What do you think?
Rate this book
Dark Gothic
His Wicked Sins
Determined to help her impoverished family, Elizabeth Canham accepts a position at Burndale Academy, an isolated girl's school filled with secrets and shadows. There she meets mysterious widower Griffin Fairfax, a man dogged by dark rumours, a man who both frightens and fascinates her.
But Beth has secrets of her own, nightmares that haunt her and fears that follow her into the light of day when a woman is found dead in the nearby woods—the victim of a brutal murder… a murder that bears terrifying similarity to others. Then Beth discovers that all the victims were intimately connected to Griffin. Beth’s past has taught her to be wary, but her heart tells her that Griffin cannot be the charming, seductive killer stalking the night, stealing women’s hearts…and lives.
Note: All books in the Dark Gothic series can be read as stand-alone novels.
But Beth has secrets of her own, nightmares that haunt her and fears that follow her into the light of day when a woman is found dead in the nearby woods—the victim of a brutal murder… a murder that bears terrifying similarity to others. Then Beth discovers that all the victims were intimately connected to Griffin. Beth’s past has taught her to be wary, but her heart tells her that Griffin cannot be the charming, seductive killer stalking the night, stealing women’s hearts…and lives.
Note: All books in the Dark Gothic series can be read as stand-alone novels.
ebook
First published August 1, 2008
548 people are currently reading
1250 people want to read
About the author
Eve Silver
38 books1,568 followersNational bestselling author Eve Silver has been praised for her "edgy, steamy, action-packed" books, darkly sexy heroes and take-charge heroines. Her work won the OLA Forest of Reading White Pine Award 2015, was shortlisted for the Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy 2014, was listed as a 2013 American Bookseller's Association Best Book for Children and a Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens. She has garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Quill and Quire, two RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Awards, Library Journal's Best Genre Fiction Award, and she was nominated for the Romance Writers of America® RITA® Award.
Eve lives with her husband and two exuberant border collie/Australian shepherds.
Contact Eve through her website at http://www.evesilver.net
Eve lives with her husband and two exuberant border collie/Australian shepherds.
Contact Eve through her website at http://www.evesilver.net
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
November 5, 2016
Beth has travelled to Burndale Academy to take up a teaching position. She has curly blonde hair and a secret childhood trauma. She also fudged her resume, so she’s a little nervous about how this will work out.
In classic gothic style, no one comes to meet her when she’s set down in the dark and remote location. In classic gothic style, she’s right next to a cemetery where two Burndale Academy teachers are buried. And finally, in classic gothic style, hero Griffin comes along to give her a ride, start hinting at the darkness of his nature, and kick off a nice little flirtation.
This is not Eve Silver’s fault, but I want something very specific out of gothic romance, and this isn’t it. What she delivers here has some gothic flavour, but is more suspense. There’s a psycho serial killer with mummy issues killing and scalping young blonde women. He soon sets his sights on Beth. He gets some POV which is carefully ambiguous, so that the reader can spend some time pondering who he is. I rolled my eyes a bit over his mummy issues, because whatever with his motivation. He POVs a bit about drawing out the experience, and does that whole loving thing about the connection between him and his victim, but I found it pretty generic.
Griffin has a little girl who is a student at Burndale Academy. She doesn’t speak. Griffin hangs around yearning for his daughter to love him and want to be with him. Griffin’s whole big deal is that he’s a bad man and killed his wife. He mentions this frequently. It’s possibly on his calling card. The book takes a long time to get to what ‘killing his wife’ actually means. I couldn’t see much point to him. He was glum, and a bit ineffectual.
The suspense plot is told over two time periods, fifteen years apart. It was a nice device, and competently handled, but nothing very new.
Eve Silver coordinates a few POV scenes to make it look like Griffin is the killer, which I considered a mistake. Specifically: he wasn’t interesting enough to be a killer. More generally: there’s no point trying to convince me that the designated hero is a serial killer, I’m not buying it. The person the author should be trying to convince is the heroine. I will totally buy into the heroine feeling those stirrings of attraction and love with a healthy dose of fear that the hero is a monster, but that’s not what happens here. Beth occasionally notices that Griffin is around when some bad vibes go down, and it’s a bit suspicious that he found bodies and says he murdered his wife. I didn’t feel she quite made the connection to any risks to her own safety. She was too busy wanting to bonk him.
I liked Beth. I liked her awareness of her own anxieties, and that she managed them rather than sulking about them. She knew they set her apart, but ultimately, she didn’t let them make her weak. I also loved that she’d fudged her resume (or its historical equivalent) and that this very clearly meant that, when she started getting weird signs that she was being targeted, she kept quiet. Further scrutiny could have exposed her lies, and she was willing to avoid that, no matter the cost. Not a sensible choice, but one that made sense for the character.
The romance between Beth and Griffin was a little historically jarring. That they recognised each other as kindred spirits was fine, but that they never addressed the difference in their social standing, or had any consideration on what entering into a sexual relationship would mean, didn't work as well.
Eve Silver is a competent writer, and I keep trying with her because I get really close to liking her books. I’m sure I’ll get there eventually.
In classic gothic style, no one comes to meet her when she’s set down in the dark and remote location. In classic gothic style, she’s right next to a cemetery where two Burndale Academy teachers are buried. And finally, in classic gothic style, hero Griffin comes along to give her a ride, start hinting at the darkness of his nature, and kick off a nice little flirtation.
This is not Eve Silver’s fault, but I want something very specific out of gothic romance, and this isn’t it. What she delivers here has some gothic flavour, but is more suspense. There’s a psycho serial killer with mummy issues killing and scalping young blonde women. He soon sets his sights on Beth. He gets some POV which is carefully ambiguous, so that the reader can spend some time pondering who he is. I rolled my eyes a bit over his mummy issues, because whatever with his motivation. He POVs a bit about drawing out the experience, and does that whole loving thing about the connection between him and his victim, but I found it pretty generic.
Griffin has a little girl who is a student at Burndale Academy. She doesn’t speak. Griffin hangs around yearning for his daughter to love him and want to be with him. Griffin’s whole big deal is that he’s a bad man and killed his wife. He mentions this frequently. It’s possibly on his calling card. The book takes a long time to get to what ‘killing his wife’ actually means. I couldn’t see much point to him. He was glum, and a bit ineffectual.
The suspense plot is told over two time periods, fifteen years apart. It was a nice device, and competently handled, but nothing very new.
Eve Silver coordinates a few POV scenes to make it look like Griffin is the killer, which I considered a mistake. Specifically: he wasn’t interesting enough to be a killer. More generally: there’s no point trying to convince me that the designated hero is a serial killer, I’m not buying it. The person the author should be trying to convince is the heroine. I will totally buy into the heroine feeling those stirrings of attraction and love with a healthy dose of fear that the hero is a monster, but that’s not what happens here. Beth occasionally notices that Griffin is around when some bad vibes go down, and it’s a bit suspicious that he found bodies and says he murdered his wife. I didn’t feel she quite made the connection to any risks to her own safety. She was too busy wanting to bonk him.
I liked Beth. I liked her awareness of her own anxieties, and that she managed them rather than sulking about them. She knew they set her apart, but ultimately, she didn’t let them make her weak. I also loved that she’d fudged her resume (or its historical equivalent) and that this very clearly meant that, when she started getting weird signs that she was being targeted, she kept quiet. Further scrutiny could have exposed her lies, and she was willing to avoid that, no matter the cost. Not a sensible choice, but one that made sense for the character.
The romance between Beth and Griffin was a little historically jarring. That they recognised each other as kindred spirits was fine, but that they never addressed the difference in their social standing, or had any consideration on what entering into a sexual relationship would mean, didn't work as well.
Eve Silver is a competent writer, and I keep trying with her because I get really close to liking her books. I’m sure I’ll get there eventually.
December 31, 2015
So far this has been my least favourite in this series. I still enjoyed it but I feel it has lost its way a little. I have read (and generally love) multiple viewpoint novels but it's not suitable for every book. This is one book where it would have been much better to stick to the single viewpoint like the previous books. Since we get passages from Griffin's viewpoint, he doesn't achieve quite the same dark, brooding, mysterious air that we got from previous male characters. It made him a little less interesting. He wasn't the highly attractive but dangerous rogue that we were treated to in previous books. The multiple viewpoints also fed us too much information which prevented the mystery from building as we learned about things alongside the heroine. It made the story more of a straight historical romance rather than the more gothic feel that I loved in the other books. Also, there were too many viewpoints for the length of the book and I hated the jumping back and forward between different times and places.
I also felt that the two main characters didn't really spend enough time together, especially at the start of the book. The story took quite some time to get going.
It was a reasonably enjoyable story but it missed the sense of mystery and danger that made the previous books so good.
I also felt that the two main characters didn't really spend enough time together, especially at the start of the book. The story took quite some time to get going.
It was a reasonably enjoyable story but it missed the sense of mystery and danger that made the previous books so good.
January 20, 2017
This book took me forever to finish it! (well five days isn't forever but it definitely felt like it)
I didn't like it that much; it was too slow paced for me :/ Nothing really happened until the end. I didn't care particularly for any of the characters, in fact, both the hero and heroine irritated me. I didn't understand how they fell in love. Yes, they were deeply attracted to each other, but they never had a good and proper and LONG conversation in order to know each other. All they did when they met was look each other up and think how the other is handsome/beautiful and think the same the next time and the next and the next...ugh! There were a lot of repetitions.
I've given it 3 stars because I liked the ending (when something finally happened).
So in the end, it's really a case of "it's me not the book" because it got so many good reviews and ratings and it seems I wasn't really in the mood for this kind of read when I started it but I just didn't want not to finish it (no matter how many times I came close).
I didn't like it that much; it was too slow paced for me :/ Nothing really happened until the end. I didn't care particularly for any of the characters, in fact, both the hero and heroine irritated me. I didn't understand how they fell in love. Yes, they were deeply attracted to each other, but they never had a good and proper and LONG conversation in order to know each other. All they did when they met was look each other up and think how the other is handsome/beautiful and think the same the next time and the next and the next...ugh! There were a lot of repetitions.
I've given it 3 stars because I liked the ending (when something finally happened).
So in the end, it's really a case of "it's me not the book" because it got so many good reviews and ratings and it seems I wasn't really in the mood for this kind of read when I started it but I just didn't want not to finish it (no matter how many times I came close).
October 2, 2014
I've read a few of Eve Silver's novels that were good and a few that were not so good. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this one because the last couple were just okay for me. But I grabbed it, deciding if it didn't sit well, I'll just toss it. Thankfully, I liked it. There were some interesting twists and turns and I did NOT guess whodunnit.
September 10, 2016
Another really good dark romance by Eve Silver. His Wicked Sins has a lot of twists and turns and so many moving pieces. The story oscillates between 1815 (when a horrific murder takes place at the Black Swan and is being investigated) and 1828 (when Beth takes a position as a teacher at a girl's school). I really enjoyed how the relationship between Beth and Griffin's daughter Isobel develops over the course of the book as well as the way that Griffin helps Beth find the strength to conquer her fears. At times the story moved a bit too slow for my taste as we got caught up in Beth's panic attacks which could spin for pages and pages. But this is a genuinely solid story that offers several plausible villains that could be the serial killer after Beth. Overall an enjoyable and interesting story.
June 9, 2020
His Wicked Sins
4 Stars
This installment in Silver's series of gothic "horrid novels" is slightly different from the previous books. To begin with, rather than focusing solely on the heroine's POV, the perspective shifts between that of the hero and heroine as well as other secondary characters. While there is nothing wrong with this change per se, it does reduce the tension in the romance as the reader's knowledge of the hero's emotions and motivations is not limited.
In addition, the primary narrative set in Yorkshire of 1828 is interrupted every few chapters by flashback scenes set in London of 1813. The connection between past and present is slowly revealed and adds another layer of intrigue to the mystery.
The Jack the Ripper style mystery is intense and exciting, especially as readers are presented with the killer's disturbing and malicious POV. While it is difficult to identify the culprit before the big reveal due to the lack of clues provided, it is possible to do so by process of elimination.
The romance between Elizabeth Canham, the new teacher at Burndale Academy, and Griffin Fairfax, the enigmatic local landowner, is the highlight of the story. They have excellent chemistry and there is a definite Jane Eyre/Edward Rochester vibe to their relationship.
Overall, despite the slow beginning, the romance is engaging with appealing characters and the plot is riveting by the end.
4 Stars
This installment in Silver's series of gothic "horrid novels" is slightly different from the previous books. To begin with, rather than focusing solely on the heroine's POV, the perspective shifts between that of the hero and heroine as well as other secondary characters. While there is nothing wrong with this change per se, it does reduce the tension in the romance as the reader's knowledge of the hero's emotions and motivations is not limited.
In addition, the primary narrative set in Yorkshire of 1828 is interrupted every few chapters by flashback scenes set in London of 1813. The connection between past and present is slowly revealed and adds another layer of intrigue to the mystery.
The Jack the Ripper style mystery is intense and exciting, especially as readers are presented with the killer's disturbing and malicious POV. While it is difficult to identify the culprit before the big reveal due to the lack of clues provided, it is possible to do so by process of elimination.
The romance between Elizabeth Canham, the new teacher at Burndale Academy, and Griffin Fairfax, the enigmatic local landowner, is the highlight of the story. They have excellent chemistry and there is a definite Jane Eyre/Edward Rochester vibe to their relationship.
Overall, despite the slow beginning, the romance is engaging with appealing characters and the plot is riveting by the end.
Want to read
August 19, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/19/2020)! 🎁
March 18, 2009
Miss Elizabeth Canham is a fraud but a fraud with a righteous cause. She is a woman shaped by terror and tragedy that has left her riddled with phobias of the dark and the tightness of enclosed spaces. Yet despite the bleakness of her past and the subsequent character flaws, Beth is strong. The livelihood of her family rests upon her shoulders and that burden doesn't go unnoticed as Beth makes her way from London to Yorkshire for Burndale Academy and the young female charges it houses. The position as a teacher awaits her, a position she isn't the least bit qualified for but one that she is determined to secure and retain.
Dark and foreboding, Burdale Academy rests amidst a dark forest and is guarded by three gnarled and long dead trees. As winter looms on the horizon and the wind blows cold, it carries with it the whisperings of death, death so gruesome that it couldn't possibly be real. But the dark manse has known death. Two teachers have died by what was ruled a ravaging by beasts. As clues to the ultimate riddle are revealed, Beth suspects, but can't fully believe, that the beautiful and dark Griffin Fairfax is to blame.
Rumor swirls around Griffin but he cares not for what they say. He knows he's a monster and he doesn't need others to confirm his thoughts. When Beth enters his life with her moon lit ringlets and sky blue eyes, the monster within him howls. His attraction and yearning for her holds no bounds and he hopes to scare her, to drive her back by using the very ugliness that surrounds him. Yet his anger is ignited as well his desire when Beth shows no hope of turning away from him in fear or otherwise. As a man born to privilege then cast into poverty, he has done his worst to survive. When fate renders him the last surviving member of his family, Griffin finds himself once again to be the possessor of a great fortune. But his worst deeds were still yet to come.
Beth can no more stop her heart from fluttering or the tingles of desire from spreading than she can stop the wind and it's Griffin Fairfax that ignites her deepest yearnings. Beth is no fool to think that any man would want to marry a woman with her anxious tendencies that may be passed along to his children and with that knowledge comes the fact that she'll never know a man's intimate touch. Yet her desire for Griffin has grown to such proportions that she's accepted the fact that she will know him with every physical inch of her body and damn the consequences.
Although Griffin has tried his best to scare Beth away from him and the darkness that resides in his soul, Beth's resounding thought in his presence is safety. When she observes him with his frail daughter, she witnesses the shining love for another within his eyes and with it the tragic loss of faith. Griffin's daughter, Isobel, fell mute over three years ago after witnessing the death of her mother by his very hands. A girl with eyes wise beyond her years, she floats through the halls of Burndale Academy with only the slightest hint of awareness yet it's Beth who slowly awakens her from her stupor. It's Beth who finally takes an interest in his daughter. Who speaks to her as though she is really amongst the living and that Isobel too has a soul; one worth saving. It's this that endears Beth to Griffin.
Meanwhile, in the midst of Griffin's and Beth's lingering looks and stolen kisses, a stalker awaits the perfect time to strike. Although Beth feels the hungry eyes of a killer upon her, she dare not voice her concern. She can't prove that she's being watched, nor can she prove that someone has been in her room and touched her belongings. Her position at Burdale Academy is far too important to jeopardize and perhaps all that she is feeling and seeing are figments of her terror filled imagination.
Yet Beth's fears are realized after stumbling upon the body of another victim. Given sanctuary at Griffin's home while being questioned by local authorities, an overheard conversation unlocks the doors of the past within Beth's mind. As renewed terror oozes thick in her veins, she flees the saftely of Griffin's arms and straight into a killers.
Eve Silver paints the most eerie pictures with her words. She manages to create a bleak landscape rife with darkness and fear yet her words never become tedious or over descriptive. My mind was lost in Burndale Academy and it's evil secrets and I liked journeying through it all with Beth and her bravery. Ms. Silver even managed to dupe me with the identity of the killer. I thought I had it all figured out but she managed to creatively surprise me.
Beth was a very strong and extremely intelligent woman. The fact that she overcame near death and faces her terror daily is a testament to her abundant strength. I liked her thought process and how she gave everyone the benefit of the doubt before drawing her final conclusions of them. I also loved her unwavering belief that Griffin was a good man and not the monster he deluded himself into believing.
Lastly, I loved how Beth's past was revealed to the reader. Interwoven in the present are numerous flashbacks. Not specifically Beth's flashbacks but rather a sub story within 'His Wicked Sins' explaining not only the beginnings of serial murderer but how Beth's terror came to be and also what inspired her bravery.
Dark and foreboding, Burdale Academy rests amidst a dark forest and is guarded by three gnarled and long dead trees. As winter looms on the horizon and the wind blows cold, it carries with it the whisperings of death, death so gruesome that it couldn't possibly be real. But the dark manse has known death. Two teachers have died by what was ruled a ravaging by beasts. As clues to the ultimate riddle are revealed, Beth suspects, but can't fully believe, that the beautiful and dark Griffin Fairfax is to blame.
Rumor swirls around Griffin but he cares not for what they say. He knows he's a monster and he doesn't need others to confirm his thoughts. When Beth enters his life with her moon lit ringlets and sky blue eyes, the monster within him howls. His attraction and yearning for her holds no bounds and he hopes to scare her, to drive her back by using the very ugliness that surrounds him. Yet his anger is ignited as well his desire when Beth shows no hope of turning away from him in fear or otherwise. As a man born to privilege then cast into poverty, he has done his worst to survive. When fate renders him the last surviving member of his family, Griffin finds himself once again to be the possessor of a great fortune. But his worst deeds were still yet to come.
Beth can no more stop her heart from fluttering or the tingles of desire from spreading than she can stop the wind and it's Griffin Fairfax that ignites her deepest yearnings. Beth is no fool to think that any man would want to marry a woman with her anxious tendencies that may be passed along to his children and with that knowledge comes the fact that she'll never know a man's intimate touch. Yet her desire for Griffin has grown to such proportions that she's accepted the fact that she will know him with every physical inch of her body and damn the consequences.
Although Griffin has tried his best to scare Beth away from him and the darkness that resides in his soul, Beth's resounding thought in his presence is safety. When she observes him with his frail daughter, she witnesses the shining love for another within his eyes and with it the tragic loss of faith. Griffin's daughter, Isobel, fell mute over three years ago after witnessing the death of her mother by his very hands. A girl with eyes wise beyond her years, she floats through the halls of Burndale Academy with only the slightest hint of awareness yet it's Beth who slowly awakens her from her stupor. It's Beth who finally takes an interest in his daughter. Who speaks to her as though she is really amongst the living and that Isobel too has a soul; one worth saving. It's this that endears Beth to Griffin.
Meanwhile, in the midst of Griffin's and Beth's lingering looks and stolen kisses, a stalker awaits the perfect time to strike. Although Beth feels the hungry eyes of a killer upon her, she dare not voice her concern. She can't prove that she's being watched, nor can she prove that someone has been in her room and touched her belongings. Her position at Burdale Academy is far too important to jeopardize and perhaps all that she is feeling and seeing are figments of her terror filled imagination.
Yet Beth's fears are realized after stumbling upon the body of another victim. Given sanctuary at Griffin's home while being questioned by local authorities, an overheard conversation unlocks the doors of the past within Beth's mind. As renewed terror oozes thick in her veins, she flees the saftely of Griffin's arms and straight into a killers.
Eve Silver paints the most eerie pictures with her words. She manages to create a bleak landscape rife with darkness and fear yet her words never become tedious or over descriptive. My mind was lost in Burndale Academy and it's evil secrets and I liked journeying through it all with Beth and her bravery. Ms. Silver even managed to dupe me with the identity of the killer. I thought I had it all figured out but she managed to creatively surprise me.
Beth was a very strong and extremely intelligent woman. The fact that she overcame near death and faces her terror daily is a testament to her abundant strength. I liked her thought process and how she gave everyone the benefit of the doubt before drawing her final conclusions of them. I also loved her unwavering belief that Griffin was a good man and not the monster he deluded himself into believing.
Lastly, I loved how Beth's past was revealed to the reader. Interwoven in the present are numerous flashbacks. Not specifically Beth's flashbacks but rather a sub story within 'His Wicked Sins' explaining not only the beginnings of serial murderer but how Beth's terror came to be and also what inspired her bravery.
November 28, 2011
I really liked "His Dark Kiss" and thought it made a nice modern heir to the Gothic "horrid novel." But "His Wicked Sins" was based on two weak mysteries: one I solved within two chapters, and the answer to the murder mystery was a cheat (you couldn't solve it for yourself with the information given), which is always a disappointment. I'm also generally annoyed by characters who express overwrought guilt for something they couldn't have helped, as the hero does in this book -- insisting "I killed my wife!" for far longer than is plausible after the facts of the case are out seems like a pretty blatant effort to lay down red herrings, which is another signal of a weak mystery premise. I'll probably give her books another try, but if they're more like this than the first one, she won't make it onto my must-read list.
March 16, 2019
January 1813 and Constable Henry Pugh of Shadwell Police discovers the body of the innkeeper of the Black Swan - William Trotter. But there is more bodies to discover later that year.
But is there a connection to the Burndale Academy. Elizabeth Canham arrives there as a teacher in 1828, her wages needed to help her family, only to discover that two teachers have already died, and a maid has just gone missing. And what involvement does the mysterous Griffin Fairfax have in both events.
An enjoyable Gothic romance and mystery.
But is there a connection to the Burndale Academy. Elizabeth Canham arrives there as a teacher in 1828, her wages needed to help her family, only to discover that two teachers have already died, and a maid has just gone missing. And what involvement does the mysterous Griffin Fairfax have in both events.
An enjoyable Gothic romance and mystery.
October 16, 2008
From the very first page I was drawn into this story and could NOT put it down until I had devoured every page. This Gothic Historical Romance with its fascinating plot and two different connected story lines was a nail-biting delight! Filled with mystery and suspense and a feeling of foreboding. HIS WICKED SINS was my first taste of this author and I will definitely be coming back for more.
December 6, 2020
This one is tricky, to be honest. There's a really good book in here somewhere, but I got caught up on so many details that annoyed me that I had a hard time enjoying it. Which is obviously very subjective, meaning that I totally understand those who enjoy this book. The setting is nice, the murder mystery is adequate, and the main characters are... good enough? Some of my issues stem from the characters, if we put it like that. And, as such, a lot of this review might be seen as spoilery, but I'll try to be as subtle as possible.
First, I do appreciate that Beth has anxiety and panic attacks. That was mostly well-described, especially considering the time. They weren't really sure what those were, back then. That, however, falters completely where Griffin is involved. I have no trouble seeing that Beth will feel safe and less anxious with him, but the fact that her body somehow knows the difference between her heart racing from panic and her heart racing from sexual desire? Uh, no. That's usually not a thing. Especially in one scene when she's really close to a panic attack and Griffin shows up, and, all of a sudden, it's described that her heart was racing again, but for a much more pleasant reason. As someone who's had panic attacks for over ten years? No. Your body does not know the difference. It will launch you straight into a panic attack even if you ENJOY what you're doing.
Second, Beth was described to be a puzzle-solver. That's great! Only, uh, she was stupid as a block of wood several times, meaning that the puzzle-solver thing only appeared when it was convenient. Example: She overhears one conversation between the headmistress and another teacher and, without hearing her name mentioned, assumes they're talking about her. For no apparent reason. And this makes her not tell the headmistress about the creepy man stalking the premises of the school. Really? Why? Well, to create tension and unnecessary conflict, I suppose. But, truth be told, I would have preferred if they HAD been talking about her. Like, what's the harm in that? Why do the main characters have to be so perfect that no one can dislike them? Perhaps the headmistress didn't like Beth at first but comes to appreciate her later? That's called a character arc and I highly recommend it. Also, that way, the tension would have felt real rather than "this stupid girl assumes the world and every conversation revolves around her."
And then there's the fact that Beth, through the most convenient of convenient plot twists, ends up at the same school as the murderer who killed her grandparents several years ago, back in London. So awfully convenient. It would have more sense if it had been ANOTHER murderer. That would have been fine, too. The new one could just have reminded her of the murder of her grandparents and have had the same effect, more or less. It was all very flimsy and weirdly convenient.
And then there's Griffin who, like so many male heroes in these modern Gothic Romances, is portrayed as a villain but is not one. As in, he barely has any flaws. This came closer than some, I will admit, because he does have some, uh, anger issues, but the big thing that made him call himself a murderer? It was... well, I wouldn't say silly because survivor's guilt is a thing and I totally get it, but if the worst thing you can say about a man is that he couldn't save someone's life? He's not very dangerous. But the book keeps telling me he is.
What I think all these books get wrong is that it's totally fine for the dude to be an asshole as long as you redeem him before the end. If you truly want a suffering hero, he doesn't have to be an angel. Make him selfish or rude or greedy or whatever, then have him change his way. Griffin's biggest character flaw was that he couldn't forgive himself for not saving someone from dying, and that apparently made him a brutal murderer who kills everyone he touches. I am not impressed.
Especially since the book makes some sort of effort to cast suspicion on him? Like, we're supposed to assume he could be the murderer? But that makes no sense when we have Beth's POV, Griffin's POV, and the murderer's POV. We can clearly see that the murderer isn't Griffin. And yet, even during his POV, the book keeps trying to hint at him possibly being the killer. You see how that doesn't make sense, right? Because Griffin doesn't acknowledge or have any of the thought patterns that the killer does. If we were truly supposed to suspect him, it should have all been from Beth's POV. But, even then, I don't think I would have bought it because of the aforementioned trend with male heroes who think they're monsters but really have done very few things wrong.
Despite this, it's not a terrible book. Again, the setting was nice, the murder mystery was adequate, and the language itself is very fitting for the story. I could have enjoyed it if I hadn't kept running into these annoyances of mine. However, I totally understand if some see them as nitpicks.
That said, I loved just about anything involved Griffin's daughter. That scene with her, at the start of the big climax? With her trying to find Griffin and warn him? That hit me right in the feels.
So there are quite a lot of good things in this book as well, which I think is what makes me even more frustrated. I can tell that this author is very talented, but it feels like she keeps taking the easy way out with all of these conveniences and flimsy solutions, and it just cheapens the entire book. With just a couple of simple tweaks, it could be so much better. But, also: I acknowledge that this book is five years old and I have no doubt that Silver has gotten better over the years. So, by now, this might not even be an issue anymore. I have read one of the later books in the series, too, and enjoyed that a lot more.
But yeah. It's not bad, but I was quite frustrated while reading it.
Final sidenote: Uh, what happened to the groundskeeper? Like, is he still alive? Did I miss the throwaway sentence where his fate was revealed? Or am I to be kept in suspense? Just asking.
First, I do appreciate that Beth has anxiety and panic attacks. That was mostly well-described, especially considering the time. They weren't really sure what those were, back then. That, however, falters completely where Griffin is involved. I have no trouble seeing that Beth will feel safe and less anxious with him, but the fact that her body somehow knows the difference between her heart racing from panic and her heart racing from sexual desire? Uh, no. That's usually not a thing. Especially in one scene when she's really close to a panic attack and Griffin shows up, and, all of a sudden, it's described that her heart was racing again, but for a much more pleasant reason. As someone who's had panic attacks for over ten years? No. Your body does not know the difference. It will launch you straight into a panic attack even if you ENJOY what you're doing.
Second, Beth was described to be a puzzle-solver. That's great! Only, uh, she was stupid as a block of wood several times, meaning that the puzzle-solver thing only appeared when it was convenient. Example: She overhears one conversation between the headmistress and another teacher and, without hearing her name mentioned, assumes they're talking about her. For no apparent reason. And this makes her not tell the headmistress about the creepy man stalking the premises of the school. Really? Why? Well, to create tension and unnecessary conflict, I suppose. But, truth be told, I would have preferred if they HAD been talking about her. Like, what's the harm in that? Why do the main characters have to be so perfect that no one can dislike them? Perhaps the headmistress didn't like Beth at first but comes to appreciate her later? That's called a character arc and I highly recommend it. Also, that way, the tension would have felt real rather than "this stupid girl assumes the world and every conversation revolves around her."
And then there's the fact that Beth, through the most convenient of convenient plot twists, ends up at the same school as the murderer who killed her grandparents several years ago, back in London. So awfully convenient. It would have more sense if it had been ANOTHER murderer. That would have been fine, too. The new one could just have reminded her of the murder of her grandparents and have had the same effect, more or less. It was all very flimsy and weirdly convenient.
And then there's Griffin who, like so many male heroes in these modern Gothic Romances, is portrayed as a villain but is not one. As in, he barely has any flaws. This came closer than some, I will admit, because he does have some, uh, anger issues, but the big thing that made him call himself a murderer? It was... well, I wouldn't say silly because survivor's guilt is a thing and I totally get it, but if the worst thing you can say about a man is that he couldn't save someone's life? He's not very dangerous. But the book keeps telling me he is.
What I think all these books get wrong is that it's totally fine for the dude to be an asshole as long as you redeem him before the end. If you truly want a suffering hero, he doesn't have to be an angel. Make him selfish or rude or greedy or whatever, then have him change his way. Griffin's biggest character flaw was that he couldn't forgive himself for not saving someone from dying, and that apparently made him a brutal murderer who kills everyone he touches. I am not impressed.
Especially since the book makes some sort of effort to cast suspicion on him? Like, we're supposed to assume he could be the murderer? But that makes no sense when we have Beth's POV, Griffin's POV, and the murderer's POV. We can clearly see that the murderer isn't Griffin. And yet, even during his POV, the book keeps trying to hint at him possibly being the killer. You see how that doesn't make sense, right? Because Griffin doesn't acknowledge or have any of the thought patterns that the killer does. If we were truly supposed to suspect him, it should have all been from Beth's POV. But, even then, I don't think I would have bought it because of the aforementioned trend with male heroes who think they're monsters but really have done very few things wrong.
Despite this, it's not a terrible book. Again, the setting was nice, the murder mystery was adequate, and the language itself is very fitting for the story. I could have enjoyed it if I hadn't kept running into these annoyances of mine. However, I totally understand if some see them as nitpicks.
That said, I loved just about anything involved Griffin's daughter. That scene with her, at the start of the big climax? With her trying to find Griffin and warn him? That hit me right in the feels.
So there are quite a lot of good things in this book as well, which I think is what makes me even more frustrated. I can tell that this author is very talented, but it feels like she keeps taking the easy way out with all of these conveniences and flimsy solutions, and it just cheapens the entire book. With just a couple of simple tweaks, it could be so much better. But, also: I acknowledge that this book is five years old and I have no doubt that Silver has gotten better over the years. So, by now, this might not even be an issue anymore. I have read one of the later books in the series, too, and enjoyed that a lot more.
But yeah. It's not bad, but I was quite frustrated while reading it.
Final sidenote: Uh, what happened to the groundskeeper? Like, is he still alive? Did I miss the throwaway sentence where his fate was revealed? Or am I to be kept in suspense? Just asking.
January 19, 2021
I picked this up right after I finished Seduced by a Stranger. That was a mistake on my part. For me, Seduced by a Stranger was a phenomenal read. One of the best I've read in this genre. His Wicked Sins had big shoes to fill and it didn't fill them well. Had I waited and let sufficient time pass, this may have been a 4 star read. As things are, this one was a bit of a disappointment. I found the heroine, repetitive and irritating. The plot felt like something I've read before, at least the larger plot points, and it didn't work as well with these characters.
December 31, 2019
Despite the repeating theme, I really enjoyed this installment, again. The multiple POVs made it much better in my opinion, not to mention that it felt to me like there was just, more of a plot than with the previous ones - especially thanks to us being constantly reminded of the danger through the main villain's POV. And thanks to Griffin's one, the change from "I'm too bad for you" to "let's be together" actually made sense for once and wasn't just out of the blue - since we could see, with almost every step, what he feels at that moment.
July 3, 2020
Ci sarebbe stato a pennello nella collana Mystere della mondadori, ma chissà perchè non lo hanno identificato come tale.
Dopo il primo tentativo con la Silver, ho voluto, avendone l'occasione sotto mano, provare qualcosina di suo ma differente come genere.
La parte rosa di questa storia è poca ma saliente. Un fitto mistero tra passato e presente, tra caso di omicidi e il gioco di un killer spietato e malato, degno di nota quanto il famoso Jack lo Squartatore, infesta questa storia che alla fin fine si lascia ampliamente apprezzare per l'atmosfera intessuta.
La scrittura della Silve rè particolare. Da una buona impronta caratteriale e comportamentale ai suoi personaggi, e una certa originalità alla trama che rende affascinante il racconto. Non riesce pienamente a ammaliare il lettore ma lo tiene abbastanza curioso fino alla fine della vicenda. Grande bravura sta in questo libro nell'essere riuscita a mantenere il segreto sull'identità del killer fino alla sua rivelazione finale. Mi ha sopreso perchè è stata brava nel camuffare ogni sua mossa, nel far si che l'incredibile supposizione riguardante il protagonista rimanesse tale fino alla vera rivelazione.
Anche se continuavo a pensare che Griffin non fosse il serial killer ricercato da tutti, a mano a mano che proseguivo la lettura ho iniziato io stessa a dubitare realmente di lui. E questo va tutto a merito della bravura della scrittrice, dove la sua storia non è una semplice storia d'amore, ma qualcosa di comlicato, dove lei e lui devono combattere contro i propri incubi, contro le incursioni macabre dela vita, fino a trovare affidabilità e sicurezza l'uno nell'altra.
Due personaggi sinceri e curiosi nela loro storia persnale!
Non c'è male come storia. Un giusto racconto del mistero, del giallo dove la "virgoletta rosa" è solo una parte della storia, piccola ma carina e ben giocata.
Dopo il primo tentativo con la Silver, ho voluto, avendone l'occasione sotto mano, provare qualcosina di suo ma differente come genere.
La parte rosa di questa storia è poca ma saliente. Un fitto mistero tra passato e presente, tra caso di omicidi e il gioco di un killer spietato e malato, degno di nota quanto il famoso Jack lo Squartatore, infesta questa storia che alla fin fine si lascia ampliamente apprezzare per l'atmosfera intessuta.
La scrittura della Silve rè particolare. Da una buona impronta caratteriale e comportamentale ai suoi personaggi, e una certa originalità alla trama che rende affascinante il racconto. Non riesce pienamente a ammaliare il lettore ma lo tiene abbastanza curioso fino alla fine della vicenda. Grande bravura sta in questo libro nell'essere riuscita a mantenere il segreto sull'identità del killer fino alla sua rivelazione finale. Mi ha sopreso perchè è stata brava nel camuffare ogni sua mossa, nel far si che l'incredibile supposizione riguardante il protagonista rimanesse tale fino alla vera rivelazione.
Anche se continuavo a pensare che Griffin non fosse il serial killer ricercato da tutti, a mano a mano che proseguivo la lettura ho iniziato io stessa a dubitare realmente di lui. E questo va tutto a merito della bravura della scrittrice, dove la sua storia non è una semplice storia d'amore, ma qualcosa di comlicato, dove lei e lui devono combattere contro i propri incubi, contro le incursioni macabre dela vita, fino a trovare affidabilità e sicurezza l'uno nell'altra.
Due personaggi sinceri e curiosi nela loro storia persnale!
Non c'è male come storia. Un giusto racconto del mistero, del giallo dove la "virgoletta rosa" è solo una parte della storia, piccola ma carina e ben giocata.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2019
Not as good as the others
I think of all Silver's books, this was the least enjoyable. The narration was messy with its back and forth and multiple POVS and timeframes, which I had not expected having read the first 3 in the DARK GOTHIC Series (all of which were better than the last). Silver's efforts to portray Beth's anxiety is commendable and Beth herself is quite likeable, but her love interest Griffin kept telling us about how bad he is - turns out he isn't. Not really. I expected Griffin to have a big dark secret, but it wasn't that big, nor did it deserve his listless exaggeration after exaggeration after exaggeration. His past is not that bad, there is no juicy secret, just more misguided self blame that I didn't feel entirely worked for his character. I thought the POV from Henry was completely unnecessary. But I don't want to completely destroy the book. The daughter Isobel was nice to read, especially her interactions with Lucy.
This follows the same formula as the first three but didn't quite hit the mark. I will give myself sometime before pursuing the next book - but I will continue on with the series.
I think of all Silver's books, this was the least enjoyable. The narration was messy with its back and forth and multiple POVS and timeframes, which I had not expected having read the first 3 in the DARK GOTHIC Series (all of which were better than the last). Silver's efforts to portray Beth's anxiety is commendable and Beth herself is quite likeable, but her love interest Griffin kept telling us about how bad he is - turns out he isn't. Not really. I expected Griffin to have a big dark secret, but it wasn't that big, nor did it deserve his listless exaggeration after exaggeration after exaggeration. His past is not that bad, there is no juicy secret, just more misguided self blame that I didn't feel entirely worked for his character. I thought the POV from Henry was completely unnecessary. But I don't want to completely destroy the book. The daughter Isobel was nice to read, especially her interactions with Lucy.
This follows the same formula as the first three but didn't quite hit the mark. I will give myself sometime before pursuing the next book - but I will continue on with the series.
April 16, 2014
So, Eve Silver is officially amazing. This book caught me off guard so many times I cant even fathom it. I thought the worse the whole way through and by the time I finished the book I had to go back and skim through the whole thing and re-read some parts just to be sure that I myself wasnt going to crazy lol I was absolutely fooled by the author into thinking the worse. To Eve Silver, I request the highest of fives. This book is definitely a favorite of mine, the first ever to make me panic and stress over the outcome. Amazing.
December 16, 2014
This was truly gripping although once or twice I wanted to slap both the hero and heroine for missing the obvious.
There were a couple of scenes that had my jaw dropping because it was way too obvious that the author was trying to make the reader think that Griffin was the bad guy.
The scenes of crime were awful with just the right amount of tension that kept me reading late into the night. I realised the plot twist fairly close to the end, and it was good. Griffin was a little bit harder to figure out.
A really good read, and one I would read again.
There were a couple of scenes that had my jaw dropping because it was way too obvious that the author was trying to make the reader think that Griffin was the bad guy.
The scenes of crime were awful with just the right amount of tension that kept me reading late into the night. I realised the plot twist fairly close to the end, and it was good. Griffin was a little bit harder to figure out.
A really good read, and one I would read again.
December 8, 2020
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other books in this series. I personally felt it dragged a bit in the middle, and the heroine's internal thoughts were too lengthy and repetitive. I enjoyed the mystery side though. I did wonder what was the point of making the hero look so guilty when the heroine never suspects him of any wrongdoing... Would have been more interesting if she had some doubts about him IMO.
December 3, 2016
Review to come
April 16, 2022
Very eloquently written. Classic methods of holding suspense, but a very satisfying read. The explicit scenes were tastefully and sensitively expressed.🔥🔥🔥🔥
October 27, 2025
MY RATING GUIDE: 4 Stars. HIS WICKED SINS, pub 2008, is book 4 of 6 in Eve Silver’s standalone Psychological Thriller gothic novel series. As October 31 approaches and the skies become more grey, I felt in the mood to read something at atmospheric - a bit darker than my usual but not entirely in the horror class. I enjoyed the three earlier books in this series and return to it when in the right mood.
(1=DNF/What was that?; 2=Not for me; 3=Ok; 3.5=I enjoyed this; 4=INTENSE & CAPTIVATING; 5=I really loved this! 5 is rare for me).
Yorkshire, England, September 1828 ~
15yrs earlier a killer begins hunting in London. After 2 near arrests, he moves his killing to the quiet country and continues. Unexpectedly and at random times since, young, pretty, blue-eyed, blond haired girls in the area suddenly disappear, their bodies only to be discovered a few days later - tortured and very, very dead.
With her father’s illness becoming worse, Elizabeth Canham’s family is in dire need of financial assistance. Due to the excellent education by her mother, accompanied with vaulted letters of recommendation, Elizabeth has applied and been accepted by Yorkshire’s Burndale’s Academy for young girls in a teaching position with very good pay. During her carriage ride to the school and days afterward, Elizabeth begins receiving warnings about terrible business and goings-on at Burnsdale. The school’s local reputation is extremely cautionary. Although the headmistress seems fair enough, Burnsdale is oppressive and dark at night. Elizabeth’s family requires the money Elizabeth can send but what has she gotten herself into? After Elizabeth’s arrival, another local girl disappears. Young, pretty, blue-eyed, blond hair. She worked as a maid at the school.
Comments ~
1) My first novels as a young adult were Gothic Romances written by Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels and others. Although Psychological Thrillers fall outside my regular reading today I still have a fondness for an occasional gothic-styled novel which takes me back to my early years of reading.
2) I appreciate that the conflict in the story comes from unknown factors rather than drawn out or repeated miscommunication between the main characters.
3) Both MCs come from difficult pasts with tragic horrors yet Elizabeth had amazing resilience and courage. She struggled daily, fighting the memories of her past, beat down her panic attacks and claustrophobia, to function normally and not give up. Getting on the stagecoach and leaving her family behind and everyone she knew took great courage. She was frightened in her new situation but didn’t jump to conclusions. She performed her job well, while constantly observing and gathering information about her new situation. The MMC lived with his own horrors of the past plus with the fearful and condemning comments of the villagers. He held himself together only through a firm resolve and restraint. He was about to give up the battle when Elizabeth arrives.
4)The setting in HIS WICKED SINS is very atmospheric; a sense of danger and threat eases from the pages. I felt as if I was there - hurrying through the dark, looking over my shoulder, searching for anything to protect myself while hearing my worst fear draw near.
5) Although I found HIS WICKED SINS incredibly intense (and quite creepy in places - not my normal fare), I enjoyed it and can see myself rereading it again in the future. I have purchased the last 2 books in this series and will be checking them out later. (Previously I enjoyed DARK DESIRES/bk1 and DARK PRINCE/bk2 slightly more than HIS DARK KISS/bk3 in this gothic series - each well worth my time and reviewed separately).
6) I recommend HIS WICKED SINS to readers who enjoy:
> Gothic novels reminiscent of the past.
> Historic novels with atmospheric, mysterious and foreboding settings.
> Seasoned characters who persevere through dark pasts and difficult situations to eventually discover much brighter futures.
> Misunderstood & redeemable main characters.
> Characters of quality (resilience, courage, fortitude) rather than mere titles or appearance.
> Proximity Danger novels.
> See below
READER CAUTIONS ~ not recommended to YA readers or those who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - Yes. Infrequent use of strong language.
VIOLENCE - PG-13+. This is a gothic, Psychological Thriller dealing with a serial killer. POV of the killer in places. Killing occurs off scene with details described after.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Detailed intimacy scenes in the later half.
(1=DNF/What was that?; 2=Not for me; 3=Ok; 3.5=I enjoyed this; 4=INTENSE & CAPTIVATING; 5=I really loved this! 5 is rare for me).
Yorkshire, England, September 1828 ~
15yrs earlier a killer begins hunting in London. After 2 near arrests, he moves his killing to the quiet country and continues. Unexpectedly and at random times since, young, pretty, blue-eyed, blond haired girls in the area suddenly disappear, their bodies only to be discovered a few days later - tortured and very, very dead.
With her father’s illness becoming worse, Elizabeth Canham’s family is in dire need of financial assistance. Due to the excellent education by her mother, accompanied with vaulted letters of recommendation, Elizabeth has applied and been accepted by Yorkshire’s Burndale’s Academy for young girls in a teaching position with very good pay. During her carriage ride to the school and days afterward, Elizabeth begins receiving warnings about terrible business and goings-on at Burnsdale. The school’s local reputation is extremely cautionary. Although the headmistress seems fair enough, Burnsdale is oppressive and dark at night. Elizabeth’s family requires the money Elizabeth can send but what has she gotten herself into? After Elizabeth’s arrival, another local girl disappears. Young, pretty, blue-eyed, blond hair. She worked as a maid at the school.
Comments ~
1) My first novels as a young adult were Gothic Romances written by Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels and others. Although Psychological Thrillers fall outside my regular reading today I still have a fondness for an occasional gothic-styled novel which takes me back to my early years of reading.
2) I appreciate that the conflict in the story comes from unknown factors rather than drawn out or repeated miscommunication between the main characters.
3) Both MCs come from difficult pasts with tragic horrors yet Elizabeth had amazing resilience and courage. She struggled daily, fighting the memories of her past, beat down her panic attacks and claustrophobia, to function normally and not give up. Getting on the stagecoach and leaving her family behind and everyone she knew took great courage. She was frightened in her new situation but didn’t jump to conclusions. She performed her job well, while constantly observing and gathering information about her new situation. The MMC lived with his own horrors of the past plus with the fearful and condemning comments of the villagers. He held himself together only through a firm resolve and restraint. He was about to give up the battle when Elizabeth arrives.
4)The setting in HIS WICKED SINS is very atmospheric; a sense of danger and threat eases from the pages. I felt as if I was there - hurrying through the dark, looking over my shoulder, searching for anything to protect myself while hearing my worst fear draw near.
5) Although I found HIS WICKED SINS incredibly intense (and quite creepy in places - not my normal fare), I enjoyed it and can see myself rereading it again in the future. I have purchased the last 2 books in this series and will be checking them out later. (Previously I enjoyed DARK DESIRES/bk1 and DARK PRINCE/bk2 slightly more than HIS DARK KISS/bk3 in this gothic series - each well worth my time and reviewed separately).
6) I recommend HIS WICKED SINS to readers who enjoy:
> Gothic novels reminiscent of the past.
> Historic novels with atmospheric, mysterious and foreboding settings.
> Seasoned characters who persevere through dark pasts and difficult situations to eventually discover much brighter futures.
> Misunderstood & redeemable main characters.
> Characters of quality (resilience, courage, fortitude) rather than mere titles or appearance.
> Proximity Danger novels.
> See below
READER CAUTIONS ~ not recommended to YA readers or those who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - Yes. Infrequent use of strong language.
VIOLENCE - PG-13+. This is a gothic, Psychological Thriller dealing with a serial killer. POV of the killer in places. Killing occurs off scene with details described after.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Detailed intimacy scenes in the later half.
August 11, 2019
First of all, this story really creeped me out. I think the author's addition of the murderer's inner thoughts was what did it. Those parts just repelled me, and I had to skip bits to get through. The bizarre thing? This story was really heartwarming, as well.
Mind blown. Well, not really, but still, it was a rewarding, if sometimes troubling, read.
Of course there is instant chemistry, etc. And of course, there is a troubled child who can only be reached by the heroine. BUT, it makes sense. People who are survivors of trauma can recognize suffering. If Elizabeth had been just another regency romance, down-on-her-luck lady, who had never lived through such a devastating experience, it wouldn't have made sense for either Griffith or Isobel to be drawn to her, or to feel a sympathetic connection. And that would've also made it highly unlikely that she could ever understand their worldviews or the way their traumas affected them. The fact that she was also a strong person, and had overcome so much, gave the character emotional depth and breadth. Silver does a good job of illustrating how anxiety and the need to control one's emotional triggers/reactions transfers into some serious OCD tendancies.
I didn't suspect the villain until the last quarter of the book, but that's how Silver wrote it. It isn't obvious - we see the insides of his twisted mind, but are left in the dark as to the outward persona he shows everyone else, until towards the end. Did it become a little too "pat" and neatly tied together, finally? Possibly, but therein also lies the heartwarming aspect of it, so I cannot fault Silver for the way she wove everything together. It made me go, "Aw!" and smile happily. After all the horrors described and perpetrated in the story, that's saying something for Silver's writing skills!
This might have been my least favorite of the series so far - although certainly full of atmosphere, an enjoyable h&H, and a satisfying HEA - the serial killer mentality made me a little nauseated, as did the description of his "mementos". Ugh.
But certainly a good, dark, gothic regency!
Mind blown. Well, not really, but still, it was a rewarding, if sometimes troubling, read.
Of course there is instant chemistry, etc. And of course, there is a troubled child who can only be reached by the heroine. BUT, it makes sense. People who are survivors of trauma can recognize suffering. If Elizabeth had been just another regency romance, down-on-her-luck lady, who had never lived through such a devastating experience, it wouldn't have made sense for either Griffith or Isobel to be drawn to her, or to feel a sympathetic connection. And that would've also made it highly unlikely that she could ever understand their worldviews or the way their traumas affected them. The fact that she was also a strong person, and had overcome so much, gave the character emotional depth and breadth. Silver does a good job of illustrating how anxiety and the need to control one's emotional triggers/reactions transfers into some serious OCD tendancies.
I didn't suspect the villain until the last quarter of the book, but that's how Silver wrote it. It isn't obvious - we see the insides of his twisted mind, but are left in the dark as to the outward persona he shows everyone else, until towards the end. Did it become a little too "pat" and neatly tied together, finally? Possibly, but therein also lies the heartwarming aspect of it, so I cannot fault Silver for the way she wove everything together. It made me go, "Aw!" and smile happily. After all the horrors described and perpetrated in the story, that's saying something for Silver's writing skills!
This might have been my least favorite of the series so far - although certainly full of atmosphere, an enjoyable h&H, and a satisfying HEA - the serial killer mentality made me a little nauseated, as did the description of his "mementos". Ugh.
But certainly a good, dark, gothic regency!
February 20, 2025
Un amore complicato è il quarto volume della serie Historical Romance Dark Gothic, chiamata così perché in lingua inglese i titoli hanno la parola Dark al loro interno e perché i romanzi hanno tinte gotiche.
I volumi sono autoconclusivi e possono essere letti senza rispettare l’ordine di pubblicazione.
Tutto inizia quando per aiutare la sua famiglia in gravi difficoltà finanziarie, Elizabeth accetta di lavorare come insegnante alla Burndale Academy. Arrivata lì, scopre che circolano strane voci (sono scomparse due insegnanti). A turbarla c’è anche l’incontro con il misterioso Griffin Fairfax, padre di una delle sue allieve che sembra nascondere qualcosa.
Più che un romance gotico, tende più al thriller (scopriamo subito che c’è uno serial killer che si aggira nei paraggi) con una sfumatura rosa. Le vicende sono raccontate tra passato e presente (gestite bene) e anche se i punti di vista principali sono quelli dei due protagonisti, in realtà leggiamo di tanto in tanto anche il punto di vista dell’assassino.
Mi aspettavo che Elizabeth avesse più paura di Griffin visto che l’autrice cerca di far credere che sia lui il serial killer. Però l’ho preferita rispetto al personaggio maschile. Mi è piaciuta vederla in grado di dominare le sue paure invece di piangersi addosso. Mi aspettavo anche un’interazione maggiore tra Elizabeth e la figlia di Griffin.
Il risvolto romantico è forse la parte più debole. Viene gestita in maniera troppo moderna. Vanno a letto insieme senza pensare troppo alle conseguenze e non affrontano nemmeno la loro differenza di classe sociale. Inoltre, si scoprono innamorati dopo poche interazioni.
Il risvolto thriller, invece, era praticamente impossibile da risolvere con le inutili informazioni fornite.
Non mi hanno infastidito i dettagli macabri e le descrizioni inquietanti ma capisco se qualcuno potrebbe non apprezzarle
In verità, parte molto bene ma poi in alcuni punti diventa alquanto noioso e la tentazione di abbandonarlo è stata forte.
Non mi ha convinto.
I volumi sono autoconclusivi e possono essere letti senza rispettare l’ordine di pubblicazione.
Tutto inizia quando per aiutare la sua famiglia in gravi difficoltà finanziarie, Elizabeth accetta di lavorare come insegnante alla Burndale Academy. Arrivata lì, scopre che circolano strane voci (sono scomparse due insegnanti). A turbarla c’è anche l’incontro con il misterioso Griffin Fairfax, padre di una delle sue allieve che sembra nascondere qualcosa.
Più che un romance gotico, tende più al thriller (scopriamo subito che c’è uno serial killer che si aggira nei paraggi) con una sfumatura rosa. Le vicende sono raccontate tra passato e presente (gestite bene) e anche se i punti di vista principali sono quelli dei due protagonisti, in realtà leggiamo di tanto in tanto anche il punto di vista dell’assassino.
Mi aspettavo che Elizabeth avesse più paura di Griffin visto che l’autrice cerca di far credere che sia lui il serial killer. Però l’ho preferita rispetto al personaggio maschile. Mi è piaciuta vederla in grado di dominare le sue paure invece di piangersi addosso. Mi aspettavo anche un’interazione maggiore tra Elizabeth e la figlia di Griffin.
Il risvolto romantico è forse la parte più debole. Viene gestita in maniera troppo moderna. Vanno a letto insieme senza pensare troppo alle conseguenze e non affrontano nemmeno la loro differenza di classe sociale. Inoltre, si scoprono innamorati dopo poche interazioni.
Il risvolto thriller, invece, era praticamente impossibile da risolvere con le inutili informazioni fornite.
Non mi hanno infastidito i dettagli macabri e le descrizioni inquietanti ma capisco se qualcuno potrebbe non apprezzarle
In verità, parte molto bene ma poi in alcuni punti diventa alquanto noioso e la tentazione di abbandonarlo è stata forte.
Non mi ha convinto.
August 27, 2020
A well crafted, gripping page turner!!
A truly engaging gothic read that subtly draws you in until you are equally hooked and captivated. Never really being able to second guess what will happen next.
Silver can really cocoon your senses by cleverly reeling you in to each scene as she crafts a truly eery and sinister atmosphere. The intricate detail puts you there, tying your tummy in tension fueled knots and gripping it one minute with tingling sensual allure and the next sick with horrific brutality. I reveled in the stormy, ominious air that surrounded Beth and became sucked in by the suspicious goings on, snippet alarming whispers, intrigue and small clues interwoven throughout in the attempt to workout the disturbed serial killer on the loose - but satisfactorily never did!!
Beth and Griffin are wonderfully meaty characters, unimaginably wounded, deeply hurting and immeasurably suffering because of their past histories.
Beth is a conundrum of fragility and strength. She is curious, inquisitive, drawn to puzzles and the need to sap courage and control from order by scrutinising and understanding those around her and no one is more of a riddle and bundle of delicious contradictions that Griffin. With his mysteriously dark handsome presence, erected internal walls and powerful allure. He can unnervingly anchor and off set Beth in equal measure, with each rare curl of the lip, brief rusty laugh and soul penetrating gaze. Together the chemistry and connection jumps off the page!
A recommended read - Silver is my go to gothic fix!!
A truly engaging gothic read that subtly draws you in until you are equally hooked and captivated. Never really being able to second guess what will happen next.
Silver can really cocoon your senses by cleverly reeling you in to each scene as she crafts a truly eery and sinister atmosphere. The intricate detail puts you there, tying your tummy in tension fueled knots and gripping it one minute with tingling sensual allure and the next sick with horrific brutality. I reveled in the stormy, ominious air that surrounded Beth and became sucked in by the suspicious goings on, snippet alarming whispers, intrigue and small clues interwoven throughout in the attempt to workout the disturbed serial killer on the loose - but satisfactorily never did!!
Beth and Griffin are wonderfully meaty characters, unimaginably wounded, deeply hurting and immeasurably suffering because of their past histories.
Beth is a conundrum of fragility and strength. She is curious, inquisitive, drawn to puzzles and the need to sap courage and control from order by scrutinising and understanding those around her and no one is more of a riddle and bundle of delicious contradictions that Griffin. With his mysteriously dark handsome presence, erected internal walls and powerful allure. He can unnervingly anchor and off set Beth in equal measure, with each rare curl of the lip, brief rusty laugh and soul penetrating gaze. Together the chemistry and connection jumps off the page!
A recommended read - Silver is my go to gothic fix!!
October 18, 2018
This is the 4th book in Eve Silver's Dark Gothic series, and it truly meets the bill. An horrific murder in 1813 leads to the present day events of 1828, where Beth Canham finds herself arriving as a new teacher at a remote girls' school. She immediately finds out that two previous teachers have have been the victims of gruesome murder, both having blond hair just as Beth does. Beth needs this job to support her family who has fallen on hard times, but she brings her own fears with her and doesn't know who she can trust. She is drawn to Griffin Fairfax, nearby estate owner and widowed father of a mute student, but he is rumored to have killed his wife and has a mysterious background. Silver builds suspense with bone-chilling events, constantly keeping the reader wondering who is the true villain of this story.
All of the books in this series are complete in themselves. Silver has a wonderful writing style that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering if you dare turn the next page. His Wicked Sins meets all the criteria for a spine-tingling Gothic mystery/romance with plenty of surprises.
All of the books in this series are complete in themselves. Silver has a wonderful writing style that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering if you dare turn the next page. His Wicked Sins meets all the criteria for a spine-tingling Gothic mystery/romance with plenty of surprises.
August 10, 2018
3.5 Stars
This one was slightly better than the last. I like the author and the genre, but the stories are missing something. However, I can honestly say that I had no idea what to expect at the end, and was pleasantly surprised by the villain. Made sense in hindsight, but good job on keeping us guessing. My struggle is around the why. Why does everyone think Griffin is a villain? I can understand being a little suspicious based on his always finding the bodies, but then again, it could also be convenience. He lived in close proximity and was the largest benefactor for the school. And after learning the details of his wife's death, the idea he was the villain was made even thinner. The story like others was a little slow again. Perhaps it feels that way because I am used to a much quicker pace and more action in sinister stories. Again, not horrible in the telling and I did find myself engrossed in learning what the deal was and who was murdering these poor women. I do intend to finish all 6 books for that reason.
This one was slightly better than the last. I like the author and the genre, but the stories are missing something. However, I can honestly say that I had no idea what to expect at the end, and was pleasantly surprised by the villain. Made sense in hindsight, but good job on keeping us guessing. My struggle is around the why. Why does everyone think Griffin is a villain? I can understand being a little suspicious based on his always finding the bodies, but then again, it could also be convenience. He lived in close proximity and was the largest benefactor for the school. And after learning the details of his wife's death, the idea he was the villain was made even thinner. The story like others was a little slow again. Perhaps it feels that way because I am used to a much quicker pace and more action in sinister stories. Again, not horrible in the telling and I did find myself engrossed in learning what the deal was and who was murdering these poor women. I do intend to finish all 6 books for that reason.
February 9, 2020
Definitely a Dark Gothic Romance
This fourth book in the series is very dark and filled with lots of tense moments. Eve Silver is quite adept at building suspense and creating an air of mystery with her writing. I found this book to be a bit creepier than the previous books and that is definitely a good thing! The main characters are well developed with tragic back stories. I love a strong female lead who knows her own mind and is able to face her fears. Beth delivers on both counts. Griffin is dark and brooding and the reader is constantly questioning his motives. I would have liked a little less time wasted on Beth pining for Griffin and more time fleshing out the end of the story. An epilogue would have been lovely. Overall, an entertaining Gothic read.
This fourth book in the series is very dark and filled with lots of tense moments. Eve Silver is quite adept at building suspense and creating an air of mystery with her writing. I found this book to be a bit creepier than the previous books and that is definitely a good thing! The main characters are well developed with tragic back stories. I love a strong female lead who knows her own mind and is able to face her fears. Beth delivers on both counts. Griffin is dark and brooding and the reader is constantly questioning his motives. I would have liked a little less time wasted on Beth pining for Griffin and more time fleshing out the end of the story. An epilogue would have been lovely. Overall, an entertaining Gothic read.
July 14, 2024
4.5 🌟
I think this was my favourite of the Dark Gothic series, though they were all good and seem to follow vaguely similar themes, particularly regarding the instant attraction of the intrepid, virtuous heroine to the gorgeous, morally grey-appearing hero.
This one kept me guessing with a few red herrings thrown in. Beth was an interesting character who suffered from PTSD-related phobias. Griffin was the typical mysterious-hot-guy with the added bonus of being a single father of a sweet but complex little girl who's a student at the school where Beth is employed as a teacher.
This book contains descriptive love scenes.
I think this was my favourite of the Dark Gothic series, though they were all good and seem to follow vaguely similar themes, particularly regarding the instant attraction of the intrepid, virtuous heroine to the gorgeous, morally grey-appearing hero.
This one kept me guessing with a few red herrings thrown in. Beth was an interesting character who suffered from PTSD-related phobias. Griffin was the typical mysterious-hot-guy with the added bonus of being a single father of a sweet but complex little girl who's a student at the school where Beth is employed as a teacher.
This book contains descriptive love scenes.
April 10, 2018
The author went a new direction for this one and it defeated the purpose of the series, it wasn't very gothic at all. There was simply too much going on at once, you never doubted with her and she was so anxious about everything, it failed to have the desired affect. However I am impressed that she tried to write from three perspectives and I always want to encourage an author to try and break from their cookie cutter!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews