The Small Museum by Jody Cooksley (Allison & Busby)

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.

4/5