paperbackmorning 's review for:

The Original: A Novel by Nell Stevens

5.0

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Grace can’t recognize faces, but she can make perfect copies of paintings. Her cousin Charles disappeared for 13 years and is back to claim his inheritance, but he may be a forgery.  And she may have the rightful claim to his inheritance if he is indeed not the original Charles. 

The premise of this novel is highly captivating, with all the social sensibilities and Gothic flair of a Victorian novel along with a queer heroine and a delightfully intricate and suspenseful plot that kept me guessing until the very end. I loved this book the way I love the Brontës and Daphne du Maurier— it’s atmospheric, engrossing, full of dread and passion. The Original feels like a fully-fledged beloved classic that came out of nowhere. 

Thank you to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for the opportunity to be an early reader of this title, available now!