I could not possibly do justice to Essie Fox's third book in a review but it is my favourite so far. Written in rich exotic prose to suit the setting of sumptuous richly coloured fabrics and jewels the reader instantly identifies with the heroine, Alice, and longs to help her escape from the people, circumstances and obsessions which entrap her. And yet Alice is not completely helpless and makes momentous decisions even if they are unwise. The enigmatic Lucian Tilsbury is both compelling and terrifying and the other characters are all clearly drawn. Essie Fox may not have lived in India, but her wide reading has enabled her to catch the fascination of this complex sub-continent. A very satisfying Christmas read! ( )

Reviewed for Curious Book Fans:

http://www.curiousbookfans.co.uk/2014/fiction-books/12408/the-goddess-and-the-th... ( )

Alice is sent to live with her aunt who is a medium in Windsor, having lived in India. Along come Mr Tilsbury who draws Alice into a plot to steal the priceless Koho-i-Noor diamond.

My Thoughts:

This is the third book by Essie Fox and all have been set in Victorian England. On a positive not the book has lovely descriptions and I did get a sense of being. I really got the feel of Victorian England.

The negative is that I felt the story was a bit of a yarn. It was too long and there were lots going on. At first I felt the book was dragging and I was waiting for something to happen to tell me to carry on. Then the story picked up pace and it became a little Victorian mystery with all the usual motley crew of characters. Then towards the end the story dragged again and like the previous book all the characters had their own ending.

I enjoy stories set in Victorian England and love the element of the mediums and spiritualism. At times I felt the story a little too far fetched but it is reported the Queen Victoria did seek out mediums after Alberts death. This book I felt was not as good has the authors two previous books but it won’t stop me seeking out her new books in the future. ( )