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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a very dark and Gothic book; almost too dark than I am willing to tolerate right now, but I liked the characters so much I kept reading in horrified fascination. Hetty is one of the very few women who works for the Natural History Museum in London at the outbreak of WWII. The collection of mammals is sent to a manor house, Lockwood Manor, for safekeeping during the duration, and Hetty is assigned to go along with the collection and remain at the Manor to care for it and maintain it. The grown daughter of the house, Lucy, is new to being the lady there, since her mother and grandmother recently died in a motor accident. The atmosphere is beautifully rendered; dark and chilling; and I really did enjoy both Lucy and Hetty as characters. The story is told in first person from alternating points of view of both women. Dark, Gothic, and impossible to stop reading. I look forward to another by this author.
Intoxicating writing, immersive setting, and an area of history that I haven't read about in ficton before. It immediately made me want to visit the Natural History Museum to look for mites beneath the stuffed mammals! Jane Healey writes prose beautifully - her work is rich, evocative, and a total joy to read.
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
We follow Hetty Cartwright who works for the national museum in London, when both her and some valuable mammals evacuate to Lockwood manor for the duration of the war.
While at Lockwood, keeping her animals safe proves to be a harder task than she anticipated. The lord of the house turns out to be quite a challenge and his daughter, troubled as she seems to be, becomes an even greater challenge.
The story is described as dark and full of tension, but I wouldn't describe it this way.
It was clear from his very first appearance that Lord Lockwood was a horrible person and by the end of the book you wish someone would put an end to him. Hetty is in many ways a woman ahead of her time and deserves a medal for not talking back to Lord Lockwood, as I'm pretty sure the would've been the worst thing do to in 1939.
For me it lacked a bit in mystery and excitement, which made the story seem a bit slow and dull.
While at Lockwood, keeping her animals safe proves to be a harder task than she anticipated. The lord of the house turns out to be quite a challenge and his daughter, troubled as she seems to be, becomes an even greater challenge.
The story is described as dark and full of tension, but I wouldn't describe it this way.
It was clear from his very first appearance that Lord Lockwood was a horrible person and by the end of the book you wish someone would put an end to him. Hetty is in many ways a woman ahead of her time and deserves a medal for not talking back to Lord Lockwood, as I'm pretty sure the would've been the worst thing do to in 1939.
For me it lacked a bit in mystery and excitement, which made the story seem a bit slow and dull.
dark
emotional
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I could not put this book down. What a thrilling read!