Genre: Historical, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Lesbian
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Two men become friends in a graveyard in this moving novel of love, loss, and redemption.
Arthur Tor steals the dead for a living. As a resurrection man, he creeps around graveyards with his shovel, hoping to dig up corpses so he can sell them to the local medical college and pay his tuition there. He also holds a strange position in underground society. If someone is dying a slow, painful death, the family members come to Arthur and beg him to end their loved one’s pain. Arthur can never refuse, and he helps the dying painlessly cross the threshold in a process he calls the Black Rounds. Unfortunately, a local judge has gotten wind of Arthur’s activities and has sworn to send him to prison—or the hangman’s noose.
Jesse Fair has fled his corrupt family in Baltimore and landed in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he becomes the town gravedigger and undertaker, and he works hard to help grieving families through their pain with warmth and compassion. Some families make odd requests for their dearly departed, and Jesse discovers that the undertaker must often deal with the absurd side of death. But his venomous family is still searching for him. Relentlessly. And once they find him, Jesse will have to make a terrible choice.
When Jesse catches Arthur in the act of robbing a grave, the two of them form a strange friendship and even stranger partnership that digs deep into social taboos—and into their own souls.
In his first book since the critically acclaimed novel The Importance of Being Kevin, Steven Harper spins a heartfelt, uplifting story of suspense, life, and love against the backdrop of a Michigan town at the edge of the frontier.
The Review
During the late 1800’s, when the University of Michigan Medical School ran low on cadavers, Arthur Tor became a “resurrection man.” When cadavers aren’t readily available, Arthur goes to the cemetery and seeks out freshly dug graves. Grave robbing is dangerous, and if caught, the penalty is harsh.
Attending the University on a scholarship, he’s determined to be a doctor. Of course, Doc Naegele and Dr. James Herdmann are well aware of what Arthur does. Cadavers are needed to provide first hand experience in anatomy, and most of them are that of paupers and prisoners.
Jesse Fair is a gravedigger at the Hamilton Cemetery in Ypsilanti. He lives in a little shed at the cemetery and knows where every grave is. During a burial, he immediately recognizes Arthur as a resurrection man, and he’s pretty sure he can extort money (or something els)e from Arthur. When the two men strike a deal, a friendship starts to form.
Jesse eventually gets to witness what Arthur goes through after a “Dark Round.” Arthur also inspires Jesse to want to do better, and so he takes on a new job, going to work for Mr. McKay, the furniture seller/undertaker.
Arthur and Jesse come from two very different stations in life. Jesse is from a wealthy family. He had everything, except support and love from his family, especially his mother. The life that his mother had planned out for him was not the one he wanted, and so he ran away.
Arthur’s family struggled. He was loved, but he lost his mother, brother and sweet sister, Sally. His father worked and drank but had no other desires or ambitions. Arthur, at the age of twelve, watched his sister suffer, and made a decision that filled him with a guilt that darkens his soul.
All is not safe for Arthur. Judge Harold Winter holds a long time vendetta against the University, especially Dr. Herdmann and Doc Naegele. The Judge also has Constable Turner watching Arthur closely. Winter is looking for any reason to close down the school, and also wants to destroy Arthur in the process.
Jesse has to deal with his mother, Vanessa Fair, and his brother Michael. They’ve come to drag him back to Baltimore, by any means necessary.
Jesse and Arthur’s lives are threatened and placed in danger. Will they be able to escape from those who want to ruin them and destroy what they have found with each other?
Harper’s Resurrection Men pulled me in right from the start. I loved all of the historical details, and how the medical school, grave diggers, “resurrection men,” and undertakers were all tied together. This is a very well written, detailed and descriptive story, right down to the study of anatomy and the embalming process.
It’s filled with danger and suspense, hatred, grudges, humiliation, manipulation, bribery, and homophobia. And poor Arthur gets caught in the middle of it all. He did nothing wrong, and is always willing to come to anyone’s aid.
I really liked the relationship between Arthur and Jesse. It’s beautiful, emotional and romantic. There are also moments of doubt and heartache, and hope for a forever after.
There are also several great secondary character heres: Billy Cakes, who Jesse took under his wing and gave Billy an opportunity to help his family. Olive Bentwood and Matilda Jones, who are very important and a second romance in the novel. Matilda also bring the historic Ypsi-Ann railroad connection into the story. Kelvin McKay and his wife, who gave Jesse a new job and a new experience. Richard Bellford, a friend to Arthur. And the demise of Michael Fair and the sadness it brings.
I highly recommend Resurrection Men – a great mix of historical fact/fiction and romance. It’s the first time I’ve read something by Steven Harper, and I was impressed.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
