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BEN'S BONES
Crime is running rampant in turbulent 1760’s London. Pregnant women and children start vanishing from the city’s crowded streets and thieves are looting graves. Ramshackle police departments are unwilling—or unable—to stop the pillaging.
Benjamin Franklin arrives in London as Pennsylvania’s colonial agent to the Crown. He rents rooms from a lonely widow and her bright daughter Polly, who become his surrogate family while he is away from home. Franklin and Polly develop a deep friendship as he tutors her in many subjects, while he is busy trying to avoid open warfare between the British Empire and the American colonies.
Polly falls in love and, with Franklin’s blessing, marries William Hewson, a handsome and brilliant young doctor who is establishing a private anatomy school. Hewson has been business partners with the Hunter brothers—famous surgeons who acquire specimens for their own medical school in horrifying ways.
Hewson has discovered the extent of the Hunters’ depravities and their links to the underworld behind London’s crimes. He succumbs to temptation and ambition while building his own competitive academy. But when the Hunters cross a red line, he seeks justice from their mutual friend, Ben Franklin. Will the great luminary intervene—or is the Founding Father complicit in burying the victims’ bodies in his own garden?
In his exhilarating latest novel based on true events, Joseph C. Gioconda weaves a little-known historical tale about Ben Franklin’s life in London and the sinister origins of modern medicine into a suspenseful mystery and tragedy of epic proportions.
Benjamin Franklin arrives in London as Pennsylvania’s colonial agent to the Crown. He rents rooms from a lonely widow and her bright daughter Polly, who become his surrogate family while he is away from home. Franklin and Polly develop a deep friendship as he tutors her in many subjects, while he is busy trying to avoid open warfare between the British Empire and the American colonies.
Polly falls in love and, with Franklin’s blessing, marries William Hewson, a handsome and brilliant young doctor who is establishing a private anatomy school. Hewson has been business partners with the Hunter brothers—famous surgeons who acquire specimens for their own medical school in horrifying ways.
Hewson has discovered the extent of the Hunters’ depravities and their links to the underworld behind London’s crimes. He succumbs to temptation and ambition while building his own competitive academy. But when the Hunters cross a red line, he seeks justice from their mutual friend, Ben Franklin. Will the great luminary intervene—or is the Founding Father complicit in burying the victims’ bodies in his own garden?
In his exhilarating latest novel based on true events, Joseph C. Gioconda weaves a little-known historical tale about Ben Franklin’s life in London and the sinister origins of modern medicine into a suspenseful mystery and tragedy of epic proportions.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
dnf
May 13, 2025Buddyread with Dustin :)
April 17, 2023
Right off the bat, the premise of this novel had me in its clutches. When I lived in Philadelphia, I would wander and look at historical sites, and I stumbled upon the first "medical amphitheater" in the US where anatomy students would watch dissections and surgeries being performed. I was also familiar with the practice of body-snatching through my interest in 19th-century crime and fiction. There is a darkness in the not-so-distant past that we've built our modern way of life upon, as anyone with a passing interest in morbid history knows well. Ben's Bones takes a close look at that sordid past.
The through-line is Benjamin Franklin's presence in London as a diplomat to the British crown in the 1760s, when the tensions of the Revolutionary War were brewing. There, he starts a friendship with the bright and honest Polly, the daughter of his landlady. The novel, when Franklin is present (he's not the main character) is chock-full of his wit and wisdom, as well as neatly-woven historical factoids (for example, I did not know that Mozart was acquainted with the Founding Fathers!).
Where the novel really shines is in the epistolary format. I just couldn't get enough of Hewson's journal entries. I was completely stunned to find out that the Hunters and Hewson actually did exist - the author did a great job of bringing them and their interpersonal feud to life on the pages. I also felt that Polly's portrayal was handled extremely well; it is rare to find the struggles an intelligent and strong (but ultimately human) woman faces written realistically, even today.
By the end, I was quite moved by the ultimately tragic story that the central figures had gotten wrapped up in. The novel would have perhaps been improved by the removal of some passive voice (especially when describing characters' garb) and perhaps tightening the focus with less attention given to the supporting cast, who I did not really feel much for.
This was a strong historical novel from start to finish. It's clear that not only did Gioconda approach writing Ben's Bones with a great deal of research, but that he told this tale from the heart with a great deal of compassion for those history has perhaps treated unfairly.
I truly recommend this novel for anyone with an interest in medical history, Benjamin Franklin, or simply the crime-ridden London streets that paved the way for modern society. Morbidly fascinating and deeply educational, this is a must-read for fans of the genre and Franklin alike. I truly hope that this novel gets the attention it deserves and I am looking forward to reading more works by this author.
I received a free copy of this book on Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The through-line is Benjamin Franklin's presence in London as a diplomat to the British crown in the 1760s, when the tensions of the Revolutionary War were brewing. There, he starts a friendship with the bright and honest Polly, the daughter of his landlady. The novel, when Franklin is present (he's not the main character) is chock-full of his wit and wisdom, as well as neatly-woven historical factoids (for example, I did not know that Mozart was acquainted with the Founding Fathers!).
Where the novel really shines is in the epistolary format. I just couldn't get enough of Hewson's journal entries. I was completely stunned to find out that the Hunters and Hewson actually did exist - the author did a great job of bringing them and their interpersonal feud to life on the pages. I also felt that Polly's portrayal was handled extremely well; it is rare to find the struggles an intelligent and strong (but ultimately human) woman faces written realistically, even today.
By the end, I was quite moved by the ultimately tragic story that the central figures had gotten wrapped up in. The novel would have perhaps been improved by the removal of some passive voice (especially when describing characters' garb) and perhaps tightening the focus with less attention given to the supporting cast, who I did not really feel much for.
This was a strong historical novel from start to finish. It's clear that not only did Gioconda approach writing Ben's Bones with a great deal of research, but that he told this tale from the heart with a great deal of compassion for those history has perhaps treated unfairly.
I truly recommend this novel for anyone with an interest in medical history, Benjamin Franklin, or simply the crime-ridden London streets that paved the way for modern society. Morbidly fascinating and deeply educational, this is a must-read for fans of the genre and Franklin alike. I truly hope that this novel gets the attention it deserves and I am looking forward to reading more works by this author.
I received a free copy of this book on Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 31, 2023
Grave robbing and murder are the threads that hold this amazing tale together, but it goes morbidly further.
Benjamin Franklin finds himself in London in the 1760s, a diplomat from Pennsylvania and the colonies last hope that he will be the one to stave off a war with the crown. He rents rooms in the home of a lonely widow and her bright and cheerful daughter Polly. They become his surrogate family while he's away from his family in America. Polly takes to Ben immediately and they become very close friends. He tutors her in her schooling while at the same time he's busy trying to keep the peace between the British and the colonists.
During this time, there is much crime in the streets of London and most disturbing is the fact that pregnant women and children are coming up missing. Thieves are looting graves, but even more horrifying is the fact that bodies are missing too- fresh ones. Polly eventually marries a young man, with Benjamin's blessing, who is a doctor. William Hewson is intent on finding cures for illnesses and he is steadfast in his efforts to open a private anatomy school. He is business partners with the Hunter brothers- famous surgeons who are able to acquire animal and human specimens, but William learns that the brothers are obtaining these dead bodies in horrendous ways.
William is blinded by ambition and looks the other way from his suspicions, in his attempt to build his academy. When he finally discovers the cold hard truth about the Hunters, he seeks out Benjamin Franklin and asks him to help level justice against the Hunters, but what will Ben do? What will Mr. Franklin do when he finds that the bones of the dead are buried in the garden where he lives?
Ben's Bones is based on true events.
Grave robbing and murder are the threads that hold this amazing tale together, but it goes morbidly further when we witness, within the pages, the dissecting and mutilation of both human and animal cadavers. Before opening up this book take caution of its content. Ben's Bones is not for everyone, but it is a story of the historic past and Mr. Franklin was a part of it. I cringed and simultaneously enjoyed the frankness of the author's ability to give us a glimpse into the past. Franklin was an important figure in the history of our country, let us not forget, but he was also human. Historians and lovers of historical fiction will be tempted to read this one.
I loved Ben's Bones.
Benjamin Franklin finds himself in London in the 1760s, a diplomat from Pennsylvania and the colonies last hope that he will be the one to stave off a war with the crown. He rents rooms in the home of a lonely widow and her bright and cheerful daughter Polly. They become his surrogate family while he's away from his family in America. Polly takes to Ben immediately and they become very close friends. He tutors her in her schooling while at the same time he's busy trying to keep the peace between the British and the colonists.
During this time, there is much crime in the streets of London and most disturbing is the fact that pregnant women and children are coming up missing. Thieves are looting graves, but even more horrifying is the fact that bodies are missing too- fresh ones. Polly eventually marries a young man, with Benjamin's blessing, who is a doctor. William Hewson is intent on finding cures for illnesses and he is steadfast in his efforts to open a private anatomy school. He is business partners with the Hunter brothers- famous surgeons who are able to acquire animal and human specimens, but William learns that the brothers are obtaining these dead bodies in horrendous ways.
William is blinded by ambition and looks the other way from his suspicions, in his attempt to build his academy. When he finally discovers the cold hard truth about the Hunters, he seeks out Benjamin Franklin and asks him to help level justice against the Hunters, but what will Ben do? What will Mr. Franklin do when he finds that the bones of the dead are buried in the garden where he lives?
Ben's Bones is based on true events.
Grave robbing and murder are the threads that hold this amazing tale together, but it goes morbidly further when we witness, within the pages, the dissecting and mutilation of both human and animal cadavers. Before opening up this book take caution of its content. Ben's Bones is not for everyone, but it is a story of the historic past and Mr. Franklin was a part of it. I cringed and simultaneously enjoyed the frankness of the author's ability to give us a glimpse into the past. Franklin was an important figure in the history of our country, let us not forget, but he was also human. Historians and lovers of historical fiction will be tempted to read this one.
I loved Ben's Bones.
February 28, 2024
I am very impressed with the amount of research in this book! Everything from medical practices in the 1750s, to London's buildings to Masonic rituals and Ben Franklin too, of course. Last year I read Poor Richard's Women: Ben Franklin in Love so I knew his wife didn't travel to England with him and they were separated for years and the story behind his son.
Very interesting that back then, stealing a body (for use in medical dissections) was *not* considered a crime--because who owns a dead body? However stealing any item of clothing or jewelry was a crime.
There are many of "Poor Richard's" quotes scattered among the conversations, but not so many to be tiresome. My favorite is "I don't mind so much being old, as being fat and old." And he was a vegetarian! Now I know where the saying "loose cannon" comes from--a cannon not tied down to prevention shifting on a ship.
I think a different title and book cover art would improve readership here; after all, they aren't Ben's Bones. Some of the bones uncovered and William Hewson.
What the dissection room at the Hunt house may have looked like.
I don't know if it's good news or bad news that during this time the House of Commons raised the age of children being accepted into orphanages from two months to 12 years. During the first four years after that nearly 15,000 children were abandoned.
Ben Frankling invented and played the glass armonica while in London.
So I learned quite a bit (which at my age is good) in a well-written novel that covered many different subjects than just Ben Franklin. I received this ARC from Goodreads.
Very interesting that back then, stealing a body (for use in medical dissections) was *not* considered a crime--because who owns a dead body? However stealing any item of clothing or jewelry was a crime.
There are many of "Poor Richard's" quotes scattered among the conversations, but not so many to be tiresome. My favorite is "I don't mind so much being old, as being fat and old." And he was a vegetarian! Now I know where the saying "loose cannon" comes from--a cannon not tied down to prevention shifting on a ship.
I think a different title and book cover art would improve readership here; after all, they aren't Ben's Bones. Some of the bones uncovered and William Hewson.
What the dissection room at the Hunt house may have looked like.
I don't know if it's good news or bad news that during this time the House of Commons raised the age of children being accepted into orphanages from two months to 12 years. During the first four years after that nearly 15,000 children were abandoned.
Ben Frankling invented and played the glass armonica while in London.
So I learned quite a bit (which at my age is good) in a well-written novel that covered many different subjects than just Ben Franklin. I received this ARC from Goodreads.
Read
February 8, 2024Received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. I don't have a rating for this book - it is different than what I usually read.
Description of the book on Goodreads:
Crime is running rampant in turbulent 1760’s London. Pregnant women and children start vanishing from the city’s crowded streets and thieves are looting graves. Ramshackle police departments are unwilling—or unable—to stop the pillaging.
Benjamin Franklin arrives in London as Pennsylvania’s colonial agent to the Crown. He rents rooms from a lonely widow and her bright daughter Polly, who become his surrogate family while he is away from home. Franklin and Polly develop a deep friendship as he tutors her in many subjects, while he is busy trying to avoid open warfare between the British Empire and the American colonies.
Polly falls in love and, with Franklin’s blessing, marries William Hewson, a handsome and brilliant young doctor who is establishing a private anatomy school. Hewson has been business partners with the Hunter brothers—famous surgeons who acquire specimens for their own medical school in horrifying ways.
Hewson has discovered the extent of the Hunters’ depravities and their links to the underworld behind London’s crimes. He succumbs to temptation and ambition while building his own competitive academy. But when the Hunters cross a red line, he seeks justice from their mutual friend, Ben Franklin. Will the great luminary intervene—or is the Founding Father complicit in burying the victims’ bodies in his own garden?
In his exhilarating latest novel based on true events, Joseph C. Gioconda weaves a little-known historical tale about Ben Franklin’s life in London and the sinister origins of modern medicine into a suspenseful mystery and tragedy of epic proportions.
Description of the book on Goodreads:
Crime is running rampant in turbulent 1760’s London. Pregnant women and children start vanishing from the city’s crowded streets and thieves are looting graves. Ramshackle police departments are unwilling—or unable—to stop the pillaging.
Benjamin Franklin arrives in London as Pennsylvania’s colonial agent to the Crown. He rents rooms from a lonely widow and her bright daughter Polly, who become his surrogate family while he is away from home. Franklin and Polly develop a deep friendship as he tutors her in many subjects, while he is busy trying to avoid open warfare between the British Empire and the American colonies.
Polly falls in love and, with Franklin’s blessing, marries William Hewson, a handsome and brilliant young doctor who is establishing a private anatomy school. Hewson has been business partners with the Hunter brothers—famous surgeons who acquire specimens for their own medical school in horrifying ways.
Hewson has discovered the extent of the Hunters’ depravities and their links to the underworld behind London’s crimes. He succumbs to temptation and ambition while building his own competitive academy. But when the Hunters cross a red line, he seeks justice from their mutual friend, Ben Franklin. Will the great luminary intervene—or is the Founding Father complicit in burying the victims’ bodies in his own garden?
In his exhilarating latest novel based on true events, Joseph C. Gioconda weaves a little-known historical tale about Ben Franklin’s life in London and the sinister origins of modern medicine into a suspenseful mystery and tragedy of epic proportions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2024
I finished it. I started this on my Kindle last summer, and would read short pieces of it when a paper book wasn’t feasible. It is a fascinating fictionalization of Benjamin Franklin’s time in London, and his relationship with the precocious daughter of his landlady and her anatomy student/surgeon husband. The author exposes the dark underbelly of the scientific study of anatomy, often in graphic, gory detail. Although it took me 8 months to finish it, it is a quick read and an interesting story. And with Ben Franklin at its center, there are many quotable moments.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“I always have had suitors, but they are such a distraction from my life. They do not want to converse meaningfully. They also view a woman as nothing more than a chambermaid or a cook. I seek an equal partner, not an employer.”
“Being ignorant is not such a shame, as being unwilling to learn.”
"I am fond of saying that glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked and never well-mended.“
"Alas, my first mistake in politics was ever going into it.”
“It has been quite some time, and I must say, life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.”
“Never confuse motion with action.”
“Energy and persistence conquer all things, do they not?”
“If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.”
“Well, if all printers were determined not to print anything until they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.”
“It takes many good deeds to build an excellent reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.”
“Never ruin an apology with an excuse.”
“Wise men don’t need advice, and fools won’t take it, anyway.”
Some of my favorite quotes:
“I always have had suitors, but they are such a distraction from my life. They do not want to converse meaningfully. They also view a woman as nothing more than a chambermaid or a cook. I seek an equal partner, not an employer.”
“Being ignorant is not such a shame, as being unwilling to learn.”
"I am fond of saying that glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked and never well-mended.“
"Alas, my first mistake in politics was ever going into it.”
“It has been quite some time, and I must say, life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.”
“Never confuse motion with action.”
“Energy and persistence conquer all things, do they not?”
“If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.”
“Well, if all printers were determined not to print anything until they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.”
“It takes many good deeds to build an excellent reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.”
“Never ruin an apology with an excuse.”
“Wise men don’t need advice, and fools won’t take it, anyway.”
April 21, 2023
you know how they say "based on a true story", are you like me and think ...well what part? how much? how little? what is the true sense ...like do you need only 10 seconds that is truly real to be "based on a true story" but okay to say that?? lol!! love Ben Franklin ...he has always been a favorite of mine since a very young child. on KU if you have that. i did win this in a Goodreads giveaway. out on March 30, 2023. medical fiction (kindle store & books). historical fiction. i watch a lot of cool shows that makes you curious. i love mysteries. i love the not knowing. being curious. i love it. at times life and books are not happy. but i gotta say that this has such mystery. curiosity. i am visualizing0 a show ...that a similar ...now i am sure you understand that when you read things or whatever ...your mind has a tendency to bring in similar or whatnot type of situation ...in the wall ...floors what will you find. don't wanna reveal anything for folks who have not read it yet. but wow. good read. i am gonna check out more from Joseph. i am new to his writing. i enjoy his style. i am going with a high 4 star ...and half ...almost 5 for me. so thankful for the opportunity to read it. awesome-sauce!
March 27, 2023
I have to admit it took me a while to decide on a rating for this book. On one hand I really enjoyed the historical aspects and details, especially about Benjamin Franklin. On the other, I was not prepared for how difficult some parts of the book would be. I would say that I recommend it but it would definitely not be for everyone. There are gruesome details regarding animal torture, experimentation, and dissection. There are also horrible crimes against humans. I'm personally hard to disturb so I was able to get through the tough chapters.
I enjoyed the different perspectives and alternating chapter formats. There's personal correspondence thrown in and most chapters are relatively short which makes it easy to read.
Overall, it was an interesting book and made me want to read more about 1700-1800s London and Benjamin Franklin. {Thank you to NetGalley and Newtown IP Holdings LLC for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.}
I enjoyed the different perspectives and alternating chapter formats. There's personal correspondence thrown in and most chapters are relatively short which makes it easy to read.
Overall, it was an interesting book and made me want to read more about 1700-1800s London and Benjamin Franklin. {Thank you to NetGalley and Newtown IP Holdings LLC for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.}
April 20, 2023
Ben’s Bones is a newly written book by Joseph C. Gioconda. This was a strong historical fiction book from start to finish. I would rather recommend this book to anyone with an interest in medical history, Benjamin Franklin, or simply the crime-ridden London streets that paved the way for modern society. It's clear that not only did the author, Gioconda’s approach to writing Ben's Bones had a great deal of research, but that he told this tale from the heart with a great deal of compassion for those in history who has perhaps been treated unfairly. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 16, 2023
This was an informative novel, but rather emotionally difficult to read ! Too many horrors (for me) done to humans and animals in name of scientific research were described in minute details. Very disturbing (for me). Otherwise, I learned quite a bit about Ben Franklin which was interesting. The plot was sometimes confusing as regards the composition of the chapters. I enjoyed reading the afterwords about what happened to Franklin's family and life.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
April 7, 2023
Writing so smooth you could easily read the whole book in one! I’m unsure how accurate the historical aspects of this book are but even so it was a fun and entertaining story about grave robbing, murder, dissection and competing drs/surgeons. Multiple POV meant all sides were explored and the dirty secrets of anatomy and education were both dastardly and thrilling for both the characters and the reader. Although Ben Franklin wasn’t really the main character he was more of a supportive side character connecting the masons, the drs, the English and the Americans.
April 27, 2023
This is an interesting look at medical research and learnings in the mid 1700’s. You get a glimpse into how medical research was done and the barriers they had to overcome to advance medical science. When you include a memorable historical figure , Benjamin Franklin, the story only becomes more intriguing. They characters are very believable and their daily lives are far from mundane. I was held captive by the pages as I read. Some of the details were a bit much but did lend credit to the actual story line. I highly recommend this book.
April 12, 2023
A wonderful book for Ben Franklin fans
An interesting story, blended fiction and facts concerning the diplomacy of Franklin trying to find a peaceful solution to the troubles between England and the colonies, and the great difficulty of persuading people of the necessity of enough cadavers for Doctors to dissect in order to learn how to heal people, without using sordid tactics, and sordid people. Read this.
An interesting story, blended fiction and facts concerning the diplomacy of Franklin trying to find a peaceful solution to the troubles between England and the colonies, and the great difficulty of persuading people of the necessity of enough cadavers for Doctors to dissect in order to learn how to heal people, without using sordid tactics, and sordid people. Read this.
May 6, 2023
Ben’s Bones
A student that realizes the people responsible for educating him are up to no good. He decides to venture out on his own just to end up falling into the same traps he fled from. That lead to other problems when he had to figure out how to remove the evidence from his house. Eventually he has to answer to the courts and is given a severe sentence. Then the people that taught him eventually get caught but seemingly escape without much harm.
#GoodreadsGiveaways
A student that realizes the people responsible for educating him are up to no good. He decides to venture out on his own just to end up falling into the same traps he fled from. That lead to other problems when he had to figure out how to remove the evidence from his house. Eventually he has to answer to the courts and is given a severe sentence. Then the people that taught him eventually get caught but seemingly escape without much harm.
#GoodreadsGiveaways
April 19, 2023
There are lots of twists and turns in the story that keep you guessing until the end. Intriguing characters to follow along in this story. Grabs you from the beginning and you can't put it down. Good read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 12, 2023
Sadly the most interesting part of this book to me was the epilogue. The book felt shallow to me, like there was so much more that could have enhanced the story we didn’t get.
December 18, 2023
I have to admit that this is not the easiest book to read, especially when my go-to genre is more light weight cozy mysteries. However, I am glad that I persevered.
I like the writing style - where the hard facts are narrated and interspersed with the daily tasks and lives of the people involved. The courtship between the couple, the relationships between them, Ben, Margaret and even that of the others in the school lightens the goriness and brings the novel to life.
I also have to give the author credit for the vivid picture he paints of 18th century Britain, and especially London. It has certainly given me a different perspective of the streets and haunts that I know so well. All in all, I have to say that I would recommend this book, but I feel that you need to have a little bit of an iron clad disposition to really enjoy it.
I like the writing style - where the hard facts are narrated and interspersed with the daily tasks and lives of the people involved. The courtship between the couple, the relationships between them, Ben, Margaret and even that of the others in the school lightens the goriness and brings the novel to life.
I also have to give the author credit for the vivid picture he paints of 18th century Britain, and especially London. It has certainly given me a different perspective of the streets and haunts that I know so well. All in all, I have to say that I would recommend this book, but I feel that you need to have a little bit of an iron clad disposition to really enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews