The Surgeon’s House is a gothic historical mystery and a continuation of The Small Museum, Jody Cooksley's previous book. Set in early 1880s London, it follows Rebecca, the sister of The Small Museum’s protagonist, who runs a home for vulnerable and fallen women in Evergreen House. In the basement, Edward Threrfall—the alienist from the first book—maintains his office, continuing his ambiguous research. Even though Lucius and Grace, the siblings responsible for the crimes in The Small Museum, have been punished, the shadow of those events still lingers—especially when the house’s cook is murdered.

I enjoyed this book even more than The Small Museum, not just because I was already familiar with many of the characters, making it easy to dive back into their story. While the first book centered on a deeply disturbed sibling duo committing horrific acts, this installment, though it continues some of those themes, presents a more layered and intricate narrative. By introducing new characters and expanding on familiar ones, the author paints a broader portrait of a society shaped by rigid Victorian morality—one that left little room for empathy, particularly toward women. As a result, many characters in this book emerge as villains, wholly capable of inflicting suffering on defenseless women, even to the point of murder.

The mystery itself is well-constructed and convincing, seamlessly linking elements from the first book with new developments. While much of the resolution unfolds in the final chapters, the fact that nearly anyone could be a suspect keeps the tension high and the pages turning from the very beginning.

Beyond the mystery, the book is also a triumph of historical immersion. The author once again demonstrates her expertise in the Victorian era, weaving her knowledge into the narrative effortlessly. The result is an atmospheric and vividly realized setting that enhances the story at every turn.

Technically, one could read The Surgeon’s House without having finished The Small Museum, but I’d strongly recommend treating it as a sequel rather than a companion novel. The events of the first book provide crucial context, and not knowing them would mean missing out on much of the story’s depth.

Ultimately, The Surgeon’s House pulled me in, delivering everything I hope for in historical mystery fiction—a fast-paced plot, compelling characters, an authentic sense of time and place, and a well-crafted, satisfying intrigue. Highly recommended!.

A Gothic tale of crime, punishment, superstition and Victorian attitudes to women. It starts with the murder of the cook who works in a house for unmarried mothers and their children, founded by Rebecca Harris and her husband. They aim to give the residents a happy, peaceful life, but is all as it seems? Dr Threlfell is their physician.

There’s a real sense of the prevailing attitude to deviance from the expected rules of society, especially by women. This was a time when trepanning, drilling a hole in a the skull , was a fashionable cure for madness and women had few rights.

Although this book is a companion to The Small Museum it works well as a standalone.