The House of Barbary: A Novel

by Isabelle Schuler

Bloomsbury presents The House of Barbary by Isabelle Schuler, read by Kristin Atherton.

Beatrice has been lied to her whole life.

Beatrice Barbary has been raised to believe that while education will set her mind free, there are some questions better left unanswered.

Her life is in disarray.

But when her father, one of the most powerful men in Bern, is brutally murdered in their own home, she is left reeling, unprotected and vulnerable.

Her future uncertain.

Plunging head first into the mysteries surrounding her father and her own upbringing, Beatrice discovers The Order of St. Eve and the violent secrets they have been hiding her entire life.

It's time for her to take control.

Will she be able to right the wrongs of her father, or will the Order silence her first?

Set in a city at breaking point, Beatrice's story toes the dangerously thin line between retribution and revenge, and the choice we must make when confronted by evil.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Audiobook, Retellings, Horror

368 pages, Hardcover

First published March 13, 2025

About the author

ISABELLE SCHULER is a Swiss-American actress, writer, and former bookseller. Her latest self-penned short film, I Am a Unicorn, is currently playing at festivals in the UK, US, and Europe. She has a BA in journalism, and her screenplay Queen Hereafter was longlisted for the Thousand Films Screenwriting Competition in 2019 and adapted into her debut novel. She lives in London.

Reviews

[Isobel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The House of Barbary by Isabelle Schuler

I really tried to like this book… I really, really tried! Unfortunately, I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy reading this.

At the start of the book, I felt it was too slow paced and I just found myself losing interest in the events being depicted. Maybe I wouldn’t have felt like this if we had started the book in medias res, rather than there being a lot of world-building and backstory being packed into the first few chapters. I especially found myself disliking the early chapters surrounding Johann’s POV as (although it does become clear later on) I didn’t see how he fit into the plot and found myself skimming through all the unnecessary detail about his artist training etc. Furthermore, in these early scenes with Johann there was a bit of a weird handling of tenses and I found myself quite often having to go back to think “right are we talking about the present, or is this another flashback/piece of backstory?” One minute we are talking about what Johann is doing in the “present” day (although yes, it is still technically a “flashback”, of sorts), then it switches to telling us how he’d gotten to that moment/what led him there etc. It felt like the author was trying to make time feel fluid and allow us to see inside Johann’s head as he reminisces on moments, yet it came across to me as confusing.

** SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT FORWARD ** My main issue in this book surrounded the characterisation of our main characters, namely Beatrice. I have read lots of books where the POV focuses on the killer and delves into their psychological make-up and usually really enjoy these types of books. However, I just couldn’t get along with Beatrice as a character and this ruined the entire reading experience for me. The author appeared to make an attempt at making Beatrice relatable and perhaps was intending for the audience to almost justify her behaviour by making us feel sorry for her or by trying to highlight her childhood trauma. I just didn’t buy it, unfortunately. Beatrice to me just came across as a spoiled child having a deadly temper tantrum and going around slaughtering people to try to make herself feel better. I didn’t feel any of her killings (Ignar being the obvious anomaly here) were in the interest of real “justice”, as she was trying to convince herself, but instead was her selfishly indulging in reckless revenge without any conscience at all. She jumped into murdering people without seeking any real proof and seemed to be willfully ignorant to anything that didn’t suit her biased narrative. If jumping to conclusions was a person, it would be Beatrice. Susanna attempted to talk sense into her- as did Imerla towards the end- and I really hoped it would ring true, but instead of listening Beatrice acted like a total brat, threw her toys out the pram and continued being a narcissistic, entitled psycho. It’s very hard to enjoy a book when you spend the entire time hating the main character and rolling your eyes at everything they say/do. If this was the author’s intention, well then they nailed it and I clearly just missed it!

I appreciate that the author (in the Historical Notes at the end) explained her inspiration for Beatrice and seemed to say that she wanted to highlight the effects of childhood trauma on a young person, yet I felt this made it worse. There are so many children out there that experience trauma on the same level Beatrice has, and yet they do not go on to become psychotic killers with no remorse. Of course, it does happen, but I just couldn’t get behind this reasoning. I wholeheartedly accept that Beatrice’s father is very much to blame for her becoming the person she did (and Imerla too, to a certain extent; yet she can be forgiven easier as she was not in a position of power to really question the authority of Jakob, but her silence was the same as condoning it), but Beatrice also had to be held accountable for choosing the path on which she went down following her father’s death. Perhaps it was a psychotic break, yet there was no real insinuation towards this and I just felt we, as readers, were meant to condone Beatrice’s actions, but I just couldn’t. I was actually relieved when Beatrice was attacked by the bears at the end, and felt no sadness towards this.

I want to mention Albrecht’s character briefly, and what he represented within the book. Firstly, ewwww to the fact they even suggested to marry a young girl (a literal teenager, if that) to a man 12 years older than her, but I appreciate this was included more for dramatic effect rather than the author suggesting this was a correct way for society to behave. I thought Albrecht’s character offered a good discussion point though; a lot of women have encountered at some point in their lives a man who has pretended to be their friend and a safe space when really they harbour ulterior motives by which they wish to trick the woman into a relationship by providing this false “friendship” narrative. Then, of course, when this didn’t work and Beatrice rejected him again, his true nature came out and his fury was unleashed. If men actually respected women and treated them with genuine kindness rather than deception, they would likely get a much better response than by doing what Albrecht did.

Lastly, I want to mention that I could have cheered at the end when Johann grew a backbone and finally (far too late, if you ask me) decided to do what was right. Of course his character had their own flaws; he, like Imerla, was spineless and complicit in the Order’s killings by way of his silence, but he did make up for it in the end by showing real care towards Beatrice and trying to get her the help she desperately needed (even if that through betraying her, I still found him to have done the right thing). He, over everyone else in the book, acted in the interest of true justice rather than mindless vengeance. It was a shame he paid the highest price for his bravery in the end.

The Order caused such harm, not just to the “Eve’s” they slaughtered throughout the years, but to every single person who came into contact with them and that was evident throughout. I found this to be a really horrific thing to read about and loved the later chapters from Johann’s POV after he discovers the basement. The way his raw emotions and mental battle were explored was well-written and enjoyable to watch unfold. I also enjoyed the way the author slowly drip-fed the information to us through Beatrice’s discoveries and kept the suspense building throughout. Yet, I did find the information confusing at points because it was shown to us through the biased eyes of Beatrice. Again, if this was the author’s intention and I have missed this, then I will absolutely accept that.

Overall I rated this 2 out of 5 stars. There were some good points, and I did like the author’s writing style (mostly, as said previously, in the later chapters from Johann’s POV) yet I just didn’t enjoy the plot as much as I’d hoped and despised the main character. I would be interested to pick up a different book from this author and see whether it was just this specific book I couldn’t get behind as I can see she’s got some really positive reviews on her other novel (Queen Hereafter). Thank you to Netgalley and Isabelle Schuler for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tink · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride. Would have given five stars for the incredible second half of this book, but couldn’t do it in the end because of how much the first half dragged on. Spent the first 50-100 pages just confused and slightly bored, couldn’t get a grip on any of the characters and couldn’t see the shape it was going to take, which made it tough and chewy at the beginning. But eventually the book found its rhythm and then spiralled so incredibly towards the conclusion that it more than made up for it. The last 50 pages or so were so masterfully done, when the house of cards that had slowly and carefully been built came crashing down and crumbled. My stupid romantic heart wishes there could have been a happier resolution, that Beatrice and Johann could find reconciliation and move on from the violence of their past, but I guess it was never going to be that book. Once I could make out the shape of the story, I loved the Bluebeard connections and the two perspectives from which we uncovered the full extent of the barbarity. I have a feeling this book might haunt me for a good while, the coldness, the violent beauty. And I can’t wait to see what Isabelle Schuler writes next!

[LizzyWizzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was pitched a feminist story of vengeance based on the fairytale Bluebeard. The premise and concept were so cool but the execution of this idea seemed to fall short.

I think it was a bit half baked with the story not fully fleshed out and resolved. The writing style felt a bit childish and basic at times. There were definite pacing issues with the story, not helped by the dual timeline and perspective aspect of the story. Although I enjoyed both plot lines and watching them converge as you put the puzzle pieces together, I got confused at times and was left with a lot of questions.

I don’t like writing negative reviews but this left me confused, frustrated and a bit disappointed. It was good but needed more. Maybe I just didn’t like the author’s writing style? I’m not sure 💔

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Bloomsbury for the arc I won in a goodreads giveaway!
This book starts with a slow build up, but eventually the bodies start dropping at a quick pace!
I enjoyed the historical look into Bern, a city in Switzerland that I previously hadn’t known much about.
An interesting take on a Bluebeard retelling and a wild ride, but the ending was unsatisfying.

[Em theglitterybookworm_]

been waiting for a sophomore novel announcement ever since Queen Hereafter made my top books of 2024!

[Christine Sampson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fictional book about murder and intrigue in Berne in the 1600s.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** Spoiler alert ***

Why are books with the main story being killings by women to ‘avenge’ personal mistreatment and the wrongs of other women being billed as ‘feminist’? This is the second I’ve read recently.

It was an interesting tale, the Bern setting a new one for me. In many ways it was unsatisfactory, characters didn’t seem to ring true, or there just wasn’t enough info about them to make their actions and motivations plausible, particularly Jakob and Sigmund.

Johann’s shock following a horrific discovery, his disbelief about what he thought he had seen (whilst drunk), his attempts to convince himself that he must have been mistaken, the inability to reconcile Jakob’s persona with what he’d seen …. and then his actions when the truth becomes finally horrifically clear, choosing first to stay, then exile rather than participation, finally to return and when understanding Bea’s actions, to attempt to stop her, these are consistent and brilliantly described. He is by far and away the best and best drawn character in the book.

Imerla’s actions are also in character, perhaps with the exception of ending her own life. She hadn’t been in that cellar very long and given what we know of her it doesn’t seem that she’d have given up hope so early, nor given up her sense of responsibility for Beatrice. But I find the deliberate closing of her mind to the horrors, both in order to keep her position and protect Beatrice, and in a twisted acceptance and desire to fulfil the conditions of the order of St Eve, to be plausible.

Beatrice herself - we’re asked to believe that a young woman living in a home where annual murders take place in the cellar, who was perhaps already a peculiar child, birth trauma due to being cut from her mother’s dead body, lack of outside influences due to father isolating her and teaching her she’s viewed as some sort of freak(we never get full details of how he convinces her of this) education by a psychopathic/sociopathic father (do we get enough info on Jakob to know which? I’m not sure) who sees a gruesomely murdered body in at age 8 or 9, spends the next decade or more killing and dissecting insects and small mammals and apparently doing not much else other than studying human anatomy textbooks, finds her father’s murdered body as a young adult, subsequently learns her beloved father is a secret murderer of innocent young women, is saved from death by strangulation by the perpetrator himself being killed in the act by her maid/mother figure - that she goes on to personally murder two other men who were complicit in her father’s annual killings and contemplate the murder of a third person she sees as involved. Is this plausible? I don’t really know. Lots of children experience horrific things and don’t grow up to become murderers. But of course some do. Children can be brutalised to commit horrific acts, for example child soldiers. Is this book asking us to think about how much a child’s brain can be trained for evil within the order and structure of a ‘civilised’ society? In any case, the lack of any natural human growth and development with Beatrice may mean we feel sorry for the tragedy of her upbringing, but it’s hard to feel sorry for the person she has become, and her end at the paws of imprisoned bears is perhaps fitting. It’s hard to imagine a ‘happy’ ending for her - would she have been condemned to death for her crimes? Put in an insane asylum? In neither case can one imagine she would be able to find peace and reconciliation. We spend a lot of time with Beatrice but she doesn’t really feel like our protagonist.

Sigmund - for a man so purportedly clever to be utterly fooled by Jakob for so long, to choose such a clumsy way of dealing with him as hiring an assassin - not right away when his eyes are opened but years later, too late to protect the child he supposedly cares about so much - and no attempt even to bring him to any sort of justice? Supposedly Jakob didn’t have anything ‘on’ Sigmund as he did with the others - then finally to kill two (relatively) innocent men to protect Beatrice from the consequences of the murders she’s committed (which surely shows her to be more her father’s child than her mother’s) this doesn’t ring true and it felt like a clumsy ending.

Samuel and Susanna - presented as a nice normal caring couple, who know nothing about any weird societies, murders, or unaccounted for bodies. Given that absolutely everyone else Jakob deals closely with is reeled into his web of intrigue, either as a victim, an enemy or a ‘friend’ whom he manipulates through coercion or financial control, this seemingly innocent and ordinary friendship with a normal man requires an explanation we don’t get.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few years ago I read Isabelle Schuler’s debut novel, Lady MacBethad, which is set in 11th century Scotland and imagines the early life of Gruoch, the ‘real’ Lady Macbeth. Her second book, The House of Barbary, is set in a very different time and place – 17th century Switzerland – and this time it’s inspired by the Bluebeard fairy tale.

Our heroine is Beatrice Barbary, the only child of Jakob Barbary, one of the two mayors of Bern. Beatrice has never known her mother, who died when she was a baby, and has had an unusual upbringing, with her father encouraging her interest in natural science, keeping her away from other children and, now that she’s a young woman, preventing her from marrying. As a result, the people of Bern think she is strange and she has no friends her own age. When Jakob is killed, brutally murdered in his own home, Beatrice is determined to find out who is responsible and why, but as she begins to investigate she becomes aware of just how vulnerable and alone she is. The only person who may be able to help is Johann Schorr, an artist who lived with the Barbary family during Beatrice’s childhood, working on a portrait of Jakob; the problem is, for some reason, Beatrice has no memory of him at all.

Beatrice’s narrative alternates with Johann’s story, which is set more than a decade earlier during his time in the Barbary household. As a Catholic in a largely Protestant city, Johann is grateful for the support and patronage of Jakob Barbary and begins to consider him a friend. However, their friendship is tested when Johann makes a gruesome discovery in Jakob’s cellar and he must decide whether he can continue working for the man or whether he should get as far away as possible, even if it means sacrificing his career and leaving Beatrice, an innocent young child, in danger.

If you’re familiar with the Bluebeard folktale, you can probably guess what’s hidden in the cellar – and if you’re not, I won’t spoil things by telling you. It’s only a loose retelling of Bluebeard anyway and whether or not you know other versions of the story should make no difference to your enjoyment of this one. And did I enjoy it? Yes, I did, for the most part – but I felt that some of the developments in the second half of the book let it down. Beatrice, who has set out to investigate and avenge her father’s death, ends up doing things that I found disproportionate and difficult to justify, so that I lost most of the sympathy I’d had for her earlier on. The ending was not what I’d expected or hoped for either.

I’ve never been to Bern and loved the descriptions of the city, as it was in the 1650s, with its cobbled streets, sandstone arcades and famous bear pits. I’ve read very few books set in Switzerland and even less about 17th century Switzerland, so everything was new to me; it was interesting to read about the political system in place at that time, with Bern having two mayors at once – they would alternate each year, one ‘acting’ and one ‘sitting’ – and four powerful officials known as Venners, who would each oversee one district of the city. This political system is important to the story, with Beatrice’s father being one of the two mayors and all four Venners being part of his inner circle.

Schuler’s historical note at the end of the book was fascinating; I discovered that, although Beatrice is a fictional character, she’s based on the real life German entomologist and naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian, a woman I previously knew nothing about. It’s always good to learn something new!

[Caitlin Barnett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for an advance copy of The House of Barbary by Isabelle Schuler in exchange for my honest opinions.

In The House of Barbary we are introduced to Beatrice Barbary, an only child with a somewhat unusual childhood, living in the 17th century Switzerland. After her father is brutally murdered, Beatrice vows to find the parties responsible and make them pay.

So far, we are in pretty straightforward vengeance territory. I found the pacing of the book to be a bit up-and-down. The alternation of POVs and timelines was something that took a little getting used to and sometimes briefly took me out of the story while my brain caught back up.

However, vengeance, revenge and justice are not the same things. As we follow Beatrice, it becomes clear that actual justice may not be something she quite understands.

Characterization was a big problem for me with this one. I could not find a way to connect with Beatrice, nor could I understand how her thoughts and actions connected with one another. Vengeance and revenge…perhaps? Justice, even of the vigilante sort…I think not. It was like she just got really mad and decided going on a killing spree to try and make herself feel better. This eliminated any sense of sympathy I may have felt toward her and her trauma, it seemed very disproportionate in my opinion.

I will admit that even though I knew this was a loose retelling of Blackbeard, I was not familiar with the folklore behind that. I don’t know if that would have made a difference in my reading experience.

I thought I knew what to expect going into this novel and left thinking something very different. I really really wanted to like this and I tried, but unfortunately it didn't really land for me.

I know that the author received very positive reviews on her other writing and will definitely by giving it a chance. This one book doesn’t put me off Schuler as an author.

[Bzz Kolla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for this eCopy to review

“The House of Barbary” by Isabelle Schuler is a gripping historical novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Set in 17th century Bern, Switzerland, the story follows Beatrice Barbary, a young woman whose life is turned upside down after the brutal murder of her father, a powerful city official. Determined to uncover the truth behind his death, Beatrice delves into the mysteries surrounding her family and the enigmatic Order of St. Eve. Her journey is filled with suspense, danger, and unexpected revelations.

The narrative alternates between Beatrice’s perspective and that of Johann Schor, a painter living in the Barbary household in the spring of 1639. Through Johann’s eyes, we learn more about the dark secrets of the Order of St. Eve and the atrocities committed in its name. The dual timelines add depth and complexity to the story, making it a truly engaging read.

What I loved most about this book was the rich historical detail and the vivid portrayal of 17th century Bern. Schuler’s writing is beautifully descriptive, bringing the setting and characters to life. The plot is full of twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

The characters are well-developed and relatable. Beatrice’s determination and courage in the face of adversity are truly inspiring, while Johann’s introspective nature adds an interesting dimension to the story. The interplay between the two timelines is masterfully handled, creating a seamless and captivating narrative.

In conclusion, “The House of Barbary” is a compelling and atmospheric historical novel that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good mystery and richly detailed historical fiction. Isabelle Schuler has crafted a memorable story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The House of Barbary is a fierce, feminist retelling of the French Folklore, Bluebeard.

We follow Beatrice Barbary in seventeenth-century Switzerland as she embarks on life following the death of her father in 1653. Beatrice has lived a secluded life, hidden away from the public eye, convinced she faced derision and encouraged to pursue her macabre hobby of dissection. Her monotonous life is in disarray, however, when her father, a powerful Bern official, is brutally murdered in their own home. Everything she has ever known is dismantled after discovering she has been lied to her whole life. Left, reeling, unprotected, and vulnerable, Beatrice is determined to investigate the truth behind her father’s gruesome end. She plunges into the mysteries and deceits, discovering the enigmatic group called The Order of St Eve, which have committed underground atrocities. Alongside Beatrice’s search for truth, we meet Johann Schor, a painter living in the Barbary Household, in 1639. Beatrice is just 8 years old when Johann has been commissioned by Beatrice’s father, and through Johann we find out more about The Order of St Eve as he begins to suspect that not all is content with Jakob and his close unscrupulous associates.

After years of researching seventeenth-century Bern, Isabelle has created a story that is historically adjacent to the period and place. She has intertwined fact and fiction to bring us this Early Modern historical fiction of mystery and vengeance.

3.75

[David Grieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining enough story which is well told, but it feels a bit light in terms of describing the environment of Bern. This is a shame because there are hints but no more. It was difficult to get a sense of place from reading this.

The bigger issue is the characterisation. There is a quote on the front of the copy I read that said; "A blazing feminist roar of a novel". If only. Every single male character bar one is depicted as shifty, psychotic, evil, spineless or dissolute. So the bar is not set high for the female protagonist, Beatrice. It would have been more satisfying if she had had to overcome something a bit more challenging. The female characters aren't much better. It feels too much like a bunch of caricatures all vying with each other. Beatrice definitely develops as a person through the novel but it is still not convincing (I'm trying not to give any spoilers!)

Absolutely not a terrible novel but I can't help feeling it could have been so much better.

[Niniane · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a disappointing ending! It ruined everything and felt like the author didn't know how to finish the book. And can a book be called "feminist" if the woman who seeks revenge for wronged women ends up like that? The ending gave lame "revenge is bad!!!" (and water is wet) vibes.

Which is a shame because I had enjoyed it so far. Though slow-paced, the story had caught my interest. There were indeed some feminist themes such as the unrealistic expectation men place on women and the way powerful men tend to abuse their power and protect each other.

Beatrice was a flawed, but interesting protagonist. I felt like she was believable as an abused child. The feeling of inadequacy, the anger at having been limited, belittled, the simmering rage deep down...

Too bad I can't bring myself to recommend it.

[Kim McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars
A sheltered daughter in 17th century Bern must navigate life after her father is murdered. The more she digs into her father's past the closer she gets to danger and uncovering a secret society worked to hide. Beatrice goes boldly into a society where her sheltered upbringing and not knowing who to trust would have hindered her progress but it is that lack of a traditional female upbringing that makes her fearless. I wish more had been made of why she was convinced everyone was afraid of her. It was an interesting cross between historical fiction and horror. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Books Over People · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC. I feel complicated on this one. It was really well done in so many ways. The research was impeccable and the historical note at the end was so interesting. The use of the word "monster" over and over and over, was not necessary. It telegraphed things far too much. It felt like a note from an editor because they thought the audience wouldn't get it. We are reading a feminist book about 17th century Switzerland. Maybe you can trust us. I would have liked to see what Schuler would have done unimpeded.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bea is an educated young woman who knows nothing of how to run a household, but much about natural science. When her father is killed, Bea is set into conflict with the Order of Eve and in order to discover the truth her life is placed in danger.
I really loved Schuler's previous book, Lady Macbethad, but I found this one rather harder going. It's a little too macabre for me!

[Patricia Saffell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A started so I'll finish book.A sort of fairy tale based on Perrault's 17thc Bluebeard and sort of a revenge tragedy so popular in the 17th century also with political intrigue, stabbings,poisonings,plots ,secrets, with some Hamlet angst thrown for good measure for what a uni lecturer once described as a good night at the theatre 17thc style.Did it work? Not exactly. Would I recommend this ? No.

[Annette Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1600's Berne, Switzerland and with a large cast of characters House of Barbary is a slow burning historical whodunit that starts with a murder and gets darker and darker as the pace picks up. Full of political intrigue, personal battles and some truly horrible characters it is terrifyingly, heart-thumpingly good!

[Hydia Larkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historical thriller / mystery / murderous angry girl caught up in a world of wealthy men. The story speeds up as the mind of the main character unravels, and I ran through this book at the same pace.

[Amy Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

[Sarah Adler · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

[Nemesia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the idea, but both main characters are quite weak (in their will and behaviour), which sometimes hinders the plot.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like historical fiction, Gothic fiction, serial killers literary fiction, secrets, or a Switzerland setting, this book is for you.

[Charlotte reads history · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schuler has spent years researching seventeenth-century Bern, resulting in a story that is historically vivid in period and place. The story is full of rich historical detail and the portrayal is interesting and unique to what I’ve read before.

The narrative alternates between Beatrice’s perspective and that of Johann Schor, a painter living in the Barbary household in the spring of 1639.

I’m happy to admit I didn’t know the tale of Bluebeard before reading The House of Barbary (I assumed maybe pirates?) but this didn’t detract from my reading of the story. The tale is actually fairly gruesome, as was this book in parts. I found the descriptions of murder and the resulting gore difficult, personally.

I think what added to the difficulty was the characterisation of the main two protagonists, Beatrice and Johann the painter. Beatrice is cold, driven by feelings and experiences she doesn’t understand and it’s hard to have sympathy for her, even as she feels she is righting the wrongs of her past. Johann is just a bit weak, doesn’t really do anything of note apart from put up with stuff and then run away.

I understand that Schuler wanted to explore the effect serious trauma can have on people, but I felt the revengeful ‘feminist’ crusade fell flat for me. I wasn’t sure whether Beatrice’s actions felt feminist or justified in their intention - or just confused and naive.

Thank you so much to @bloomsburypublishing and the author for a #gifted advanced copy of The House of Barbary, which is out now!