The Bone Hunters

In Ada, Joanne Burn has given us a singular and astonishing heroine: a woman of strength, intelligence, resilience and resource; a woman who sees the restrictions the world would impose upon her and has the moral courage to step beyond them. Every young woman of ambition - any young woman who feels her ambition impeded either by her gender or class - should read her. I've never met a character in literature quite like Ada - or one I admired more. And it goes without saying that Joanne's writing, her use of language and skilful world-building, go from strength to glorious strength. -- ANNIE GARTHWAITE, author of CECILY I devoured this in a couple of days. So beautifully and brilliantly written. Every word dripped with atmosphere, I absolutely loved it. -- CAROLE MATTHEWS The Bone Hunters is a beautiful and extraordinary book, bringing to life a time and place in breathtaking detail and lyrical prose. At its heart it is the story of a young woman learning to discover and embrace who she is, and find her place in an unwelcoming world. I fell in love with Ada from the first page. -- ELIZABETH LEE, author or CUNNING WOMEN The Bone Hunters by Joanne Burn is that rare combination, a beautifully written book that is also a gripping page-turner. I was drawn in by the intelligence and passion of the main character, Ada Winters, and read with a growing sense of dread of the dangers, both societal and environmental, that she faces. I adored this novel. Highly recommended. -- LAURA SHEPPERSON, author of THE HEROINES A wonderfully lyrical story of intrigue that spirals into obsession. Based loosely on the Victorian fossil hunter Mary Anning, the story is delicate and beautiful. I loved it. -- POLLY CROSBY, author of THE UNRAVELLING A beautifully-written tale of obsession, friendship, betrayal, retribution, and love -- ROZ WATKINS author of THE DEVIL'S DICE Joanne Burn is fast becoming my go-to historical fiction writer. The writing is both beautiful and brutal, the pace an incredibly tense, deftly-handled unearthing of something monstrous. A tale of hardships and social misfits and finding liberty in a world designed to deny it. -- EMMA CARROLL, author of ESCAPE TO THE RIVER SEA The Bone Hunters has cemented Joanne Burn's place as one of my favourite writers. Ada had the same magical combination of vulnerability and grit as the 'Marsh Girl' in Where the Crawdads Sing. This is a gripping and beautifully written tale of a woman fighting for her worth to be recognised. Like the fossils she loves, Ada will leave a lasting impression -- SONIA VELTON, author of BLACKBERRY AND WILD ROSE Once again, Joanne Burn's flight of imagination takes a real historical context as its starting point, rooting the story and characters in an authentic period setting, vividly realised. Her original, readable prose keeps us in the moment-to-moment lives of her characters, rooting for Ada every step of the way. Enjoyable and satisfying. -- SARAH BURTON author of The Strange Adventures of H and co-author, with Jem Foster, of Eliza Mace The Bone Hunters is a rich and compelling novel that simultaneously illuminates one fascinating element of history, while fully immersing you in early 19th century life more broadly. Ada Winters is everything I like in a protagonist - eccentric, driven, brave and engaging - and the plot takes you in unexpected and continually rewarding directions -- KATIE LUMSDEN, author of THE SECRETS OF HARTWOOD HALL A perfect historical novel. The Bonehunters is a novel of resistance, of non-conformity; a celebration of passion and curiosity and a glorious tribute to all those truthseekers locked out of the hallowed halls of learning for being the wrong sex or class. I absolutely adored it. -- NIKKI MARMERY, author of LILITH