave-digging elements (which only happened in the first few pages). So when this book crossed my path, I thought I'd found exactly what I was looking for. But I ended up with mixed feelings about it, and I want to focus mainly on what didn't work for me.

The writing style was all over the place, honestly. It starts off with this lovely historical vibe that really got me excited, but then suddenly shifts into modern-sounding prose that kept pulling me out of the time period. The first-person narration didn't help matters, I kept thinking how much better this would have worked with an omniscient narrator who could really lean into that gothic atmosphere.

Let's talk about our main character, who frankly felt too naive for his own good. Being gay in the 19th century was incredibly dangerous (the gay element is not a spoiler, it's right there in the book's tags), but he acts almost oblivious to this reality while everyone around him clearly understands the risks. Then there's Aneurin/Nye, and yes, that random name change halfway through was odd. When we first meet him, I pictured this middle-aged guy with bad teeth and ghostly pale skin. Imagine my confusion when he turned out to be this attractive twenty-something instead. And what was with those random fits of hysterical laughter? They felt completely out of place.

The book reads like it's trying to straddle the line between YA and adult fiction, but never quite finds its footing. Don't get me wrong, it tackles some dark themes, but it could have gone much deeper into the ominous, threatening atmosphere it was hinting at. The plot loses its way about halfway through, suddenly introducing two new problems that felt forced rather than natural developments. My advice? Skip the synopsis, it gives away too much, and you'll probably enjoy the book more going in blind.

Three stars for some interesting ideas, but this one could have been so much more.

A. Rae Dunlap's The Resurrectionists is an enthralling blend of gothic horror and historical fiction, delving into Edinburgh’s dark past during the infamous Burke and Hare era. The story follows James, a medical student navigating the dark world of body-snatching amid his pursuit of anatomical knowledge.

The novel is very well researched, creating an atmospheric backdrop that is immersive, vividly evoking the grim streets and shadowy corners of 19th-century Edinburgh.

The characters, particularly James and Aneurin are deeply human, and their relationships natural and engaging. Through James's journey, Dunlap explores themes of ambition, identity, and moral conflict. James’s personal evolution—from a young man entranced by scientific discovery to someone grappling with ethical dilemmas—is both poignant and compelling. Aneurin, a charismatic and enigmatic figure, adds depth to the interpersonal dynamics, making their relationships feel authentic.

The city itself becomes a character, with its fog-drenched alleys and bustling pubs providing a vivid backdrop to the story's dark academia tone.

With believable characters and a macabre yet heartfelt tone, this debut is perfect for fans of dark academia and morally complex tales steeped in history.

In The Resurrectionist, James Willoughby trades his posh life at Oxford for the bustling, unfamiliar streets of Edinburgh, determined to fulfill his dream of becoming a surgeon. Although the university is the hub of medical innovation in the New Enlightenment, only the private dissection schools offer the “hands-on” education that James feels is necessary to complete his education. Unfortunately, the cost of tuition at his chosen school, run by Dr. Louis Malstrom, is far beyond his means and James, in desperation, naively strikes a deal with Dr. Malstrom’s assistant, the mysterious and charismatic Aneurin “Nye” MacKinnon. What James doesn’t know is that he has become an accomplice to a gang of body snatchers, also known as Resurrectionists, who procure fresh corpses for Edinburgh's dissection schools. As James descends into the shadowy world of the Resurrectionists, he finds himself a target of a rival gang, including the ruthless duo Burke and Hare, who will stop at nothing to dominate the lucrative trade in the dead.

This novel was simply unputdownable. A. Rae Dunlap captures the duality of Edinburgh—the enlightened, scholarly atmosphere and its dark, gritty underbelly—in vivid, often gruesome, but undeniably beautiful detail. This book truly has something for everyone, with elements of dark academia, true crime and romance. Although I started this book for the historical fiction and mystery elements, the evolving relationship between James and Nye had me kicking my feet in glee! While the plot delves into macabre and serious subject matter, Dunlap skillfully balances the darker tones with moments of levity, adding depth and warmth to the characters. The Resurrectionist is an exceptional debut novel - I cannot wait to read more from Dunlap!

Thank you to Kensington Publishing for providing an advance copy of this book for review through NetGalley. All opinions are my own!

James is a medical student in 1828 who travels to Edinburgh, Scotland to pursue his dream. Coming from a privileged upbringing, he is unwittingly thrust into the macabre and disturbing underworld of practices used to procure bodies for medical study (ie “body snatching” from fresh graves). He is struck with the ethical dilemma of whether to become involved in body snatching, or to abandon his dream of becoming a doctor. Along the way he develops a romantic relationship with another man, which in those times could have him hanged for the “crime.” The couple are soon thrust into a murder mystery, which I don’t want to spoil by divulging more!

I. Could. Not. Put. This. Book. Down. As a medical professional myself, I have always been fascinated—and horrified—by the gruesome methods used in those times to learn about the human body. I greatly appreciated the author’s extensive research into the subject, and even her inclusion of actual people involved in body snatching.

I loved the inclusion of the love story, which added so much more depth to the novel. And speaking of depth, as soon as you think you know everything about a character, there is yet another layer added to their story.

This novel is shocking, gruesome, and disturbing; but at the same time, it is heartwarming and uplifting! I will be recommending this to everyone, and A. Rae Dunlap is officially one of my auto-buy authors. I have already ordered the physical copy to place on my bookshelf!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the gifted eARC!

"Was I, the noble son of a landed family, about to tow a freshly stolen corpse into my chamber window and exchange it for money? No, not money, Progress, I reminded myself firmly. It was simply a matter of supply and demand."
4.75☆|5

Edinburgh in 1828, grave robbers, macabre elements, a bit of queerness, and a main character so naïve that it was flirting with stupidity at some points — and yet we love him —, what is there not to love?

This book is so great that I can't seem to find the words to describe my reading experience properly. I devoured it and finished it in a few days, even though it took me weeks to end a book those days. I got so attached to the characters because they are really, really, loveable. We follow James, who gave up on his Oxford studies and ended up in Edinburgh to become a surgeon. We are going to discover the city as well as the world of medicine at the same time that he and I love it really much! He was a bit naïve at times, sometimes reaching stupidity, but it added a bit of humour to the story, making you wonder “…he can't be that stupid can he” (those are actual notes that I wrote at some point). But the rest of the cast was also really loveable! I loved Charlie a lot, and I am afraid that if I start talking about Aneurin I'll still be here tomorrow (he is so incredible, a really chaotic type of character).

But characters are nothing without a story, and my, what a story! The author takes us with him in the old street of Edinburg, in the Surgeon'*, and in the graveyard, and somehow, we never once want to leave. That writing style combined with that plot was a pleasure, and I simply couldn’t put it down. I am pretty sure that it is A. Rae Dunlap's debut and let me tell you, he nailed it.

Another thing that makes me want to scream about this are the relationships. The beautiful one between Marie and Nie, the one between James and his friends that I have found quite interesting and funny at times. But also, the romance. It was so beautiful, and I adored them. The way James sees Aneurin? I just wanted to scream in a corner. Just gonna put this quote here but know that I crave for historical queer romance and characters.

"Whether drinking by my side at the Pig, eyeing me appraisingly across the hall at Malstrom’s, or splayed out casually in my desk chair recovering from the rigors of a dig, he was my North Star whenever the darkness of doubt threatened to envelop me."

I am afraid that reading this may have given me a new interest for that subject (I do take recommendations if anyone has any) but it is worth it. This book will be out on December 24th, and I do recommend it a lot.

This is such a strong debut! I was captivated from the very first page. the gothic setting and exhilarating plot are absolute highlights. We follow James Willoughby who pursues becoming a physician in Edinburgh. He then gets offered a deal he cannot decline by Aneurin “Nye” MacKinnon. The job, however, leads him down a different path than expected.

The character development from James was simply beautiful. I loved following his journey and being in the head of a well fleshed out character. His romance with Nye was just perfection. The friendship that naturally turned into yearning was so well done. I enjoyed the fact that the romance didn’t take over the entire story. It was so cute, but it wasn’t a central driving force which is great. Nye is such an endearing character that everyone will fall in love with.

The plot and all the shenanigans they got up to was delivered so well. The vibes were a combo of Frankenstein and Penny Dreadful, which are right up my alley. If you enjoy morbid tales, endearing characters, and an atmospheric historical gothic setting, I highly recommend this!

I’ll be honest, this one took me a minute to get into it. But once I was there, I was in.
The book had an interesting opening, setting up James’s relationships, past, and desires while introducing us to his tone of voice. As narrators go, I enjoyed his unique perspective. He was someone that I wanted to follow along as he came to terms with the ideals instilled in him from his upbringing, and how that changed through his immersion in the medical field and the scientific advancements that came from body snatching and dissection. The relationship here was sweet, and yet another way that James came into his own. Once Burke and Hare were introduced, the excitement really kicked up a notch and would lot me go until I finished the book. Definitely recommend.

I absolutely loved this book! Maybe it says something about me, but a story about body-snatching in 1800s Edinburgh turned out to be such a fun, oddly beautiful read. By the time I picked it up, I’d forgotten most of the description, so I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I got pulled into this historical setting—and the tie-ins with real people from 1800s Edinburgh were such a nice touch. Now I’m half-planning a trip just to see Surgeon’s Square in person!

The writing was really approachable, which is rare for historical fiction—usually, it can feel a bit heavy, but here, everything from the world-building to the mischievous characters was just so well done and felt spot-on for the time period. I did wish for a little more closure on where Nye and James ended up, but I also get why the ending was left a bit open. I just got so attached to them and really wanted the best for them 🥰

A darkly atmospheric and gripping historical novel set in 19th century Scotland. The story of body snatching combines historical fiction, true crime and dark academia. It is a perfect blend of fact and fiction, offering a stunning glimpse into the grisly origins of modern medicine.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.7 / 5.0

The Resurrectionist by Rae Dunlap is an historical fiction with dark vibes, queer romance, and a slow-burn murder mystery. It was immersive, intriguing, and intensely consumable. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions with other players, the environment, and especially one another. This book is a fantastic debut and I am excited to have another author to add to my list of preferred reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC.

3.97 ★ — anatomy: a love story but yaoi. pretty quick after you get through the first couple chapters. the mc was likable from the first sentence he uttered, which is insane coming from me, because he's a man, and i never like male characters. how the author managed to portray a 20 year old (i'm assuming? since he's in his second or so year of college.) male in first person without being corny is beyond me. he's witty, intriguing, and full of personality. the plot is interesting too, but i honestly stayed mostly for james and the writing style. i didn't even remember there was supposed to be a murder mystery until like 75%, so there's that.

(there's a couple of instances of jimmy boy doing casual misogyny, which made me hate him for a while, but then i remembered this is set in the 1800s, so of course. duh. but he's not that awful. silver linings.)

thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.

Body snatchers in 19th century Scotland and a sheltered queer gentleman getting his world turned upside-down!! “The Resurrectionist” is a riveting tale of dark academia and true crime. The romance and humor are well-written and cohesive with the book’s macabre themes.

The coolest place I visited this year was the Surgeon’s Hall Museum in Edinburgh. It’s really gruesome and educational - people have done some shocking things for the sake of medical science!? So, when I stumbled across “The Resurrectionist” on NetGalley (thank you to NG and Kensington for the eARC), I was eager to try it out. I went in with the expectation to feel immersed in that same kind of fascinatingly morbid setting, and this book expertly delivered on that.

Our protagonist, James, is naive and bit of a snob at the start (in a way I found comically endearing at times). But he is driven to learn, grow, and prove himself. He’s putting himself out there to study medicine in a new city (despite financial troubles) and break free from the confines of his upbringing. That fierce drive, along with him feeling drawn to the roguish and charismatic Aneurin, is how he winds up in a crew of body snatchers that dig up corpses for surgical dissection. It’s a high-stakes adventure that had me completely captivated.

The comedy throughout is superb and feels natural. They really had me giggling while they’re decapitating dead bodies?!? My guy Nye has ijbolitis fr (yes, that is the best way I can describe it!) Also, the romance had me swooning. ‘Be gay, do crimes’, as they say.

I only have two caveats, one about syntax and one about the story. There’s an excessive use of italics. I think it could be toned down, but maybe that’s just a personal vexation. The other thing is a big spoiler [idk how to hide spoilers on NetGalley so check out my Goodreads review to see it]. But ultimately, the story and characters were great, so I really recommend this book.

This book gave me Jack the Ripper times as a vibe. It’s sci-fi love mystery and murder all in one. I did really enjoy the read it kept me captivated and interested. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this for my honest review.

Imagine a Venn diagram with a circle for mystery; another for history of medicine; another for gay love; another for "resurrectionists," who at one time supplied medical schools with cadavers by digging up the recently buried; and then one more for notorious killers Burke and Hare (because, if you just kill people and immediately sell the bodies to medical schools, you don't have to do all that laborious digging). That little spot where all five circles overlap? That's where A. Rae Dunlap's The Resurrectionist fits in.

Dunlap deftly weaves together these disparate elements, mixing historical accuracy with vivid imaginings. As the plot progresses the reader gets pulled in more and more deeply. Really, the only thing I have to say is "dive in!"

I received a free electronic review copy of this title via the publisher; the opinions are my own.

I was immediately pulled into the vibrant historical setting of this novel. I loved following the tales of James and learning more about a sordid time in Edinburgh’s history. James and Nye were wonderful characters and I adored reading their story. This is a great read for anyone who loves true crime and history!

I wish that I had not waited so long to read this book as it was amazing. Having just returned from a trip to Edinburgh, it felt just the right time to read this book. Having explored the graveyards of the Scottish capital ,on guided walks, added such depth the the understanding of this wonderful book. I saw the cages built around the graves in Greyfriars cemetery to protect the bodies from resurrectionists such as James and Nye. This book came alive for me and filled the days I read it with such wonder. But this book and read it in Edinburgh, it's just like time travel.

From the moment I laid eyes on the cover and read the synopsis, I knew The Resurrectionist was going to be an extraordinary read. What I didn’t anticipate was just how much this debut novel would captivate me. A. Rae Dunlap’s work is nothing short of phenomenal—a blend of the macabre, dark academia, and the gothic that sets an exceptionally high standard for debut novels.

Dunlap’s writing is poetic and polished, vividly evoking the moody, shadowed world of 19th century Scotland. The author intertwines historical truth and fiction, drawing on the grim reality of the Resurrectionist movement and the infamous tale of Burke and Hare. This seamless merging of fact and storytelling creates a rich, immersive narrative. The pacing is well crafted, pulling readers—much like the protagonist, James Willoughby—into the dark and seductive realm of body snatching and medical progress.

James Willoughby is an endearing and complex protagonist. The first-person narrative allows readers deep access into his thoughts, making his struggles and ambitions all the more relatable. His character is defined by the tension between his privileged background and the harsh realities he encounters as he navigates this morally grey world. This class dynamic is a subtle yet powerful backbone of his development, showcasing his resilience and determination as he seeks freedom from his stifling family and strives for his own ambitions, even if it means crossing ethical lines.

The supporting characters are equally compelling, but Aneurin stands out with his razor-sharp wit, unbridled passion, and single-minded pursuit of medical advancement. Aneurin’s willingness to flout societal norms in favour of progress, his charm, and his cunning make him unforgettable.

The romance in the novel is delicately woven into the plot, enhancing the story without overpowering it. It feels natural and adds depth to the characters and their interactions. Dunlap’s balanced storytelling ensures that every element ties together cohesively.

In conclusion, The Resurrectionist is an exceptional read that has firmly earned its place as my favorite book of the year. Dunlap’s writing promises even more exciting works to come, and I will be eagerly awaiting future releases. For lovers of gothic, historical fiction with a touch of the macabre, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookstore when it becomes available.

The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap

Edinburgh, Scotland. 1928. The black sheep of the family, James Willoughby, chooses to alter his career path despite being born into wealth. Pursuing his passion, he enrolled at the University of Edinburgh to master the art of incisionary techniques, or performing surgeries, to be more precise. A short time after arriving, he befriends a group of like-minded men who rave about private schools in the area and provide a more hands-on approach to learning. He starts helping the headmaster of a well-known private school and discovers how they obtain the cadavers they use. He quickly bonds with a young man nicknamed Nye, who teaches him the art of body snatching. Due to his father's drinking and gambling habits, James' family's wealth is dwindling. They can't pay his tuition and request him to return home to help rebuild the family's reputation. However, because being a resurrectionist is a lucrative profession, unbeknownst to his family, James has surreptitiously found a way to pay for his education. Another school, however, requires bodies and is willing to go to any length, including murder, to ensure its success. Can James's secrets remain hidden from his family?

When we were kids, there was a cemetery close to my school. On our way home, my friends and I had to walk through it, which was scary, albeit enticing. During the day, I felt safe and protected from what lay beneath the soil. I have no idea what horrible experiences I might face during the hours of darkness. Ghosts? Ghoulies? Entities? The author, A. Rae Dunlap, has crafted a remarkable story of evocative mystery and burgeoning romance. Readers are frequently reminded that certain subjects were once considered taboo and punishable by death. Furthermore, we learn there is a moral code to exhuming bodies. At the forefront is our progress in humanity's understanding of the body, which avoids unnecessary grave robbery for petty theft.

If you love barren trees, foggy moonlit gravestones, and glowing lamplights shuddering in the wind-chilled night, then this book is for you. A new casket was excavated, filled with subtle eroticism that is common in newly-minted relationships. It's all here, folks. The book deserves four out of five stars and comes highly recommended!

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing for providing the ARC through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.