kijesi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
annekeofgreengables's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual assault
nicolelorene's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
waclements7's review against another edition
4.0
Usually I don't really like the forwards/backwards in time books, but this one held my attention quite thoroughly. I enjoyed the historical parts of the novel, and the mystery was intriguing.
cjeanne99's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Maura Isles makes a cameo appearance in this story of murder and intrigue set in 1830’s Boston - murders that were uncovered by the modern day discovery of a skeleton in the garden of a home recently purchased by Julia Hamil. While trying to learn more of the history of her house, Julia meets Henry Page - family historian who is related to one of Boston’s first female doctors - and cousin to the deceased woman who Julia purchased the home from.
Henry and Julia dig through the family archives and uncover letters written by Oliver Wendell Holmes to Margaret Tate Page - and a story unearths.
We have graver robbers, young women dying from unsanitary conditions in maternity wards, medical students, Irish immigrants, murders that seem to be unconnected, amputation of the hand of a medical student, Rosicrucians, the unsuccessful search for the newborn baby of a former Irish servant, another murder, suspicion of a medical student, philandering husband and wife bent on preventing any bastard children from ever claiming the inheritance rightfully her son’s.
In the end - I believe we learn who the skeleton in the garden belongs to - but I don’t remember.
Henry and Julia dig through the family archives and uncover letters written by Oliver Wendell Holmes to Margaret Tate Page - and a story unearths.
We have graver robbers, young women dying from unsanitary conditions in maternity wards, medical students, Irish immigrants, murders that seem to be unconnected, amputation of the hand of a medical student, Rosicrucians, the unsuccessful search for the newborn baby of a former Irish servant, another murder, suspicion of a medical student, philandering husband and wife bent on preventing any bastard children from ever claiming the inheritance rightfully her son’s.
In the end - I believe we learn who the skeleton in the garden belongs to - but I don’t remember.
zelda100's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is basically historical fiction, the story could have been told without the tiny interludes of "present day" and would have had a better flow to it.
bibliomak's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75