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The Resurrectionist
It's 1820, and the physicians of London are on fire to unlock the secrets of human anatomy, some consorting with criminals to get their scalpels into a fresh body. Job Mowatt has become such a criminal—a body snatcher, a resurrectionist. The wages are just enough to keep his brilliant daughter, Ivy, clean and safe in London's worst slum. When anatomist Percival Quinn asks Job to dig up a rare specimen—the wife of a powerful and dangerous man—Job knows instantly he is inviting trouble, but knows, too, that the payment would allow Ivy to escape the brief, miserable existence that awaits women of her class. All it will take is a single night's work. A single night that will bring Job deeper into darkness and closer to death than he has ever been. Lords and ladies in their glittering mansions, six-bottle men and opium eaters in foul tenements, they all take their secrets to the grave...and sometimes the resurrectionist brings them back.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2022
330 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 31, 2023
Definitely a trigger warning for violence against women and animals, it felt like...too much. That aside, this was an interesting, gothic, sinister story and it gave me the creeps. I would give this 3.75 stars.
April 12, 2023
Job Mowatt, a resurrectionist working in London in 1820, is asked to perform his most dangerous work yet, stealing the wife of a very dangerous man. The recompense can mean a change of life for his daughter and the body can save the life of an innocent.
Amazing premise! And I promise you that you will be transported to the slums and cemeteries of Victorian England. But that is where the praise ends.
The story loses track of itself, diverging into many characters, many that are not focal for what is going on and some of them you never spend enough time with to care about.
To further disrupt any pleasure the book focuses on all the nasty and gruesome details that you would expect from such a story and never gives us a rest from it. That way you end up sick of all the misery really quick and by the time the action finally picks up all shock value has been completely obliterated.
Overall this is a novel that you can skip with no regrets.
Amazing premise! And I promise you that you will be transported to the slums and cemeteries of Victorian England. But that is where the praise ends.
The story loses track of itself, diverging into many characters, many that are not focal for what is going on and some of them you never spend enough time with to care about.
To further disrupt any pleasure the book focuses on all the nasty and gruesome details that you would expect from such a story and never gives us a rest from it. That way you end up sick of all the misery really quick and by the time the action finally picks up all shock value has been completely obliterated.
Overall this is a novel that you can skip with no regrets.
July 12, 2023
Ominous, vivid, and gritty!
The Resurrectionist is an eerie, sinister, absorbing tale set in London in the 1820s at a time when the city was bustling, scavenging was prevalent, respectability meant everything, and a shortage of cadavers for anatomical research created a need for those with a stomach to dig in the dirt and retrieve the flesh and bones of those recently buried.
The prose is meticulous and tight. The characters are hardened, troubled, and resourceful. And the plot, told from multiple perspectives, is a menacing tale about life, loss, tragedy, desperation, survival, manipulation, abuse, deviance, violence, class disparity, body snatching, and murder.
Overall, The Resurrectionist is a dark, gothic, intense novel by Scheuring that does a wonderful job of interweaving historical facts and compelling fiction into a suspenseful mystery that is deliciously atmospheric and disturbingly entertaining.
Thank you to PR by the Book for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Resurrectionist is an eerie, sinister, absorbing tale set in London in the 1820s at a time when the city was bustling, scavenging was prevalent, respectability meant everything, and a shortage of cadavers for anatomical research created a need for those with a stomach to dig in the dirt and retrieve the flesh and bones of those recently buried.
The prose is meticulous and tight. The characters are hardened, troubled, and resourceful. And the plot, told from multiple perspectives, is a menacing tale about life, loss, tragedy, desperation, survival, manipulation, abuse, deviance, violence, class disparity, body snatching, and murder.
Overall, The Resurrectionist is a dark, gothic, intense novel by Scheuring that does a wonderful job of interweaving historical facts and compelling fiction into a suspenseful mystery that is deliciously atmospheric and disturbingly entertaining.
Thank you to PR by the Book for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for my honest review.
If you enjoy historical fiction and the macabre this read is for you. I am surprised there are not more reviews on this book because the story and prose is well done. This subject matter is taboo and I found it quite intriguing. The characters are likeable, given the job they are doing. I enjoyed the time period of the early 1800s, and how "the resurrectionist" brought about advancement in the sciences despite the horrific job they were doing.
If you enjoy historical fiction and the macabre this read is for you. I am surprised there are not more reviews on this book because the story and prose is well done. This subject matter is taboo and I found it quite intriguing. The characters are likeable, given the job they are doing. I enjoyed the time period of the early 1800s, and how "the resurrectionist" brought about advancement in the sciences despite the horrific job they were doing.
April 13, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this ebook. This book sounded like such a gem but quickly fell apart due to the variety or characters and flow of the story. I found myself frustrated and annoyed, which isn’t how I want to feel reading for enjoyment.
July 4, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This one fell a bit short for me. It sounded really interesting but I just did not enjoy it. Definitely lacking.
This one fell a bit short for me. It sounded really interesting but I just did not enjoy it. Definitely lacking.
May 22, 2023
This book blew me away, the mix of good and evil characters combined with the amazing writing style kept me completely enthralled. At times it broke my heart and others lifted me all the way up. Historical fiction with the best kind of horror, real life humans at their absolute worst, made for one of my favorite reads this year. There were numerous parts that I highlighted for quotes, both Poe-esque in nature and simply disturbing in the ways we love but don't discuss with others for fear of them assuming we are psychopaths. Scheuring has a gift for telling a tale that is both horrendous and harrowing.
April 11, 2023
I received this ARC complimentary from NetGalley and PR by the Book in exchange for an honest review. The book may have been complimentary, but this review is all mine.
"The Resurrectionist" by Paul T. Scheuring takes place in London in the early 19th century. The story follows multiple characters through a night when an epic grave digging takes place.
Oh my! There are two main things I loved about this book. One - the Lovecraft horror elements. A good portion of this book takes place in a graveyard and I won't give away spoilers, but do not read if you're claustrophobic! Two - the writing. Each chapter is from a different character's point of view, and it doesn't just go back and forth between two different characters. There is an entire cast of characters whose mind we have the pleasure (or not) of entering. At first, I thought this would be confusing to follow. However, Scheuring did a fantastic job of writing each chapter from that character's point of view. Some characters had more poetic chapters, some more foul, depending on the characteristics of the chosen narrator. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing.
Aside from a horror novel, this book is also historical fiction. I love learning about the past from books and this one did not disappoint. I learned what a mortsafe is, that one of the first successful caesarian sections was performed by a women, and about how early 19th century anatomists obtained their cadavers. This book was full of information about London and grave digging in the time period.
I really enjoyed this book. If you like horror and historical fiction, I highly recommend!
Trigger warnings: violence, death, murder, blood, grave-digging, descriptions of dead bodies, claustrophobic, alluded rape
"The Resurrectionist" by Paul T. Scheuring takes place in London in the early 19th century. The story follows multiple characters through a night when an epic grave digging takes place.
Oh my! There are two main things I loved about this book. One - the Lovecraft horror elements. A good portion of this book takes place in a graveyard and I won't give away spoilers, but do not read if you're claustrophobic! Two - the writing. Each chapter is from a different character's point of view, and it doesn't just go back and forth between two different characters. There is an entire cast of characters whose mind we have the pleasure (or not) of entering. At first, I thought this would be confusing to follow. However, Scheuring did a fantastic job of writing each chapter from that character's point of view. Some characters had more poetic chapters, some more foul, depending on the characteristics of the chosen narrator. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing.
Aside from a horror novel, this book is also historical fiction. I love learning about the past from books and this one did not disappoint. I learned what a mortsafe is, that one of the first successful caesarian sections was performed by a women, and about how early 19th century anatomists obtained their cadavers. This book was full of information about London and grave digging in the time period.
I really enjoyed this book. If you like horror and historical fiction, I highly recommend!
Trigger warnings: violence, death, murder, blood, grave-digging, descriptions of dead bodies, claustrophobic, alluded rape
October 22, 2023
Amazing!!!
The story is a bit macabre, but the message is enlightening!! The characters so real you can see them. The book hard to put down. An excellent read!!!
The story is a bit macabre, but the message is enlightening!! The characters so real you can see them. The book hard to put down. An excellent read!!!
April 12, 2022
This dark, gothic, historical fiction novel is set in the early 1800s and follows anatomist Percival Quinn. His wife’s pregnancy is complicated and the odds of mother and child surviving are not good. Quinn has turned all his knowledge and skills toward finding a solution. When he hears of a recently deceased pregnant woman, he is determined to acquire her corpse for dissection, setting in motion a nightmarish series of events. Job Mowatt is the aptly named resurrectionist who takes on the job, hoping to fund a better life for his daughter Ivy. Throw in a pair of ruthless thieves and a grieving widower who will do anything to protect his beloved wife’s body from being desecrated and you’ve got a book I couldn’t put down.
Scheuring’s writing is beautiful and unhurried. I was fascinated by all the historical details, which never crossed the line into too much information, but just fit the story. The characters are well-developed,the pacing was perfect and I loved the glimpse we get of Quinn’s marriage. I highly recommend this one, especially to fans of historical fiction.
Scheuring’s writing is beautiful and unhurried. I was fascinated by all the historical details, which never crossed the line into too much information, but just fit the story. The characters are well-developed,the pacing was perfect and I loved the glimpse we get of Quinn’s marriage. I highly recommend this one, especially to fans of historical fiction.
April 25, 2023
I don't know where to start with this book. The first few pages threw me and I almost quit. It was horrific, gross and very dark. But I kept on going and having faith and I'm so glad I did because I ended up loving it! While it definitely is bleak there is so much to find hope in, especially the perfectly crafted sentences that stay with you. The characters are wonderfully real and their experiences horrible to share. But it all has an underlying strength of character and finding hope even in the bleakest circumstances. This book is not for everyone but if you like a challenge that will make you cringe all the while making you FEEL, this is it.
May 29, 2023
I knew of this book because of it popping up alot on goodreads and i was exctied to find it here on netgalley and im so happy i was able to read this book because its so good to read. 5 star book. i highly recommend this book big time, i couldn't put it down at all i was so hooked on this book and i already told a few people that they need to read this book and hopefully they do. will be looking into this author other books. Pretty sure this was the first book i have read by this author and i abostly loved this author writing style cant wait to read more by them.
April 16, 2022
Grave robbers in 1820 London? Sign me up! I loved this book. It’s a beautifully written, fast-paced thriller, based on what must have been extraordinarily extensive research. A lot of the dialog is downright funny, but the book is also an intense page-turner. I loved the rich cast of characters—anatomists, a genius daughter, opium eaters, six-bottle men, murderers, and a deeply insidious antagonist who is a hair merchant. The Resurrectionist is gothic literature at its best!
June 28, 2023
Bravo Paul Scheuring!
The first few pages of this book almost deterred me from continuing to read because of the content, but the style and beauty of expression won me over. What a fantastic book! I could not put it down and look forward to reading other works by this gifted author.
The first few pages of this book almost deterred me from continuing to read because of the content, but the style and beauty of expression won me over. What a fantastic book! I could not put it down and look forward to reading other works by this gifted author.
July 4, 2023
science and gore
This is an unusual and marvelous book that strikes at the heart of science and the devil that energizes discovery. Need drives curiosity and investigation. The need to discover may best be understood by the scientist. This book drives home the message of how messy, truly messy, the process can be when laws by the unknowing interfere.
This is an unusual and marvelous book that strikes at the heart of science and the devil that energizes discovery. Need drives curiosity and investigation. The need to discover may best be understood by the scientist. This book drives home the message of how messy, truly messy, the process can be when laws by the unknowing interfere.
May 7, 2022
thought provoking
I greatly enjoyed the exploration of who we are and how we got there. The identification of duty and influence were very interesting. Also there was a good bit of violence which I do enjoy.
I greatly enjoyed the exploration of who we are and how we got there. The identification of duty and influence were very interesting. Also there was a good bit of violence which I do enjoy.
May 30, 2023
Couldn't put it down!!
This was a fascinating read, especially if interested in the medical world and the discoveries that were made because of the people who did what they did. I lived this book, although a it violent...
This was a fascinating read, especially if interested in the medical world and the discoveries that were made because of the people who did what they did. I lived this book, although a it violent...
June 13, 2023
Wow, What A Story!
I did not know what to expect from the title but I was more than pleased and had a rough time putting it down to go to sleep. This is a masterfully written story with a whole lot of twists and turns.
I did not know what to expect from the title but I was more than pleased and had a rough time putting it down to go to sleep. This is a masterfully written story with a whole lot of twists and turns.
June 15, 2023
I found myself shocked at rooting for the grave robbers! I found this book to be a fast read. The story moved along pretty quickly and all came together at the end somewhat implausibly but interestingly! Characters were really different. A quick and surprisingly "fun" read!!
June 25, 2023
The end justified the means
Very interesting story that should have been horrific but instead was moving and inspiring. I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, but I really liked it.
Very interesting story that should have been horrific but instead was moving and inspiring. I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, but I really liked it.
July 12, 2023
Excellent Read!
The characters are so well developed. The complexity of the narrative, the twists and turns… it could’ve been written so simply, so predictably. Be ready to learn new vocabulary. Full of little historical rabbit holes.
The characters are so well developed. The complexity of the narrative, the twists and turns… it could’ve been written so simply, so predictably. Be ready to learn new vocabulary. Full of little historical rabbit holes.
July 28, 2023
Great story!
This book is fiction but obviously done by someone who did extensive research or who is knowledgeable about medicine/medical history. First I have seen from a “body snatcher’s” point of view and, although macabre and graphic, well worth reading.
This book is fiction but obviously done by someone who did extensive research or who is knowledgeable about medicine/medical history. First I have seen from a “body snatcher’s” point of view and, although macabre and graphic, well worth reading.
May 4, 2023
I loved it. It’s completely my genre. I love historical fiction and I was transported!
May 30, 2023
Historical Fiction about an 1820's anatomy professor and a underground group of criminals who supply cadavers. It is dark and disturbing but there is human redemption and lots og humanity.
June 15, 2023
Well written, unsettling and worth a read
An unsettling and at times dark book. The first I have read by Scheuring. This book is literature and you should read it.
An unsettling and at times dark book. The first I have read by Scheuring. This book is literature and you should read it.
June 27, 2023
Great book and great author!
August 3, 2023
A great read
This is a great read, I could not put it down. The characters are well-written and the plot completely engrossing. Recommended for fans of historical fiction.
This is a great read, I could not put it down. The characters are well-written and the plot completely engrossing. Recommended for fans of historical fiction.
April 2, 2023
The Resurrectionist by Paul T Scheuring is set in 1820 (except for the very end, in 1821) and follows a small cast of characters, switching to their different POVs within the story, connecting them all like the constellations that Ivy, a girl stuck in the slums but dreaming of more, loves so well. It is a story of the pain and suffering contained within a city, and it is a look at how desperation often has people grabbing and stomping on one another to try to lift themselves out of poor circumstances, like crabs in a bucket.
It centres around the trade of exhuming bodies to use in anatomy schools, and there are varying reasons why each person does this, from securing opium, to paying for class to become a doctor, to elevating a daughter into a better life than the one you will ever have, to saving the life of your wife and unborn child. It is an intriguing premise, and I enjoyed unravelling the threads that bind and connect each of these people to one another.
There is, of course, violence--quite a bit of it--and a lot of it is directed at women. Squeamish ought to take note. It is a heavy, grim read, but one with a bright spark of hope at the end.
I'll add this bit that I didn't say on NetGalley because I didn't want to let loose any spoilers, but I enjoyed the parallels. Beauchamp doing what he thought was a good turn for a dog and it biting him, cutting his nose, then when he tries to stop Gray from leaving, she hits him and cuts his nose. How everything circles itself; I knew right away Gray would be pregnant and probably die and end up on Quinn's table, a subject after helping Beauchamp so many people prematurely to their own deaths for some extra coin to sacrifice to opium. How Fife saved Job in the beginning, carrying him to safety, and how in the end he did the very same, seeing him off on a ship with his daughter--while Job did not live, he did fulfil his dream of giving Ivy a future and a chance.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It centres around the trade of exhuming bodies to use in anatomy schools, and there are varying reasons why each person does this, from securing opium, to paying for class to become a doctor, to elevating a daughter into a better life than the one you will ever have, to saving the life of your wife and unborn child. It is an intriguing premise, and I enjoyed unravelling the threads that bind and connect each of these people to one another.
There is, of course, violence--quite a bit of it--and a lot of it is directed at women. Squeamish ought to take note. It is a heavy, grim read, but one with a bright spark of hope at the end.
I'll add this bit that I didn't say on NetGalley because I didn't want to let loose any spoilers, but I enjoyed the parallels. Beauchamp doing what he thought was a good turn for a dog and it biting him, cutting his nose, then when he tries to stop Gray from leaving, she hits him and cuts his nose. How everything circles itself; I knew right away Gray would be pregnant and probably die and end up on Quinn's table, a subject after helping Beauchamp so many people prematurely to their own deaths for some extra coin to sacrifice to opium. How Fife saved Job in the beginning, carrying him to safety, and how in the end he did the very same, seeing him off on a ship with his daughter--while Job did not live, he did fulfil his dream of giving Ivy a future and a chance.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2023
The Resurrectionist (Kindle Edition) - by Paul T. Scheuring
Job Mowatt is a resurrectionist. He earns a living by digging cadavers fresh from the grave so that anatomists can dissect and learn how to treat surgical complications.
It's London in 1820, and anatomist Percival Quinn who teaches at St. Bartholomeus College of Anatomy is presented with a difficult situation. His wife, Genevieve (Neva) Quinn is pregnant, but because she had rickets as a young woman, she will not be able to deliver the baby - her pelvic bone is too narrow. Unfortunately, the practice of a Cesarean Section was very rare, the first such case was performed by Miranda Stewart Barry known as James Barry - because women were not allowed in the British army, she disguised herself as a man.
Unfortunately, Percival has no way to get in contact with Miranda/James Barry so he needs the cadaver of a pregnant woman to try to save his wife.
Job Mowatt's wages are just enough to keep his brilliant daughter, Ivy, clean and safe in London's worst slum. He has been aggravated by a criminal duo, Mel Beauchamp, and his girlfriend, Gray. Actually, this pair is known more for killing people and delivering their bodies to the anatomists - and not for digging graves.
When the pregnant wife of Marcus Selby Beddoe - Ella - suddenly dies, Percival offers a big bounty to anyone who can deliver her dead body to him. Immediately, it becomes a race to snatch the body before she decomposes and before it's time for Neva to deliver her baby.
Narrated from the third person point of view, this is a dark historical fiction novel that is not for everyone. Dealing with poverty, crime, and death takes away some of the allure of a well-written novel. The characters are real and the author takes his time introducing them to the reader. The plot is macabre and very realistic.
As an OB-Gyne myself, I enjoyed the book, however, this is not a book for everyone.
Job Mowatt is a resurrectionist. He earns a living by digging cadavers fresh from the grave so that anatomists can dissect and learn how to treat surgical complications.
It's London in 1820, and anatomist Percival Quinn who teaches at St. Bartholomeus College of Anatomy is presented with a difficult situation. His wife, Genevieve (Neva) Quinn is pregnant, but because she had rickets as a young woman, she will not be able to deliver the baby - her pelvic bone is too narrow. Unfortunately, the practice of a Cesarean Section was very rare, the first such case was performed by Miranda Stewart Barry known as James Barry - because women were not allowed in the British army, she disguised herself as a man.
Unfortunately, Percival has no way to get in contact with Miranda/James Barry so he needs the cadaver of a pregnant woman to try to save his wife.
Job Mowatt's wages are just enough to keep his brilliant daughter, Ivy, clean and safe in London's worst slum. He has been aggravated by a criminal duo, Mel Beauchamp, and his girlfriend, Gray. Actually, this pair is known more for killing people and delivering their bodies to the anatomists - and not for digging graves.
When the pregnant wife of Marcus Selby Beddoe - Ella - suddenly dies, Percival offers a big bounty to anyone who can deliver her dead body to him. Immediately, it becomes a race to snatch the body before she decomposes and before it's time for Neva to deliver her baby.
Narrated from the third person point of view, this is a dark historical fiction novel that is not for everyone. Dealing with poverty, crime, and death takes away some of the allure of a well-written novel. The characters are real and the author takes his time introducing them to the reader. The plot is macabre and very realistic.
As an OB-Gyne myself, I enjoyed the book, however, this is not a book for everyone.
October 8, 2025
بیایید از پارادوکس نویسنده شروع نماییم! همچنانکه برای معرفی نویسندهی این #کتاب میتوان یک جلد کتاب جداگانه نوشت، اما یک کلام هم کافی است: نام او پل_شیورینگ است؛ وی خالق و نویسندهی اصلی سریال فرار از زندان (Prison Break) میباشد.
اگر به عنوان یک کتاب ترسناک و گروتسک پا به درون دنیای این داستان میگذارید تا در خیابانهای تاریک و سرد و بارانی لندن عمیقترین احساسات و عواطف ترسناک نهفته در وجودتان تحریک شوند تا بتوانید آنها را لمس و تجربه کنید، آماده باشید که با انسانیت و شفقت بزرگ درون داستان، و جزییات خیرهکننده از لندن قرن نونزدهم شگفتزده خواهیدشد.
داستان در سال ۱۸۲۰ اتفاق میافتد. دقیقتر بگویم در ۲۴ ساعت اتفاق میافتد؛ باز هم دقیقتر بگویم: در یک شب! اما برای درک آن بد نیست تا حوالی سال ۱۷۵۰ به عقب بازگردیم. سالهایی که چنان جنایت و قتل در شهر لندن فراوانی یافته و روزمره شده بود که پارلمان بریتانیا به تصویب قانونی باورنکردنی در مجازات قاتلان دست زد. در واقع، آنهمه داستانهای پلیسی و کارآگاهی در انگلستان سالهای بعد، خلق کاراکتر شرلوک هولمز و کارآگاهان دیگر، تاسیس پلیس اسکاتلندیارد، حتی واکنش تکان دهندهی جامعهی انگلستان به معمای ناگشودهی قتلهای جکِ قاتل (Jack the Ripper) را میتوان واکنشی به آن دوره و آن قانون دانست.
از سوی دیگر دانش کالبدشناسی (آناتومی) به سرعت در حال پیشرفت بود و لاجرم دانشمندانی پیدا شده بودند که حاضر بودند با کمال میل برای جسدهای تازه، مبلغ زیادی بپردازند. و گفتن ندارد که هرگاه نیازی در جامعه پدید میآید که در ازای آن افرادی حاضر به پرداخت پول میباشند، اشخاصی هم برای پاسخ به آن نیاز پدیدار خواهند شد. و اینچنین است که عملیات نبش قبر و سرقت جسد تبدیل به یک کسب و کار میشود. حال تصور کنید زنی به خاک سپرده میشود که همسر یک از قدرتمندترین مردان انگلستان است و اسرار فراوانی را با خود به قبر برده است و قرار است جسد او دزدیده شود تا یک دختر فقیر مجبور به کار در یک روسپیخانه نشود!
خواندن این کتاب مانند دیدن یک فیلم است. صحنهها چنان جاندار و با روح هستند و ریتم و سرعت داستان چنان روان است که وقتی به درون داستان وارد شدید از یاد میبرید که درحال خواندن هستند یا دیدن!
اگر به عنوان یک کتاب ترسناک و گروتسک پا به درون دنیای این داستان میگذارید تا در خیابانهای تاریک و سرد و بارانی لندن عمیقترین احساسات و عواطف ترسناک نهفته در وجودتان تحریک شوند تا بتوانید آنها را لمس و تجربه کنید، آماده باشید که با انسانیت و شفقت بزرگ درون داستان، و جزییات خیرهکننده از لندن قرن نونزدهم شگفتزده خواهیدشد.
داستان در سال ۱۸۲۰ اتفاق میافتد. دقیقتر بگویم در ۲۴ ساعت اتفاق میافتد؛ باز هم دقیقتر بگویم: در یک شب! اما برای درک آن بد نیست تا حوالی سال ۱۷۵۰ به عقب بازگردیم. سالهایی که چنان جنایت و قتل در شهر لندن فراوانی یافته و روزمره شده بود که پارلمان بریتانیا به تصویب قانونی باورنکردنی در مجازات قاتلان دست زد. در واقع، آنهمه داستانهای پلیسی و کارآگاهی در انگلستان سالهای بعد، خلق کاراکتر شرلوک هولمز و کارآگاهان دیگر، تاسیس پلیس اسکاتلندیارد، حتی واکنش تکان دهندهی جامعهی انگلستان به معمای ناگشودهی قتلهای جکِ قاتل (Jack the Ripper) را میتوان واکنشی به آن دوره و آن قانون دانست.
از سوی دیگر دانش کالبدشناسی (آناتومی) به سرعت در حال پیشرفت بود و لاجرم دانشمندانی پیدا شده بودند که حاضر بودند با کمال میل برای جسدهای تازه، مبلغ زیادی بپردازند. و گفتن ندارد که هرگاه نیازی در جامعه پدید میآید که در ازای آن افرادی حاضر به پرداخت پول میباشند، اشخاصی هم برای پاسخ به آن نیاز پدیدار خواهند شد. و اینچنین است که عملیات نبش قبر و سرقت جسد تبدیل به یک کسب و کار میشود. حال تصور کنید زنی به خاک سپرده میشود که همسر یک از قدرتمندترین مردان انگلستان است و اسرار فراوانی را با خود به قبر برده است و قرار است جسد او دزدیده شود تا یک دختر فقیر مجبور به کار در یک روسپیخانه نشود!
خواندن این کتاب مانند دیدن یک فیلم است. صحنهها چنان جاندار و با روح هستند و ریتم و سرعت داستان چنان روان است که وقتی به درون داستان وارد شدید از یاد میبرید که درحال خواندن هستند یا دیدن!
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