The Impossible Girl
1850. Jacob has many secrets. For one, Jacob is really a girl named Cora. The other secret was discovered at birth when the doctor discovered a strange anomaly in Cora’s chest—a second heartbeat. Years afterward, moving and changing names, Cora works as a resurrectionist, aka a body snatcher. Unfortunately for her, a new museum is opening. Wanting to compete with P. T. Barnum, the curator seeks grotesque specimens, in particular a girl with two hearts. The price for bringing in this legendary girl makes Cora the most sought-after person in the state. However, the medical community also seeks unique human specimens for the university. Then, when people with odd maladies begin to die under suspicious circumstances, despite all her years of hiding, Cora fears that a killer may be heading straight for her doorstep.
Setting-wise, it’s easy to see that Kang has done her research. From the medical knowledge of the time to the dirty New York streets and its colorful characters, to the “flash” speak Cora/Jacob employs while working, the book is immersive. Body snatching as Jacob is a dirty business, but Cora lives in more genteel realms. Thus, the places Cora/Jacob comes across are quite varied and captivatingly described. While character movement is largely contained to Manhattan, the setting seems larger than it is. The mystery surrounding the murders is gripping and kept me guessing until the very end. Character-wise, I felt our main characters’ emotional reactions to situations were either underwhelming or over the top, making them a bit hard to connect with. However, while the characters could use a bit more emotional stability, The Impossible Girl is a well-done macabre historical novel with rich setting details and expressive prose.
