The case of William Burke and William Hare, who murdered at least fifteen people to sell the bodies to anatomists for dissection, has fascinated readers for almost two hundred years. Broadsides and pamphlets and songs told crowds about their fates and their confessions (the tales being based on a little truth and, usually, a lot of imagination). Their story continues to be retold even today.

We are probably due for a modern re-examination of the case, based on current knowledge of anatomy and of history and custom. Sadly, this book isn't it. Apart from a strange and quixotic attempt to make Burke look relatively good, it has little new to offer. And the organization leaves much to be desired. It was simply too easy to get lost -- even though I already knew at least a little about Burke and Hare, which many modern readers will not.

If you already have a good knowledge of the era of the resurrectionists, and of the Burke and Hare case, this may be an interesting counterbalance to the usual attempt to portray both men as the worst of the worst. But I would start with other sources before turning to this. ( )