If you're in the mood for an atmospheric Victorian gothic, then step inside The Surgeon's House by Jody Cooksley. Evergreen House, former ancestral home of the sinister Everly family is now a refuge for women fallen from society 's grace and a school for their children run by Rebecca Harris and her husband George and staffed by the mysterious. I enjoyed this book. Thankyou NetGalley and Allison&Busby for this arc to read.

A very haunting mystery, with lots of twists and turns. I really enjoyed it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I couldn’t quite get on with this book, it was really slow to get started and it felt like nothing happened for the first 3/4 of the story. At times it also felt like the book made a storyline jump without making it clear it had moved on in time. I did get quite confused on a number of occasions. Once it actually got going, I quite enjoyed it and read it quite quickly as I wanted to reach the finale. I debated giving it a 3 out of 5 but I don’t think it quite made it, so it’s a 2 from me.

This was one strange, twisted story. Set in England in the 1800’s, when things were done much differently. Wayward women, regardless of the cause, were considered criminals and/or derelicts. Thus the reason for homes/institutions to house them. This story follows one such place. I was given a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.

Although uncomfortable, the barest aspect of this book was the representation of views of women in the era.
The attitudes and experience of women was well written, and felt true to the historical reports of the time.

The storyline was good. As others have said I loved Rebecca and George, and was happy with how their storyline played out. However the ending was a little rushed, and I wish more time had been spent on it.

This book didn’t massively stand out, but perhaps this is a reflection of the excellent examples of the genre we have at the moment rather than a failing of the book. It wasn’t a disappointment at all, and was a decent example of the genre.

3.5 but rounded up.

firstly, the blurb on NetGalley did not list this one as a sequel so i was surprised to find that that was the case. the book was generally fine, but i found some of the characters a bit flat. 3.25 stars. tysm for the arc.

This book has a great setting, and I was really drawn in by it (Victorian England). I liked the book, but realized it may have been better if I had read the book that this was a sequel to. I didn't quite realize it was a sequel until I had already begun reading, and by then had already made it too far in the book to go back!

DNF @25%

I was wondering why this felt like a sequel and it turns out that it is. I had to read another review for this book to figure it out. I don't like this book so far, and I'm not interested in reading the first one and continuing with this one.

A great and suspenseful novel which had me gripped up to the end! I have not read the first book, I did not need to, but I will as I definitely want to know what led to this second book. I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed reading about what was done (or not) to help vulnerable women. The storyline was rather creepy with the murders and the experiences done in the past (still happening?), but also very well done. I started guessing some facts but nearly at the very end.... This is the kind of novel you don't want to put down before the conclusion.... I loved it!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

Rebecca and George are such a likeable couple. They are running a home for unmarried mothers and their children doing their best by them, teaching new skills and running a small business selling crafts to help with running costs. At the start f the book, we find out that the beloved cook Rose has been murdered and from there, the home is hit with a series of tragedies leading to many threats of closure. Alongside that, the story is told of Grace who is in an asylum plotting revenge, and that of Threfall who is running a private clinic in the basement of Evergreen House. There are some good red herrings along the way.
I found out at the end of the book that it actually a sequel to another book about Rebecca and Maddie. This is definitely readable as a standalone, but I want to read the first one now as well!
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

🌒 4 stars
The Surgeon’s House by Jody Cooksley pulled me into the haunting shadows of Victorian London and didn’t let go. This follows Rebecca Harris as she fights to protect the vulnerable souls under her care at Evergreen House—only to be drawn into another web of secrets, violence, and ghostly legacies.

I was immediately taken with the gothic atmosphere—rich, layered, and unsettling in all the right ways. Cooksley knows how to build dread, and the house itself feels like a breathing presence, heavy with grief and memory. Rebecca is a standout heroine—resilient, compassionate, and stubborn in a world that wants to silence her.

The added mystery and tension, though I found some of the pacing in the middle a bit sluggish. A few threads didn’t pull as tightly together as I’d hoped, but the emotional depth, historical detail, and feminist undercurrents more than made up for it.

This one lingered with me—dark, smart, and full of aching beauty. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves their fiction with gothic flair and a beating feminist heart.

#TheSurgeonsHouse #NetGalley #HistoricalFiction #GothicReads #VictorianGothic #FeministFiction #JodyCooksley #RebeccaHarris #GothicMystery #BookReview #ARCReview

The Surgeon’s House is, seemingly, a historical mystery revolving around the residents of Evergreen House, a refuge and safe space for women and children to start over. Primarily following the proprietor of the house, Rebecca Harris, Cooksley attempts to represent the struggles that women faced in the 1880s while also laying down vague lines for a mystery to unfold. However, I was severely let down by this book, and eventually chose not to complete it on page 199 of 320. With weak pacing, bland characters, and a frustrating narrative, I simply couldn’t find anything about this story that I actually enjoyed, and so I decided that it was better to leave it unfinished than attempt to push through the last ~100 pages.

The only compliment I can give to the character writing is how utterly awful the men were, as that seemed to be the one purpose they served - every man that interacted with Rebecca and her wards was rude and cruel and disrespectful, to the point that it took away from the book for me. I respect that Cooksley wanted to showcase the mistreatment of women in the 1880s, however, it felt entirely without purpose, as if it was done simply to upset readers rather than create any sort of commentary or worthwhile narrative impact.

This story started strong for me, as it immediately kicks off with the event that I thought would set the plot into motion. I discovered very quickly, however, that the plot was simply “women suffer,” which was just annoying to me. So, the narrative lost me by the time I reached the fifth chapter, but I was determined to read as much as possible in the hopes that things would improve.

I’m a huge fan of stories set in 1880s England, because it's such an interesting and revolutionary time in that country’s history. Admittedly, I felt like nothing about this story - aside from the way men treated women - even alluded to the era that it was set in. I recognize that the setting should be important, and yet the only time it seems to come into play is when Cooksley wants to emphasize that the women are suffering because of cruel men.

There was so much promise in the plot of this story, but it felt like it was simply doing nothing and going nowhere. I know that I missed out on the last third of the book, but the quality of the first 200 pages was so lackluster that I just couldn’t keep going. Nothing about this felt like the mystery that I thought it would be. Maybe that’s on me for misunderstanding the description and assuming this would actually be a mystery novel, but it's so not. Though there were brief moments of intrigue, the chapters always cut off just before things had the chance to get interesting, leaving this pacing and story utterly dull.

Cooksley's writing style isn’t bad, but unfortunately it's just not interesting. She clearly shows an understanding of structure (and upon researching her, she certainly has the experience to show as much), and yet this story was so dull and somewhat vague to me. It felt as if there was never enough detail to create an immersive world or interesting characters, and so the plot suffered from lacking those elements. It's just not clear to me what the goal of this book was, because all aspects of the writing were simply underwhelming for me.

I loved the authors first book and this was also excellent. I couldn’t put this gothic mystery down for two days. It was dark, mysterious and tense with wonderfully written characters and plot. The pacing was great and kept me turning the pages to the conclusion

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

A good Gothic read. If you want to know what slow burn tension is, this book is the perfect example. The characters are great. I would definitely recommend.

Possible spoilers

I picked this up without reading the blurb, as I'd previously enjoyed one of the authors other books.
So I was pleasantly surprised to find it was a continuation of the story set out in that book, some eight years on.
So very good to catch up with the characters again.
This time Rebecca takes centre stage, and it opens with a murder.
It was a decent read, plenty of stuff going on, but I never rushed back to it, and I wonder if my expectations were just too high.
There was a good sense of time , place and circumstances for the characters, and I did enjoy the mad rantings of Grace in the asylum very much.

The Surgeon’s House by Jody Cooksley is a chilling, atmospheric thriller that grips you from the very first page. The story is steeped in mystery and suspense, with a dark, eerie undertone that keeps you on edge throughout. Cooksley has crafted a haunting tale that explores the complexities of human nature, fear, and the secrets that hide behind closed doors.

The plot revolves around a house with a sinister past, and the way Cooksley slowly unravels the history of the place—along with its chilling connections to the characters—creates an overwhelming sense of dread. The house itself is almost a character in its own right, with its unsettling atmosphere and hidden corners that seem to hold more than just memories.

What really drew me in was the psychological tension that builds between the characters. The main protagonist is complex, dealing with personal demons while trying to uncover the truth about the house. As the story unfolds, the characters’ motivations and secrets come to light, and you begin to question who you can trust and what’s really happening. The way Cooksley blends character development with mystery is masterful, and it kept me hooked until the very end.

The pacing of the book is perfect, never too fast but always keeping you on your toes. There’s a slow burn to the suspense that allows the tension to build naturally, culminating in a conclusion that is both satisfying and unsettling. The twists and revelations are cleverly done, leaving you questioning everything you thought you knew about the story.

By the end, The Surgeon’s House left me feeling both disturbed and intrigued, a rare combination that speaks to Cooksley’s skill as a storyteller. If you enjoy thrillers with rich character development, a haunting atmosphere, and a deep sense of mystery, this book is definitely worth the read.

If you're in the mood for an atmospheric Victorian gothic, then step inside The Surgeon's House by Jody Cooksley. Evergreen House, former ancestral home of the sinister Everly family is now a refuge for women fallen from society 's grace and a school for their children run by Rebecca Harris and her husband George and staffed by the mysterious alienist Dr. Threllfall. When their lovable cook, Ruth is murdered while walking home after her evening off down the pub our sinister story is set in motion. Grace Everly, former mistress of Evergreen House and current madhouse resident begins to receive visits from our Dr. Threllfall. And just what is he up to in the basement of Evergreen House? Ruth's surly and silent replacement has dubious references. One of the women is found dead in the garden. One of the children sickens and dies. The charity board is on Rebecca 's case, threatening to shut her doors. Will she unmask the killer and save her home or will she be the next to leave in a hearse? I enjoyed every page of this genteel yet dark gothic. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. My review contains my honest opinion

Thank you NetGalley and Allison & Busby for the eARC.
Since I hadn't read the previous book, I was a little lost at first, it would have been better if I had read it, but I enjoyed it.
It was fascinating to read about the way women were treated those days ... We've come a long way for sure.
The year is 1883 and Rebecca Harris, the proprietor of Evergreen House, a refuge for women and children, is broken hearted by the murder of her cook.
There are more murders, the mystery of which is intense, Rebecca is a courageous and sympathetic character and the ending very satisfying.
Definitely recommended!

London, 1883.

The brutal murder of Rose Parmiter seems, at first glance, to be a random and senseless act. Rose was the beloved cook at Evergreen House, a place of refuge for women and children, a place from which they can start their lives afresh. Proprietor Rebecca Harris, is profoundly shocked by the death of her dear friend and alarmed at the mysterious events which begin to unfold shortly afterwards. Could the past be casting a shadow on the present? The malign legacy of the Everley family who called Evergreen home, cannot be ignored.

After two further deaths it becomes clear there is an evil presence infecting their sanctuary, and Rebecca must draw out the poison of the past so the Evergreen residents can finally make peace with the darkness in their lives.


I love a book with a haunted house setting

The Surgeon’s House by Jody Cooksley is a richly atmospheric historical mystery that continues the haunting legacy begun in The Small Museum. Set in 1881, eight years after the punishment of Grace and Lucius Everly, Evergreen House still bears the stain of its dark past. Rebecca Harris, now the house’s guardian and protector, is faced with rising unease as mysterious deaths mount, and the return of Edward Threlfall, Grace’s husband, brings renewed threat.

What unfolds is a tense and layered story of suspicion, trauma, and resistance. Rebecca is a compelling and compassionate lead, and her unwavering commitment to the women and children under her care anchors the story. Surrounded by a society rigid with patriarchal control and moral judgement, Rebecca’s struggle feels not only historically rooted but also painfully relevant to today’s world. She faces pressure from all sides—untrustworthy authorities, men in power, and the literal and metaphorical ghosts of the Everly family’s past.

Cooksley’s writing is evocative, with an excellent sense of time and place. The creeping dread that pervades Evergreen House makes the setting feel almost sentient, as if it too is holding onto secrets it cannot bear to release. The murder of Rose Parmiter, the house’s cook, serves as a catalyst for the mystery, but the deeper narrative revolves around legacy, repression, and resilience in the face of institutional cruelty.

Although the pacing dips in places and certain threads could have been tied off more clearly, the story remains engaging throughout. It is both a gripping historical tale and a quietly powerful reflection on the endurance of women in a world that seeks to silence them.

The Surgeon’s House is a thoughtful, unsettling read that lingers long after the final page. Perfect for those drawn to stories steeped in gothic atmosphere, historical tension, and emotional depth.

3.5/5.

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