Forced to Spy for Grave Robbers True Colors – Fiction Based on Strange-But-True History In 1824, Josephine Clayton is considered dead by everyone in her Massachusetts village–especially the doctor she has assisted for several months. Yet, she is still very much alive. After the doctor’s illegal dealing with his body snatcher to obtain her body, Josephine awakens, positioned as the next … Josephine awakens, positioned as the next corpse for his research. To cover up his crime, the doctor tries to kill her, but Josephine begs to be spared. They strike a deal–Josephine will leave her village and work at a distant cotton mill. All the while, she’ll await her true mission–posing as a mourner to help the body snatcher procure her replacement.
At the mill though, Josephine is praised for her medical remedies among the other female workers, gaining attention from the handsome factory manager, Braham Taylor. Yet, when Braham’s own loved one becomes the prey for the next grave robbing, Josie must make a choice that could put her dark past behind her or steal away the promise of any future at all.
What price will Josie pay for love when her secrets begin to unravel?
More from the True Colors Series
The White City by Grace Hitchcock (March 2019)
The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma (June 2019)
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The Yellow Lantern: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime by Angie Dicken was a very interesting book. The year is 1824 and Josie Clay is no longer assisting the doctor she once worked for but instead is being forced to help him steal corpses from the grave for medical research purposes. She is forced into doing this to protect her father from debtor’s prison and from some unsavory characters who want the money they loaned him and will stop at nothing to recover the money. Loved the characters, the mill setting, and the women’s boarding house where the women live
The Yellow Lantern is part of the True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime series. It tells the story of Josephine Clayton in 1824 Massachusetts. Josie works for Dr Chadwick and finds herself in danger. To survive, she has to go undercover as a spy in a mill. This leads her to a level of deceitfulness she needs to get away from. Will she ever be able to have a life of normalcy?
I liked The Yellow Lantern. I did not find it predictable and was often wondering what would happen next. They were a few scenes that were a little slow but the suspense made me to keep reading. It quickly picked up and I could not put it down.
I give The Yellow Lantern four stars. I received this book to readers who enjoy clean fiction based on true events. I look forward to more by Angie Dicken in the future.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
“What price will Josie pay for love when her secrets begin to unravel?”
They call them grave robbers, body snatchers or resurrectionists. Those, who after the burial, stole a body in the middle of the night to perform medical procedures, all in the name of research. Or who killed when death was eminent, to quickly fill their need for a fresh body. It’s the unfortunate gruesome piece of our American history that I learned about in The Yellow Lantern. While it wasn’t my favorite subject to read about, Angie Dickens writing was superb and brought this era to life.
It’s a combination of fledgling love, a reluctant heroine forced to fulfill a need, an unaware cotton mill owner hero, and undertones of a gothic nature where you don’t know who to trust or believe. The last half of the book picked up the pace for me as it was a case of I-need-to-know-what-happens-right-now! I can’t say it had me glued to the pages throughout the whole book, but it certainly did at the end when all the pieces came together in a surprising manner.
I’ve only read this book in the True Colors (American Crime) series and I can’t wait to read the others.
*I received a complimentary copy of this from the author and I was not obligated to leave a favorable review. *
I have enjoyed all of the books in this series, The Yellow Lantern is no exception. To think that this is based on activity that took place in our history is a bit chilling. I loved learning about the fabric mills and the shady/illegal operations of parts of the medical community in the 1820s. The story pulled it all together with strong characters.
I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I was very blessed to receive this book as a Arc copy and getting the chance to read it before everyone else I really like this book due to the history setting I love being able to be taken back in a time but I was not around and reading about what things went through this book really opened my eyes to know what some people had to do just survive definitely an eye-opener author did a wonderful job writing it