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)
more
I had a hard time getting into this book, the beginning was so realistic, and scary, I can’t even imagine, but that being said I didn’t know where we were going with the story, but quickly found out!
There is greed here, and surprises happen right up until the last page is turned, keep turning those pages.
Sadly, this story is based on true crimes, and when you think of this actually happening, and when the need is not met, well, just add a few!
When I was reading this story, I felt I was in old Europe, but no this is 1820’s Massachusetts!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.
The third installment in the series, True Colors : Historical Stories of American Crime is one of shock and dismay. I have heard talk about movies where body snatchers were involved, but I had no idea that this practice was true until
I read this story.
Josephine is the focus of this story where she is forced to be part of
a horrible plot to steal dead bodies. My heart broke as she felt she
had no choice but to agree to help. She wanted to free her father
from people who threatened to take everything from him. She felt like
she had no choice even though it was against everything she believed in.
The story does raise the question of how far you are willing
to go in order to save a loved one. Josephine was spared from
death but I think she died a little inside each time she had
to do the unthinkable. I did enjoy her friendship with Braham.
His obvious attraction to Josephine is perhaps what helped
her to finally realize she could not carry out any more body snatching.
The author provides a great history lesson about cotton mills
during this time period. Women working in conditions that
were dangerous as machines broke down seemed to be an
everyday occurrence. There was little pay for these women
and accidents seemed to happen more frequently. It was a perfect
breeding ground for death and an opportunity for body snatchers
to meet their needs.
I loved trying to figure out who was the mastermind behind
this unthinkable plot to steal dead bodies. It was interesting
to learn that doctors used these bodies to do medical research on.
Another intriguing part of the story was the use of mixing
herbs to help heal the sick during this time. There are so many plants
and herbs today that have helped the medical field and to read
its use during the early 1820’s was inspiring.
The story is indeed hard to grasp at times but the author
does a great job of giving readers questions to ask themselves.
Did Josie trust God enough to help her? Why would a father put
his daughter in such danger? “The love of money is the root of all evil,”
as the scripture says is very relevant in this story. Money was at
the center of this crime and it devoured many people who gave into greed.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion
My Thoughts on The Yellow Lantern:
Such a gripping story. I could never have come up with this storyline and really I’m not sure I would have wanted to. But I could not put this book down. It was so so good!
As a nurse, I know that even now we study cadavers for what they can offer the medical community. But I can’t imagine going and stealing a body from a freshly dug grave. Just the thought makes me shudder. But to have died, been buried, and dug up and then still be alive? Oh my goodness!
Josie is a sweet spirit who really just wants to heal. She is thrust into other aspects of healing though that she hadn’t counted on. Why is her father now making her take on body snatching to her list of accomplishments? And why can’t she just go back to being herself?
I enjoyed getting to know Josie. Her character is multi-faceted and I loved getting to know each bit of her. The story is brilliant. Who can really guess who the head body snatcher is? I mean this was a pretty good one! It took me a bit to put all the pieces together but it was very much worth it.
Josie or Josephine. No matter what she’s called she is still the same person within. She wants to heal and to help. But can she get away from the body snatchers and the Dr? Or is the true danger only beginning?
Braham seems to be a wonderful character. He also has many layers and facets that I really would love more time to delve into. I’m sure a book on his early life could be written and I’d read it! He’s very conscientious about the mill that he has been left to manage after his mentor passes away. But can he keep his position amid the jealousy of his mentor’s son?
Can Josie and Braham have any chance of a relationship together besides boss and hire? Will Braham trust Josie when the truth comes out? Will the truth set them all free or merely hasten their death?
You’re going to love getting to know all of the characters in this book. The author is wonderful and knows how to layout a spellbinding story. Trust me when I say you will not want to put this book down. This entire series is so much more than I ever imagined. True crime stories brought to life as fiction. I cannot wait to see what comes next for this series!
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
I am a huge fan of this author and her work. She always does careful research to ensure that her stories are as accurate as possible. I have read about mill girls in the past but this put a whole new spin on it. I have never read about grave robbers. However, I was intrugied when I read the story summary. Josephine Clay, has been a doctor’s assistant for a long time – so she was surprised to awake on the table – about to become medical research. She is able to strike a deal, and she ultimately becomes the look out for grave robbers. This book is so well researched. I felt like I learned so much while I was reading. The author has written amazing characters that feel like they are out of a page of a history textbook. Her storyline is a page turner. You will want to keep on reading. If you like based on true history stories, this book is for you.
I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program. All thoughts are my own.
A jarring opening scene, discomfiting, unnerving.
The reader is immediately thrust into Josie’s mind—and her belief that she is dead. It can only get better from there, right?
A morbid practice that this reviewer hasn’t seen broached in fiction before. A tale wrapped around fear and darkness and desperation, this story kept me reading. The twists kept me guessing. The attraction between Josie and Braham blossomed in the face of darkness, in spite of the resistance they both tried valiantly to put up. The times they were alone together, however, seemed unfitting to the era, a time when even the most innocent discourse was chaperoned. But the circumstances superseded society and protocol.
This reviewer certainly felt the conflict Josie bore—secrets to hide barring her from accepting even the friendship of her coworkers; her angst and dread weighed her every moment.
Braham, too, strives against his past, and I could identify all too well with the damage to his self-esteem.
In Josie and Braham, Ms. Dicken has given each exactly what the other needs, and has crafted a poignant love story in the midst of a despicable practice and an evil plot.
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
FOUR FEATHERS
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day-on-Saturday, #TRD, Book Review, The Yellow Lantern, Angie Dicken, True Colors Series—Fiction Based on Strange-But-True History, #TrueColorsSeries
The Yellow Lantern by Author Angie Dickens is Book 3 in the True Colors, Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime Series. Each book in this series is based on a true historical crime. This one is extremely haunting and I find myself still thinking about it. There was much to consider in this Christian fiction.
My interest was immediately piqued and held throughout the book. There were many twists, turns, and surprises that made this book a page turner. It was well planned and well written.
This was the story of Josephine (Josie) Clayton set in 1824 Massachusetts. It is a gritty tale of grave robbers but much more. Josie loves healing and using medicinal herbs and plants. She works at a cotton mill and helps out the girls there. I learned a lot about the early cotton mill as well as thoughts, actions, and customs of early 1800’s. The author has done her research well and readers are rewarded.
Descriptions are vivid and on point. The characters are believable but not all relatable. A few were detestable. Morals had vanished in some but not all. Inspiration is delicately woven throughout this scary story. There is romance, intrigue, crime, mystery, grief, drama, suspense and many life lessons.
This book was made even better knowing it was based on a true story. It was hard to comprehend the lengths some people went to when they wanted something. I felt sorry for those being blackmailed.
I would recommend this to readers that enjoy true historical crimes and gothic novels. It is not what I normally read, but the author did a very good job. I rated it 4 out of 5 stars. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit but these are my honest thoughts.
The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken is book three in the True Colors of Crime series. While I enjoyed the first two and can’t wait for the fourth one, The Gray Chamber, The Yellow Lantern didn’t catch my attention as much. It was pretty dry and didn’t capture float my attention. The premise was interesting, but Dicken spent too much time setting up the story like a Regency romance novel that I think the suspense element got kind of overlooked. Of course, the happily ever after ending happened between the main hero and heroine, but I wanted a lot more for the suspense element since this is what the series is being advertised as. Overall, The Yellow Lantern by Dicken promised to be something wonderful, but turned into something a little dry and not that suspenseful. Even though this edition didn’t work for me, I still can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken is a Christian historical crime novel that has its base in fact. Angie Dicken has used her imagination to weave her marvellous tale.
The book surrounds the topic of grave robbing to serve medical advances. This was rife in the United States and England in the nineteenth century. The tale is set in 1824. It was a horrific practice from which the leaders of it became wealthy while the poor did the despicable acts. The Yellow Lantern is part of the True Colors Crime series.
There is the theme of trust. Trust does not come easy when it is the wicked who wield the power.
There are times when the only thing we can do is to pray. “I have not forgotten You, Lord. But where are You in all this?” The world seems so black that even God seems absent but he is not. He has promised to never leave us.
It is important to make time for God in our lives. “Her garden… had been a footstall for prayer and praise.” We all need that place where we can connect with God. When we are close to Him, we can experience true joy. “A prayer burst in her heart.”
There are some kind and gentle hearts in the novel, hearts that seek to do good at all times.
Traditional medicine was supplemented with herbal remedies that had been passed down through the generations.
For me, the novel seemed reminiscent of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights as there was a very similar family dynamic.
The Yellow Lantern was an entertaining, though horrifying read especially so as it was based on historical fact.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
I had vaguely heard of grave robbing previously but this novel put a different spin on it. The opening chapter gave me chills as I learned the main character, Josephine Clayton, had been thought dead then buried. But she was dug up by grave robbers and brought to Dr. Chadwick. She awoke just as he was about to cut her open!
Relentless for the money they made, the grave diggers or resurrectionists as they were sometimes called, even went so far as to help an ailing person on to their “reward”.
It took a network of people to carry it off. The doctor wanted bodies to dissect and learn from and paid or blackmailed others to do the literally “dirty” work. Josephine eventually healed from her illness but was blackmailed by the doctor to replace her body with another. Her father got involved and she was afraid he would be murdered if she didn’t do as she was told. But it went against every moral fiber of her being.
I felt for Josie as she was soon to be called. She faced lots of stress as did her boss, Braham, at the mill factory where she was placed to work and wait for injuries or death from various fellow workers. There was lots of intrigue and suspense as each page was turned. It’s a work that was not easy to put down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next and would Josie make it out of her “grave” predicament. It’s a part of the True Colors, historical stories of American crime. All based on actual crimes with bits of truth woven among the fiction. A great read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
For some unknown reason, I expected The Yellow Lantern to be a book about the underground railroad. Imagine my surprise when I began reading to find Josie waking up just as she is about to become the next specimen for a doctor’s illegal research. From that point on Josie’s life is not her own as she attempts to fulfill the agreement with the doctor that spared her life.
A tale of body snatchers and manipulation, The Yellow Lantern held me spellbound from its beginning to the very end. Characters were easy for me to identify with and were quite well-rounded. The story is riddled with secrets and deception with a few unexpected twists along the way. The importance of making the right choice is strongly emphasized in this suspenseful story based on true crimes.
I am quite happy that the subject matter was not what I expected. I loved this unique tale and recommend it to everyone who enjoys their suspense with a different angle.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
You will walk away from this one feeling satiated from the gothic feel and murder, mystery, and suspense. The Historical aspect of the cotton mills and what a difficult job it was for the young ladies is well done. How creepy that this is actually based on true crime. Angie Dickens brings this story to life with her knack for captivating you from the first paragraph and keeping the story moving. I had goose bumps. Josephine has you from the first and you will be sympathetic from the start. Alfred Hitchcock would have loved to put this on film. The twists and turns are like a lonely, dark, crooked lane through the woods. The concept of these Historical Stories Of American Crime are brilliant and kudos to the authors for doing a splendid job of bringing them to life. I recommend reading but not at bedtime. 🙂
I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken is part of the True Colors series which are fictional stories based on true American crime. Having read the first couple books in the series, The White City and The Pink Bonnet, I was looking forward to reading The Yellow Lantern and was not disappointed. The author drew me in immediately as in the first few pages she describes the near-death experience of a young woman thought to be dead. Set in a small Massachusetts village during the early 1820s, the book tells the story of a woman caught in a dreadful and wicked web of deceit and grave-robbing. Death had led Josie and her father down a dark path into the hands of dangerous and ruthless individuals. Would the nightmare ever end and justice prevail? Would her passion for healing lead to her purpose in life or would evil thwart her destiny? The author brings an exciting edge-of-the-seat climax to this historical fiction account of the illegal practice of body-snatching. The characters are realistic and either likable, relatable, or despicable. Dialogue flowed seamlessly without sounding forced. I had a hard time putting the book down. The story pulls on the reader’s emotions, shock and horror, anger and revenge, sorrow and compassion. It is a book that kept my interest and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Barbour Publishing and CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.
The Yellow Lantern is the third book in the series True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime by three different authors. Angie Dicken’s fictionalized account of the actual crime of robbing graves for medical experimentation and research sparked my interest even as the horror of it made me cringe. I’d heard of “body snatchers”, but I’ve never really thought much about them. Dicken’s obvious research into the subject added realism to the story, which took place in Massachusetts in 1824.
I enjoyed the growing relationship between Braham and Josie as they got to know each other. It was a bright spot in an otherwise quite dark, gothic story. Josie’s heart for healing and her compassion drew me to her, and I could feel her distress at her unsolvable dilemma. I had a little difficulty keeping track of all the different characters in this tale, but it was fun to see this author try her hand at another genre. She captured the atmosphere of the time and circumstances well. With twists and turns and a few surprises along the way, I was kept guessing at the outcome to the very end. I’m looking forward to reading more of her stories in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the author/Barbour Publishing. All opinions are my own.
I read some of the reviews that were not real good for this book but here is my opinions. The first of the book pulled me in pretty quickly. To be real sick then wake up and they are planning on YOU being the next corpse where they can do research on you. Pretty scary! I had heard of body snatchers but this is my first time to read a book about it. I like the characters and enjoyed reading about the mill and the girls that were so willing (well most of them) to work for various reasons. Josephine wasn’t willing but thought she had to because of her father being what he was. And she needed a body to take her place. Lies and deception was what her life had become. Read and find out what her father actually needed.
This true crime historical fiction was very interesting because I love to read stories that are based on real events or people.
This has been a fantastic series of books. I have loved every one of them. This one is a bit spooky because who would go around stealing bodies. I know in the long run that maybe some good came out of doing research on dead bodies but it was too bad that there was not a better way to accomplish this goal. I really enjoyed the characters. I loved that some were good and others could be down right nasty. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit and Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
This was a very interesting read. Definitely a good one to read around Halloween, heh!
I didn’t know anything about grave robbing so found it particularly interesting — maybe I would have enjoyed it even more if I did know something about it? That could go either way!
The twist/climax certainly caught me by surprise, as well. Always a good sign.
This fascinating novel is third in Barbour’s multi-author series “True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime”. It is exciting, with characters defined through actions, conversations, and thoughts. It is based on actual crimes in general in the early 1800’s that anyone desperate for money to help a loved one, could fall into. It is written with skill and sensitivity.
Josephine awakens to find Dr. Chadwick, who she works for as an assistant, ready to plunge a knife into her. The fact that she was alive stuns him, and he tries to talk her into letting him finish the deed as she won’t survive the illness she has. She was dead for 24 hours and her father already grieves her. Chadwick is doing research he thought he could only accomplish by stealing bodies of people who had just died.
Alvin, her father’s hired hand, comes in and sees Josephine alive. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her and reminds Chadwick he knows where the empty graves are. Chadwick leaves her to the cellar to recover. Her father visited once and said that he and Alvin have a plan to get him out of a mess and she had to trust Alvin. He said he committed a terrible wrong, that murderers were after him and only Josephine could save him.
Mr. Bates, Sr. successfully owned and ran a factory in Gloughton, Massachusetts, to process cotton fibers from his plantation in Georgia. Mr. Bates became the legal guardian of Braham when his father died at the plantation where they were indentured. When Mr. Bates died, he left ownership of the mill and the plantation to his son, Gerald. Braham would manage the factory. Gerald has always hated Braham and continues to treat him as a servant.
Alvin brings Josephine, now called Josie, to this factory to get a job. Braham hired her, unaware that accidental deaths of women in the mill attracted the attention of grave robbers. That is what Alvin expects Josie to help with – when people die, she will hold the lantern for him as he digs up the grave, then refill it. As a healer using herbs as her mother taught her, the idea is abhorrent, yet she has to save her father. Despite the growing attraction between Braham and Josie, she tries to do her job and stay quiet. Until the first woman is injured in an accident and Josie treats the woman with herbs and salves, gaining Braham’s respect.
I like Josie/Josephine and her struggle with her faith even when thinking God wants nothing more to do with her. Braham is a good man, also a believer, yet he seems almost too emotional with regards to Josie. Her healing skills, her help with the late Mr. Bates’ sister who is dying, and what he sees as her goodness appeals to him even though people start to talk.
Along with challenges to their faith and their places in the world, there is a complex mystery. How injuries keep occurring, what is causing the severe illness of some of the women that Josie and the local apothecary are treating, and who is behind the growing grave robbing scheme make this a compelling read. I like the frequent, varied references to the lantern lights. The end holds more than one surprise, and all loose ends are tied up. I highly recommend it to Christian women who appreciate the underlying spiritual themes, mystery, history, and romance.
From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this from the publisher and CelebrateLit, and this is my honest review.
This is a book with some horrid but unfortunately true historical facts. Josie is a very unpredictable survivor of loss, tragedy, deception and manipulation. This story moves quickly as evil constantly threatens and everyone is suspect. Is anyone safe? Angie Dickens gives many surprises as the truth is finally revealed.
As the story closes, it alludes to a happy ending without spoiling it with too much detail. One of my favorite sections said, “The wind had little strength compared to the anticipation that flooded every corner of her heart. Braham’s soft brown eyes danced with all she felt-a love so light, as pure as cotton, with not one stand of tangled web.”
A very good book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I received a complimentary copy of his book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken is very unusual in the sense that it is part of the book series called True Colors-fiction based on strange-but-true history. It starts out in 1824, Josephine Clayton is considered dead but she is alive. Shockingly, she is forced to spy for grave robbers!
That in itself is a topic new to me.
Josie gets caught up in a scheme, only to help save her father’s life, by submitting to going to the newly buried grave sites to pretend to be a mourner while the body snatcher does his work. It may sound morbid but I found this book to be so interesting and informative. (It actually made me wonder about today’s burials).
There is some clean romance between Josie and her mill manager Braham. She is forced to work at the mill so she is nearby the cemetery due to all the factory “accidents”.
Josie has a wonderful gift for providing medical remedies that she learned from her mother and her desire is to help others which she does quite well.
This is the third book in the True Colors series and I’m looking forward to reading the next ones. It was hard to put down this book at night since sleep didn’t seem as important to me as reading the next chapter, etc!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
This story had me on the edge of my seat the whole way, always with a sense of foreboding, a sense that something – or someone – bad, was waiting around the corner. Josie, a young woman with a heart for healing, is caught up in a web of death, and body snatching. Will she be pulled in all the way? Or will she be able to pull herself out and find someone to believe in her? I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. These are my own honest thoughts and opinions.