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A review by beckys_book_blog
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley
4.0
This is a fantastically dark mystery narrated by Gillian Larkin and mostly set in 1938 (although the initial and final chapters are in the present day)
In 1938, Gillian is sixteen and at boarding school. Her mother died in childbirth, and her father lives in Egypt with a new family, so she is all alone in life.
At boarding school, Gillian starts to share a room with a new girl, Violet Claybourne, who is quirky and unpredictable. When the Christmas holidays arrive, Violet invites Gillian to stay at Thornleigh Hall with her family. Gillian is desperate to fit in with the Claybourne's and seeks approval from Violet's two older sisters. When a terrible accident occurs in the woods, Gillian realises the sisters aren't quite what they seem.
I raced through this book. It was so easy to read with a gripping, slightly sinister plot throughout! The characters were brilliantly written (although mostly unlikeable), and I could imagine the grand (slightly crumbling) Thornleigh Hall with the aristocratic Claybourne family living there.
I loved getting to know Violet's sisters, Laura and Emmeline and slowly uncovering their intentions following the terrible accident. There are some shocking parts to this story and some great twists that I didn't see coming at all. If you enjoy dark family mysteries with plenty of secrets and betrayls, I would definitely recommend this one!
In 1938, Gillian is sixteen and at boarding school. Her mother died in childbirth, and her father lives in Egypt with a new family, so she is all alone in life.
At boarding school, Gillian starts to share a room with a new girl, Violet Claybourne, who is quirky and unpredictable. When the Christmas holidays arrive, Violet invites Gillian to stay at Thornleigh Hall with her family. Gillian is desperate to fit in with the Claybourne's and seeks approval from Violet's two older sisters. When a terrible accident occurs in the woods, Gillian realises the sisters aren't quite what they seem.
I raced through this book. It was so easy to read with a gripping, slightly sinister plot throughout! The characters were brilliantly written (although mostly unlikeable), and I could imagine the grand (slightly crumbling) Thornleigh Hall with the aristocratic Claybourne family living there.
I loved getting to know Violet's sisters, Laura and Emmeline and slowly uncovering their intentions following the terrible accident. There are some shocking parts to this story and some great twists that I didn't see coming at all. If you enjoy dark family mysteries with plenty of secrets and betrayls, I would definitely recommend this one!