Tess Gerritsen has added herself to my list of favourite authors, in the space on 3 books. I was hooked on her writing after reading The Surgeon (reviewed earlier) and am truly not disappointed. Gerritsen's writing style has developed and bettered and earned herself a place in my top ten authors list.
Gerritsen's historical whodunnit is set in 1800s Boston, giving us glimpses into a life long since forgotten, and the medical training in that era. We switch between the 1800s and present day, where Julia Hamill discovers a human skull buried in her garden. This discovery leads her on a trail of rich and grizzly history, and we are taken along on the medical history learning curve to find the West End Reaper.Â
Our first introduction is to Oliver Wendell Holmes (Senior - the physician, not the Supreme Court Judge), via a letter. The mystery and character relationships begin here and do not stop until the final sentence. Gerritsen cleverly intertwines both fact and fiction and it is clear that she herself is a physician. After reading The Bone Garden, one is left with the feeling of having learned something of historical and medical significance.
I greatly enjoyed the historical aspects, from the rich descriptions of operating scenes, to the cobbled streets and straw beds of Boston and its inhabitants. At first I was skeptical about the main character, Norris Marshal, but his tenacity and integrity won me over. For me, Rose Connelly is the lynch-pin and the heroine of the story. The beautiful seamstress who is no stranger to the Boston slums, who shows such resilience and determination in the face of constant struggle and fear. Together with Norris and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Gerritsen takes the reader on a gripping journey of love, betrayal, horror, loyalty, and closure.Â
If I were to choose the "weakest" part of the book, it would be the modern day sections. However, they only consist of around 5% of the book and I think they are necessary to provide a contrast to the historical portions. They are also useful in drawing us back to the present.
Gerritsen takes us on an emotional journey. A page-turning, gory, grizzly, revelation. She beautifully sews together each intricate element.Â
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Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Bantam Books
Date of publication: 18th September 2007
Pages: 370
My rating: 5Â out of 5