When Maria becomes a summertime au pair to the children of a Scottish lord, she discovers the family is living under the shadow of two suspicious deaths. Vanishing portraits, cloaked figures, and bizarre shrines add up to a compelling Modern Gothic psychological mystery. (Goodreads)
So this was a short, fun read. The tension and pacing definitely kept me awake and the pages turning! I particularly enjoyed it for seeing how the author kept things happening, setting the pace high and never letting it slack. The setting was great, too; in isolated Scotland with all the mists and mysteries that go along with it. The main character, Maria, was well drawn and definitely going through something terrible, which became clearer as the story unfolded (though admittedly the truth about what happened to her mother felt off to me). The story itself reminded me the most of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, with a heathy sprinkling of Jane Eyre tossed in as well. Overall, a fun read with a refreshingly realistic ending that I appreciated. If you're looking for something a little dark, a little suspenseful, and definitely a little creepy, check this one out!
What an interesting mix. I'm not a fan of psycho, but I really like the other two comparisons.
ReplyDeleteGood review, Meradeth!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your review. Sounds like a great read!
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