The Yellow Lantern

Written by Angie Dicken

Narrated by Pilar Witherspoon

Josephine Is Forced to Spy for Grave Robbers Step into True Colors -- a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime In Massachusetts in 1824, Josephine Clayton awakes on the table of the doctor she's assisted all these months. She was presumed dead by all and has become the doctor's next corpse for his medical research. Frightened, the doctor tries to kill her, but Josephine begs to be spared. A deal is struck-Josie will leave her village and work at a distant cotton mill. All the while, she'll await her true mission-posing as a mourner to help his body snatcher procure her replacement. At the mill though, Josie is praised for her medical remedies among the mill girls, gaining attention from the handsome factory manager Braham Taylor. Yet, when Braham's own loved one becomes the prey for the next grave robbing, Josie must make a choice that could put her dark past behind her or steal away the promise of any future at all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781980047209

Angie Dicken

Texas transplant Angie Dicken lives in Iowa with her family of six, balancing a busy schedule of school sports and activities, date nights with her husband, and get-togethers with her longtime friends. Setting sweet romance stories in the beloved heartland seems as natural as sweet corn in the summer and snowplows in the thick of winter. Angie is a multi-published author and an ACFW member. Check out her previous books and news of upcoming releases at www.angiedicken.com

Reviews for The Yellow Lantern

[harley0326 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The third installment in the series, True Colors : Historical Stories of American Crime is one of shock and dismay. I have heard talk about movies where body snatchers were involved, but I had no idea that this practice was true until I read this story. Josephine is the focus of this story where she is forced to be part of a horrible plot to steal dead bodies. My heart broke as she felt she had no choice but to agree to help. She wanted to free her father from people who threatened to take everything from him. She felt like she had no choice even though it was against everything she believed in. The story does raise the question of how far you are willing to go in order to save a loved one. Josephine was spared from death but I think she died a little inside each time she had to do the unthinkable. I did enjoy her friendship with Braham. His obvious attraction to Josephine is perhaps what helped her to finally realize she could not carry out any more body snatching. The author provides a great history lesson about cotton mills during this time period. Women working in conditions that were dangerous as machines broke down seemed to be an everyday occurrence. There was little pay for these women and accidents seemed to happen more frequently. It was a perfect breeding ground for death and an opportunity for body snatchers to meet their needs. I loved trying to figure out who was the mastermind behind this unthinkable plot to steal dead bodies. It was interesting to learn that doctors used these bodies to do medical research on. Another intriguing part of the story was the use of mixing herbs to help heal the sick during this time. There are so many plants and herbs today that have helped the medical field and to read its use during the early 1820’s was inspiring. The story is indeed hard to grasp at times but the author does a great job of giving readers questions to ask themselves. Did Josie trust God enough to help her? Why would a father put his daughter in such danger? “The love of money is the root of all evil,” as the scripture says is very relevant in this story. Money was at the center of this crime and it devoured many people who gave into greed. I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion

[sn11386 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My Book Review:"The Yellow Lantern" is a Christian historical crime novel that is part of the book series called "True Colors." It is the third book of the series. This is a fiction based on strange but true history. Angie Dicken takes us back to 1824 into the life of Josephine Clayton's life. She gets involved in body snatching in hopes of saving her father's life the debtors prison. A dead body on the black market was worth a ton of money. Doctors wanted to these bodies to experiment and learn more about the body and how it worked when it comes to different medical diseases that caused the person's death. We see the struggle of her not wanting to steal dead bodies. Josephine finds herself a part of this practice after being taken for dead and ending up on the table of her employer, Dr. Chadwick. To save her own life, she must agree to go to work at a factory mill and pose as a mourner to signal a body snatcher to obtain her replacement. Unfortunately, she got herself into a deep map of deception. She starts working with Braham Taylor's at his cotton mill as a cover for her secret mission. We learn about Braham's family struggles. Alvin took the role of being a repentant sinner. The romance in "The Yellow Lantern" has a slow build between Josie and Braham. We see them go from distrust to admiration. There were some intense moments as well as some sweet ones too. She gets stuck between two men -- one whom she'd loved all her life and the other who stirred something inside her she'd never felt before. This is one of my first books I read from Angie Dicken. This book isn't a quick read. Each page is full of in-depth details and information making it hard to be a quick read. You really need to take your time. Dicken's did a wonderful job making personable characters. Each character is trying to overcome problems from their past. There is just enough about faith and romance throughout the book helping to break up the horrors of the body stealing crimes. You can tell Dickens did her research. Reading about young girls and women working long hours, 14 hours a day, in the mill with such poor circumstance. You can picture vividly the sounds, seeing the steam from the machines and Liesel the bobbin girl sitting against the wall with her basket. There are many topics in this book, including, grave robbing, medical advancement, trust, and faith. I highly recommend reading "The Yellow Lantern". It is a heavy story, but it a fascinating story. I received this book from the publishing house and was under no obligation to write a review.

[becky_l-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a fun, ghastly story Angie Dicken writes in The Yellow Lantern. Infusing just the right amounts of romance, horror, intrigue, and family rivalry, Dicken had me swiping the pages as fast as I could. We think nothing of medical colleges using cadavers in our day, but in the 19th century, doctors realized the need for examining dead corpses for research but didn’t have the access to them. « Resurrection men » had ghastly jobs of providing just-buried corpses, much like this book details. Often, the whole trade was done underground and involved dirty money, as people, of course, wanted their dearly departed to rest in peace.I loved that the characters were so three dimensional. Some I couldn’t figure out which side of the good guy/ bad guy line I wanted to put them on. There were even a few points where I felt sorry for the mean son, Gerald, as Braham is able to see him through eyes other than his own, and actually, understand why Gerald hates him.I think anyone who has ever had a nightmare will love this book of a nightmare come to life, with Josephine struggling so hard to break free of her living reality!Great wording:«Uncle Bates’ body emptied of life.» What a mental image of the spirit slowly leaking away!This quote had me thinking: «She focused on the path ahead, begging for God’s protection despite the unholy predicament.» How often we go our own way, then beg God to release us from the consequences!A note about the facts that were instilled into the story is helpfully included at the end. While part of the True Crimes series, each book stands on its own merit. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Celebrate Lit through NetGalley. This does not affect my opinions, for which I am solely responsible.

[hes7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Angie Dicken’s addition to the True Colors series delves into the history surrounding mills and grave robbing, and heroine Josephine Clayton winds up at the center of all the drama when she proves not to be as dead as the doctor presumed. With plenty of spying, accidents, and difficult choices, the story unfolds with suspense and intrigue in the pages of The Yellow Lantern.I enjoyed this trip into history with Dicken. Though I was aware of mill hardships and the prevalence of body snatching, I have read few books that explore such topics. Dicken’s novel kept me fascinated from beginning to end, journeying through it all with Josephine and the various characters she encounters. Readers of historical fiction involving romance and mystery will not want to skip this new release.I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had a hard time getting into this book, the beginning was so realistic, and scary, I can’t even imagine, but that being said I didn’t know where we were going with the story, but quickly found out!There is greed here, and surprises happen right up until the last page is turned, keep turning those pages.Sadly, this story is based on true crimes, and when you think of this actually happening, and when the need is not met, well, just add a few!When I was reading this story, I felt I was in old Europe, but no this is 1820’s Massachusetts!I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This has been a fantastic series of books. I have loved every one of them. This one is a bit spooky because who would go around stealing bodies. I know in the long run that maybe some good came out of doing research on dead bodies but it was too bad that there was not a better way to accomplish this goal. I really enjoyed the characters. I loved that some were good and others could be down right nasty. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit and Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[eamace · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The series True colors: Historical Stories of American Crime has taught me areas of history that I knew nothing about. As is true in history, some things are harder to believe than others. So it is with the wicked web of the ‘resurrectionists’, people who snatched bodies from the grave for medical research. How is Josephine Clayton to extricate herself from this horror when she wakes up on the table, finding herself about to be autopsied? In an effort to save her father who has become entangled in this network, she promises to help replace her body. After all, everyone thinks she is dead!This story holds a certain gruesomeness as you follow Josie and those who are coercing her help in their dreadful task. I appreciated the author’s note at the end of the book, explaining that this practice was widespread in the early 1800’s. As one who has benefited from medical experimentation, I can partly understand the need for this learning. However, I am grateful for those who donate their bodies to medical science, thus replacing the need for such nefarious activities!I enjoyed learning a little more about the healing herbs that were cultivated by our young herbalist. Her reliance on prayer reminded me that the Lord is there even in the direst of circumstances.I received a copy of this wonderful book through Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The comments, impressions and opinions given are my own and were not solicited.

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Grave robbers! Body snatchers! Medical research! These are the themes found in The Yellow Lantern and author Angie Dicken has written a story that I found both intriguing and disturbing. I had heard of robbing graves to steal jewels and other objects off of dead bodies but I wasn't as familiar with these corpses being removed to be used for medical research. The opening scene describes a young girl, presumed dead and already buried, who awakens to find herself staring up at a doctor with a knife. Yes, she was believed to be a corpse but now, she will need to be killed so that her body can be sold by a body-snatching ring that is operating in her Massachusetts village. In exchange for her safety and to help her father, Josephine Clayton reluctantly agrees to become a part of "The Network" and help obtain bodies to satisfy the demands of those who steal and then sell these corpses. As Josie becomes more involved, she realizes that she must try to discover who these "Resurrectionists" are and to stop this evil practice that is clearly against all of her Christian beliefs.The Yellow Lantern is based on true facts and it is apparent that Dicken intensively researched this practice that occurred in the nineteenth century. She describes how these bodies were stolen and how women were often hired as "mourners" so that they could be look-outs as the graves were being robbed. Her story has mysterious deaths, unexplained accidents, and Josie's ability to heal with herbs. There is also a romantic interest between Josie and Braham Taylor, her boss at the local cotton mill, but most of The Yellow Lantern centers around the rush to discover who is responsible before more innocent people become victims. There is definitely a surprise when the identities of these truly evil people are uncovered and there is also the redemption of one character who was very unlikeable throughout much of this book.If you enjoy historical fiction and Christian suspense, you will want to read The Yellow Lantern, the third book in the True Colors series.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[stardust_fiddle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Barbour introduced the True Colors series, I was immediately intrigued. True crime is an interesting genre, and one that I have both read about and watched documentaries about over the years. Having a basis of factual information, this subject tends toward more neutral ground with regard to narrative voice and presentation, and part of what makes True Colors so unique is the Christian aspect. The characters and precise situations are fictional, but the crimes themselves actually happened, and the merging of sordid history and Christian perspective offers a different angle and a novel approach. This has become my favorite Barbour series, with Daughters of the Mayflower a close second. “Heaven stank of tallow and shone a honey glow.” From that inimitable first line, Angie Dicken’s “The Yellow Lantern” shoots out of the gate and doesn’t relent until the final page. There is no easing into the plot; rather, readers find themselves thrust headlong into a nightmare situation straight from the nineteenth century. Being buried alive was a legitimate concern in the years before modern technology and an increasing understanding of the human body, and in this age of nascent medical knowledge, doctors needed fresh bodies to advance their studies—bodies supplied to them by aptly-named body snatchers. In 1824 Massachusetts, Josephine Clayton unwittingly finds herself a part of this practice after being quite literally taken for dead and buried and ending up on the table of her employer, Dr. Chadwick. In order to save her own life, she must agree to go to work at a factory mill and pose as a mourner to signal a body snatcher to obtain her replacement. However, her circumstances become more convoluted as she finds herself drawn more deeply into a web of deception.“The Yellow Lantern” sets forth a plausible scenario in which Christian, good-hearted people may become ensnared in conspiracies and duplicitous dealings. Josie experiences remorse and a stinging conscience as events escalate: “No matter if she played the part of a mill girl, she could not ignore the tangled thread of deceit that wrapped around her soul as tightly as the cotton on the bobbins”. Her proficiency as an herbal healer conflicts with the job she is to perform, as does a budding romance. The description of the cotton mill, with motes and dust thick in the air and obscuring the windows, is eye-opening, as is the lack of recourse for those without positions of authority and prestige in society. Not knowing whom to trust adds to the suspense, creating a sinister, murky atmosphere and making this a very difficult book to put down. Fans of true crime, factory life, nineteenth century customs, and romance will not want to miss out on this illuminating book!I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and CelebrateLit and was under no obligation to post a review.

[coverloverbookreview · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I wasn’t particularly intrigued by the cover, so I was a bit surprised by how quickly I was pulled in. I can’t say I’ve ever read a story even remotely like it—dealing with body-snatching grave-robbers. The Yellow Lantern is interesting, unique, and surprisingly inspirational. I love it when a story teaches me something or makes me look at something in a new way. I knew very little about the medical science practices of the 1800s or scheming grave robbers. Instantly I connected with Josephine. She felt authentic and I cared about what happened to her. Her choices were difficult, yet understandable, and I worried for her and rooted for her. This the second book I’ve read by this author, and I look forward to more of her historical work with a vein of faith throughout.Quotes from the book: Josephine Clayton had not been afraid of dying. Mourning had taught her that living proved more difficult.Would she awake from this nightmare, or had it just begun?First line: Heaven stank of tallow and shone a honey glow.Source: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. #TheYellowLantern

[lisa5127 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.I am a fan of historical fiction in general. I'm not sure that this book will end up in my top ten list.The story deals with grave robbers, fabric mills, cotton farms and the troubles that come with owing money to the wrong people.The main character, Josephine, finds herself needing to help with grave robbing to get her father out of trouble. Part of my less than 5-star review is because her problem felt fuzzy to me. It appears that she owed bodies to a doctor she had been working with, but I'm not sure why. She was also supposed to pay off someone else to get her father out of trouble, but that was also not super clear. He had been in a debtors prison and was released, but was now supposed to be sent back? Her situation was desperate enough that she felt the need to associate with grave robbers, but I'm not sure it was clear enough to me that I could understand why she would do such a thing and why there were no other options.At any rate, she moves to another town to work in a cotton mill. She is to be on the lookout for deaths and then assist with the body stealing. At the mill, she makes friends and enemies, as expected. I wish it wasn't so easy to tell the "good guys" from the "bad guys" as it makes the story a whole lot more fun to read.

[cassiesbooksreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken is Christian Historical Mystery Thriller Fiction. Josephine wakes up in one of the worst living nightmares possible. She has been ill and is receiving care from evil villains. Fear mixed with secrets and mysteries grab you from the beginning of the book and doesn’t let you go. Mystery and suspense to the end with a message of hope. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.

[grammy57 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I requested, through Netgalley and Barbour Books, to read and review The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken. I was given an advanced reader ebook to do this. My opinions are my own and not required.I have read the previous books in this series and enjoyed them. Each one by a different author. I was hoping I would feel the same about this book, but I do not. The concept is intriguing and has a lot of promise, but this book fell flat. It started strong but soon weakened to a slow, slightly boring read. I was totally confused on the main male characters relationship with his uncle. I never really knew if it was his biological uncle or just a kind person. Braham's, the nephew's, background was told but not in a clear manner and not one that made any sense. I don't see a real family treating one another as this was.The main female character was a bit more interesting but still fell flat. She seemed to be the only one that reflected a Christian personality and that wasn't very strong. They all attended church but that seemed to be the main thing that made this a Christian book and it was disappointing.This book had a lot of potential and the history would have been interesting. I am sorry the history part was so weak also.I have not read any other book by Angie Dicken so I cannot comment or compare. I am not sure I will read more if they are like this one. I also hope that the editing is done better before going to market as there was a lot to be desired in that area.I will not recommend this book to my friends. I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.