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The Undoing of Violet Claybourne
A dark, captivating novel of family secrets, desperate ambition and the deepest betrayal . . .
TO BECOME ONE OF THEM, SHE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.
1938. Gillian Larking is used to blending in and going unnoticed, until she is befriended by her new roommate at boarding school, the vibrant and spirited Violet Claybourne. As the Christmas holidays approach, Gilly can't believe her luck when Violet invites her to spend them at her home, the crumbling Thornleigh Hall.
At Thornleigh, Gilly is dazzled by the family's faded grandeur, and above all by Violet's beguiling older sisters who seem to accept her as one of their own. But following a terrible incident in the house's grounds, Gilly begins to realise the Claybourne sisters aren't quite what she thought they were. And if she's to survive in their world, she may have to become just like them . . .
TO BECOME ONE OF THEM, SHE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.
1938. Gillian Larking is used to blending in and going unnoticed, until she is befriended by her new roommate at boarding school, the vibrant and spirited Violet Claybourne. As the Christmas holidays approach, Gilly can't believe her luck when Violet invites her to spend them at her home, the crumbling Thornleigh Hall.
At Thornleigh, Gilly is dazzled by the family's faded grandeur, and above all by Violet's beguiling older sisters who seem to accept her as one of their own. But following a terrible incident in the house's grounds, Gilly begins to realise the Claybourne sisters aren't quite what she thought they were. And if she's to survive in their world, she may have to become just like them . . .
400 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2024
206 people are currently reading
29495 people want to read
About the author
Emily Critchley
5 books257 followersAuthor of The Undoing of Violet Claybourne, One Puzzling Afternoon, Notes on My Family, The Bear Who Sailed the Ocean on an Iceberg and The Tiny Gestures of Small flowers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews
March 3, 2025
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The Book Review Crew Blog
This was a very suspenseful historical fiction book that made me think of the movie Gaslight. The writing style sucked me in right away. The characters are all young adults, and none of them are very likable. Our titular character suffers from OCD as she practices what she calls undoings. She also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and her sisters and best friend use it against her to their advantage.
The story is told from the perspective of Violet's best friend, Gillian. It is really a tale of the haves and the have-nots and wanting to fit in. The writing was beautiful if you can say such a thing about such a sad story. We get Violet's background story as well as Gillian's and it sets them both on a trajectory neither can ultimately handle. There are lots of dark Academia vibes, and the book is very atmospheric.
The four girls all have faults, and this is what happens when the upper class desperately want to keep their secrets at any cost and the have-nots infiltrate and help them do so. I really enjoyed this story, so much so that I now want to read the author's first book, One Puzzling Afternoon.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
This was a very suspenseful historical fiction book that made me think of the movie Gaslight. The writing style sucked me in right away. The characters are all young adults, and none of them are very likable. Our titular character suffers from OCD as she practices what she calls undoings. She also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and her sisters and best friend use it against her to their advantage.
The story is told from the perspective of Violet's best friend, Gillian. It is really a tale of the haves and the have-nots and wanting to fit in. The writing was beautiful if you can say such a thing about such a sad story. We get Violet's background story as well as Gillian's and it sets them both on a trajectory neither can ultimately handle. There are lots of dark Academia vibes, and the book is very atmospheric.
The four girls all have faults, and this is what happens when the upper class desperately want to keep their secrets at any cost and the have-nots infiltrate and help them do so. I really enjoyed this story, so much so that I now want to read the author's first book, One Puzzling Afternoon.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
March 4, 2025
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“‘Nos contra mundam,’ I whispered back. Us against the world.”
Despite including a full cast of unsavory characters, The Undoing of Violet Claybourne shines with its fantastic character driven plot highlighting hidden family secrets and evil betrayals.
In 1938, Gillian Larkin is enamored by her new posh boarding school roommate, Violet Claybourne. When she is invited to spend Christmas break at her family’s estate in Oxfordshire, Gillian can’t believe her good luck.
Gillian is dazzled by the fading grandeur of the family estate and Violet’s two older sisters who accept her as one of their own.
When a terrible accident happens on the estate, Gillian begins to realize that the Claybourne sisters aren’t as perfect as she thought they were. But, if she wants to survive, she must become just like them.
“Maybe it really was all over. I had proved my loyalty, gained Emmeline and Laura’s trust. I was part of the family now, blind forever to the sisters by the secret we shared. I was Cousin Gilly. I was somebody.”
This is my 1000th book that I have read after creating my Goodreads account in 2013 and I am happy that this milestone is celebrated with a standout!
This dark family drama calls attention to the hypocrisy of social class hierarchy and the ill treatment of mental health during the 1930s. The very lonely, vulnerable, and damaged characters demonstrate that appearances can be deceiving. The dysfunctional Claybourne family are dreadful, but you will feel compelled to keep reading. I loved the clever twists!
This is my first time reading this author and I can't wait to check out her other books!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 3/4/25
Trigger warning: suicide
Thank you to Edelweiss and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of The Undoing of Violet Claybourne in exchange for an honest review.
“‘Nos contra mundam,’ I whispered back. Us against the world.”
Despite including a full cast of unsavory characters, The Undoing of Violet Claybourne shines with its fantastic character driven plot highlighting hidden family secrets and evil betrayals.
In 1938, Gillian Larkin is enamored by her new posh boarding school roommate, Violet Claybourne. When she is invited to spend Christmas break at her family’s estate in Oxfordshire, Gillian can’t believe her good luck.
Gillian is dazzled by the fading grandeur of the family estate and Violet’s two older sisters who accept her as one of their own.
When a terrible accident happens on the estate, Gillian begins to realize that the Claybourne sisters aren’t as perfect as she thought they were. But, if she wants to survive, she must become just like them.
“Maybe it really was all over. I had proved my loyalty, gained Emmeline and Laura’s trust. I was part of the family now, blind forever to the sisters by the secret we shared. I was Cousin Gilly. I was somebody.”
This is my 1000th book that I have read after creating my Goodreads account in 2013 and I am happy that this milestone is celebrated with a standout!
This dark family drama calls attention to the hypocrisy of social class hierarchy and the ill treatment of mental health during the 1930s. The very lonely, vulnerable, and damaged characters demonstrate that appearances can be deceiving. The dysfunctional Claybourne family are dreadful, but you will feel compelled to keep reading. I loved the clever twists!
This is my first time reading this author and I can't wait to check out her other books!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Expected publication date: 3/4/25
Trigger warning: suicide
Thank you to Edelweiss and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of The Undoing of Violet Claybourne in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2025
Much more historical fiction than mystery or suspense, The Undoing of Violet Claybourne wasn’t at all what I was expecting. A slow burn that felt somewhat disjointed, I nevertheless got pulled into the story as I got to know the Claybourne sisters and Gillian. With the gothic feel, social class commentary, and dysfunctional family dynamic, there was much to parse as I went along. After all, this highbrow crew had their own set of rules that made them thoroughly unlikeable in the extreme. Although I do have to say that I enjoyed being a fly on the wall within the crumbling albeit atmospheric Thornleigh estate as they tried to hide a tragic secret with some utterly cruel lies.
There were some things that I didn’t really love, just the same. You see, as much as I normally adore unlikeable characters, this despicable bunch just didn’t quite do it. From a manipulative yet worshiped user to a protagonist who was spineless and weak, none of them were even remotely root-for-able by yours truly. Then there were the underwhelming twists and unsatisfying ending. Perhaps it all would work better for someone not expecting unbridled suspense or even deep, dark foreboding thanks to the hints in the synopsis, but for this mystery/thriller lover, it just didn’t cut it despite my desire to love every word.
All said and done, though, the dual timelines and character-driven plot still kept me glued to the pages. The best piece of this saga, however, was easily the vivid, immersive feel of being present in pre-WW2 times. From the British upper-class world of fox hunts and balls to the moldy, old, formerly grand country houses packed full of dusty antiques, I felt as if I was there with this quartet of girls. Mind you, they were the definition of morally gray and gave the book a very Gaslight-esque feel. So do I recommend it? Yes—ultimately I do. After all, I was pulled into another world that felt decidedly well-drawn. Rating of 3.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
1938. Gillian Larking, lonely and away at boarding school, is used to going unnoticed. But then she meets Violet Claybourne, her vibrant roommate who takes Gilly under her wing. Violet is unlike anyone Gilly has ever met, and she regales Gilly with tales of her grand family estate and her two elegant sisters. Gilly is soon entranced by stories of the Claybournes, so when Violet invites Gilly to meet her family at Thornleigh Hall, she can't believe her luck.
But Gilly soon finds that behind the grand façade of Thornleigh Hall, darkness lurks.
Dazzled by the crumbling manor and Violet's enigmatic sisters, Gilly settles into the estate. But when a horrible accident strikes on the grounds, she is ensnared in a web of the sisters' making, forced to make a choice that will change the course of her life forever. Because the Claybournes girls know how to keep secrets, even at the cost of one of their own.
Thank you to Emily Critchley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 4, 2025
Content warning: OCD, gun violence, gaslighting, mention of: postpartum depression
There were some things that I didn’t really love, just the same. You see, as much as I normally adore unlikeable characters, this despicable bunch just didn’t quite do it. From a manipulative yet worshiped user to a protagonist who was spineless and weak, none of them were even remotely root-for-able by yours truly. Then there were the underwhelming twists and unsatisfying ending. Perhaps it all would work better for someone not expecting unbridled suspense or even deep, dark foreboding thanks to the hints in the synopsis, but for this mystery/thriller lover, it just didn’t cut it despite my desire to love every word.
All said and done, though, the dual timelines and character-driven plot still kept me glued to the pages. The best piece of this saga, however, was easily the vivid, immersive feel of being present in pre-WW2 times. From the British upper-class world of fox hunts and balls to the moldy, old, formerly grand country houses packed full of dusty antiques, I felt as if I was there with this quartet of girls. Mind you, they were the definition of morally gray and gave the book a very Gaslight-esque feel. So do I recommend it? Yes—ultimately I do. After all, I was pulled into another world that felt decidedly well-drawn. Rating of 3.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
1938. Gillian Larking, lonely and away at boarding school, is used to going unnoticed. But then she meets Violet Claybourne, her vibrant roommate who takes Gilly under her wing. Violet is unlike anyone Gilly has ever met, and she regales Gilly with tales of her grand family estate and her two elegant sisters. Gilly is soon entranced by stories of the Claybournes, so when Violet invites Gilly to meet her family at Thornleigh Hall, she can't believe her luck.
But Gilly soon finds that behind the grand façade of Thornleigh Hall, darkness lurks.
Dazzled by the crumbling manor and Violet's enigmatic sisters, Gilly settles into the estate. But when a horrible accident strikes on the grounds, she is ensnared in a web of the sisters' making, forced to make a choice that will change the course of her life forever. Because the Claybournes girls know how to keep secrets, even at the cost of one of their own.
Thank you to Emily Critchley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 4, 2025
Content warning: OCD, gun violence, gaslighting, mention of: postpartum depression
March 11, 2025
EXCERPT: 1999 . . . this morning, I found myself driving to North Oxfordshire. Parking in the carpark (once a field belonging to the tenant farmer) and entering through the large oak, iron-studded doors. I paid an entrance fee and was given a guidebook. I wandered the rooms, avoiding the smiling, enthusiastic volunteers.
Looking around Thornleigh Hall, I felt suspended in time. Here I was, an old woman in sensible shoes clutching a guidebook, and yet there in the dining room was Emmeline drinking her morning coffee, Lord Claybourne reading his paper, Lady Claybourne complaining about her eggs, Violet tucking into toast and blackcurrant jam. And there was Laura in the library, her stockinged feet up on the sofa arm, leafing through a magazine. 'Oh, hello Gilly,' she said, seeing me standing there. 'I wondered where you'd got to.'
I moved from room to room, pressing my nails into my guidebook. I watched the other visitors with their backpacks and cameras. Babies strapped to the chests of men. Mothers gripping the hands of small children. Look at that clock, darling, isn't it beautiful?
As for me, I felt like a traveler returning to a faraway land, only to find it a pale shadow of what it once was. I was reminded of a time in my life that was both full of possibility and fraught with the anxieties of the very young. Thornleigh Hall - my visit in the winter of 1938 and the events that followed - had been the marker that forever divided my life. After Thornleigh, there was simply a before and an after.
ABOUT 'THE UNDOING OF VIOLET CLAYBOURNE': 1938. Gillian Larkin is used to going unnoticed, until she is sent away to school and befriended by her roommate, the vibrant and spirited Violet Claybourne. As the Christmas holidays approach, Gilly can't believe her luck when Violet invites her to spend them at her home, the crumbling Thornleigh Hall.
At Thornleigh, Gilly is dazzled by the family's faded grandeur, and above all by Violet's beguiling older sisters who seem to accept her as one of their own. But following a terrible accident in the house's grounds, Gilly begins to realise the Claybourne sisters aren't quite what she thought they were. And if she's to survive in their world, she may have to become just like them . . .
MU THOUGHTS: A tale of the desire to belong, manipulation, and gaslighting set in the late 1930s.
Although I can't say I 'liked' or 'enjoyed' The Undoing of Violet Claybourne, I was riveted by it and read it over two days - something of a feat for me at the moment! The characters are all quite despicable - yes, even Gilly! - except perhaps for Charlie and Frank . . .
Gilly is young, impressionable, and desperate to 'fit in' to the Claybourne family since what remains of her own family don't particularly want her. She is in awe of Violet's very glamorous older sisters and hangs off their every word. She's a little like a labrador puppy, gazing at them with forlorn eyes, begging to be loved.
Violet's oddness, her OCD and other problems, seem to become increasingly worse while at Thornleigh Hall and Gilly, unfortunately, gravitates towards Emmeline and Laura treating their every word as gospel, especially when it comes to the treatment of Violet.
The story comes to a head when, one morning, the trio venture out into the woods leaving Violet at home. Nothing will ever be the same again.
There are a lot of secrets concealed over the years. Lady Claybourne is obsessed with 'propriety' and 'how things appear', wanting - no, needing - her daughters to make advantageous marriages in order to save Thornleigh Hall from the creditors. Anything remotely unsavory that happens is quickly swept under the carpet, hidden and never referred to again.
If you like your historical fiction dark, riddled with secrets, and the family dysfunctional and manipulative, you'll derive a lot of pleasure from The Undoing of Violet Claybourne. It doesn't paint the upper classes in a good light, but then no one comes out of this smelling of roses.
An interesting read.
#TheUndoingofVioletClaybourne #NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐.5
MEET THE AUTHOR: Emily was born in Essex and has lived in Brighton and London. She currently lives in Hertfordshire.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Looking around Thornleigh Hall, I felt suspended in time. Here I was, an old woman in sensible shoes clutching a guidebook, and yet there in the dining room was Emmeline drinking her morning coffee, Lord Claybourne reading his paper, Lady Claybourne complaining about her eggs, Violet tucking into toast and blackcurrant jam. And there was Laura in the library, her stockinged feet up on the sofa arm, leafing through a magazine. 'Oh, hello Gilly,' she said, seeing me standing there. 'I wondered where you'd got to.'
I moved from room to room, pressing my nails into my guidebook. I watched the other visitors with their backpacks and cameras. Babies strapped to the chests of men. Mothers gripping the hands of small children. Look at that clock, darling, isn't it beautiful?
As for me, I felt like a traveler returning to a faraway land, only to find it a pale shadow of what it once was. I was reminded of a time in my life that was both full of possibility and fraught with the anxieties of the very young. Thornleigh Hall - my visit in the winter of 1938 and the events that followed - had been the marker that forever divided my life. After Thornleigh, there was simply a before and an after.
ABOUT 'THE UNDOING OF VIOLET CLAYBOURNE': 1938. Gillian Larkin is used to going unnoticed, until she is sent away to school and befriended by her roommate, the vibrant and spirited Violet Claybourne. As the Christmas holidays approach, Gilly can't believe her luck when Violet invites her to spend them at her home, the crumbling Thornleigh Hall.
At Thornleigh, Gilly is dazzled by the family's faded grandeur, and above all by Violet's beguiling older sisters who seem to accept her as one of their own. But following a terrible accident in the house's grounds, Gilly begins to realise the Claybourne sisters aren't quite what she thought they were. And if she's to survive in their world, she may have to become just like them . . .
MU THOUGHTS: A tale of the desire to belong, manipulation, and gaslighting set in the late 1930s.
Although I can't say I 'liked' or 'enjoyed' The Undoing of Violet Claybourne, I was riveted by it and read it over two days - something of a feat for me at the moment! The characters are all quite despicable - yes, even Gilly! - except perhaps for Charlie and Frank . . .
Gilly is young, impressionable, and desperate to 'fit in' to the Claybourne family since what remains of her own family don't particularly want her. She is in awe of Violet's very glamorous older sisters and hangs off their every word. She's a little like a labrador puppy, gazing at them with forlorn eyes, begging to be loved.
Violet's oddness, her OCD and other problems, seem to become increasingly worse while at Thornleigh Hall and Gilly, unfortunately, gravitates towards Emmeline and Laura treating their every word as gospel, especially when it comes to the treatment of Violet.
The story comes to a head when, one morning, the trio venture out into the woods leaving Violet at home. Nothing will ever be the same again.
There are a lot of secrets concealed over the years. Lady Claybourne is obsessed with 'propriety' and 'how things appear', wanting - no, needing - her daughters to make advantageous marriages in order to save Thornleigh Hall from the creditors. Anything remotely unsavory that happens is quickly swept under the carpet, hidden and never referred to again.
If you like your historical fiction dark, riddled with secrets, and the family dysfunctional and manipulative, you'll derive a lot of pleasure from The Undoing of Violet Claybourne. It doesn't paint the upper classes in a good light, but then no one comes out of this smelling of roses.
An interesting read.
#TheUndoingofVioletClaybourne #NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐.5
MEET THE AUTHOR: Emily was born in Essex and has lived in Brighton and London. She currently lives in Hertfordshire.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 6, 2025
4.5/5 - The way I GASPED as I read a few of these scenes and the revelations!!
Have you guys ever watched Downtown Abbey or The Roommate with Leighton Meester? The Undoing of Violet Claybourne reminds me of some of these movies, including the drama and the shocking family secrets. Not to mention, discussions surrounding mental health were handled well!
It's rare for people to have been treated with dignity in decades past when they struggled with being different, and young Violet is no different. What I appreciated most about her is that she really was so loving and kind, and in the end, she stayed true to herself... plus a little more. Hard to say anything else without ruining it for readers, but as you read - about halfway through, you won't be able to put this down!
If you like:
- Crumbling English countryside manners
- Uncovering long-held family secrets
- Getting a peek inside wealthy family dynamics
- The drama and flair of the 1930s...
- Discussions surrounding mental health in previous decades
**You're going to love Critchley's latest!
I also knew I would love this once I received my copy because Sulari Gentill reviewed it and liked it, and her book was one of my favorites in 2024!!
**Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Check out the new Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel!!
Have you guys ever watched Downtown Abbey or The Roommate with Leighton Meester? The Undoing of Violet Claybourne reminds me of some of these movies, including the drama and the shocking family secrets. Not to mention, discussions surrounding mental health were handled well!
It's rare for people to have been treated with dignity in decades past when they struggled with being different, and young Violet is no different. What I appreciated most about her is that she really was so loving and kind, and in the end, she stayed true to herself... plus a little more. Hard to say anything else without ruining it for readers, but as you read - about halfway through, you won't be able to put this down!
If you like:
- Crumbling English countryside manners
- Uncovering long-held family secrets
- Getting a peek inside wealthy family dynamics
- The drama and flair of the 1930s...
- Discussions surrounding mental health in previous decades
**You're going to love Critchley's latest!
I also knew I would love this once I received my copy because Sulari Gentill reviewed it and liked it, and her book was one of my favorites in 2024!!
**Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Check out the new Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel!!
January 4, 2025
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne was the best book to end 2024 and start into 2025 with! This book was dark and atmospheric, and I loved exploring Thornleigh Hall with the main protagonist, Gillian (Gilly). I love gothic feels in books, and this was oozing them.
Gilly is away at boarding school in the UK, and her expat father lives in Egypt with her new stepmother and baby stepbrother. Gilly is just ploughing through school as she knows when she leaves, she's mist likely going to have to stand on her own too feet. When her new roommate Violet Claybourne begins at the school, Gillys life is made more fun and exciting and opens the door to a more privileged future when she goes to stay at Violets home Thornleigh Hall. Gilly meets Violets two older sisters and is drawn to them both and longs to be accepted by them like a sister. When they seem to be taking her into the fold and Violet becomes jealous, Gilly feels torn but sways more in favour of the sisters' attention than Violets. When a tragedy occurs and the girls are thrown into a situation that could ruin their lives, Violet becomes the scapegoat, and the trio slowly destroy her already fragile mental state...
This was a dual timeline read (mostly set in the past as events unfolded), and I felt a rollercoaster of emotions reading this. This highlights the social classes back in the 1930s and how mental health was seen and handled in those days. I felt every emotion I could possibly feel reading this book and my heart broke a few times for poor Violet.The twists within the book that unfold towards the end were a complete curve ball and I couldn't read the ending fast enough. You definitely don't want to miss this page-turner!
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne was the best book to end 2024 and start into 2025 with! This book was dark and atmospheric, and I loved exploring Thornleigh Hall with the main protagonist, Gillian (Gilly). I love gothic feels in books, and this was oozing them.
Gilly is away at boarding school in the UK, and her expat father lives in Egypt with her new stepmother and baby stepbrother. Gilly is just ploughing through school as she knows when she leaves, she's mist likely going to have to stand on her own too feet. When her new roommate Violet Claybourne begins at the school, Gillys life is made more fun and exciting and opens the door to a more privileged future when she goes to stay at Violets home Thornleigh Hall. Gilly meets Violets two older sisters and is drawn to them both and longs to be accepted by them like a sister. When they seem to be taking her into the fold and Violet becomes jealous, Gilly feels torn but sways more in favour of the sisters' attention than Violets. When a tragedy occurs and the girls are thrown into a situation that could ruin their lives, Violet becomes the scapegoat, and the trio slowly destroy her already fragile mental state...
This was a dual timeline read (mostly set in the past as events unfolded), and I felt a rollercoaster of emotions reading this. This highlights the social classes back in the 1930s and how mental health was seen and handled in those days. I felt every emotion I could possibly feel reading this book and my heart broke a few times for poor Violet.The twists within the book that unfold towards the end were a complete curve ball and I couldn't read the ending fast enough. You definitely don't want to miss this page-turner!
March 6, 2025
3.5
Gillian and Violet become fast friends at a desolate boarding school in 1938. Gillian’s mother has died and her father has remarried and started a new family, one that does not include Gillian. Upon meeting Violet, she instantly formed a connection with the new girl and is thrilled when she is invited to Violet’s family estate for the holidays. While there, Gillian becomes enamored with Violet’s older sisters as well as the lifestyle they lead. Of course things aren’t necessarily all that they seem and when tragedy strikes the seams begin to crack.
For a good portion of it, I had a hard time immersing myself into the plot, it always felt like I was just “reading”. I can’t put my finger on why that was because the atmosphere was certainly there and the plot itself was engaging. I’m not sure if it was the character development that didn’t work for me or what. However, this all changed once I began to see the undoing of Violet. It was cruel and it was heartbreaking. It felt like the tone of the book changed and the last 25% was done really really well. I think if that dark undercurrent had started earlier in the novel, I would’ve been more engaged.
Overall, this was a good book, and I appear to be a bit of an outlier as many others have liked this a little bit more than me .
Gillian and Violet become fast friends at a desolate boarding school in 1938. Gillian’s mother has died and her father has remarried and started a new family, one that does not include Gillian. Upon meeting Violet, she instantly formed a connection with the new girl and is thrilled when she is invited to Violet’s family estate for the holidays. While there, Gillian becomes enamored with Violet’s older sisters as well as the lifestyle they lead. Of course things aren’t necessarily all that they seem and when tragedy strikes the seams begin to crack.
For a good portion of it, I had a hard time immersing myself into the plot, it always felt like I was just “reading”. I can’t put my finger on why that was because the atmosphere was certainly there and the plot itself was engaging. I’m not sure if it was the character development that didn’t work for me or what. However, this all changed once I began to see the undoing of Violet. It was cruel and it was heartbreaking. It felt like the tone of the book changed and the last 25% was done really really well. I think if that dark undercurrent had started earlier in the novel, I would’ve been more engaged.
Overall, this was a good book, and I appear to be a bit of an outlier as many others have liked this a little bit more than me .
March 11, 2025
Set in 1938 this is a story of two young girls, Gillian and Violet, who meet at an English boarding school. Gillian was sent there after her mother died and her father remarried. Although she wants to fit in with the girls at school she is quiet, shy and often overlooked. Then Violet shows up at school and becomes Gillian’s new roommate. Quirky Violet is hard to overlook and plagued with obsessive compulsive tendencies. Gillian is captivated by the stories Violet tells about her family and especially her two older sisters and so delighted when Violet invites her to come home with her for Christmas holiday.
Violet’s family home, Thornleigh Hall, is a once grand English manor falling into disrepair. I love this setting! It is very atmospheric: cold grey days, stark winter landscape, a dark lake and the house itself. Marred by a fire and the dwindling funds to care for such a home, Thornleigh oozes a sense of impending doom, but to Gillian it all still seems rather fabulous. The cast of characters is no less enthralling. Violet’s two older sisters are worldly and beautiful, her father an old war hero now softened and subdued, her mother wanting to keep up appearances and find a good match for her oldest daughter. Then there are the various staff, little Robin, and a lone tenant who lives in a small cottage on the property.
Gillian is starstruck by Violet’s sisters and she is soon drawn into the dark family drama. After a tragic accident her loyalty to her friend Violet is twisted and broken and their lives are changed forever!
I especially enjoyed the gothic feel of this story, the once grand family and home whose gilded finish is chipping away, and the psychological turmoil the characters experience as the story winds its way to the finish.
Violet’s family home, Thornleigh Hall, is a once grand English manor falling into disrepair. I love this setting! It is very atmospheric: cold grey days, stark winter landscape, a dark lake and the house itself. Marred by a fire and the dwindling funds to care for such a home, Thornleigh oozes a sense of impending doom, but to Gillian it all still seems rather fabulous. The cast of characters is no less enthralling. Violet’s two older sisters are worldly and beautiful, her father an old war hero now softened and subdued, her mother wanting to keep up appearances and find a good match for her oldest daughter. Then there are the various staff, little Robin, and a lone tenant who lives in a small cottage on the property.
Gillian is starstruck by Violet’s sisters and she is soon drawn into the dark family drama. After a tragic accident her loyalty to her friend Violet is twisted and broken and their lives are changed forever!
I especially enjoyed the gothic feel of this story, the once grand family and home whose gilded finish is chipping away, and the psychological turmoil the characters experience as the story winds its way to the finish.
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July 6, 2025So good. Full rtc.
December 22, 2024
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley
Page Count: 349
Publisher: Zaffre
Format: Hardcover
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: first time
Affiliate Link: I bought this at Blackwell's
Release Date: November 7th, 2024
General Genre: Historical/World War II, Gothic Thriller, Psychological, Suspense, Coming-of-age
Sub-Genre/Themes: Friendship, boarding school, sisters, estates, wealthy families, mental health, people with OCD, family secrets & lies, gaslighting, betrayal
Writing Style: Intricately plotted, Told in 4 parts over many years, suspense, mounting tension and dread, carefully crafted, dynamic, psychological thriller, character-driven
Look for my full review on Patreon Monday! This one blew my mind!
What You Need to Know: *content warning, one of the main characters has OCD and please message me before reading if you might be sensitive about that
My Reading Experience:
Final Recommendation:
Comps: The Wilding Sisters by Eve Chase, Saltburn (2023) movie vibes, Fyneshade by Kate Griffen
Page Count: 349
Publisher: Zaffre
Format: Hardcover
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: first time
Affiliate Link: I bought this at Blackwell's
Release Date: November 7th, 2024
General Genre: Historical/World War II, Gothic Thriller, Psychological, Suspense, Coming-of-age
Sub-Genre/Themes: Friendship, boarding school, sisters, estates, wealthy families, mental health, people with OCD, family secrets & lies, gaslighting, betrayal
Writing Style: Intricately plotted, Told in 4 parts over many years, suspense, mounting tension and dread, carefully crafted, dynamic, psychological thriller, character-driven
Look for my full review on Patreon Monday! This one blew my mind!
What You Need to Know: *content warning, one of the main characters has OCD and please message me before reading if you might be sensitive about that
My Reading Experience:
Final Recommendation:
Comps: The Wilding Sisters by Eve Chase, Saltburn (2023) movie vibes, Fyneshade by Kate Griffen
August 8, 2025
I was drawn to this book from the gorgeous cover. This has such an immersive plot in this dual-timeline, dark, character-driven mystery, full of family secrets and desperate ambition.
1939 - Gillian Larking is used to going unnoticed and blending in, until she befriends the spirited Violet Claybourne at boarding school. Soon Gillian is invited to the crumbling Thornleigh Hall, to spend the holidays with the Claybourne family. She is hypnotised by the family’s fading grandeur and will do anything to spend time with Violet’s enigmatic and beguiling older sisters. Following a terrible incident on Boxing Day, Gillian is forced to confront how deep her loyalty to the Claybourne sisters runs.
1999 – Gillian receives a letter from the nephew of an old friend and realises her past choices have come back to haunt her. You must read the book to find out what actually happened …
This was such a captivating read, despite the rather unpleasant characters. I am excited to read more novels from Emily Critchley.
1939 - Gillian Larking is used to going unnoticed and blending in, until she befriends the spirited Violet Claybourne at boarding school. Soon Gillian is invited to the crumbling Thornleigh Hall, to spend the holidays with the Claybourne family. She is hypnotised by the family’s fading grandeur and will do anything to spend time with Violet’s enigmatic and beguiling older sisters. Following a terrible incident on Boxing Day, Gillian is forced to confront how deep her loyalty to the Claybourne sisters runs.
1999 – Gillian receives a letter from the nephew of an old friend and realises her past choices have come back to haunt her. You must read the book to find out what actually happened …
This was such a captivating read, despite the rather unpleasant characters. I am excited to read more novels from Emily Critchley.
August 3, 2025
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
To confess or impress? That is the ailing question that burdens Gillian's resolve to speak her mind before her friend, Violet, loses her mind. and for what? 🙍🏻♀️ To simply feel accepted by Violet's two older sisters, who treat their own blood sister with very little care or concern. Wanting to feel accepted and treated as their equal - 'I was cousin Gilly. I was somebody - her whole life, she's never felt that kinship with anyone.
Is it enough to jeopardize so many at the expense of burying your own guilt, to make amends with herself for the tiniest inconsequential mistakes'?
For that is the cost that each of the Claybourne sisters pay the price for - a mistake neither of them were truly responsible for, but somehow fell apart for the irresponsible, if not vengeful choices that led them to make those decisions. 😢
“We were different people back then, products of our time – and of our circumstances.
But that is no excuse.”
This is a story of bullying and mind games, the bonds of sisterhood that belies the quiet villainy of contempt and shame and revenge. 😓 It becomes agonizing and frustrating and disheartening to see a MC play a hand in that manipulation - knowing that is wrong to treat her friend as such, but so deep has she been ensnared by the spider's web, that she fails to even find the gumption within to speak up for what is right, that not even her remorseful contrite is able to weave its way through - so blinded for wanting to be seen.
How ironic. 🥺
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne may allude to her own self-imposed rituals of trying to right the wrong she felt present in her aura, but the double-entendre is that it is also very much the undoing of VIolet Claybourne's psyche. 💔💔 The deliberate mental and physical anguish and torture inflicting upon her mindset to convince her that she has gone mad - prying upon her own weaknesses to make her appear she is guilty of a crime she has not committed.
“It’s wrong,’ said Violet, turning away from me. ‘How you lie.”
My heart hurt for Violet; what happened to her was cruel and unfair and totally wrong and uncalled for. The condescending tone her family treated her with; all she longed for was a friend in Gilly, and when that sting of betrayal came, it was painful to watch. It made me sick to my stomach how lies and words can manipulate others into thinking and believing just...urghh.... 😞
I did find myself invested in the plot; as harrowing and depressing and morbid as it was, it captured my interest, and I wanted to see some justice served. I was annoyed with Gilly, hurt for Violet, furious with Emmeline, and Laura - well, there was no initial surprise to Laura's fate, but the truths revealed later on, made me question how much of a victim she really was. 😥 I found myself skimming a few moments, like Gilly's life after, but I still was curious to know what would be the final act. Yet, the final act was just as disheartening - honestly. Time lost, time stolen, truths buried, I can't stand that; it hurts and then annoys me, too.... 😣
“We never forget those moments that changed everything.”
At first, it was a bit disbelieving that someone would reach out to Gillian nearly 60+ years after the events of 1938. If someone was looking for me after all that time - I'd definitely think something was up! Well, guess I was right about that.
I do agree that there are two sides to every story, but I don't know if I was totally on board with the author's attempt to try to validate a certain character's actions . As late as it was in the game, it felt trivial and made it all the more unnerving to even feel that justice was served in the end. Nos contra mundum. Us against the world. 🥺 I did not feel any significant closure to the outcome; it felt more like resignation, rather than victory, which yes, I get why, but it just made it feel gloomier and darker than it was.
Gilly --- was still ensnared by the marker that forever divided my life, trapped by her own guilt and lies and shame, one which, even in 1999, she would still have to pay the price for her role in something as tragic and morbid as what took place nearly 60 years ago. The final act of retribution was not fulfilling - for some, maybe, but... I don't know, it was just kinda hopeless and helpless and bleak, like what can you do. Everything was done, at their own undoing.... 😔
“After Thornleigh, there was simply a before and an after.”
To confess or impress? That is the ailing question that burdens Gillian's resolve to speak her mind before her friend, Violet, loses her mind. and for what? 🙍🏻♀️ To simply feel accepted by Violet's two older sisters, who treat their own blood sister with very little care or concern. Wanting to feel accepted and treated as their equal - 'I was cousin Gilly. I was somebody - her whole life, she's never felt that kinship with anyone.
Is it enough to jeopardize so many at the expense of burying your own guilt, to make amends with herself for the tiniest inconsequential mistakes'?
For that is the cost that each of the Claybourne sisters pay the price for - a mistake neither of them were truly responsible for, but somehow fell apart for the irresponsible, if not vengeful choices that led them to make those decisions. 😢
“We were different people back then, products of our time – and of our circumstances.
But that is no excuse.”
This is a story of bullying and mind games, the bonds of sisterhood that belies the quiet villainy of contempt and shame and revenge. 😓 It becomes agonizing and frustrating and disheartening to see a MC play a hand in that manipulation - knowing that is wrong to treat her friend as such, but so deep has she been ensnared by the spider's web, that she fails to even find the gumption within to speak up for what is right, that not even her remorseful contrite is able to weave its way through - so blinded for wanting to be seen.
How ironic. 🥺
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne may allude to her own self-imposed rituals of trying to right the wrong she felt present in her aura, but the double-entendre is that it is also very much the undoing of VIolet Claybourne's psyche. 💔💔 The deliberate mental and physical anguish and torture inflicting upon her mindset to convince her that she has gone mad - prying upon her own weaknesses to make her appear she is guilty of a crime she has not committed.
“It’s wrong,’ said Violet, turning away from me. ‘How you lie.”
My heart hurt for Violet; what happened to her was cruel and unfair and totally wrong and uncalled for. The condescending tone her family treated her with; all she longed for was a friend in Gilly, and when that sting of betrayal came, it was painful to watch. It made me sick to my stomach how lies and words can manipulate others into thinking and believing just...urghh.... 😞
I did find myself invested in the plot; as harrowing and depressing and morbid as it was, it captured my interest, and I wanted to see some justice served. I was annoyed with Gilly, hurt for Violet, furious with Emmeline, and Laura - well, there was no initial surprise to Laura's fate, but the truths revealed later on, made me question how much of a victim she really was. 😥 I found myself skimming a few moments, like Gilly's life after, but I still was curious to know what would be the final act. Yet, the final act was just as disheartening - honestly. Time lost, time stolen, truths buried, I can't stand that; it hurts and then annoys me, too.... 😣
“We never forget those moments that changed everything.”
At first, it was a bit disbelieving that someone would reach out to Gillian nearly 60+ years after the events of 1938. If someone was looking for me after all that time - I'd definitely think something was up! Well, guess I was right about that.
I do agree that there are two sides to every story, but I don't know if I was totally on board with the author's attempt to try to validate a certain character's actions . As late as it was in the game, it felt trivial and made it all the more unnerving to even feel that justice was served in the end. Nos contra mundum. Us against the world. 🥺 I did not feel any significant closure to the outcome; it felt more like resignation, rather than victory, which yes, I get why, but it just made it feel gloomier and darker than it was.
Gilly --- was still ensnared by the marker that forever divided my life, trapped by her own guilt and lies and shame, one which, even in 1999, she would still have to pay the price for her role in something as tragic and morbid as what took place nearly 60 years ago. The final act of retribution was not fulfilling - for some, maybe, but... I don't know, it was just kinda hopeless and helpless and bleak, like what can you do. Everything was done, at their own undoing.... 😔
March 4, 2025
I loved this author’s previous novel, One Puzzling Afternoon, so was very happy to receive an e-ARC of her latest.
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is an interesting look at how far people are willing to go for acceptance and belonging. I enjoyed that mental illness was a key focus and driver of the story and the OCD descriptions were very realistic. The characters were for the most part not very likeable except for Violet. Gilly, Violet’s classmate at boarding school, was a nuanced character whose good and bad parts were in constant internal battle.
The story is quite dark with death, references to abuse, gaslighting, mental illness, classism, and rich people behaving badly. It was a good read with a very satisfying ending.I also enjoyed the unexpected reveals and twists.
While I didn’t like this one quite as much as One Puzzling Afternoon, it was a well-written, interesting read about the price one is willing to pay to get the life they want.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is an interesting look at how far people are willing to go for acceptance and belonging. I enjoyed that mental illness was a key focus and driver of the story and the OCD descriptions were very realistic. The characters were for the most part not very likeable except for Violet. Gilly, Violet’s classmate at boarding school, was a nuanced character whose good and bad parts were in constant internal battle.
The story is quite dark with death, references to abuse, gaslighting, mental illness, classism, and rich people behaving badly. It was a good read with a very satisfying ending.I also enjoyed the unexpected reveals and twists.
While I didn’t like this one quite as much as One Puzzling Afternoon, it was a well-written, interesting read about the price one is willing to pay to get the life they want.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
December 12, 2024
I thought this would be historical fiction or historical mystery, but really it’s more of a suspense or thriller story. Admittedly, the hardest part is that no character is likable. Our main character is weak and goes along with horrible deeds all to be liked. She never stands up for what is right, standing by as people are hurt.
Was it interesting? Absolutely. Was the story captivating? Yes. But there is no redemption here. There is no happy ending. And for me, that made this a difficult read.
Was it interesting? Absolutely. Was the story captivating? Yes. But there is no redemption here. There is no happy ending. And for me, that made this a difficult read.
March 3, 2025
Emily Chritchley is a totally new author for me. This is her second book and proved to be a very engrossing read.
Description:
To become a Claybourne girl, she'll have to betray one first.
1938. Gillian Larking, lonely and away at boarding school, is used to going unnoticed. But then she meets Violet Claybourne, her vibrant roommate who takes Gilly under her wing. Violet is unlike anyone Gilly has ever met, and she regales Gilly with tales of her grand family estate and her two elegant sisters. Gilly is soon entranced by stories of the Claybournes, so when Violet invites Gilly to meet her family at Thornleigh Hall, she can't believe her luck.
But Gilly soon finds that behind the grand façade of Thornleigh Hall, darkness lurks.
Dazzled by the crumbling manor and Violet's enigmatic sisters, Gilly settles into the estate. But when a horrible accident strikes on the grounds, she is ensnared in a web of the sisters' making, forced to make a choice that will change the course of her life forever. Because the Claybournes girls know how to keep secrets, even at the cost of one of their own.
My Thoughts:
Themes of mental health, class distinction, and friendship. The book is well written and engrossing with a dramatic plot. The secrets kept were impactful to many lives. This is a tragic tale and sad in many ways. There is mystery and suspense as well. My heart broke for Violet - she was so troubled and trying so hard to deal with life. I found the Claybourne family offensive. Gillian was just a victim of circumstance it seemed. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries would enjoy this.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
To become a Claybourne girl, she'll have to betray one first.
1938. Gillian Larking, lonely and away at boarding school, is used to going unnoticed. But then she meets Violet Claybourne, her vibrant roommate who takes Gilly under her wing. Violet is unlike anyone Gilly has ever met, and she regales Gilly with tales of her grand family estate and her two elegant sisters. Gilly is soon entranced by stories of the Claybournes, so when Violet invites Gilly to meet her family at Thornleigh Hall, she can't believe her luck.
But Gilly soon finds that behind the grand façade of Thornleigh Hall, darkness lurks.
Dazzled by the crumbling manor and Violet's enigmatic sisters, Gilly settles into the estate. But when a horrible accident strikes on the grounds, she is ensnared in a web of the sisters' making, forced to make a choice that will change the course of her life forever. Because the Claybournes girls know how to keep secrets, even at the cost of one of their own.
My Thoughts:
Themes of mental health, class distinction, and friendship. The book is well written and engrossing with a dramatic plot. The secrets kept were impactful to many lives. This is a tragic tale and sad in many ways. There is mystery and suspense as well. My heart broke for Violet - she was so troubled and trying so hard to deal with life. I found the Claybourne family offensive. Gillian was just a victim of circumstance it seemed. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries would enjoy this.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark through Netgalley for an advance copy.
April 9, 2025
4 Stars
This 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book is more of a historical fiction than a thriller.
SUMMARY
Gillian (aka Gilly) is a 16 year old girl in a somewhat posh boarding school in 1930’s England. Her mother is long dead and her father is living in Egypt. She has very little contact with him, her stepmother and younger half brother. She is basically alone with the exception of her aunt who lives in London and with whom she sees during school breaks.
Her life changes the minute Violet Claybourne becomes her roommate. Spirited, impetuous and a little quirky, Violet comes from a very wealthy old family, befriends Gillian and renames her Gilly. Gilly is invited to Violet’s family estate for Christmas and is thrilled to be with what she believes to be a warm loving family and to rub noses with the upper echelon of society. Gilly was not raised with huge wealth, I think her family would probably qualify as upper middle class so she was quite impressed with the Claybourne family.
Eager to fit in, Gilly spends time with Violets sisters and allows herself to be swayed by their influence. It doesn’t take long before she realizes that, not only are things are not exactly as she thought but she also she finds herself getting pulled into the momentum of events that will cause long term damage to all involved.
WHAT I 🥰 LOVED
As always, I LOVE my Brit-lit! Anything set in the British Isles already starts out as a hit for me. I also LOVE books and movies featuring the trappings of rich people from the past. Particularly, those with a gothic / “Grey Gardens” feel. Formerly rich people wandering around faded mansions who are running out of money but would never resort to something as common as having a job or selling a property they cannot afford to maintain. This book does all that quite well.
This book was a slow burn. I thought I knew the whole story and understood the point of the book, but the last few chapters held several surprises for me and I really loved that.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE
Most of the characters were either pretty crappy people or just weak. It was hard to really like or care about or relate to most of them. It kind of took a while to realize exactly how awful a few of them were, but wow. Pretty bad people.
It started a little slowly, it took a few chapters to really get into it, but was worth it once I got started.
OVERALL
Definitely worth reading. It’s covers some of WWII but it’s not really a WWII story. If you don’t mind a book with mostly morally questionable characters and like history fiction with a gothic setting and a slow burn mystery, you’ll like this one. This might make me a bad person but I found Violets ending very satisfying.
This 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book is more of a historical fiction than a thriller.
SUMMARY
Gillian (aka Gilly) is a 16 year old girl in a somewhat posh boarding school in 1930’s England. Her mother is long dead and her father is living in Egypt. She has very little contact with him, her stepmother and younger half brother. She is basically alone with the exception of her aunt who lives in London and with whom she sees during school breaks.
Her life changes the minute Violet Claybourne becomes her roommate. Spirited, impetuous and a little quirky, Violet comes from a very wealthy old family, befriends Gillian and renames her Gilly. Gilly is invited to Violet’s family estate for Christmas and is thrilled to be with what she believes to be a warm loving family and to rub noses with the upper echelon of society. Gilly was not raised with huge wealth, I think her family would probably qualify as upper middle class so she was quite impressed with the Claybourne family.
Eager to fit in, Gilly spends time with Violets sisters and allows herself to be swayed by their influence. It doesn’t take long before she realizes that, not only are things are not exactly as she thought but she also she finds herself getting pulled into the momentum of events that will cause long term damage to all involved.
WHAT I 🥰 LOVED
As always, I LOVE my Brit-lit! Anything set in the British Isles already starts out as a hit for me. I also LOVE books and movies featuring the trappings of rich people from the past. Particularly, those with a gothic / “Grey Gardens” feel. Formerly rich people wandering around faded mansions who are running out of money but would never resort to something as common as having a job or selling a property they cannot afford to maintain. This book does all that quite well.
This book was a slow burn. I thought I knew the whole story and understood the point of the book, but the last few chapters held several surprises for me and I really loved that.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE
Most of the characters were either pretty crappy people or just weak. It was hard to really like or care about or relate to most of them. It kind of took a while to realize exactly how awful a few of them were, but wow. Pretty bad people.
It started a little slowly, it took a few chapters to really get into it, but was worth it once I got started.
OVERALL
Definitely worth reading. It’s covers some of WWII but it’s not really a WWII story. If you don’t mind a book with mostly morally questionable characters and like history fiction with a gothic setting and a slow burn mystery, you’ll like this one. This might make me a bad person but I found Violets ending very satisfying.
January 30, 2025
This is my first read of 2025 and what a fantastic way to begin the year!
The majority of this novel is set during 1938 in Thornleigh Hall, a deteriorating manor house in Oxfordshire. The house is the home of the dysfunctional Claybourne family. The second timeline is set in the year 1999 with Gillian Larkin now elderly, as she returns to Thornleigh Hall after sixty years.
Quiet and bookish, teenage Gillian Larkin attends a boarding school in England whilst her father and his new family reside in Egypt. Alone and adrift, she is delighted to have a new roommate, Violet Claybourne. Violet is 'different'. One minute she is talkative and a risk taker, the next moment she is anxious and emotionally vulnerable. She does little 'rituals' which she calls her 'undoings'. These present as counting on her fingers, rapping a door three times before she opens it, etc., all markers of someone who has OCD. In Violet's case the OCD was a result of a traumatic incident.
When Violet invites Gillian to Thornleigh Hall for the Christmas break, she accepts with delight. She is eager to meet Violet's two older sisters. Sisters are something that Gillian has always coveted in her lonely status as an only child.
The visit to Thornleigh Hall is marred by a very traumatic accident which spurs a tragic chain of events. The accident is the dividing point in Gillian's life. Everything is either before OR after Thornleigh Hall...
I was riveted throughout this novel. The Claybournes were an eccentric lot, and their family dynamic was dysfunctional. Due to the matriarch's obsession with 'appearances', the family hid all their 'dirty laundry' and the secrecy that entailed caused them to be riddled with guilt and anxiety. The secrets they held created many unsavoury repercussions over the years.
Written with rich characterization, this novel made you really feel for the characters. They were not all likeable, in fact most of them were quite unlikable. They were however, very fascinating in a dark and damaged kind of way.
With themes of betrayal, cover-ups, gas-lighting, and atonement, this novel had a slightly gothic vibe. An historical, twisty, psychological thriller that kept me enthralled. A book which highlighted how horribly people with mental health issues were treated in the not so distant past. A book of manipulation and the self-absorption of the rich and privileged upper classes. A novel that emphasizes how outward appearances can deceive the unwary.
I enjoyed every page of this novel and will not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who will listen.
The majority of this novel is set during 1938 in Thornleigh Hall, a deteriorating manor house in Oxfordshire. The house is the home of the dysfunctional Claybourne family. The second timeline is set in the year 1999 with Gillian Larkin now elderly, as she returns to Thornleigh Hall after sixty years.
Quiet and bookish, teenage Gillian Larkin attends a boarding school in England whilst her father and his new family reside in Egypt. Alone and adrift, she is delighted to have a new roommate, Violet Claybourne. Violet is 'different'. One minute she is talkative and a risk taker, the next moment she is anxious and emotionally vulnerable. She does little 'rituals' which she calls her 'undoings'. These present as counting on her fingers, rapping a door three times before she opens it, etc., all markers of someone who has OCD. In Violet's case the OCD was a result of a traumatic incident.
When Violet invites Gillian to Thornleigh Hall for the Christmas break, she accepts with delight. She is eager to meet Violet's two older sisters. Sisters are something that Gillian has always coveted in her lonely status as an only child.
The visit to Thornleigh Hall is marred by a very traumatic accident which spurs a tragic chain of events. The accident is the dividing point in Gillian's life. Everything is either before OR after Thornleigh Hall...
I was riveted throughout this novel. The Claybournes were an eccentric lot, and their family dynamic was dysfunctional. Due to the matriarch's obsession with 'appearances', the family hid all their 'dirty laundry' and the secrecy that entailed caused them to be riddled with guilt and anxiety. The secrets they held created many unsavoury repercussions over the years.
Written with rich characterization, this novel made you really feel for the characters. They were not all likeable, in fact most of them were quite unlikable. They were however, very fascinating in a dark and damaged kind of way.
With themes of betrayal, cover-ups, gas-lighting, and atonement, this novel had a slightly gothic vibe. An historical, twisty, psychological thriller that kept me enthralled. A book which highlighted how horribly people with mental health issues were treated in the not so distant past. A book of manipulation and the self-absorption of the rich and privileged upper classes. A novel that emphasizes how outward appearances can deceive the unwary.
I enjoyed every page of this novel and will not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who will listen.
December 25, 2024
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a very dark and depressing story with despicable people. I have to admit that around 60%, I was not sure that I wanted to continue reading because I saw where the story was going, and I didn't like it at all. I kept reading, and my dislike for some of the characters grew as the story progressed.
The writing is really good. The author has managed to write a compelling story, both with predictable turns and a twist that I didn't see coming.
So, if you like stories with people doing evil things to each other for questionable motives, this book is perfect to read. I'm off to find something more cheerful to read.
i>I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review!
The writing is really good. The author has managed to write a compelling story, both with predictable turns and a twist that I didn't see coming.
So, if you like stories with people doing evil things to each other for questionable motives, this book is perfect to read. I'm off to find something more cheerful to read.
i>I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review!
April 15, 2025
Ugh - this book was so addictively heartbreaking, and I loved it so much!
Think Downton Abbey meets Where the Crawdads Sing. It’s a slow burn gothic mystery with a bit of historical fiction. I loved seeing how different the sisters all were from each other, and how scandalous the Claybourne family was as their secrets came out. From the first page to the last, I could not wait to see how everything was going to unfold. The ending was pure poetry.
Think Downton Abbey meets Where the Crawdads Sing. It’s a slow burn gothic mystery with a bit of historical fiction. I loved seeing how different the sisters all were from each other, and how scandalous the Claybourne family was as their secrets came out. From the first page to the last, I could not wait to see how everything was going to unfold. The ending was pure poetry.
February 16, 2025
As always, thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this ARC!
This story was just OK for me. It was an interesting story that kept me engaged because for the most part it was was decently paced, but all of the characters except for Violet were boring and one dimensional. I was disappointed at how blatantly obvious and predictable every single plot twist was. The best part of the book happened in the very last chapter where I was laughing and saying "lets goooooo". But then at the same time, one of the people that deserved some kind of karma coming back to them the most, got to ride off into the sunset. This book had some great potential but fell flat for me overall.
This story was just OK for me. It was an interesting story that kept me engaged because for the most part it was was decently paced, but all of the characters except for Violet were boring and one dimensional. I was disappointed at how blatantly obvious and predictable every single plot twist was. The best part of the book happened in the very last chapter where I was laughing and saying "lets goooooo". But then at the same time, one of the people that deserved some kind of karma coming back to them the most, got to ride off into the sunset. This book had some great potential but fell flat for me overall.
October 5, 2025
4.5/5
This was so upsetting and utterly devastating, I never want to read it again.
I loved it.
This was so upsetting and utterly devastating, I never want to read it again.
I loved it.
January 24, 2025
Set mostly in 1938, lonely schoolgirl Gillian accepts an invitation to spend Christmas at Thornleigh Hall with the aristocratic family of her new boarding school room mate.
I loved everything about this, the sense of time and place, the faded and crumbling grandeur of Thornleigh Hall, the cold atmosphere and the eccentricity of the characters, especially poor Violet. There's a dark and sinister vibe and secrets aplenty, just my cup of tea, I loved it and didn't want to put it down. Atmospheric and immersive, if you liked
The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde (also published as The Wildling Sisters) and Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase, you'll probably like this too, 5 stars.
I loved everything about this, the sense of time and place, the faded and crumbling grandeur of Thornleigh Hall, the cold atmosphere and the eccentricity of the characters, especially poor Violet. There's a dark and sinister vibe and secrets aplenty, just my cup of tea, I loved it and didn't want to put it down. Atmospheric and immersive, if you liked
The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde (also published as The Wildling Sisters) and Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase, you'll probably like this too, 5 stars.
September 20, 2024
Summary: Gillian is a quiet young girl at an English boarding school in 1938. She doesn’t have much family and leads a lonely life. Then vivacious Violet Claybourne arrives and is assigned to be Gillian’s roommate. Violet is the most unique character that Gillian has ever met and together they have daily adventures in which Gillian is never lonely or bored. When Christmas arrives Gillian is dreading the visit to her aunt’s home, so Violet extends the invitation to spend Christmas at Thornleigh Hall and Gillian gratefully accepts. Little do they know that this holiday season will change their lives forever. Gillian travels to Thornleigh, meets Violet’s family and gets to know the huge estate. One day, a terrible accident takes place on the estate grounds while the adults are all out. Gillian is trapped in a web of lies to cover up the true story and learns how far the Claybournes will go to protect themselves.
Thoughts: This beautiful and sad story pulled me into the world of pre-WWII England. It is a worn and dog-eared snapshot of a dead era – with grand country houses, grounds and servants. The master of the house holds shooting parties and the family “dresses” for dinner. On the surface, everything is perfect for the Claybourne family, but underneath there are many, many secrets. There is infidelity, sexual abuse, family discord, lies, petty thievery, mental illness and much worse yet to come. Gillian wants so desperately to become a part of this gilded family and to belong somewhere, that she is willing to do or say anything to be accepted. But Gillian doesn’t understand the rules of how this family operates and she is out of her depth. The characters are skillfully drawn and the twists are breathtaking. A wonderful novel which will stay with me for a long time.
Thoughts: This beautiful and sad story pulled me into the world of pre-WWII England. It is a worn and dog-eared snapshot of a dead era – with grand country houses, grounds and servants. The master of the house holds shooting parties and the family “dresses” for dinner. On the surface, everything is perfect for the Claybourne family, but underneath there are many, many secrets. There is infidelity, sexual abuse, family discord, lies, petty thievery, mental illness and much worse yet to come. Gillian wants so desperately to become a part of this gilded family and to belong somewhere, that she is willing to do or say anything to be accepted. But Gillian doesn’t understand the rules of how this family operates and she is out of her depth. The characters are skillfully drawn and the twists are breathtaking. A wonderful novel which will stay with me for a long time.
November 17, 2024
Gillian Larking, is attending a boarding school and is invited to spend the Christmas holidays with the glamorous Claybourne family by her new roommate Violet Claybourne. What Violet finds is a gorgeous but crumbling mansion and an experience that changes her life forever after, after a horrendous Boxing Day accident and what the Claybourne sisters will do to ultimately protect themselves.
This book cover is absolutely stunning and along with an enticing description, is what drew me to this wonderful historical mystery. This is a story of a rich and privileged family with very dark family secrets and a glimpse of mental illness during the time of the late 1930's. The writing was beautiful and the story was suspenseful and there were definitely some twists that I never saw coming. Great book and one that I would definitely recommend!
This book is set to release March 4th 2025.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book cover is absolutely stunning and along with an enticing description, is what drew me to this wonderful historical mystery. This is a story of a rich and privileged family with very dark family secrets and a glimpse of mental illness during the time of the late 1930's. The writing was beautiful and the story was suspenseful and there were definitely some twists that I never saw coming. Great book and one that I would definitely recommend!
This book is set to release March 4th 2025.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 21, 2024
This is a gloriously dark and atmospheric novel full of secrets and betrayals, with a bit of a gothic feeling to it thanks to the setting of a crumbling, cold Thornleigh Hall!
I loved Emily’s debut novel, but also love how different and unexpected this one felt in comparison! Gillian is a great narrative perspective on the rather eccentric (and at times, awful!) Claybourne family, and I loved the morally grey area in which she lived throughout this story. I don’t want to give any of the shocking parts of this away, but let’s just say there are some horrifying, violent moments to the story, and I felt this strange mixture of empathy and incredulity at Gillian’s behaviour - I think we all know that feeling of wanting to fit in and idolising someone, but this is a whole other level. And then the treatment of poor Violet, and the absolutely shocking culmination of her story just made me rage at certain characters in this book! It’s definitely not an easy read at times, but I found it beautifully written and totally compelling, with many surprises I didn’t see coming 😱 There’s also just a real elegance to the story, despite its dark subject matter. Definitely one I’d recommend when you want something to sink your teeth into, and perfect for fans of Stacey Halls.
I loved Emily’s debut novel, but also love how different and unexpected this one felt in comparison! Gillian is a great narrative perspective on the rather eccentric (and at times, awful!) Claybourne family, and I loved the morally grey area in which she lived throughout this story. I don’t want to give any of the shocking parts of this away, but let’s just say there are some horrifying, violent moments to the story, and I felt this strange mixture of empathy and incredulity at Gillian’s behaviour - I think we all know that feeling of wanting to fit in and idolising someone, but this is a whole other level. And then the treatment of poor Violet, and the absolutely shocking culmination of her story just made me rage at certain characters in this book! It’s definitely not an easy read at times, but I found it beautifully written and totally compelling, with many surprises I didn’t see coming 😱 There’s also just a real elegance to the story, despite its dark subject matter. Definitely one I’d recommend when you want something to sink your teeth into, and perfect for fans of Stacey Halls.
April 21, 2025
Team Violet!
March 19, 2025
Emily Critchley's sophomore adult novel, The Undoing of Violet Claybourne, is a meticulously crafted psychological drama that unfolds like a series of nesting dolls—revealing its secrets layer by layer until the final, devastating truth emerges. Set primarily in the winter of 1938 at the crumbling estate of Thornleigh Hall, this atmospheric tale explores how a single tragic event can alter the trajectory of multiple lives across decades, leaving an indelible mark on all involved.
The story begins with 75-year-old Gillian McCune (née Larking) returning to Thornleigh Hall for the first time in sixty years, compelled by a mysterious letter from a man claiming to be Violet Claybourne's nephew. This framing device brilliantly sets up the novel's exploration of memory, guilt, and the impossibility of truly escaping one's past. As Gillian reflects on the events of that fateful winter, we're transported back to 1938, where fifteen-year-old Gilly, desperate to belong, finds herself unexpectedly invited to spend Christmas with her school roommate Violet at her family's grand estate.
Class Dynamics and the Allure of Privilege
Critchley excels at depicting the rigid British class system of the pre-war era, creating a world where even the smallest social misstep can have far-reaching consequences. Through Gilly's outsider perspective, we experience the seductive allure of wealth and status:
"I wanted desperately for Violet's sisters to notice me, for them to see me as more than a mere schoolgirl. I remembered the vow I had made after surviving my climb across the roof – my vow to do something with my life, to be somebody. I decided they would notice me. They had to. This was my opportunity, the one I had been waiting for, the chance to be someone different, someone better. This was real life beginning at last."
The novel deftly explores how Gilly's desperate desire to fit in with the aristocratic Claybourne family makes her vulnerable to manipulation. Her willingness to compromise her own values to maintain her newfound connection with the glamorous sisters mirrors broader societal patterns where power and privilege can corrupt even the most well-intentioned individuals.
A Gallery of Complex Characters
Where Critchley truly shines is in her creation of multidimensional characters who defy easy categorization:
Gillian "Gilly" Larking - Our narrator is neither hero nor villain but somewhere achingly in between. Her journey from naïve schoolgirl to complicit bystander is rendered with such psychological acuity that readers can't help but wonder if they might have made similar choices under similar circumstances.
Violet Claybourne - Odd, anxious, and endearing, Violet's OCD-like "rituals" and "undoings" make her the family outsider despite her privileged status. Her heartbreaking fate forms the moral center of the novel.
Emmeline Claybourne - The calculating older sister whose manipulative brilliance is matched only by her ruthless self-preservation instincts. Critchley refuses to make her a one-dimensional villain, instead revealing the trauma that shaped her.
Laura Claybourne - Glamorous, impulsive, and deeply flawed, Laura represents the casual cruelty of the privileged class while simultaneously being its victim.
Through these characters, Critchley explores how trauma can ripple through generations, creating patterns that repeat themselves across time.
A Gothic Atmosphere with Modern Sensibilities
The novel draws heavily from the gothic tradition with its crumbling estate, family secrets, and psychological horror elements. Thornleigh Hall itself becomes a character—a decaying symbol of aristocratic decline filled with shut-up rooms, strange noises, and whispering shadows:
"Sitting alone at my table I can hear gentle chatter, the clinking of teacups, the whir of a coffee machine. Feeling better, a little less discombobulated, I refill my teacup. Perhaps I was only in need of sustenance."
However, Critchley elevates the gothic formula by incorporating modern understandings of mental health, trauma, and systemic oppression. Her exploration of Violet's OCD-like symptoms and later institutionalization offers a damning critique of how mental illness has been weaponized against vulnerable individuals, particularly women.
Structural Strengths and Narrative Craft
The novel is masterfully structured, moving between 1999 and the past with precision and purpose. As Gilly's memories unfold, Critchley expertly drip-feeds revelations that force readers to continually reassess what they think they know. The pivotal scene involving young Robin is handled with remarkable restraint, making its impact all the more devastating.
Critchley's prose is measured and evocative, capturing both the physical details of Thornleigh and the psychological states of her characters with equal precision. The dialogue, particularly between the Claybourne sisters, crackles with tension and unspoken meaning.
Where the Novel Falls Short
Despite its considerable strengths, the novel does have a few shortcomings:
1. Pacing issues in the middle section - The immediate aftermath of the tragedy occasionally feels drawn out, with some repetitive scenes that could have been tightened.
2. Underdeveloped secondary characters - While the core quartet is brilliantly realized, peripheral characters like Lord and Lady Claybourne sometimes feel more like types than fully realized individuals.
3. Occasional heavy-handedness - In a few instances, Critchley makes explicit what might have been more powerful left implicit, particularly regarding the novel's themes of class and gender.
4. Slightly rushed contemporary sections - The 1999 timeline, while compelling, feels somewhat compressed compared to the richly detailed historical sections.
Thematic Depth and Historical Context
What elevates The Undoing of Violet Claybourne beyond a mere country house mystery is its engagement with serious themes:
- The dangerous allure of belonging and the compromises we make to maintain social connections
- How institutional power structures enable abuse and protect the privileged
- The weaponization of mental health diagnoses against women who don't conform
- The impossibility of escaping one's past and the necessity of confronting it
- The lasting impacts of childhood trauma across generations
The novel also deftly weaves in historical context about pre-war Britain, the declining aristocracy, and changing social attitudes, creating a rich tapestry against which the personal drama unfolds.
The Shadow of War
Setting the story on the precipice of World War II adds another layer of significance. The characters' personal tragedies play out against the looming threat of global catastrophe, creating a poignant parallel between individual and collective trauma:
"From somewhere in the distance, the hunting horn sounded. A sparrow landed on a branch, tilted its head, then flew off. Somehow, life was still going on."
This juxtaposition of personal and historical calamity gives the novel additional resonance, suggesting that our private sins cannot be separated from our broader social context.
Final Verdict
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a haunting, morally complex novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page. Critchley has crafted a story that works both as a compelling psychological thriller and as a nuanced exploration of privilege, complicity, and the lasting consequences of our actions.
The novel's ultimate strength lies in its refusal to offer easy moral judgments. We are left with Gilly's final devastating realization: "This too, will eventually become a part of me. People often say of a painful memory or experience, that it 'belongs to the past'. Does it? I wonder."
In an era where discussions about privilege and accountability have never been more relevant, The Undoing of Violet Claybourne offers a timely reminder that our past actions continue to shape both our present and our future—and that true redemption begins with acknowledging the harm we have caused.
The story begins with 75-year-old Gillian McCune (née Larking) returning to Thornleigh Hall for the first time in sixty years, compelled by a mysterious letter from a man claiming to be Violet Claybourne's nephew. This framing device brilliantly sets up the novel's exploration of memory, guilt, and the impossibility of truly escaping one's past. As Gillian reflects on the events of that fateful winter, we're transported back to 1938, where fifteen-year-old Gilly, desperate to belong, finds herself unexpectedly invited to spend Christmas with her school roommate Violet at her family's grand estate.
Class Dynamics and the Allure of Privilege
Critchley excels at depicting the rigid British class system of the pre-war era, creating a world where even the smallest social misstep can have far-reaching consequences. Through Gilly's outsider perspective, we experience the seductive allure of wealth and status:
"I wanted desperately for Violet's sisters to notice me, for them to see me as more than a mere schoolgirl. I remembered the vow I had made after surviving my climb across the roof – my vow to do something with my life, to be somebody. I decided they would notice me. They had to. This was my opportunity, the one I had been waiting for, the chance to be someone different, someone better. This was real life beginning at last."
The novel deftly explores how Gilly's desperate desire to fit in with the aristocratic Claybourne family makes her vulnerable to manipulation. Her willingness to compromise her own values to maintain her newfound connection with the glamorous sisters mirrors broader societal patterns where power and privilege can corrupt even the most well-intentioned individuals.
A Gallery of Complex Characters
Where Critchley truly shines is in her creation of multidimensional characters who defy easy categorization:
Gillian "Gilly" Larking - Our narrator is neither hero nor villain but somewhere achingly in between. Her journey from naïve schoolgirl to complicit bystander is rendered with such psychological acuity that readers can't help but wonder if they might have made similar choices under similar circumstances.
Violet Claybourne - Odd, anxious, and endearing, Violet's OCD-like "rituals" and "undoings" make her the family outsider despite her privileged status. Her heartbreaking fate forms the moral center of the novel.
Emmeline Claybourne - The calculating older sister whose manipulative brilliance is matched only by her ruthless self-preservation instincts. Critchley refuses to make her a one-dimensional villain, instead revealing the trauma that shaped her.
Laura Claybourne - Glamorous, impulsive, and deeply flawed, Laura represents the casual cruelty of the privileged class while simultaneously being its victim.
Through these characters, Critchley explores how trauma can ripple through generations, creating patterns that repeat themselves across time.
A Gothic Atmosphere with Modern Sensibilities
The novel draws heavily from the gothic tradition with its crumbling estate, family secrets, and psychological horror elements. Thornleigh Hall itself becomes a character—a decaying symbol of aristocratic decline filled with shut-up rooms, strange noises, and whispering shadows:
"Sitting alone at my table I can hear gentle chatter, the clinking of teacups, the whir of a coffee machine. Feeling better, a little less discombobulated, I refill my teacup. Perhaps I was only in need of sustenance."
However, Critchley elevates the gothic formula by incorporating modern understandings of mental health, trauma, and systemic oppression. Her exploration of Violet's OCD-like symptoms and later institutionalization offers a damning critique of how mental illness has been weaponized against vulnerable individuals, particularly women.
Structural Strengths and Narrative Craft
The novel is masterfully structured, moving between 1999 and the past with precision and purpose. As Gilly's memories unfold, Critchley expertly drip-feeds revelations that force readers to continually reassess what they think they know. The pivotal scene involving young Robin is handled with remarkable restraint, making its impact all the more devastating.
Critchley's prose is measured and evocative, capturing both the physical details of Thornleigh and the psychological states of her characters with equal precision. The dialogue, particularly between the Claybourne sisters, crackles with tension and unspoken meaning.
Where the Novel Falls Short
Despite its considerable strengths, the novel does have a few shortcomings:
1. Pacing issues in the middle section - The immediate aftermath of the tragedy occasionally feels drawn out, with some repetitive scenes that could have been tightened.
2. Underdeveloped secondary characters - While the core quartet is brilliantly realized, peripheral characters like Lord and Lady Claybourne sometimes feel more like types than fully realized individuals.
3. Occasional heavy-handedness - In a few instances, Critchley makes explicit what might have been more powerful left implicit, particularly regarding the novel's themes of class and gender.
4. Slightly rushed contemporary sections - The 1999 timeline, while compelling, feels somewhat compressed compared to the richly detailed historical sections.
Thematic Depth and Historical Context
What elevates The Undoing of Violet Claybourne beyond a mere country house mystery is its engagement with serious themes:
- The dangerous allure of belonging and the compromises we make to maintain social connections
- How institutional power structures enable abuse and protect the privileged
- The weaponization of mental health diagnoses against women who don't conform
- The impossibility of escaping one's past and the necessity of confronting it
- The lasting impacts of childhood trauma across generations
The novel also deftly weaves in historical context about pre-war Britain, the declining aristocracy, and changing social attitudes, creating a rich tapestry against which the personal drama unfolds.
The Shadow of War
Setting the story on the precipice of World War II adds another layer of significance. The characters' personal tragedies play out against the looming threat of global catastrophe, creating a poignant parallel between individual and collective trauma:
"From somewhere in the distance, the hunting horn sounded. A sparrow landed on a branch, tilted its head, then flew off. Somehow, life was still going on."
This juxtaposition of personal and historical calamity gives the novel additional resonance, suggesting that our private sins cannot be separated from our broader social context.
Final Verdict
The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a haunting, morally complex novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page. Critchley has crafted a story that works both as a compelling psychological thriller and as a nuanced exploration of privilege, complicity, and the lasting consequences of our actions.
The novel's ultimate strength lies in its refusal to offer easy moral judgments. We are left with Gilly's final devastating realization: "This too, will eventually become a part of me. People often say of a painful memory or experience, that it 'belongs to the past'. Does it? I wonder."
In an era where discussions about privilege and accountability have never been more relevant, The Undoing of Violet Claybourne offers a timely reminder that our past actions continue to shape both our present and our future—and that true redemption begins with acknowledging the harm we have caused.
November 30, 2024
This was an awesome read. The narration and word building was so powerful I actually felt being in that medieval era with woods around a manor. The clarity with which Claybourne family was described like the characters, their emotions, the relationship between the sisters and their parents, the staff - all was so good. I found the length a bit more at some point but not a single minute where I got bored while reading. There was this intrigue and mystical feature all the time, like some underlying suspense which made the reading more fast paced since it was unable to keep the book down. And my god, the twist at the end was totally unexpected. I did not expect that story could take such a turn. The plot runs through decades and you could see the way characters developed. I absolutely loved reading this and would recommend this to all.
Thanks @bookmarked and @netgalley for sharing the DRC in exchange of honest review.
Thanks @bookmarked and @netgalley for sharing the DRC in exchange of honest review.
April 11, 2025
Not hard to guess what’s behind most of the major mysteries and it maybe goes a little typical towards the end, but this is exactly the type of story I like. And it made me terribly sad, with a lingering heaviness I haven’t quite shaken off, even days later. Cruelty of this kind is so hard to get over, even in fiction.
Pleasantly surprised to see this is a Sourcebooks imprint? I’ll have to look out for other titles in the future. ETA: apparently Penguin Random House purchased Sourcebooks a couple of years ago. Interesting.
Audio Notes: Fantastic on audio. I so enjoyed Nathalie Buscombe's narration.
Pleasantly surprised to see this is a Sourcebooks imprint? I’ll have to look out for other titles in the future. ETA: apparently Penguin Random House purchased Sourcebooks a couple of years ago. Interesting.
Audio Notes: Fantastic on audio. I so enjoyed Nathalie Buscombe's narration.
dnf
February 7, 2025Dnf 30% in. I felt like this wasn’t really going anywhere and didn’t love the writing
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