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A review by samandthebookstack
A Dreadful Splendor by B.R. Myers
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
London in the 1850s is not a kind place for a young woman with no one to rely on but herself.
Genevieve Timmons is a spiritualist, but not an authentic one. While her moral compass doesn't exactly point due north, she uses the skills her mother taught her to conduct seances that bring peace to the living and line her pockets just enough so that she can get by, all she needs is this one last job and she'll be on a train out of London for good.
But when her last job goes horribly wrong, Genevieve finds herself in jail awaiting the gallows and has no choice but to accept an offer to conduct another seance in an effort to soothe the sorrows of one Mr.Pemberton, master of Pemberton Park, an estate near the sea.
But all is not what it seems and a mystery is afoot. Mr.Pemberton's betrothed is believed to have committed suicide and everyone at Pemberton Park believes the estate is haunted and its family cursed. Genevieve will have to sift through the lives of everyone there to determine the truth and conduct a seance believable enough to root out a murderer-her life depends on it.
Trigger warnings: suicide, death of a parent, mental illness, miscarriage, sexism, incest, pregnancy
I really enjoyed this one. The mystery itself had enough twists and turns that I didn't immediately guess what I suspected might happen, although I knew early on which characters were not trustworthy. The romance wasn't overbearing to the overall plot and the story does give us a very satisfying HEA. All in all, it was an enjoyable read. If you're looking for a light read with morally gray characters, gothic romance (light on the romance), and a murder mystery with paranormal themes then you'll probably enjoy this.
Genevieve Timmons is a spiritualist, but not an authentic one. While her moral compass doesn't exactly point due north, she uses the skills her mother taught her to conduct seances that bring peace to the living and line her pockets just enough so that she can get by, all she needs is this one last job and she'll be on a train out of London for good.
But when her last job goes horribly wrong, Genevieve finds herself in jail awaiting the gallows and has no choice but to accept an offer to conduct another seance in an effort to soothe the sorrows of one Mr.Pemberton, master of Pemberton Park, an estate near the sea.
But all is not what it seems and a mystery is afoot. Mr.Pemberton's betrothed is believed to have committed suicide and everyone at Pemberton Park believes the estate is haunted and its family cursed. Genevieve will have to sift through the lives of everyone there to determine the truth and conduct a seance believable enough to root out a murderer-her life depends on it.
Trigger warnings: suicide, death of a parent, mental illness, miscarriage, sexism, incest, pregnancy
I really enjoyed this one. The mystery itself had enough twists and turns that I didn't immediately guess what I suspected might happen, although I knew early on which characters were not trustworthy. The romance wasn't overbearing to the overall plot and the story does give us a very satisfying HEA. All in all, it was an enjoyable read. If you're looking for a light read with morally gray characters, gothic romance (light on the romance), and a murder mystery with paranormal themes then you'll probably enjoy this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Miscarriage, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexism
Minor: Incest and Police brutality