I received a digital advance reader’s copy (ARC) of The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

In A. Rae Dunlap’s debut novel The Resurrectionist, it’s 1828, and James Willoughy has abandoned his posh life at Oxford to study medicine in Edinburgh to one day become a surgeon. He’s out of place with some of his peers, but distinguishes himself as a promising student and so makes friends quickly. However, when he wishes to join a private surgeon school outside of the university, he can’t afford it (due to the debt that his late father has left the family in). So James makes a deal with a young man named Aneurin “Nye” MacKinnon, a surgeon’s assistant who has an in at James’ preferred school. But the truth about their bargain soon becomes clear: Nye is part of a team of body snatchers, infiltrating Edinburgh’s kirkyards for corpses to use in dissections. James finds himself swept up in it all, but this trade carries danger with it—danger he might not be able to escape. Not to mention, the intensity of his relationship with Nye keeps increasing, and even if James manages to save his own life, his heart is still at risk.

This book reminds me of Frankenstein, if the protagonist were likable, and of The Alienist, if the story didn’t rub me the wrong way (no offense to fans of that book; I just had a few issues with it). In fact, this story exceeded my expectations, and I ended up loving it!

Firstly, I was immediately charmed by James’ narrative voice. He’s relatable and has a dry sense of humor, and an engaging way of telling the story (if in a slightly buttoned up British way). It’s a Dr. Watson sort of sound, which the author actually confirmed in her author’s note at the end, vindicating me for thinking of that. I’m just a sucker for a Dr. Watson-style narration, I guess.

Moreover, the setting is fantastic—as gritty and dreary as one might expect from early 19th century Scotland. Everything from the rain-splattered streets to the grime-coated pub tables feels palpable, which heightens the entire story. After all, the characters are studying anatomy and medicine, so it only makes sense to draw the readers in using the senses. That said, if you’re squeamish about body parts, bodily fluids, or corpses (I mean, who isn’t to some extent?), then proceed with caution. As you might imagine, there are some fairly graphic descriptions of all these things.

Speaking of bodies and body parts, the aspects of the plot that dealt with body snatching were honestly fascinating. The intricacies of the way this industry (there’s really no other word for it) worked were so detailed; Dunlap’s obviously extensive research paid off here. The details of this criminal system, working to make money for the snatchers and to further scientific research, helps propel both the plot and the character development.

Speaking of character development, I really liked how James transformed and grew as a person over time. He starts out with a strict moral code, and a rather narrow worldview, but both of these things are challenged by who and what he encounters. He doesn’t necessarily become a worse person, just a more complex one. It’s impressive writing to thread that needle. And Nye is just as complicated—and also my favorite character. He’s both charming and challenging, pushing James to see things in a new light while also accepting influence from how James thinks. Their dynamic is fantastic, and their love story is moving and believable. Finally, a romance that moves at a reasonable pace, with mostly healthy communication skills and respect! I really like them together.

And then there’s the real life people who make small (or slightly larger-than-small) appearances in the story. In one instance, I wish that a certain, very likeable female character hadn’t ended up the way she did (especially since she’s one of only a handful of women in this story), but Dunlap mentioned in her end note that this person was a real life cameo, so I suppose I can only be angry at the injustice of real life. But the real stars, in terms of cameos, are Burke and Hare, the infamous Edinburgh serial killers. I can’t go into too many details without running afoul of plot spoilers, but it was so eerily fun to see these two make an appearance in this story.

In the end, The Resurrectionist was even better than I’d hoped. It’s a remarkable debut with tons of research to give its fictional stars a realistic setting. The characters are wonderful, the romance is excellent, and the plot is paced well and hard to look away from. I look forward to seeing what Dunlap writes in the future!

As a side note, I’ve been to Greyfriars Cemetery, which serves a pretty significant purpose in the story, and that’s delightful to me.The Resurrectionist will be published on December 24th, 2024! (What an ironic release date; it amuses me.)