The Death of Jane Lawrence - Book Review

 

The Death of Jane Lawrence

by Caitlin Starling

What is it about:

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, 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.

What did I think of it:

So the blurb I read about this book didn't include that it was set in "a dark-mirror version of post-war England", so I went into this book thinking it was Historical Gothic Horror. This false assumption made that I a rocky start with this book, but soon I discovered this story was set in a Fantasy world instead of the normal world and I settled into it.

And I loved the first part of this book. 

It's atmospheric, mysterious, spooky at times, and intriguing. I was curious to discover what was going on, even while I didn't connect with Jane or her husband.

Then there was a kind of reveal at 70% in and both the story and Jane went of the rails for me. Gone were the suspense and atmosphere. I kept reading in hope the story might get back on track, but to no avail. There was even one chapter that made me want to throw the book across the room. 

All in all this book left me disappointed as it felt as if it's trying to be clever instead of suspenseful and creepy. I had another book by this author on my wish list, but I'm not sure I want to try it after this one.

Why should you read it:

Maybe you will find this a clever story.

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