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The Small Museum #2
The Surgeon's House
It's 1881. 8 years have passed since Grace and Lucius Everly were punished for their crimes against humanity, yet Evergreen House is still not clean of their sins. In The Surgeon's House, sequel to The Small Museum, Maddie's sister, Rebecca, remains uneasy. Mysterious deaths, the unwelcome presence of Grace's husband, Edward Threlfall, and consistent intrusions from members of the authorities force Rebecca to question the stability of the life she has created.
Thwarted at every turn, caught between society's patriarchal gaze and the Victorian era's obsession with science and morality, it appears as though Rebecca must relinquish all that she has worked towards. How can she protect the lives of the women and children, to whom she has promised safety, when it feels as though the very walls breathe their secrets and betray her trust?
Thwarted at every turn, caught between society's patriarchal gaze and the Victorian era's obsession with science and morality, it appears as though Rebecca must relinquish all that she has worked towards. How can she protect the lives of the women and children, to whom she has promised safety, when it feels as though the very walls breathe their secrets and betray her trust?
320 pages, Hardcover
Published May 22, 2025
4 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 18, 2025
DNF @ pg 199. 1.5/5 ✩
"When did fire and brimstone replace the lamb?"
Thank you NetGalley and Allison & Busby for providing me with this ARC.
PERSONAL SUMMARY
The Surgeon’s House is, seemingly, a historical mystery revolving around the residents of Evergreen House, a refuge and safe space for women and children to start over. Primarily following the proprietor of the house, Rebecca Harris, Cooksley attempts to represent the struggles that women faced in the 1880s while also laying down vague lines for a mystery to unfold. However, I was severely let down by this book, and eventually chose not to complete it on page 199 of 320. With weak pacing, bland characters, and a frustrating narrative, I simply couldn’t find anything about this story that I actually enjoyed, and so I decided that it was better to leave it unfinished than attempt to push through the last ~100 pages.
RELATIONSHIPS & CHARACTERS
• The only compliment I can give to the character writing is how utterly awful the men were, as that seemed to be the one purpose they served - every man that interacted with Rebecca and her wards was rude and cruel and disrespectful, to the point that it took away from the book for me. I respect that Cooksley wanted to showcase the mistreatment of women in the 1880s, however, it felt entirely without purpose, as if it was done simply to piss off readers rather than create any sort of commentary or worthwhile narrative impact.
• All the characters were so plain and dull, with so little personality that I kept confusing who was who. To that effect, the relationships were also just as bad, because how can an interesting relationship be built without interesting characters?
ENGAGEMENT & ENJOYMENT
• This story started strong for me, as it immediately kicks off with the murder that I thought would set the plot into motion. I discovered very quickly, however, that the plot was simply “women suffer,” which was just annoying to me. So, the narrative lost me by the time I reached the fifth chapter, but I was determined to read as much as possible in the hopes that things would improve.
• The only thing that this book left me feeling was annoyed. Annoyed at its wasted potential, annoyed at its characters, annoyed at essentially everything.
ATMOSPHERE & SETTING
• I’m a huge fan of stories set in 1880s England, because it's such an interesting and revolutionary time in that country’s history. Admittedly, I felt like nothing about this story - aside from the way men treated women - even alluded to the era that it was set in. I recognize that the setting should be important, and yet the only time it seems to come into play is when Cooksley wants to emphasize that the women are suffering because of cruel men.
DEVELOPMENT & PLOT
• Going back to my comment in the “Engagement & Enjoyment” section, I had expectations set due to the way that this story began. There was so much promise in the plot of this story, but it felt like it was simply doing nothing and going nowhere. I know that I missed out on the last third of the book, but the quality of the first 200 pages was so lackluster that I just couldn’t keep going.
• Nothing about this felt like the mystery that I thought it would be. Maybe that’s on me for misunderstanding the description and assuming this would actually be a mystery novel, but it's so not. Though there were brief moments of intrigue, the chapters always cut off just before things had the chance to get interesting, leaving this pacing and story utterly dull.
STYLE & STRUCTURE
• Cooksley's writing style isn’t bad, but unfortunately it's just not interesting. She clearly shows an understanding of structure (and upon researching her, she certainly has the experience to show as much), and yet this story was so dull and somewhat vague to me. It felt as if there was never enough detail to create an immersive world or interesting characters, and so the plot suffered from lacking those elements. It's just not clear to me what the goal of this book was, because all aspects of the writing were simply underwhelming for me.
R.E.A.D.S. SCORE
R: 2/10
E: 2/10
A: 2/10
D: 2/10
S: 3/10
Total: 2.20/10.00
"When did fire and brimstone replace the lamb?"
Thank you NetGalley and Allison & Busby for providing me with this ARC.
PERSONAL SUMMARY
The Surgeon’s House is, seemingly, a historical mystery revolving around the residents of Evergreen House, a refuge and safe space for women and children to start over. Primarily following the proprietor of the house, Rebecca Harris, Cooksley attempts to represent the struggles that women faced in the 1880s while also laying down vague lines for a mystery to unfold. However, I was severely let down by this book, and eventually chose not to complete it on page 199 of 320. With weak pacing, bland characters, and a frustrating narrative, I simply couldn’t find anything about this story that I actually enjoyed, and so I decided that it was better to leave it unfinished than attempt to push through the last ~100 pages.
RELATIONSHIPS & CHARACTERS
• The only compliment I can give to the character writing is how utterly awful the men were, as that seemed to be the one purpose they served - every man that interacted with Rebecca and her wards was rude and cruel and disrespectful, to the point that it took away from the book for me. I respect that Cooksley wanted to showcase the mistreatment of women in the 1880s, however, it felt entirely without purpose, as if it was done simply to piss off readers rather than create any sort of commentary or worthwhile narrative impact.
• All the characters were so plain and dull, with so little personality that I kept confusing who was who. To that effect, the relationships were also just as bad, because how can an interesting relationship be built without interesting characters?
ENGAGEMENT & ENJOYMENT
• This story started strong for me, as it immediately kicks off with the murder that I thought would set the plot into motion. I discovered very quickly, however, that the plot was simply “women suffer,” which was just annoying to me. So, the narrative lost me by the time I reached the fifth chapter, but I was determined to read as much as possible in the hopes that things would improve.
• The only thing that this book left me feeling was annoyed. Annoyed at its wasted potential, annoyed at its characters, annoyed at essentially everything.
ATMOSPHERE & SETTING
• I’m a huge fan of stories set in 1880s England, because it's such an interesting and revolutionary time in that country’s history. Admittedly, I felt like nothing about this story - aside from the way men treated women - even alluded to the era that it was set in. I recognize that the setting should be important, and yet the only time it seems to come into play is when Cooksley wants to emphasize that the women are suffering because of cruel men.
DEVELOPMENT & PLOT
• Going back to my comment in the “Engagement & Enjoyment” section, I had expectations set due to the way that this story began. There was so much promise in the plot of this story, but it felt like it was simply doing nothing and going nowhere. I know that I missed out on the last third of the book, but the quality of the first 200 pages was so lackluster that I just couldn’t keep going.
• Nothing about this felt like the mystery that I thought it would be. Maybe that’s on me for misunderstanding the description and assuming this would actually be a mystery novel, but it's so not. Though there were brief moments of intrigue, the chapters always cut off just before things had the chance to get interesting, leaving this pacing and story utterly dull.
STYLE & STRUCTURE
• Cooksley's writing style isn’t bad, but unfortunately it's just not interesting. She clearly shows an understanding of structure (and upon researching her, she certainly has the experience to show as much), and yet this story was so dull and somewhat vague to me. It felt as if there was never enough detail to create an immersive world or interesting characters, and so the plot suffered from lacking those elements. It's just not clear to me what the goal of this book was, because all aspects of the writing were simply underwhelming for me.
R.E.A.D.S. SCORE
R: 2/10
E: 2/10
A: 2/10
D: 2/10
S: 3/10
Total: 2.20/10.00
June 20, 2025
The Surgeon’s House is the follow-up to The Small Museum. If you haven’t read the earlier book never fear because there is a generous amount of detail about previous events. On the other hand, if you have read the earlier book you’ll either find the lengthy exposition a useful recap or think, as I did, I already know all this.
The narrative alternates between Rebecca as she attempts to discover the person responsible for Rose’s murder, as well as safeguard the future of Evergreen, and Grace, confined to a mental institution for ten years now and saved from the gallows only by the evidence of her father’s assistant and one time protegee, Edward Threlfall.
In my review of The Small Museum, I likened Grace to Mrs Danvers in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. In this book she’s more like Miss Havisham in Dickens’s Great Expectations, consumed by a desire to wreak revenge on those who have wronged her. Grace prides herself on her ability to manipulate others and sees her daughter Eloise, who was sent abroad to be adopted, as the vehicle for delivering vengeance. She also retains a perverted obsession with proving her father’s theories correct, something that would mean continuing his vile experiments. And she is coldly indifferent to the fate of her two sons.
Rebecca has worked to make Evergreen a place where women can leave their unhappy pasts (abuse, prostitution, children out of wedlock) behind and learn skills that might enable them to gain employment. It’s a community that has become more like a family and Evergreen’s cook, Rose, was a key part of this. Her loss is keenly felt, especially by Rebecca. Unfortunately, not everyone shares Rebecca’s enlightened views. They believe women such as those who live at Evergreen to be degenerate and sinful, deserving only of being put to work in laundries and having their children sent away.
The story also explores the prejudiced views held at the time about women’s predisposition to mental breakdown. Dr Threlfall is an ‘alienist’ (what we’d now call a psychiatrist) who although using ‘talking therapies’ to treat female patients also clings to unproven concepts. ‘Women are closer to madness than men, and it’s easier for their minds to fall ill because their bodies are weak; they cannot hold up. Women also suffer in the mind from the nature of their physiognomy, it is constantly changing.’ There are unsettling descriptions of young women being forcibly bundled into Threlfall’s consulting rooms by male relatives.
I pretty much worked out where things were going as soon as a particular character turned up and as events unfolded my feeling I was right became even stronger. In fact, I thought it was so obvious I wondered if the author had creating a huge red herring and I’d fallen for it hook, line and sinker.
I would have liked Rebecca’s husband George to feature more prominently, although he does make a crucial intervention at one point. However, this is really Rebecca and Grace’s story. They’re both exceptionally determined women but their motivations couldn’t be more different: evil in Grace’s case and generosity of spirit in Rebecca’s.
For me, The Surgeon’s House lacked the compelling Gothic element of The Small Museum but it will, I’m sure, be a hit with many historical fiction fans.
The narrative alternates between Rebecca as she attempts to discover the person responsible for Rose’s murder, as well as safeguard the future of Evergreen, and Grace, confined to a mental institution for ten years now and saved from the gallows only by the evidence of her father’s assistant and one time protegee, Edward Threlfall.
In my review of The Small Museum, I likened Grace to Mrs Danvers in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. In this book she’s more like Miss Havisham in Dickens’s Great Expectations, consumed by a desire to wreak revenge on those who have wronged her. Grace prides herself on her ability to manipulate others and sees her daughter Eloise, who was sent abroad to be adopted, as the vehicle for delivering vengeance. She also retains a perverted obsession with proving her father’s theories correct, something that would mean continuing his vile experiments. And she is coldly indifferent to the fate of her two sons.
Rebecca has worked to make Evergreen a place where women can leave their unhappy pasts (abuse, prostitution, children out of wedlock) behind and learn skills that might enable them to gain employment. It’s a community that has become more like a family and Evergreen’s cook, Rose, was a key part of this. Her loss is keenly felt, especially by Rebecca. Unfortunately, not everyone shares Rebecca’s enlightened views. They believe women such as those who live at Evergreen to be degenerate and sinful, deserving only of being put to work in laundries and having their children sent away.
The story also explores the prejudiced views held at the time about women’s predisposition to mental breakdown. Dr Threlfall is an ‘alienist’ (what we’d now call a psychiatrist) who although using ‘talking therapies’ to treat female patients also clings to unproven concepts. ‘Women are closer to madness than men, and it’s easier for their minds to fall ill because their bodies are weak; they cannot hold up. Women also suffer in the mind from the nature of their physiognomy, it is constantly changing.’ There are unsettling descriptions of young women being forcibly bundled into Threlfall’s consulting rooms by male relatives.
I pretty much worked out where things were going as soon as a particular character turned up and as events unfolded my feeling I was right became even stronger. In fact, I thought it was so obvious I wondered if the author had creating a huge red herring and I’d fallen for it hook, line and sinker.
I would have liked Rebecca’s husband George to feature more prominently, although he does make a crucial intervention at one point. However, this is really Rebecca and Grace’s story. They’re both exceptionally determined women but their motivations couldn’t be more different: evil in Grace’s case and generosity of spirit in Rebecca’s.
For me, The Surgeon’s House lacked the compelling Gothic element of The Small Museum but it will, I’m sure, be a hit with many historical fiction fans.
May 23, 2025
Did not finish book. Stopped at 67%.
I really enjoyed The Small Museum but this book was so completely boring that I couldn’t continue.
I was nervous for a second that I might not remember enough from the first one to know where this one starts - but I shouldn’t have worried, because the plot of the first book is summarized about once a chapter. Each chapter is repetitive, with things getting progressively worse and worse for Rebecca and Grace, and yet nothing happens. The book starts with a MURDER and NOTHING HAPPENS.
One thing I didn’t care for in the first book is seemingly tripled-down on in this one is the fact that every man is downright rude. I understand the author wanted to showcase real conditions for women in this time period but it almost felt like trauma porn with the amount of misogynistic garbage they had to put up with.
Overall Jody Cooksley is a great writer but driving action is her weakness.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jody Cooksley, and Allison & Busby for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed The Small Museum but this book was so completely boring that I couldn’t continue.
I was nervous for a second that I might not remember enough from the first one to know where this one starts - but I shouldn’t have worried, because the plot of the first book is summarized about once a chapter. Each chapter is repetitive, with things getting progressively worse and worse for Rebecca and Grace, and yet nothing happens. The book starts with a MURDER and NOTHING HAPPENS.
One thing I didn’t care for in the first book is seemingly tripled-down on in this one is the fact that every man is downright rude. I understand the author wanted to showcase real conditions for women in this time period but it almost felt like trauma porn with the amount of misogynistic garbage they had to put up with.
Overall Jody Cooksley is a great writer but driving action is her weakness.
Thank you to NetGalley, Jody Cooksley, and Allison & Busby for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2025
RTC
Thank you Netgalley and Allison & Busby for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Release date : 22 May 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Allison & Busby for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Release date : 22 May 2025
March 28, 2025
The Surgeon’s House is a gothic historical mystery and a continuation of The Small Museum, Jody Cooksley's previous book. Set in early 1880s London, it follows Rebecca, the sister of The Small Museum’s protagonist, who runs a home for vulnerable and fallen women in Evergreen House. In the basement, Edward Threrfall—the alienist from the first book—maintains his office, continuing his ambiguous research. Even though Lucius and Grace, the siblings responsible for the crimes in The Small Museum, have been punished, the shadow of those events still lingers—especially when the house’s cook is murdered.
I enjoyed this book even more than The Small Museum, not just because I was already familiar with many of the characters, making it easy to dive back into their story. While the first book centered on a deeply disturbed sibling duo committing horrific acts, this installment, though it continues some of those themes, presents a more layered and intricate narrative. By introducing new characters and expanding on familiar ones, the author paints a broader portrait of a society shaped by rigid Victorian morality—one that left little room for empathy, particularly toward women. As a result, many characters in this book emerge as villains, wholly capable of inflicting suffering on defenseless women, even to the point of murder.
The mystery itself is well-constructed and convincing, seamlessly linking elements from the first book with new developments. While much of the resolution unfolds in the final chapters, the fact that nearly anyone could be a suspect keeps the tension high and the pages turning from the very beginning.
Beyond the mystery, the book is also a triumph of historical immersion. The author once again demonstrates her expertise in the Victorian era, weaving her knowledge into the narrative effortlessly. The result is an atmospheric and vividly realized setting that enhances the story at every turn.
Technically, one could read The Surgeon’s House without having finished The Small Museum, but I’d strongly recommend treating it as a sequel rather than a companion novel. The events of the first book provide crucial context, and not knowing them would mean missing out on much of the story’s depth.
Ultimately, The Surgeon’s House pulled me in, delivering everything I hope for in historical mystery fiction—a fast-paced plot, compelling characters, an authentic sense of time and place, and a well-crafted, satisfying intrigue. Highly recommended!
Thank you NetGalley and Allison & Busby for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this book even more than The Small Museum, not just because I was already familiar with many of the characters, making it easy to dive back into their story. While the first book centered on a deeply disturbed sibling duo committing horrific acts, this installment, though it continues some of those themes, presents a more layered and intricate narrative. By introducing new characters and expanding on familiar ones, the author paints a broader portrait of a society shaped by rigid Victorian morality—one that left little room for empathy, particularly toward women. As a result, many characters in this book emerge as villains, wholly capable of inflicting suffering on defenseless women, even to the point of murder.
The mystery itself is well-constructed and convincing, seamlessly linking elements from the first book with new developments. While much of the resolution unfolds in the final chapters, the fact that nearly anyone could be a suspect keeps the tension high and the pages turning from the very beginning.
Beyond the mystery, the book is also a triumph of historical immersion. The author once again demonstrates her expertise in the Victorian era, weaving her knowledge into the narrative effortlessly. The result is an atmospheric and vividly realized setting that enhances the story at every turn.
Technically, one could read The Surgeon’s House without having finished The Small Museum, but I’d strongly recommend treating it as a sequel rather than a companion novel. The events of the first book provide crucial context, and not knowing them would mean missing out on much of the story’s depth.
Ultimately, The Surgeon’s House pulled me in, delivering everything I hope for in historical mystery fiction—a fast-paced plot, compelling characters, an authentic sense of time and place, and a well-crafted, satisfying intrigue. Highly recommended!
Thank you NetGalley and Allison & Busby for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 11, 2025
I haven’t read any of Jody Cooksley’s previous novels, but loved the sound of her new one, The Surgeon’s House, described as a ‘thrilling Gothic historical mystery’. It’s a sequel to The Small Museum, which I wasn’t aware of until after I started reading, but I hoped that wouldn’t be a problem.
The book is set in 1883 and begins with the murder of Rose Parmiter, the cook at Evergreen House, a refuge for women and children run by Rebecca Harris and her husband, George. At first, Rebecca can’t understand why anyone would kill Rose – it seems completely senseless and inexplicable – but when more mysterious incidents follow, she begins to wonder whether the legacy of Evergreen’s former residents, the evil Dr Everley and his sister Grace, is casting a shadow over the house. But Everley is dead and Grace confined to an asylum, so how could they possibly have anything to do with the events of the present day?
Meanwhile, Rebecca is trying to concentrate on providing a safe and happy home for ‘fallen women’ and their illegitimate children, but she faces opposition from Mr Lavell of the Charity Board who insists she is being too lenient. He believes the children belong in an orphanage and the mothers should be made to study the Bible and take in laundry to pay for their bed and board. Rebecca is determined to prove that her method is better, but when more people are found dead at Evergreen House she begins to fear that this will give Mr Lavell an excuse to take control of the refuge for himself.
I found a lot of things to like about The Surgeon’s House, but it took me a long time to get into it because such a large portion of the first half of the book was devoted to filling the reader in on the plot of The Small Museum. It seemed to me that the author was more interested in explaining what happened in the previous novel, what the characters had been doing in the intervening years and how they had coped with their traumatic experiences than she was in moving forward with the plot of this novel. It made me think I should have just read The Small Museum instead. Things did eventually start to move on, though, and by the middle of the book it had become much more compelling.
The setting was interesting as it reminded me a lot of Urania Cottage, the women’s shelter founded by Charles Dickens and Angela Burdett-Coutts which Stacey Halls wrote about in her recent novel, The Household – and I think if you liked that book, there’s a good chance you’ll like this one as well. Rebecca’s conflict with Mr Lavell forms a big part of the story, as she tries to keep her vision for Evergreen House alive despite his insistence that it should be run on the same model as the notorious Magdalene Laundries (which again reminded me of another book I’ve read, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan).
The mystery element of the book, as I’ve said, was slow to develop at first but became stronger later on. There are some chapters written from the perspective of Grace in her asylum and we also meet Dr Threlfall, a psychiatrist who has a ‘clinic’ in the basement of Evergreen House where he is carrying out research and experiments. It’s an interesting novel, then, with lots of different threads to it, but I felt that these threads didn’t all come together as well as they could have done. It’s possible that I would have enjoyed this book more if I’d already read the first one, so it hasn’t necessarily put me off reading more of Jody Cooksley’s work.
The book is set in 1883 and begins with the murder of Rose Parmiter, the cook at Evergreen House, a refuge for women and children run by Rebecca Harris and her husband, George. At first, Rebecca can’t understand why anyone would kill Rose – it seems completely senseless and inexplicable – but when more mysterious incidents follow, she begins to wonder whether the legacy of Evergreen’s former residents, the evil Dr Everley and his sister Grace, is casting a shadow over the house. But Everley is dead and Grace confined to an asylum, so how could they possibly have anything to do with the events of the present day?
Meanwhile, Rebecca is trying to concentrate on providing a safe and happy home for ‘fallen women’ and their illegitimate children, but she faces opposition from Mr Lavell of the Charity Board who insists she is being too lenient. He believes the children belong in an orphanage and the mothers should be made to study the Bible and take in laundry to pay for their bed and board. Rebecca is determined to prove that her method is better, but when more people are found dead at Evergreen House she begins to fear that this will give Mr Lavell an excuse to take control of the refuge for himself.
I found a lot of things to like about The Surgeon’s House, but it took me a long time to get into it because such a large portion of the first half of the book was devoted to filling the reader in on the plot of The Small Museum. It seemed to me that the author was more interested in explaining what happened in the previous novel, what the characters had been doing in the intervening years and how they had coped with their traumatic experiences than she was in moving forward with the plot of this novel. It made me think I should have just read The Small Museum instead. Things did eventually start to move on, though, and by the middle of the book it had become much more compelling.
The setting was interesting as it reminded me a lot of Urania Cottage, the women’s shelter founded by Charles Dickens and Angela Burdett-Coutts which Stacey Halls wrote about in her recent novel, The Household – and I think if you liked that book, there’s a good chance you’ll like this one as well. Rebecca’s conflict with Mr Lavell forms a big part of the story, as she tries to keep her vision for Evergreen House alive despite his insistence that it should be run on the same model as the notorious Magdalene Laundries (which again reminded me of another book I’ve read, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan).
The mystery element of the book, as I’ve said, was slow to develop at first but became stronger later on. There are some chapters written from the perspective of Grace in her asylum and we also meet Dr Threlfall, a psychiatrist who has a ‘clinic’ in the basement of Evergreen House where he is carrying out research and experiments. It’s an interesting novel, then, with lots of different threads to it, but I felt that these threads didn’t all come together as well as they could have done. It’s possible that I would have enjoyed this book more if I’d already read the first one, so it hasn’t necessarily put me off reading more of Jody Cooksley’s work.
March 29, 2025
Set in Victorian London, The Surgeon's House by Jody Cooksley is a historical mystery that combines themes of morality, science, and societal norms. The story follows Rebecca Harris, the resilient owner of Evergreen House—a safe haven for women and children. When Rose Parmiter, the house's cook, is brutally murdered, Rebecca is pulled into a terrifying investigation. With mysterious deaths piling up and ghosts from the past reappearing, Rebecca must confront external dangers as well as the dark history of the Everly family.
Rebecca is an engaging lead character whose compassion and determination drive the story. Her journey involves both external conflicts and internal struggles against societal biases and personal insecurities. The other characters, including the mysterious Edward Threlfall and various members of Victorian society, add depth and intrigue to the plot. Their layered motives keep readers engaged and curious about their secrets.
The novel's themes resonate strongly with contemporary issues despite its historical setting. The exploration of patriarchal oppression, the tension between scientific progress and morality, and the enduring impact of trauma are handled with nuance. These ideas invite readers to reflect on how far society has come—or not—in addressing such challenges.
Cooksley's writing is evocative and detailed, bringing the eerie atmosphere of Evergreen House to life. The story moves smoothly between tense moments and introspection, balancing suspense with emotion. The house itself feels like a character with a strong sense of foreboding.
The book's standout feature is its ability to evoke various emotions—sadness, hope—while maintaining suspense. However, the pacing slows down at times, and some subplots could have been resolved more clearly.
What makes The Surgeon's House special is its combination of historical accuracy and timeless human experiences. It stands out in its genre by offering more than just a mystery; it's also a reflection on resilience and redemption. The themes will stick with readers long after they finish the book. This novel is entertaining and encourages us to consider how we face our past and create safe spaces for those who need them.
Rebecca is an engaging lead character whose compassion and determination drive the story. Her journey involves both external conflicts and internal struggles against societal biases and personal insecurities. The other characters, including the mysterious Edward Threlfall and various members of Victorian society, add depth and intrigue to the plot. Their layered motives keep readers engaged and curious about their secrets.
The novel's themes resonate strongly with contemporary issues despite its historical setting. The exploration of patriarchal oppression, the tension between scientific progress and morality, and the enduring impact of trauma are handled with nuance. These ideas invite readers to reflect on how far society has come—or not—in addressing such challenges.
Cooksley's writing is evocative and detailed, bringing the eerie atmosphere of Evergreen House to life. The story moves smoothly between tense moments and introspection, balancing suspense with emotion. The house itself feels like a character with a strong sense of foreboding.
The book's standout feature is its ability to evoke various emotions—sadness, hope—while maintaining suspense. However, the pacing slows down at times, and some subplots could have been resolved more clearly.
What makes The Surgeon's House special is its combination of historical accuracy and timeless human experiences. It stands out in its genre by offering more than just a mystery; it's also a reflection on resilience and redemption. The themes will stick with readers long after they finish the book. This novel is entertaining and encourages us to consider how we face our past and create safe spaces for those who need them.
May 23, 2025
Discover the locations in the novel here
A gothic treat.
Gothic, dark, disturbingly good and many spooky moment in mortuaries
A great gothic read this one. full of drama and darkness. The second in the series, it's a standalone too but you get so much more if you have been on the journey in The Small Museum.
Evergreen as the home for abused women is a setting I shall never forget. Was I ready to return after the horrors found in the museum ( artefacts not the book!) well, yes, and it was a gothically gruesome experience that I loved!
May 16, 2025
The Surgeon’s House is a slow-burning gothic mystery that excels in atmosphere but didn’t quite grip me the way I hoped. The setting—Evergreen House in Victorian London—is richly drawn and laced with an eerie tension that lingers throughout. Jody Cooksley clearly has a gift for creating mood and exploring darker historical themes, particularly around women’s roles and hidden trauma.
Rebecca Harris is a strong and sympathetic protagonist, and I appreciated the way her compassion and strength anchor the story. The murder mystery element, while intriguing, sometimes got a little lost in the many layers of backstory and family secrets. At times, I felt the pacing dragged and some plot threads were left a bit underdeveloped or unresolved by the end.
That said, the writing is lyrical and thoughtful, and fans of slow, atmospheric gothic fiction will likely enjoy the immersive experience. While it didn’t fully land for me, I can still appreciate the care and craft behind it—and I’m curious to see what Cooksley writes next.
Rebecca Harris is a strong and sympathetic protagonist, and I appreciated the way her compassion and strength anchor the story. The murder mystery element, while intriguing, sometimes got a little lost in the many layers of backstory and family secrets. At times, I felt the pacing dragged and some plot threads were left a bit underdeveloped or unresolved by the end.
That said, the writing is lyrical and thoughtful, and fans of slow, atmospheric gothic fiction will likely enjoy the immersive experience. While it didn’t fully land for me, I can still appreciate the care and craft behind it—and I’m curious to see what Cooksley writes next.
April 23, 2025
A great and suspenseful novel which had me gripped up to the end! I have not read the first book, I did not need to, but I will as I definitely want to know what led to this second book. I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed reading about what was done (or not) to help vulnerable women. The storyline was rather creepy with the murders and the experiences done in the past (still happening?), but also very well done. I started guessing some facts but nearly at the very end.... This is the kind of novel you don't want to put down before the conclusion.... I loved it!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
July 8, 2025
An atmospheric, gothic historical novel that I’m sure I would’ve enjoyed more if I’d read The Small Museum. (I didn’t know there was a previous book) This book follows on about 10 years later and is quite slow moving but I found it an interesting read.
February 11, 2026
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Surgeon's House' by Jody Cooksley
This is the first book I have read by this brilliant author but it definitely will not be my last! It is also a follow up book to Jody's 'The Small Museum' but can be read as a standalone. I cannot wait to get sucked straight into it considering how amazing this book was!!
I will start by admitting that this book is not my usual choice of book being historical based so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the storyline but I was fascinated by the absolutely captivating and stunning cover and synopsis and was looking forward to trying it out!! The fact that it is a crime/mystery/gothic historical fiction also peaked my interest as I love those types of books but don't often read historical ones so I could not wait to get stuck in! Needless to say I am so pleased that I gave this book a go as I absolutely LOVED it!! I'm always a bit dubious with books based historically as I worry about not being able to 'deal' with the language used but I absolutely love how Jody has written this book. The language used is perfectly suited to the era whilst being easy to read.
GRAB YOUR COPY OF THIS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING GOTHIC MASTERPIECE AND YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!! AN ABSOLUTELY ADDICTIVE BEAUTY FILLED WITH EVERY GENRE YOU COULD ASK FOR AND SO MUCH MORE!!
Firstly let's start off with the writing style, etc!! An extremely beautifully well written book by this amazing author which had me hook line and sinker!!! It is so smoothly and fantastically written with vivid evocative descriptions I completely forgot I was even reading a book a few times as Jody really did transport me to London, England and back to the year 1883 where I could see everything and everyone come to life around me. As you may be able to tell I LOVED this absolutely gripping, gothic and addictive storyline. I found it to be realistic and I read it in a day after several attempts at telling myself 'just one more chapter' which just was not happening!! I loved the setting and atmosphere and just well... Everything!!! Its so hard to NOT say anything about them as it will give too much away and spoilt it for future readers!!! The fact that I was dubious with it being historical based makes the fact that I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it even better!!! It really is a mix of genres from history to crime, romance to gothic fiction, contemporary fiction to mystery and everything in between and it has something for everyone hidden in the pages. With a storyline ram packed with a sanctuary for unwanted women and children, murder, revenge, secrets, heartache, hope, danger, suspicion, drama, mystery, crime, history, emotions, psychology, suspense, suspicion, authenticity and so much more you will love this page turning historical thriller, I can guarantee it!! Even if you are not a fan of history then I really do recommend that you pick this up and expand your literature genre today and you may even discover a new favourite author just like I have!! This is a follow up book to 'The Small Museum' but it can be read on it's own without any confusion as I did. I would always recommend reading books in a series in order. However, if you start with this beauty, and nobody could blame you with its absolutely stunning cover, then have no fear!! After you have finished this beauty and fallen in love, like I did and you will, you can go back and read 'The Small Museum' while you are waiting for Jody to bring more books out!! I really am hoping that she will continue writing more books in this "series" as I absolutely fell in love with Evergreen House and its characters and would love to see how each one continues in their lives regardless of how this brilliant book ended. I wont say any more about that as I do not want to risk ruining it for future readers but once you have read it I am sure you will feel the same! I cannot wait to get my hands on 'The Small Museum' and seeing how Evergreen House has started especially considering the information about its history in this book. It promises to be an absolutely addictive read just like this one was! I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting. there was just so much going on that each chapter ended in a way that I just HAD to know what was going to happen next. There was no way there was ever going to be "just one more" so make sure you clear your schedules!! Jody's stunning evocative writing skills ensures you are dragged deep into the storyline seeing everything that is happening and feeling the tension, pain, emotions and suspense that each of the characters were going through while flying through the pages. There are several things going on to keep the reader hooked throughout and I absolutely flew through the pages!! I can't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers so if you want to know you'll have to grab yourself a copy!! You won't regret it!!
CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES AS ONCE YOU TURN THE FIRST PAGE YOU WILL BE HOOKED AND LOST IN LONDON IN 1883!!
I became completely invested in each and every one of the characters regardless of how I felt about them I just had to know what each was going to do next and discover who was hiding what. Just like with the storyline the characters come to life with Jody's evocative writing skills. They are well rounded, realistic and strong making them all the more believable. All the characters may are realistic but they were not all likeable and this is one of those addictive books where you have no idea which characters are telling the truth, what secrets they are hiding or what is really going on. I won't go into more details about the characters as I don't want to risk giving anything away but yet again Jody really has done an amazing job constructing an addictive and explosive historical/gothic crime thriller/mystery that you just won't be able to put down. Regardless whether you love or hate the characters each of them comes to life and had a part to play, which they did perfectly!!
Congratulations Jody on an absolutely fantastic, beautiful, gothic, gripping page turning success!!! I am definitely looking forward to reading more of your books and hope you are busy writing them as I am typing this!! An absolutely BRILLIANTLY addictive book! Welcome to my favourite author club and here is to many, many more guaranteed successes!!!
Clear your schedules before picking this up as you will not be able to put it down!!!
Overall an absolutely page turning, addictive, gripping, gothic must read masterpiece that will keep you hooked!!!
@JodyCooksley @jrcbooks @jcooksleyauthor @jodycooksleyauthor @AlisonAndBusby
#TheSurgeonsHouse #JodyCooksley #AlisonAndBusby #Bookstagram
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Review for 'The Surgeon's House' by Jody Cooksley
This is the first book I have read by this brilliant author but it definitely will not be my last! It is also a follow up book to Jody's 'The Small Museum' but can be read as a standalone. I cannot wait to get sucked straight into it considering how amazing this book was!!
I will start by admitting that this book is not my usual choice of book being historical based so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the storyline but I was fascinated by the absolutely captivating and stunning cover and synopsis and was looking forward to trying it out!! The fact that it is a crime/mystery/gothic historical fiction also peaked my interest as I love those types of books but don't often read historical ones so I could not wait to get stuck in! Needless to say I am so pleased that I gave this book a go as I absolutely LOVED it!! I'm always a bit dubious with books based historically as I worry about not being able to 'deal' with the language used but I absolutely love how Jody has written this book. The language used is perfectly suited to the era whilst being easy to read.
GRAB YOUR COPY OF THIS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING GOTHIC MASTERPIECE AND YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!! AN ABSOLUTELY ADDICTIVE BEAUTY FILLED WITH EVERY GENRE YOU COULD ASK FOR AND SO MUCH MORE!!
Firstly let's start off with the writing style, etc!! An extremely beautifully well written book by this amazing author which had me hook line and sinker!!! It is so smoothly and fantastically written with vivid evocative descriptions I completely forgot I was even reading a book a few times as Jody really did transport me to London, England and back to the year 1883 where I could see everything and everyone come to life around me. As you may be able to tell I LOVED this absolutely gripping, gothic and addictive storyline. I found it to be realistic and I read it in a day after several attempts at telling myself 'just one more chapter' which just was not happening!! I loved the setting and atmosphere and just well... Everything!!! Its so hard to NOT say anything about them as it will give too much away and spoilt it for future readers!!! The fact that I was dubious with it being historical based makes the fact that I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it even better!!! It really is a mix of genres from history to crime, romance to gothic fiction, contemporary fiction to mystery and everything in between and it has something for everyone hidden in the pages. With a storyline ram packed with a sanctuary for unwanted women and children, murder, revenge, secrets, heartache, hope, danger, suspicion, drama, mystery, crime, history, emotions, psychology, suspense, suspicion, authenticity and so much more you will love this page turning historical thriller, I can guarantee it!! Even if you are not a fan of history then I really do recommend that you pick this up and expand your literature genre today and you may even discover a new favourite author just like I have!! This is a follow up book to 'The Small Museum' but it can be read on it's own without any confusion as I did. I would always recommend reading books in a series in order. However, if you start with this beauty, and nobody could blame you with its absolutely stunning cover, then have no fear!! After you have finished this beauty and fallen in love, like I did and you will, you can go back and read 'The Small Museum' while you are waiting for Jody to bring more books out!! I really am hoping that she will continue writing more books in this "series" as I absolutely fell in love with Evergreen House and its characters and would love to see how each one continues in their lives regardless of how this brilliant book ended. I wont say any more about that as I do not want to risk ruining it for future readers but once you have read it I am sure you will feel the same! I cannot wait to get my hands on 'The Small Museum' and seeing how Evergreen House has started especially considering the information about its history in this book. It promises to be an absolutely addictive read just like this one was! I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting. there was just so much going on that each chapter ended in a way that I just HAD to know what was going to happen next. There was no way there was ever going to be "just one more" so make sure you clear your schedules!! Jody's stunning evocative writing skills ensures you are dragged deep into the storyline seeing everything that is happening and feeling the tension, pain, emotions and suspense that each of the characters were going through while flying through the pages. There are several things going on to keep the reader hooked throughout and I absolutely flew through the pages!! I can't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers so if you want to know you'll have to grab yourself a copy!! You won't regret it!!
CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES AS ONCE YOU TURN THE FIRST PAGE YOU WILL BE HOOKED AND LOST IN LONDON IN 1883!!
I became completely invested in each and every one of the characters regardless of how I felt about them I just had to know what each was going to do next and discover who was hiding what. Just like with the storyline the characters come to life with Jody's evocative writing skills. They are well rounded, realistic and strong making them all the more believable. All the characters may are realistic but they were not all likeable and this is one of those addictive books where you have no idea which characters are telling the truth, what secrets they are hiding or what is really going on. I won't go into more details about the characters as I don't want to risk giving anything away but yet again Jody really has done an amazing job constructing an addictive and explosive historical/gothic crime thriller/mystery that you just won't be able to put down. Regardless whether you love or hate the characters each of them comes to life and had a part to play, which they did perfectly!!
Congratulations Jody on an absolutely fantastic, beautiful, gothic, gripping page turning success!!! I am definitely looking forward to reading more of your books and hope you are busy writing them as I am typing this!! An absolutely BRILLIANTLY addictive book! Welcome to my favourite author club and here is to many, many more guaranteed successes!!!
Clear your schedules before picking this up as you will not be able to put it down!!!
Overall an absolutely page turning, addictive, gripping, gothic must read masterpiece that will keep you hooked!!!
@JodyCooksley @jrcbooks @jcooksleyauthor @jodycooksleyauthor @AlisonAndBusby
#TheSurgeonsHouse #JodyCooksley #AlisonAndBusby #Bookstagram
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https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
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May 24, 2025
I came to this book immediately after reading the previous one, with high hopes.
Which sadly, didn't last. This book opened strong with a death that so many wanted to dismiss as being just another 'unfortunate', but one in which our MFC was determined to honour. Rebecca is a great main character, a woman who has seen more than her fair share of misery and worked so hard, so fiercely, to craft a little place of warmth within a cold world, a beacon of hope. She refuses to accept her friend 'deserved' to die and wants to find the truth. Which is such a solid opening.
And then it went a little off the rails. The book just seems to be misery upon misery. Every male character is horrible, every chapter things get a little bit worse for the women and I know Victorian England was hard, moreso for the so called 'fallen' women, but for there to be not a spark of decently among the characters outside of the house was a hard thing to deal with.
It was never explained why the second death happened - two vague motives are offered, neither of which make total sense and its never stated which was the right one.
I was somewhat confused by the timeline in the Grace chapters. I understand she's insane and thus an unreliable narrator, but she is thinking these things to herself, not saying them and she's thinking she needs to do things that she must have already done. Time seems to jump around in there as well. I will say this though, despite how much of a horrible human being Grace is, the author made her almost deserving of sympathy by the end of it - or at least, she has peeled back the layers to explain the why and pity cannot help but blossom. Grace was a great character.
There was little to no let up of the grimly relentless pressure. I can think of only one chapter where there was light and good, and that was followed instantly by the worst thing. I think the chapters with Maddie were meant to be light, but as we were constantly being reminded of her past, it was anything but. Which leads me into the past, the previous book. So much was left as maybe, as ghosts but in this, the author has gone out of her way to implicitly state what happened and it made it lesser somehow.
A depressing read that in the last handful of chapters suddenly turned around and offered a happy ending. It was improbable, but at this point I was just glad that the misery was over, I didn't care about it being unrealistic, I just wanted them to be happy after everything they had survived. And we can close the book knowing that those who made it, will be very happy indeed.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
Which sadly, didn't last. This book opened strong with a death that so many wanted to dismiss as being just another 'unfortunate', but one in which our MFC was determined to honour. Rebecca is a great main character, a woman who has seen more than her fair share of misery and worked so hard, so fiercely, to craft a little place of warmth within a cold world, a beacon of hope. She refuses to accept her friend 'deserved' to die and wants to find the truth. Which is such a solid opening.
And then it went a little off the rails. The book just seems to be misery upon misery. Every male character is horrible, every chapter things get a little bit worse for the women and I know Victorian England was hard, moreso for the so called 'fallen' women, but for there to be not a spark of decently among the characters outside of the house was a hard thing to deal with.
It was never explained why the second death happened - two vague motives are offered, neither of which make total sense and its never stated which was the right one.
I was somewhat confused by the timeline in the Grace chapters. I understand she's insane and thus an unreliable narrator, but she is thinking these things to herself, not saying them and she's thinking she needs to do things that she must have already done. Time seems to jump around in there as well. I will say this though, despite how much of a horrible human being Grace is, the author made her almost deserving of sympathy by the end of it - or at least, she has peeled back the layers to explain the why and pity cannot help but blossom. Grace was a great character.
There was little to no let up of the grimly relentless pressure. I can think of only one chapter where there was light and good, and that was followed instantly by the worst thing. I think the chapters with Maddie were meant to be light, but as we were constantly being reminded of her past, it was anything but. Which leads me into the past, the previous book. So much was left as maybe, as ghosts but in this, the author has gone out of her way to implicitly state what happened and it made it lesser somehow.
A depressing read that in the last handful of chapters suddenly turned around and offered a happy ending. It was improbable, but at this point I was just glad that the misery was over, I didn't care about it being unrealistic, I just wanted them to be happy after everything they had survived. And we can close the book knowing that those who made it, will be very happy indeed.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
January 23, 2026
Title: The Surgeon’s House
Author: Jody Cooksley
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Format: Paperback (out 22 January 2026)
Thank you so much to Jody Cooksley and Allison & Busby for my fab book mail – returning to Evergreen House in this sequel was exactly the dark, gothic escape I was hoping for.
Set in London, 1883, The Surgeon’s House picks up the threads from The Small Museum and tightens them into something even more ominous and emotionally charged. Evergreen House, now a refuge for “fallen” women and their children, is supposed to be a place of second chances – until the brutal murder of beloved cook Rose Parmiter shatters that fragile sense of safety.
From there, the story descends into a deeply unsettling Gothic mystery as Rebecca Harris, proprietor of Evergreen House, must confront not only the immediate threat but also the festering legacy of the Everley family, whose long-buried sins still seep from the walls. The unnerving sense that the house itself remembers—and resents—what has transpired within its rooms lends the entire novel a suffocating, haunted atmosphere that captures the Victorian Gothic mood with chilling precision.
Rebecca makes for a compelling, stubbornly hopeful heroine: caught between patriarchal scrutiny, moral hypocrisy, and a society obsessed with science and respectability, she is still determined to protect the women and children in her care. Her relationship with George, and the fragile community they have built at Evergreen, adds a thread of warmth that stops the book tipping into pure despair, even as the body count rises and the threats close in.
This is a harsh, unflinching read; scenes of cruelty and injustice lay bare the stark imbalances of power in Victorian society, especially for vulnerable women and children
The atmosphere is where the novel truly dazzles: shadow-drenched corridors, furtive conspiracies, so-called medical “advances” concealing quiet horrors, and an unshakeable awareness of how easily these women can be discarded. Yet running through all that darkness is a defiant thread of hope – the sense that solidarity, courage, and an unblinking commitment to the truth still have the power to change everything.
If you’re in the mood for a grim, gripping Victorian Gothic mystery with a fiercely determined heroine, a genuinely unsettling antagonist and a house steeped in blood and secrets, The Surgeon’s House is an excellent choice – and a hugely satisfying return to Evergreen House.
Thank you so much to Jody Cooksley and Allison & Busby for my fab book mail – returning to Evergreen House in this sequel was exactly the dark, gothic escape I was hoping for.
Set in London, 1883, The Surgeon’s House picks up the threads from The Small Museum and tightens them into something even more ominous and emotionally charged. Evergreen House, now a refuge for “fallen” women and their children, is supposed to be a place of second chances – until the brutal murder of beloved cook Rose Parmiter shatters that fragile sense of safety.
From there, the story descends into a deeply unsettling Gothic mystery as Rebecca Harris, proprietor of Evergreen House, must confront not only the immediate threat but also the festering legacy of the Everley family, whose long-buried sins still seep from the walls. The unnerving sense that the house itself remembers—and resents—what has transpired within its rooms lends the entire novel a suffocating, haunted atmosphere that captures the Victorian Gothic mood with chilling precision.
Rebecca makes for a compelling, stubbornly hopeful heroine: caught between patriarchal scrutiny, moral hypocrisy, and a society obsessed with science and respectability, she is still determined to protect the women and children in her care. Her relationship with George, and the fragile community they have built at Evergreen, adds a thread of warmth that stops the book tipping into pure despair, even as the body count rises and the threats close in.
This is a harsh, unflinching read; scenes of cruelty and injustice lay bare the stark imbalances of power in Victorian society, especially for vulnerable women and children
The atmosphere is where the novel truly dazzles: shadow-drenched corridors, furtive conspiracies, so-called medical “advances” concealing quiet horrors, and an unshakeable awareness of how easily these women can be discarded. Yet running through all that darkness is a defiant thread of hope – the sense that solidarity, courage, and an unblinking commitment to the truth still have the power to change everything.
If you’re in the mood for a grim, gripping Victorian Gothic mystery with a fiercely determined heroine, a genuinely unsettling antagonist and a house steeped in blood and secrets, The Surgeon’s House is an excellent choice – and a hugely satisfying return to Evergreen House.
May 8, 2025
It will be hard to replace Rose, the cook of Evergreen House, after she was murdered, because Evergreen is not a normal household. Rebecca and George Harris run Evergreen as a home for unmarried mothers and their children, an unusual activity in 1883, and something which the authorities would like to close as an afront to morality. Such mothers should be incarcerated and working in a Magdalen Laundry; such children should be in an orphanage or workhouse. The house is technically the property of the Everley family, but the former occupants, Dr Everley and his son Lucius, had been hanged for torturing and murdering fallen women and their babies in an attempt to understand the cause of ‘pain’. His daughter Grace, a willing partner, is now in an insane asylum, but plots revenge on Rose and her sister Maddie for causing their downfall. The absence of a cook is a chink which the authorities might use to find cause to shut the place, but fortunately a new cook is found. Another doctor, an alienist ( i.e. psychiatrist) now occupies the basement, pursuing the same research goal, but by non-lethal means, it is assumed. He is still associated with Grace.
This is a sequel to the author’s earlier novel “A Small Museum”, but can be read as a standalone since all necessary background is presented. The story is told from the perspectives of Rose and Grace, and is very introspective, perhaps too heavily as this is the main way of filling in the previous history. As a historical story, it works quite well, the language mostly sounds authentic, the environmental descriptions are evocative, and discussion of societies attitude to women is almost polemic. As a murder-mystery, it is a bit obvious and I think it felt like the timeline was confused to provide a layer of obfuscation which the plot otherwise lacked. Overall, therefore, although it was good on the historical side it was disappointing on the mystery side, which is my focus, and I’ve rated it accordingly.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
This is a sequel to the author’s earlier novel “A Small Museum”, but can be read as a standalone since all necessary background is presented. The story is told from the perspectives of Rose and Grace, and is very introspective, perhaps too heavily as this is the main way of filling in the previous history. As a historical story, it works quite well, the language mostly sounds authentic, the environmental descriptions are evocative, and discussion of societies attitude to women is almost polemic. As a murder-mystery, it is a bit obvious and I think it felt like the timeline was confused to provide a layer of obfuscation which the plot otherwise lacked. Overall, therefore, although it was good on the historical side it was disappointing on the mystery side, which is my focus, and I’ve rated it accordingly.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
February 25, 2026
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Surgeon's House is an engaging historical mystery and the sequel to The Small Museum by Jody Cooksley. Released 22nd May 2025 by Allison & Busby, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
Although undoubtedly fairly accurate with regard to social restrictions, sexism, and rigid class divisions, it's relentlessly depressing. Hannah Arendt was entirely spot on when she coined the phrase "the banality of evil" (she was talking about Eichmann, but the phrase is also quite apt here). The male characters are universally bad, mostly incompetent small minded and mean spirited. The women are hounded from pillar to post by circumstances beyond their control. When the resolution and denouement occur, although self-contained in this volume, they failed to entirely satisfy.
The pacing is... sedate. The characters are a mixed bag; some are well fleshed out and believable, others seem more like mostly 2 dimensional plot devices. It must be said the author is extremely gifted, often the descriptive prose is beautifully rendered and inviting.
Definitely one for fans of historical fiction/thrillers. There is a fair bit of continuity from the first book, and although this one can be read as a standalone, there's a large-ish portion of the plot which follows from the first book, and thus there will be some spoilers if read out of order.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours, 21 minutes and is capably read by Jessica Whittaker and Louise Williams. They do a good job with the disparate regional accents and a range of ages. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.
Three stars. Readable, stately paced, and depressingly accurate.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Surgeon's House is an engaging historical mystery and the sequel to The Small Museum by Jody Cooksley. Released 22nd May 2025 by Allison & Busby, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.
Although undoubtedly fairly accurate with regard to social restrictions, sexism, and rigid class divisions, it's relentlessly depressing. Hannah Arendt was entirely spot on when she coined the phrase "the banality of evil" (she was talking about Eichmann, but the phrase is also quite apt here). The male characters are universally bad, mostly incompetent small minded and mean spirited. The women are hounded from pillar to post by circumstances beyond their control. When the resolution and denouement occur, although self-contained in this volume, they failed to entirely satisfy.
The pacing is... sedate. The characters are a mixed bag; some are well fleshed out and believable, others seem more like mostly 2 dimensional plot devices. It must be said the author is extremely gifted, often the descriptive prose is beautifully rendered and inviting.
Definitely one for fans of historical fiction/thrillers. There is a fair bit of continuity from the first book, and although this one can be read as a standalone, there's a large-ish portion of the plot which follows from the first book, and thus there will be some spoilers if read out of order.
The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours, 21 minutes and is capably read by Jessica Whittaker and Louise Williams. They do a good job with the disparate regional accents and a range of ages. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.
Three stars. Readable, stately paced, and depressingly accurate.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
May 3, 2025
London, 1883. The body of Rose Parmiter is found—murdered. But who would want to kill Rose? She was well-liked, a steady presence as the cook at Evergreen House, a home for single mothers who’d otherwise be cast out into a life of poverty, drink, or prostitution. Run by George and Rebecca Harris, Evergreen House offers these women a rare second chance.
This is a beautifully written Gothic mystery, set in a time when options for women were few and unforgiving. It sharply captures the struggles many faced and the fragile sanctuaries they tried to build.
What I hadn’t realised at first was that this book is a follow-up to The Small Museum. While it reads well as a standalone, I feel it would have been even more rewarding to have read the previous novel first. There are references and background elements that might have added more depth had I been familiar with the earlier story.
The narrative alternates between Rebecca Harris at Evergreen House and Grace Everley, a woman locked away in an asylum and bent on revenge. Their voices are distinct, and each brings a different kind of tension and urgency to the story.
One particularly eerie character is Edward Threfall, an alienist who operates a private clinic in Evergreen House’s basement. Is he truly trying to help—or is there something darker going on beneath the surface?
After Rose’s murder, the home’s future is under threat, and more tragedies follow. There are plenty of red herrings and shifting suspicions to keep the reader guessing, and the final reveal is cleverly held until the closing chapters.
This is an atmospheric and immersive novel. The writing vividly evokes Victorian London and the limited roles women could inhabit. With its fast-paced plot, compelling characters—some likable, others not—and strong sense of mystery, this book is both a gripping read and a poignant reflection on a difficult era.
This is a beautifully written Gothic mystery, set in a time when options for women were few and unforgiving. It sharply captures the struggles many faced and the fragile sanctuaries they tried to build.
What I hadn’t realised at first was that this book is a follow-up to The Small Museum. While it reads well as a standalone, I feel it would have been even more rewarding to have read the previous novel first. There are references and background elements that might have added more depth had I been familiar with the earlier story.
The narrative alternates between Rebecca Harris at Evergreen House and Grace Everley, a woman locked away in an asylum and bent on revenge. Their voices are distinct, and each brings a different kind of tension and urgency to the story.
One particularly eerie character is Edward Threfall, an alienist who operates a private clinic in Evergreen House’s basement. Is he truly trying to help—or is there something darker going on beneath the surface?
After Rose’s murder, the home’s future is under threat, and more tragedies follow. There are plenty of red herrings and shifting suspicions to keep the reader guessing, and the final reveal is cleverly held until the closing chapters.
This is an atmospheric and immersive novel. The writing vividly evokes Victorian London and the limited roles women could inhabit. With its fast-paced plot, compelling characters—some likable, others not—and strong sense of mystery, this book is both a gripping read and a poignant reflection on a difficult era.
May 13, 2025
I didn’t realise that this was a companion book to the previous novel, The Small Museum, so the story was confusing at first.
Evergreen House was once the location for despicable and inhumane experiments performed upon both animals and humans by Dr Everley.
Maddie was his long suffering wife, and suffered greatly from both his deeds and the treatment shown to her by his sister, Grace, who is now in an asylum, she escaped punishment due to mental illness . Maddie gave Evergreen House to her sister, Rebecca and George her brother in law
and they have turned a place of evil into a happy, safe and welcoming home for unmarried women and their children, where they can be educated and learn employment skills, much like the ideas of Mr Charles Dickens, he also believed in these places as being beneficial to Fallen Women, and he knew the low regard that society placed upon the female sex in particular.
I liked the sense of good works in this field being undertaken, almost as a penance in this case.
There was a sense of dread and a subdued atmosphere throughout this novel, but not in the way that a true Victorian Gothic thriller should be.
I liked the Asylum scenes, Grace was a chilling , manipulative and strong willed character, deluded and devious to the end.
The house did manage to lose its malign influences in the end, but the deaths were a loss to the story. I had the sense that the book was rushed, and it fell flat in some areas, almost like all the best ideas had already been used up.
I rated it as a three star read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Allison and Busby for my advanced copy, freely given in return for my honest review. I will leave copies to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.
Evergreen House was once the location for despicable and inhumane experiments performed upon both animals and humans by Dr Everley.
Maddie was his long suffering wife, and suffered greatly from both his deeds and the treatment shown to her by his sister, Grace, who is now in an asylum, she escaped punishment due to mental illness . Maddie gave Evergreen House to her sister, Rebecca and George her brother in law
and they have turned a place of evil into a happy, safe and welcoming home for unmarried women and their children, where they can be educated and learn employment skills, much like the ideas of Mr Charles Dickens, he also believed in these places as being beneficial to Fallen Women, and he knew the low regard that society placed upon the female sex in particular.
I liked the sense of good works in this field being undertaken, almost as a penance in this case.
There was a sense of dread and a subdued atmosphere throughout this novel, but not in the way that a true Victorian Gothic thriller should be.
I liked the Asylum scenes, Grace was a chilling , manipulative and strong willed character, deluded and devious to the end.
The house did manage to lose its malign influences in the end, but the deaths were a loss to the story. I had the sense that the book was rushed, and it fell flat in some areas, almost like all the best ideas had already been used up.
I rated it as a three star read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Allison and Busby for my advanced copy, freely given in return for my honest review. I will leave copies to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.
May 9, 2025
This was a gripping historical mystery set in a large victorian house, in London, in 1883.
Evergreen House is a home for unmarried women and their children. The house is run as a charity under the supervision of Rebecca and her husband George. Rebecca is determined to provide education and a happy reguge for the women.
Evergreen house was formerly the residence of Doctor Everley, his son Lucas and his daughter Grace before he was convicted for murdering babies and their mothers as part of his medical research.
Grace is now in a mental institution which saved her from the death penalty. The story is partly narrated by Grace who seeks recompense after being shut away and losing her father and brother.
The story starts with the brutal murder of the beloved cook, Rose.When two further deaths follow, it seems there is an evil presence at work. Rebecca desperately tries to investigate who is wanting to harm them and if there is a link to the Everley legacy.
I found this an easy read with some intriguing characters and a plot that kept me turning the pages. I loved the atmospheric, slightly gothic, victorian setting.
The story portrayed how incredibly hard it was for vulnerable women during this time and the harsh, uncaring way they were largely dealt with by society. The creeping sense of foreboding felt by the women as those in authority impose sanctions and threaten to take over the house is well written.
After I finished reading this I realised it was a sequel but this can easily be read as a stand alone. I am now keen to read the first book 'The Small House'
Evergreen House is a home for unmarried women and their children. The house is run as a charity under the supervision of Rebecca and her husband George. Rebecca is determined to provide education and a happy reguge for the women.
Evergreen house was formerly the residence of Doctor Everley, his son Lucas and his daughter Grace before he was convicted for murdering babies and their mothers as part of his medical research.
Grace is now in a mental institution which saved her from the death penalty. The story is partly narrated by Grace who seeks recompense after being shut away and losing her father and brother.
The story starts with the brutal murder of the beloved cook, Rose.When two further deaths follow, it seems there is an evil presence at work. Rebecca desperately tries to investigate who is wanting to harm them and if there is a link to the Everley legacy.
I found this an easy read with some intriguing characters and a plot that kept me turning the pages. I loved the atmospheric, slightly gothic, victorian setting.
The story portrayed how incredibly hard it was for vulnerable women during this time and the harsh, uncaring way they were largely dealt with by society. The creeping sense of foreboding felt by the women as those in authority impose sanctions and threaten to take over the house is well written.
After I finished reading this I realised it was a sequel but this can easily be read as a stand alone. I am now keen to read the first book 'The Small House'
May 16, 2025
The Surgeon’s House by Jody Cooksley
This is a companion novel to The Small Museum, which I haven’t
read yet, but I definitely will now! While it stands on its own with sufficient backstory to orient new readers, it’s clear the previous book is a fascinating story with a deeper evil world to explore. This is a gripping gothic tale, full of twists and turns that will leave you unsettled in the best way.
Rebecca operates Evergreen House, a home for unwed mothers and their children. The house has a horrific and storied past, one Rebecca experienced first hand. She is determined to transform it a home of compassion and second chances, despite the societal and charitable condemnation rampant in the 1800’s that deem these women and their children as worthless and beyond salvation.
The novel vividly captures the harsh societal constraints of that era, including the psychological treatise on women's inherent weakness and proneness to hysteria, the punitive institutions that oppressed rather than supported them and the strict limitations placed on their agency. Cooksley powerfully reimagines mythical Greek women through their portraits to demonstrate the power held by those who write the story. Whether you are a judged a heroine or a villain depends entirely on who is telling the story.
Woven throughout this tale of resilient women is a chilling, atmospheric thriller that’s both shocking and disturbing. It’s a gripping and powerful story that you will race through because you won’t be able to put it down.
This is a companion novel to The Small Museum, which I haven’t
read yet, but I definitely will now! While it stands on its own with sufficient backstory to orient new readers, it’s clear the previous book is a fascinating story with a deeper evil world to explore. This is a gripping gothic tale, full of twists and turns that will leave you unsettled in the best way.
Rebecca operates Evergreen House, a home for unwed mothers and their children. The house has a horrific and storied past, one Rebecca experienced first hand. She is determined to transform it a home of compassion and second chances, despite the societal and charitable condemnation rampant in the 1800’s that deem these women and their children as worthless and beyond salvation.
The novel vividly captures the harsh societal constraints of that era, including the psychological treatise on women's inherent weakness and proneness to hysteria, the punitive institutions that oppressed rather than supported them and the strict limitations placed on their agency. Cooksley powerfully reimagines mythical Greek women through their portraits to demonstrate the power held by those who write the story. Whether you are a judged a heroine or a villain depends entirely on who is telling the story.
Woven throughout this tale of resilient women is a chilling, atmospheric thriller that’s both shocking and disturbing. It’s a gripping and powerful story that you will race through because you won’t be able to put it down.
May 6, 2025
When I saw this as an ARC on NetGalley I had to read it. Whilst it does justice as a sequel to the Small Museum finishing off some of the characters stories it also works brilliantly as a standalone read.
Following the lives of women and their children who have suffered so much at a young age, this book is not just about their stories but the community they are building to support each other.
When a series of murders, impacts those who sought safety at Evergreen, they begin to question if the past is coming to haunt them and you can feel their fear through the writing. Rebecca is a force of nature determined that no one will suffer any more like she did and she will do whatever it takes to find out who is responsible to protect those in her care.
There is a number of likely suspects that you meet during the story each of which you hate for their on traits as the book continues. But what I like about this book is the focus is more on Rebecca and her desire to save those in her care, she is a strong female character that shows your past does not define you and that you can overcome adversity.
Could there have been more around the suspects and their history- Yes - do I think that detracts from the story - No, if anything it makes it more than just a standard murder mystery.
Following the lives of women and their children who have suffered so much at a young age, this book is not just about their stories but the community they are building to support each other.
When a series of murders, impacts those who sought safety at Evergreen, they begin to question if the past is coming to haunt them and you can feel their fear through the writing. Rebecca is a force of nature determined that no one will suffer any more like she did and she will do whatever it takes to find out who is responsible to protect those in her care.
There is a number of likely suspects that you meet during the story each of which you hate for their on traits as the book continues. But what I like about this book is the focus is more on Rebecca and her desire to save those in her care, she is a strong female character that shows your past does not define you and that you can overcome adversity.
Could there have been more around the suspects and their history- Yes - do I think that detracts from the story - No, if anything it makes it more than just a standard murder mystery.
May 21, 2025
I thank NetGalley and Allison & Busby for an advance reader copy of The Surgeon’s House. All opinions and comments are my own.
Evergreen House is again the scene of foul acts in The Surgeon’s House, a continuation of characters and story from author Jody Cooksley’s previous novel, The Small Museum. This time, the murder of a beloved cook serves as the catalyst for the rest of the machinations of the evil people that have populated the house in the past, and whose intrigues continue to drive events in the present.
The book is not for the faint of heart. If you like your stories grim and dark in true gothic tradition, this one is for you, with one of the most frightening characters in recent memory (and one who enjoys narrating a version of madness in gruesome detail). There is trouble on pretty much every page, but also hope as heroine Rebecca and her husband George attempt to help “fallen” women and their children make something of their lives, while Rebecca fights to find and identify justice, putting an end to the curse that seems to hang over Evergreen House. “The evil that men do lives after them” is present in The Surgeon’s House, but the author finishes with hope for the future and a way forward. Readers will feel a great deal of satisfaction when the book concludes.
Evergreen House is again the scene of foul acts in The Surgeon’s House, a continuation of characters and story from author Jody Cooksley’s previous novel, The Small Museum. This time, the murder of a beloved cook serves as the catalyst for the rest of the machinations of the evil people that have populated the house in the past, and whose intrigues continue to drive events in the present.
The book is not for the faint of heart. If you like your stories grim and dark in true gothic tradition, this one is for you, with one of the most frightening characters in recent memory (and one who enjoys narrating a version of madness in gruesome detail). There is trouble on pretty much every page, but also hope as heroine Rebecca and her husband George attempt to help “fallen” women and their children make something of their lives, while Rebecca fights to find and identify justice, putting an end to the curse that seems to hang over Evergreen House. “The evil that men do lives after them” is present in The Surgeon’s House, but the author finishes with hope for the future and a way forward. Readers will feel a great deal of satisfaction when the book concludes.
May 22, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Allison & Busby for this eCopy to review
I recently finished The Surgeon's House by Jody Cooksley, and I found it to be an atmospheric and unsettling tale filled with tension, secrets, and moral dilemmas. This sequel to The Small Museum takes us back to Rebecca's life in Evergreen House, where her past continues to cast long shadows over her present.
Set in 1881, the novel immerses the reader in a world of medical advancements, social expectations, and quiet horrors. Rebecca struggles to settle into the life she has tried to build, but when mysterious deaths begin to occur, she finds herself caught in a web of suspicion and unease. The arrival of Edward Threlfall, Grace’s husband, adds further instability to her world—his presence is unwelcome, and yet his shadow looms large over the unfolding events. As authorities turn their gaze toward the house, the tension mounts, forcing Rebecca to question everything she thought she knew about the people around her.
Cooksley’s writing is wonderfully evocative, drawing on gothic elements to create a rich and eerie atmosphere. The medical details woven into the story add another layer of intrigue, making the novel feel immersive and authentic.
The Surgeon’s House is an intriguing historical mystery that successfully blends gothic elements with medical themes.
I recently finished The Surgeon's House by Jody Cooksley, and I found it to be an atmospheric and unsettling tale filled with tension, secrets, and moral dilemmas. This sequel to The Small Museum takes us back to Rebecca's life in Evergreen House, where her past continues to cast long shadows over her present.
Set in 1881, the novel immerses the reader in a world of medical advancements, social expectations, and quiet horrors. Rebecca struggles to settle into the life she has tried to build, but when mysterious deaths begin to occur, she finds herself caught in a web of suspicion and unease. The arrival of Edward Threlfall, Grace’s husband, adds further instability to her world—his presence is unwelcome, and yet his shadow looms large over the unfolding events. As authorities turn their gaze toward the house, the tension mounts, forcing Rebecca to question everything she thought she knew about the people around her.
Cooksley’s writing is wonderfully evocative, drawing on gothic elements to create a rich and eerie atmosphere. The medical details woven into the story add another layer of intrigue, making the novel feel immersive and authentic.
The Surgeon’s House is an intriguing historical mystery that successfully blends gothic elements with medical themes.
July 14, 2025
This is a sequel to the fantastic The Small Museum. You don't necessarily need to read The Small Museum before you start The Surgeons's House as there is enough information in this book so you know the basics of the story, but I recommend that you do. The first book really sets up these characters and the world they live in.
This book starts 8 years after the end of The Small House. Rebecca is now running Evergreen House with her partner. She is forced to endure the presence of Dr Threlfall, who she doesn't trust, and the constant check ins from officials who are not supportive of what Rebecca is trying to do with the Evergreen House. She is keeping it all together, until the deaths start to happen. People living at the house are being killed, and Rebecca is determined to work out who, and why before there are more deaths.
This is a really good book, but it was a little bit more predictable than The Small Museum. I figured out the murderer quite quickly, but there were still twists and turns that kept me guessing and reading to the end. The characters are so beautifully written that I wanted the absolute best for them. It was amazing to be able to find out what happened to the characters I fell in love with from The Small Museum, as well as discover new characters to love in this book.
This book starts 8 years after the end of The Small House. Rebecca is now running Evergreen House with her partner. She is forced to endure the presence of Dr Threlfall, who she doesn't trust, and the constant check ins from officials who are not supportive of what Rebecca is trying to do with the Evergreen House. She is keeping it all together, until the deaths start to happen. People living at the house are being killed, and Rebecca is determined to work out who, and why before there are more deaths.
This is a really good book, but it was a little bit more predictable than The Small Museum. I figured out the murderer quite quickly, but there were still twists and turns that kept me guessing and reading to the end. The characters are so beautifully written that I wanted the absolute best for them. It was amazing to be able to find out what happened to the characters I fell in love with from The Small Museum, as well as discover new characters to love in this book.
July 26, 2025
In this complex and dramatic new historical mystery novel, readers visit 1883 London when Rose Parmiter, the beloved cook at Evergreen House, is brutally murdered. The proprietor of Evergreen House, Rebecca Harris, is totally shocked at the death and alarmed by the following events -- including two more deaths at Evergreen House. With many believing that the Everley family is cursing the house, Rebecca must solve the case and see how the past is affecting Evergreen House’s present in this dramatic and intense novel. With a darker mystery at the center of the book, readers will be pulled into the intense and tragic mysteries of the book and love the historical details that Cooksley uses to bring Evergreen House and its work to life. The mystery itself is well-written and intricate, and readers will enjoy solving the mystery alongside Rebecca, who is a nice and interesting protagonist. The almost gothic settings and the intense emotions throughout the book will really pull readers into the story in some fun ways, and Cooksley will definitely keep readers on their toes and pull them into the mystery. With high stakes and incredible details, readers will enjoy the depth of the novel and the mystery at the center of its plot.
Thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for the advance copy.
May 19, 2025
🌒 4 stars
The Surgeon’s House by Jody Cooksley pulled me into the haunting shadows of Victorian London and didn’t let go. This follows Rebecca Harris as she fights to protect the vulnerable souls under her care at Evergreen House—only to be drawn into another web of secrets, violence, and ghostly legacies.
I was immediately taken with the gothic atmosphere—rich, layered, and unsettling in all the right ways. Cooksley knows how to build dread, and the house itself feels like a breathing presence, heavy with grief and memory. Rebecca is a standout heroine—resilient, compassionate, and stubborn in a world that wants to silence her.
The added mystery and tension, though I found some of the pacing in the middle a bit sluggish. A few threads didn’t pull as tightly together as I’d hoped, but the emotional depth, historical detail, and feminist undercurrents more than made up for it.
This one lingered with me—dark, smart, and full of aching beauty. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves their fiction with gothic flair and a beating feminist heart.
#TheSurgeonsHouse #NetGalley #HistoricalFiction #GothicReads #VictorianGothic #FeministFiction #JodyCooksley #RebeccaHarris #GothicMystery #BookReview #ARCReview
The Surgeon’s House by Jody Cooksley pulled me into the haunting shadows of Victorian London and didn’t let go. This follows Rebecca Harris as she fights to protect the vulnerable souls under her care at Evergreen House—only to be drawn into another web of secrets, violence, and ghostly legacies.
I was immediately taken with the gothic atmosphere—rich, layered, and unsettling in all the right ways. Cooksley knows how to build dread, and the house itself feels like a breathing presence, heavy with grief and memory. Rebecca is a standout heroine—resilient, compassionate, and stubborn in a world that wants to silence her.
The added mystery and tension, though I found some of the pacing in the middle a bit sluggish. A few threads didn’t pull as tightly together as I’d hoped, but the emotional depth, historical detail, and feminist undercurrents more than made up for it.
This one lingered with me—dark, smart, and full of aching beauty. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves their fiction with gothic flair and a beating feminist heart.
#TheSurgeonsHouse #NetGalley #HistoricalFiction #GothicReads #VictorianGothic #FeministFiction #JodyCooksley #RebeccaHarris #GothicMystery #BookReview #ARCReview
May 22, 2025
This is a dark, historical mystery. It is the follow up to ‘The Small Museum’ which I didn’t realise until I started reading it and events from the previous book were mentioned. It didn’t ruin the book for me as it can be read as a standalone. The author drip fed events from the previous novel enough for me to understand what was happening. I still would recommend reading the previous book first if you can.
The writing is engaging with compelling characters and powerful themes. It was atmospheric and tense with a killer on the loose and I experienced a wide range of emotions, from sadness to rage! There was such fascinating insight into that time period showing how much of an expert the writer is of the Victorian era. The scientific and religious beliefs, the treatment of ‘fallen’ women and the patriarchy all are explored.
The main protagonist Rebecca was resilient and kind, I loved how she cared for so many vulnerable women and their children.
The Surgeon’s House is an incredible story that paints a clear picture of Victorian London and the struggles women endured. I loved reading it and I will definitely be reading the previous book. Do pick this up if you like a richly told historical mystery with a feminist touch to it.
The writing is engaging with compelling characters and powerful themes. It was atmospheric and tense with a killer on the loose and I experienced a wide range of emotions, from sadness to rage! There was such fascinating insight into that time period showing how much of an expert the writer is of the Victorian era. The scientific and religious beliefs, the treatment of ‘fallen’ women and the patriarchy all are explored.
The main protagonist Rebecca was resilient and kind, I loved how she cared for so many vulnerable women and their children.
The Surgeon’s House is an incredible story that paints a clear picture of Victorian London and the struggles women endured. I loved reading it and I will definitely be reading the previous book. Do pick this up if you like a richly told historical mystery with a feminist touch to it.
May 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for the ARC of this book. The below opinions are my own.
I want to preface this review by saying I was NOT aware this was a sequel, though I think one could still understand the gist of what happened in the prior novel as it’s alluded to a lot in this book.
I didn’t like this book, but I didn’t hate it either. I was a little confused as to what this was supposed to be. A romance for Rebecca and George, who seem to have drifted apart due to Rebecca’s infertility? A murder mystery with the death of the beloved cook, Rose? A horror novel with the introduction (or reintroduction) of the Everley family? A feminist novel about the ways in which women were treated unfairly?
The book seemed to have a lot of themes with no real direction. It was a struggle to read, but I pushed through because I did want to know what happened to Rose and the damn keys that keep getting brought up.
I found myself enjoying Grace’s sections of these novels better than Rebecca’s side, so maybe reading The Small Museum may be better for me.
Overall, this was a decent book, it just wasn’t really my cup of tea.
I want to preface this review by saying I was NOT aware this was a sequel, though I think one could still understand the gist of what happened in the prior novel as it’s alluded to a lot in this book.
I didn’t like this book, but I didn’t hate it either. I was a little confused as to what this was supposed to be. A romance for Rebecca and George, who seem to have drifted apart due to Rebecca’s infertility? A murder mystery with the death of the beloved cook, Rose? A horror novel with the introduction (or reintroduction) of the Everley family? A feminist novel about the ways in which women were treated unfairly?
The book seemed to have a lot of themes with no real direction. It was a struggle to read, but I pushed through because I did want to know what happened to Rose and the damn keys that keep getting brought up.
I found myself enjoying Grace’s sections of these novels better than Rebecca’s side, so maybe reading The Small Museum may be better for me.
Overall, this was a decent book, it just wasn’t really my cup of tea.
May 5, 2025
3.5 stars
As a lover of historical fiction, I was eager to dive into this gothic Victorian murder mystery- and it certainly delivers on atmosphere. The macabre tone and creepy Evergreen mansion evoke strong Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier) vibes, made even more amusing by the narrator also being named Rebecca. Grace and the enigmatic Threlfall intrigued me early on, and while I haven’t read the preceding book, this one stands well on its own.
Though I enjoyed the mystery and the slow unveiling of the true villains, I found the story lacked the rich historical detail I often crave in historical fiction- beyond a few midwives’ tales and period superstitions. That said, the writing kept me guessing until about 85% in, and the themes of revenge and hope gave it depth. Overall, a moody, engaging read, though I wished for more immersion in its historical setting and perhaps a bit more character development.
As a lover of historical fiction, I was eager to dive into this gothic Victorian murder mystery- and it certainly delivers on atmosphere. The macabre tone and creepy Evergreen mansion evoke strong Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier) vibes, made even more amusing by the narrator also being named Rebecca. Grace and the enigmatic Threlfall intrigued me early on, and while I haven’t read the preceding book, this one stands well on its own.
Though I enjoyed the mystery and the slow unveiling of the true villains, I found the story lacked the rich historical detail I often crave in historical fiction- beyond a few midwives’ tales and period superstitions. That said, the writing kept me guessing until about 85% in, and the themes of revenge and hope gave it depth. Overall, a moody, engaging read, though I wished for more immersion in its historical setting and perhaps a bit more character development.
July 17, 2025
Atmospheric Gothic sequel
—
Although this could be read on its own, it is clearly a sequel, to The Small Museum, and both books obviously share the same atmospheric Victorian Gothic setting and sensibility. The novel focuses on the further adventures of Rebecca and her husband George, her sister Maddie and the other residents of Evergreen House, now a home for young girls and their illegitimate children. The antagonist of the previous book is dead but his sister is currently being held in an asylum, aching for revenge. The story opens with the murder of Evergreen House’s beloved cook Rose and then proceeds to do horrible things to women and children throughout. I’m not squeamish but this really dialled up the Victorian imbalance of power against women and children, so much so that almost all of the male characters were unflattering caricatures, and the hidden antagonist was a pantomime villain. A soft retread of the previous book.
—
Although this could be read on its own, it is clearly a sequel, to The Small Museum, and both books obviously share the same atmospheric Victorian Gothic setting and sensibility. The novel focuses on the further adventures of Rebecca and her husband George, her sister Maddie and the other residents of Evergreen House, now a home for young girls and their illegitimate children. The antagonist of the previous book is dead but his sister is currently being held in an asylum, aching for revenge. The story opens with the murder of Evergreen House’s beloved cook Rose and then proceeds to do horrible things to women and children throughout. I’m not squeamish but this really dialled up the Victorian imbalance of power against women and children, so much so that almost all of the male characters were unflattering caricatures, and the hidden antagonist was a pantomime villain. A soft retread of the previous book.
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