The Resurrectionist is a gothic historical fiction set in Edinburgh around the time of the real-life Burke and Hare murders. It follows an eager but down on his luck (in terms of family situation and finances) medical student named James who requires help to make ends meet. He ends up being thrust unknowingly into the body snatching business after confiding in the surgeon's assistant Aneurin "Nye", but quickly becomes accustomed to it. And romance ensues. Meanwhile, there is trouble brewing within the community of body snatchers.

I really enjoyed this book!! I had a bit of a hard time getting into it at first, but once Nye came into the picture things quickly picked up and I was unable to put down the book. Dunlap writes in a way that really captures the atmosphere of this era, and every character and setting felt alive to me. I would have liked to know more about some of the characters, including Nye's crew and James' friends as some of them felt a little too expendable. I still really did enjoy all the side characters and felt like they brought a lot to the story. However, the ending just felt a little too rushed for me, especially the final confrontation. Furthermore, I felt like James' family situation was wrapped up a little too fast. So although I thought the rest of the book was fantastic, the end does bring down the rating just a little. Furthermore, I really enjoyed James' and Nye's relationship- they had a lot of chemistry and a lot of sweet moments. They made the book super fun and it was interesting to hear how the author hadn't meant to make them romantic at first, but that their relationship just gradually evolved into a romantic one.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book and I definitely recommend it to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction and annoyances to lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Resurrectionist
By A. Rae Dunlap
4 ⭐️

This book is top notch for dark academia atmosphere. It loosely follows a Sherlock & Watson vibe. In this tale, the MCs (James as Watson and Aneurin/Nye as Sherlock) have the sweetest romance that vastly outshines the gory, for academics of course, and the mysterious. This story flirts with accuracy and has many Easter eggs for the historic-macabre enthusiasts to enjoy. James is a medical student who dazzles with a scalpel and aims to be the head of his class in spite of his devolving social status. Aneurin is an assistant to one of the most praised surgical instructors in the city with a mind that stays 10 steps ahead. They are a really fun pair to follow in this story.

I do wish there was more to the plot. Maybe more mystery, more suspense, more from the friend group dynamic - Charlie and Philip at gems, or even the romance, maybe - maybe not. The romance was very 🥰. This story follows its blurb extremely closely, even well after the 50% mark. As a fantasy reader, I typically expect a chunk of the book to expand beyond the blurb, and this one doesn’t.

Vibes: academia’s underbelly, Jack the Ripper goes to uni in Edinburgh, delightfully sweet MM romance soaked in cadaver juice

Thank you to NetGalley, A. Rae Dunlap, and Kensington Publishing for this eARC. 🧠

I thought it lacked depth, and I really thought it could've leaned deeper into the horrors of the lives that were taken and affected by body snatching. I love a good gruesome horror story, but I prefer when it digs a little deeper and creates a more tangible sense of fear. I love how the overall vibe felt though. The dingy streets, the unsettling university classes, the descent into maddness, and the blossoming gay romance was delightful.

Beautiful, dark, twisted, and I absolutely loved it. I am a huge fan of anything gothic-horror-romance and this beautiful novel served up all three in delicious quantities. I found the prose to be wonderfully written. It was comfortable and relaxing, even in its darker moments.

I know medical romance is a genre that is gaining attention in the US and while I wouldn't classify this entirely as medical romance, I would say it is a great introduction into that world. I also loved the true crime aspect of this novel. It lent a haunting believablity to the story.

This is a rare book where I would not want a sequel to happen as I love the main character of James and the world that was written and built here. But I hope the author continues to do other stories with other characters in this setting.

Dark and macabre books about anatomy and serial killers, tend to be riveting and engaging reads. This book is absolutely all of that and more.

James Willoughby has decided to leave his educational pursuits at Oxford and pursue a career in surgery in Edinburgh. Though his family is against it, he finds he is talented at the occupation even if his funds for schooling are running dangerously low.

He soon finds himself needing another way to make ends meet and to pay the school for his lessons, when an opportunity presents itself. It may be dark and dangerous, but needs must when in pursuit of reaching his goal.

I was highly entertained with this twisty, gothic story. The characters were flawed in all the best ways and even the storyline is one you may morally want to question. However, the history and the fiction woven together to create this narrative is engaging and keeps you reading to the end. I found I could envision the story easily, as the author paints a decidedly gruesome picture from time to time. The atmosphere of the story feel to always be in the gloom of night, on the verge of a storm and I am absolutely here for it.

The cover art drew me in and also the reviews I've read raving about it. It had an interesting plot and characters. I did not expect this to have a sapphic romance but it did not spoil much of the story tbh.

the cover immediately intrigued me and the nerd in me had to have it! It is a mixture of historical fiction, dark academia and true crime that had me sucked into this story! I loved reading all the medical terms as we follow James in medical school! It is a little gruesome and has some vivid descriptions, so if you’re squeamish, it may be best to skim over some parts! The writing is truly exceptional, and so atmospheric. I could visualize exactly what the author was portraying. The author did such an amazing job of staying true to the story of serial killers Burke and Hare during this time, and keeping the setting historically accurate while adding fictional story to create an entertaining story!

A solid historical fiction debut and I’m always here for a queer historical fiction. I didn’t realize that going in but was pleasantly surprised with it.

Thank you for the ARC.

YA Coming of Age/Dark Academia Historical Fiction set in mid-19th century Edinburgh with a M/M romance sideplot

James Willoughby has recently decided to become a surgeon and to study at the University of Edinburgh. An excellent decision for the son of a noble family if it wasn't for the family lacking in funds. In order to afford his position in an anatomist's course, the resident resurrectionist Aneurin offers the naïve James a job as look-out. With his financial situation getting worse, James has to join the resurrectionists himself.

I liked this story better than Schwartz's Anatomy: A Love Story. For one, the main character's speech and behaviour fits the historical context - down to the point that he thinks his sister Edith is better off than him, because she doesn't need to find her place in society, she has the advantage of only having to marry well and produce an heir and a few spares. Then there is the love-interest, Aneurin, street smart butcher's son who became a resurrectionist and anatomist's assistant, and took James's measure within seconds of meeting him.

Since the story is set at the time Burke and Hare were 'working' as resurrectionists, the addition of a mystery/true crime element to the plot didn't come as a surprise.

The writing, like the pacing, is a bit hit and miss. There are paragraphs with period appropriate dialogue or apt descriptions, but also rather bland phrases that reminded me of fanfiction.

I liked the dark atmosphere and that the author kept the novel as historically and thematically accurate as possible.

I love love love this excellent book. From the opening lines to the very last image of the anatomic drawing of the human heart on the wall, this book kept me glued to the pages. The main character’s voice, the historical setting, the love interest—all contribute to the suspenseful unfurling of the story. Excellent writing, compelling plot and subplot and so very hard to put down. New student of medicine James arrives in Edinburgh and meets Charlie, a brilliant and charismatic medical student. Charlies also introduces James to the world of the resurrectionist—they get paid for providing cadavers to the schools for dissection. But when the living begin to disappear under mysterious circumstances, James and Charlie are compelled to investigate.
Highly recommended. I’m hoping for more from this author.

Dunlap crafts a narrative that is both chillingly atmospheric and deeply human. The story is a masterclass in blending historical detail with an exploration of morality, love, and ambition. It doesn’t just engage your mind or heart but draws you into its world with a visceral intensity that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

The Resurrectionist presents itself as a gothic mystery, but at its core, it’s a richly character-driven historical fiction with a compelling queer love story. The backdrop—19th-century Scotland's grim world of grave-robbing and medical studies—adds an eerie tension, but the heart of the story lies in the relationship between its two protagonists.

Told through the first-person perspective of James, a young medical student navigating the morally murky waters of anatomy studies, the writing feels both intimate and authentic. The narrative style, slightly formal but confiding, creates an immediate connection to James and his world. His journey feels like a conversation, drawing the reader in while keeping the propriety of the era intact.

Aneurin, James' unlikely companion, is equally captivating. Their bond develops naturally, creating a poignant counterbalance to the macabre subject matter. The emotional depth in their connection gives the story its warmth and heart, making their relationship the centerpiece of the book.

However, while the central characters shine, the supporting cast occasionally fades into the background. This lack of depth in secondary characters means that some pivotal moments don’t land with the emotional weight they might have otherwise carried.

The climax weaves historical fact and fiction seamlessly, delivering a conclusion that feels both satisfying and thought-provoking. It’s a testament to the author’s skill that they bring such a unique historical setting to life while exploring universal themes of love, loyalty, and the lengths we go to in pursuit of our dreams.

I’d recommend The Resurrectionist to fans of historical fiction, gothic mysteries, or anyone drawn to morally complex characters and atmospheric storytelling. It’s a hauntingly beautiful read that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Resurrectionist was such a fantastic story. I loved everything about it. This has it all, from the creepy atmosphere to the budding romance between James and Nye. The plot moves along quickly as we traverse alongside James in the body-snatching profession. The atmosphere in these scenes is perfect, chilly, damp, dark, and cold. The tension rises when rival gangs creep into their territory and along come the notorious Burke and Hare. The romance was a pleasant surprise and I found Nye charming after he dropped his arrogant exterior. I got sucked in pretty good and did not want this one to end. I hope the author revisits these characters, there is so much potential for more stories. Loved this one!

The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap takes you on a wild ride into the underbelly of Edinburgh when medical advancements were truly being made.

James has found himself finally away from his family and following the passion of his life, becoming a surgeon. Edinburgh is the place to be for that education, but on top of University it is also a grand idea to be part of a private school doing dissection this bringing James to Maelstrom's school. Here though he finds that after his father's ruinous adventures with the family funds he can no longer afford either places and must find another way to pay for his education and board.

He finds himself employed by Aneurin The Assemblest for Maelstroms and he quickly learns where the corpses are procured and realizes he just join these so called Resurrectionists if he is to afford to continue his education.

I want to thank #netgalley for the chance to read #TheResurectionist by #A.RaeDunlop in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Dunlap strikes a balance here of something that feels otherworldly yet very grounded in human emotion, connection, and centering of the human body. It is an exercise in craft to not only make a reader feel things in their brain and heart, but down to their fingertips, which I can say the Resurrectionist absolutely does. The characters are engaging, the plot is full without feeling overwrought, and the mysterious nature of the whole thing keeps the pages turning.

Marketing itself as a mystery/thriller or a gothic horror is doing this story a disservice. It is actually a fairly straight historical fiction that features a queer love story. It’s heavily character driven and, for a huge proportion of the book, the grave-robbing/Burke and Hare storyline features only in the background.

With it falling so outside of my usual genres I should not have enjoyed this, and yet I really did. There is something about Dunlaps writing style that really appealed to me. It is told in first person pov (James, our young university student) and reads a lot like you are being told the story after the fact. It generates this feeling of being pulled into his confidence, whilst also remaining slightly formal and proper for a man of James’ station, and it immediately warmed me to his character.

Our second character, Aneurin, is also instantly likeable and watching the friendship between him and James develop is what makes this such a great read.

Unfortunately, so much space is given to their development that any side-character development suffers as a result. This leads to at least one moment where the scene unfolding did not pack nearly as much as an emotional punch as it should have done.

The ending was very well done and it was fun to see how the author weaved together fact and fiction in a way that really worked.

I don’t regret picking this one up and would definitely recommend it to fans of historical fiction, true crime, and/or queer love stories.

After seeing it compared to Anatomy: A Love Story, I could not wait to get my hands on this book! It’s a perfect read for those grey days and stormy nights of winter to help immerse yourself in the setting and mood of the story. Where do I even start, from beginning to end, the story had me hooked. The characters were so compelling, the plot was engrossing, and the writing was seamless.
I will be keeping my eye out for more A. Rae Dunlop titles in the future!

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington books for this ARC for review. This book is based on real-life serial killers Burke and Hare in 19th century Scotland and how many medical students were able to get bodies for their anatomy studies— body snatching and grave robbing. A medical student, James Willoughby gets caught up in grave robbing as a part time career while attending medical school and studying surgery. But as there is a lack of human cadavers to practice on, and the chances of getting caught whilst robbing graves, he gets caught in with serial killers bringing the fresh bodies.

What a weird and wonderful book! I wasn't sure what to expect from a queer romance between grave robbers, but I really couldn't put this down once I started.

The Resurrectionist is a fantastic debut novel of historical fiction riddled with true crime centered on the serial killers Burke and Hare.

The extent of research into the characters, the crimes of Burke and Hare as well as the city of Edinburgh is very clear throughout the book but does not overpower the great writing of Dunlop. The characters she wrote were well-developed and I was eager to see where the story took them. The balance between fact and fiction is well done.

The romance was a surprising factor for me, but it entirely made sense as it developed and I enjoyed reading about the two main characters growing romance and the challenges of it in this period.

Overall, a great book. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my review.

I enjoyed this! It's an immersive entertaining story. I like the writing style and the pacing is good. The characters are well developed. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to A. Rae Dunlap, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.