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zoevancauwenberg's review against another edition
4.0
Starts out at a slow pace and then about a third into the story, it picks up and just keeps you turning the page. Did not see the ending coming. Great read.
palsbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
In Victorian wintry and gloomy Bath, Agnes Darken, a struggling silhouette artist is trying to provide for her old mother and orphaned nephew, while recovering from her own illness and past trauma. Agnes's professional life takes a dark turn when her customers are murdered mysteriously, one after another. She has an inkling that the murderer is targeting her business. She finds herself in a desperate situation when her family is at harm, and to seek answers she contacts the eleven year old Pearl, who works as a spirit medium. Pearl lives with her sister Myrtle, who herself works as a mesmerist and her ailing father. For their own personal agendas, both Pearl and Agnes decide to help each other by contacting the spirits of the victims. What unfolds, is something that both are unprepared for.
Laura Purcell has aced the gothic-mystery-supernatural-historical genre and she has done it again! The story starts slowly, but once it picks up pace it's hard to put down. There are some really good bone chilling scenes in this book! The moment you feel you've figured out the plot, she teases you with a plot twist. The whole mesmerism and spirit medium aspect of the story was quite interesting. There is likeness to her previous books, but it doesn't feel repetitive and this book definitely stands out. Atmospheric and a page turner, indeed!
Laura Purcell has aced the gothic-mystery-supernatural-historical genre and she has done it again! The story starts slowly, but once it picks up pace it's hard to put down. There are some really good bone chilling scenes in this book! The moment you feel you've figured out the plot, she teases you with a plot twist. The whole mesmerism and spirit medium aspect of the story was quite interesting. There is likeness to her previous books, but it doesn't feel repetitive and this book definitely stands out. Atmospheric and a page turner, indeed!
loubraryoftheforest's review
5.0
Wow, another incredible book from one of my favourite authors! The story leaps from the pages and draws you in completely. She knows just what to do to make my spine tingle, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Agnes has lived through tragedy, it took her sister from her and left her broken and scarred. She finds comfort in creating paper silhouettes, they spring to life from her fingertips and help bring in money her family desperately needs. But the past is creeping up on her and as the people whose faces she creates in paper begin to die in tragic circumstances, she must face the horrors that haunt her, and try to hold tight to the ones she loves. Brilliant. Gothic horror at its best.
kazza27's review
5.0
Wow ! I was so excited to be on the tour for this gorgeous book and it was such a wonderful experience.
We meet Agnes Darken who is living in Bath, she has been unwell and her late sister’s husband Simon who is a Dr has been caring for her. She is advised by him to not exert herself due to her pneumonia which has left her weak. Her profession is as a silhouette artist, one day she is out drawing in Sydney Gardens and she sketches a sailor who she has been watching who reminds her of her own fiancé. She has clients that visit her to have their portraits made into silhouettes and she is visited by the police when the most recent of her customers is found murdered.
Then there is Pearl, she is an 11 year old girl who lives with her sister and very sick father. Pearl’s sister Myrtle exploits Pearl as a medium as she has powers to make contact with the dead. These sessions are gruelling for poor Pearl, who lost her own mother at birth. After more of Agnes’s clients die in suspicious circumstances, Agnes hears about Pearl and decides that she must visit to find out who the murderer is and why are they coming after her clients. The relationship of Agnes and Pearl is a tender one as Agnes is worried about Pearl and why she is so ill and wants to help her and her sick father.
This is one of the best gothic stories I have read in a very long time, it is sublime. The author sets the scene of a Bath no longer in its heyday but slightly shabby around the edges and this with the spooky atmosphere that Laura Purcell conjures up so well made me glued to my seat all day. I love Bath it is one of my favourite cities and walking around places that I know well like Sydney Gardens, The Pump Room, The Abbey, Walcot Street and Queens Square made the experience even more real for me. As a reader I was transfixed with Pearl and her séances and her powers and the writing is so visual I was in that room with her as she contacts the dead.
Agnes is living with her Mother and Nephew after her sister Constance died, you do not know the circumstances of her death but little by little you uncover the story behind Agnes, Simon, Cedric and their past. The author is so clever at hooking you and I really did not see what was happening until after it had happened and then you get a real ah-ah moment as the secrets are uncovered. There is everything in this story, lies, death, horror and sadness.
I loved this book and I will be definitely reading it again and recommending as it is really is the most glorious dark and creepy story and Laura Purcell is a genius of compelling storytelling. A MAZ ING !!
We meet Agnes Darken who is living in Bath, she has been unwell and her late sister’s husband Simon who is a Dr has been caring for her. She is advised by him to not exert herself due to her pneumonia which has left her weak. Her profession is as a silhouette artist, one day she is out drawing in Sydney Gardens and she sketches a sailor who she has been watching who reminds her of her own fiancé. She has clients that visit her to have their portraits made into silhouettes and she is visited by the police when the most recent of her customers is found murdered.
Then there is Pearl, she is an 11 year old girl who lives with her sister and very sick father. Pearl’s sister Myrtle exploits Pearl as a medium as she has powers to make contact with the dead. These sessions are gruelling for poor Pearl, who lost her own mother at birth. After more of Agnes’s clients die in suspicious circumstances, Agnes hears about Pearl and decides that she must visit to find out who the murderer is and why are they coming after her clients. The relationship of Agnes and Pearl is a tender one as Agnes is worried about Pearl and why she is so ill and wants to help her and her sick father.
This is one of the best gothic stories I have read in a very long time, it is sublime. The author sets the scene of a Bath no longer in its heyday but slightly shabby around the edges and this with the spooky atmosphere that Laura Purcell conjures up so well made me glued to my seat all day. I love Bath it is one of my favourite cities and walking around places that I know well like Sydney Gardens, The Pump Room, The Abbey, Walcot Street and Queens Square made the experience even more real for me. As a reader I was transfixed with Pearl and her séances and her powers and the writing is so visual I was in that room with her as she contacts the dead.
Agnes is living with her Mother and Nephew after her sister Constance died, you do not know the circumstances of her death but little by little you uncover the story behind Agnes, Simon, Cedric and their past. The author is so clever at hooking you and I really did not see what was happening until after it had happened and then you get a real ah-ah moment as the secrets are uncovered. There is everything in this story, lies, death, horror and sadness.
I loved this book and I will be definitely reading it again and recommending as it is really is the most glorious dark and creepy story and Laura Purcell is a genius of compelling storytelling. A MAZ ING !!
katdid's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars? -ish. Wasn't as invested in this as The silent companions but still enjoyed it, plus it taught me about horrific things like phossy jaw (and through the resulting rabbithole Eben Byers). I really enjoyed seeing Agnes through Pearl's eyes and I def had a few WTF! moments .
Spoiler
(e.g. Simon's the killer?!dharshanirymond's review
3.0
Could not whole heartedly give it a 4 so am going with 3.5/5!
The Victorian Era setup, a mystery dead twin sister, less predictable twists and not so happy ending were the plus.
Agnes and Pearl are two main characters based on whose lives the story progresses. The story is told in their perspectives in 3rd person which was executed perfectly. But, Agnes is 51 and Pearl is 11. Both have a cruel sister and both have similar mindset, character, environment and even voice sometimes. It's just like watching the same story in different generations with similar family background and sufferings. The grim or horror part was not creepy but the mystery was intriguing enough to finish the book in a single sitting. Also the story dragged in several places testing my patience when I just wanted some progress.
If you're just looking for a twisty mystery novel set in Victorian Era, go for it.
The Victorian Era setup, a mystery dead twin sister, less predictable twists and not so happy ending were the plus.
Agnes and Pearl are two main characters based on whose lives the story progresses. The story is told in their perspectives in 3rd person which was executed perfectly. But, Agnes is 51 and Pearl is 11. Both have a cruel sister and both have similar mindset, character, environment and even voice sometimes. It's just like watching the same story in different generations with similar family background and sufferings. The grim or horror part was not creepy but the mystery was intriguing enough to finish the book in a single sitting. Also the story dragged in several places testing my patience when I just wanted some progress.
If you're just looking for a twisty mystery novel set in Victorian Era, go for it.
jmcmurry's review
5.0
LAURA IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS OF ALL TIME. The way she weaves stories is incredible, and I can’t get enough of her nuanced characters. SO SATISFYING!!
everythingsophiereads's review
5.0
Fantastic! Exactly what I was hoping for from Laura Purcell, I’m so glad I had this preordered!
Characters are described and imagined to perfection, the dialogue between characters is interesting and believable and the supernatural element gave the novel and added depth that I have come to expect from Purcell’s work.
I raced through this novel to the brilliant ending, although I wish I had taken my time and savoured it! Five stars for meeting all my expectations.
Characters are described and imagined to perfection, the dialogue between characters is interesting and believable and the supernatural element gave the novel and added depth that I have come to expect from Purcell’s work.
I raced through this novel to the brilliant ending, although I wish I had taken my time and savoured it! Five stars for meeting all my expectations.
whatthefawkes's review
5.0
This book was gifted by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
This is truly one of the best things Laura Purcell, our Gothic Victorian Queen, has written thus far (alongside The Secret Companions). Incredibly dark and oppressive, fuelled by grief and ghosts, Purcell delivers a wonderfully supernatural storyline about a young spirit medium and silhouette artist. Without wanting to reveal any spoilers, Purcell maintains an aura of intrigue throughout this tale that'll keep you turning those pages and the last 20% of this book... well, let's just say you won't rest until you've reached the end.
This is truly one of the best things Laura Purcell, our Gothic Victorian Queen, has written thus far (alongside The Secret Companions). Incredibly dark and oppressive, fuelled by grief and ghosts, Purcell delivers a wonderfully supernatural storyline about a young spirit medium and silhouette artist. Without wanting to reveal any spoilers, Purcell maintains an aura of intrigue throughout this tale that'll keep you turning those pages and the last 20% of this book... well, let's just say you won't rest until you've reached the end.
jaibee's review
3.0
Given that I give everything a 4 I am shocked to find myself giving this a 3 but I found the pacing really odd in this one, with too many twisty turns… as often in LPs books I loved the historical setting and details but I just didn’t engage with it as much as I have her others. 3.5, rounded down