The Orphan of Cemetery Hill

This wasn’t my first time reading a book by Hester Fox. I had previously read The Witch at Willow Hall and fell in love with her writing style and ability to bring all her characters (even the evil ones) to life before my eyes!

The Orphan of Cemetery Hill is set in 1844 Boston. Tabby and her sister Alice are orphans who have just escaped the abusive clutches of their Aunt and Uncle, and are separated during their escape. Little Tabby finds an old cemetery and finds refuge there. From here, she is adopted by the caretaker, Eli. Tabby holds the secret of her ability to communicate with the dead close to her as she grows up into a woman for fear of others not believing her or abusing her ability as her Aunt and Uncle did for profit.

From the beginning, Tabby and Caleb Bishop begin to cross paths with each other until they are thrown together in a murder mystery where Caleb is the suspect of his own fiancée’s murder. From here we follow the mystery and the dangers of the times as science and medicine are trying to advance, and the “Resurrection Men” who have Tabby in their sights. Will Tabby use her gift in order to save Caleb and herself, or will she keep her ability to speak with the dead a secret?

This book was the perfect way to kick off fall! There was the gothic element that tied everything together and brought the plot even more to life. The plot was not only intriguing but unique, and I had a hard time putting this book down. The plot flows seamlessly as I followed the twists and turns in Tabby’s life as she tries to help Caleb and save her own life at the same time. Seeing Tabby’s character develop and battle past the fear made me love her and cheer for her even more!

My favorite element of the story was the incorporation of the “Resurrection Men.” Doctors and professors really did rob the graves of the recent dead in order to further advance their medical studies. They also had some misguided ideas as man kind seems to always look for eternal life.

Fox also kept to the times and brings up the rights of women in the suffrage movement and the abomination of slavery. This story foreshadows the upcoming dark times of the Civil War, and knowing what was coming for these characters has me hoping for a sequel.

This book is something you are going to want to pick up for a gothic fall read!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Books for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.