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Small Museum: A Chilling Historical Mystery Set Against the Gothic Backdrop of Victorian London
Small Museum: A Chilling Historical Mystery Set Against the Gothic Backdrop of Victorian London | Jody Cooksley
1 post | 2 read
A shiver thrilled my spine at the thought of what might be contained in collections to be kept away from ordinary eyes ... London, 1873. Madeleine Brewster's marriage to Dr Lucius Everley was meant to be the solution to her family's sullied reputation. After all, Lucius is a well-respected collector of natural curiosities. His 'Small Museum' of bones and specimens in jars is his pride and joy, although firmly kept under lock and key. His sister Grace's philanthropic work with fallen women is also highly laudable, at first glance. However, Maddie soon finds herself unwelcome in what is meant to be her new home. The more she learns about both Lucius and Grace, the more she suspects that unimaginable horrors lie behind their polished reputations. Framed for a crime that would take her to the gallows and leave the Everleys free to continue their dark schemes, Maddie's only hope is her friend Caroline. She will do anything to prove Maddie's innocence before the trial reaches its fatal conclusion.
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London, 1873 & Madeleine Brewster's marriage to Dr Lucius Everley is hastily arranged to assuage the tide of rejection & ill-feeling from their neighbours. Ever since Maddie's older sister left home under a cloud of suspicion, the Brewsters have been ostracised & Maddie's marriage is their passport back to respectability but it means Maddie moving to London far from her family to where she knows no-one. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Lucius is solemn & secretive, working in his 'Small Museum' as a collector of natural curiosities, & consumed with finding the evidence to prove his evolutionary theory. He doesn't seem all that interested in Maddie - his sister, Grace, spends more time with him than his wife. The house is also odd with two sullen servants, the Barkers, & odd noises at night, like crying infants but whenever she mentions anything, everyone denies hearing them. 1d
OutsmartYourShelf Pushing to find the truth, Maddie finds herself accused of a hideous crime & on trial for her life.

I read this one as I received the sequel as an ARC, so wanted to get an idea of the story. I would say that you really do need to read this one first, there's a lot going on. It was a very dark, almost gothic, read with a possible haunting & furtive servants. The narrative alternates between Maddie's early marriage & scenes from the court case.
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OutsmartYourShelf I mostly enjoyed it apart from one thing which happened at the end which really irked me. Although there is nothing really graphic here, there are some upsetting themes (please see TWs below). 4🌟

TWs: death of a child, death of a parent, animal death, misogyny, & gaslighting.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7568002022
Read 15th-17th May 2025

#ReadAway2025 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
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DieAReader 💖💖💖 1d
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