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Unspeakable Things
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26A chance meeting on a windswept English moor sparks an obsessive—and soon deadly—love affair between two lonely young women in this clever inversion of the Gothic classics, with a fresh spin that could only come from the award-winning author of A Haunting on the Hill.
It’s the 1920s and the English countryside is quiet—which suits Olivia and Tamsin, two young women happy to be overlooked by society. Their relationship is complicated: unruly, working-class Tamsin was brought to Kerrith Manor to be tutored at Olivia’s side, but the two quickly have found something more than friendship—a bone-deep recognition that ignites an endless passion. But an unexpected visitor and an unexplained death disrupt their idyll, sending both women on the run. They find harbor at Ledges, the dazzling estate of ruthlessly wealthy and mysterious Rex de Voil—and a favorite hang-out for the bohemian “bright young things” eager to cut loose far from London’s prying eyes. Olivia and Tamsin revel in their newfound freedom…until they learn that nothing in Rex’s world is without cost. Richly evoking a vibrant time in queer history, Unspeakable Things is a seductive historical thriller that explores the haunting bond between two women coming into their power even as it unspools their obsession to its deadly end.
It’s the 1920s and the English countryside is quiet—which suits Olivia and Tamsin, two young women happy to be overlooked by society. Their relationship is complicated: unruly, working-class Tamsin was brought to Kerrith Manor to be tutored at Olivia’s side, but the two quickly have found something more than friendship—a bone-deep recognition that ignites an endless passion. But an unexpected visitor and an unexplained death disrupt their idyll, sending both women on the run. They find harbor at Ledges, the dazzling estate of ruthlessly wealthy and mysterious Rex de Voil—and a favorite hang-out for the bohemian “bright young things” eager to cut loose far from London’s prying eyes. Olivia and Tamsin revel in their newfound freedom…until they learn that nothing in Rex’s world is without cost. Richly evoking a vibrant time in queer history, Unspeakable Things is a seductive historical thriller that explores the haunting bond between two women coming into their power even as it unspools their obsession to its deadly end.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
Elizabeth Hand
193 books1,369 followersA New York Times notable and multiple award– winning author, Elizabeth Hand has written seven novels, including the cult classic Waking the Moon, and short-story collections. She is a longtime contributor to numerous publications, including the Washington Post Book World and the Village Voice Literary Supplement. She and her two children divide their time between the coast of Maine and North London.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 stars
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
I wanted to bite someone, to draw blood. To run and never stop.
It's after the first World War and Olivia is coming of age in Cornwall with her struggling to still have a career actor and playwright father and his companion, Martin. She loves the moors and dressing as a man and when she meets Tasmin, her “Oliver” finds it's match in “Tommy”. When her cousin gets sent to them to rethink his got caught misbehavior, she suddenly finds herself at a houseparty and getting caught up in Tasmin's dreams, fighting to keep secrets, and the naivety of youth's thinking of invincibility.
That thread of power that hummed between us had been spun into a web. We were invisible, seen yet not known. We were inviolable.
The Cornish setting with it's winds and cliffs and the old rambling estate helped to set the Gothic tone all before the mystery and murder came onto the pages. It was all hushed as the genre tends to keep it's cards to the vest with first person point-of-view to keep the reader in the dark about certain characters' motivations. Olivia worked as an eighteen year old coming into her own power as conventionally good looking and being the focus of men's dark desires. Her lack of interest and wanting to be left alone with Tasmin to make a life gave a little different direction and dimension but the same Gothic beats were all there with Tasmin being clouded with murder-y shadows.
“[...You like to see how close you can get to the edge of things without falling. Not as close as you believed, as it turns out....]”
The pace picked up when Olivia, Tasmin, and her cousin go to the houseparty and we get outside influences affecting the Oliver and Tommy bubble. The host Rex de Voil with his standoffish but seemingly drawn to Olivia (and drawer full of women's hairbrushes) brings in some more dread but as things picked up to come to a head, the ending felt like a whiff to me. The slow burn that was finally leading somewhere suddenly cuts off with numerous threads left dangling, left to the reader to decide if Olivia's youthful sense of power will be her downfall or if Oliver and Tommy will succeed in all the ways they hope to. It was hard not feeling like when the story finally was starting to go somewhere it abruptly ended, it didn't give the feeling of “left to your imagination” but rather, “leaving it for the sequel”, making me feel like I didn't get much of a story. I was drawn the most to Olivia's father's companion Martin and Rex de Voil's housekeeper, would love to read their novellas. Some Gothic atmosphere, murder and mystery, but ultimately, felt unfinished and unexplained.
I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
I wanted to bite someone, to draw blood. To run and never stop.
It's after the first World War and Olivia is coming of age in Cornwall with her struggling to still have a career actor and playwright father and his companion, Martin. She loves the moors and dressing as a man and when she meets Tasmin, her “Oliver” finds it's match in “Tommy”. When her cousin gets sent to them to rethink his got caught misbehavior, she suddenly finds herself at a houseparty and getting caught up in Tasmin's dreams, fighting to keep secrets, and the naivety of youth's thinking of invincibility.
That thread of power that hummed between us had been spun into a web. We were invisible, seen yet not known. We were inviolable.
The Cornish setting with it's winds and cliffs and the old rambling estate helped to set the Gothic tone all before the mystery and murder came onto the pages. It was all hushed as the genre tends to keep it's cards to the vest with first person point-of-view to keep the reader in the dark about certain characters' motivations. Olivia worked as an eighteen year old coming into her own power as conventionally good looking and being the focus of men's dark desires. Her lack of interest and wanting to be left alone with Tasmin to make a life gave a little different direction and dimension but the same Gothic beats were all there with Tasmin being clouded with murder-y shadows.
“[...You like to see how close you can get to the edge of things without falling. Not as close as you believed, as it turns out....]”
The pace picked up when Olivia, Tasmin, and her cousin go to the houseparty and we get outside influences affecting the Oliver and Tommy bubble. The host Rex de Voil with his standoffish but seemingly drawn to Olivia (and drawer full of women's hairbrushes) brings in some more dread but as things picked up to come to a head, the ending felt like a whiff to me. The slow burn that was finally leading somewhere suddenly cuts off with numerous threads left dangling, left to the reader to decide if Olivia's youthful sense of power will be her downfall or if Oliver and Tommy will succeed in all the ways they hope to. It was hard not feeling like when the story finally was starting to go somewhere it abruptly ended, it didn't give the feeling of “left to your imagination” but rather, “leaving it for the sequel”, making me feel like I didn't get much of a story. I was drawn the most to Olivia's father's companion Martin and Rex de Voil's housekeeper, would love to read their novellas. Some Gothic atmosphere, murder and mystery, but ultimately, felt unfinished and unexplained.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Kathleen Quinlan at Little, Brown and Company for the ARC of Unspeakable Things via NetGalley.
This incredibly evocative book finds 18-year-old Olivia Madden, sequestered in the English countryside, during the post war era where women and girls were beginning to taste a bit of freedom, with shorter skirts and boyish haircuts. Her father, aging actor Peter Madden, now best remembered for his portrayal of Captain Hook in repeated productions of Peter Pan, is consumed with trying to mount a production of The Tempest, in hopes of reigniting his career, devoted partner and dresser, Martin by his side. Olivia's mother died a few years ago, but Martin's presence predated that event.
Even with the allowances for the bohemian lifestyle of artists and performers, it was best for Peter and Martin to hide out in the countryside with Olivia. This left her utterly alone, with only the company of a governess, Miss Irikos. Unfortunately, 18yr olds don't need governesses and anyway there wasn't much money to keep any extra staff on hand. All of which to say that Olivia couldn't have been better suited to falling for Tamsin, if she had been conjured by a love spell.
While I understood the overwhelming nature of first love, the need to hold fast the first, only, friend she had, the teenaged need to buck society's rules, I didn't care for Tamsin. I wasn't surprised as her body count went up, I just wanted to shake Olivia and let her know that at 18 she knows NOTHING about anything and this obsession with Tamsin wasn't worth the loss of Simon.
When wealthy cousin Simon, from her mother's side of the family comes to visit, it turns out that he too prefers the company of those he shouldn't but he is young and attractive and wealthy and for now it's all a bit of fun, even if it means hiding out a bit to let the rumors die down. When an invitation to a weekend party comes along, Simon begs Olivia to attend. He wants her to know that there is a life out there for young people and that her father was wrong to let her hide away without any interaction with society. When she begs to include Tamsin, he relents, hoping that she will still be enticed by the opportunities that will present themselves and perhaps the feral Tamsin will lose favor.
At Ledges, the estate home of Rex De Voil, Olivia and Tamsin, Ollie and Tommy, are free to be together. It becomes apparent that several guests are like Simon and her father, and several are like her and Tamsin. This causes them to relax a bit more in displaying affection which leads to them being caught by a gossip columnist, there as a guest. While seemingly attracted to Olivia and perhaps willing to bargain, Tamsin takes matters into her own hands and shortly after lunch he suffers an attack of sorts and dies.
Simon offers Olivia a way out, a marriage blanc like her parents had, where his money and position will give her cover and a place to go when her father's debts leave her homeless. He knows her preferences and assures her that they would be free to have separate lives within the marriage. She stubbornly refuses because she only wants Tamsin and to go home - to a home that no longer belongs to her father. It is the petulant response of a child, who doesn't understand the realities of the world at large.
In the end, it's her magnetic host, Rex De Voil that may have the answers to how Olivia can get and keep everything she wants, including her freedom. In fact, I hope Olivia comes back from Monte Carlo and looks at Tamsin the way a college student looks at the stuffed animals in their old childhood bedroom with a mixture of nostalgia and indifference.
This incredibly evocative book finds 18-year-old Olivia Madden, sequestered in the English countryside, during the post war era where women and girls were beginning to taste a bit of freedom, with shorter skirts and boyish haircuts. Her father, aging actor Peter Madden, now best remembered for his portrayal of Captain Hook in repeated productions of Peter Pan, is consumed with trying to mount a production of The Tempest, in hopes of reigniting his career, devoted partner and dresser, Martin by his side. Olivia's mother died a few years ago, but Martin's presence predated that event.
Even with the allowances for the bohemian lifestyle of artists and performers, it was best for Peter and Martin to hide out in the countryside with Olivia. This left her utterly alone, with only the company of a governess, Miss Irikos. Unfortunately, 18yr olds don't need governesses and anyway there wasn't much money to keep any extra staff on hand. All of which to say that Olivia couldn't have been better suited to falling for Tamsin, if she had been conjured by a love spell.
While I understood the overwhelming nature of first love, the need to hold fast the first, only, friend she had, the teenaged need to buck society's rules, I didn't care for Tamsin. I wasn't surprised as her body count went up, I just wanted to shake Olivia and let her know that at 18 she knows NOTHING about anything and this obsession with Tamsin wasn't worth the loss of Simon.
When wealthy cousin Simon, from her mother's side of the family comes to visit, it turns out that he too prefers the company of those he shouldn't but he is young and attractive and wealthy and for now it's all a bit of fun, even if it means hiding out a bit to let the rumors die down. When an invitation to a weekend party comes along, Simon begs Olivia to attend. He wants her to know that there is a life out there for young people and that her father was wrong to let her hide away without any interaction with society. When she begs to include Tamsin, he relents, hoping that she will still be enticed by the opportunities that will present themselves and perhaps the feral Tamsin will lose favor.
At Ledges, the estate home of Rex De Voil, Olivia and Tamsin, Ollie and Tommy, are free to be together. It becomes apparent that several guests are like Simon and her father, and several are like her and Tamsin. This causes them to relax a bit more in displaying affection which leads to them being caught by a gossip columnist, there as a guest. While seemingly attracted to Olivia and perhaps willing to bargain, Tamsin takes matters into her own hands and shortly after lunch he suffers an attack of sorts and dies.
Simon offers Olivia a way out, a marriage blanc like her parents had, where his money and position will give her cover and a place to go when her father's debts leave her homeless. He knows her preferences and assures her that they would be free to have separate lives within the marriage. She stubbornly refuses because she only wants Tamsin and to go home - to a home that no longer belongs to her father. It is the petulant response of a child, who doesn't understand the realities of the world at large.
In the end, it's her magnetic host, Rex De Voil that may have the answers to how Olivia can get and keep everything she wants, including her freedom. In fact, I hope Olivia comes back from Monte Carlo and looks at Tamsin the way a college student looks at the stuffed animals in their old childhood bedroom with a mixture of nostalgia and indifference.
August 7, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Little,Brown and Company for the opportunity to read Elizabeth Hand’s newest novel.
I finished the ARC last night. I am saying it is one of Hand’s best work to date.
Olivia is 18 and lives with her father and his companion Martin in Cornwall on an estate belonging to a local Lord and his family. She loves the old manor house called Kerrith and hasn’t really ever been away from it. She has governess for a time who takes an interest in her artwork but then she is gone and Olivia is on her own again.
She wanders the moors and the cliffs and has had no real companions until one day she meets another girl. Tamsin becomes her only friend and it is her relationship with Tamsin that the plot hinges on. This is more than a Sapphic romance this is also a Gothic thriller based on their obsession with each other. What would we do for love?
Simon is Olivia’s cousin and he wants her to come to London and stay with him. He wants her to have some choices in her life that Kerrith cannot give her. She is invited by her cousin to the estate of a wealthy friend for a week of partying with a host of other guests. This culminates in a masquerade ball on the weekend of Beltane.
This is the Roaring 20s. Life was a more than a little loose for many wealthy Bright Young Things money bought pleasure and wild lifestyles. I love some of Hand’s characters in particular Tippy. Everyone needs a Tippy in their friends group.
The ending is what I expected and at the same time it was not what I expected. Masquerade Balls and Sardines…
This is a dark tale. Reading this left me with the same feelings that books like Wuthering Heights and Here on Earth (Alice Hoffman) did. But also Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train and her Ripley books. DuMaurier’s Rebecca and Shirley Jackson’s Hangsaman, Birds Nest and We have Always Lived in the Castle. All dark. All Gothic. All of these novels have lived rent free in my memory for decades. So has anything I have ever read by Elizabeth Hand. This novel is no exception. I expect to reread this book and depending on the narrator I will buy the Audio also and yes, more than likely this book needs to be on my bookshelf.
My introduction to Dark Academia was through Hand’s Waking the Moon.
I have not much for trigger warnings.
This is a Sapphic Gothic tale so if you do not care for that type of book steer clear.
There is not a heavy amount of Spice but it is there.
Do t think this matters but will say it anyway. I am not LGBTQ myself. I HIGHLY recommend this book. I cannot say enough good things about it.
Thank you again NetGalley and Little,Brown and Company for this great read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unspeakable Things has all the makings of a memorable Gothic novel with Its richly atmospheric 1920s setting, decaying estates, long-buried secrets, and a relationship shaped by obsession. The prose is beautifully crafted, and excels at creating an eerie sense of place that lingers. While the atmosphere never falters, the story unfolds at such a deliberate pace that it often feels more interested in reinforcing its mood than moving the plot forward. I kept expecting the tension to build, but the narrative repeatedly returned to the same emotional and thematic beats rather than gaining momentum.
The central relationship is compelling but I found it difficult to connect with the characters on an emotional level. Their motivations often felt distant, making it hard to fully invest in their decisions or the consequences that followed. The supporting cast also felt underdeveloped, serving the Gothic atmosphere more effectively than they did as fully realized individuals.
Even so, readers who enjoy literary Gothic fiction and don't mind a slow-burning, character-focused story may appreciate this novel more than I did. The prose is elegant, the historical setting is vividly brought to life, and there are several genuinely unsettling moments that highlight Hand's gift for immersive, atmospheric storytelling.
Overall, Unspeakable Things is an atmospheric and elegantly written Gothic tale that will appeal to readers who enjoy slow-building suspense and richly imagined settings. It didn't completely captivate me from beginning to end, but its haunting atmosphere and memorable imagery make it well worth the read.
The central relationship is compelling but I found it difficult to connect with the characters on an emotional level. Their motivations often felt distant, making it hard to fully invest in their decisions or the consequences that followed. The supporting cast also felt underdeveloped, serving the Gothic atmosphere more effectively than they did as fully realized individuals.
Even so, readers who enjoy literary Gothic fiction and don't mind a slow-burning, character-focused story may appreciate this novel more than I did. The prose is elegant, the historical setting is vividly brought to life, and there are several genuinely unsettling moments that highlight Hand's gift for immersive, atmospheric storytelling.
Overall, Unspeakable Things is an atmospheric and elegantly written Gothic tale that will appeal to readers who enjoy slow-building suspense and richly imagined settings. It didn't completely captivate me from beginning to end, but its haunting atmosphere and memorable imagery make it well worth the read.
July 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for preapproving me for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
So this book started off really slow, while the prose is really good and atmospheric I was somewhat struggling to get into it because of the slowness, I was legit about to DNF but I really wanted to give this book a chance and to make it to at least 20%. I’m actually so glad I did give it a chance. As I stated earlier despite the slow beginning, I was drawn in by the atmosphere and it FINALLY picked up to the point where I couldn’t point it down. 😭 I honestly thought Tamsin would’ve became an issue, but I did love how Elizabeth wrote the obsessiveness that both Olivia and Tamsin had for one another. Although to be honest it seemed as though Olivia was more into Tamsin, but that could be just because this is in first person pov. Unfortunately, the ending really pissed me off like it felt like the story really picked up but the ending was fumbled on my opinion. While I did enjoy this book, I found it to be okay to be honest. I’m not crazy about it, but I do wish the ending could’ve landed better for me.
So this book started off really slow, while the prose is really good and atmospheric I was somewhat struggling to get into it because of the slowness, I was legit about to DNF but I really wanted to give this book a chance and to make it to at least 20%. I’m actually so glad I did give it a chance. As I stated earlier despite the slow beginning, I was drawn in by the atmosphere and it FINALLY picked up to the point where I couldn’t point it down. 😭 I honestly thought Tamsin would’ve became an issue, but I did love how Elizabeth wrote the obsessiveness that both Olivia and Tamsin had for one another. Although to be honest it seemed as though Olivia was more into Tamsin, but that could be just because this is in first person pov. Unfortunately, the ending really pissed me off like it felt like the story really picked up but the ending was fumbled on my opinion. While I did enjoy this book, I found it to be okay to be honest. I’m not crazy about it, but I do wish the ending could’ve landed better for me.
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July 9, 2026Review of Digital Galley
Olivia Madden lives at Kerrith with her father, script writer, actor, and director, in England's countryside. She prefers to dress in men’s clothing and thinks of herself as both Olivia and Oliver.
One day she meets Tamsin Griggs beneath the capstone at Carn Kerys. Tamsin believes she’s a man and attacks her. After a scuffle, they talk; Olivia shares the bread and hard-boiled eggs she’d brought from Kerrith. Their friendship gets off to a bumpy start, but Olivia is smitten.
What does the future hold for Olivia and Tamsin?
=========
Set in the 1920s, this gothic tale is dark and a murder puts Olivia and Tamsin on the run. The young girls’ relationship is complex; the story is intriguing. Characters are plentiful in this thriller and, at times, seem a bit too plentiful. Readers who enjoy historical tales may find this an interesting addition to the genre.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#UnspeakableThings #NetGalley
Olivia Madden lives at Kerrith with her father, script writer, actor, and director, in England's countryside. She prefers to dress in men’s clothing and thinks of herself as both Olivia and Oliver.
One day she meets Tamsin Griggs beneath the capstone at Carn Kerys. Tamsin believes she’s a man and attacks her. After a scuffle, they talk; Olivia shares the bread and hard-boiled eggs she’d brought from Kerrith. Their friendship gets off to a bumpy start, but Olivia is smitten.
What does the future hold for Olivia and Tamsin?
=========
Set in the 1920s, this gothic tale is dark and a murder puts Olivia and Tamsin on the run. The young girls’ relationship is complex; the story is intriguing. Characters are plentiful in this thriller and, at times, seem a bit too plentiful. Readers who enjoy historical tales may find this an interesting addition to the genre.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#UnspeakableThings #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sadly, I just could not get into this story. I made it to Ch34/81 (plus the Epilogue) 39%.
This is pitched on NetGalley as: General Adult Fiction, Romance, Historical Thriller. For me, it felt very much like a Queer Historical Drama. I also kept forgetting that the FMC’s were Adults. There was an abundance of the two females being intimate, although not graphic. So, the overall vibe at times felt like this could have even been a YA-Coming-of-Age type of story….with a dash of crazy though.
The writing was great, but in my opinion, I felt that this was a PG-13 drama focused tale. Even though I personally found it light handed, I think there are many readers that prefer this style of writing. And who will absolutely fall in love with this book and find it a page-turner.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for inviting me to read this title, made available on NetGalley.
This is pitched on NetGalley as: General Adult Fiction, Romance, Historical Thriller. For me, it felt very much like a Queer Historical Drama. I also kept forgetting that the FMC’s were Adults. There was an abundance of the two females being intimate, although not graphic. So, the overall vibe at times felt like this could have even been a YA-Coming-of-Age type of story….with a dash of crazy though.
The writing was great, but in my opinion, I felt that this was a PG-13 drama focused tale. Even though I personally found it light handed, I think there are many readers that prefer this style of writing. And who will absolutely fall in love with this book and find it a page-turner.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for inviting me to read this title, made available on NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The main relationship is hard to connect to, as a reader I didn't really understand what drew them together or what kept them together. As certain other reviewers have pointed out, it seemed Olivia was more interested in Tamsin than Tamsin was in her, but that could also be the POV we have is Olivia's. Is it love or obsession? I still don't know and didn't care enough for the characters to find out.
Olivia Madden is eighteen, but her sheltered childhood in the English countryside left her without a debut, she spends most of her time painting, drawing, and dressing up as her male alter ego Oliver. One day on the moors she meets Tamsin, a young local woman, and becomes enamored with her. Her father and his live in lover Martin convince Tamsin's family to let her come stay with them at Kerrith Manor to keep Olivia company, and the two quickly develop much more than a friendship.
Olivia's cousin, Simon, is meant to come tutor them, a scandal has meant he needs to spend some time in the countryside, but when an unexpected and unwelcome guest shows up at the same time and an unexplained death disrupts the quiet happy life the girls have been leading, they convince Simon to take them to Leges, the country house of the rich and mysterious Rex de Voil. While Rex is in his thirties, his home is the hangout spot for the young and hip, where the alcohol flows and promiscuous games are par for the course. As Olivia finds herself drawn to Rex and more deaths occur, she must decide what she is willing to do to protect what she and Tamsin have, and who may have to suffer the consequences.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
Olivia Madden is eighteen, but her sheltered childhood in the English countryside left her without a debut, she spends most of her time painting, drawing, and dressing up as her male alter ego Oliver. One day on the moors she meets Tamsin, a young local woman, and becomes enamored with her. Her father and his live in lover Martin convince Tamsin's family to let her come stay with them at Kerrith Manor to keep Olivia company, and the two quickly develop much more than a friendship.
Olivia's cousin, Simon, is meant to come tutor them, a scandal has meant he needs to spend some time in the countryside, but when an unexpected and unwelcome guest shows up at the same time and an unexplained death disrupts the quiet happy life the girls have been leading, they convince Simon to take them to Leges, the country house of the rich and mysterious Rex de Voil. While Rex is in his thirties, his home is the hangout spot for the young and hip, where the alcohol flows and promiscuous games are par for the course. As Olivia finds herself drawn to Rex and more deaths occur, she must decide what she is willing to do to protect what she and Tamsin have, and who may have to suffer the consequences.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
July 24, 2026
Thanks you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.
Elizabeth Hand delivers a lush, atmospheric Gothic novel that completely immerses you in its world. From the opening pages, the setting is vivid and haunting, with a creeping sense of unease that only grows stronger as the story unfolds. Hand’s prose is beautiful, and she has a remarkable talent for creating mood and tension.
The relationship at the heart of the novel is compelling, and I appreciated how the story explores themes of love, obsession, class, and identity against the backdrop of 1920s England. Rather than relying on constant twists or scares, the novel slowly builds psychological suspense, rewarding readers who enjoy character-driven Gothic fiction.
The pacing is what kept this from being a five-star read for me. The middle section occasionally felt drawn out, and I found myself wishing for a bit more momentum before the final act. However, the immersive atmosphere and memorable characters more than made up for those slower moments.
If you enjoy Gothic fiction with rich historical detail, morally complex characters, queer love, and an unsettling sense of mystery, Unspeakable Things is well worth picking up. Fans of Rebecca, The Little Stranger, and Elizabeth Hand’s previous work will likely find a lot to love here.
Elizabeth Hand delivers a lush, atmospheric Gothic novel that completely immerses you in its world. From the opening pages, the setting is vivid and haunting, with a creeping sense of unease that only grows stronger as the story unfolds. Hand’s prose is beautiful, and she has a remarkable talent for creating mood and tension.
The relationship at the heart of the novel is compelling, and I appreciated how the story explores themes of love, obsession, class, and identity against the backdrop of 1920s England. Rather than relying on constant twists or scares, the novel slowly builds psychological suspense, rewarding readers who enjoy character-driven Gothic fiction.
The pacing is what kept this from being a five-star read for me. The middle section occasionally felt drawn out, and I found myself wishing for a bit more momentum before the final act. However, the immersive atmosphere and memorable characters more than made up for those slower moments.
If you enjoy Gothic fiction with rich historical detail, morally complex characters, queer love, and an unsettling sense of mystery, Unspeakable Things is well worth picking up. Fans of Rebecca, The Little Stranger, and Elizabeth Hand’s previous work will likely find a lot to love here.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Gothic novel with an intense relationship between two tempestuous teenage girls at its center, this novel, which takes place in England between the wars, careens from the stormy moor where the two young lovers meet at knifepoint to a country house party populated with Bright Young Things. And all along the way, the bodies are piling up.
Olivia, the daughter of a semi-famous, neglectful stage actor, longs to be an artist, but when she meets Tamsin, the orphaned daughter of the local midwife/abortionist, she’s swept up into something she never saw coming. Her love for Tamsin is obsessive, and we are never quite sure if Tamsin shares her passion or is using Olivia.
I’m not sure the ending worked for me; I found it unsettling, (as is the whole relationship) but I have a feeling that this is probably exactly what the writer intended.
Atmospheric, often creepy, and suspenseful. Another good read from Elizabeth Hand.
Olivia, the daughter of a semi-famous, neglectful stage actor, longs to be an artist, but when she meets Tamsin, the orphaned daughter of the local midwife/abortionist, she’s swept up into something she never saw coming. Her love for Tamsin is obsessive, and we are never quite sure if Tamsin shares her passion or is using Olivia.
I’m not sure the ending worked for me; I found it unsettling, (as is the whole relationship) but I have a feeling that this is probably exactly what the writer intended.
Atmospheric, often creepy, and suspenseful. Another good read from Elizabeth Hand.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book.
This was a bit more of a mood-driven, character-focused thriller than a fast-paced mystery twist-fest. But I appreciated the eerie gothic/ noir atmosphere, foggy English moors, 1920s lavishness.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ll look for more from this author.
This was a bit more of a mood-driven, character-focused thriller than a fast-paced mystery twist-fest. But I appreciated the eerie gothic/ noir atmosphere, foggy English moors, 1920s lavishness.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ll look for more from this author.
September 21, 2026
Unspeakable Things
By Elizabeth Hand
Pub: October 13, 2026
This book was a little different for me. We’re in the English countryside in the 1920s, following Olivia and Tamsin and their intense relationship. When they end up at Ledges, a beautiful but very strange estate, things start taking a much darker turn.
I really loved the creepy, gothic atmosphere and the whole something is definitely not right here feeling. It was a slow burn for me, but once it picked up, I was invested. Definitely an interesting read!
About the Book
It’s the 1920s and the English countryside is quiet—which suits Olivia and Tamsin, two young women happy to be overlooked by society. Their relationship is complicated: unruly, working-class Tamsin was brought to Kerrith Manor to be tutored at Olivia’s side, but the two quickly have found something more than friendship—a bone-deep recognition that ignites an endless passion.
But an unexpected visitor and an unexplained death disrupt their idyll, sending both women on the run. They find harbor at Ledges, the dazzling estate of ruthlessly wealthy and mysterious Rex de Voil—and a favorite hang-out for the bohemian Bright Young Things eager to cut loose far from London’s prying eyes. Olivia and Tamsin revel in their newfound freedom…until they learn that nothing in Rex’s world is without cost.
Richly evoking a vibrant time in queer history,Unspeakable Things explores the haunting bond between two women coming into their power as it unspools their obsession to its deadly end.
Thank you to Kathleen Quinlan at Little, Brown and Company for this ARC in exchange for my review.
By Elizabeth Hand
Pub: October 13, 2026
This book was a little different for me. We’re in the English countryside in the 1920s, following Olivia and Tamsin and their intense relationship. When they end up at Ledges, a beautiful but very strange estate, things start taking a much darker turn.
I really loved the creepy, gothic atmosphere and the whole something is definitely not right here feeling. It was a slow burn for me, but once it picked up, I was invested. Definitely an interesting read!
About the Book
It’s the 1920s and the English countryside is quiet—which suits Olivia and Tamsin, two young women happy to be overlooked by society. Their relationship is complicated: unruly, working-class Tamsin was brought to Kerrith Manor to be tutored at Olivia’s side, but the two quickly have found something more than friendship—a bone-deep recognition that ignites an endless passion.
But an unexpected visitor and an unexplained death disrupt their idyll, sending both women on the run. They find harbor at Ledges, the dazzling estate of ruthlessly wealthy and mysterious Rex de Voil—and a favorite hang-out for the bohemian Bright Young Things eager to cut loose far from London’s prying eyes. Olivia and Tamsin revel in their newfound freedom…until they learn that nothing in Rex’s world is without cost.
Richly evoking a vibrant time in queer history,Unspeakable Things explores the haunting bond between two women coming into their power as it unspools their obsession to its deadly end.
Thank you to Kathleen Quinlan at Little, Brown and Company for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A very enjoyable book, once you get through the build up and to the actually interesting stuff. The early scenes of Cornwall are great, especially descriptions of the old standing stones. Those parts were definitely my favorite in the first half.
Sometimes the lines are a bit too gooey for me, like "Two days ago I had not known Tamsin Griggs existed. Now I would sooner die than live without her." I guess we've all been there as teens and maybe in our early twenties, but it made me roll my eyes every time, like watching a Disney princess think she's in love with some dude she's only seen twice from a distance. I'm not much for romance anyway, so that's probably more a personal preference than an issue with the book. In general, I could have lived without the love story aspect of the book, but the crime and all the secrets in the first half were very interesting and engaging, then it went back to essentially young lovers' spats and makeups, and it slowed way down again.
Once they arrived at the big party, things really picked up and I was hooked until the end. I had a feeling I knew where things were going eventually and I was mostly right, but then there wasn't enough of a firm ending for me. I wish some of the slow stuff from the beginning had been cut so there was room at the end for a bit more. But perhaps this was simply a set up for future novels. I hope so.
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes the lines are a bit too gooey for me, like "Two days ago I had not known Tamsin Griggs existed. Now I would sooner die than live without her." I guess we've all been there as teens and maybe in our early twenties, but it made me roll my eyes every time, like watching a Disney princess think she's in love with some dude she's only seen twice from a distance. I'm not much for romance anyway, so that's probably more a personal preference than an issue with the book. In general, I could have lived without the love story aspect of the book, but the crime and all the secrets in the first half were very interesting and engaging, then it went back to essentially young lovers' spats and makeups, and it slowed way down again.
Once they arrived at the big party, things really picked up and I was hooked until the end. I had a feeling I knew where things were going eventually and I was mostly right, but then there wasn't enough of a firm ending for me. I wish some of the slow stuff from the beginning had been cut so there was room at the end for a bit more. But perhaps this was simply a set up for future novels. I hope so.
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Slow paced gothic sapphic and historical thriller set in the 1920s offering glitz, glamour and mystery.
Eighteen year old Olivia is living with her father, Peter Madden, a famous actor, in 1920 Cornwall. He’s been exiled there over an affair with a male WWI veteran. One day Olivia meets Tamsin on the moors - shades of Wurthering Heights. They embark on a torrid affair, go on the run and then they crash a party thrown by glamorous Rex de Voil, who immediately is attracted to Olivia. But then a dead body appears, someone goes missing and the enigmatic Tamsin, for whom Olivia spends a lot of time trying to figure out, emerges as a force to be reckoned with.
This is a well written gothic-themed novel. The grayness of its tone is perhaps the most compelling feature. We get a Rebecca-esque sense because of this. And we ask as we do in that novel: Is murder justifiable? The great descriptions of the social scenes offer a tell on the changing times the characters are living in. The ending enhances the amorality of the book’s characters and the bargains made to ensure some sort of happiness. It’s a grim story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for allowing me access to this ARC.
Eighteen year old Olivia is living with her father, Peter Madden, a famous actor, in 1920 Cornwall. He’s been exiled there over an affair with a male WWI veteran. One day Olivia meets Tamsin on the moors - shades of Wurthering Heights. They embark on a torrid affair, go on the run and then they crash a party thrown by glamorous Rex de Voil, who immediately is attracted to Olivia. But then a dead body appears, someone goes missing and the enigmatic Tamsin, for whom Olivia spends a lot of time trying to figure out, emerges as a force to be reckoned with.
This is a well written gothic-themed novel. The grayness of its tone is perhaps the most compelling feature. We get a Rebecca-esque sense because of this. And we ask as we do in that novel: Is murder justifiable? The great descriptions of the social scenes offer a tell on the changing times the characters are living in. The ending enhances the amorality of the book’s characters and the bargains made to ensure some sort of happiness. It’s a grim story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown & Company for allowing me access to this ARC.
September 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and company for this advance copy in exchange for my fair and honest review.
Unspeakable Things was kind of a mixed bag for me. While it really picked up there at the end, it was a bit of a slog to get in to. The pacing is rather slow and I found myself not genuinely invested in any of the characters. I particularly had a hard time with Tamsin. She was, frankly, unremarkable. I was consistently wondering what in the world Olivia saw in her. And for all their passionate love making, there was nothing interesting about their relationship beyond it.
I enjoyed the atmosphere of the book as a whole and finally felt like we were getting somewhere when these pair arrived at the ledges, but even then the plot was not compelling enough for me to truly enjoy.
Unspeakable Things was kind of a mixed bag for me. While it really picked up there at the end, it was a bit of a slog to get in to. The pacing is rather slow and I found myself not genuinely invested in any of the characters. I particularly had a hard time with Tamsin. She was, frankly, unremarkable. I was consistently wondering what in the world Olivia saw in her. And for all their passionate love making, there was nothing interesting about their relationship beyond it.
I enjoyed the atmosphere of the book as a whole and finally felt like we were getting somewhere when these pair arrived at the ledges, but even then the plot was not compelling enough for me to truly enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really loved this! I'm normally not a huge fan of gothic novels but this subversion of gothic novels worked wonderfully for me. I loved the setting (especially Kerrith), I loved the main characters and Olivia's growth, and the plot kept moving forward and always had me entertained. The ending was definitely not what I was expecting going into the novel but I liked it as a means to resolve the events of the novel, although I wished the epilogue was more of a final chapter, and that we got a more distant future type of epilogue instead. There were also A LOT of characters in this novel, and at times it was tough to keep track of everyone's names and who they were. But this was still easily a 4.5 star read for me (rounded up to 5 for Goodreads) and easily a new favorite gothic novel! Thank you to Netgalley for this wonderful ARC!
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July 27, 2026Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing an ARC.
There have been quite a few longer books offered lately! This one fits the same category, and it does start off really slow. I struggled to get into the book, though the writing was really good and I could feel the creepy atmospheric setting, but it was pretty slow. I struggled to keep going because I wanted to give it a serious try for the review, and I'm glad I stuck with it. I don't think this will be the book for someone who likes a fast moving thriller. But if you're willing to hang around for the story, it's worth it. We have some family drama, loneliness, magic and romance.
If you are looking for a toxic relationship novel, with a slow start and queer romance, you will enjoy this book.
3 stars.
There have been quite a few longer books offered lately! This one fits the same category, and it does start off really slow. I struggled to get into the book, though the writing was really good and I could feel the creepy atmospheric setting, but it was pretty slow. I struggled to keep going because I wanted to give it a serious try for the review, and I'm glad I stuck with it. I don't think this will be the book for someone who likes a fast moving thriller. But if you're willing to hang around for the story, it's worth it. We have some family drama, loneliness, magic and romance.
If you are looking for a toxic relationship novel, with a slow start and queer romance, you will enjoy this book.
3 stars.
September 14, 2026
It’s closer to 3.5 stars, but the ending of the novel left more to be desired, in my opinion. Olivia and Tamsin become less and less understandable as the novel progresses, but Olivia’s personal evolution is the most baffling in some regards. It helps when I remember she’s 18, however, and coming from a relatively sheltered upbringing, but there moments where her lack of conscience/ethical code of conduct were perplexing. I thought the pacing worked well until the Sardines game (won’t spoil it here), but then everything felt rushed and brought to resolution without enough detail, context, or color. Overall, I’d still recommend the novel because of the suspenseful undercurrent that propels the narrative forward. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
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September 20, 2026"Unspeakable Things" is a dark, atmospheric historical thriller that mixes forbidden romance, obsession, and Gothic mystery against the glamorous backdrop of 1920s England. Olivia and Tamsin make a fascinating pair as their intense relationship pulls them away from the safety of Kerrith Manor and into the dangerous world of the wealthy and mysterious Rex de Voil. The lavish parties and bohemian freedom initially feel exciting, but the growing sense that everyone has an agenda creates plenty of tension. The novel does a great job capturing both the beauty and danger of the period while exploring desire, power, and the complicated bond between two women. It’s a seductive and unsettling read with plenty of twists and Gothic atmosphere.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I could not put this one down - it kept me up at night, and worth it!
I felt seen on so many levels - the need to be the perfect daughter, the need to do the bad things; the need to do all expected of me, the need to do all the bad things. Just so well done.
Olivia - raised in an estate her dad and his lover rent, away from gossip, no friends or social life. Until on the moor, Tamsin appears. Magical and bruising, Olivia wrangles a way for Tamsin to move in. Add Olivia's cousin with all the social connections and life experience, and you have intense dread and desperation.
An excellent look at toxic relationships, surviving and not succumbing to men's desperation to own women.
I felt seen on so many levels - the need to be the perfect daughter, the need to do the bad things; the need to do all expected of me, the need to do all the bad things. Just so well done.
Olivia - raised in an estate her dad and his lover rent, away from gossip, no friends or social life. Until on the moor, Tamsin appears. Magical and bruising, Olivia wrangles a way for Tamsin to move in. Add Olivia's cousin with all the social connections and life experience, and you have intense dread and desperation.
An excellent look at toxic relationships, surviving and not succumbing to men's desperation to own women.
September 8, 2026
An atmospheric sapphic love story set in the 1920s with plenty of suspense. The story follows Olivia and Tamsin as their first love develops into something intense that borders on obsession at times, all while they navigate the complications of their actions and the need to keep their relationship secret.
When one of their adventures takes them to a several-day gathering at the home of a famous celebrity, things become increasingly complicated and unsettling. I won’t spoil where the story goes, but Olivia and Tamsin have plenty of secrets to protect. An atmospheric mix of romance, obsession, and suspense that kept me curious about what would happen next.
When one of their adventures takes them to a several-day gathering at the home of a famous celebrity, things become increasingly complicated and unsettling. I won’t spoil where the story goes, but Olivia and Tamsin have plenty of secrets to protect. An atmospheric mix of romance, obsession, and suspense that kept me curious about what would happen next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the eARC.
An amazing read, impossible to put down. Set in the 1920's in Cornwall, two young girls meet and are immediately in thrall to each other. There is something dangerous in their relationship just waiting to explode and eventually it does.
I loved the writing style and the subject, it reminded me of Rebecca Du Maurier, all of whose books I read.
I really hope there is a follow-up book ... there's so much of their future I'm dying to know.
An amazing read, impossible to put down. Set in the 1920's in Cornwall, two young girls meet and are immediately in thrall to each other. There is something dangerous in their relationship just waiting to explode and eventually it does.
I loved the writing style and the subject, it reminded me of Rebecca Du Maurier, all of whose books I read.
I really hope there is a follow-up book ... there's so much of their future I'm dying to know.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unspeakable Things was a miss for me. I feel like there was opportunity for the story to be good, but the writing didn’t pull me in. Olivia, as the main protagonist, didn’t excite me (or annoy me, or disappoint me). She and everyone else felt really neutral. I saw some readers felt like the beginning was slow and it picked up 25% in, but my experience was the reverse. I started off interested enough and that interest waned all the way to disinterest by 50%. Oh well!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
1920s England. Olivia and Tamsin are two young women who begin a passionate affair. Something happens (no spoilers) and they, along with Olivia's Irish cousin, Simon, head to the upper class estate of Ledges, for a weekend house party. There, tragedy awaits...
I really enjoyed the Gothic vibe of this book. It was well written, and kept my attention, although I confess that I really didn't care for Tamsin. Highly recommended.
I really enjoyed the Gothic vibe of this book. It was well written, and kept my attention, although I confess that I really didn't care for Tamsin. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a dark and twisty novel and I loved every minute of it. The setting - roaring 20s among the bright and lovely young things in the English countryside - was luxe and decadent. The story had plenty of surprises. The love story at the heart kept me guessing. I couldn’t wait to get to the end, and it did not disappoint.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received a free copy of, Back Where We Started, by Becca Freeman, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Olivia and Tamsin are having a forbidden fling in the 1920's in England. This was a long read, but a good read, murder and mayhem in the roaring 20's.
August 6, 2026
Equally endearing and eerie, this tale of twisted love is one of a kind. I find myself not knowing if I’m more interested in or intimidated by the leading ladies. The “high life” lived by those of societal importance has a haunting dark side, which this book perfectly leans into.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I see overtures of The Talented Mr. Ripley of it was set in the moors of England. Started out as sapphic Weithering Heights but quickly became a murder mystery.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Excellent, fast-paced story. Flappers, murder, a masquerade, THE MOORS!!! It has atmosphere for days. Loved it.
August 3, 2026
Apparently I like gothic romance novels filled with murder, mystery, & lesbian lovers? This was an interesting, wild read that quite literally fell into my lap - thank you to Kathleen Quinlan at Little, Brown, & Company for sending this my way!
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