What do you think?
Rate this book
A Dreadful Splendor
In this spectacularly imaginative and ghoulishly fun Gothic murder mystery brimming with romance, betrayals, and chills, a fake spiritualist is summoned to hold a s�ance for a bride who died on the eve before her wedding, but as nefarious secrets are revealed, the line between hoax and haunting blurs.
Be careful what you conjure...
In Victorian London, Genevieve Timmons poses as a spiritualist to swindle wealthy mourners--until one misstep lands her in a jail cell awaiting the noose. Then a stranger arrives to make her a peculiar offer. The Lord he serves, Mr. Pemberton, has been inconsolable since the tragic death of his beautiful bride-to-be. If Genevieve can perform a s�ance persuasive enough to bring the young Lord peace, she will win her freedom.
Soothing a grieving nobleman should be easy for someone of Genevieve's skill, but when she arrives at the grand Somerset Park estate, Mr. Pemberton is not the heartbroken lover she expected. The surly--yet exceedingly handsome--gentleman is certain that his fianc�e was murdered, even though there is no evidence. Only a confession can bring justice now, and Mr. Pemberton decides Genevieve will help him get it. With his knowledge of the household and her talent for illusion, they can stage a haunting so convincing it will coax the killer into the light. However, when frightful incidents befall the manor, Genevieve realizes her tricks aren't required after all. She may be a fake, but Somerset's ghost could be all too real...
A Dreadful Splendor is a wickedly whimsical brew of mystery, spooky thrills, and intoxicating romance that makes for an irresistibly fun and page-turning read.
Be careful what you conjure...
In Victorian London, Genevieve Timmons poses as a spiritualist to swindle wealthy mourners--until one misstep lands her in a jail cell awaiting the noose. Then a stranger arrives to make her a peculiar offer. The Lord he serves, Mr. Pemberton, has been inconsolable since the tragic death of his beautiful bride-to-be. If Genevieve can perform a s�ance persuasive enough to bring the young Lord peace, she will win her freedom.
Soothing a grieving nobleman should be easy for someone of Genevieve's skill, but when she arrives at the grand Somerset Park estate, Mr. Pemberton is not the heartbroken lover she expected. The surly--yet exceedingly handsome--gentleman is certain that his fianc�e was murdered, even though there is no evidence. Only a confession can bring justice now, and Mr. Pemberton decides Genevieve will help him get it. With his knowledge of the household and her talent for illusion, they can stage a haunting so convincing it will coax the killer into the light. However, when frightful incidents befall the manor, Genevieve realizes her tricks aren't required after all. She may be a fake, but Somerset's ghost could be all too real...
A Dreadful Splendor is a wickedly whimsical brew of mystery, spooky thrills, and intoxicating romance that makes for an irresistibly fun and page-turning read.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2022
394 people are currently reading
25626 people want to read
About the author
B.R. Myers
13 books508 followersAlways in the mood for a good scare, B.R. Myers spent most of her teen years behind the covers of Lois Duncan, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King.
She is the author of the Mary Higgins Clark Award winning novel, A Dreadful Splendour, as well as numerous books for teens. Her YA novels have been chosen by the School Library Journal and the CCBC as top picks. Before she became a full time writer, she was a registered nurse for thirty-two years. A member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Halifax with her family—and there is still a stack of books on her bedside table.
She is the author of the Mary Higgins Clark Award winning novel, A Dreadful Splendour, as well as numerous books for teens. Her YA novels have been chosen by the School Library Journal and the CCBC as top picks. Before she became a full time writer, she was a registered nurse for thirty-two years. A member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Halifax with her family—and there is still a stack of books on her bedside table.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,388 reviews
November 24, 2021
Why yes, I am giving my own book 5 stars. I read it over a million times during revisions and I still love it.
November 10, 2024
She girlbossed a bit too close to the sun and he was manipulated into malewifing.
A tale as old as time; a Gemini and a Capricorn in a haunted manor.
A tale as old as time; a Gemini and a Capricorn in a haunted manor.
November 19, 2022
A Dreadful Splendor by B.R. Meyers is a 2022 William Morrow publication.
Genevieve Timmons is a fake spiritualist, having learned the trade from her mother. Unfortunately, a slip up gets her arrested and now her fate appears to be sealed. Miraculously, she is temporarily saved from the gallows by a gentleman who wishes her to perform a séance for a man, a Mr. Pemberton, who recently lost, Audra, his intended bride, to an apparent suicide. If she can convince the man that his finance has moved on peacefully, Genevieve will be properly represented in court.
The plot thickens when Genevieve arrives at the estate in question to find that Mr. Pemberton has other plans. He’s quite aware of Genevieve’s lack of authenticity, and blackmails her into changing the context of her séance to prove that Audra met with foul play.
Trapped in a horrible position, Genevieve proceeds to work on her performance, learning dark secrets along the way, making it impossible to fully trust anyone on the estate. She will have to put on the performance of her life to find out what really happened to Audra and save her own neck at the same time!
This book reminded me so much of some the Gothic romantic suspense novels written in the early 1970s. Many of those novels appealed to an adult audience, but they were also devoured voraciously by YA readers, too. This book has that vibe, as well. It had a solid, dramatic Gothic elements, good mystery, atmosphere and suspense, well placed thrills and chills, and just a touch of romance. The only small quibble I had was that it might have been just a wee bit too long. Other than that, this is a terrific fall/winter read!
4 stars
Genevieve Timmons is a fake spiritualist, having learned the trade from her mother. Unfortunately, a slip up gets her arrested and now her fate appears to be sealed. Miraculously, she is temporarily saved from the gallows by a gentleman who wishes her to perform a séance for a man, a Mr. Pemberton, who recently lost, Audra, his intended bride, to an apparent suicide. If she can convince the man that his finance has moved on peacefully, Genevieve will be properly represented in court.
The plot thickens when Genevieve arrives at the estate in question to find that Mr. Pemberton has other plans. He’s quite aware of Genevieve’s lack of authenticity, and blackmails her into changing the context of her séance to prove that Audra met with foul play.
Trapped in a horrible position, Genevieve proceeds to work on her performance, learning dark secrets along the way, making it impossible to fully trust anyone on the estate. She will have to put on the performance of her life to find out what really happened to Audra and save her own neck at the same time!
This book reminded me so much of some the Gothic romantic suspense novels written in the early 1970s. Many of those novels appealed to an adult audience, but they were also devoured voraciously by YA readers, too. This book has that vibe, as well. It had a solid, dramatic Gothic elements, good mystery, atmosphere and suspense, well placed thrills and chills, and just a touch of romance. The only small quibble I had was that it might have been just a wee bit too long. Other than that, this is a terrific fall/winter read!
4 stars
August 31, 2022
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Dark, gothic murder mystery with elements of romance set in England in Victorian era - sounds like a perfect read for September, right? Unfortunately this one is more of a briefly spooky, YA-y murder mystery sprinkled with insta-love that made me start yawning around page 150.
Our main protagonist, Genevieve, is an 18 year old, recently orphaned girl that is working as a spiritualist - or a con artist that makes people believe she is capable of contacting spirits of the deceased. We are meeting her when she is busted by the police while fleeing the house of one of her clients with all the jewellery she could get and I was really intrigued. Morally gray, street smart characters are usually fun to read about right? Unfortunately author was dead set on absolving her of everything suggesting that Genevieve can only lie and steal (aka be a spiritualist) or become a sex worker (which is shown as a job that will make you morally buncrupt). There is never a third option like, I don't know, honest work? There is even a part of the book when someone calls Genevieve an angel because she was offering grieving families comfort so it actually doesn't matter that she was cheating since everyone is happy. I love flawed characters but I hate when author excuse every bad thing. That makes the protagonist come across as arrogant and full of oneself. I didn't like Genevieve even a bit.
The murder mystery itself was pretty solid but very slow and every time it started picking up the pace it was interrupted by Genevieve backstory of how she "murdered her mother". Here is a riddle for you: if you know that the author will go out of her way to make sure that her main heroine is excused of everything and is the best person in the world do you really believe for even one second that Jenny killed her mother? Well, I didn't. However the explanation of what happen was so nonsensical that I decided to give this book 2 stars instead of the 3. Author was really trying to reanimate my interest by rising the stakes couple times and introducing intriguing plot elements (like sleepwalking) but in the end it all backfired because it only slowed down the already glacial pace of this novel.
Romance is of the insta-love variety and have couple moments that made me cringe really bad. You see, it starts as an enemies-to-lovers of sorts when he finds out that hired spiritualist is trying to leave the manor prematurely with a collection of stolen silver candelabras. As every sensible human being he then decides to blackmail her into staying in the manor and performing promised seance instead of immediately calling the police. Then Genevieve is like "Crap! Now I absolutely need to stay here!" and I just couldn't take it. If she is so street smart why she is not even thinking about trying to escape for the second time? Nobody is watching her!!!! So enemies-to-lovers abruptly ends when he sees her sleepwalking and thinks to himself that there is much more to discover about Genevieve. Yes, thats it. Barely tolerated thief -> sleepwalking episode -> intriguing, beautiful, mysterious. Here is your romance.
If it was only boring I would give it 3 stars but since it was also annoying I am not going to recommend it.
Dark, gothic murder mystery with elements of romance set in England in Victorian era - sounds like a perfect read for September, right? Unfortunately this one is more of a briefly spooky, YA-y murder mystery sprinkled with insta-love that made me start yawning around page 150.
Our main protagonist, Genevieve, is an 18 year old, recently orphaned girl that is working as a spiritualist - or a con artist that makes people believe she is capable of contacting spirits of the deceased. We are meeting her when she is busted by the police while fleeing the house of one of her clients with all the jewellery she could get and I was really intrigued. Morally gray, street smart characters are usually fun to read about right? Unfortunately author was dead set on absolving her of everything suggesting that Genevieve can only lie and steal (aka be a spiritualist) or become a sex worker (which is shown as a job that will make you morally buncrupt). There is never a third option like, I don't know, honest work? There is even a part of the book when someone calls Genevieve an angel because she was offering grieving families comfort so it actually doesn't matter that she was cheating since everyone is happy. I love flawed characters but I hate when author excuse every bad thing. That makes the protagonist come across as arrogant and full of oneself. I didn't like Genevieve even a bit.
The murder mystery itself was pretty solid but very slow and every time it started picking up the pace it was interrupted by Genevieve backstory of how she "murdered her mother". Here is a riddle for you: if you know that the author will go out of her way to make sure that her main heroine is excused of everything and is the best person in the world do you really believe for even one second that Jenny killed her mother? Well, I didn't. However the explanation of what happen was so nonsensical that I decided to give this book 2 stars instead of the 3. Author was really trying to reanimate my interest by rising the stakes couple times and introducing intriguing plot elements (like sleepwalking) but in the end it all backfired because it only slowed down the already glacial pace of this novel.
Romance is of the insta-love variety and have couple moments that made me cringe really bad. You see, it starts as an enemies-to-lovers of sorts when he finds out that hired spiritualist is trying to leave the manor prematurely with a collection of stolen silver candelabras. As every sensible human being he then decides to blackmail her into staying in the manor and performing promised seance instead of immediately calling the police. Then Genevieve is like "Crap! Now I absolutely need to stay here!" and I just couldn't take it. If she is so street smart why she is not even thinking about trying to escape for the second time? Nobody is watching her!!!! So enemies-to-lovers abruptly ends when he sees her sleepwalking and thinks to himself that there is much more to discover about Genevieve. Yes, thats it. Barely tolerated thief -> sleepwalking episode -> intriguing, beautiful, mysterious. Here is your romance.
If it was only boring I would give it 3 stars but since it was also annoying I am not going to recommend it.
November 21, 2024
I’ve had the pleasure of reading several fun books in a row. Of the three, this had everything I wanted in a slightly spooky read for the Halloween season.
I’d call myself a “horror-lite” reader. Love Stephen King. Love a good ghost story. Love a good mystery. But I don’t particularly like too much violence with the malevolence in horror books.
I really enjoyed this ghostly tale of Victorian seances, hoaxes, murderous secrets, gothic mansions and, a total must, a brooding hero.
The plot line shifted from one time line to another with the use of diary entries and memories. Tension built, broke, and built again. Characters are not always who they seem to be and the question of the ghostly hoax only complicates matters.
For those of you who like a little romance along with your ghost stories, you will be happy. For those of you who do not, I definitely don’t think it will ruin your read.
This was just spooky enough for me— and I look forward to reading more from this talented author (it’s not easy balancing a whole lot of characters, twists and ghostly details)!
(Reviewed 10/7/24)
I’d call myself a “horror-lite” reader. Love Stephen King. Love a good ghost story. Love a good mystery. But I don’t particularly like too much violence with the malevolence in horror books.
I really enjoyed this ghostly tale of Victorian seances, hoaxes, murderous secrets, gothic mansions and, a total must, a brooding hero.
The plot line shifted from one time line to another with the use of diary entries and memories. Tension built, broke, and built again. Characters are not always who they seem to be and the question of the ghostly hoax only complicates matters.
For those of you who like a little romance along with your ghost stories, you will be happy. For those of you who do not, I definitely don’t think it will ruin your read.
This was just spooky enough for me— and I look forward to reading more from this talented author (it’s not easy balancing a whole lot of characters, twists and ghostly details)!
(Reviewed 10/7/24)
August 27, 2022
Wasn't bad, but not sure why its marked as adult definitely read as YA
February 25, 2024
What a fun read! It’s been a while since I have read a book like A Dreadful Splendor. This combination of gothic thriller, mystery, and ghost story with the necessary touch of romance brought me back to memories of earlier reading adventures. Good memories.
Beginning in London with Miss Jenny Timmons, we are admitted to a 19th century world of spiritualism and seances, but with a heroine who knows the truth of her shady side of the trade. Her reputation for skill leads her to Somerset Park, home of Lord Chadwick. Her task: to provide a seance that will give Pemberton, the new Lord, peace after the death in an apparent suicide of his fiancee, Lady Audra, daughter of the last lord. In true Gothic fashion, there are raging thunderstorms, mysterious rooms, so many servants-some of whom become integral in the plot, and many changes of fortune for the young lady from London. Nothing runs smoothly or as expected!
If you have read and enjoyed this genre at other times in your life, I believe A Dreadful Splendor may very well be for you. A nice escape from heavier reading. Recommended.
Beginning in London with Miss Jenny Timmons, we are admitted to a 19th century world of spiritualism and seances, but with a heroine who knows the truth of her shady side of the trade. Her reputation for skill leads her to Somerset Park, home of Lord Chadwick. Her task: to provide a seance that will give Pemberton, the new Lord, peace after the death in an apparent suicide of his fiancee, Lady Audra, daughter of the last lord. In true Gothic fashion, there are raging thunderstorms, mysterious rooms, so many servants-some of whom become integral in the plot, and many changes of fortune for the young lady from London. Nothing runs smoothly or as expected!
If you have read and enjoyed this genre at other times in your life, I believe A Dreadful Splendor may very well be for you. A nice escape from heavier reading. Recommended.
May 3, 2023
*2.5
I unfortunately, didn’t enjoy this one as much as I thought I would. I think the only thing I really liked about this book was the gothic style and tone of the writing (which is what I came for, so at least I received lol). Set in the background of Victorian England, a fake spiritualist in an old, supposedly-haunted manor by the sea is told the only way she can stay out of jail is if she’ll perform a fake séance for the grieving Lord of the manor. A dead lady of the house, secrets & family drama galore, a suspicious house staff, and a desperate Lord. The style of the writing was great; the vibes were all there. But the way the mystery was written made this book a no for me.
The main issue with the writing was the younger way it was written. You could immediately tell from chapter one that this book was marketed for the wrong audience, and should have have been marketed for younger readers instead. A Dreadful Splendor reads glaringly like a YA or even a middle grade mystery novel. And with that said, I don’t think I would have read this if it was marketed for the age range it truly is for: YA. I don’t usually like YA mysteries for their often juvenile themes & characters, lackluster build-up, and obvious twists. Sometimes they’re fun to read to pass the time, but I find they never satisfy me the way I want them to by the end (excluding AGGTM & Truly Devious). By the end of this story, I was beyond tired of the predictable plot, easy mystery, and annoying amount of telling instead of showing. The murderer(s) (no spoilers for y’all) was very easy to guess, and some of the plot twists were even downright funny at times.
It felt really like the author was trying to write a mashup of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights for the plot—however B.R. Myers execution felt lackluster. A Dreadful Splendor has both nudges and similar ideas to both stories, sort of like B.R. was making her own twist? There were so many plot-points that reminded me exactly of the two stories.
Was this book bad? Ehh not necessarily. The concept was great, but the execution was greatly lacking. I think the first mistake was marketing this book as adult when it’s very obviously not. It was just irritating how juvenile and simple this book felt when it could have been so much more had it been written a little older. Overall, I found this one severely underwhelming.
-
My Gothic Book Playlist
I unfortunately, didn’t enjoy this one as much as I thought I would. I think the only thing I really liked about this book was the gothic style and tone of the writing (which is what I came for, so at least I received lol). Set in the background of Victorian England, a fake spiritualist in an old, supposedly-haunted manor by the sea is told the only way she can stay out of jail is if she’ll perform a fake séance for the grieving Lord of the manor. A dead lady of the house, secrets & family drama galore, a suspicious house staff, and a desperate Lord. The style of the writing was great; the vibes were all there. But the way the mystery was written made this book a no for me.
The main issue with the writing was the younger way it was written. You could immediately tell from chapter one that this book was marketed for the wrong audience, and should have have been marketed for younger readers instead. A Dreadful Splendor reads glaringly like a YA or even a middle grade mystery novel. And with that said, I don’t think I would have read this if it was marketed for the age range it truly is for: YA. I don’t usually like YA mysteries for their often juvenile themes & characters, lackluster build-up, and obvious twists. Sometimes they’re fun to read to pass the time, but I find they never satisfy me the way I want them to by the end (excluding AGGTM & Truly Devious). By the end of this story, I was beyond tired of the predictable plot, easy mystery, and annoying amount of telling instead of showing. The murderer(s) (no spoilers for y’all) was very easy to guess, and some of the plot twists were even downright funny at times.
It felt really like the author was trying to write a mashup of Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights for the plot—however B.R. Myers execution felt lackluster. A Dreadful Splendor has both nudges and similar ideas to both stories, sort of like B.R. was making her own twist? There were so many plot-points that reminded me exactly of the two stories.
Was this book bad? Ehh not necessarily. The concept was great, but the execution was greatly lacking. I think the first mistake was marketing this book as adult when it’s very obviously not. It was just irritating how juvenile and simple this book felt when it could have been so much more had it been written a little older. Overall, I found this one severely underwhelming.
-
My Gothic Book Playlist
August 31, 2022
Good ideas, but too many of them. Another book that is highly rated that I found to be just OK. The book starts out with Genevieve being written as an unlikable character and I never recovered from that. There is really no one that I was rooting for as the hero. The cast of characters each have a book size history and storyline since it comes in at almost 400 pages. I guessed a good part of the plot.
April 4, 2022
Unfortunately I did not enjoy this one. The premise sounded like something I'd love and I was drawn to the cover, but the execution did not work for me. The writing style just wasn't my cup of tea. It felt very juvenile, definitely read more like YA or even middle grade than adult. Many elements of the mystery felt glaringly obvious, others just seemed silly to me. There were some twists and turns I didn't see, but I didn't really care about any of the characters or feel any chemistry in the romance. I was bored most of the way through and never really connected with the book. I'd have DNF'd early on, but it was an ARC so I finished it, but it just was not a good match for my reading tastes.
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
*Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
September 28, 2024
5🌟
Mood Reading Season: Perfect for spooky season 🍂🍁🎃
I am so glad I finally got my hands on this book. I really enjoyed it. The atmosphere was perfect and the mystery kept me guessing. It’s not often I’m actually tricked but looking back the clues were there which is one of my favourite parts of a mystery; when I could’ve solved it but just missed it.
The characters were so realistic and the setting was lifelike and eerie. I just enjoyed everything about this one.
One of the biggest reasons it stood out was because every time I thought it was heading towards a classic mystery cliche it would change direction and pleasantly surprise me.
Highly recommend for anyone who wants a good old fashioned gothic spook alongside their excellent mystery.
Mood Reading Season: Perfect for spooky season 🍂🍁🎃
I am so glad I finally got my hands on this book. I really enjoyed it. The atmosphere was perfect and the mystery kept me guessing. It’s not often I’m actually tricked but looking back the clues were there which is one of my favourite parts of a mystery; when I could’ve solved it but just missed it.
The characters were so realistic and the setting was lifelike and eerie. I just enjoyed everything about this one.
One of the biggest reasons it stood out was because every time I thought it was heading towards a classic mystery cliche it would change direction and pleasantly surprise me.
Highly recommend for anyone who wants a good old fashioned gothic spook alongside their excellent mystery.
May 12, 2023
This book is gothic Victorian catnip, and I am a blissed-out kitty rubbing my entire body ecstatically against it.
I did think for a time this rating would be even higher, in part because Olivia Vinall’s narration is perfection, but I wasn’t entirely convinced by the resolution, and I thought I would be a little more swept away by the romance. Still, so very enjoyable on audio.
I did think for a time this rating would be even higher, in part because Olivia Vinall’s narration is perfection, but I wasn’t entirely convinced by the resolution, and I thought I would be a little more swept away by the romance. Still, so very enjoyable on audio.
August 21, 2022
A Dreadful Splendor is a delightfully gothic and pulpy historical mystery. Genevieve is a young spiritualist who is coerced into performing a séance. The man who engages her services has promised to represent her in court (because, oh yeah, she's also wanted for quite a few crimes), but he has requested a specific outcome of the séance. He would like Genevieve to indicate that the dead lady of the manor is at peace.
After her arrival, she is soon approached by the lord of the manor, who also has an interest in a specific outcome of the séance - but he doesn't want a message of peace in the afterlife. Rather, he is convinced that the dead woman was the victim of foul play, and he is hoping that the séance can help identify the killer. Genevieve has to figure out the mystery of who killed the lady so that she can figure out how to satisfy both men's demands and get out of the manor alive. In the meantime, she's experiencing all sorts of otherworldly activities that she has NOT been directing.
The mystery has plenty of clues and red herrings that make the book fun to read, while the Victorian setting and spiritualist background add a bit of a Sherlockian flavor. There's also an understated romance - but can Genevieve trust her newfound flame? If you like Deanna Rayburn's or Sherry Thomas's Victorian mysteries, this is definitely one you'll want to check out.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
After her arrival, she is soon approached by the lord of the manor, who also has an interest in a specific outcome of the séance - but he doesn't want a message of peace in the afterlife. Rather, he is convinced that the dead woman was the victim of foul play, and he is hoping that the séance can help identify the killer. Genevieve has to figure out the mystery of who killed the lady so that she can figure out how to satisfy both men's demands and get out of the manor alive. In the meantime, she's experiencing all sorts of otherworldly activities that she has NOT been directing.
The mystery has plenty of clues and red herrings that make the book fun to read, while the Victorian setting and spiritualist background add a bit of a Sherlockian flavor. There's also an understated romance - but can Genevieve trust her newfound flame? If you like Deanna Rayburn's or Sherry Thomas's Victorian mysteries, this is definitely one you'll want to check out.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
April 12, 2022
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a chance to read this early!
I enjoy gothic romances mixed with mystery. So when I saw the blurb for this I knew I just had to grab it.
What makes it different than previous gothic romances is that the main character is a sham, a pretender who claims to be clairvoyant. After being caught at her last house, she is courted by the lawyer of a recently-widowed male. His bride to be was rumored to have gone insane and thrown herself off a cliff to her watery death. Yet, there is talk of ghosts of previous heirs in the family haunting the estate, they too also died due to a curse.
I love when you get all those elements mixed in with a character who has secrets of her own and is semi on-the-run from cops.
Then the romance. I thought the romance was a well done slow build and the way the story was written I was unsure as to who was behind the death of the wife and what was going on at the estate.
The reason I marked it down a star is that while I enjoyed it I got a YA feel from it? I don't think the author meant for it to be YA but it came off very YA for me.
All in all, if you enjoy gothic romances mixed with mystery this is a great one to grab!
I enjoy gothic romances mixed with mystery. So when I saw the blurb for this I knew I just had to grab it.
What makes it different than previous gothic romances is that the main character is a sham, a pretender who claims to be clairvoyant. After being caught at her last house, she is courted by the lawyer of a recently-widowed male. His bride to be was rumored to have gone insane and thrown herself off a cliff to her watery death. Yet, there is talk of ghosts of previous heirs in the family haunting the estate, they too also died due to a curse.
I love when you get all those elements mixed in with a character who has secrets of her own and is semi on-the-run from cops.
Then the romance. I thought the romance was a well done slow build and the way the story was written I was unsure as to who was behind the death of the wife and what was going on at the estate.
The reason I marked it down a star is that while I enjoyed it I got a YA feel from it? I don't think the author meant for it to be YA but it came off very YA for me.
All in all, if you enjoy gothic romances mixed with mystery this is a great one to grab!
November 13, 2024
This was delightful, & I loved it from start to finish. 👻 🤍👽🩶🎃🧡😈💜
(Please pardon the abundance of emojis; I haven’t gotten to say that often since last year’s holiday season. The 2024 slump is real.)
I don’t want to say too much about the plot for fear of spoilers, so I’ll stick to general content. This is very much a “classic gothic”—illegitimacy, murder, ghostly incidents, insanity, séances, sleepwalking, star-crossed love, secretive servants, + unstable relatives are at the forefront, complete with a moldering overgrown estate, missing diary, creepy paintings, + mysterious taciturn love interest. And despite the fairly crisp prose (it’s not a pastiche fic), the heroine’s age (19), & the slow burn (no sex), it’s NOT a young adult novel due to villainy, implication, & subject matter—so don’t let that scare you if you like gothics but aren’t into YA. Rather, it reads like a modern reboot of 70s Victorian-set mystery/romances like Holt, Salisbury, or Whitney…so if that’s your happy place (it’s def one of mine 😬), feel free to enjoy this fun gothic romp. 🦇
5 shiny stars & a spot on my keeper shelf. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bonus: I loved the dynamic between Gareth & Genevieve—he was so aloof & proper, but still waters are the deepest. Muahaha.
(Please pardon the abundance of emojis; I haven’t gotten to say that often since last year’s holiday season. The 2024 slump is real.)
I don’t want to say too much about the plot for fear of spoilers, so I’ll stick to general content. This is very much a “classic gothic”—illegitimacy, murder, ghostly incidents, insanity, séances, sleepwalking, star-crossed love, secretive servants, + unstable relatives are at the forefront, complete with a moldering overgrown estate, missing diary, creepy paintings, + mysterious taciturn love interest. And despite the fairly crisp prose (it’s not a pastiche fic), the heroine’s age (19), & the slow burn (no sex), it’s NOT a young adult novel due to villainy, implication, & subject matter—so don’t let that scare you if you like gothics but aren’t into YA. Rather, it reads like a modern reboot of 70s Victorian-set mystery/romances like Holt, Salisbury, or Whitney…so if that’s your happy place (it’s def one of mine 😬), feel free to enjoy this fun gothic romp. 🦇
5 shiny stars & a spot on my keeper shelf. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bonus: I loved the dynamic between Gareth & Genevieve—he was so aloof & proper, but still waters are the deepest. Muahaha.
February 18, 2023
4 stars--I really liked it. Shallow but fun gothic, with all the tropes on full display. Likable characters and an over-the-top plot contributed to my enjoyment.
July 16, 2022
My Nancy Drew loving heart is absolutely so full after finishing A Dreadful Splendor! The CW's Nancy Drew. Specifically, season 1 vibes. iykyk. But let's be honest. (Especially because nobody in this book knows how be.) I was always going to pick up this book up because B.R. Myers is one of my all-time favorite authors.
Genevieve Timmons is a spiritualist struggling to survive in the 1850s of Victorian London. A job gone wrong leads to her being summoned to hold a séance for a bride who died on the eve before her wedding. But for someone who can speak to dead, the line between what's real and not real aren't always so clear.
A Dreadful Splendor is a hauntingly gothic atmospheric murder mystery. Those are not my usual genres to read. And it took me a little bit to get into the story. But before I realized it, I was sucked in this universe that I could completely picture in my mind. I read and finished the last sixty(ish) percent in a single afternoon. I didn't want the book to end but I kept flipping pages to find out 'whodunit'. Everytime I thought I had figured out the murderer, I was wrong. Of course, there are betrayals, shocking twists, and a little romance along the way. And now I'm left with a terrible but delicious book hangover.
EMILY DICKINSON VIBES JJSSKSK
If you love a good rainy day Gothic murder mystery, Nancy Drew, Clue, Dickinson, the movie Redeeming Love, or Truly Devious then I highly recommend picking up A Dreadful Splendor.
***Thank you to William Morrow Paperbacks and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy.***
Genevieve Timmons is a spiritualist struggling to survive in the 1850s of Victorian London. A job gone wrong leads to her being summoned to hold a séance for a bride who died on the eve before her wedding. But for someone who can speak to dead, the line between what's real and not real aren't always so clear.
I lied for a living, but in all those private gatherings, one thing remained the same— my truth. I craved to belong to a family. During a séance, when I was the conduit for a loved one, the family would look at me like I was the most important person in their lives. I felt loved. Among all that death was the only time I was truly alive— that was my dreadful splendor.
A Dreadful Splendor is a hauntingly gothic atmospheric murder mystery. Those are not my usual genres to read. And it took me a little bit to get into the story. But before I realized it, I was sucked in this universe that I could completely picture in my mind. I read and finished the last sixty(ish) percent in a single afternoon. I didn't want the book to end but I kept flipping pages to find out 'whodunit'. Everytime I thought I had figured out the murderer, I was wrong. Of course, there are betrayals, shocking twists, and a little romance along the way. And now I'm left with a terrible but delicious book hangover.
Death had been courting me all my life; I was ready to accept him with open arms. I didn’t know how to waltz, but I would dance with death tonight.
EMILY DICKINSON VIBES JJSSKSK
If you love a good rainy day Gothic murder mystery, Nancy Drew, Clue, Dickinson, the movie Redeeming Love, or Truly Devious then I highly recommend picking up A Dreadful Splendor.
***Thank you to William Morrow Paperbacks and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy.***
November 16, 2022
Dude I tried so hard but this is boring as hell
September 5, 2024
Така класна книга, чудова атмосфера Лондона 19 ст, спіритичні сеанси, великі маєтки зі своїми таємницями, заборонене кохання…
Все було прекрасно до останніх 50-60 с
Фінал мене розчарував
Тому не можу поставити 5⭐️
Піду випʼю води від приторності 🫠
Все було прекрасно до останніх 50-60 с
Фінал мене розчарував
Тому не можу поставити 5⭐️
Піду випʼю води від приторності 🫠
August 29, 2022
Author B. R. Myers has spun a slow burning mystery/thriller/romance that has me wanting more.
From the book blurb: Be careful what you conjure... In Victorian London, Genevieve Timmons poses as a spiritualist to swindle wealthy mourners—until one misstep lands her in a jail cell awaiting the noose. Then a stranger arrives to make her a peculiar offer. The lord he serves, Mr. Pemberton, has been inconsolable since the tragic death of his beautiful bride-to-be. If Genevieve can perform a séance persuasive enough to bring the young lord peace, she will win her freedom.
Narrator Olivia Vinall's reading was absolutely perfect for this locked in mystery at a creepy Victorian mansion. I could hear the floorboards creeping and smell the salty air. There were plenty of roller coaster moments and red herrings, leaving me wondering “Who isn’t a suspect?” I was guessing up until the final reveal.
For me, this is more of a period piece than a gothic story. A Dreadful Splendor focuses on the mystery and a cast of finely crafted characters instead of gore. Myers balances supernatural and interpersonal elements in this fast-paced, intricately plotted mystery that will have readers eager to find out not only if Jenny will get her happy ending, but if anyone else deserves one.
A ghost story held in a damp 1850s' London gothic home, secret tunnels, a con man, the foreboding housekeeper, betrayals and a multitude of agendas - whats not to love? This book has it all covered!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Audio and B.R. Myers for a creepy tale thats a great addition to everyone's spooky fall reads list. If your looking for a well written mystery with some romance woven though, then this book is for you! I look forward to reading more from B.R. Myers.
From the book blurb: Be careful what you conjure... In Victorian London, Genevieve Timmons poses as a spiritualist to swindle wealthy mourners—until one misstep lands her in a jail cell awaiting the noose. Then a stranger arrives to make her a peculiar offer. The lord he serves, Mr. Pemberton, has been inconsolable since the tragic death of his beautiful bride-to-be. If Genevieve can perform a séance persuasive enough to bring the young lord peace, she will win her freedom.
Narrator Olivia Vinall's reading was absolutely perfect for this locked in mystery at a creepy Victorian mansion. I could hear the floorboards creeping and smell the salty air. There were plenty of roller coaster moments and red herrings, leaving me wondering “Who isn’t a suspect?” I was guessing up until the final reveal.
For me, this is more of a period piece than a gothic story. A Dreadful Splendor focuses on the mystery and a cast of finely crafted characters instead of gore. Myers balances supernatural and interpersonal elements in this fast-paced, intricately plotted mystery that will have readers eager to find out not only if Jenny will get her happy ending, but if anyone else deserves one.
A ghost story held in a damp 1850s' London gothic home, secret tunnels, a con man, the foreboding housekeeper, betrayals and a multitude of agendas - whats not to love? This book has it all covered!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Audio and B.R. Myers for a creepy tale thats a great addition to everyone's spooky fall reads list. If your looking for a well written mystery with some romance woven though, then this book is for you! I look forward to reading more from B.R. Myers.
September 17, 2022
3/5 ✨✨✨
I desperately wanted to love this. Gothic mystery? A fake medium? Clue adjacent? GHOSTS? I was so looking forward to seeing how this went down.
Geneieve Timmons is a thief, a fraud, and a murderer – so the story goes. Arrested and betrayed during her last heist, Jenny has no choice but to take up the offer of one Mr. Lockhart, who says he will represent her in court if she can fake her way into consoling his Lord's broken heart. She agrees, of course, only to realize too late that she has been dragged into a mystery that might just be her end as well.
Before anything, I want to say that this has all the makings of a fun, cozy mystery. Definitely would recommend this as a beachy read or just something to take down by the fire and fly through in your spare time. It was certainly spooky, and had some very well done tense moments that drew on the creepy atmosphere.
I love me a spunky, smart-mouthed heroine any day of the week. Geneieve on her own was interesting and I wanted to get to know her story. Unfortunately, the second she lands in Somerset, we lose her in the late Audra's shadow.
She also mentioned, every single time she saw the love interest, that he was handsome. We know girl, we know. It's okay.
This book crammed like, four major plot points into the first 12%. I have to admit the Lockhart-Jenny-Pemberton situation gave me whiplash and that wasn't the last time. The pacing, in general, was distracting and it made everything else around it difficult for me to latch on to.
This wasn't my favorite but I think a lot of people who enjoy light, twisty mysteries will rave about this one.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for granting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I desperately wanted to love this. Gothic mystery? A fake medium? Clue adjacent? GHOSTS? I was so looking forward to seeing how this went down.
Geneieve Timmons is a thief, a fraud, and a murderer – so the story goes. Arrested and betrayed during her last heist, Jenny has no choice but to take up the offer of one Mr. Lockhart, who says he will represent her in court if she can fake her way into consoling his Lord's broken heart. She agrees, of course, only to realize too late that she has been dragged into a mystery that might just be her end as well.
Before anything, I want to say that this has all the makings of a fun, cozy mystery. Definitely would recommend this as a beachy read or just something to take down by the fire and fly through in your spare time. It was certainly spooky, and had some very well done tense moments that drew on the creepy atmosphere.
I love me a spunky, smart-mouthed heroine any day of the week. Geneieve on her own was interesting and I wanted to get to know her story. Unfortunately, the second she lands in Somerset, we lose her in the late Audra's shadow.
She also mentioned, every single time she saw the love interest, that he was handsome. We know girl, we know. It's okay.
This book crammed like, four major plot points into the first 12%. I have to admit the Lockhart-Jenny-Pemberton situation gave me whiplash and that wasn't the last time. The pacing, in general, was distracting and it made everything else around it difficult for me to latch on to.
This wasn't my favorite but I think a lot of people who enjoy light, twisty mysteries will rave about this one.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for granting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 22, 2023
It’s such a shame. I thought this was a decent novel until the last few chapters. That ruined everything for me.
I do think I was a bit misled, as this was not the fun story I’d anticipated, but that didn’t negatively affect my experience much, as I was able to adjust my expectations. A Dreadful Splendor was, in actuality, a rather serious gothic ghost story with lots of tragedy wrapped up in mysterious intrigue. There wasn’t anything cozy or cute about it, but I think the author created a fine atmosphere for her tale.
I mean, truly, it was beautifully told. Plus, I was deeply intrigued by the mystery. Almost everyone looked suspicious and I was eager to see what would be revealed at the seance.
Before hitting the last few disappointing chapters, the only thing that really bothered me about this book was the romantic element. I found it impossible to believe in the growing affection between the two main characters. It seemed to come out of nowhere. No chemistry seemed to exist, even as the author suggested there was a spark.
But that ending - sigh - it was just terrible. I could not stand what it seemed to suggest about mental illness and it was all ludicrously conveyed. I suppose we should feel duped by a twist in a story, but it should be a satisfying deception, right? This just made me feel grossly betrayed. I’m left feeling that I’ve completely wasted my time.
I am immensely grateful to Bibliolifestyle and William Morrow for my copy. All opinions are my own.
I do think I was a bit misled, as this was not the fun story I’d anticipated, but that didn’t negatively affect my experience much, as I was able to adjust my expectations. A Dreadful Splendor was, in actuality, a rather serious gothic ghost story with lots of tragedy wrapped up in mysterious intrigue. There wasn’t anything cozy or cute about it, but I think the author created a fine atmosphere for her tale.
I mean, truly, it was beautifully told. Plus, I was deeply intrigued by the mystery. Almost everyone looked suspicious and I was eager to see what would be revealed at the seance.
Before hitting the last few disappointing chapters, the only thing that really bothered me about this book was the romantic element. I found it impossible to believe in the growing affection between the two main characters. It seemed to come out of nowhere. No chemistry seemed to exist, even as the author suggested there was a spark.
But that ending - sigh - it was just terrible. I could not stand what it seemed to suggest about mental illness and it was all ludicrously conveyed. I suppose we should feel duped by a twist in a story, but it should be a satisfying deception, right? This just made me feel grossly betrayed. I’m left feeling that I’ve completely wasted my time.
I am immensely grateful to Bibliolifestyle and William Morrow for my copy. All opinions are my own.
November 5, 2022
2.5 stars
This had the makings of what could have been a really good Murder mystery. Like hello?! Ghosts, fake spiritualist, murder, eerie mansion. Sign me up! This should have knocked it out of the park.
But sadly, this felt like I was dragging my feet through a good chunk of the story. It was dreadfully (pun intended) slow!
Sorry. But it’s a no from me.
This had the makings of what could have been a really good Murder mystery. Like hello?! Ghosts, fake spiritualist, murder, eerie mansion. Sign me up! This should have knocked it out of the park.
But sadly, this felt like I was dragging my feet through a good chunk of the story. It was dreadfully (pun intended) slow!
Sorry. But it’s a no from me.
January 17, 2024
The story moved in glacial pace. It kept promising about a seance, and it happened at the very end. Nope, no gothic atmosphere here at all (for me anyway). The "investigation" towards what really happened was non-existent. And with the threat hanging over her head, Genevieve seemed keep trying to "steal" something was VERY annoying.
My focus checked out about 1/3rd of this book and the rest I just skipping pages by pressing NEXT on my Kindle to get it over it. I should've DNF, but I didn't have other titles pressing my interest at the moment.
March 20, 2025
I don't enjoy books with the heroine thinking of herself in the third. Example: I walked outside and saw the cliff. I picked up a rock and dropped in over the cliff. Also, the heroine was not as crafty as she was portrayed to be.
July 29, 2022
I’m crying why is it over🥲🥲
Spookiness, mystery, murder, secrets, secret tunnels in the estate, romance, betrayal, ghosts, slight humour… this was perfect!
Spookiness, mystery, murder, secrets, secret tunnels in the estate, romance, betrayal, ghosts, slight humour… this was perfect!
October 30, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
This has been on my TBR for a while!! I loved the premise of a fake medium (Genevieve) being rescued from prison in order to help a grieving man prove his dead wife-to-be was murdered and didn't commit suicide.
While this had tons of gothic 19th century murder mystery vibes and was good on audio, I struggled to really get into it until the dramatic (if a touch predictable) high stakes ending.
Overall still a great adult fiction debut for Canadian author, BR Meyers. The best part for me was the complicated mother-daughter relationship that sees Genevieve forced to come to terms with the lengths her mother went to for their survival.
I look forward to reading what the author writes next but this was mostly just an okay read me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
This has been on my TBR for a while!! I loved the premise of a fake medium (Genevieve) being rescued from prison in order to help a grieving man prove his dead wife-to-be was murdered and didn't commit suicide.
While this had tons of gothic 19th century murder mystery vibes and was good on audio, I struggled to really get into it until the dramatic (if a touch predictable) high stakes ending.
Overall still a great adult fiction debut for Canadian author, BR Meyers. The best part for me was the complicated mother-daughter relationship that sees Genevieve forced to come to terms with the lengths her mother went to for their survival.
I look forward to reading what the author writes next but this was mostly just an okay read me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!
January 22, 2024
In order to remain true to its gothic inspiration, this story is in fact a hot mess.
If you like Venezuelan soap operas _but without the steamy parts, lol _ this story is in fact for you.
It's basically a "who did it" in which pretty much everyone is a suspect. At first it was interesting, but when there's a lot of characters, surprise, it becomes tiresome.
Also this is marketed as adult, but the main character is not even nineteen, and those almost nineteen at times sound really young adult. Her judgment is that bad!
The romance _yeah, right_ was uninspired and dull. So that was another lost opportunity.
It's a very chaste "romance", so for everyone who is wondering; there's a kiss in the end of the story.
It's well written though.
Oh, and I don't understand why in the synopsis the word "fun" is mentioned.
There is no fun in this book. Very serious, convoluted story with not a trace of fun to it.
If you like Venezuelan soap operas _but without the steamy parts, lol _ this story is in fact for you.
It's basically a "who did it" in which pretty much everyone is a suspect. At first it was interesting, but when there's a lot of characters, surprise, it becomes tiresome.
Also this is marketed as adult, but the main character is not even nineteen, and those almost nineteen at times sound really young adult. Her judgment is that bad!
The romance _yeah, right_ was uninspired and dull. So that was another lost opportunity.
It's a very chaste "romance", so for everyone who is wondering; there's a kiss in the end of the story.
It's well written though.
Oh, and I don't understand why in the synopsis the word "fun" is mentioned.
There is no fun in this book. Very serious, convoluted story with not a trace of fun to it.
July 4, 2023
I liked this book but didn’t love it. I felt like the author decided to cram every single trope found in gothic novels in this, her first adult novel. There is revenge, betrayal, romance, madness, deception, an old mansion, seances, whispering ghosts, a wickedly cruel ancestor, the menacing ocean, an overbearing housekeeper, and a cold-hearted master of the house, just to name a few. I also felt it was somewhat overly dramatic, even beyond drama that is characteristic of gothic novels. The characters are many and one of the important ones wasn’t fleshed out as much as I would have liked. So…an okay read, but not a great one. I do appreciate the cover, which is quite arresting and depicts many of the symbolic items using in the plot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,388 reviews