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lucycatten's review
4.0
Back in the summer I read a wonderful novel called Beyond the Sea by Melissa Bailey. I loved it and was swept away by Melissa’s ability to create atmosphere and such a vivid sense of place – you can read my review here. I loved it so much that I (maybe a little cheekily!) asked Melissa if she’d send me a copy of her first book. Well she did, and I’m so very glad because I loved this one too. Check out the cover above – that in itself rang a whole lot of my bells. Doesn’t it just invite you in?
This is another novel with an incredible sense of place. I was fascinated by the descriptions of the old, derelict shoe factory with all its machinery and materials still in situ. I could almost smell the dust and leather and was just as keen as the protagonists to see it brought back to life. But nothing lies dormant for decades without accumulating its fair share of secrets and this factory is no different.
From the very beginning the reader realises that this narrative will be split. It opens with Catherine de Medici and her concerns regarding her husband’s affair before moving to the modern day and Johnny’s story. Johnny is at a vulnerable stage in his life and very early on meets the somewhat mysterious love interest, Ophelia – who happens to be a fashion photographer specialising in shoes. As the two of them and Johnny’s beautiful colleague Tara start to dig away at the history of the factory you just can’t help but want to know how the two eras will be linked. I don’t think it’s much of a spoiler to point out the significance of the mirror in the title at this point…
The narrative deftly switches between Contemporary London, Victorian London and 1540’s France bringing in some incredible historical detail which Melissa must have spent considerable time researching. I love novels which lead me off on a ‘Google tangent’ and this had me looking up Victorian shoes, Venetian mirrors and the story of Catherine de Medici and her husband (the King of France) in more detail.
Melissa writes strong, female characters particularly well but all the characters in this novel are well-rounded, if flawed – as they should be. The story is excellently plotted with a very satisfying ending - a compelling mix of murder, passion, intrigue and the supernatural. It’s a ghost story in the vein of my favourite Victorian ghost stories; eerie, spooky and chilling rather than terrifying but no less accomplished because of that. It’s gripping and smart – and unbelievably, a debut novel. A perfect read to curl up with on a winter’s evening. Thank you so much Melissa! I can’t wait for book number three.
This is another novel with an incredible sense of place. I was fascinated by the descriptions of the old, derelict shoe factory with all its machinery and materials still in situ. I could almost smell the dust and leather and was just as keen as the protagonists to see it brought back to life. But nothing lies dormant for decades without accumulating its fair share of secrets and this factory is no different.
From the very beginning the reader realises that this narrative will be split. It opens with Catherine de Medici and her concerns regarding her husband’s affair before moving to the modern day and Johnny’s story. Johnny is at a vulnerable stage in his life and very early on meets the somewhat mysterious love interest, Ophelia – who happens to be a fashion photographer specialising in shoes. As the two of them and Johnny’s beautiful colleague Tara start to dig away at the history of the factory you just can’t help but want to know how the two eras will be linked. I don’t think it’s much of a spoiler to point out the significance of the mirror in the title at this point…
The narrative deftly switches between Contemporary London, Victorian London and 1540’s France bringing in some incredible historical detail which Melissa must have spent considerable time researching. I love novels which lead me off on a ‘Google tangent’ and this had me looking up Victorian shoes, Venetian mirrors and the story of Catherine de Medici and her husband (the King of France) in more detail.
Melissa writes strong, female characters particularly well but all the characters in this novel are well-rounded, if flawed – as they should be. The story is excellently plotted with a very satisfying ending - a compelling mix of murder, passion, intrigue and the supernatural. It’s a ghost story in the vein of my favourite Victorian ghost stories; eerie, spooky and chilling rather than terrifying but no less accomplished because of that. It’s gripping and smart – and unbelievably, a debut novel. A perfect read to curl up with on a winter’s evening. Thank you so much Melissa! I can’t wait for book number three.
aceymtaylor's review
2.0
This book had so much, unfulfilled potential :( I slugged away for the first hundred odd pages (maybe 120?) just trying to convince myself that the book would get better. So many times I nearly put it down just because I couldn't get into it during the beginning of the book. I even had to go back to read the blurb at first to figure out who the main character was. I think that was about the point I seriously considered giving up.
I didn't though.
By the end of the book I was enjoying it but even then it felt rather flat truthfully. I figured out the ending too which was rather disappointing. I just felt like there was so much that could have been explored but there wasn't? Perhaps it's because these type of three storylines that intertwine with each other usually have a lot more action in it than this one but it was just too boring for me. Oh, I loved the history element of it but the modern day storyline? That bored me. It wasn't until the climax of the novel, maybe the last hundred odd pages that I actually enjoyed the main character and their storyline.
Still I am glad I bourght myself to finish the book.
I didn't though.
By the end of the book I was enjoying it but even then it felt rather flat truthfully. I figured out the ending too which was rather disappointing. I just felt like there was so much that could have been explored but there wasn't? Perhaps it's because these type of three storylines that intertwine with each other usually have a lot more action in it than this one but it was just too boring for me. Oh, I loved the history element of it but the modern day storyline? That bored me. It wasn't until the climax of the novel, maybe the last hundred odd pages that I actually enjoyed the main character and their storyline.
Still I am glad I bourght myself to finish the book.
bookfox90's review
2.0
Disappointing, lacks momentum.
While the prospect of a triple entwined story sounded promising, brining the past and the present together linked by a mysterious mirror. I found that the story moved slowly, the writing was patronising and the characters unrelatable.
The author spent considerable time describing things that didn't need it (about 200 words to tell us how to make seafood pasta...) and could have used that to flesh out the characters more.
I found Catherine's story by far the most interesting and felt we were going to hear much more about it, but that dwindled quickly in the second half of the book and we barely got anything more about her.
Wanted more than this book could give
While the prospect of a triple entwined story sounded promising, brining the past and the present together linked by a mysterious mirror. I found that the story moved slowly, the writing was patronising and the characters unrelatable.
The author spent considerable time describing things that didn't need it (about 200 words to tell us how to make seafood pasta...) and could have used that to flesh out the characters more.
I found Catherine's story by far the most interesting and felt we were going to hear much more about it, but that dwindled quickly in the second half of the book and we barely got anything more about her.
Wanted more than this book could give
alextheunicorn's review
2.0
This book had so much, unfulfilled potential :( I slugged away for the first hundred odd pages (maybe 120?) just trying to convince myself that the book would get better. So many times I nearly put it down just because I couldn't get into it during the beginning of the book. I even had to go back to read the blurb at first to figure out who the main character was. I think that was about the point I seriously considered giving up.
I didn't though.
By the end of the book I was enjoying it but even then it felt rather flat truthfully. I figured out the ending too which was rather disappointing. I just felt like there was so much that could have been explored but there wasn't? Perhaps it's because these type of three storylines that intertwine with each other usually have a lot more action in it than this one but it was just too boring for me. Oh, I loved the history element of it but the modern day storyline? That bored me. It wasn't until the climax of the novel, maybe the last hundred odd pages that I actually enjoyed the main character and their storyline.
Still I am glad I bourght myself to finish the book.
I didn't though.
By the end of the book I was enjoying it but even then it felt rather flat truthfully. I figured out the ending too which was rather disappointing. I just felt like there was so much that could have been explored but there wasn't? Perhaps it's because these type of three storylines that intertwine with each other usually have a lot more action in it than this one but it was just too boring for me. Oh, I loved the history element of it but the modern day storyline? That bored me. It wasn't until the climax of the novel, maybe the last hundred odd pages that I actually enjoyed the main character and their storyline.
Still I am glad I bourght myself to finish the book.
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