Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein. She knows her great uncle disappeared in mysterious circumstances in the Arctic, but she doesn’t know why or how…
The 1850s is a time of discovery and London is ablaze with the latest scientific theories and debates, especially when a spectacular new exhibition of dinosaur sculptures opens at the Crystal Palace. Mary, with a sharp mind and a sharper tongue, is keen to make her name in this world of science, alongside her geologist husband Henry, but without wealth and connections, their options are limited.
But when Mary discovers some old family papers that allude to the shocking truth behind her great-uncle’s past, she thinks she may have found the key to securing their future… Their quest takes them to the wilds of Scotland, to Henry’s intriguing but reclusive sister Maisie, and to a deadly chase with a rival who is out to steal their secret…
I fully admit that I was initially drawn to Our Hideous Progeny by the cover. I hadn’t heard of it or the author before spotting it on a table in a bookshop recently, but it caught my eye, and the blurb only cemented my need to buy a copy. Reader, I was not disappointed.
The novel introduces the reader to Mary Sutherland, a character who we quickly learn is not content with a woman’s lot in life. Her childhood fascination with fossils and the creatures they hint at never left her as she grew up, and she dreams of making a name for herself in that field. In this respect, she struck me as a Mary Anning type figure (and the author’s note at the end of the novel confirms that Anning was a source of inspiration) – someone who has much to contribute and yet who isn’t invited to play simply because of their gender. Instead, she’s seen as an amusing novelty at best but more typically as an annoyance and is relegated to providing the illustrations for her husband’s own scientific papers.
Our Mary is, of course, inspired by another Mary – Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein. Mary Sutherland is the great niece of Victor Frankenstein, although she knows very little about her uncle and nothing of his experiments at the outset of the novel. The discovery of some of his papers leads Mary and husband, Henry, to take up his work, seeing a way to make their name when Henry falls into disgrace in the scientific community – something that rightly frustrates Mary as he throws away the opportunities that she would give anything for. I have to admit that I was a little sceptical about this element of the plot at the outset, fearing a rehash of Shelley’s novel, and yet it works brilliantly here. McGill has taken the concept from Shelley’s idea, but has moved it along, combining it with the scientific ideas and knowledge of the time and extrapolating to the most wonderful “what if” as Mary and Henry take their research and experiments in a different direction.
Mary and Henry work well together for the most part, but even though he recognises her desires and the chafing restrictions of her gender, he still sees her as a difficult woman. Mary is bold, outspoken, and quick to anger, and she isn’t at all afraid of letting the source of her ire see it. Mary is no wallflower, and refuses to be quiet and demure as even her husband expects of her, and I loved her for it – she’s a character for all those who’ve been told that they’re too much or have a bad attitude.
Taking inspiration from Frankenstein, McGill has made the idea their own, combining it with the furore around dinosaurs in the mid-nineteenth century, but also ideas of equality and adding beautifully subtle Sapphic undertones. The plot moves slowly, building tension gradually as Mary and Henry’s experiments begin to progress and the Gothic element makes it a perfect read for dark autumnal nights. Our Hideous Progeny is a brilliant debut from an author to watch.
Jo's Book Blog 
Fab review Jo so glad you enjoyed it! x
Thank you, Nicki x