Book Review: That Bonesetter Woman by Frances Quinn

I enjoyed Frances Quinn’s debut novel The Smallest Man, and so I was excited to see she had written a new book.

That Bonesetter Woman, published in 2022, instantly grabbed my attention. I absolutely loved the premise – a strong, independent woman living in 18th century London? Sign me up! I love historical fiction, particularly when there’s a main character I can really get behind.

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Author: Frances Quinn

Buy: Amazon | Waterstones

Published: 2022

Plot

Endurance Proudfoot has always struggled to fit in. Large and ungainly, Durie struggles to find her place in the world, at a time when women are supposed to be delicate and demure.

Durie is uninterested in becoming more appealing to anyone. She has only one dream – to become a bonesetter like her father. Despite his claims that it is not a job for a woman, Durie’s father has to reluctantly agree that Durie has a natural ability. Her large hands and lack of grace lend themselves well to the physical task of bonesetting.

However, when her sister, Lucinda, finds herself in trouble, Durie is banished to London alongside her. The two sisters are as different as could be, and as they arrive to stay with their Aunt Ellen, Durie is determined she will continue her work as a bonesetter.

As she starts to make a name for herself amongst London’s finest, Durie is delighted to be making a living doing something she loves. However, her success isn’t celebrated by everyone. Some people remain suspicious of an independent woman, while others start to question her abilities. With a small group of men determined to undermine her work, while another tries to steal her heart, can Endurance live up to her name?

That Bonesetter Woman Book Review

I really enjoyed this book. I would definitely say I preferred it to Frances Quinn’s debut novel, The Smallest Man. This is largely down to Durie, who was the perfect heroine. I think if you didn’t love Durie, the story wouldn’t work half as well.

Thankfully I adored Durie. Her strength, decency and determination made her a force to be reckoned with, but it was her vulnerabilities that made her so endearing. She was stubborn yet kind, intelligent but also naive.

I loved her no-nonsense manner and how determined she was to make a difference. I also loved Aunt Ellen for similar reasons. Durie was such a brilliant protagonist and I felt for her as she tried to find her place in the world.

Georgian London was vividly brought to life and I felt Durie’s frustration as she was constantly belittled by men. Independent women were so often seen as something to be scorned. Her battles, though based in a completely different era, were reminiscent of those faced by Elizabeth Zott in Lessons in Chemistry. Both characters were experts in their fields and yet still had to fight to be taken seriously.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to reading whatever Frances Quinn writes next.