Customer Reviews: Read 36 more reviews...
 Very Good Historical Thriller! November 19, 2008
The Bone Garden starts off in the present day. Julia Hammill is clearing the garden of her new house in the outskirts of Boston, when she uncovers some old bones. When the experts are called in, it is discovered that they date back to the 1830s. Through contact with a relative of the previous owner of the house, the story of how the bones got there is slowly revealed.
Set mainly in the year 1830, this novel gives a depressing and graphic look at the harshness of life back in that era, particularly in the area of childbirth, were the lack of decent hygiene, led to many, many unnecessary deaths. If that wasn't bad enough, in this story, a serial killer, is murdering nurses who have worked on the maternity ward, of the Boston hospital, were the novel is set.
I have to admit I have an interest in history, so it was the parts of the novel, that were set in 1830, that held my attention the most. The story has some very good and interesting characters, in particular, poor immigrant Rose Connolly, and struggling medical student Norris Marshall, whose lives are greatly affected by actions of the serial killer.
What I particularly enjoyed about this novel was that as it progressed, the story became more and more interesting, and the characters grew, so by the end, I did not want it to finish. Graphic, and very depressing in parts, but certainly worth a read.
 Disappointing and repetitive November 11, 2008
I scanned the reviews here looking for someone else who found the repetition of blood spots, stains, ragged hems, cracked leather shoes and above all that, oysters, but no one appears to have picked up on that. Oysters, heaven help us, you would think people in Boston at that time ate nothing else. Buffet evening, oysters, in the scrofulous inns, oysters, way too many of them being consumed. I doubt there was an oyster bed left at that time if we are to believe Ms Gerritson.
I found the 'padding' of information about Oliver Wendell Holmes to be out of sync with the story. OK so she wanted to tell us about medical practice, but really, it was done as lectures, not as part of the story and as such stood out as padding. I am sure the editor said 'Tess, you can make this book a third as long again if you throw in all your OWH research' so she did. The strict rule is, (I know this as an historical novelist) you do not allow the reader to know how much research you have done. That is your foundation, not the backbone of your story. The story was the buried skeleton. At times that is totally overlooked. The somewhat flamboyant and OTT descriptions of the West End Reaper were suspect, the interplay between Julia and Henry in modern times at the beginning were not believable - he asked her to go, she went, they snapped at each other, no, sorry, it doesn't work like that. So, overall, the feeling was 'I need to write another book, I have all this information, I know ...' and it didn't work. This is my first Gerritson book and accordingly, it will be my last. I got it on Smiths '2 for 1' offer so my hard earned money went on a book I really did enjoy, not this one. This will hit either ebay or the charity shop any time soon.
Entertaining November 7, 2008
You can pretty much rely on Tess Gerritsen to weave a good tale (although I really didn't like 'The Mephisto Club) and this one is no exception. However, the theme, to my mind, is rather played out now. I had earlier read 'The Resurrectionist' and, for a while, I thought I was back into that book: student doctor finding cadavers on which to experiment back in the early 1800s, falling foul of a murky group of wealthy individuals. Then, we have the interweaving of current day events linking us to that period in 1832 by, surprise, surprise, somebody randomly digging up human remains.
Most of the story is set in the 19th. century and it's no worse for that. The characters were more sympathetic than those to be found in the other book I mentioned and it is, in its own way, an endearing story of strength and determination amidst terrible social odds. But all is not what it appears to be and it seems rather churlish for the author to kill off perhaps the most sympathetic of them all. But there we are. It's a good paperback read. I gather the next book is a return to safer ground with Dr. Maura Isles.
 Tess Gerritsen, The Bone Garden November 5, 2008
I absolutely loved this book. I have read all her previous novels and enjoyed them. Like others i was suprised that Maura Isles part in this was very small, but from the moment I picked it up I couldn't put it down. This was unusal for me as I normally just read on my train journey to and from work, I don't get the chance to read at home with 2 children. I had just finished a Karen Rose book (equally brilliant)so was still thinking about it when I started this book. I quickly forgot it. Something about this book was quite gripping and I found myself reading it late at night. I was, and still am, sad that I have finished it, hopefully some of the characters will be in her future books. I wont write about the story line as others have done this already. Needless to say, it sounds a bit dull, set in the 1800's in Boston, but it is not dull at all. I absolutely cannot recommend this book enough. It is so much better than the recent efforts from Patricia Cornwall and Linda Fairstein, so I am glad that Tess Gerritsen is still writing so well.
The Bone Garden October 9, 2008
I have only read one other Tess Gerritsen book Body Double,and I enjoyed it very much.
When i read the back of The Bone Garden i felt captivated by it straight away, its the best book ive read all year and would recommend it to anyone.
I really felt for Norris and Rose,and even when i had finished this book it played on my mind for days, which i feel is always the sign of a great book.
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