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.

To start with this book is a DNF at 50%

Why still a 3 star rating?
The story is not bad it's realistic it has some queer romance that actually fits in the timing and the MC's underground character

For me , a dyslexic person, the writing style is a bit too difficult, almost poetic and and to be honest i just don't have the energy at the moment to go through with it.
I do like the descriptive style the slow writing fits the slow story it's just more than i can handle in my free time at the moment.
I might try again later on

But if you love true crime based stories in gruesome Scotland With some romance and dont mind that they talk a lot about stealing bodies from their graves, and you love slow poetic writing this is a story for you !

Exceptionally written and researched to masterfully blend fact and fiction. The writing style was perfect for the setting and the plot was not only gripping but highly informative on the inner workings of body snatching for the betterment of medicine during this time. James and Nye are extremely likable characters and I found myself rooting for them and their story from the very start. This author is extremely knowledgeable and was able to spin a tale that made for an exciting reading experience. This story is definitely a highlight of the year for me!

A fun story about a young man who goes to Edinburgh to go to school to become a doctor. And when the money, from his family, to pay for school dries up, he picks up an unusual job to pay the bills. I enjoyed the development of the characters and loved the adventure and the humor.
I really liked the time era the story was set in. All in all, a very enjoyable story that I recommend.

The Resurrectionist is such a fun story amidst the gruesome setting of 19th century Edinburgh. I loved the banter of the group of friends and I need the sequel as soon as possible!

I can’t wait to preorder this book.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5 stars! I found this a fun look at historical Edinburgh, the dearth of cadavers available to doctors and medical students, and some good ol' fashioned grave robbing. I had no idea the plot was based on real-life people, which added a layer of interest. I only rounded down because I found the beginning pretty slow.

Very interesting premise and a slew of characters. The plot was good and pace was great but I don’t find the content to be anything monumental.

"The Resurrectionist" is so beautifully written. The author did a great job setting the scene, transporting the reader alongside the characters in 19th century Scotland.

The narrative follows James, an ambitious surgeon-in-training, as he relocates to Edinburgh, Scotland for his education. On his first night, he discovers a private practice offering immersive learning experiences with individual cadavers for students. However, financial troubles plague James' family, and he cannot afford the private lessons. Determined, he devises a plan to work for the head surgeon to subsidize his tuition. He's hired as a lookout, only to realize he's aiding body snatchers!

James and Nye end up spending a lot of time together which deepens into a profound friendship and eventually blossoms into more. Witnessing their bond develop and delving into Nye's past was a highlight for me. A. Rae Dunlap excels in depicting Nye's journey of self-discovery and sexuality.

Venturing outside my usual reading preferences, I found myself thoroughly engrossed by this book. The blend of historical fiction with the true tale of Burke and Hare was a highlight for me.

The Resurrectionist blends true crime and historical fiction into a dark, gruesome novel. I felt the writing lacked polish and I just didn't connect with the overall flippant tone this book used for some pretty serious subjects. I definitely think dark topics can be humorous, but with the added element of using real murderers and their victims, I didn't think the execution worked well. There was also a lack of nuance and depth to how morally grey our protagonists are - graverobbing is presented as moral and just for the pursuit of science, but I feel a more realistic depiction of both the pros and cons would have resonated more with me - especially would have liked to see a discussion of how graverobbing impacts the friends and families of victims. I liked the main characters and their relationship. The resolution to the main plot was satisfying, but the pacing felt a bit slow, since the Burke & Hare arc started about halfway through. Overall, this book was enjoyable, mainly for its characters, but I didn't love it.

This book was great. I loved the mix of historical fiction and atmospheric horror.

The writing style truly set this book apart. From the descriptions to the way the characters speak, everything genuinely sounds like someone from the 1800s is narrating it. The main character is from the nobility and the writing matched his personality. To me, it felt like he was telling me his story, instead of me reading someone else's account of his story.
As the book progresses he gradually gets caught up in the exhuming of graves for anatomical dissection and even grows to love it. I really liked how he went from hesistant and protesting to a pragmatist and eventually to someone who loves the thrill of it. This change in hsi morality kept me wondering what he would do next.

I did feel like the danger of getting caught (as both a grave robber and a man in a relationship with another man) was not used to its full potential. The thrill and fear of being discovered did not lead to the high-levels of suspense I hoped for.
Regardless, I really recommend this book to everyone who can handle descriptions of cadavers.