The Anatomist's Wife Audiobook By Anna Lee Huber cover art

The Anatomist's Wife

Lady Darby Mystery, Book 1

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The Anatomist's Wife

By: Anna Lee Huber
Narrated by: Heather Wilds
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About this listen

Following the death of her husband, Lady Darby has taken refuge at her sister's estate, finding solace in her passion for painting. But when one of the house guests is murdered, her brother-in-law asks her to aid the insufferable Sebastian Gage - a fellow guest with some experience as an inquiry agent. While Gage is clearly more competent than she first assumed, Kiera isn't about to let her guard down, as accusations and rumors swirl. When Kiera and Gage's search leads them to even more gruesome discoveries, a series of disturbing notes urges Lady Darby to give up the inquiry. But Kiera is determined to protect her family and prove her innocence, even as she risks becoming the next victim.

©2012 Anna Aycock (P)2014 Tantor
Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Mystery Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths

Critic reviews

"Huber's protagonist is complex and likable and the well-lotted mystery is filled with fascinating secondary characters. The setting is lavishly portrayed...you'll be engaged right to the end." ( RT Book Reviews)

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What listeners say about The Anatomist's Wife

Highly rated for:

Intriguing Mystery Compelling Storyline Excellent Accents Strong Female Protagonist Engaging Characters
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first audible was enjoyable

Intriguing storyline and central character. Enjoyed it being read. Am willing to look into the next book.

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1 person found this helpful

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Compelling story

The writing and character development is top notch. Sadly, the narration is not as good.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Loch mystery

I found the story very interesting. I enjoy period pieces enjoyable if they get the nuances of the time correct. This story was very good at reflecting the bias of the times. Characters were nicely written. Would recommend.

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My favorite book of 2021!

Fantastic book and narration! I love the entire series. I am looking forward to the rest of the books.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great historical mystery with a tease of romance.

Great story line. Ending leaves you wanting more. Hurray for series! The narrator sounds a bit too monotone and flat for me but I can kinda overlook it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Strength from adversity

Keira, a widow and artist with an eye for detail, having suffered emotional abuse under her former husband, is wary of the judgement of her class after a smear campaign launched against her for her forced participation in her former husband’s anatomy textbook. 16 months after his death, while living with her sister and brother-in-law, the family invite guests for a house party which quickly goes awry.

When a woman’s body is found in the garden maze, suspicion immediately falls in Kiera by several members of the party. A guest, Mr Gage, who is the son of an inquiry agent, starts investigating while waiting on the legal authority to arrive in four days. He requires Kiera’s intimate anatomical knowledge about the injuries to the body and attention to detail for his investigation. This puts Kiera in contact with the people who are already considering her the prime suspect.

Initially, through gritted teeth, she participates in the investigation, helping Gage discover many of the clues left behind, while also unintentionally creating opportunity for herself to be seen as more than her unearned reputation by the group as a whole. When faced with a life or death situation, she possesses the fortitude and courage to ensure the culprit is handed justice while also insuring few others are injured.

Her grace under fire is recognized and rewarded. The ending is not quite a happily ever after, but more along the lines of a little light at the end of the tunnel - there is hope for more between Gage and Kiera. Can’t wait to read book 2.

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Gruesome. I can't

Narrator was great. It's just too much gory detail with blood and wounds and vomit and just not for me. leaving this review for others that are not interested in gory detail

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Philandering Men, a Widow and Murder

The Anatomist’s Wife is a mix of murder mystery, romance and early forensic history. Lady Darby, widow of Sir Anthony Darby, has come to live with her sister and brother-in-law in the castle in the Scottish Highlands. Some time has past since her husband’s death, but no one, it seems has forgotten her trial and the accusations that she took part in the grave robbing and dissection of the bodies that was her husband’s occupation. Unseemly and illegal for women to take part in such enterprises, Kiera (Lady Darby) had fled London for the Scottish countryside, once her trial was over, to reside with her sister’s family. Having been forced to draw and paint the illustrations of the dissected bodies which her husband had cut open for his book, Kiera, herself had never wielded the knife nor taken part in any of the gruesome dismemberments. However, rumors still swirled about her, and she much preferred to stay to herself, retreating to her studio, where she painted portraits, mostly of her family. The first big social event at her sister’s remote country estate since Kiera’s arrival, becomes a crime scene with a beautiful young woman being murdered, and all the guests being sequestered until the magistrate can be summonsed. Meanwhile, Philip, Kiera’s brother-in-law, asks Kiera to assist Sebastian Gage, an inquiry agent at the party, in beginning the investigation. At first Gage is reluctant, but he slowly warms to the idea . . . and to Kiera. The particulars of the murder are gruesome, and Kiera’s experience beside her late husband are much more helpful than either of them had thought. With all of the house guests’ potential suspects, Gage has to tread lightly. All of the high society couples are snobs of the worst sort, especially the men, who bed women right and left. But the sweet relationship between Alana, Kiera’s sister and her husband, Philip is a breath of fresh air. Set in the 1830s when women were expected to obey their husbands, and not have any interests other than hearth and home, it’s an interesting story indeed. Kiera is an artist and anatomist. Gage is a dandy, handsome and knows it, expecting the women to croon over him. Kiera doesn’t . . . at least not outwardly. Which frustrates Gage to no end. Kiera, already having been married to a man who abused his control over her, a man chosen by her father, her wisdom is far beyond her twenty-five years. The closeness between she and her sister, Alana is precious, as well as the love between her and her sister’s children. There is depth and character to the story. The conclusion was very satisfying. I had to download the next in the series immediately. A series that makes you think . . . enjoy!

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2 people found this helpful

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I LOVED IT!

The story was engulfing. The narration brought it to life. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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THE BEST!

The absolute best! After a lifetime of dismissing historical fiction as “lightweight”, I have recently become an addict and I am voracious! I loved this book! I loved the characters, I loved the writing, I loved the narrator! I loved the whole package! That’s saying a lot, because this genre is full of good writing and narration. This is the best!

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