Happy hump day! Today, I have a difficult three-star review to share. I often think these are the hardest to write, because the book had good points and those that came up short. Half of this story held me mesmerized. The other half… not so much. See what you think.
BOOK BLURB:
From the Bram Stoker-nominated author of The Luminous Dead comes a gothic fantasy horror–The Death of Jane Lawrence.
“Intense and amazing! It’s like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell meets Mexican Gothic meets Crimson Peak.” —BookRiot
Practical, unassuming Jane Shoringfield has done the calculations, and decided that the most secure path forward is this: a husband, in a marriage of convenience, who will allow her to remain independent and occupied with meaningful work. Her first choice, the dashing but reclusive doctor Augustine Lawrence, agrees to her proposal with only one condition: that she must never visit Lindridge Hall, his crumbling family manor outside of town.
Yet on their wedding night, an accident strands her at his door in a pitch-black rainstorm, and she finds him changed. Gone is the bold, courageous surgeon, and in his place is a terrified, paranoid man—one who cannot tell reality from nightmare, and fears Jane is an apparition, come to haunt him. By morning, Augustine is himself again, but Jane knows something is deeply wrong at Lindridge Hall, and with the man she has so hastily bound her safety to.
Set in a dark-mirror version of post-war England, Caitlin Starling crafts a new kind of gothic horror from the bones of the beloved canon. This Crimson Peak-inspired story assembles, then upends, every expectation set in place by Shirley Jackson and Rebecca, and will leave readers shaken, desperate to begin again as soon as they are finished.
“Don’t read this one alone at night; Caitlin Starling has done it again. Unsettling, atmospheric, and downright brutal at times, The Death of Jane Lawrence will continue to haunt you long after you leave Lindridge Hall…if the house lets you leave, that is.” —Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart
MY REVIEW:
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my ARC.
I loved the first quarter of this book. Jane is an intelligent, sensible woman who proposes a marriage of convenience to Dr. Augustine Lawrence. Although he declines at first, the two soon come to a business arrangement of how the marriage will be conducted. He has certain ground rules involving his family estate, Lindridge Hall, and Jane agrees to his terms.
What starts out as a beautifully Gothic and atmospheric read morphs into a convoluted plot of dark spirits, superstition, and ritual magic.
All of those would normally result in a stellar read for me, but the execution and underlying threads fizzled. On the plus side, the characters of Jane and Augustine are well developed and the awkwardness of their relationship, especially at the beginning, held me enthralled.
Secrets abound, especially as related to Lindridge Hall, a locked cellar door, rituals, and Augustine’s past. The writing is descriptive and dense, beautiful language that needs to be savored. After Jane is introduced to Augustine’s colleagues, who form a magical cult, the plot gets messy.
There are moments of surgical gore, plenty of metaphysical posturing, and a chapter near the end that borders on the abstract. The final conclusion was fantastic, but the path to reach that point was muddled and overly long. I’m sure many readers will enjoy this book for its dark imagery, odd alternate reality, and Gothic feel. This is one that comes down to a matter of preference.
I appreciate your honest review, Mae. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
My pleasure, Jill. This one had possibilities, especially in the relationship between Jane and Augustine, but fell short elsewhere.
LikeLike
Great review, Mae. Sounds like a mixed bag of a read. Thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A mixed bag is exactly what it was, Harmony! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good review! I read this one too (through NetGalley). I loved it for the same reasons you didn’t. “Metaphysical posturing” is a good way to put it, and yeah, abstract-y in places. Like you said, preferences can vary between readers, and that’s what makes the bookish world interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, Priscilla. I really loved the relationship between Jane and Augustine, and the spookiness of Lindridge Hall. I loved the language too, but the other elements didn’t work for me. I know many readers loved this book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the review, Mae. I think I’ll skip this one. I’m like you those three-star reviews are the most difficult to write.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep. It’s the good and bad elements that make the so difficult to write. I don’t think you’d care for this one, Joan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m torn. I love gothic horror, but the muddled and the abstract make it seem like it’s having an identity crisis. Probably a pass for me. But the premise sounded promising. Thanks for your honest opinion, Mae.
LikeLike
Staci, I felt like I was torn reading the book. Parts of it were SO GOOD, but then other parts just seemed to drag and really go off the deep end. I recommend seeing if your library has an e-copy if your interested. I was glad I got an ARC.
LikeLike
If you deem it a mixed bag, that’s probably good for me, in terms of not reading it, MC. Our tastes are too alike!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! Yeah, I think you can safely pass on this one, Noelle. A shame too, because the first half was really exceptional. It’s the last half that lost me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This book sounds intriguing, but since our tastes are usually so similar, I’m not sure I would like it. So whether or not I pick it up when it comes out might depend on the price. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree about the price tag, Lauralynn. I got an ARC, but would have been disappointed to have paid full price. You might try grabbing an ecopy from your local library. Most have new releases!
LikeLike
I think writing and editing a good gothic tale, today, must be quite tricky. There are so many ways it can just not live up to expectations, especially since different people have very strong and different opinions on various aspects of the genre. It’s always good to try a book if the blurb catches your attention. So glad you did like some major aspects of the book, at least. This one didn’t really catch my eye but I’m so glad for your insight ❤️. Excellent review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tessa. This is one of those books had I grabbed a sample, I would have been hooked. The first half was just SO GOOD, I couldn’t put it down. But the second half left me just wanting to finish, something I had to do since it was an ARC. At least the ending was good.
Gothic fiction really does seem to generate multiple opinions on what is required for the tale!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing, Mae. I agree, these reviews are tough to write. Your review is honest and comes from a kind heart, that’s what I love to see. Cheers! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww, thanks, Natalie. This one definitely had many good points, but I just couldn’t fall in love with it.
Have an awesome day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great review. You covered all the reasons for reading this genre–all of which make me NOT read it–eruditely, excitingly, and energetically. I got an excellent sense of the power of this book and when/where it went off the rails. Nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh, what a wonderful comment, Jacqui. I’m so glad you found my review helpful. I normally love Gothic fiction, but this one didn’t work for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You did a great job with your review, Mae. While the premise is intriguing, it sounds as if the author might have shortened some of the details? That’s my takeaway. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most definitely, Jan. There were chapters I slogged through–which was really sad given how hooked I was with the beginning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your honest thoughts on this one Mae. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, John. It’s always hard to find the right balance in three star reviews.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is. You do a great job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww, thanks! 🙂
LikeLike
Whatever Gothic fiction I’ve read, this problem of being muddled and unnecessary length creeps in. Your review is encouraging despite that Mae. Loved the way you’ve framed it. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Balroop. The first half of the book was superb, then the length and slogging chapters crept in. I normally love Gothic fiction, but this one (despite a great ending) could have used tightening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I’d be with you on this one, MC. I’ll pass. Sounds like a relatively neat concept, though, just not for everyone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely right, Betsy. Some readers praised the book. I was drawn by the concept, but the delivery didn’t quite work for me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love a good Gothic, but they’re tricky to write. It’s hard to keep the atmosphere eerie and mysterious enough for an entire book. The first half must have hit the right balance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The first half was sooo good, Judi. I’ve felt that way about the last few Gothics I’ve read, with the first half being exceptional, then the second half going off the rails.It makes all the difference.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do they give away the “mysterious” part too soon? The old Gothics didn’t reveal their secrets until close to the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope. It wasn’t that. The chapters just got hard to slog through and I wasn’t a fan of the plot twists.
LikeLike
Too bad it got muddled in the end. The idea of the book would have caught my eye.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It had lots of potential, Denise. There are a ton of good reviews for this one, but for me, the second half didn’t live up to the first half (or the ending).
LikeLike
Not one of my typical choice of genres. Since I’ve been adding so many books lately, I have no trouble turning this one down. Thanks for the honest review. Mae!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for checking it out, Pete. I normally love this genre, but this one just didn’t deliver the whole package.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds as though the author overcomplicated the plot at the cost of a story that flows. Too bad because it could be engrossing.
I love your comprehensive reviews, Mae!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jacquie, that is much appreciated. This one was difficult to write because there was much I enjoyed about the book, but the overall plot went off the rails for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I respect your honesty Mae in sharing a balanced review for the book. The concept sounds fascinating but perhaps better as a novella perhaps rather than a longer novel..
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think if she’d even pared some of it down, Sally. It would have worked better. Also setting it in a dark-mirror Victorian England kept throwing me. I’d be settled into the gothic feel of the book then be wrenched out when the alternate reality was mentioned. Thanks for visiting and commenting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes. Not sure I could slog through plot issues. Fair review, though. Thanks, Mae!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for checking it out, Sue. It was an NetGalley ARC, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have stuck with it to the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gothic horror is usually a win for me and I loved the imagery of Crimson Peak, but this sounds like one I’d skip. You’re right about personal preference.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m normally a fan of this genre, Teri, but this one didn’t hit the mark. Might have been personal preference, because a lot of readers loved it, but I think you’re safe with a skip.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I hadn’t heard of this book, Mae. A most interesting premise and I read your review with interest.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Robbie. I’m glad the review interested you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I think 3 stars are tough reviews to write, Mae, especially when it seems like reading preference may be in play. This doesn’t sound like a read I’d be able to sustain based on your comments. Thanks for sharing your thoughtful review. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Diana. This was a tough review to write. I really loved the first part of the book but then it veered in directions that made me lose interest. Good points and bad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review, Mae. I appreciate you reading books of your preference but it doesn’t pass a good rating. Thank you for your honest comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Miriam. I know authors but a lot of hard work into their novels, but I couldn’t rally around this one the way I would have liked to.
LikeLike
I understand, Mae. Even Elizabeth Gilbert. I couldn’t finished one of her books because it wasn’t as good as others.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds quite intriguing! Thank you for the detailed review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Flossie. You might enjoy this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful review, Mae. Respectful and wise, it was both instructive and heartwarming. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gwen. It was a tough review to write, but I find most 3 stars to be that way!
LikeLike