A sequel to The Small Museum and I would definitely recommend that you read the first one before this one to fully understand the nuances of this. It's a brilliantly written novel - gothic and menacing. The fact that the main characters are all part of a refuge for women is significant as it builds up the fear factor from the off. You would think it would be safe there but then there's a murder.

Creepy and with a keen sense of foreboding from the start, this is one creepy read.

Set in Victorian London, The Surgeon's House by Jody Cooksley is a historical mystery that combines themes of morality, science, and societal norms. The story follows Rebecca Harris, the resilient owner of Evergreen House—a safe haven for women and children. When Rose Parmiter, the house's cook, is brutally murdered, Rebecca is pulled into a terrifying investigation. With mysterious deaths piling up and ghosts from the past reappearing, Rebecca must confront external dangers as well as the dark history of the Everly family.

Rebecca is an engaging lead character whose compassion and determination drive the story. Her journey involves both external conflicts and internal struggles against societal biases and personal insecurities. The other characters, including the mysterious Edward Threlfall and various members of Victorian society, add depth and intrigue to the plot. Their layered motives keep readers engaged and curious about their secrets.

The novel's themes resonate strongly with contemporary issues despite its historical setting. The exploration of patriarchal oppression, the tension between scientific progress and morality, and the enduring impact of trauma are handled with nuance. These ideas invite readers to reflect on how far society has come—or not—in addressing such challenges.

Cooksley's writing is evocative and detailed, bringing the eerie atmosphere of Evergreen House to life. The story moves smoothly between tense moments and introspection, balancing suspense with emotion. The house itself feels like a character with a strong sense of foreboding.

The book's standout feature is its ability to evoke various emotions—sadness, hope—while maintaining suspense. However, the pacing slows down at times, and some subplots could have been resolved more clearly.

What makes The Surgeon's House special is its combination of historical accuracy and timeless human experiences. It stands out in its genre by offering more than just a mystery; it's also a reflection on resilience and redemption. The themes will stick with readers long after they finish the book. This novel is entertaining and encourages us to consider how we face our past and create safe spaces for those who need them.

The Surgeon’s House is a gothic historical mystery and a continuation of The Small Museum, Jody Cooksley's previous book. Set in early 1880s London, it follows Rebecca, the sister of The Small Museum’s protagonist, who runs a home for vulnerable and fallen women in Evergreen House. In the basement, Edward Threrfall—the alienist from the first book—maintains his office, continuing his ambiguous research. Even though Lucius and Grace, the siblings responsible for the crimes in The Small Museum, have been punished, the shadow of those events still lingers—especially when the house’s cook is murdered.

I enjoyed this book even more than The Small Museum, not just because I was already familiar with many of the characters, making it easy to dive back into their story. While the first book centered on a deeply disturbed sibling duo committing horrific acts, this installment, though it continues some of those themes, presents a more layered and intricate narrative. By introducing new characters and expanding on familiar ones, the author paints a broader portrait of a society shaped by rigid Victorian morality—one that left little room for empathy, particularly toward women. As a result, many characters in this book emerge as villains, wholly capable of inflicting suffering on defenseless women, even to the point of murder.

The mystery itself is well-constructed and convincing, seamlessly linking elements from the first book with new developments. While much of the resolution unfolds in the final chapters, the fact that nearly anyone could be a suspect keeps the tension high and the pages turning from the very beginning.

Beyond the mystery, the book is also a triumph of historical immersion. The author once again demonstrates her expertise in the Victorian era, weaving her knowledge into the narrative effortlessly. The result is an atmospheric and vividly realized setting that enhances the story at every turn.

Technically, one could read The Surgeon’s House without having finished The Small Museum, but I’d strongly recommend treating it as a sequel rather than a companion novel. The events of the first book provide crucial context, and not knowing them would mean missing out on much of the story’s depth.

Ultimately, The Surgeon’s House pulled me in, delivering everything I hope for in historical mystery fiction—a fast-paced plot, compelling characters, an authentic sense of time and place, and a well-crafted, satisfying intrigue. Highly recommended!.

A Gothic tale of crime, punishment, superstition and Victorian attitudes to women. It starts with the murder of the cook who works in a house for unmarried mothers and their children, founded by Rebecca Harris and her husband. They aim to give the residents a happy, peaceful life, but is all as it seems? Dr Threlfell is their physician.

There’s a real sense of the prevailing attitude to deviance from the expected rules of society, especially by women. This was a time when trepanning, drilling a hole in a the skull , was a fashionable cure for madness and women had few rights.

Although this book is a companion to The Small Museum it works well as a standalone.