Thanks NetGalley for ARC! This was a perfect October read (even though it's coming out in December).

I love Gothic fiction (I loved the tv series Penny Dreadful and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is one of my favourite books of all time!). The Resurrectionist definitely has elements of both of those works as we delve into the macabre underbelly of Scotland on the cusp of the Enlightenment.

Through the main character's POV, we are thrust into this new world of surgical theatres (and how they procure cadavers) as he pursues his studies, falls in love, discovers his sexuality, reckons with his place in society, and becomes entwined in gang politics. The writing is beautiful and really brings to life (pun intended) a story much more than simply about a group of body snatchers. Some characters and plot elements are taken directly from the true crime story of Burke and Hare, famous serial killers in Edinburgh who provided "fresh" corpses to Dr. Knox so he may have models for his dissection theatres. Dunlap was able to take this true story and resurrect it into a novel that provides empathy to the victims, a background to what life was like in Edinburgh in the 1800s, and an exploration of queer love in a world where social status meant everything and being found out meant being hanged. The stakes are high for James Willoughby in more ways than one throughout the novel and I held my breath throughout. Overall this was a fun read, beautifully written, and much deeper than I thought it would be. I kind of wish this was more of a balance between the who/how dunnit and James' coming of age story; the shift in tone towards the end feels SLIGHTLY out of place, and rushed. But I still really really enjoyed this novel and hope it becomes popular enough for a series because I'd love to follow James and Nye as they solve more gruesome murders with the help of science.

I requested this book a few months before I read it, and I totally forgot about the Burke and Hare connection - it was such a treat to rediscover! Set in Edinburgh during the time of the infamous true crimes of Burke and Hare in the early 1800s and the roaring trade in body snatching - we follow the story of James and his pursuit of medicine during the New Enlightenment in the city.

I completely adored the characters that Dunlap has created, and also how the real people that also feature were brought to life - it felt very well researched. This book gave me the dark academia vibes I’ve longed for, for it truely is macabre which is what I am always seeking from the ‘dark’ part of the genre, but it’s also got so much life to it. Watching James discover himself through his pursuits and interactions was wonderful, and I’m totally besotted with Aneurin. The interactions between all the cast of characters felt all so natural - you could well imagine seeing the group around the pubs, bantering away. It’s such a stunning debut novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this one. Exceptionally well written, and very intriguing. Would definitely buy when it hits the shelves.

What if we held hands inside the dead body we’re dissecting for science <3

This was actually so delightful, I wasn’t excepting it to be so humorous and romantic considering the subject matter. We follow James, a posh former Oxford boy who arrives in Scotland eager to become a man of science. Edinburg has become the hotspot for scientific enlightenment and he is excited to learn the skills of a physician. Unfortunately, his new life and education are threatened when his family’s financial struggles are revealed. Desperate to earn some coin to continue paying his board and tuition, he stumbles upon the underground world of body snatching. Brought into a crew by a handsome dissectionist named Nye, he begins to learn the process of procuring cadavers for the various schools around town. But when new competition comes to town, all of their jobs— and possibly lives— are in danger.

The romance is in this book was way more prominent than I was expecting and I’m not even mad about it. James and Nye’s relationship was a perfect sweetness against the darker backdrop of this story. Taking ‘be gay, do crime’ to a whole new level. I always love stories that pull from actual historical events and figures. I hadn’t known anything about Resurrection Men or Burke and Hare before reading this so it was fascinating to get a glimpse at this period of time. Lots of scientific things that went directly over my head but was interesting anyways.

I will say, I do wish the Burke and Hare storyline had been introduced a little sooner. It felt kind of squished into the later portion of the story, making its impact fall a little flat. That tension and mystery would have served the story better if it played a larger role. Also (slight spoiler) choosing to kill off the only female character was,,, a choice.

Overall this was a humorously dark historical fiction which some mystery and romance that kept you wanting more. I had a great time!

An interesting concept about Burke and hare. From a history point, this felt like something I should of been interesting in. The writing was good, however my main let down for this book was the pacing. Everything seemed to happen very quickly, and then incredibly slowly. Some early typos and things which made the book feel a bit unedited/rushed.

This was really interesting. I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but I do love a good gothic story. The atmosphere in this book was really well done and I found myself lost in the past with the protagonist. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and/or gothic horror.

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0

Thanks to Net Galley & Kensington Publishing for the E-Arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book is perfect for fans of the talent mr Ripley or those looking for a MM gothic romance.
Mystery/ Thriller
The mystery is really finding out more about Burke & Hare.
There is like in the Talent Mr Ripley behaviour that escalates slowly into this thriller - from studying anatomy at Edinburgh to stealing bodies & finally murdering bodies for exploration
Dark Gothic Romance
The true hero of this story is the gothic romance. The romance is set in a backdrop of anatomical body sketches and body parts. However the moment between MC James an upper class gentleman fallen on hard times and the working class Nye. I was cheering for this couple throughout. The romance fades to black with anything more than a kiss.
This relationship is a major focus in the book - I would go as far to say the main focus.
Ideal Reader
A fan of young adult gothic romances with mystery subplot
Fans of talent Mr Ripley who wanted more romance moments
People who enjoy romances set in gothic / gorey settings
Fans of Emily the strange and Lenore will most likely enjoy this book
Extras
I enjoyed the fact that the E-ARc had discussion thoughtful questions for the book at the back.
Key summary:
-opposites attract
- coming of age & sexuality in a new town ( university )
-loosely based of the historical time of Burke & Hare
-Cute MM romance set in a gorey setting
- Runs out of money & need to find a job
- black market organs
- Accidentally Outing

Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing

I can’t believe this is a debut. The writing and vibes were both so great. The gothic ambience was created wonderfully. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a perfect book for the fall time. The premise of this book intrigued me first. The story telling kept me going. I was in medical school and think this would be a wild way to spend my time outside of the classroom. Overall, the plot, characters, and world building were all very well developed. I hope A. Rae Dunlap continues writing more books.

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington for the ARC. This was an alright read. The pacing was a bit odd and I feel like the most interesting bits were the beginning before the real conflict of the story starts with Burke and Hare. The romance was cute.

Voto complessivo: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Trama: 👍👍👍👍

Personaggi: 👦👦👦👦

Page turner: 📖📖📖📖

Suspense: 😱😱😱

Plot twist: 💡💡💡

Edimburgo, 1828. James Willoughby vuole diventare chirurgo, e non c’è luogo migliore dell’università di Edimburgo per i suoi studi. Quello che offre l’università, però, non è abbastanza per quanto riguarda la pratica, per cui decide di iscriversi ad una delle numerose scuole private di anatomia presenti in città. È qui che la sua strada si incrocia con quella di Aneurin “Nye” MacKinnon, ma anche con quella di due dei più famigerati serial killer della storia…

Ringrazio A. Rae Dunlap, la Kensington Publishing e NetGalley per l’eARC in anteprima di questo libro.

L’ho adorato! Da una parte abbiamo la fiction storica, con la ricostruzione del mondo dei “Resurrectionist”, i trafugatori di tombe che con il loro “lavoro” assicuravano alle scuole di anatomia il “materiale” necessario per lezioni e esperimenti, il che è anche un espediente per raccontare una pagina importante nella storia della medicina; dall’altra, il true crime, con la vicenda di Burke e Hare, due dei primi serial killer della storia, strettamente intrecciata a quella dei Resurrectionist. Non vi basta? Abbiamo anche una deliziosa storia d’amore MM.
La narrazione è avvincente, e amalgama insieme tanti elementi, dal murder mistery alla commedia nera, senza dimenticare un pizzico di gore.
L’uscita in lingua è prevista per il 24 dicembre 2024. Sarebbe davvero un peccato se gli editori italiani se lo lasceranno scappare.

4.5/5 stars!!

LITERALLY STUNNING! I was so intrigued by this novel because I am quite interested in the field of forensics as well as the history of medicine and it did NOT disappoint. First, just the amount of human anatomy vocabulary and history truly tied in very well into the dark academia vibe of the novel. I think the fact that there was so much little nuggets of true history and medicine back then really made the book more interesting. It truly worked well with the setting as well which thoroughly enraptured me. Second, the plot was simply divine. The characters were well done. I did have thoughts of "Are you crazy? Are you insane?" all throughout the book which I definitely think they were. I won't lie I did find it a little strange and uncomfortable how the topic of corpses and graves was treated as a comedic thing. I don't even know how many times they laughed or giggled while beside a carcass which felt so weird. I wished it got treated with more care and respect as it is a real thing that happened rather than a silly little fictitious joke. However, I do feel that the characters were pretty fleshed out, there were a lot of characters and friends but it still connected the reader to each character's personality. Finally, the romance. I LOVE books with a little side romance because it's like a little treat. I love the couple and their moments together but I did notice that their relationship sort of took over the book near the end. I do love romance books but I expected the love story as more of a side piece which it was until the end. However, that means more James and Nye who I adore. Altogether, I think you'll really like this book if you enjoy dark history, gothic style, forensics, and that dark academia style!

The Burke & Hare body-snatching case has long fascinated me- I even wrote a final paper for my degree on it, so naturally when I saw that there was a book coming out about the ordeal, I knew I had to read it. Let me say it did not let me down, Dunlap crafted a awe-inspiring narrative of fact and fiction, burying the details of the real case in with the their narrative following James.
James, he was such a fabulous narrator- the novel truly took us on his coming of age journey; where he learned more about the unsavoury aspects of medical science. Dunlap did such a fabulous job with James that I found my opinions being changed alongside his- both reader and narrator learned from Aneurin about the seedier operations of their chosen vocation.
I will admit I was a bit concerned at the beginning of the novel about the tone, I typically don't love regency era novels. But I found that Dunlap truly crafted the narrative in such a way that I didn't mind the typical social hierarchical dilemmas.
If you are at all interested in: history, the enlightenment, true crime or the dynamics of grave robbing- I would highly recommend The Resurrectionist.

I loved this book!! It was twisty and suspenseful; the writing style was also unique and engaging, capturing 1800s Edinburgh perfectly. I loved all the characters but be warned!! Not for the faint of heart, it can be quite gorey in parts which doesn’t bother me (it only adds to the vibes).

Really enjoyed this book although I had to put it down at times because the descriptions were a bit gruesome and I’m pretty squeamish. I enjoyed the mystery, the science, and the relationships. I wished we could have seen a bit more of James friendship with Charlie and Phillip considering they played a big part in the end of the book based on blind trust, which from their interactions throughout the book I’m not sure would have been completely warranted. I also wanted to hear more from Malateom himself- we hear a lot of second hand info through Nye. Overall really enjoyed, as a fan of dark weird historical fiction.

There's a typo at 15%. It should be "reverie" and not "revery". The prose was beautiful, but it failed to hold my interest. Having read and enjoyed the Raven, Fisher, and Simpson series by Ambrose Parry, I was already familiar with the setting - 1800s, Edinburgh. I expected this book to be a fast-paced crime thriller set in that era, but unfortunately nothing even remotely thrilling happened even at the 40% mark. The protagonist seemed terribly naive and unlikeable. The other characters, except perhaps Nye, were forgettable.

A dark academy style story, set in Edinburgh in the 1800s. The author's prose reminded me of classics such as Wuthering Heights, Jaynr Eyre, among others and captivated me from the beginning.
It is narrated in first person and the writing style is very pompous, loaded with descriptions, causing the story to become slow at various times. The story revolves around James, who leaves his past behind to pursue a career as a doctor at university and there he will encounter tomb raiders, quite descriptive gore scenes and also a queer romance. It should be noted that this romance is in the second line, it does not overshadow the main story and that was one of the characteristics that I really liked.
In the last part of the book it turns to a criminal investigation (historically inspired) and that has taken me a little out of the rhythm I had been having since the characters and their stories were left in the background and I think they were enough to maintain a good plot.

Twisty and suspenseful - an interesting exploration into med student by day and grave robber by night but his greatest troubles lie with the man he has fallen in love with. The writing style is unique and engaging, capturing the time. The plot is twisty with historical elements to keep history fans intrested as well as those in true crime. I liked the main character and his partner, their characters were distinct and interesting and their relationship was equally so. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC

For Fans Of: Anatomy of a Love Story, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice & Virtue
Avail: Dec 24
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Genre: 🏺 Historical Mystery
Violence: 🪓🪓
Spice: 🔥🔥
TW: dissection, dismemberment

Inspired by the true story of Burk & Hare—the infamous Edinburgh duo who decided to improve upon body snatching by creating their own corpses—Dunlap’s debut skillfully marries history with storytelling. Familiar with the story from my own writing research into the 19th century, I can confirm the author’s attention to detail. (If you ever visit Edinburgh, the Surgeon’s Hall Museum offers an exceptional—if unfortunately named—Blood & Guts tour that allows you to walk in the steps of Dunlap’s characters.) But what could be a boring data dump in less skilled hands Dunlap turns into compelling narrative. Characters likewise come alive under Dunlap’s pen. The narrator James experiences a compelling character arc over the course of the multi-month storyline, one aspect of which is his slow-blooming relationship with brilliant & quirky Nye. While the romance is not the main plot of the story, it again demonstrates Dunlap’s aptitude, blending a queer love story with historical verisimilitude. While you may want to avoid reading The Resurrectionist while eating, if you enjoy historical mysteries that embrace the evolution of investigative science, this novel is a great choice. And if I’m not mistaken, the book’s conclusion hints at a sequel, which I can’t wait to read.

I can truly appreciate the book for ehat it is. The storyline and the writing where amazing. The relationship between the two main characters was constructed interestingly. Sadly I couldn't really get into this book until the 50% mark. But at the end I wished for it to be even longer cause I couldn't place it down.

_The Resurrectionist_ by A. Rae Dunlap is an atmospheric and well-researched historical fiction horror read with well-developed characters. James Willoughby is a well-to-do surgery student newly arrived in Edinburgh, determined to learn cutting-edge medical knowledge. But with his family’s loss in funds, he must join dissectionist Nye is procuring anatomy specimens through unconventional ways. Operating during the crime spree of Burke and Hare, and joined by friends, James and Nye must reveal the murderers to save themselves and their livelihoods. This sometimes mildly disturbing but heartwarming read will delight fans of true crime and historical fiction.