Overview

Set in London during 1851, Surgeons’ Hall opens at the time of the Great Exhibition, when crowds gather to celebrate progress and invention. Jem Flockhart, an apothecary living as a man to practise medicine, becomes involved in a disturbing case after a severed hand is discovered on public display. Her search for answers leads her to Corvus Hall, a private anatomy school where respectability hides violence, exploitation, and murder. As Jem investigates, she is forced to confront the dangerous systems that control bodies, knowledge, and power.

Voice & Atmosphere

We found the atmosphere thick with unease from the opening pages. E. S. Thomson writes with confidence and detail, drawing us into a world of gaslight streets, lecture theatres, and dissecting rooms. The language is vivid without being showy, and the medical setting is both fascinating and unsettling. The story balances Gothic horror with steady investigative pace, keeping tension high throughout.

Characters

Jem Flockhart remains a strong and engaging lead. She is intelligent, observant, and driven by a clear sense of justice, yet always at risk because of the life she must hide. Her partnership with Will Quartermain adds emotional depth and stability. The wider cast of surgeons, students, and patients reflects a society shaped by hierarchy and cruelty, where compassion is often in short supply.

Themes

The novel examines who is allowed control over bodies and knowledge, and who pays the price for scientific advancement. Issues of gender, class, and consent run throughout the story. Disguise is not only personal for Jem but structural, as institutions present a polished surface while hiding moral decay beneath. The book asks how far progress can be trusted when empathy is removed.

What Worked

• Rich historical detail: Victorian medical practice is rendered with clarity and care.
• A compelling protagonist: Jem’s hidden identity adds tension and emotional weight.
• Effective genre blend: crime, Gothic horror, and historical fiction work smoothly together.

Minor Quibbles

• Some anatomical scenes are graphic and may be difficult for sensitive readers.
• As part of an ongoing series, certain character histories assume prior knowledge.

Final Thoughts

We felt this was a gripping and thoughtful historical mystery that never loses sight of the human cost behind scientific ambition.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)