Exquisite Corpse by Marija Peričić

Exquisite Corpse by Marija Peričić
UK Publication: November 2023
Reviewed by: Book Worm
Rating: [★★★]

This ARC was provided by Ultimo Press (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

Grotesque yet compelling.

Synopsis from Goodreads: Beautiful but impoverished Lina Dahlstrom is dying of tuberculosis and it seems that no one can save her. All hope is lost until an eccentric doctor, Carl Dance, becomes enthralled with Lina’s charms and vows to do everything in his power to cure her. But when the illness inevitably claims Lina’s life, Dance’s obsession with her only grows and so begins a mad and criminal scheme to bring her back from beyond the grave and claim her as his own forever.Set in Stockholm in 1930 and based on true events, Exquisite Corpse is a story about the madness and horror of a romance that knows no bounds. ‘A brilliant hammer-swing at the notion that a woman is her most beautiful in death, Peričić’s darkly visceral account of entitlement and deluded obsession is jaw-dropping. Exquisite Corpse is ingenious Australian gothic at its macbre best.’ – Sarah Schmidt, author of The Blue Hour and See What I Have Done ‘Historical fiction for a post #metoo world, Exquisite Corpse gets to the bone-tingling core of why consent matters, and always has.’ – Pip Smith, author of Half Wild

My Thoughts: Based on the true story of Georg Carl Tänzler and his “beloved”  Elena “Helen” Milagro this book is a creepy and insidious look at the nature of obsession, possession and about  power over another person. Only the deluded was call this a love story and yet plenty of women believe Carl Dance to be the most romantic man ever, conveniently forgetting the women who is the centre of his attention is not his wife.

The viewpoint in the story shifts between 4 characters and each section gets more and more bizarre as we learn what is going on in Dr Dance’s head and what lengths he will go to for his “beloved”.

The title suggests where this book is going and yes it does go there but not in a gratuitous way the reader needs to read these sections to understand exactly what is going on behind the façade. That said it does mean this is not a book you can recommend to everyone.

Who would like this? If you have a strong stomach and an interest in exploring obsession go for it.

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