A review by arachan
Surgeons' Hall by E.S. Thomson

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I will confess that I got most of the way through this book without realizing the main character was a woman.  I had noticed her burgeoning romance with Will Quartermain or at least the signs of a 'will they, won't they' story-arc but I had wondered if it was intentionally queer or if Jem might be a transman.  I think Jem could still be read that way without much difficulty in this book.  I haven't read the rest of the series but maybe it's more obvious there?  The romantic underpinning is very slight and mostly background so that shouldn't be a turnoff.  The murder story is very interesting and there are several twists.