The Bone Garden: A Novel
by Tess Gerritsen
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Book Reviews of The Bone Garden: A Novel
Book Review: No cockleshells in this garden!
Summary: 4 Stars
While Julia is digging in the garden of her newly purchased, old house in Boston, she uncovers a human skull. An elderly relative of the former owner of the house invites her to visit him in Maine, to go through the thousands of papers which had been sent to him after the previous owner's death. At first reluctant, the thought of discovering the identity and story of the skull's persona drives her to accept his invitation. This is the book's story in the present tense! With the help of the old man, she arrives at the story, set in the 1830's, in Boston. A brilliant but impoverished young man is studying at the Boston medical training centre, but is forced to become a Ressurectionist, in other words, a body snatcher, in order to pay his school fees. The medical schools of those days had no legal access to bodies, and so are forced to pay fees to unscrupulous thieves to obtain newly buried cadavers to teach the students anatomy at first hand. These thieves needed the muscle of young men to do the digging and lifting and so this is how our hero pays for his tuition. When two nurses and a doctor are found horribly murdered and mutilated, it is thought that this must be the work of a "Jack the Ripper" type fiend, especially as our hero and a young Irish girl see the apparition of a ghost like figure with a death mask face and black wings. The whole atmosphere of the book was that similar to Dickensian London, with the poor living in squalor and was a most interestin,fast read.Book Review: Very Good Historical Thriller!
Summary: 4 Stars
The Bone Garden starts off in the present day. Julia Hammill is clearing the garden of her new house in the outskirts of Boston, when she uncovers some old bones. When the experts are called in, it is discovered that they date back to the 1830s. Through contact with a relative of the previous owner of the house, the story of how the bones got there is slowly revealed.
Set mainly in the year 1830, this novel gives a depressing and graphic look at the harshness of life back in that era, particularly in the area of childbirth, were the lack of decent hygiene, led to many, many unnecessary deaths. If that wasn't bad enough, in this novel, a serial killer, is murdering nurses who have worked on the maternity ward, of the Boston hospital, where the story is set.
I have to admit I have an interest in history, so it was the parts of the novel, that were set in 1830, that held my attention the most. The story has some very good and interesting characters, in particular, poor immigrant Rose Connolly, and struggling medical student Norris Marshall, whose lives are greatly affected by the actions of the serial killer.
What I particularly enjoyed about this novel was that as it progressed, the story became more and more interesting, and the characters grew, so by the end, I did not want it to finish. Graphic, and very depressing in places, but certainly worth a read.
Book Review: least favorite from one of my favorite authors
Summary: 3 Stars
New home owner Julia Hamill loves her new house. That is, until one day she discovers bones in her garden. And not just any kind of bone-human bones, to be exact. And so the quest of the history of the house and the garden, as well as the previous home owners begin.
Although I did enjoy this book very much, I can not help but mention that this is probably my least favorite Tess Gerritsen book.
The plot itself was very interesting; the idea riveting, the characters likable. But all in all, it ended up stumbling into a story and conclusion not so satisfying. Maybe it has to do with the fact that Gerritsen wrote better thrillers before that I felt as if this particular book did not live up to her usual standards.
There are positive things about it though because it still was good. The writing, as usual, is fast-paced. The story itself is fast-paced, not dragging or boring at all.
If somebody picked this book up without having read any other of Gerritsen's previous books, they might like it and appreciate it more for what it is. If you are already a Gerritsen fan, then this might be your least favorite. Again, not saying it was bad. Just the least "favorite."
Posted by Jillian at 4:29 PM
Book Review: Strong suspense
Summary: 4 Stars
Recently divorced, and desperately needing something to occupy herself with other than her memories, Julia Hammill is in the middle of remodelling an old house and garden she has purchased. When she discovers skeletal remains in her yard, a 170-year-old mystery is revealed.
The author deftly moves the story between the actual events back in 1830 and the modern story. With the help of an elderly archivist, Julia manages to trace the events. I don't want to reveal too much of the story, but I can with good conscience say "Shades of Jack of Ripper" and several modern crimes involving young pregnant women!
One very riviting scene occurs during the early pages. We see a hospital ward in 1830 as the doctor goes from mother to mother, intimately examing each woman (and some of them extremely ill) without washing his hands between patients. As a physician herself, Gerritson gives us a poignant view of why so many women died of infection after giving birth! Wonderful (tho dreadful) public health commentary!
I recommend this book for the well developed mystery, for the good dialogue, and for the historical enjoyment!
Book Review: Wonderful book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have never reviewed a book online before, but felt compelled to do so for this book after reading some of the reviews stating the book's ending was terrible.
I read the book a little over a year ago, while on bedrest with my son. I have always followed the Rizzoli and Isles books, and with being on bedrest I had been doing a LOT more reading, so I ventured out of my norm and decided to give this book a try. I have to say that I absolutely loved the entire book, especially the going back and forth between history and present. It was very intriguing, and I am hoping to find more books like it that involve a crime from the past being investigated by someone from the present. I honestly could not put the book down, and connected with the characters easily. As far as the ending goes, I have to completely disagree with others who said the ending wasn't much of an ending. For me, the ending left me a bit heartbroken, and it left me thinking about the book for days. That for me, signifies a great book: one which I couldn't stop thinking about long after I had read it. If you love thriller books give this one a try for sure!!