This is a historical fiction, thriller and mystery all rolled into one!

"Burnett is obsessed with his specimens – how far would he go to acquire a new one? Determined to investigate, Isobel joins his staff as the keeper of his collection. What she'll unearth, though, is far worse than any of her nightmares…"

Set in 1826 in Edinburgh and based on a true story. Isobel has a seven year old son who has a heart condition. He soon disappears and Isobel is left to figure out what happened to her son by herself.
After seeing the doctors collection of specimens, particularly body parts, she hears the heartbeat of her son and becomes convinced her son was killed in order to have his heart kept in a collection!

This is an amazing story. Saddened by the fact it's based on a true story and these things actually happened!
I wish I had of read the book instead of listening to the audiobook, as I felt I would have enjoyed the book more. None the less this is a great story and would recommend it to historical fiction readers.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to listen to this!

It was first gothic historial book and I absolutely enjoyed every second of it! It starts slow ,describing the life of Isobel and her son but then it takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. Very well written and the narrators did a great job.

In this gripping tale of gothic suspense, Isobel Tait is a mother whose chronically ill son mysteriously vanishes, leaving her bereft. One year later, while on a tour of the medical specimen collection of Dr. Conall Burnett, she is shocked to see a heart with the exact same mitral valve defect as young Thomas. When she hears his heartbeat calling out to her from inside its glass jar prison, nothing can stop her from exposing the truth.
Creepy and atmospheric. More historical fiction should be based on true crime!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and RB Digital for this e-arc.*

4.5 - I was first draw to this book by the beautiful cover art! Once I read the description, then I was already hooked. Taking place in 1800's Edinburgh, Isobel takes her son to the doctor to have his heart condition checked. He has a rare condition, damage to his mitral valve. Not long after visiting the doctor, Isobel's son is kidnapped and never found. Months pass and Isobel finds herself on a tour of the doctors offices. As she scans the specimen jars in the office, one catches her eye - juvenile heart with damaged mitral valve. Isobel teams up with a detective working missing people cases to find out what happened to her son and many other "unique" missing people.

I loved this story and the use of true crimes to create a thrilling mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook for honest review.

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️



✨Mystery
✨ Historical Drama
✨ Based on a true crime




✨ wow…
It’s my first time reading this kind of trope and did not disappoint. I must admit, this book is great for someone likes a historical fiction with both mystery and true crime..
so it’s quite hard for me to like it as much but I definitely enjoyed reading it.



✨ Specimen is based in Scotland .
In the 19th centuries, which focus on Burke and Hare.
The story included a gothic horror theme too so it was abit confusing for someone who reads this kind of genre for the first time .
Isobel is the main character in this.
Suffering from depression and someone invited her for a show.. what kind of show!? Gory of body parts,collected in jars and god knows what😳
I was in shock reading that chapter and hooked me right away.


✨ definitely worth the read. May slow at some points but chapters are pretty decent count.


✨ Thankyou @rbmedia for the opportunity to read this book for a honest review.




🫶🏼shaye.reads

The BBC needs to adapt this into a series ASAP. It was so atmospheric and suspenseful! This book was not what I was expecting and I'm not mad at it! Captivating from the start and I found myself sulking when I had to pause it. The characters and plot are really well developed, and as I've already said, it was really atmospheric. You really felt the cold and darkness of the time. Not to mention the cold and darkness of being a woman and a woman of lower class in the 1800's.

I looooved the constant suspense in this book. At some point, we reach a point where we are no longer wondering who did it, but why and how to gather the evidence to prove it. Things are constantly happening, people are constantly dying, and you will be constantly on the edge of your seat as you wait for the next pin to drop. I highly recommend this book for your next gothic thriller book.

The Specimen by Jaima Fixsen

Thank you to @poisonedpenpress, @byjaimafixsen, and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this #advancedreadercopy in exchange for my #honestbookreview! This book is out October 15 so preorder now.

This was absolutely brilliant! Two books that have really stuck with me since reading, Hester by Lori Lico Albanese and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, are fused thematically in this dark telling of a doctor who will stop at nothing to grow his collection of rare specimens. This had thrilling action and suspense at times, pensive evaluation of science and medicine at others, and still heartbreaking agony and loss at others. This is the must read for those looking for a thought-provoking read this spooky season!

TWs: loss of a loved one, k*dnapping, g*slighting, lack of cooperation from authorities, corruption, more

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5/5

I really enjoyed this book! I was drawn in from the very beginning and I couldn’t stop listening to it. I think it was written with so much poise and heart.
The story was hard to read at the beginning only because it’s always hard to read about bad things happening to children, but seeing the redemption throughout the story made it so much easier to reconcile. I loved the way everything was tied up and I was shocked by the tiny of magic that was presented. Honestly, I think this book still would have been amazing had their not been the tiny nods towards Isobel being a witch. That was the only thing I didn’t love because it felt like it was almost an after thought.
I still will highly recommend this book and it will be one that I think about Often.

The Specimen completely captivated me from the start. The fact that it’s based on a true story, set during a time when medicine was full of biases against women, adds so much depth to the narrative. It highlights the way society often labeled women as "hysterical" to discredit them—an issue that, sadly, still lingers today.

I especially adored the main character, a grieving mother who lost her son. Her journey, filled with heartbreak and resilience, was beautifully portrayed and gave the story a powerful emotional core. The plot itself is thick with mystery and suspense, keeping me on edge the whole time.

The production was impeccable, with the narrator perfectly capturing the mood and creating a suspenseful yet almost mystical atmosphere that transported me to another era. This audiobook is a must for anyone who loves historical fiction with gripping twists, emotional depth, and an eerie sense of suspense.

The Specimen is a captivating gothic thriller that hooks readers from the very beginning and refuses to let go. Set in 1826, the story follows Isobel, a mother whose son, Thomas, is left with a damaged heart after surviving scarlet fever. Desperation grips her as a doctor informs her that Thomas only has months to live. But her world truly unravels when Thomas mysteriously disappears, and a year later, she discovers what she believes to be his heart on display at a macabre oddities exhibit.

Jaima Fixsen weaves a tense and emotionally charged narrative, mixing historical medical practices with just a touch of the supernatural. Isobel’s journey, as she faces disbelief and the unraveling of her life, pulls readers into a shadowy world where stolen bodies for medical study are not uncommon. The darkness that permeates the story is made even more intense by the stakes of a mother trying to reclaim what remains of her child.

The audiobook, narrated by Cathleen McCarron, truly brings Isobel to life. McCarron’s performance is emotional and gripping, enhancing the believability of Isobel’s despair and determination. Her narration guides listeners through each twist and turn with a voice full of depth and conviction.

While the plot leans heavily into the gothic elements, Fixsen’s characters are well-developed, especially Isobel, whose resilience is inspiring despite the crushing weight of her circumstances. The chilling premise and magical undertones add layers of intrigue, keeping the suspense taut throughout. For fans of gothic thrillers with a historical twist, The Specimen is a memorable and haunting read.

Thank you NetGalley, RBMedia, and the amazing Jaima Fixsen for the opportunity to read and review The Specimen.

Gripping from the beginning, this novel has really great characters, a complex plot that is thoughtfully developed. The ingenuity of the main character was fantastic and coupled with the great mystery made a really exciting and interesting book. The historical aspect was also great, showing how class and lack of technology led to many crimes that could easily have gone unsolved. Definitely recommended!

I thoroughly enjoyed *The Specimen*. The mix of historical fiction and a touch of magical realism creates an engaging and immersive atmosphere. However, I'd say the book leans more toward historical fiction, which felt balanced and authentic. If you're familiar with the period, you'll find that the terminology and societal setting enhance the depth of the story.

The pacing was a bit slow for me, especially in the middle, but it eventually picked up as the plotlines began to converge. The third act was especially strong, tying everything together in a satisfying way.

One of the standout aspects was the narrative voice—it brought Isobel Tait's determination and vulnerability to life. Her struggle against the corrupt medical world of Edinburgh, combined with the eerie tone set by the Burke and Hare-inspired backdrop, kept me invested throughout.

Isobel's young son, Thomas, is very sick. He survived scarlet fever, but it left him with a damaged heart. She takes him to a special doctor, who tells her he has months left to live. She is devastated. They resume their lives, and when Isobel is teaching piano lessons, Thomas disappears. His caregiver seems to have been drugged. But the police really don't do anything. Around a year later, she is trying to move on with her life. She goes to an oddities exhibit with her friends- where she sees one of the jarred specimens is a damaged heart. The curator of the oddities exhibit is the same doctor that examined him. She knows instantly that it is Thomas's heart. Not only do the police not believe her, but the doctor is well supported and her reputation is quickly ruined. Her clients all fire her. She becomes determined to retrieve Thomas's heart, no matter what it requires.

I was intrigued by the synopsis, but also worried. I tend to dislike horror- mostly because it often leans towards the supernatural. It isn't the gory details that deter me- I can read some really twisted thrillers without batting an eye. I've just never enjoyed reading any type of fantasy book. I am glad I took the chance. While there are tiny hints of supernatural, it is very very minor.

While the first couple of chapters started slow, once she found the heart, I couldn't put this down. Not only did I like the dynamic of Isobel's search, I also loved that she sort of collected a group of supportive people. The doctor's staff, the detective and Nan, etc... It kept the book from being too dark and heavy.

Cathleen McCarron narrates the audiobook and does a fantastic job.

I received an advance audio book in exchange for an honest review.

A story of a woman who has a child with a rare heart disease goes missing. Ironically, after a year of the child missing a new exhibit has arrived at a local doctor's collection of human organs with the same defect as her child. After the doctor publicly shames the woman for her accusations she then goes undercover as a house maid. It turns out that the dirty rink of Doctors were hunting and harvesting humans. However, it turns into a tale of Money vs. truth.

This book was OK, I was really into. However, it got so boring. There was so much that could have been left out. This book would have been 5 stars if the author would have stuck to the point.

Such a great gothic style tale. Great for Halloween

In early 19th century Scotland, Isabel is trying to make the most of the time her young son Thomas has left. Since being stricken with yellow fever, it’s only been a matter of time before the disease would take him from her forever. Still, she doesn’t give up hope and contacts a specialist to see if he can provide any help. It would appear he can do nothing for her son, but Isabel stumbles upon some gory and horrific displays in the good doctors laboratory. This is a creepy story of 19th century medicine and the terrible lengths that doctors went to, to understand disease and the human body