A review by jessreadthis
The Dead Shall Not Rest by K.W. Jeter, Tessa Harris

1.0

I am being charitable with my rating... I truly loathe giving bad reviews. I read the first in the series and found it to be a pleasant enough book. Thinking the second in the series might be the same, I purchased it (sigh.. wish I hadn't) and read it in the course of a day. The storyline crossed the line into the fantasy genre on more than one occasion. By the middle of the book, the word ridiculous came to my mind on many occasions. I was tempted to stop the madness but figured I was halfway through... I might as well finish the book. The only positive thing that I found from the book was it made me want to research Dr Hunter and his contributions to science a little further.

Dr T. Silkstone returns and is secretly seeing his love Lydia until the time is appropriate for them to announce their engagement. Somehow (because Lydia has always loved the traveling sideshow that is allowed at the edge of her father's property??)Lydia becomes involved with Count Josef Boruwalski, a dwarf. The count convinces the headliner of the show, 8 foot tall Charles Byrne to come with him and Lydia. (I still don't know why/how this came about.) Anyway...Charles goes with them, is suffering from advanced tuberculosis, and doesn't want to die until his dead father's name is cleared. Lydia, the count, and Thomas all decide to help him (why.. I guess because we are to assume they are good people and are looking for a charitable project?)
Suddenly, Lydia breaks off their engagement and doesn't want to see Thomas. {spoiler- she even tries to kill herself it is so bad. Thomas is distraught but also involved in a murder investigation that includes the death of a castrato who has had his larynx surgically removed. An innocent man languishes in prison and Thomas is making every effort to use science to solve the case. Hindering his progress, is rival John Hunter who will stop at nothing to be the dissect the giant Charles Byrne on his death. Body snatching is not out of the question.

I will stop there.. because my own head is spinning at this review. So many story lines knotted together in an attempt that the eccentric, interesting characters will create an original tale. It is original, but so haphazardly thrown together. Probably one of the bigger disappointments for me this reading year.