The Impossible Girl

by Lydia Kang

Two hearts. Twice as vulnerable.

Manhattan, 1850. Born out of wedlock to a wealthy socialite and a nameless immigrant, Cora Lee can mingle with the rich just as easily as she can slip unnoticed into the slums and graveyards of the city. As the only female resurrectionist in New York, she’s carved out a niche procuring bodies afflicted with the strangest of anomalies. Anatomists will pay exorbitant sums for such specimens—dissecting and displaying them for the eager public.

Cora’s specialty is not only profitable, it’s a means to keep a finger on the pulse of those searching for her. She’s the girl born with two hearts—a legend among grave robbers and anatomists—sought after as an endangered prize.

Now, as a series of murders unfolds closer and closer to Cora, she can no longer trust those she holds dear, including the young medical student she’s fallen for. Because someone has no intention of waiting for Cora to die a natural death.

• ISBN10: 1503903389
• ISBN13: 9781503903388
• Publish Date: 18 September 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Amazon Publishing
• Imprint: Lake Union Publishing
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 364
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

I absolutely loved Cora, who lives both as a young man named Jacob and as his sister Cora. She is a shrewd businesswoman with an extensive knowledge of medicine, anatomy and apporapthy. Kang gave us a delightful glimpse of New York, its immigrants, and the seedy side of medical advancements. 

The rich locked their loved one's caskets and set guards but doctors treating patients kept folks like Cora informed as they all padded their pockets. Cora herself watches locals with strange afflictions and waits their passing...but someone is killing off these people and their bodies are turning up at the university and museums.

Between the mystery of the killings and the rumours circulating about a girl with two-hearts the storyline was intense with dark and sometimes gritty turns. What made this a five cups of coffee for me were the characters from those on Cora's gravedigger team too a young medical student named Flinn. I adored Flinn as able to see the real Cora. 

This story had it all, twists, double twists, swoons and character growth.  All of which transported me as I dashed around the city with Cora.

As an added twist we are given the perspective of each of the victims around the time of their death. It was chilling and brilliant.

Saskia Maarleveld is a fantastic narrator, and in fact she is the reason I listened to The Impossible Girl. She did a splendid job capturing Cora, Jacob, the Uncle, and Finn. I loved that she gave unique voices to all the secondary characters capturing their mannerisms and accents. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer