The Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber is the first book in the Lady Darby Mystery Series and is narrated by Heather Wilds. Kiera Darby was married to an anatomist who only married her because of her artistic abilities. He forced her to draw his human dissections for his books. After he died, she was charged with unnatural behaviors. The charges were dropped and she fled society to live with her sister and brother-in-law. However, they soon decide to throw a house party and one of the house guests is murdered. Kiera Darby’s expertise with the human body is requested by the investigating agent, Sebastian Gage. Because of her past, the guests automatically suspect Kiera and she receives threats. They must find the murderer before she also becomes a victim.

This book checks all the boxes for me. I am becoming quite addicted to female-led, historical, mystery books. This book has quite a compelling mystery. And I can honestly say that I have never read a book that references an anatomist. The book is from Kiera’s point of view and readers get to read about her raw emotion from being traumatized by her husband and even by society.

I saw a lot of people complain that it is more romance than mystery. I can see how that might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I loved it! Gage and Kiera have wonderful chemistry and there is even a bit of enemies-to-lovers trope. However, the author does keep it from being a happily-ever-after type ending. The ending concludes all the plot points and leads readers to pick up book two!

I loved the historical detail, the characters, the romance, the mystery, and of course all of the Gothic detail. Heather Wilds is a wonderful narrator! The dialogue is a little stilted but I noticed that it improved by the end of the book and I now have high hopes for book two! I rate this audiobook 4 out of 5 stars!