The Resurrectionist
A. Rae Dunlap
“To unlock the mysteries of the human form was to behold God’s masterpiece firsthand, and that is what sparked the fire within me for the very first time.”
Oxford dropout James Willoughby has followed his true calling all the way to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he is determined to study with the greatest anatomists of the age. When his father’s debts drain the family accounts, he’s unsure how he’ll fund his education. Fortunately fellow dissectionist “Nye” MacKinnon has some ideas — but it involves getting their hands dirty. Just as James finds his footing, rumors of two prolific but vicious body snatchers — Misters Burke and Hare — begin circulating among the local resurrectionists. James wants to know what they’re up to, but the investigation may put much more than his career at risk.
What a romp! This has got it all: Victorian era, body snatching, mystery, murder, and a queer romance I wasn’t expecting but turned out to be very sweet. Not surprising were the detailed descriptions of dissection and its often gory results — including several scenes that were so visceral (if you’ll pardon the pun) I needed to take a few deep breaths. James and Nye were interesting characters, and I enjoyed watching them get to know, trust, and care for each other. The story itself was great, but I especially loved that Dunlap took the time to have her characters explore and struggle with the ethics of body snatching. Do the ends justify the means? And is it really more moral to dig up an already-dead corpse than to murder a person to sell?
This is a great mix of history and fiction, with enough suspense to keep any “murderino” happy as a clam.
The Lost City of the Monkey God
Douglas Preston
“The myths of the White City, the City of the Monkey God, a Casa Blanca or Kaha Kamasa, have a similar arc: There was once a great city in the mountains struck down by a series of catastrophes, after which the people decided the gods were angry and left, leaving behind their possessions. Thereafter it was shunned as a cursed place, forbidden, visiting death on those who dared enter.”
From Atlantis to El Dorado, lost cities have captured our imaginations for centuries. While some have been found, there are many places so remote and dangerous that exploration has been all but impossible. New technologies have given us the power to discover the remains of massive empires — and the responsibility to treat these sites with care. The Lost City of the Monkey God is journalist Douglas Preston’s chronicling of the search for and eventual discovery of the remains of a large civilization in the vast wilds of Honduras, as well as a cautionary tale of the dangers of exploration.
My first brush with Preston happened through his first novel, Relic. I had no idea he was a journalist until I stumbled across The Lost Tomb last year — I love how his interest in (obsession with?) all things mysterious and macabre bleeds back and forth between fiction and non-fiction. Monkey God is a thought-provoking look at historical and modern exploration, its risks, and its potential negative impacts. It’s billed as an adventure story, but what’s stuck with me far more is Preston’s focus on the history of disease and how it impacted ancient civilizations. I’d love to see an updated edition; it was originally published in 2017 and has a distinct whiff of “white dudes are better at these things than the indigenous peoples.” Preston’s writing, the discovery itself, and the subsequent exploration have drummed up multiple controversies, all of which I’d like to know more about.
A good selection for lovers of narrative non-fiction who are looking for a read that challenges expectations and encourages further research.
The Witch’s Orchard
Archer Sullivan
“They don’t like to think their town is the kind of place where little girls are kidnapped, don’t like to think it was this neighbor or that one. It’s easier to just hope it never happens again, easier to forget it.”
It’s been a decade since Molly Andrews disappeared from Quartz Creek, North Carolina; private investigator Annie Gore believes nothing good will come from poking the hornets’ nest. But a paycheck’s a paycheck, and her own Appalachian background makes her feel strangely connected to the cold case. But in a town where folklore and truth blend and secrets hang in the trees like spider webs, stirring the pot can be downright deadly.
Show me phrases like “atmospheric mystery” and “mountain folklore” and I’ll show you a person picking up a book faster than you blink. Sullivan has crafted a novel with creepiest of vibes: Appalachian folklore, misty forests, stone circles, and applehead dolls (yikes). Annie is my kind of character — good and tough as nails — and I enjoyed watching her do what she does best. This was well on its way to a five-star read for me, but the end was a complete letdown. I was okay with a non-supernatural solution, but getting an illogical one really let all the air out of the balloon.
An atmospheric read that can be a lot of fun if you’re okay with an ending that makes you think, “Well…okay then.”
Better the Blood (Hana Westerman #1)
Michael Bennett
“A debt disappears only when balance is fully restored.”
Centuries after its colonization, New Zealand is still reckoning with its bloody history. Hana Westerman lives at the heart of this struggle — she’s Māori, but her career as a detective has left her estranged from her family. When a series of ritualistic murders turn out to be connected by a familiar symbol, Hana must confront her past and a charismatic killer before it’s too late.
Bennett began his storytelling career with filmmaking and non-fiction writing. While I appreciate what he explores in Better the Blood, I’d rather have learned it through reading about Māori culture and history. The mystery piece didn’t add anything. The protagonists were one-note, the plot felt forced, and although the antagonist was intriguing he was prone to the “bad guy monologue.” Shoving the themes of cultural erasure, racism, and revenge at any cost into a thriller plot may make them more approachable to the average reader, but it takes away some of the seriousness and importance.
A book that has the potential to open up discussions about history, but just an okay mystery.
To Rescue the American Spirit: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower
Brett Baier with Catherine Whitney
“We cannot afford, as citizens of this republic, to tolerate the successful scoundrel any more than the unsuccessful scoundrel.”
Throughout his life, Theodore Roosevelt was known for his physical presence and mental toughness. He believed that the government existed to serve and protect the people of the United States, at home and on the global stage; he also understood the power of individuality and tenacity in the face of impossible odds. This latest biography chronicles his life, with an extra focus on his post-presidential years as World War I nearly brought humanity to an end.
Anyone who knows me well would not be the least bit surprised to learn that Roosevelt is one of my favorite historical figures. I don’t know if he would have considered himself a Stoic, but the fact that he hauled Epictetus and Aurelius down the freakin’ Amazon is an indicator that he respected the ideals. I enjoyed learning more about how “Teddy” developed and stuck to his principles, and how those beliefs impacted his life and America itself.
This is another great addition to the Roosevelt resource pile. But for truly stellar information and storytelling, I recommend Goodwin’s The Bully Pulpit and Millard’s River of Doubt.
Glory Be (Glory Broussard Mystery #1)
Danielle Arceneaux
“Amity spent her entire life helping everyone else, yet died in that brutal way, alone, in that drab apartment. Glory ran through all the good she had done and how devoted she had been. It would never feel right.”
Whether due to her age or race, Glory Broussard is used to be overlooked. While this can be annoying and demeaning, it does have certain advantages — namely for her thriving bookie business. But when her childhood friend is found dead by apparent suicide, Glory realizes it’s time to use her powers for good. Now it’s up to her and her daughter Delphine to uncover the truth. But swamp towns like Lafayette, Louisiana have dark secrets…and people who don’t want them brought to light.
This book, while a solid start to a series, wasn’t a home run for me. The mystery piece was fine, but I had a hard time liking most of the characters. Glory herself makes a pretty terrible first impression, so learning more about her history and personality was actually the most interesting part. She’s prickly, but for reason, and more than makes up for it in sheer gumption. I enjoyed watching her change as she learned to focus on things outside herself. Plus I’m always going to be a fan of a book set in the South.
Good for readers who love their mysteries with a heaping spoonful of character exploration.
The Infernal Machine: A True Story of Dynamite, Terror, and the Rise of the Modern Detective
Steven Johnson
“The forty-year period during which anarchism rose to prominence as one of the most important political worldviews in Europe and the United States—roughly from 1880 to 1920—happened to correspond precisely with the single most devastating stretch of political bombings in the history of the West. Indeed, the whole modern practice of terrorism—advancing a political agenda through acts of spectacular violence, often targeting civilians—began with the anarchists.”
While the roots of anarchism live deep in the soil of decentralized collaboration, the fruit it bore in pre-Depression era New York led to destruction and terror. Over a five-year period a series of deadly bombings rocked offices, churches, and New Yorkers’ faith in their police force. A new kind of crime demanded new ways of tracking, identifying, and putting criminals behind bars; the techniques and organizations established during this time would change the world forever.
As a true crime and history buff, I’m no stranger to a lot of the information in Johnson’s book: the “Rogue’s gallery,” the development of fingerprinting as an investigative technique, and the establishment of what we would now recognize as the detective. What I knew much less about was the history of anarchism, how it was twisted by certain individuals, and how its impacts have reverberated through history. Johnson is an engaging author, and this book helped me see lots of fascinating connections.
A solid choice if you’re looking to expand your true crime/history knowledge.
Photo by Joel Holland on Unsplash
