This was a quite dark and at times distressing read but completely compulsive. Even though it was making me uncomfortable I still couldn’t stop reading it. Set in London in 1873 it’s the story of country girl Madeleine ‘Maddie’ Brewster who married Dr Lucius Everley after meeting him just once. The Brewster family’s good reputation had collapsed after their daughter Rebecca ran away from home and the marriage is supposed to repair their reputation. However, Maddie ends up at Marlborough Assizes accused of murder. Told from two POV’s, Maddie’s during her marriage and her friend Caroline for the court trial.

Briefly, from the very start Maddie finds her life less than pleasant. Her husband virtually disregards her, his sister Grace undermines her at everything and the housekeeper and her husband ignore all her requests. Her treatment at their hands seems to affects her mental well-being and she starts hearing noises at night and seeing things she is to,d aren’t there. However, Lucius does appreciate her artistic ability and he seems to a little kinder towards her as she helps him in his work. But his work is still his main concern and gradually Maddie begins to suspect his actions and motives and those of his sister.

The book was inspired by the Hunterian Museum in London and after googling I don’t think I’ll be visiting any time soon! It’s clear that the author has done some detailed research and it shows in the quality of the narrative. I did guess what was taking place well before Maddie’s cottoned on but I think the author would have expected that from the information given. Maddie’s was a great character and I really was rooted for her all the way through; Grace however I hated. If you enjoy a dark gothic mystery you are going to love this! And yes despite my distaste at the contents of the ‘Small Museum’ I really did enjoy this book. It’s shocking, it’s scary but it’s also strikingly compelling.

This was a wonderful example of a Historical Fiction set in Victorian era London.

A young woman named Madeleine (Maddie) is from a socially disgraced country family. Her family’s only hope to revive their ruined name is for her to marry well. So, her father, a doctor matches her with a London acquaintance. Dr Lucius Everley is a well respected collector of natural curiosities. However, he keeps his small museum under lock and key in his sprawling London home. He along with his sister are also well known for their charity work. Throughout this book Maddie strives to help her new husband in his work, with her natural talent of drawing. As she also tries to uphold the image of the well to do lady of her new status, some things never accept change in the Everley household. Of course this well known London family has its own closet full of skeletons, as every family does. The Everley family is full of their own dark secrets. The book evolves its story through Maddie’s eyes and that of her beloved friend Caroline. These two different perspectives help to show the struggles of a victorian lady, and the framing of a crime of which Maddie may not survive. Through both perspectives you will see the entirety of the story and its final resolution.

The historical knowledge laced throughout the story Is well done and fairly accurate. There are accurate details of the current advancements in science and natural history in the victorian age. Overall this was a wonderful book, full of knowledge and a bit of mystery as well as intrigue.

4.5/5 Stars from Me! It was a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers of Allison and Busby for this digital ARC!

"What was to become of me in this house of nightmare?"

A young woman named Maddie is thrown into the depths of marriage to Dr Lucius Everley to help restore her family name. Maddie feels alone far from her family with a husband who shows little affection or willingness to live a normal married life, a sister in law and household staff who show nothing but bitterness towards her. Maddie finds her husband is a collector of curios, which he keeps locked behind doors along with his medical work that he talks very little about. Unbeknown to Maddie there is a dark side to the home she lives in and will soon discover what her husband and sister in law are up to in the house of Everley.

If this book isn't on your radar, it needs to be! This was truly haunting to read. Told from two perspectives, one being Maddies and the other from her friend Caroline Fairly who sits in the courtroom while Maddie is on trial for a crime she didn't commit. Filled with suspense, mystery, and manipulation. It's a book you don't want to pass up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers allisonandbusby for the digital copy.

Thank you Netgalley & Allison & Busby Publishing for an eARC ♥️


In the sweltering summer of 1873, Madeleine Brewster thought she'd found a way to salvage her family's tarnished name by marrying the esteemed Dr. Lucius Everley. But as she stepped into his grand London townhouse, she soon realized that her new life was shrouded in mystery. Lucius's obsession with his 'Small Museum' of peculiar specimens and Grace's philanthropic work with fallen women seemed admirable, but Maddie was baffled by the secrets they kept hidden behind locked doors.

As she struggled to find her place in this new world, Maddie discovered a glimmer of hope in her artistic talents. Lucius promised to mentor her in his groundbreaking research on evolutionary science, and she was thrilled to contribute to his revolutionary discovery of the first 'fish with feet'. But the more she delved into their work, the more she sensed that something was horribly amiss.

As the darkness beneath the Everleys' polished facade began to surface, Maddie found herself framed for a heinous crime that would send her to the gallows and leave the family unscathed.

In my opinion, this book is a masterclass in suspense and intrigue, with a protagonist who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. Maddie's journey is a heart-pounding ride through the dark underbelly of Victorian society, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end. If you're a fan of historical thrillers with a strong female lead, this one's a must-read!

A gothic, gripping, tense plot, this is dark and creepy with characters that control, oppress and manipulate. Thankfully for me, there are just enough characters who are kind, brave, loving souls.

Author Jody Cooksley is Queen of sustained threat, with the lovely Maddie married to a malevolent Doctor who she barely knows, moving into his dark and malodorous house containing the locked Small Museum of curiosities of the book's title. Grace is her sister-in-law who has a very intense and possessive relationship with her brother, Maddie's husband and who is chillingly and casually cruel, and in league with the brutal housekeeper who drugs Maddie's cocoa.

At night Maddie thinks she hears footsteps, voices shouting, and babies crying and observes the back garden in flux, appearing to be permanently dug over.

Finding herself in prison and facing the death penalty for the murder of her baby, we move backwards and forward in Maddie's life, examining how a talented artist and daughter of a country Doctor has reached this point of jeopardy.

There are many plot twists and secrets and not everything is answered or accounted for by the end of the book. I won't spoil the book by pointing them out, but I would have liked these resolved so I could have given a 5 star review. But there was enough period detail, (who'd want to be a Victorian woman?) atmosphere and character development to keep me rooting for Maddie and hoping she would find her way out of her alarming situation. A really good read.

Thank you NetGalley, Allison & Busby, Jody Cooksley, my mother, the stars alignment, God, etc for this book and it's e-ARC.

Already such high praise for a book I *didn't* rate 5 stars? That'll come later...

The Good: I love love love historical fiction, but a dark, gothic mystery in a historical setting?! Delicious. The concept of this was so perfect to me. I loved the tone of voice in the writing. I loved the often visceral descriptions. I loved the characterisations of all the key characters. There were parts that felt caricaturistic, like the initial descriptions of Grace and occasionally Rebecca, but to me this isn't a bad thing and reminded me of countless murder mystery novels, films, games, that came before this one.

The Bad: I have so many questions!! I wish I could have rated this book a 5 star, but I do feel the ending was quite rushed, I felt myself thinking "surely this can't be wrapped up in the next 10 pages?" and to me, it wasn't. [Spoilers incoming! Skip to the next paragraph to avoid!] I made the assumption from the very first few chapters that Lucius and Grace were pulling a Lannister, with how unnaturally close they seemed, how Lucius delivered her children, how Grace would be at the home in his room with them 'arguing' until the early hours of the morning. Maddie even saw Grace fleeing Lucius' room in nightclothes! So to have this relationship not acknowledged left me bereft. Were they involved?! Also, who was leaving things in Maddie's room? It's insinuated that it was Lucius, but he responds with anger when he finds out things have been appearing in her room, so it obviously wasn't him, at least for some of them. Who was it?!? Was it Annie? Was it really the ghost of Lucius' mother? Final question (for now), how did they set Maddie up? They build a story that she killed her child and was spotted carrying it through the house, but multiple witnesses were there for the birth (from outside the house, surely?) and saw Lucius declare it stillborn. After that whole fiasco, I assumed Maddie was going to have a second child, and that was the one who she was seen carrying. It's never cleared up distinctly that Lucius and Grace's story of lies got as far as it did because of x, y, z. How did they frame her for the murder when there wasn't a body? Did they really just say, "someone saw her carrying a child and now we can't find said child so she killed him" and that was it?! GOD PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW.

At times, the descriptions were confusing, and I had trouble visualising what was being laid out, such as Evergreen House, or something as simple as the sea horse. Clarity and simplification would be beneficial to appeal to a wider audience.

The Ugly: I'm not a fan of non-linear storytelling, and I was SO confused for the first few chapters where we hopped not only from a different time but also from a different POV. The first two chapters were particularly jarring given the lack of initial character introductions. The choice of font for Maddie's POV chapters was also a struggle to read, I liked the use of script but this font in particular was occasionally a bit of a strain to understand.

All being said, please for the love of God release a special edition of this book with some beautiful sprayed edges. I need it more than air. I also need a film adaption, so keep checking your inboxes.

4/5

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This tale follows a young woman, newly married to much older and well-respected man. Madeleine "Maddie" Brewester found herself forced by social convention to accept this marriage in order to uplift her family's status. Things in her new life quickly take a turn for the worse, as the staff and her own husband treat her like an incompetent child. What should be her new home instead becomes a guilded cage where she can look silently but not touch.

The novel has a split timeline, bouncing between the beginnings of Maddie's marriage and a later trial where she is accused of killing her own child. This isn't a spoiler as it happens in chapter 2... the courtroom proceedings are witnessed from the POV of her best friend Caroline. The family and staff keep Maddie under lock and key—always in the dark and out of reach—making accusations easier to validate in the eyes of the court.

The work does a decent job of bouncing between references to the fantastical and Victorian Era science. The scientific discoveries of this time period being used to highlight fictitious horrors, allows one to consider the reality of how some of the principals and theories we have come to rely on stem from blood. Blood that wasn't always freely given.

This is a bleak, dark take on Gothic Horror. Be prepared to delve deep into a cruel family and broken marriage, as a vivacious young woman is driven to the point of mental collapse. Things take a turn for the worse almost immediately, so readers hoping for a steady decline into sorrow may be shocked by how the story progresses. This tale above all else is a harrowing glimpse at loneliness and the lengths women must go to to protect one another.

TW: child birth, dissection, dismemberment, gaslighting, domestic abuse (emotional), forced confiment (in home and prison), infacide, period-typical misogyny, power imbalances

The small museum by Jody Cooksley. An advanced copy due to be published 16th May. This is a victorian mystery, it takes place over two short timelines, starting with a murder trial then going back over the events leading to it in alternate chapters. A young woman marries a mysterious and aloof doctor and has to cope with his interfering sister and domineering staff whilst trying to uncover what happens in his secret work lab. I really enjoyed it.

This had a great overall concept for a historical mystery element to this, it had a great story going on and enjoyed the overall feel of this. The characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed the overall way they worked with the story. Jody Cooksley has a great writing style and left me wanting to read more from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

Wow, this was a dark one! If you love Victorian gothic novels, you'll adore this new novel by Jody Cooksley.

Maddie is quickly married off to a doctor she barely knows in order to regain her family's reputation after an older sister runs off to live with a man. Her husband's home is far from welcoming, and neither are the servants that have been with his family for decades. His only sister seems to be constantly around, running the household and making decisions that should rightly be Maddie's to make. The house is far from quiet at night; footsteps, voices shouting, and babies crying are just some of the things that keep Maddie from sleeping. And what's behind the locked doors in her husband's study where he keeps his museum of natural oddities?

Before long Maddie finds herself in prison for the murder of her child, a baby she was never allowed to see. There are many secrets in this family. Will Maddie be able to discern them before it's too late?

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. You should read it!

The cover of the book is extremly pretty! And it already got me with it's blurb, which is honestly the best description of the book without giving away too much. I enjoyed the victorian / historical setting and think it was written very true to London during that time. The plot was great and I liked the pov switches. My favorite was the dark mystery aspect of the book!

Up on Goodreads, live on the blog on 13 May:

Honestly, they had me at the cover and the blurb just confirmed my hunch: The Small Museum was a book I had to read! As it turns out, my magpie eyes and spidey-senses did not lead me astray this time, The Small Museum was 100% up my street and I had a fantastic time with it.

Admittedly, I did not choose the best time to read The Small Museum, or come to think of it, maybe it was the best time, after all. After a devastating discovery and the consequent heartbreak and lack of sleep, I needed a book to take my mind off things, to offer me some respite. On days like that, it takes a special kind of book to capture my attention, and hold it. The Small Museum did that, and believe me, that’s no small feat.

I do love Victorian London as a setting, the Victorian era is my favourite era, so many things in motion, so much curiosity and curios, so much research and so many discoveries, so many creepy things in jars. It’s the perfect era for an eerie mystery, and that eeriness does permeate the entire story. Besides the all but mandatory mansion, The Small Museum also takes its reader to the Marlborough Assizes, which was really interesting.

The Small Museum tells the story of Maddie. The trial storyline is told from the perspective of her friend Caroline, the before chapters are from Maddie’s own POV. I did see many a thing coming that Maddie did not, but I didn’t care because I was so wrapped up in her side of things, feeling sorry for her, and wondering how things came to a head, with her being on trial, and whether Caroline would manage to save her.

The Small Museum is a captivating gothic mystery with very dark edges. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to fans of the genre.

The Small Museum is out in hardcover and digital formats on 16 May.

Massive thanks to Allison & Busby and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

A little slow in the beginning. As it picked up pace, it grew into a perfect gothic tale. Creepy house and its surroundings with even creepier inhabitants. Good read.

3.75☆

London, 1873. Madeleine Brewster's marriage to Dr Lucius Everley was intended to restore honor to her family's name. After all, Lucius is a highly respected collector of natural curiosities. His 'Small Museum' of bones and specimens in jars is his pride and joy, although securely kept under lock and key. His sister Grace's commendable philanthropic work with marginalized women is also worth mentioning.

In her new residence at Arlington Crescent, Lucius' domineering sister, Grace, exerts an overpowering presence, disregarding Maddie's attempts to assert authority. The housekeeper, Mrs Barker, harbors an immediate dislike towards Maddie, while the groundskeeper, Mr Barker, denies her access to the garden. Lucius is frequently away attending to patients or attending scientific meetings, leaving Maddie feeling isolated and off balance in an unfamiliar environment.

Unfortunately, Maddie's observations and concerns are dismissed by her husband, who attributes them to her nervous disposition. Desperate to occupy herself, she begins sketching anatomical drawings of Lucius' specimens. However, as she unravels the reasons behind his scientific pursuits and her unwitting involvement in them, she finds herself unjustly accused of murder.

Framed for a crime that could lead to her execution and grant the Everleys the freedom to continue their sinister schemes, Maddie's only hope lies in her friend Caroline. Caroline will stop at nothing to prove Maddie's innocence before the trial concludes fatally.

This chilling tale explores the consequences of isolation and the dangerous pursuit of approval. Cooksley skillfully portrays a Victorian gothic story, where a woman's descent into madness is fueled by the malevolent individuals who surround her, leaving her with no means of escape.

Cooksley's characters embody a pervasive theme of 19th-century society, where women are easily manipulated and their thoughts and ideas discredited as madness. The author deftly shines a light on how repeated denials by the perpetrator instill self-doubt in the victim, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. The haunting settings, well-developed characters, and intricately woven timeline create an enthralling page-turner, with the mystery remaining shrouded until the very end.

Although this novel explores themes of suppression and isolation, I found myself deeply engaged and enthralled by the story. I highly recommend Jody Cooksley's skillfully crafted work to readers of historical fiction.

Gothic novel that links nicely with the early paleontolgy scene at Charmouth. Maddie marries Dr Everley and is curious to learn more about what resides in his private "Small Museum" collection. The story grows nicely and is interspersed with a court trial where Maddie is accused of the death of a baby. How are they linked? Time will tell as you read on through the story and things get chilling and very weird. You'll never look those collections of bones and things in jars at stately homes in the same light again!

A terrifying account of what isolation and the desire to please can lead to. Always being told not to cause issues and to follow your husband without causing issue - the consequences can be severe.

I wasn’t a fan of the switching time points in the beginning, but in the end it was the right technique. I very much enjoyed this story, despite the horrible themes of suppression and isolation throughout.

London, 1873. Madeleine (Maddie) Brewster is rushed into marriage with Dr Lucius Everley to save her family from scandal. In her new home at Arlington Crescent, Lucius’ sister, Grace, is a domineering, omnipresent force, overriding Maddie’s attempts at authority. Housekeeper, Mrs Barker, takes an instant dislike to Maddie, and groundskeeper, Mr Barker, won’t allow her into the garden. Lucius is always away visiting patients, or at scientific meetings, and Maddie’s loneliness keeps her continually off balance in an alien world.

This compelling Victorian gothic is a frightening story of a woman’s descent into madness, brought about by the cruel people who surround her, and from whom there is no escape. What Maddie sees and hears is dismissed, by her husband, as the imaginings of her own nervous disposition. Desperate to keep busy, she makes anatomical sketches of Lucius’ specimens, but when she realises the reasons behind his scientific interests, and her unwitting part in them, she finds herself standing trial for murder. Cooksley’s characters play out a common 19th-century theme —a patriarchal society where women are easily controlled, their thoughts and ideas attributed to madness. Cooksley expertly spotlights how repeated denials by the perpetrator cause self-doubt in the victim as to what is real and what is not. Atmospheric settings, characters and timeline create a page-turning read where the mystery is shadowed until the very end. Definitely recommended to historical fiction readers.

"The Small Museum" is a captivating gothic tale set in Victorian England, following the young village girl Maddie Brewster as she navigates a tumultuous marriage to the much older and respected doctor, Lucius Everly. Maddie's quest to repair her family's reputation leads her into a web of manipulation and isolation orchestrated by Lucius and his sister, Grace, who runs a home for fallen women and harbors many sinister secrets of her own.

Jody Cooksley's novel skillfully captures the essence of contemporary gothic literature, drawing inspiration from classic works of the genre. The dense atmosphere and tension-building throughout the story immerse the reader in Maddie's difficult circumstances. The plot effectively depicts the limited social position of women in the Victorian era, highlighting their dependence on male guardians and the potential for abuse of power.

The book is written in engaging language, and the division of chapters into two timelines adds depth to the plot. However, my main critique lies with the structure, particularly the rushed ending. I believe the resolution could have been better developed earlier on

Nevertheless, "The Small Museum" remains a worthwhile read, particularly for fans of gothic novels and historical fiction set in the Victorian era. I truly enjoyed reading it.

My favourite genre is gothic so I was very excited to read this one.
I enjoyed it so much that I flew through it in two days.
The author has created a dark and atmospheric story filled with mystery and intrigue. It was a bit like a modern day Rebecca but with an even darker twist!
I liked the writing, the characters were realistic and there is a real sense of time and place with how women are treated and the scientific beliefs
I have given this a 4.5 stars as the ending felt a little rushed but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc