Scan barcode
A review by jesselynn
The Lodger by Helen Scarlett
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
The Lodger is a historical mystery novel set in post-World War I London. We follow Grace, an aspiring reporter in her early 20s as she works to discern the truth of the death of her dear family friend and long-time lodger, Elizabeth.
The book has a cast of believable and fun characters, my favourite and a highlight of which is Miss Bunty (a cocktail and gossip loving lady that is a terrible driver). Grace is a nice heroine, and I really liked her drive and empathy. I like how the book explores grief and the everyday trials of mourning the losses of war. I was especially interested when these themes were explored through Grace and her Mother Isobel, and other women who were grieving, such as Bridget. Collective grief in a time of great change was a poignant motif in this book and I appreciated it. Though I was not really a fan of the actual mystery, the way it was slowly unraveled and told was well done, and I found it interesting how our perception of the lodger fluctuates throughout the book.
The romance in this book didn't really resonate with me, and could have been left out. The grief Grace experiences and how she processes her loss would have been enough here. The end of this novel was lacking unfortunately, it was entirely convenient and did not tie up the story or the themes explored in a satisfying way for me. I did not find the dialogue or the plot itself very believable either. The book was also missing a sense of time, and it did not feel very Edwardian in tone or through the descriptions, they were rather simple and ambiguous. The sense of atmosphere was quite strong though, and I liked the way that different areas of London were portrayed. Something about this book was missing, and I was unable to really connect with it unfortunately.
Thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book has a cast of believable and fun characters, my favourite and a highlight of which is Miss Bunty (a cocktail and gossip loving lady that is a terrible driver). Grace is a nice heroine, and I really liked her drive and empathy. I like how the book explores grief and the everyday trials of mourning the losses of war. I was especially interested when these themes were explored through Grace and her Mother Isobel, and other women who were grieving, such as Bridget. Collective grief in a time of great change was a poignant motif in this book and I appreciated it. Though I was not really a fan of the actual mystery, the way it was slowly unraveled and told was well done, and I found it interesting how our perception of the lodger fluctuates throughout the book.
The romance in this book didn't really resonate with me, and could have been left out. The grief Grace experiences and how she processes her loss would have been enough here. The end of this novel was lacking unfortunately, it was entirely convenient and did not tie up the story or the themes explored in a satisfying way for me. I did not find the dialogue or the plot itself very believable either. The book was also missing a sense of time, and it did not feel very Edwardian in tone or through the descriptions, they were rather simple and ambiguous. The sense of atmosphere was quite strong though, and I liked the way that different areas of London were portrayed. Something about this book was missing, and I was unable to really connect with it unfortunately.
Thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.