The Yellow Lantern

FTC Disclosure: NetGalley gave me a complimentary copy of this ebook. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

Wow. From beginning to end, this story swept me away, into the gothic night of 1820s Massachusetts, where graves were being robbed… and hearts shattered.

The opening scene was so shocking and vividly written with powerful wording that I knew I was in for an adventure vintage actor Peter Lorre would probably have starred in as a show-stealing secondary character. The further in I got, the more I found to love about the book. That first impression of creepy gothic vibes grew stronger with each fresh turn of events. Yet, there was a thin thread of hope that tenuously broadened and lengthened until the final page revealed it wasn’t a thread alone but the complete foundation upon which the whole book was compiled.

I’m interested to see more from Mrs. Dicken. Are all of her stories so vividly told? Do they each sweep the reader away to another moment in time? Has she written any other gothic tales… or will she? This is definitely a genre in which she shines.

Wow,what a book and story! Gothic,brave robbers,medical experiments,it never ended! Exciting as they come and this is a different kind of book that I usually read. Well written,graphic where you really know what's what! I don't like to tell the story cause if I did you wouldn't read the book and you really will miss out!!

This is a well written story about a subject of the past most of us would rather forget about. What would it be like to be buried alive; whether hurried to your death on purpose, or because the medical field was not advanced enough to always catch when a person wasn't officially dead yet. Josephine Clayton, the main character in the story has a personal experience with escaping death at the last moment and feeling forced to be a part of the grave diggers, also referred to as the resurrectionists. While the medical field needed bodies to continue their study of science and medicine, robbing graves of freshly buried corpses was not legal and had to be accomplished under the cover of darkness. Follow Josie as she hides terrible secrets while working as a mill girl and using her knowledge of herbs to try and save lives.

I have enjoyed all of the books in this series, The Yellow Lantern is no exception. To think that this is based on activity that took place in our history is a bit chilling. I loved learning about the fabric mills and the shady/illegal operations of parts of the medical community in the 1820s. The story pulled it all together with strong characters.

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Chilling. Gothic. Suspenseful. Intriguing. All words that I’d use to describe this book. From the opening paragraphs, you know you are going to be swept up in a story that will have a grip on you and won’t let go. If you like mystery and suspense, this is the book for you. Another good entry in the “True Crimes” series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Yellow Lantern grabbed me from the beginning! Angela Dicken writes about a time in America where Grave Robbers were rife. One begins to wonder how Josie, a Dr's attendent, was buried alive and soon to be the Dr's next victim. Only to wake up as Dr Chadwick was about to intentionally take her last thread of life. What on earth was her Father mixed up in? Was Josie really the cause of so many girls at the mill getting ill? Will Mr Braham believe her that she really didn't want to be apart of Dr Chadwick's scheme? Could Josie ever start again and be rid of this horrific past?

The Yellow Lantern is an interesting read, portraying the depravity of man, along with goodwill, perseverance, trust and love.

A chilling Gothic tale that captured my attention from the opening lines. This new to me author penned a realistic look at a dark occupation and provided some insights on how innocent people get sucked up in into the fallout. Corrupt medicine, in the name of research, body snatchers, grave robbers, things that go bump in the night, are exposed by the light of hope and truth. Josie refuses to stand by and do nothing and she’s willing to fight for the ones she loves. This is an active read from the get-go and will not leave you disappointed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Yellow Lantern
by Angie Dicken
Part of True Colors – Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime
Rating: 4/5

Imagine waking up in 1824 in Massachusetts and being told that you were already pronounced dead. Imagine being told that your body was taken by grave robbers for the purpose of medical research. Imagine that in order to keep your life and your family’s lives safe, you are forced to spy for said grave robbers in order to get more cadavers. How would you handle that? How would you deal with the situation? Josephine Clayton is in such a position. Her whole world is turned upside down as she leaves home to work at a cotton mill. Her mission is simple – report on any fatal accidents that occur at the cotton mill and pose as a mourner at the funeral so the doctor can get his replacement corpse. When Josephine enters the world of cotton, she finds her talents for healing a welcome relief to the accident prone mill and finds friendship with the other mill girls. The factory manager, Braham Terrance, sees her worth and they form a friendship. However, what happens when a family member close to Braham becomes ill and Josephine has a choice to make on whether she can fulfill her duty?

Just reading the premise of this book was so interesting that I had to read it. I haven’t read many true crime novels but as a medical student, I found the grave robbing for medical purposes very interesting. I’ve read a few books about the cotton mill girls and was interested to see what the author chose to focus on. The author is able to transport the reader into the world of cotton mills and grave robbing in a very understandable way. The characters are interesting and seem authentic. They’ve seen many hardships but still try to make their way in the world.

Highly recommend this delightful read.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

This was the first book of this author I have read. While her writing style took me a little while to get used to at the beginning, soon I was lost in the story and it flowed more easily for me. The characters were well developed. I got to the point where I had to keep reading simply so I could find out what happened. The storyline was definitely one that was intriguing and to know it was based on history made it that much more interesting. At times I found myself compassionate for the characters, other times frustrated, which is also the mark of a good book, in my opinion. I’m glad I had the chance to read about this topic in history and while it wasn’t my favorite topic, the author made the subject interesting.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit but was not under any obligation to write a review. All opinions are strictly mine.

“How he’d wish that some of those yesterdays would stop creeping into his todays...”

This is the first book by Angie Dicken I have read. It is well-written with a fascinating premise, a plot that contains surprises, main characters who have experienced grief and suffering, and faith woven into the characters’ lives. The atmosphere of the story is eerie with a gothic undertone, set in 1824 Massachusetts, as Josephine gets blackmailed into finding fresh graves that can be dug up and the deceased sold to those conducting “scientific research”. She finds work at a cotton mill as she awaits opportunities and meets the factory manager Braham, who has his own past and prejudices to deal with. Darkness hangs over their lives and the lives of those working at the factory as incidents pile up in the village as well as at the factory and the boarding house where the mill girls live. It is interesting to see how facts regarding grave robbing and dangerous conditions of factory work in early 1800s have been incorporated into the plot line. If you enjoy historical fiction with suspense and intrigue, you will enjoy this book.

I was given a copy of the book by Barbour Publishing as well as via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

This engrossing tale had my attention from the opening scene. I didn’t realize that I would be so drawn into a story involving grave robbers and body snatchers. But within this well researched true crime fiction, Angie Dicken has depicted a beautiful picture of the power of forgiveness. Her characters are unique and I found myself cheering on the heroine to make right decisions. While mysterious circumstances are investigated, a budding romance takes root that becomes complicated fast. I felt that elements of faith were seamlessly woven throughout the novel, which added depth to this memorable story. This is the first book that I have read by Dicken, but it won’t be the last. I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Yellow Lantern
True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime

by Angie Dicken

Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Barbour Books

Christian , True Crime

Pub Date 01 Aug 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The Yellow Lantern through Barbour Books and Netgalley:

Josephine Clayton is considered dead by everyone in her Massachusetts Village In 1824 especially the doctor she has assisted for months. But she is still very much alive.

Josephine awakens as the next corpse for his research after the doctor illegally obtains her body from a body snatcher. The doctor tries to kill her to cover up his crime, but Josephine somehow convinced him to spare her life. They come up with a deal Josephine will leave her village and work at a far away Cotton Mill. While waiting for her true mission to pose as a mourner and help the body snatcher procure her replacement.

Josephine is praised for her medical remedies with the other female workers at the factory, even gaining the attention of handsome factory manager Braham Taylor. When Braham Taylor’s own loved ones becomes prey for the next grave robbing. Josie must make a decision that could bring her dark past to light and take away her chance from any promise at a future.

I give The Yellow Lantern five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Wow! I was intrigued by the premise of this book, but I never imagined how hooked I would be from the first page to the last​ Although it is the third book in the series it is perfect as a standalone.

I have never read anything by Angie Dicken, and I am pleased to say she has a new reader in me. The opening pages of this book are startling, yet so well written you almost feel it happening. Imagine waking up to discover you have been dead and buried, and a doctor is standing over you with a scalpel in his hand. Dr. Chadwick is very put out that his corpse, Josephine Clayton, is alive and so he tries to kill her but is stopped by his grave digger, Alvin. What transpires from there is a convoluted plan to keep Josephine alive by forcing her to participate in his grave robbing. She only agrees, because her father has aligned himself with the doctor and is now threatened with prison or worse by the network of grave robbers who keep the doctor (and others like him) well supplied.

Josephine is sent away from her hometown to work in a mill, and it is there she meets Braham Taylor. Braham is intrigued by the lovely Josephine and starts to fall for her. What he doesn't know is that she is there to procure bodies for the evil doctor. What happens next is too good to divulge so you'll have to read the book to find out!

A perfect mix of historical fiction, romance, mystery and murder. A combination that will keep you reading until the wee hours of the night!

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Barbour Publishing through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Step back in time to 1824 when medical science is rudimentary at best and exploratory science is booming. A dead body on the black market was worth a small fortune, and once you started down that path, it was impossible to navigate the twists and turns to find your way out.

When Josephine Clayton wakes up on the doctors examining table, with him standing over her ready to perform the post-mortem. Her life is spared, but she is ruthlessly thrown into a dark secretive ring of body-snatchers. Eager to find her way out of the endless maze of dead-end scenarios Josephine goes along with the plot to provide 1 body in place of her own on the condition that the person isn’t murdered. But will she find the price too high? Working at a cotton mill as a cover for her secret mission, she reluctantly makes friends and quickly realizes that the spider web she has found herself in only tangles around her tighter.

I enjoyed learning more about the cotton mill and meeting the girls that worked there. Each element of this story is so carefully crafted and realistic. I felt like I was part of that world. I could almost hear the steam of the machines as they roared to life and see the bits of cotton floating in the air. I could see little Liesel, the bobbin girl sitting along the wall with her basket, ready to leap up and help at a moments notice.

With vivid characters and an exciting plot, this page-turning romantic suspense will keep you up late into the night, turning pages and trying to discover what will happen next. I loved the unexpected twists and turns!

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Can you Imagine waking up on an operating table being thought dead? well that happens to Josie. She manages to avoid being disected and lives. She has to find a body to replace herself. She moves to another town and gets a job in a mill. She becomes attracted to the mill foreman, Braham. Trying to keep her secret, she tries to avoid any attachments. This book discusses the hazards of mill work and the illegal body snatching for experiments. This historical is filled with interesting and complex characters. I could not put this book down!

Wow! When Josephine awakens, she is positioned as the next corpse for research. Her body snatched from the graveyard, only she hadn't died! Josephine makes it her challenge to stop the Doctor and those he employs. Based on true stories it certainly gives a person some history to ponder! I was gifted a copy through the publisher and NetGalley, no review was required. My review is voluntary...

This series of books is incredible! Each author has given us a well written mystery/ thriller, yet they are non-fiction. It is sometimes hard to believe that people could treat each other this way, yet this is what the news is made of every night. Angie Dicken took an old, old story of murder and blackmail and made it exciting and interesting in today's climate of mass shootings and crimes against each other. Read this book...read the series. You won't be sorry.

The "Yellow Lantern" by Angie Sicken was amazing and as good as the other books books in the "True Crime" series.

The story was a page turner from the very beginning. The story is set in 1824 Massachusetts where bodies are stolen from grave for shady medical reasons. I had heard about "body snatcher, but in the back of my mind I thought no way.. What would you do if you wake up and you are informed that you were pronounced dead or you realize that a family members body was stolen in the name of medical experiments. The main character Jessie Clayton was very likable! She spend her time trying to figure out what is happening and how to get out of the mess her life was put in.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery and suspense book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from netgalley and publishing company for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

I am loving this series by Barbour Books! The Yellow Lantern is the third book in the series and WOW each of the three authors have written fantastic books. If you haven't read the first two (which I think you should,) it's okay to start with this one because each is a stand-alone novel.

This story takes place in 1824, Massachusetts and from the first page I was a little freaked out to be perfectly honest but not in a creepy way but in an interested I must keep reading way! Body snatching was an all too real thing that I didn't know that much about but thanks to the authors subject matter I discovered it was in fact quite real. Luckily for our main character, Josie she was spared a horrible fate when she awakens and a deal is stuck where she is sent to work in a bobbin factory.

I really became caught up in the story once Josie is working and helping the mill workers with her herbs and catching the attention of the factory manager, Braham. She seemed to flourish and that was one of the most heartwarming parts of the book. I also loved, Liesel the young bobbin girl who was one of my favorite characters in this book. This in a book that you have to take you time with because there are so many things happening throughout and you'll want to savor each and every moment.

So, if you're looking for a book that has parts that will have you on the edge of your seat, while learning things you may not have been fully aware of or just a well written, fascinating book then this is one you will definitely want to read.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley and was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

The series True colors: Historical Stories of American Crime has taught me areas of history that I knew nothing about. As is true in history, some things are harder to believe than others. So it is with the wicked web of the ‘resurrectionists’, people who snatched bodies from the grave for medical research. How is Josephine Clayton to extricate herself from this horror when she wakes up on the table, finding herself about to be autopsied? In an effort to save her father who has become entangled in this network, she promises to help replace her body. After all, everyone thinks she is dead!

This story holds a certain gruesomeness as you follow Josie and those who are coercing her help in their dreadful task. I appreciated the author’s note at the end of the book, explaining that this practice was widespread in the early 1800’s. As one who has benefited from medical experimentation, I can partly understand the need for this learning. However, I am grateful for those who donate their bodies to medical science, thus replacing the need for such nefarious activities!

I enjoyed learning a little more about the healing herbs that were cultivated by our young herbalist. Her reliance on prayer reminded me that the Lord is there even in the direst of circumstances.

I received a copy of this wonderful book through Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The comments, impressions and opinions given are my own and were not solicited.

This fascinating novel is third in Barbour’s multi-author series “True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime”. It is exciting, with characters defined through actions, conversations, and thoughts. It is based on actual crimes in general in the early 1800’s that anyone desperate for money to help a loved one, could fall into. It is written with skill and sensitivity.

Josephine awakens to find Dr. Chadwick, who she works for as an assistant, ready to plunge a knife into her. The fact that she was alive stuns him, and he tries to talk her into letting him finish the deed as she won’t survive the illness she has. She was dead for 24 hours and her father already grieves her. Chadwick is doing research he thought he could only accomplish by stealing bodies of people who had just died.

Alvin, her father’s hired hand, comes in and sees Josephine alive. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her and reminds Chadwick he knows where the empty graves are. Chadwick leaves her to the cellar to recover. Her father visited once and said that he and Alvin have a plan to get him out of a mess and she had to trust Alvin. He said he committed a terrible wrong, that murderers were after him and only Josephine could save him.

Mr. Bates, Sr. successfully owned and ran a factory in Gloughton, Massachusetts, to process cotton fibers from his plantation in Georgia. Mr. Bates became the legal guardian of Braham when his father died at the plantation where they were indentured. When Mr. Bates died, he left ownership of the mill and the plantation to his son, Gerald. Braham would manage the factory. Gerald has always hated Braham and continues to treat him as a servant.

Alvin brings Josephine, now called Josie, to this factory to get a job. Braham hired her, unaware that accidental deaths of women in the mill attracted the attention of grave robbers. That is what Alvin expects Josie to help with – when people die, she will hold the lantern for him as he digs up the grave, then refill it. As a healer using herbs as her mother taught her, the idea is abhorrent, yet she has to save her father. Despite the growing attraction between Braham and Josie, she tries to do her job and stay quiet. Until the first woman is injured in an accident and Josie treats the woman with herbs and salves, gaining Braham’s respect.

I like Josie/Josephine and her struggle with her faith even when thinking God wants nothing more to do with her. Braham is a good man, also a believer, yet he seems almost too emotional with regards to Josie. Her healing skills, her help with the late Mr. Bates’ sister who is dying, and what he sees as her goodness appeals to him even though people start to talk.

Along with challenges to their faith and their places in the world, there is a complex mystery. How injuries keep occurring, what is causing the severe illness of some of the women that Josie and the local apothecary are treating, and who is behind the growing grave robbing scheme make this a compelling read. I like the frequent, varied references to the lantern lights. The end holds more than one surprise, and all loose ends are tied up. I highly recommend it to Christian women who appreciate the underlying spiritual themes, mystery, history, and romance.

From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this from the publisher and CelebrateLit, and this is my honest review.

Reading a book about grave robbers or resurrection men has never been high on my to do list. However, The Yellow Lantern was about this very topic and I couldn’t put it down. The book begins with an intriguing start about a young woman Josephine who has to convince a doctor that she is very much alive. The story continues as she is dragged down a path she would have never imagined or wanted to journey down.
Josephine, or better known at the mill as Josie, has the choice to try and blend in with others as she battles with the best way to take care of her family. She also has the choice to decide to help her family or to do the right thing. There are times she doesn’t feel as if she even has a choice. Will she do along with the grave robbers or will she find a better way?

Things get complicated when the factory general manager is suspicious and intrigued by her. He has his own battles he is trying to fight as the former indentured servant who know runs the factory to the dismay of his benefactor’s son. Their relationship begins to grow as they connect but how can they continue when Josie must help her father.

I felt as if the characters were realistic and enjoyable to get to know. I enjoyed the turns in the story and learning bits and pieces but not truly knowing how it fit all together until I read some more. I truly had a hard time putting it down until I finished it! Reading the author’s notes at the end were very interesting as well to put what was read in fiction a historical context.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.

When Barbour introduced the True Colors series, I was immediately intrigued. True crime is an interesting genre, and one that I have both read about and watched documentaries about over the years. Having a basis of factual information, this subject tends toward more neutral ground with regard to narrative voice and presentation, and part of what makes True Colors so unique is the Christian aspect. The characters and precise situations are fictional, but the crimes themselves actually happened, and the merging of sordid history and Christian perspective offers a different angle and a novel approach. This has become my favorite Barbour series, with Daughters of the Mayflower a close second.

“Heaven stank of tallow and shone a honey glow.” From that inimitable first line, Angie Dicken’s “The Yellow Lantern” shoots out of the gate and doesn’t relent until the final page. There is no easing into the plot; rather, readers find themselves thrust headlong into a nightmare situation straight from the nineteenth century. Being buried alive was a legitimate concern in the years before modern technology and an increasing understanding of the human body, and in this age of nascent medical knowledge, doctors needed fresh bodies to advance their studies—bodies supplied to them by aptly-named body snatchers. In 1824 Massachusetts, Josephine Clayton unwittingly finds herself a part of this practice after being quite literally taken for dead and buried and ending up on the table of her employer, Dr. Chadwick. In order to save her own life, she must agree to go to work at a factory mill and pose as a mourner to signal a body snatcher to obtain her replacement. However, her circumstances become more convoluted as she finds herself drawn more deeply into a web of deception.

“The Yellow Lantern” sets forth a plausible scenario in which Christian, good-hearted people may become ensnared in conspiracies and duplicitous dealings. Josie experiences remorse and a stinging conscience as events escalate: “No matter if she played the part of a mill girl, she could not ignore the tangled thread of deceit that wrapped around her soul as tightly as the cotton on the bobbins”. Her proficiency as an herbal healer conflicts with the job she is to perform, as does a budding romance. The description of the cotton mill, with motes and dust thick in the air and obscuring the windows, is eye-opening, as is the lack of recourse for those without positions of authority and prestige in society. Not knowing whom to trust adds to the suspense, creating a sinister, murky atmosphere and making this a very difficult book to put down. Fans of true crime, factory life, nineteenth century customs, and romance will not want to miss out on this illuminating book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and CelebrateLit and was under no obligation to post a review.

This is the third book in this series. They are stand-alone novels, each written by a different author. I read the first two and didn’t care for them. I made the decision that if I didn’t like this one I was done with the series.

I really enjoyed this book. I have never heard of Angie Dicken but I will definitely be keeping an out for more books by her.

I couldn’t wait to see how everything would tie together, there were so many hints dropped, letting the reader know something was up but I wasn’t sure how it would all play out.

That fact that this was based on actual events is a bit chilling.

If you like suspense without it being too scary this is a good in-between book. I really enjoyed it!


A copy of this book was given to me through the Celebrate Lit Team. All opinions are my own.

What a fun, ghastly story Angie Dicken writes in The Yellow Lantern. Infusing just the right amounts of romance, horror, intrigue, and family rivalry, Dicken had me swiping the pages as fast as I could. We think nothing of medical colleges using cadavers in our day, but in the 19th century, doctors realized the need for examining dead corpses for research but didn’t have the access to them. « Resurrection men » had ghastly jobs of providing just-buried corpses, much like this book details. Often, the whole trade was done underground and involved dirty money, as people, of course, wanted their dearly departed to rest in peace.

I loved that the characters were so three dimensional. Some I couldn’t figure out which side of the good guy/ bad guy line I wanted to put them on. There were even a few points where I felt sorry for the mean son, Gerald, as Braham is able to see him through eyes other than his own, and actually, understand why Gerald hates him.

I think anyone who has ever had a nightmare will love this book of a nightmare come to life, with Josephine struggling so hard to break free of her living reality!

Great wording:

«Uncle Bates’ body emptied of life .» What a mental image of the spirit slowly leaking away!

This quote had me thinking: «She focused on the path ahead, begging for God’s protection despite the unholy predicament. » How often we go our own way, then beg God to release us from the consequences!

A note about the facts that were instilled into the story is helpfully included at the end. While part of the True Crimes series, each book stands on its own merit.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Celebrate Lit through NetGalley. This does not affect my opinions, for which I am solely responsible.

My Thoughts on The Yellow Lantern:
Such a gripping story. I could never have come up with this storyline and really I’m not sure I would have wanted to. But I could not put this book down. It was so so good!

As a nurse, I know that even now we study cadavers for what they can offer the medical community. But I can’t imagine going and stealing a body from a freshly dug grave. Just the thought makes me shudder. But to have died, been buried, and dug up and then still be alive? Oh my goodness!

Josie is a sweet spirit who really just wants to heal. She is thrust into other aspects of healing though that she hadn’t counted on. Why is her father now making her take on body snatching to her list of accomplishments? And why can’t she just go back to being herself?

I enjoyed getting to know Josie. Her character is multi-faceted and I loved getting to know each bit of her. The story is brilliant. Who can really guess who the head body snatcher is? I mean this was a pretty good one! It took me a bit to put all the pieces together but it was very much worth it.

Josie or Josephine. No matter what she’s called she is still the same person within. She wants to heal and to help. But can she get away from the body snatchers and the Dr? Or is the true danger only beginning?

Braham seems to be a wonderful character. He also has many layers and facets that I really would love more time to delve into. I’m sure a book on his early life could be written and I’d read it! He’s very conscientious about the mill that he has been left to manage after his mentor passes away. But can he keep his position amid the jealousy of his mentor’s son?

Can Josie and Braham have any chance of a relationship together besides boss and hire? Will Braham trust Josie when the truth comes out? Will the truth set them all free or merely hasten their death?

You’re going to love getting to know all of the characters in this book. The author is wonderful and knows how to layout a spellbinding story. Trust me when I say you will not want to put this book down. This entire series is so much more than I ever imagined. True crime stories brought to life as fiction. I cannot wait to see what comes next for this series!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

The Yellow Lantern by Author Angie Dickens is Book 3 in the True Colors, Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime Series. Each book in this series is based on a true historical crime. This one is extremely haunting and I find myself still thinking about it. There was much to consider in this Christian fiction.

My interest was immediately piqued and held throughout the book. There were many twists, turns, and surprises that made this book a page turner. It was well planned and well written.

This was the story of Josephine (Josie) Clayton set in 1824 Massachusetts. It is a gritty tale of grave robbers but much more. Josie loves healing and using medicinal herbs and plants. She works at a cotton mill and helps out the girls there. I learned a lot about the early cotton mill as well as thoughts, actions, and customs of early 1800’s. The author has done her research well and readers are rewarded.

Descriptions are vivid and on point. The characters are believable but not all relatable. A few were detestable. Morals had vanished in some but not all. Inspiration is delicately woven throughout this scary story. There is romance, intrigue, crime, mystery, grief, drama, suspense and many life lessons.

This book was made even better knowing it was based on a true story. It was hard to comprehend the lengths some people went to when they wanted something. I felt sorry for those being blackmailed.

I would recommend this to readers that enjoy true historical crimes and gothic novels. It is not what I normally read, but the author did a very good job. I rated it 4 out of 5 stars.

This book was nuts! I don't read mystery-thrillers much, so this one was way out of my league! It had it all! I found the plot to move steadily and kept thinking about the story throughout my day and wanting to get back to it to finish!
Body snatching and research on cadavers! Whoa! I knew this happened back in the day but never considered it to be a storyline for a book. I'm so glad to have read this book and gained new perspective on an old practice.

A very interesting read!
A more unique story topic I am not sure ive read before. The author did a great job of explaining the emotions and actions of the characters, I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you want a unique story to read. 4 out of 5 stars for originality, great character building, and the mystery.
I volunteered to read this book from Barbour Publishing in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed with in are my own.

I love reading historical books. Even though they are fiction, they are based on something true. I did learn a part of history by reading this book. I had not heard of body snatchers.

I loved Josie and how she knew about herbs. She was a very caring person. She loved to use her knowledge to help people.

I love this series — fiction based on strange but true history. I will look forward to reading more books in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This review is my own opinion.

I am a huge fan of this author and her work. She always does careful research to ensure that her stories are as accurate as possible. I have read about mill girls in the past but this put a whole new spin on it. I have never read about grave robbers. However, I was intrugied when I read the story summary. Josephine Clay, has been a doctor's assistant for a long time - so she was surprised to awake on the table - about to become medical research. She is able to strike a deal, and she ultimately becomes the look out for grave robbers. This book is so well researched. I felt like I learned so much while I was reading. The author has written amazing characters that feel like they are out of a page of a history textbook. Her storyline is a page turner. You will want to keep on reading. If you like based on true history stories, this book is for you.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program. All thoughts are my own

This is the third book in the True Colors collection. These books are beautifully written with so much depth and detail. Angie Dicken is a truly talented author, and took a piece of history, added fictional details and beautifully created characters, and turned the readers onto a novel that will wrap you up and take you on a ride of a life time.

The Yellow Latern has the perfect amount of suspenseful happenings within it. Each page turn brought me further into the life of Josephine Clayton, and what brought her to working as a healer. Her characters is strong willed, determined and very much in need of knowing the truth behind the body snatching. I fell in love with her instantly!

And let’s not forget her boss, Braham Taylor. My heart warmed to him and loved every second of watching him with Josie.

Four stars go to this terrifically written novel. Filled with facts and fiction, this novel captivates the reader in a way that makes them feel as if they are right beside the characters, living through it with them. Dicken has a beautiful talent and it shouldn’t be missed by any one! Well done, Dicken,well done!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

This is an intense story that keeps the reader captivated in the adventure from start to finish. It is set in Massachusetts during the 1820s. It was a time of adventure when graves were robed, perhaps being buried alive, the medical field during that time and many more elements providing a Gothic feel to this interesting story.
The descriptions in this book were well done producing a powerful read. The writer brings the characters to life and allows the reader to become interested in learning more about what is happening in this story. Lives are turned upside down in this story and we read it become more interesting. The main character unexpectedly finds herself looking for graves and starting on a path the readers follow. Readers question what is going to happen next. Those that enjoy true crime fiction and historical fiction will enjoy this book.

I feel like Angie Dicken is really hitting her stride as an author with this one! The symbolism with the yellow lantern is deftly woven into the story and Josie’s peril is so vividly portrayed. Of course I suspected a great deal of what happened at the end as far as who some of the players were, but the final crimes I didn’t really see coming because I didn’t think they would be quite that bold. Whew!

The romance in the story is chaste and secondary to the story of Josie’s peril and the other crimes in the story. I was glad that it didn’t end up overshadowing the mystery and that the suspense carried through the story so nicely.

I’ll definitely be reading more of this story as well as the next book this author writes.

Thanks to the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

This book was suspenseful and definitely kept me turning the pages! The entire plot was eery and I felt like the author did a great job of inciting the reader into the story. I didn’t know what to expect from this new to me author, but I enjoyed this book and will definitely keep an eye out for future releases from this author. Loving those series from Barbour!

Gravediggers were sometimes called Resurrectionists. This gives a bit of information on what was happening in a time when even being dead was not safe.

Josephine Clay (Josie) was desperate she needed to do something to help her father and his debts. She doesn't understand that his debts are more than just money. She gets dragged into this dark deed.

Josie was a healing touch through herbs. Those two areas of her life are in tension. Will she be able to break free from the debts. Is the mill a safe place for her or a place that will draw her even more into the dark nights.

I enjoyed this book in the True Colors series.

Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review. The opinions and the review are my own.

This is another addition to the True Colors series. Each book is historical fiction, dealing with crime that is based on true stories or events. This one is set during 1824 and deals with grave robbing. When Josie wakes up on the table of a doctor ready to perform and autopsy or other medical research, she begs to be spared. Because she was buried and assumed dead, he had paid grave robbers for her body. In order to be spared and to help her father who is almost headed to debtor's prison, she agrees to relocate to a town with a cotton mill, and when someone dies in an accident, she will assist another man in robbing the grave. Unfortunately, Josie has a conscience and is unable to follow through. She also begins to have feelings for the manager of the factory, Braham Terrance, and wants to do what is right. When Braham finds out she has some medical knowledge, he utilizes her skill to help the workers. All does not go well with the women at the factory, Braham or Josie.

I liked Josie's character. She wanted to help her father, but was struggling with her morals and beliefs. As she started to fall for Braham, she struggles, as she knows she is lying to him and feels she is not worthy. Braham is a great character and I really liked him. He was handsome, honest, hard working and caring. It was easy to see how Josie fell for him. There is an undercurrent of family dysfunction and nastiness that added a bit of drama to the story. I knew about grave robbing form tours I had taken of old cities and graveyards, but this story put a face onto those issues and explained a bit more as to why this was carried out. This story was dark and had a bit of a gothic feel, but Josie and the women at the factory added emotion and hope to this story. The ending was well done and pulled together several things that I was suspicious about. I enjoyed this one with its romance, hope, and criminal aspect. A nice addition to this series.

I'm so glad this series exists. It's nice to have some good options for Christian fiction. This one is one of my favorites in the "True Colors" series. Good for someone looking for a gothic, suspense, romance. I always like reading historical fiction on those little known areas.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allwoing me to read and review this book.

This series has been great! Thrilling stories that bring dark history to live leaving on the edge of the seat. Sad that these crimes actually happen but glad we can learn from them.