Review – The Resurrectionists by Michael Patrick Hicks

I nabbed this one on Netgalley ages ago, and completely forgot what it was about, so I was essentially reading it blind. Which may have actually played in its favour. The story revolves around bodies being dug up in Manhattan, and people suspect doctors, who are looking for cadavers to advance their medical knowledge, are behind it. One man, an ex-soldier, decides to take on the grave robbers, pitting him against a foe he has never seen the likes of before.  Here’s some random observations on the book:

• I was completely surprised when this turned out to be a Lovecraftian story, replete with quotes, cabals and messed up monsters. Yay!
• Also something I don’t recall reading a lot of in other novels was the nature of the MC, Salem Hawley. Salem is a freed slave, who fought the British army in the American Revolutionary War. This novel takes part afterwards, and Salem has moved on from fighting for freedom against the British to fighting for freedom against the Americans
• It’s gruesome and gory. If you’re queasy, you might want to stay away. While there’s lots of blood and guts, this is no schlock horror – the descriptions of the “autopsies” are written from a medical standpoint. That being said, no punches are pulled.
• The MC is rather unique, as I’ve said already. He’s also an interesting character that deserves a lot more treatment as we go along, Also intriguing is Salem’s counterpoint, Doctor Hereford, who comes from a completely different background, but shares much of Salem’s experiences. If you want someone to really boo-hiss at, there’s always Doctor Bayley
• The setting, despite the HPL bit, seems real. The weapons are real, the people and their problems are real, and everything about it seems like it fits the historical period. Except maybe the Elder Gods bit. Then again, you never now.

So a thoroughly enjoyable, if short, read, If you enjoy Lovecraft, or even historical urban fantasy. Give it a whirl.I bombed through it, and I can’t wait for part two. I’m giving it 4½ stars out of 5.