an intricate plot , enhanced by the changing narrative format. Sometimes absurd but always within the acceptable bounds for a gothic novel. ( )

I loved the ending....

Okay, so, I liked this one, but it wasn't exactly what I expected.

Spoilers ahead.

I'm very into gothic-type hauntings and ghost stories these days. I love it when they stick to the old rules of having a female protagonist whose sanity is questioned, but I love it even more when it's subversed in a feminist way, where we can clearly see how the woman is being gaslighted by respectable men trying to either protect her or present her as a hysteric - when she has been sane and correct all along.
And this book kinda does that, which is one of it's greater qualities. It shows the unfortunate possition of women in a male dominated world.

What I didn't enjoy was the rape, mentioned mostly as cohersion and not by name, the creepy villain, the complete lack of ghosts, and the fact that the last chapters felt like a mysttery whodunnit and not a ghost story.

The characters were charmingly written and interesting. The premise and setting were amazing. But I didn't get exactly what I bargained for, and it left me a bit bitter. ( )

I really, really enjoyed this book. A slightly creepy mystery that hearkens back to the Gothic horror tradition (a deserted, possibly haunted manor; a possibly unstable female protagonist; a suave yet probably evil husband). The writing is well conposed, and the pacing is perfect, unfolding quickly but with care. There are a few characters whose place in the narrative I find shaky, and there are a couple of plot holes. But those don't take away from the overall elegance of the story. ( )

This is an excellent novel, and a wonderful audiobook. Not that much in the way of supernatural things happening, but instead it’s more of a mystery novel. But I enjoyed nearly all of it. Until I got to the very end, and it became just a little maudlin, which I’m forgiving because the rest was good. The plot line was easy to guess which way it would go in some parts, and that was fine also.

The narrators are Fiona Hardingham, Simon Vance, and Katherine Kellgren. Hardingham got way too excited in the actiony parts of the novel and got a little shouty during these scenes, which took away from my excitement of the audiobook. Vance is of course amazing, and I love his voice. Kellgren was very good also, and not as upper crust an English accent as Hardingham, which was more enjoyable to me.
All in all, I love this author, and I enjoy his novels very much. This book is a great way to spend a rainy day with some tea, curled in your favorite reading spot.
3.5 stars, and recommended to lovers of the Victorian era, twisty turny mysteries, multiple narrators, easy-ish plotlines, and rainy day novels. ( )