The Specimens: A bold retelling of Burke and Hare’s crimes from the women closest to the gruesome truth

by Mairi Kidd

"A work of fiction that is both a potent portrait of early 19th-century Edinburgh but also a story about female agency or the lack of it. The result is a compelling, painful, haunted piece of work." THE HERALD

Up the close and down the stair, meet the women of Burke and Hare

Edinburgh, 1828. Two women - one rich, one poor - must navigate life against a frenzied backdrop of medical discovery, mob mayhem, and murder.

The home Helen shares in the slums of the Old Town with her lover William Burke could hardly be more different from Susan's dreams of an affluent existence as the wife of Robert Knox, one of the foremost anatomists of the day. But as people begin disappearing, these two very different women face an impossible choice. Should they protect what lives they have or tell the truth about what they know?

This is the story of the notorious serial killings of Burke and Hare, told for the first time through the eyes of two very different women, whose stories explore the depths of the human heart in a perilous, vulnerable world.


PRAISE FOR THE SPECIMENS

"Beguiling and atmospheric, this is as much an engrossing character study as a bold reimagining of the infamous anatomy murders." HEAT MAGAZINE

"A fresh, feminine take on the horrors of Burke and Hare and their complicit Edinburgh anatomists" SALLY MAGNUSSON

"Gruesomely gripping, this story will stay with you for a long time, its characters so well developed, you fear you might bump into one in a dark Edinburgh close" SUE LAWRENCE

"Mairi Kidd holds a lantern up to the brutality of women's lives in Burke, Hare and Knox's Edinburgh. She draws a fine thread between women's bodily experiences now and then, and her voice is so authentic I felt as if I was there" LUCY RIBCHESTER

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Victorian, Thriller

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2024

About the author

Mairi Kidd is Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Creative Scotland. She was formerly Managing Director of Barrington Stoke, a prize-winning publisher. A fluent Gaelic speaker, she has an MA in Celtic Studies from Edinburgh University. As CEO of Stòrlann, the National Gaelic Education Resource Agency, she worked with Scottish Government, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and local authorities. She is a contributor to BBC Radio nan Gàidheal's books coverage and writes for broadcast, including Gaelic comedy series FUNC.

Reviews

[Alexandra Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book!! I can’t believe this hasn’t been read/rated much! It’s an excellent book!
The true story of Burke and Hare reimagined through fictional tales of the women in their lives and those impacted by their acts.
I loved the descriptive writing, I really could imagine all the people in Edinburgh during 1828. The book is told from different women’s perspectives and I really enjoyed each storyline and how each was different even though it is about the same overall plot.

[one.too.many.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can vividly remember my first visit to Edinburgh, a few years before I moved to Scotland. I’ve loved Edinburgh ever since and think it has such a fascinating history. I did a walking tour around the city and remember hearing about notorious serial killers Burke and Hare.

The Specimens is a retelling of this time of history but with a focus on the women who were also part of this story. As I said, I find this part of history fascinating. I was instantly drawn into this story, not least because of the setting, the story telling and the fact it has Scottish dialect in it! The audiobook is delightful to listen to too!

As a little pre warning; it is at times hard to read due to the very gruesome nature of some of these crimes committed by these men. However I also found that made it very real and a brilliant reading experience, so this is not a negative for me.

The Specimens weaves fiction and historical facts seamlessly and is such a fantastic read! I loved reading the author’s note at the end to find out what was real historical facts and what fiction.

I highly recommend The Specimens and this would be a brilliant read for spooky season.

[Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Visceral

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Specimens is a retelling of the notorious Edinburgh body snatchers, Burke and Hare. This retelling, however, is told through the perspectives of Helen, 'wife' to William Burke and Susan, the wife of John Knox.
This is brutal and harrowing. The back stories are fictional, but you get a real sense of how dire that time period was, especially if you were a woman.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het is zeker geen slecht boek, maar gewoon niet helemaal iets voor mij denk ik. Het was een souvenir uit Edinburgh voor mezelf, en het is een historische fictie over de moorden van Burke en Hare. Ik vind het gewoon niet zo fijn om te lezen in de 1700/1800, omdat alles een beetje viezig is en hygiëne niet echt een ding, en vrouwen echt zo negatief gezien en behandeld worden.

[Kitkat · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Elle Cheshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1828 Edinburgh this story follows Helen, the would be wife of William Burke, one of the infamous duo of the Burke and Hare murders and Susan, the naive would be wife of Dr Knox an anatomist always in need of fresh bodies.

I was thoroughly invested in Helen’s story. Her origins and life were rough and though she had a family she had to find her own way in the world. Eventually she finds her way to William Burke. I enjoyed the lead up to this, getting to know Helen, her life and what the world was like during this time period were all fascinating.
Eventually they go to Edinburgh where they eventually meet William Hare and Margaret. I deeply disliked these two but it was interesting how Burke and Helen got wrapped up with them. I also found it compelling that Burke wasn’t a terrible person outwardly. He was weak and cowardly and looking for an easy answer but I wonder if he’d never met Hare if he would have lived a normal life. It was just a great exploration of Helen’s life with him. We see the reasons she loves him, how her life is good in many respects especially compared to much of the poorer population. This is perhaps why she begins to lie to herself about things. How much did she truly know? If she suspected and did nothing, how culpable does that make her? A lot of interesting thoughts were brought up by her story. I do think her ending was satisfying in a lot of respects too.

Susan, in contrast, had all the fineries and security she could have wanted but it locked her into a gilded cage before she even realised what had happened. I felt so sorry for her and the life she was trapped in. Her husband was far far more evil to her and others than Burke but how much of it all was his fault? He’s very much a backdrop to Burke so I wonder again how much fault we can lay on his shoulders. I’m inclined to hate him but surely he wasn’t the only one in his profession paying for bodies. He was a product of his upbringing and his desire for more, (status, respect, notability) and he perhaps drove Burke and Hare’s activity. His is the culpability of greed and indifference, I think. And I have to say, the end of Susan’s story was deeply satisfying. After all those years being used to breed and being violated and caged by her husband’s word she got her moment. It suited Susan’s personality but I do wish it had been more.

I will say, it took the majority of the book before the murders were discussed and though I enjoyed the rest of it I wish we’d had little more time with Helen’s discovery and what it meant for the rest of them. Though I did find the victims pov very emotional since it really brought their humanity to the forefront and thus made the murder so much more awful. Mostly though, the murders weren’t discussed and the story was mostly just an exploration of Helen’s life (and Susan’s to a lesser degree).

Overall an interesting exploration of this time period with a focus of the people closely linked with Burke and Hare and how they and it all came to be. Its a slower pacing but it worked well and I ended up reading it two sittings. Definitely an enjoyable historical fiction read

[Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

For about three quarters of the story, I was waiting for the two women to get “caught up in those horrific matters”, as mentioned in the book description. This book shines very little light on this gruesome part of Scottish history.

I know a little about Burke and Hare and I thought this story would have given me more facts or information on them and the murders but I might as well have just googled them and discovered plenty more information that way. Yes, I am aware this is fiction. But it is also inspired by true crime events, and there doesn’t seem to be much of it in this story. I was enjoying it up until a certain point and then I was quite bored. I preferred when it was in Susan’s perspective, being stuck at Lillypot etc but I didn’t really care for much apart from that.

[Alix Morland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual vibe but I thoroughly enjoyed

[The Victorian Bookseller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Specimens is a grimy, visceral, historical fiction based on the 'Burke and Hare' Westport murders, with a poignant narrative focus on the real women who existed in the periphery of the case. Particular focus is given to Helen McDougal, the wife of William Burke, who was trialled alongside him, and became a media pariah during the height of the pairs infamy. The vast bulk of Helen's story is based around the true facts of her life, and confusing moral involvement in the Westport murders.

Helen's narrative is told alongside that of Susan, the wife of anatomist Robert Knox, who was known for purchasing bodies from Burke and Hare without care for their unscrupulous origins. Susan, whose life was almost entirely unrecorded, is given a fictionalised narrative that portrays the disrespect of women's bodily autonomy in early 19th century anatomical research. At opposite ends of the class spectrum, both Helen and Susan find themselves connected to the crimes, and grappling with their vastly different roles.

I read up on the details of the Burke and Hare case whilst reading this book, and truly appreciated how well Mairi Kidd was able to build this incredible narrative around the facts, filling in the gaps with brilliantly complex and inventive fiction. A real sense of identity is also given to the victims, whose lives Kidd writes 'almost seem secondary to the narrative' in modern recollections of the case. The Specimens is definitely one of the best historical fictions I have read, and I am incredibly excited to read future novels from Mairi Kidd!

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this book, i loved the way it was written especially

i had no knowledge of these crimes before and the author weaved the plot and the storyline perfectly, i finished the last 1/3 of the book all in one go because i was really enjoying it. my favourite POV parts were susans, i loved seeing life through her perspective and i felt all the emotions for her throughout the book

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kinda went into this blind and would for sure recommend checking TW incase you’re not prepared for anything but it was a very good read that I enjoyed, it was interesting to see the story from the perspective of the women surrounding the story.

[Victoria Catherine Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first came across Mairi Kidd a few years ago when I was sent a review copy of her book We Are All Witches, in which she fictionalised the stories of 16 Scottish women who had been accused of witchcraft, deconstructing the traditional narratives and giving voice to the silenced women at the centre of the stories. In The Specimens, Kidd similarly imagines a voice for two women who, despite being at the heart of Scotland's infamous West Port Murders, are often overlooked.

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Most people are familiar with the tale of Burke and Hare, Scotland's most notorious grave robbers turned serial killers, and Dr Knox, who paid to acquire their victims for dissection at Surgeons' Square in Edinburgh. Fewer people know of Burke's wife, Helen, who was charged with murder alongside her husband, Hare's partner, Margaret Laird, who resided at the property on Tanner's Close where the murders took place, or Knox's wife, Susan, about whom little is known. In The Specimens, Kidd imagines the lives of these women and their proximity to the murders, telling the story of the West Port Murders through a new - female - lens.

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Kidd brings old Edinburgh to life, creating a real sense of place and time as she explores the grim and often brutal lives of her characters. Her two central protagonists, Helen and Susan, are both convincingly depicted with their own stories, but the two narratives ultimately struggle with focus and feel disconnected given the lack of overlap between Helen and Susan's lives.

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Kidd explores two related but distinct threads - the murders themselves and the medical ethics of the time. The murders, and Helen's involvement in them, are Kidd's primary focus, with Susan and her connection to Dr Knox being somewhat tangential and less developed, almost diverting the reader from the central narrative. To my mind, The Specimens would have been a stronger, more focussed story if it dealt solely with the murders, and was told through the narratives of Helen and Margaret.

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That's not to say that Susan's story didn't have potential. On the contrary - for me, it was the most thought-provoking part of the story, and shone a light on the often neglected subject of ethics in historical medicine. It is, however, the most heavily fictionalised element of the story due to so little being known about Susan, and I think it could have been its own book distinct from the West Port Murders.

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[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the early 1800s, the case of the two Williams Burke and Hare goes through the time where the men initially exumed bodies to sell to doctors only to eventually turn to murdering people in order to sell their bodies.

We are told this through the perspective of Helen, an abused woman who goes off to work in the fields to start anew when she meets Burke and Susan (? I don't actually remember if that's her name) who is the wife of Robert Knox, a doctor that famously purchased bodies from B&H

I loved Helen's pov, it's right with the action and she and Burke end up living with Hare and Margaret and there's a whole drama there. I can't lie, I didn't really care for Susan, her story is interesting don't get me wrong, she's locked away as a glorified nanny with only getting visited from Knox every so often to get her pregnant. Susan's perspective just doesn't really add to the story as a whole until the last few chapters and even then it's underwhelming. I'd rather hear from Margaret since she was hands on with the murders.

I like the titles of the chapters are medical terms for injuries and the chapters do relate to their titles, it's a nice touch of foreshadowing. I quite enjoyed this one, a good bit of historical fiction and it's made me interested in the actual case since I'd not heard of it before this!

[Iona · Rating 3 out of 5]

got the fear every time falkirk was mentioned

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Millie Mulroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book called to me from the window of a bookshop! I mean, look at the cover - it is just beautiful.

Mairi Kidd painted a wonderful picture of the lives of two women in the early 1800s - one very poor, the other somewhat upper middle class - and all the other women they encounter. It was sometimes hard to read because it made me so sad. 5 stars for that.
Minus one for the boring trial (that did not need to be as long).

[Ash Dunlop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the setting having basis in fact through the story of Burke and Hare but retold/reimagined via the perspectives of the women. And loved the rich descriptions of Edinburgh!

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book - brilliant writing and sense of place

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well written and atmospheric book where the world of the notorious Edinburgh murderers, Burke and Hare is looked at from the female perspective of Burke's common law wife, Helen, and Susan, the wife of Dr Robert Knox, the infamous surgeon who procured many of the bodies for dissection in return for payments to Burke and Hare.

Where it is particularly good is in its description of the dark claustrophobic world of early 19th century Edinburgh and its outlying villages. It gives a fairly persuasive view of the Burke and Hare as characters, the dynamics of their relationship and the brutality of their murders. There is also the authorities' indifference to the victims, many of whom were so poor or old that the identities were never established properly. The feeling of the Edinburgh Establishment closing ranks and doing deals by the end to punish only one guilty person, an itinerant Irishman, seems all too familiar when it is considered that only one scapegoat (albeit a heinous one in this case) is required.

However, the two women at the centre of the book never meet and the differences in their backgrounds and lives do not overlap at any point. That does create a slightly unbalanced novel with two rather unrelated stories going on. They dovetail only in the very loosest sense. Whilst both stories are interesting in their own ways, they feel too disparate to be part of the same novel.

Furthermore, whilst both stories are fictional to a degree, there is little doubt that Helen's story is considerably more documented historically and factually. That means that Helen's story is a work of far less fiction than Susan's. Helen's story would best be described as a fair imagining of what the real Helen may have experienced and felt. This is then tied into Susan's story where so few facts are known about the real Susan that it is virtually 100% fictional. However, you do not realise that unless you bother to read the Afterword. Whilst one cannot fault the author for the level of transparency in that Afterword and I am not against either approaches to fiction, the uneasy mixing of them together in one novel did detract from the satisfaction of reading the book.

Nevertheless, as a way of finding out about the Burke and Hare scandal and the societal position of ordinary people, particularly women, at that time, it was a thoughtful read.

[Magdalena (magdal21) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. A novel set in the world of early 19th-century Edinburgh anatomists is always an automatic must-read for me - and this one didn’t disappoint. It offers a gripping and imaginative retelling of the infamous Burke and Hare case - two Irishmen who committed a series of 16 murders in 1828 Edinburgh, selling the bodies to medical schools for dissection.

What sets this novel apart is its focus on the women - both those connected to the perpetrators and those harmed by their actions. This isn’t really a story about anatomists, body-snatching, or even murder. Rather, it’s a nuanced character study centered on two women: Helen, Burke’s wife, and Susan, the wife of Dr. Robert Knox. Though they come from different social backgrounds, their experiences mirror each other in striking ways. Both are isolated, entirely dependent on the men in their lives, and manipulated into silence and complicity. The nature of the story gives the book a somewhat slower pace, even though quite a lot happens. I didn’t mind that, as I tend to enjoy character-driven narratives grounded in real events.

The writing is evocative and assured. The author vividly captures the atmosphere of early 19th-century Scotland and the complex social dynamics of the time. It’s a thoughtful, immersive read—especially suited to those interested in medical history, true crime, or the often-overlooked experiences of women in historical narratives.

[Ilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

~ 3.5 stars ~
This was an interesting read and it will definitely transport you to early 19th centrury Edinburgh - even more so if you listen to the audio. However, I do not think the story of the killings of Burke and Hare is actually told through the eyes of two women. The resurrectionists and the killings are certainly part of the book, but to me this book is about Helen and Susan, victims' stories and their hard life, living in a period that robbed them of their agency and when they had to face misogyny in every corner and facet of their life. As always when reading about that period, I continue to be shocked and amazed by the portrayal of the horrible living conditions, misconceptions, and crimes committed in the name of medical discovery, with the injustice echoing through history.

[Thekirkiepirate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel produced in the current style of recounting historical events mainly from the perspective of female victims, as opposed to the male perpetrators.

This was a useful novel, outlining the circumstances around the Edinburgh body-snatchers (and murderers), Burke and Hare. Interestingly, the scope was expended to cover Susan Know, the wife of the anatomist Robert Knox, who does not come out of the novel well. My only disappointment was that I felt that the book could have been expended to cover more background on the victims, a few of whom were passed over quite quickly. As a result, whilst this is a good novel, it does not quite reach the standard set by Halle Hubenhold.

However, I would be keen to read more from this author.

[Linda Lawrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel about the serial killers Burke and Hare. The author opens up the world of 1828 to us when what is known as the West Port Murders are carried out. We see it through the eyes of women a very difficult place to be in society at that time whether rich or poor. Were the women in Burke and Hare’s lives privy to what they were doing? They carried out 16 murders in total to provide bodies for dissection for the now notorious Dr. Robert Knox. As an Edinburgh lass I could really walk the streets in my imagination that the author was writing about. I always appreciate authors notes at the end of a book when they write fiction about real people. So I did learn more about Burke and Hare and how outraged the people of Edinburgh were about the murders. Excellent novel.

[Claire Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

* SPOILERS *

At first I wasn’t sure, was the read for Novembers book club and didn’t think it would be my thing.

However I really did enjoy it, enjoyed the 2 womans pov, from 2 very different backgrounds. What really captured me was that it was set in my home village of Redding and I recognised the villages and towns. I also really enjoyed the old Scottish language and it reminded me of my husbands grandma.

Susan felt like a powerhouse at the end setting out the rules to Knox. Poor William got hung, why was I feeling sorry for a murderer! And Helen has to disappear. Then Hare is still at it at the end. I’m not sure if i interpreted it correctly but did he end up murdering one of Helen’s children?

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Specimens is a fictional account of the Burke & Hare murders in Scotland, told by the Women in their lives, some of their victims and the wife of Dr Knox, the man who bought the murdered cadavers for his medical school.

The stories are fiction but they're told so well and woven into the story perfectly.
The rawness and brutality of life in 19th Century Scotland is on almost every page.
The accounts of the victims and the innocent bystanders are harrowing, you almost want to reach into the page and turn them around from their fate.
I devoured this book and think the author did an incredible job of telling a different side of the story.

[Lainey Grieve Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A retold tale based on the murders carried out in Edinburgh in 1828 by the infamous duo ‘Burke and Hare’. The story reimagined, includes the lives and roles of the murderers wives, the women were not found guilty at the trial, Hares wife was acquitted for giving King’s evidence and there was not enough evidence to charge Burkes wife Helen. Burke was hung alone and little is known of what happened to the other three.

I loved the way this retelling was written, the characters were well developed and imaginable and the whole thing was brought to a satisfactory conclusions. I will definitely seek out more of Mairi Kidds work.

[Anna Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book which shines a light on women’s lives in the UK at the time, more specifically highlighting the day to day lives of both rich and poor women in Edinburgh. As a local I found it so fascinating to get an insight into my own ancestors’ lives, and the detailing of place names was a plus. I felt so connected to all the women narrators of the story who were equally likeable and unique. I was drawn to pick up this book again and again, finishing it much quicker than I usually would.

If you like historical fiction and are curious about the background lives lived by the women involved in such a high profile story in Scottish history, I couldn’t recommend this book enough.

[Jennifer Mcarthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Extremely well written fictionalisation of the women closest to Burke, Hare, and Dr. Knox. I did think it was quite slow to start with and then again in the final chapters it did feel slightly draw out. I couldn’t remember a lot of the story of their crimes so it was interesting to learn all over again but with the unique perspective from the women who were abused and lied to by these men.

One thing that I was completely unaware of and was blown away by was that Helen Macdougall and William Burke lived in the village my family is from, just a short walk from my home. This did greatly increase my interest while reading about their lives before they moved to Edinburgh.

[Robyn G….y · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. I did like the way it was interwoven from factual events, to a story enriched by the author which she talks about at the end of the book.

Although I was aware of the term body snatchers and grave thieves, I was unfamiliar with the names of Burke and Hare who became two of the most notorious serial killers in their time. This was in Edinburgh in the 19th century and it also gives the reader insight into the need for anatomists to access cadavers for research.

The laws were finally changed in the UK to allow for this medical research to continue legally.