I enjoyed reading “The Specimen” by Jaima Fixsen. The historical details throughout the book were fascinating. The medical practices and social customs of 19th century Edinburgh were particularly interesting. I also could relate to the weather descriptions; I have been caught in the rain several times in Edinburgh! These details worked together to create a realistic environment that helped keep me engrossed in the book. The fictional story surrounding Isobel and her son also helped keep my interest. The only time I thought anything negative about the book was in the beginning during the incident with the bat. I didn’t understand how that part helped to advance the story other than introducing some of the minor characters. My version of the book was an audiobook. The narrator did a great job with different voices; I wasn't cofused about which character was talking. I appreciated the narrator being native Scottish...her accent definitely helped create an authentic Edinburgh setting.

In a Nutshell: A historical Gothic mystery focussed on some stomach-churning crimes. Based on true events. Not exactly a whodunnit as we already know the guilty party. But fabulous as a story depicting the extent a mother can go for her son. Slow-paced, yet gripping all the way. I loved it!

Plot Preview:
1826. Edinburgh. Isobel Tait, a single mother who teaches piano to earn a living, loves one person more than anyone else in the world: her seven-year-old son Thomas. Unfortunately, Thomas has been sickly ever since he contracted scarlet fever about a year before. When an acquaintance suggests that Isobel take Thomas to the acclaimed Dr. Burnett for a reliable cure, little does the young mother know that her life is soon to turn into a nightmare.
With frequent kidnappings and grisly human organ museums and phantom voices and nefarious activities under the guise of medical research, this plot thus turns into a horrifying slow-burn historical mystery.
The story comes to us in Isobel’s first-person point of view, along with two other character perspectives in third person: Dr. Burnett and police detective Adam Kerr.

PSA: Do yourself a favour and don't read the Goodreads blurb. It doesn't reveal too much, but it does reveal a key point that botches some of the initial suspense. Just trust me and go in blind.

Bookish Yays:
❤︎ Isobel – What an amazing character! Courageous and determined, Isobel depicts the extent to which a mother can go for her child. As a fellow mother, I felt her pain throughout and was rooting for her with all my heart.
❤︎ The two kids in the story: Thomas and ten-year-old Nan. Child characters anyway win my heart more often than not, but these two are especially memorable.
❤︎ Police detective Adam Kerr, whose biracial roots, neither from England, ensure that he faces racial discrimination from within the police force. Loved the realistic way in which his character is portrayed.
❤︎ The other supporting characters. There are quite a few of them but the book never felt overloaded to me. Each one’s personality is carved so sharply that within just a few lines, we get a pulse of their personality. None of the women in the story are weak, though not all might be angelic. The characters serve as a masterclass in human behaviour and how social aspirations and/or requirements affect personal behaviour. Brilliantly done!
❤︎ Beautiful lyrical writing with such lovely imagery that the scenes played like a movie in my head. (Admittedly, this isn't the best thing to happen in a story with such a grisly plot… Oh well!)
❤︎ As Isobel teaches the piano, Isobel’s first-person narration’s had plenty of musical metaphors, which I relished. These depict Isobel's musical aptitude as well as her music-oriented manner of thinking even in her descriptions of people and sounds. Best of all, these are not written in a technical way, so even readers without knowhow of classical music would be able to understand them.
❤︎ Fabulous atmosphere throughout, with several scenes causing my pulse to beat faster. The macabre medical practices thrill and chill in equal measure. The historical setting is used excellently, whether in the police investigation or the local superstitions or the medical professionals’ clique-like behaviour or the dark truth behind some medical practices.
❤︎ Several brilliant scenes where characters tell scary stories to each other – perfect to amp up the spook factor of the book.
❤︎ Multiple parallel arcs, thanks to so many events and characters, but every single arc fits into the narrative neatly without its feeling forced, and the whole plot is even settled smoothly by the end.
❤︎ So many emotions generated by this story – it is simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking, possibly more of the latter.
❤︎ No forced romance or any romance. The focus stays where it ought to be.
❤︎ The ending. Can’t go into spoilers so I’ll just say: Loved almost all of it!

Bookish-Yays-For-Me-Might-Be-Nays-For-Others
💕 This is not a whodunnit as the “mystery” becomes clear quite early in the plot. It is more about avenging a crime than trying to figure out the guilty party. I wasn’t reading it for the mystery anyway, so this didn’t bother me. Mystery lovers might need to realign their expectations.
💕 The proceedings are on the slower side, but this didn't bother me at all as the plotline was engrossing. Not once did my attention dip! Those who don’t like slowburn stories might need to have patience.
💕 There are some mildly paranormal events, nothing spooky or nightmare-inducing. However, these are not explained, so if you are the kind to need answers for everything, you just have to go with the flow for this.
💕 The overall story comes from three characters, two in third person and one in first person. Each of these is written brilliantly with never any confusion about why the plot needed these three points of view. Moreover, each of the perspectives has a lot happening and are thus equally important in the overall storyline. Those who don’t enjoy multi-character perspectives might struggle to keep up.

Bookish Nays:
💔 Without going into major spoilers, all I can say is: the witchy content in the final quarter doesn’t fit smoothly into the overall plot. It’s not bad, but it just feels awkwardly shoved in.

🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at a little more than 13 hours, is narrated by Cathleen McCarron. How have I not heard any book narrated by her before!??! She is outstanding! She has a mild Scot accent, which worried me at first as I am not too used to it. But her lilt was impeccable and not at all difficult to comprehend. The way she voices every single character distinctly was just brilliant. Emotions, conversations, inner monologues – no confusion about anything. I’d love to hear more books narrated by her.
The only issue with the audio version is that I wanted to go even faster! There were so many scenes in this fascinating story where I would have flipped the pages at full speed had I had the physical/digital version, in which case I'd have devoured the book in a day! Of course, you can increase the tempo of the audio to crazy levels if you want, but I never go above 1.75x as I want to feel like I am actually listening to a human and not a chipmunk.
The author’s note is yet again missing from the audio copy. A peek at some other reviews showed me that the note details the actual case this story was based on, so it is a vital part of the reading experience. I don’t know why we don’t get access to it. So annoying!
Newbie audiobook listeners might have trouble keeping up with the multiple character perspectives, so better if they stick to reading. They could also try immersion reading – eyes plus ears at once. This would work well with such a wonderful narrator.

All in all, this is easily one of my top reads for 2024. It’s a great option for the spooky season, though it might work better for historical fiction lovers than mystery lovers.

Do note that it isn't an easy read considering the theme. There are many disturbing events so do check out the content warnings before you opt for this. The ending is highly satisfying, if that helps.

I had assumed this to be my first book by this author, but as it turns out, it is the second one! As ‘Audrey Blake’, this author co-writes STEMinist historical fiction with fellow author and friend Regina Sirois. I remember reading ‘The Surgeon’s Daughter’, and while I was quite annoyed that it hadn’t been marked as a sequel, I had enjoyed the historical and medical parts of that novel. Those aspects are fabulous in this book as well. I am definitely going to keep a keen eye out for her future works.

Much, much recommended to every historical fiction lover who doesn’t mind dark content based on true crimes. If you are an audio aficionado, do opt for the audio version.

4.5 stars, more than happy to round up!

My thanks to Recorded Books for providing the ALC of “The Specimen” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.

Content Warnings: (DO NOTE THAT THIS LIST CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS AND MIGHT NOT BE EXTENSIVE.)
Child death, heart issues, organ harvesting, body snatching, murder, physical assault, racial discrimination, bullying, prostitution, extramarital pregnancy.

In 1826 Edinburgh, Isobel Tait lives with her seven-year-old, very ill son Thomas, and supports herself teaching piano to young gentlewomen in Edinburgh.

After a consultation with Dr. Burnett, on the advice of her doctor, she’s told that Thomas' heart, specifically the mitral valve, is too damaged by the scarlet fever he recovered from for Burnett to heal the boy. Soon after the appointment, Thomas goes missing, and despite neighbours’ help, Isobel can find him nowhere. She goes to the police, but Detective Fraser judges her to be not worthy of respect as she’s a single mother, and dismisses her concerns. His partner, Adam Kerr, takes her more seriously, but Thomas is never found.

Over a year later, and still bereft, Isobel is convinced by friends to accompany them to view Dr. Burnett’s medical specimens collection, and it’s there that she sees a preserved small heart with a damaged mitral valve. Isobel hears the familiar sound of Thomas’ labouring heart then, and she loses it. She attempts to rouse interest in the police and the newspapers, but no one takes her claims seriously, as what Isobel is implying is too horrible.

She tells Adam, and even he has a hard time believing that a doctor, especially one so prominent, would harm someone to secure a specimen for his collection, even as Adam is learning about people in the city with unusual physical conditions are disappearing.

Dr. Burnett discredits Isobel, and no other doctor will support her claims, as they are all too dependent on a supply of dead bodies to expand their knowledge. It never pays to delve too deeply into the provenance of their supply, so they close ranks against the supposedly “hysterical woman”, with Isobel losing clients, and feeling increasingly alone. This prompts her to hatch a dangerous and daring plan to find out more about Burnett and take the heart back herself.

Meanwhile, Adam Kerr begins his own quiet investigation into missing people. As a Métis, he has no real support amongst the bigoted officers, and is unlikely to be believed as the missing are generally poor or sex workers.

Author Jaima Fixsen has based this story on the real life Resurrection Men, who secretly exhumed bodies to sell them to doctors. Fixsen has skillfully combined actual history with mystery and a nice sprinkling of the slightly fantastic to create a fascinating and totally engaging story.

I loved the atmosphere of Fixsen's 1820s Edinburgh; it's damp, chilly, with prejudice and small-mindedness combining with the almost scandalous interest evinced by the public for various gentlemen's collections. There is also the lack of interest by police to take missing persons cases seriously, particularly when those missing occupy the lower rungs of society, much as happens today.

In Isobel, Fixsen has created a woman whose love for her son and for justice are powerful motivators. She's unwilling to be ignored or dismissed, and once set on her course, is incredibly determined. Though Isobel sometimes acts without thinking, but she's always driven by her love for Thomas.

Adam Kerr is equally interesting. It's easy to assume that no one from the New World would end up in Europe, but the historical information Fixsen provides in her afterward notes otherwise. He's a good ally for Isobel, as he's got an outsider's perspective on the police, and on Edinburgh Society, allowing him to see problems that the majority don't. He's also a capable detective, persisting in his investigation to the point that he and Isobel's efforts reveal a horrendous situation.

I could not put this down once I started; the concept and the characters kept me hooked right to the end. This book's main character was captivating, and Isobel's and Adam's eventual partnership was a wonderful aspect of the novel.

I went back and forth from the prose to the audiobook, and voice actor Cathleen McCarron's portrayal of Isobel was sublime, while her portrayal of Dr. Burnett was genuinely scary, at times. McCarron's Adam is a calm, empathetic and steady presence throughout, and a nice contrast to Isobel's passionate refusal to accept the flawed authority of Adam's fellow detective, and the abrasiveness of the villain of the piece.

I highly recommend both the novel and the audiobook; I loved this story and its wonderful heroine.

Thank you to Netgalley and to RBMedia for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Historical fiction centered around the body-snatching resurrectionist days is a huge interest to me. They’re so atmospheric, gothic and morbid and The Specimen was no exception to that. I loved this book, but oh my God I seriously felt so much rage, I just can’t imagine something like this happening to me, but I’m sure it did in those days. I wanted our main character Isobel to have the retribution she deserved, though it would never be enough. I went into this blind, and in the author’s notes it does mention this was based loosely on a true story which sent me down a rabbit hole. I listened to this one on audio and thought the narration was great. If you’re looking for an atmospheric and devastating revenge story, The Specimen is one to pick up. This one is available now. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and RB Media for my eARC and advanced audiobook.

What an exciting gothic tale of a mother’s love and men’s entitled greed based on true crimes.

This novel reminds me of Patrick Suskind’s classic creepy novel Perfume and a little bit of a Jack the Ripper police procedural.

Specimen tells the story of a young mother and her sickly son. Isabel is an intelligent, caring, independent and musically gifted woman, desperate to help her boy. She gets an appointment with an ambitious Dr. Burnett, who tells her that her some has a serious, rare heart defect and does not have long to live. She decides to give her son the best life in the few short months they have left. But, soon after, her son goes missing. The police are baffled and none too helpful.

A year later, still mourning, Isabel finds herself back at Dr Burnett’s viewing his collection of medical oddities. And she sees a small heart and hears her son’s heartbeat.

She decides to go undercover and learn what happened to her son.

Emotional, haunting, tense and mesmerizing, this is a wonderful read! The audiobook was particularly enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley and RB media for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

A very interesting story, I enjoyed the period it was set in but the direction the story took was just a bit boring for me. I can say at times I felt exhilarated just most of it I was bored sadly. I didn’t really care for any of the main characters at times they were interesting but most of it was eh.

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 6th November and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of December.

Thank you to NetGalley & The Publisher for allowing me a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

This book was very good. It was well written, with great pacing, character development, and overall structure. It pulled me in, and I finished it within 3 days. The narrator of the audiobook was great as well, very easy to listen to with dynamic character voices that weren't cringy. All in all, a very solid read & extremely enjoyable, perfect for quiet evenings.

I am settling this one with 4.5 stars, rounded down. This is mostly because, as enjoyable as this was, there was nothing unique to it. It was a rather straightforward story that didn't attempt to break the mold in any way. This made it sort of bland. The way I described it to my husband was, "it's very cookie cutter, but cookies are still good even if they're all shaped the same." We all know and love our favorite cookies, and this one will fit right in with the rest.

I'll be looking forward to future titles by this author!

I really freaking liked this. This was a perfect spooky season read. 4.5/5

In the tradition of Burke & Hare, this story follows unscrupulous doctors blinded by their ambitions and need for constant bodies to further their careers and one mother who demands justice for her son. And if the police can't help her then she'll take matters into her own hands.

Normally I prefer my fiction to be speculative in nature, but I didn't need that at all here. (Granted, there's a slight magical realism/maybe speculative elements, but it's very, very minor so as to basically be inconsequential.) This captivated me from the start. The pacing and tension and raw emotion and vengeance were excellently portrayed.

I also quite liked the different POVs that we got that helped to round out the characters, round out the knowledge the reader is privy to, and truly cement what a despicable villain there was.

Overall I highly recommend this, especially around Halloween (which also gets a passing mention in the book!)

Audiobook Notes:
Consider me an instant fan of Cathleen McCarron. From the opening paragraph I already rushed to tell my friends how immediately in love I was with the narrator's accent. She has a lovely voice to listen to and did a fantastic job portraying the text. 10/10

"The Specimen" is a gripping gothic thriller that weaves together elements of suspense, mystery, and the supernatural. Set against a haunting backdrop, the story delves into themes of obsession, identity, and the dark side of human nature.
I loved the gothic atmosphere, with eerie settings, atmospheric descriptions, and a sense of impending doom that keeps readers on edge. The author skillfully builds tension, using elements like isolation, psychological twists, and supernatural undertones to create a chilling sense of dread.
As the plot unfolds, readers are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, with unexpected revelations and heart-pounding moments that lead to a thrilling climax. "The Specimen" expertly combines classic gothic elements with modern storytelling, making it a must-read for fans of the genre who appreciate a dark and immersive tale.

If you love gothic and historical fiction you should give this book a read. It was spooky and mysterious which made it a perfect fall read and it was beautifully written. This book also had well written characters. I absolutely loved Adam, Isobel, and Nan and all their relationships to each other. One thing that fell a light short for me in this book was the witchy aspect, I feel like it could have been developed better. Overall I enjoyed this book!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrator(s): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes, etc: Revenge, Deadly Doctor, Creepy Collection
POV: Multiple, 1st & 3rd Person
Cliffhanger?: No

The Praise: The Specimen was so interesting and original! I loved Isobel and her determination to get justice for her son. She was kind, brave, and clever. And who knew I could become attached to a character in only 2 chapters and be devastated by his death?
I really loved Adam and Nan. The way Adam took Nan in and cared for & protected her like a daughter was so sweet.
Also the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

The Critique: The witchy aspect of the story left something to be desired for me. I wish there had either been more about it or that it had been removed entirely.

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this! A unique story with strong characters & spooky crime vibes.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia!

I thought the premise of this novel was interesting, and definitely played to my STEMinist sensibilities. Honestly, any book that combines gothic elements and anatomy is an automatic pick up for me! This was a great blend of historical fiction and gothic thriller.

I did, however, think it was slightly too drawn out in the middle section. I’m not sure if this would have been different if I had read the physical copy rather than the audiobook - but I do find that historical fiction can often feel on the slow side for me. Interestingly, I didn’t have any issues with anything else (relatively rare for me: I’m quite picky). The writing was clear, the characters were great, and the imagery was definitely there. I thought that the MC had great growth throughout the novel, and I loved the character of the detective. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more releases by this author,

With its gothic vibe, elements of true crime, historical fiction, and mystery, this book is nearly perfect! I discovered this crime story a while back, so having the chance to read a book based on it is truly amazing. The narration was outstanding and kept me captivated from beginning to end. A huge thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for this incredible ARC!

The way I tensed up when the protagonist walked into that museums of specimens. It just gets more tense from there. I love how incredibly well researched this book was. It was also emotional and interesting and I fell in love with the cop and our protagonist. It was way too real.
I am blown away.
And the narration! This was one of the best narrated books I have ever listened to! How did they do that? So amazing.
I will read anything this author produces from now on.

It’s 1826 in Edinburgh, Scotland when Isobel’s seven-year-old son, Thomas, goes missing. She’s wild with grief and hounds the police daily, but there’s not sign of him anywhere. Months later, Isobel, at the urging of friends, is attending a museum of morbid curiosities when she starts to hear the beating of Thomas’ heart!

The Specimen was suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat as Isobel searches for the truth and stumbles on a way to do it that puts her in danger! I was rooting for her as she uncovered the details and looked for a way to serve up justice! There’s a splash of spine-tingling supernatural here, too!

The writing was rich and vivid without sacrificing pace! Don’t miss reading the author’s note at the end which gives a bit of the history of the true story The Specimen was based on and how she came up with the story!

I alternately read and listened to The Specimen. The audio was fantastic! Cathleen McCarron’s Scottish accent was wonderful to listen to and there were pronunciations I wouldn’t have got right otherwise. She seamlessly performed both male and female voices. Loved!

This review is of The Specimen by Jaima Fixsen. And this is not going to be my usual type of review.
I am not a history nut, but I have read the history of the body snatchers in Edinburgh. I know about their total disregard for human life or the pain they caused the survivors. Their only driving force was greed. This book delves into that world of pain, grief, and greed and brings it to life with the characters. The single mother who has her 5 year old son snatched so doctors can study his defective heart. How far will she go to prove quilt when no believes she can still hear her son’s heart? The policeman who doesn’t fit in and forced to work on his own. The man who may not be able to catch the evil doers, so he takes in and helps the broken. The doctor who is so sure of his own self importance, and will do anything to prove it to others.
Other reviewers have said they loved the book. Did I love it. No. Do I think it is one of the best books I have read in years, definitely. Should you read it? Yes, definitely. But you need to remember something when you do. Each one of us reads a book in their own unique way. One reviewer said the book was too long. I disagree because when I was reading it I became the policeman, the mother, those who were left behind. To me the book had to be that long to make sure everyone’s story was told.
I hope you read this book. I don’t care if you love it, hate it, or think it was too long. The important thing is to read it. To become immersed in a world so different from the one we know.
Thank you Jaima Fixsen for creating this stunning work.

This was a very gripping story of a mother's love and the depths that one would be willing to go for love.

I was really interested in the premise, especially since it's based on true crime - with some supernatural elements sprinkled in. I was really hooked in the beginning but the entire middle section of this book was bit boring and fell flat for me, thence the three stars. The beginning and ending were the most captivating parts for me. I liked the gothic, suspenseful vibes that this book gave and it is a good fall read.

Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for this audiobook arc!

True Crime
Based on a True Story
Historical Fiction

If you just said those three things I would have already said take my money!!! I always watch true crime documentaries but this was the first true crime book I have read. It definitely exceeded my expectations.

The story takes place in 1826 in Edinburgh, Scotland. A woman, Isobel, has a son who is seven and has a heart condition. Unfortunately he has a heart murmur. Isobel takes him to a doctor and finds out her only has three years left. But then he goes missing.

Like any mother, Isobel becomes depressed because of her missing son. She goes out one night and sees a display of Dr. Burnett's collection of oddities. Well the oddities are medical specimens (EWWW). Isobel begins to hear the heartbeat of her son. She becomes determined to figure out if this Dr. Burnett killed her son.

I was able to listen to the audiobook and I adore the narrator. She had a scottish accent and really helped me dive into the story. I must say it was creepy at times and had me at the edge of my seat. The writing was rich and I felt Isobel's pain. I couldn't put it down! I listened to it in one day. Sometimes the pacing was a little weird. That is why I gave it a 4/5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press,Jaima Fixsen for this ARC!

i love a gothic thriller and this one did not disappoint! it's a mystery, but not a whodunit. it's the type of investigative mystery where you know who the culprit is and throughout the story the details of the crime and additional crimes are slowly uncovered. i was invested in isobel's pursuit of justice and really grew attached to the main characters. i listened to this on audio and was a big fan of the narrator.

thank you to netgalley and rb media for an advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review! pub date is tomorrow (oct 15) so grab a copy for spooky season 👻

I definitely enjoyed this book. It was fascinating hearing about how doctors used to acquire their bodies for experiments or research. I admired the mother and the detective for not giving up. I didn't expect the sci-fi aspect but it wasn't overdone.