This book was phenomenal. A mix of Pride & Prejudice, Jane Eyre (where Rochester is not a total creep), Rebecca, and Wuthering Heights. Equal parts mystery, gothic horror, and romance. You are pulled in by the charm of Genevieve and her ability to take care of herself in a world that degrades women and is unsafe for them to exist outside of the wealthy elite. You also fear for her and the cruel world around her, which would see her suffer simply for trying to live. Her back story is so tragic, but it has made her hard and determined. She has a hard time trusting others, which makes her relationship with Lord Pemberton so captivating. The banter, the wit, the clash of classes, but also the trust and depth of respect. They cannot help but like each other, to be drawn into each other's orbit. The story is well written, with hints being dropped here and there. Some real, some red herrings. But the end was shocking, I had a moment of thinking I should have seen it coming, but was blind sighted and delighted by the turn of events. The characters at the house are all so suspicious and awful, but also the reader should not fall for the kindness some show. It really was a spotlight on the shiny facade that wealth affords some, how easily it can persuade others to look away or allow awfulness to grow and fester. The gothic atmosphere of this novel was not overdone. It had just the right amount of macabre, while also pointing out how unlikely spiritualism was in the case of murder. Genevieve is a complete skeptic, knowing how easily people can be persuaded to believe something to be real. She is a showperson, knows the tricks of the trade, can pick out the false from the real. She has yet to see any real evidence of mysticism or ghosts, and therefore approaches everything from a pragmatic viewpoint. Lord Pemberton is similar, believing that murder is done by those grounded in the real world and someone must face justice for what occurred at the Manor. I really enjoyed how to novel was broken up by journal entries by Lady Pemberton. As the novel progresses you really gain a sense of who she was before her tragic demise. You see the cracks in her mental state, you understand her yearning for love, you see her disdain for those around her who cling to her and her father's wealth. Just another interesting look into the mind of a woman in Victorian times, different from Genevieve who must lie to survive, Lady Pemberton is just as trapped by society and the ideals of womanhood and estates being exchanged between fathers and sons. You think with all of the classical novels this book drew from for inspiration it would feel tired and old, but it takes all the best parts of those novels and removes the worst. Creating a new and clever classic that is sure to delight many faithful readers of those classics.
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