We must all take care, for murder is never far behind us. It watches and waits. It haunts our steps and disturbs our sleep for sometimes, it is inevitable, and we are caught in its grisly clutches... Edinburgh 1826 is a city is full of the ghosts of those murdered, if we choose to see them, they could tell us their story. This is one such tale. Read on, if you dare.. Young Thomas Tait's heart was beyond repair following an attack of Scarlet Fever, his breathing laboured and his skin tinged with blue. His doting mother Isobel keeps body and soul together with her music lessons. The doctor was kind and diligent but nothing would help Thomas. Until Isobel met Dr Conall Burnett, specimen collector. Butterflies or stamps you would think ? But no, body parts were Dr Burnetts macabre passion, abnormal body parts, for no-one has an interest in the normal, no-one would pay to see that. One day while Isobel is working, Thomas goes missing. Could he have been taken by the disfigured man who followed them home from the park ? Could the unthinkable have happened, could Dr Burnett have wanted Thomas for his collection. Are we right to think the worst, the reader and the characters both ? Have we written to boy off to murder and disection ? Was this just the raving of a grief striken mother or was there some sinister practices at large in the city. When more people with peculiar and rare conditions go missing, Detective Adam Kerr becomes suspicious, and Isobel decides she must act.. gripping, exciting historical mystery

The Specimen by Jaima Fixsen is a historical novel set in Edinburgh in 1826, it’s a terrifying gothic mystery based on true stories. Isobel’s son has gone missing and she discovers that a doctor who collects unusual specimens may be responsible for his disappearance. She devises a plan to infiltrate his household and find out what happened to her son. The truth is scarier than she could ever imagine and more people are involved in his scheme. This book explores how resurrectionists in the 18th and 19th century dug up bodies to sell to anatomists or physicians to dissect for study, but this story takes a turn for an even more macabre twist. I would recommend this book for historical fiction and thriller readers. I exclaimed several times while reading because it was so creepy and the twists are so unexpected. It unfolds in a slow build and then a frantic pace to reach the truth. You need to be prepared to tuck in and read it without interruptions. The author’s note describes the true stories behind her novel, that has to be the most terrifying part of the story. The historical details are well researched including the practice of medicine in the 19th century and the descriptions of Edinburgh. Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Edinburgh, 1826 & single mother, Isobel Tait is worried about her son Thomas. Ever since an earlier bout of illness Thomas has had health complications & the usual treatments aren't working. Isobel is directed to a new doctor, a specialist called Dr Burnett, who diagnoses Thomas with a rare heart complaint. Shortly following the appointment, Isobel begins to suspect that they are being followed by a man with a scarred face, & a week or so later when Thomas disappears, Isobel reports him to the police. The senior detective is abrupt & dismissive whilst the younger detective, Adam Kerr, seems sympathetic but there is little he can do. Months later, Isobel is coaxed out for an afternoon out by a neighbour & finds herself at an exhibition of rare cases by Dr Burnett, & in one glass case is a small heart with the exact same issue as Thomas. Coincidence? Or murder? This is a really great read. The author uses the history of Edinburgh & its links with the 'Resurrectionists' (body snatchers) to weave a tale that grabs the attention & never lets go. The narrative is told from two points of view: Isobel. & Adam Kerr = the detective who has his own battles as he is of Native American descent which in the early 19th century would have seriously limited his career. We see another side to him with his dealings with a young orphan whose mother has also gone missing. If I had any criticism it would probably be that the ending went on slightly too long but it's a very minor quibble. If you like historical fiction with a darker gothic edge, you may like this one. 4.5 stars (rounded down) My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Sourcebooks UK/Poisoned Pen Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.

This is a page-turning gothic thriller and Isobel Tait is a rewardingly resilient, intelligent and resourceful heroine whose grief drives her to avenge her son after he goes missing. Facing the closed ranks of the Victorian male establishment she eventually finds an unlikely ally in the thoughtful and honest detective Adam. Seeking incriminating evidence against the ambitious surgeon Dr.Burnett, Isobel infiltrates his household and finds herself dusting his collection of 'specimens', which she is convinced includes her son's heart. With in-depth characters who are psychologically interesting, I learned a lot about Edinburgh society in the early 1820s, and enjoyed the way themes around racism were explored.

"The Specimen" by Jaima Fixsen is well worth a read if you are into: historical novels, things in jars, Edinburgh, body-snatching and more. Isobel knows she doesn't have much time left with her little boy due to his heart condition but when he goes missing, she is distraught. When she sees a heart (with his condition) in a jar at a doctor's museum (of things in jars) then she grows suspicious. An excellent plan is hatched and the story flows nicely onwards from there. A sad story but one with justice at the heart (pardon the pun) of it.