Quite the spine-chilling tale! The Specimen follows Isobel Tait, a young mother in 1826 Edinburgh whose son Thomas has developed a heart murmur after a bout of scarlet fever. When the acclaimed Dr. Connell Burnett pronounces Thomas's condition as fatal, Isobel and Thomas agree to make his remaining few months as comfortable and happy as possible. Then, Thomas goes missing -- kidnapped, Isobel fears, by a mysterious burned man. When she visits Dr. Burnett's collection of medical specimens, she discovers a child's heart among them, and is certain it belongs to her son. Eventually aided by Detective Adam Kerr, Isobel sets out to reclaim Thomas's heart and destroy Dr. Burnett.

This audiobook, superbly narrated by Cathleen McCarron, was absolutely riveting. I'm very interested to look into the real life murders that provided inspiration for this story. Isobel is plucky and resolute, willing to act as dangerously and ruthlessly as Dr. Burnett, his "resurrection men" associates, and the unscrupulous medical men of Edinburgh. The Specimen examines how men of power and wealth can easily prey upon the poor and vulnerable, and what one determined woman can do to thwart their plans. Part murder mystery, part historical thriller, The Specimen is well worth the read.

Thanks NetGalley and RB Media for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

This book is based on a chilling true story. I was riveted from beginning to end. The voice acting was outstanding.

Great story, nothing incredibly unsurprising plot-wise, but it is based on true events, so that's not a negative thing.
I enjoyed the narrator for this audiobook version of the story, and they did a great job.

Updated and posted on TikTok November 10. Link below.
A chilling historical novel loosely based on true crimes
A mother whose young son has a rare heart condition is plunged into an unthinkable situation. This historical novel offers a rich vision of horrendous crimes with a remarkable and complex main character. The specimen has a brave MC, mystery, suspense, tenderness, horror, and a bit of romance.

RBMedia delivers a top-quality audiobook featuring an excellent, expressive vocal performance by Cathleen McCarren. This narrator has an impressive range, giving each character a distinctive voice, including a poignant portrayal of the little boy.The beginning entranced me with vivid scenes of the mother and child bond.

Unfortunately, as convolutions and unnecessary subplots multiply, plausibility strains and breaks. Overall, it’s well-written, with some beautiful passages. I appreciated the atmospheric scenes and the many details bringing to life nineteenth-century Edinburgh. Fixsen displays a mastery of ‘telling details,’ rendering a cinematic vision of the homes, streets, and specific items that matter in the novel.

Highlights:

Chilling depiction of medical obsession and arrogance, and brutal, criminal measures taken to obtain human specimens.
The characterizations and dynamics between the women, within and across class lines, ring true.
There are some good shocks and intriguing details about the specimens and forensic medicine.
The moments when her music matters--and the lasting bond with her son.

Because of the strong main character, the author’s talent, bold choices, and foregrounding of the victims–and especially due to the extraordinary performance by Cathleen McCarren–I rounded the rating up to 4 stars.

Recommended for seasoned fans of horror, historical crime fiction, or disturbing Gothic suspense. Thank you @RBmedia for the ALC via @NetGalley for consideration. These are solely my own opinions.

A great gothic-type tale set in Edinburgh in the days when the field of medicine had begun to use dead bodies to expand their knowledge, with the help of bodysnatchers (as in Burke and Hare). Isobel is the main character, and when her son, who is ill with a heart condition, is taken from his home, she comes to believe that a surgeon is responsible for the abduction after learning that he is displaying in his collection a human heart with the rare condition her son had. The police investigate, but give up as they can find no evidence, but Isobel will go to great lengths to conduct her own inquiries into the matter.
A great story, well told, and well narrated.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

"The Specimen" was okay to me. The writing was nice, and the plot was interesting. It wasn't as fast-paced as I like, and by 50% the story's momentum hadn't picked up. I will recommend this book to library patrons who like historical fiction and slow-paced stories.

The Specimen is an evocative story of medical malpractice. Set in early 19th century Scotland, the story follows a young single mother, Isobel, a police officer, Adam, and a young orphan, Nan. They are brought together through a series of missing persons cases. Jaima Fixsen's writing is immersive and beautiful. I found Isobel to be an extremely sympathetic and complex character. She makes some dramatic choices in search of answers to her young son's disappearance. She believes that his damaged heart is in Dr. Burnett's medical specimen collection, and she single-mindedly pursues the truth of the Doctor's practices. I was fascinated to learn this story is inspired a real situation. There is an underlying sense of tension that moves the story forward smoothly. The narrator did an excellent job setting the scene and bringing the listener into the world of 19th century Scotland.

I am excited to read more from Jaima Fixsen.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for providing an ALC copy in return for my review.

This book grabs you right from the start. Set in the eerie streets of 1826 Edinburgh, it follows Isobel Tait, a mother desperate to protect her fragile son, Thomas. But when Thomas goes missing, Isobel’s worst fears are confirmed in the most horrifying way—a new addition to Dr. Burnett’s specimen collection appears to be a human heart.

From there, it’s a gripping race for justice. Isobel, determined and resourceful, goes undercover to expose the twisted doctor preying on the vulnerable, even as powerful figures in medicine work against her. With the help of a flawed detective, she takes on danger to stop Burnett’s twisted ambitions. This is historical suspense at its best, blending atmospheric mystery, high-stakes action, and a relentless mother’s love that won’t quit.

TW for medical abuse.

This was so sad, and so good. It made me feel relief at the end, but all kinds of feelings while reading. Well done novel that I would definitely re-read.

I'd recommend this to folks who liked Anatomy and Immortality by Diana Schwartz.

Thanks for the ARC!

I genuinely enjoyed this book so much. I was heart broken and rooting for Izzie the entire time. The narrator was fantastic as well.

The Specimen by Jaima Fixsen

What do you do when you need to advance science… You make the science happen.

It’s 1826 and Isobel Tate is not over her son being taken and when she goes to see a collection of specimens… she is drawn to the fact one is a heart with the exact defect her son had… She secures herself into the household of the doctor who has the heart and he is also the doctor that treated her son's heart condition.. Is it a coincidence or did something sinister happen to her son?

This book was great. I really enjoyed the narration. It had the best gothic vibes in a historical fiction setting and I was here all day for that.

The characters were great and this is loosely based on a true event so it made it even more exciting. The plot was awesome, a little slow but it was worth it.

4.5 stars

A Gothic thriller based on true crimes set in 1826, it’s a slow burn that takes a moment to get going- but once it does, it becomes a darkly suspenseful dive into the power of a mother’s love, determination, and the lengths she’ll go for revenge. And the cover? Absolutely stunning, capturing the haunting beauty I crave in historical fiction! Perfect for fans of Gothic tales with heart—both literally and metaphorically!

☆ALC REVIEW☆
Publication date: Available today!!


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Okay so my sister is friend's with Jaima Fixsen, the author, and sent me a physical copy(thank you @kirstin_anne_ ) and I also received an advanced listeners copy.

OMG, the narrator truly made this book come alive with some parts of her narration giving me literal chills.

The whole concept and synopsis of 'The Speciman' is truly one of the most unique things I have come across, ever. Then to find out that the book is based on true crime events.....chills! Finding your missing son's heart, who had a rare heart condition, just like this particular heart in the jar, is so not normal. Diving deeper into the story, you just never know what is going to happen, largely in part to it all seeming unfathomable.

I am not a historical fiction girl, but mix in a thriller with elements of true crime and you have me hooked!

Jaima Fixsen @byjaimafixsen this book is an easy 5 stars for me and a true masterpiece! It will definitely be a yearly reread for me!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jaima Fixsen, and RB Media for a copy in exchange for an honest review!!

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced audio copy of this book for review purposes. The year is 1826, Edinburgh. Isobel and her son Tom have a good life. Isobel is a “widow” and cares for them by teaching piano. Tom is a curious child who loves stories. Tom’s heart isn’t working well after contracting a fever. Isobel takes him to see Dr. Burnett who confirms that Tom doesn’t have long to live. One afternoon, Tom, while in the care of the landlady, is gone. Isobel goes to the police day after day but no one can provide any clues except the picture of a man with a burned face. After months of agonizing over the fate of her boy, Isobel goes to a museum of medical curiosities. There she hears Tom’s heart. It is in a jar and Isobel knows that it is his. What follows next is a search through Edinburgh for missing people who are all unique. One blue eye, one brown. A woman with an extra finger on her left hand. Isobel soon realizes that she will have to take matters into her own hands to find out what exactly happened to her son. This book is based on real events of the time. I think this would make a great book for book club. The narrator was wonderful. Read this book and thank me later!

I was intrigued to read this after discovering it is based on true crime and because of the gorgeous cover. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. As I listened to the audiobook version, the accent was a bit distracting making it harder to follow. The story itself seemed to drone on and on without much substance. To be fair, my mind wandered a lot while listening which may have led to my disinterest. Maybe I will try again with a written copy. My thanks to the publisher for providing the audiobook for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Overall I thank NetGalley for the privilege of being able to get an arc of this audio. The narration was excellent and I really enjoyed that characters and story. I rated this a 4.5 stars.

A perfect Gothic style spooky season read set in early 19th century Edinburgh that sees a mother's young son stolen for his dysfunctional heart by a doctor who likes to collect the body parts of unusual 'specimens' - even if it means resorting to murder to do so.

A tad long-winded at times, this was still an enjoyable read that sees a mother teaming up with a detective to bring justice for her son and put a stop to the doctor's illegal smuggling/murder ring. I especially loved the part where she can hear the voice of her dead son when she gets near his heart and the way she infiltrates the doctor's house.

This was my first book by Canadian author, Jaima Fixsen and I would definitely recommend it! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy (narrated excellently by Cathleen McCarron) in exchange for my honest review.

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.