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The Impossible Girl Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 5,119 ratings

Two hearts. Twice as vulnerable.

Manhattan, 1850. Born out of wedlock to a wealthy socialite and a nameless immigrant, Cora Lee can mingle with the rich just as easily as she can slip unnoticed into the slums and graveyards of the city. As the only female resurrectionist in New York, she’s carved out a niche procuring bodies afflicted with the strangest of anomalies. Anatomists will pay exorbitant sums for such specimens—dissecting and displaying them for the eager public.

Cora’s specialty is not only profitable, it’s a means to keep a finger on the pulse of those searching for her. She’s the girl born with two hearts—a legend among grave robbers and anatomists—sought after as an endangered prize.

Now, as a series of murders unfolds closer and closer to Cora, she can no longer trust those she holds dear, including the young medical student she’s fallen for. Because someone has no intention of waiting for Cora to die a natural death.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The characters and the vivid descriptions bring midcentury graveyards to life…Kang places the reader in the midst of Cora’s life.” Gumshoe Review

“The setting is expertly laid out, detailed, and realistic, and the characters are relatable and likable…Lydia Kang’s writing is great and Cora Lee is not a character to soon be forgotten.” All About Romance

“Kang really knows how to develop her world and it’s so very easy to get lost in it…There were so many unexpected twists.” Broken Teepee

"This book had a little bit of everything, romance, mystery, fantasy, and history…Highly recommend.” The LitBitch

“This book has such a strong main character—Cora Lee—and she is full of intrigue and mystery…This is an intense and gripping book.” Always With a Book

“If you like the world of grave robbing with a strong female protagonist who fights for her life on the daily, this is a great read for you.” Where the Reader Grows

The Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang is an impossibly good read…The writing is beautiful and lyrical, the atmosphere is haunting, and the mystery is engaging. Fans of novels with strong heroines, period pieces, and/or murder mysteries will all find something to love in this book.” Hypable

The Impossible Girl was exceptional…This book was an easy five stars. Every detail was perfect.” Fictionist Magazine

“A cat-and-mouse story of intrigue, set in 1850 and featuring a strong-willed female protagonist striving to stay one step ahead of an unknown foe who would murder her for profit, The Impossible Girl is captivating through and through. Highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs of historical murder mysteries!” —Midwest Book Review

“Kang creates a vividly detailed world with so much atmosphere and intricate pieces…There’s a bit of romance, loads of history, and a splash of fantasy that transforms this book into an impossibly great read.” Fangirlish

About the Author

Lydia Kang is a physician and the author of A Beautiful Poison. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from Columbia University and New York University School of Medicine. She currently lives in the Midwest with her family, where she continues to practice internal medicine. Visit her at www.lydiakang.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07BDHGKJX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (September 18, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 18, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3403 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 365 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1503903389
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 5,119 ratings

About the author

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Lydia Kang
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Lydia Kang is an author and internal medicine physician. She is a graduate of Columbia University and New York University School of Medicine, and completed her training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. She lives with her family in the midwest. Follow her on Facebook (AuthorLydiaKang) and Instagram @LydiaKang.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
5,119 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's plot interesting and unique, with numerous twists. They describe it as a phenomenal read that puts them in the setting. The historical accuracy and research are appreciated by readers. They find the book engaging and exciting, drawing them in until the very end. The characters are well-developed and independent-minded. The pacing is excellent, keeping the story flowing smoothly. Overall, customers praise the work quality as wonderful.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

138 customers mention "Plot"127 positive11 negative

Customers find the plot interesting and unique. They appreciate the well-developed story with many twists. The book blends historical fiction, science, medicine, and mystery in a realistic way that is surprising at times. Readers praise the author's storytelling skill and consider it a masterful work of realistic fiction that brings together period practices in a believable way.

"...We the readers are led through a complex plot that does not strain our credibility as she gradually sees the medical student, Theo, as more than a..." Read more

"...I think that Dr. Kang is a very good story teller. I always get sucked in and can’t wait to find out what happens next...." Read more

"A pretty good story about a lost girl trying to find herself. It flowed pretty good and kept my interest." Read more

"...The story and plot are good enough to hold one's interest, the author is a medical doctor and knows her medical information, but the writing style..." Read more

105 customers mention "Readability"105 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They describe it as an enjoyable read with a fast pace. While some find the first book better, they consider it a worthwhile read.

"...A worthwhile read and it even has a happy ending." Read more

"...It is an extreme pleasure to read her novels. This novel has everything one could hope for in a cliff hanger and a historical work...." Read more

"...Sounds crazy? Sure, it seems implausible, but is well told and entertaining. I think I'll be reading more of Kang in the future." Read more

"...I found it to be a fast read and very enjoyable. I highly recommend it .. the characters really came to life for me... I would love to see a sequel" Read more

64 customers mention "Historical accuracy"64 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's historical accuracy. They find it provides an interesting insight into a time, place, and subject. The book has great historical research and colorful descriptions. Readers appreciate learning about an area in time that no one really thought about. The story is researched and full of old school information, and it's a perfect read for both history and medical buffs.

"...in a way this book is relentlessly modern in spite of its historical authenticity, the author must be aware that in that period there were powerful..." Read more

"...There are also interesting bits about medical history and the evolution of ethics in the field." Read more

"This author has an incredible grasp and knowledge of history. It is an extreme pleasure to read her novels...." Read more

"...It takes place in 1850s NYC, during an interesting period in history, when medical schools needed cadavers for their anatomy classes and research,..." Read more

48 customers mention "Entertainment value"43 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the book's entertainment value. They find it engaging, exciting, and unpredictable with good plot twists that keep them hooked until the end. The fast-paced read keeps their attention throughout with adventure and suspense that keep them turning the pages.

"...It flowed pretty good and kept my interest." Read more

"...Sounds crazy? Sure, it seems implausible, but is well told and entertaining. I think I'll be reading more of Kang in the future." Read more

"...I also read "The November Girl," which is completely different but very moving...." Read more

"...level the details match, weaving a rich tapestry of city and era, suspense and one of the most character driven plots I’ve read in recent times...." Read more

43 customers mention "Character development"43 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed and interesting. They appreciate the independent female characters and the two-faced characters at every turn. The narrator is also praised for his work.

"...are lots of bad and seemingly bad guys here, lots of good and seemingly good guys, and an unexpected really bad guy...." Read more

"...The characters were well developed and interesting. The good guys look bad and the bad guys look good...." Read more

"The plot, characters, and format was different which added intrigue...." Read more

"I very much enjoyed "The Impossible Girl," with its body-stealing main character. As usual, there is some interesting science and history here...." Read more

21 customers mention "Pacing"17 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it fast-paced and enjoyable. The story flows well and keeps their interest until the end.

"A pretty good story about a lost girl trying to find herself. It flowed pretty good and kept my interest." Read more

"...I found it to be a fast read and very enjoyable. I highly recommend it .. the characters really came to life for me... I would love to see a sequel" Read more

"This book had me hooked almost immediately...." Read more

"...The flow of the story was well paced and even though some points were predictable I enjoyed it overall...." Read more

20 customers mention "Work quality"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They appreciate the smart and thought-out plot with historical context. The research into history and medicine is also praised.

"...I feel like this novel was very well-researched. I enjoyed this book, and I plan to read everything by this author." Read more

"...Her job is quite interesting. I will try more from this author." Read more

"...There was a lot of growth. A lot of foreshadowing, and some great outcomes. I was surprised, of course, how everything tied together at the end." Read more

"I will always give 5 stars to a book that was well planned, thought out, and has historical context...." Read more

18 customers mention "Visual quality"18 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's visual quality. They find the depiction of New York in that time period well-detailed and vivid, with colorful descriptions and anatomical details. The author recreates the turn-of-the-20th-century atmosphere believable, matching details at every level.

"...“Opium and Absinthe,” the one I previously read, it has an authentic view of old New York in the 19th century that rings true for those who , like..." Read more

"...The characters were well developed and interesting. The good guys look bad and the bad guys look good...." Read more

"...It arrived and looks wonderful!!! Can't wait to read it! Fast shipping!" Read more

"...has done an excellent job of getting all the facts right, and presents it all well...." Read more

Generally entertaining dark read
4 out of 5 stars
Generally entertaining dark read
“The Impossible Girl” is about young Cora Lee, a girl born out of wedlock to a former socialite and a penniless immigrant. She spends her days straddling two worlds in Manhattan, 1850, one as Cora Lee and the other pretending to be her brother, Jacob Lee. As the only female resurrectionist in New York, she’s known for finding bodies afflicted with strange anomalies and maladies, while keeping the biggest anomaly from the rest of the world. Cora, when she was born, was born with two hearts, and she knows she’s the biggest score of all...I won this novel in a book giveaway last year and truth be told, it languished on my shelves for a few months. But when I picked it up, I moved quickly through it. I enjoyed it! I liked Cora a lot, as well as the supporting cast. The plot is well-done, filled with murder and intrigue, and keeps you on your toes throughout. The writing wasn’t overwrought and Kang did a good job of keeping an ominous, generally dark tone throughout the novel.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2020
    All 4 elements are present in this novel. It’s the second I’ve read by Dr. Kang although maybe not in the order in which they were published. Like “Opium and Absinthe,” the one I previously read, it has an authentic view of old New York in the 19th century that rings true for those who , like me, have spent time there in the 20th. This book steps a generation further back than the previous one to the time before the Civil War. It’s the period of P. T. Barnum and the public has an appetite for the grotesque. There’s an underworld with an astoundingly different slang that is now unintelligible but the author has it used by the gang of grave robbers that are featured in the story.
    The 4th element in the book is medicine. The author isn’t merely making use of her medical training to explain symptoms suffered by characters, she also has contemporary treatments and medications play an appropriate role. The chief character is the impossible girl because she was born with 2 hearts. Once that gets around she realizes she’s in terrible danger of ending up an exhibit in one of the museums of “curiosities” that are becoming common in Manhattan. Another source of the market for dead bodies is medical schools so it’s clear that fresh corpses are in such demand that it could be a motive for murder.
    Cora, the protagonist, leads the gang of grave robbers. She’s also related to the Cutter family who are featured in the previous book. She encounters an interloper who turns out to be a medical student who is an orphan and hopes to fund his education by participating in the market for corpses. We the readers are led through a complex plot that does not strain our credibility as she gradually sees the medical student, Theo, as more than a competitor.
    While in a way this book is relentlessly modern in spite of its historical authenticity, the author must be aware that in that period there were powerful religious taboos against disturbing the dead. while none of the characters is shown in church, short chapters recount the last minutes of each victim of the serial killer who is competing with Cora to fill the demand for corpses. In these short chapters the victims’ consciousness goes on somewhat beyond the moment of death, suggesting an afterlife might be possible on a spiritual plane. This is appropriate to the period and in accordance with human nature.
    A worthwhile read and it even has a happy ending.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2018
    I came upon this book in an amusing way. I took a quiz through Book Riot about what I would serve for Thanksgiving dinner. A book is recommended based on your responses. And voila! The Impossible Girl. I had read A Beautiful Poison and really enjoyed it, so I downloaded this book immediately. I was not disappointed.

    The book begins in Manhattan in 1850 with the birth of Cora Lee. Her mother come from a privileged family and she has an affair with an unknown immigrant. Cora’s mother is disowned and must make her way alone. After her death, Cora must also survive on her own. She takes up a career as a resurrectionist, digging up dead bodies to sell to doctors and medical schools. Abnormal bodies are desirable and pay the best. However, Cora is believed to have been born with two hearts and is a prized body herself. She tries to keep herself safe and her business profitable despite increasing competition. Then it appears that the people with physical anomalies are dying before their time. Cora does not know who to trust and her life is in danger.

    I think that Dr. Kang is a very good story teller. I always get sucked in and can’t wait to find out what happens next. The two books that I have read each feature strong women who are unconventional for their time, which I enjoy. The mystery is good and will keep you guessing to the end. There are also interesting bits about medical history and the evolution of ethics in the field.
    26 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2024
    This author has an incredible grasp and knowledge of history. It is an extreme pleasure to read her novels. This novel has everything one could hope for in a cliff hanger and a historical work. Simply outstanding.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2024
    A pretty good story about a lost girl trying to find herself. It flowed pretty good and kept my interest.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2020
    This is the 3rd book by Lydia Kang which I have read, and it is very entertaining. Kang has a medical degree, so there is a strong and enjoyable element of verisimilitude to her forensic descriptions. Interestingly, this story does link through the same family, the Cutters, to the other books "A Beautiful Poison" and "Opium and Absinthe." Anyway, this one tells the rather unlikely story of Cora Lee, born scandalously out of wedlock by a high society family and abandoned by them, seemingly having been born with two hearts ( yes, there is eventually an explanation!). She grows up to take on the trade of a resurrectionist, a graverobbing bodysnatcher selling corpses to medical schools and such, masquerading as her own fictional twin brother to navigate this "man's world." Sounds crazy? Sure, it seems implausible, but is well told and entertaining. I think I'll be reading more of Kang in the future.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Tamara
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping & complex
    Reviewed in Canada on June 6, 2024
    I couldn't put it down. I finished it in a single day. I did not see all the twists coming.
    How hard was it for women in the 19th century to raise a child out of wedlock? How hard was it to be that child? And mixed race.
    It was hard.
    Brilliant, and insightful in a dark and twisted way. I couldn't put it down.
  • antonello.17
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ok
    Reviewed in Italy on March 26, 2023
  • Subhash Mehta
    4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a good read
    Reviewed in India on January 19, 2023
    Story telling is as interesting as it could be and the content asking to be read. The author has used imagination to create a character which is on the verge of disbelief. Brings back memories of Shakespeare read decades ago. Once you start reading you wish to finish till the end. Go for it.
  • Emma's Biblio Treasures
    5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable book.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2018
    Cora Lee is ‘the impossible girl’. She was born on a blustery winter’s night in 1850, the bastard child of a socialite and a nameless immigrant. When she's found to have two hearts the doctor is sure she won't survive and even offers money for her body upon death. Immediately her caregivers decide to raise Cora as a boy to protect her from the clutches of those who would wish to harm her and dissect her body for medical research or worse, display it for the public to gawp and gasp at.

    20 years later and Cora is now working as a resurrectionist, acquiring bodies for the Anatomists of New York. She specialises in finding the bodies of those with queer and unusual ailments, the things that Anatomists will pay the highest prices for. This speciality also helps her keep her ear to the ground so she would know if anyone were searching for anyone with her particular malady.

    When people on her special list start to die unnatural deaths Cora no longer knows who she can trust or where to turn. Whoever the killer is, it is clear they are coming for her too. Can she find the killer and escape there clutches or will she be the next victim and body on display?

    I’ve always had a love for the era that this book was set in and a long standing fascination with the history of medicine so this instantly struck me as the kind of book I’d enjoy. I was right; I was enthralled by this book from the opening pages and couldn’t put it down. The author has facts masterfully interlaced with fiction and it was clear that she had taken plenty of time researching the flagitious history of the study of anatomy. There were many times it was easy to forget I was reading a work of fiction

    This book is beautifully written and the author was careful to use language appropriate to the time. While this often led to me having to look things up on google it helped the story overall and the only times I really felt confused is when Cora was dressed as her ‘brother’ Jacob but was still referred to as ‘Cora’ and using female pronouns.

    This remarkable story had me on the edge of my seat and unable to tear myself away as it reached its climax. Who was the killer? Who had betrayed Cora and was seeking to profit from her demise? Will her secret be revealed to the world or would she escape? I couldn’t wait to find out and read the majority of the book in one sitting as I had to know how it ended.

    ‘The Impossible Girl’ is an incredible novel that you will not only enjoy reading but it will also teach you a lot about how we came to understand the human body as we do today. A great read for anyone who loves general fiction, historical fiction, crime and mystery.

    Out Now.
    Customer image
    Emma's Biblio Treasures
    5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable book.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2018
    Cora Lee is ‘the impossible girl’. She was born on a blustery winter’s night in 1850, the bastard child of a socialite and a nameless immigrant. When she's found to have two hearts the doctor is sure she won't survive and even offers money for her body upon death. Immediately her caregivers decide to raise Cora as a boy to protect her from the clutches of those who would wish to harm her and dissect her body for medical research or worse, display it for the public to gawp and gasp at.

    20 years later and Cora is now working as a resurrectionist, acquiring bodies for the Anatomists of New York. She specialises in finding the bodies of those with queer and unusual ailments, the things that Anatomists will pay the highest prices for. This speciality also helps her keep her ear to the ground so she would know if anyone were searching for anyone with her particular malady.

    When people on her special list start to die unnatural deaths Cora no longer knows who she can trust or where to turn. Whoever the killer is, it is clear they are coming for her too. Can she find the killer and escape there clutches or will she be the next victim and body on display?

    I’ve always had a love for the era that this book was set in and a long standing fascination with the history of medicine so this instantly struck me as the kind of book I’d enjoy. I was right; I was enthralled by this book from the opening pages and couldn’t put it down. The author has facts masterfully interlaced with fiction and it was clear that she had taken plenty of time researching the flagitious history of the study of anatomy. There were many times it was easy to forget I was reading a work of fiction

    This book is beautifully written and the author was careful to use language appropriate to the time. While this often led to me having to look things up on google it helped the story overall and the only times I really felt confused is when Cora was dressed as her ‘brother’ Jacob but was still referred to as ‘Cora’ and using female pronouns.

    This remarkable story had me on the edge of my seat and unable to tear myself away as it reached its climax. Who was the killer? Who had betrayed Cora and was seeking to profit from her demise? Will her secret be revealed to the world or would she escape? I couldn’t wait to find out and read the majority of the book in one sitting as I had to know how it ended.

    ‘The Impossible Girl’ is an incredible novel that you will not only enjoy reading but it will also teach you a lot about how we came to understand the human body as we do today. A great read for anyone who loves general fiction, historical fiction, crime and mystery.

    Out Now.
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  • Fiona
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Arresting Tale
    Reviewed in Australia on February 19, 2022
    Thoroughly enjoyed this book for so many reasons; deft historical details, medical mysteries, devastating betrayals, unlooked for kindnesses and love. I won't spoil the read, but will recommend it!

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