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The Governess
A governess with no past. A family with everything to lose…
1884. Oxfordshire.
When Florence arrives at the grand estate of Branleigh Park to take up her post as governess, the Spencer family believes she is a blessing — gentle with the children, well-spoken, and impeccably devout. But beneath the polished veneer of this perfect household, something is beginning to shift.
Lady Georgina senses it a presence, quiet but unsettling, winding its way through the nursery, the halls, and her husband’s thoughts. The children grow strangely attached to their new governess. The servants whisper of footsteps at night.
As winter deepens and tensions rise within the house, Branleigh Park becomes a place of unease. Who is Florence? And what secret follows her like a shadow?
When tragedy strikes, the Spencers’ perfect world collapses. But some sins cannot be buried— they simply reawaken.
Atmospheric, seductive, and deeply unsettling, The Governess is a gothic tale of madness, family and possession set in Victorian England.
Perfect for readers of Laura Purcell, Sarah Waters, Essie Fox, and Stacey Halls, this dark historical thriller will draw you into its spell and leave you questioning every whisper in the dark.
1884. Oxfordshire.
When Florence arrives at the grand estate of Branleigh Park to take up her post as governess, the Spencer family believes she is a blessing — gentle with the children, well-spoken, and impeccably devout. But beneath the polished veneer of this perfect household, something is beginning to shift.
Lady Georgina senses it a presence, quiet but unsettling, winding its way through the nursery, the halls, and her husband’s thoughts. The children grow strangely attached to their new governess. The servants whisper of footsteps at night.
As winter deepens and tensions rise within the house, Branleigh Park becomes a place of unease. Who is Florence? And what secret follows her like a shadow?
When tragedy strikes, the Spencers’ perfect world collapses. But some sins cannot be buried— they simply reawaken.
Atmospheric, seductive, and deeply unsettling, The Governess is a gothic tale of madness, family and possession set in Victorian England.
Perfect for readers of Laura Purcell, Sarah Waters, Essie Fox, and Stacey Halls, this dark historical thriller will draw you into its spell and leave you questioning every whisper in the dark.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 15, 2026
DNF @40%, I really tried to keep going with this but it felt like every chapter repeated itself without much actually happening
March 18, 2026
The plotline is decent enough - governess, newly employed in gothic mansion, but with a sinister agenda. The writing style, however, is the problem. It is overly flowery and repetitive. At times, the descriptions made me laugh out loud, and I don’t think they were supposed to. The pacing is sluggish, and if you took out all of the strange and unnecessary purple prose, the whole story could probably be played out in thirty pages. It’s a shame because I was looking forward to reading it.
February 2, 2026
I’m a sucker for supporting self published books and the cover synopsis of “ she’s no Mary Poppins “got me interested….
So I thought give it a go. Big mistake!
The author I think didn’t know how to make a good plot a good read so filled the pages with endless weather reports ( beginning of practically all the chapters),the sky colour, how the house TALKED,
and endless made up sermons, and the children’s constant sleep habits. As the occupants of the house were a lord & lady I found it very strange that they received no visitors throughout the book except for a funeral.
We never found out if Georgina wrote the letter to ( I forget who ) find out info about Florence.
I know authors leave WOW factors till at least half way through, but Jesus this read needed umph way before that.
The end was absolutely unbelievably impossible, leaving an opening to a sequel which if it happens I will not be turning the pages of it.
Rating is 1 star but gave an extra 1/2 purely for the mention of Mary Poppins.
Would I read this again…. absolutely not
Would I recommend it….again, absolutely not
A rating of ⭐️ & 1/2.
So I thought give it a go. Big mistake!
The author I think didn’t know how to make a good plot a good read so filled the pages with endless weather reports ( beginning of practically all the chapters),the sky colour, how the house TALKED,
and endless made up sermons, and the children’s constant sleep habits. As the occupants of the house were a lord & lady I found it very strange that they received no visitors throughout the book except for a funeral.
We never found out if Georgina wrote the letter to ( I forget who ) find out info about Florence.
I know authors leave WOW factors till at least half way through, but Jesus this read needed umph way before that.
The end was absolutely unbelievably impossible, leaving an opening to a sequel which if it happens I will not be turning the pages of it.
Rating is 1 star but gave an extra 1/2 purely for the mention of Mary Poppins.
Would I read this again…. absolutely not
Would I recommend it….again, absolutely not
A rating of ⭐️ & 1/2.
December 11, 2025
This started out really strong. I loved trying to figure out how everything would play out. Once the reveal happened, and even a bit before, everything started to feel really repetitive. It was an attempt to make you feel how some of the characters did, I think, but really it made it drag on. There were too many personifications and details in certain parts, and there was a lack of elaboration and potential opportunities to add details in others. It somehow felt too long and too short simultaneously. Overall I liked the concept, but I was really itching for it to be over. 52/100
Review of advance copy
Oh my this was such a thrilling and unsettling read it gave off hand that rocks the cradle but Victorian, we watch as Florence Marchwood comes to be the governess for the Spencer family of Branleigh Park, we watch as she slowly takes over the household, the children fall under her thrall as does Lord Charles the husband, we soon learn that Florence is not who she seems. They are deaths of people who are obstacles to her goals or learn the truth about her, we see Georgina begin to put the pieces and a battle for Branleigh Park and her family where only one can win. This was great and the ending threw out a twist which was kinda of predictable but I was ok with it as this was a great thriller, also could be a opener to a sequel but if not that is fine.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 9, 2026
Finished but did not enjoy, getting to the end was a slog. The flashback chapters showed promise but everything else was repetitive with flowery language to pad out with no real storyline. The story that was there was totally unbelievable and made no sense in places, we got to spring and then suddenly towards the end it was snowing and freezing again, a manor home with no visitors and very hard to believe both the lady and dowager would allow any of the untoward behaviour to go on for any period of time… disappointed as the blurb showed promise, the final chapters made the whole thing laughable, I wouldn’t bother unless you want to be disappointed.
March 5, 2026
In trying to branch out my reading this year, I saw this book. Its synopsis was intriguing, its cover promised so much.
However this was such a hard read. I felt as if the chapters were quite repetitive. The descriptions were very detailed and in this case, it was too much. There was no intrigue because we already had the measure of The Governess” in the first few chapters. I gave it two stars as the initial plot promised more.
However this was such a hard read. I felt as if the chapters were quite repetitive. The descriptions were very detailed and in this case, it was too much. There was no intrigue because we already had the measure of The Governess” in the first few chapters. I gave it two stars as the initial plot promised more.
January 29, 2026
A very creepy and atmospheric story. I felt uneasy throughout, and the language was very poetic and flowery, with beautiful descriptions of the house and lands. The reveals at the end just didn't hit me as I'd hoped they would. Great characters, and well written, but unfortunately nothing I haven't read before.
February 2, 2026
Enthralling
This story is good, so captivating, I tried to ration myself to reading a few chapters each night. I failed, reading for three hours to find out what happens. It was worth it. Although Florence will stay with me for a while, which is not at all comforting.
This story is good, so captivating, I tried to ration myself to reading a few chapters each night. I failed, reading for three hours to find out what happens. It was worth it. Although Florence will stay with me for a while, which is not at all comforting.
February 10, 2026
Skimmed to the end....found this one quite boring.
February 12, 2026
A must read
I couldn't put this book down I was captured from the first to the last page. This is the first book I have read by this author, but it certainly won't be the last.
I couldn't put this book down I was captured from the first to the last page. This is the first book I have read by this author, but it certainly won't be the last.
March 14, 2026
Could not finish. Difficult to follow- the scenes jump around a lot in the beginning and its hard to keep track of who is who. The actual writing is too flowery with similie galore
March 18, 2026
Difficult to slog thru
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews