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The Lodger
This second novel from the author of The Deception of Harriet Fleet takes us back to the aftermath of the Great War in another haunting, atmospheric Gothic tale.
London in 1919 was a city of ghosts and absences, haunted by the men who marched away but never came back from 'the war to end all wars.'
Grace Armstrong believes that she has come to terms with her own loss, the death of her fiancé, the brilliant and dazzling best friend of her brother. He was declared Missing in Action during the Battle of the Somme, but he starts to reappear both in her waking life and dreams.
Grace is appalled when a body, dragged from the Thames, is identified as Catherine Smith, who has lodged with Grace and her family for the last eight years before suddenly disappearing.
Catherine had been more than a lodger; she had become a close friend to Grace, who feels compelled to find out what happened. In doing so she is drawn reluctantly into the sordid and dangerous underbelly of London and a scandal that rocked Edwardian society. Soon Grace finds herself under threat, and the only person prepared to listen is the brooding Tom Monaghan. But Tom has dark shadows of his own to navigate before being able to put his past behind him to help Grace in her quest for the truth.
London in 1919 was a city of ghosts and absences, haunted by the men who marched away but never came back from 'the war to end all wars.'
Grace Armstrong believes that she has come to terms with her own loss, the death of her fiancé, the brilliant and dazzling best friend of her brother. He was declared Missing in Action during the Battle of the Somme, but he starts to reappear both in her waking life and dreams.
Grace is appalled when a body, dragged from the Thames, is identified as Catherine Smith, who has lodged with Grace and her family for the last eight years before suddenly disappearing.
Catherine had been more than a lodger; she had become a close friend to Grace, who feels compelled to find out what happened. In doing so she is drawn reluctantly into the sordid and dangerous underbelly of London and a scandal that rocked Edwardian society. Soon Grace finds herself under threat, and the only person prepared to listen is the brooding Tom Monaghan. But Tom has dark shadows of his own to navigate before being able to put his past behind him to help Grace in her quest for the truth.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2023
30 people are currently reading
977 people want to read
About the author
Helen Scarlett
4 books37 followersHelen Scarlett is a writer and English teacher based in the north east of England. Her debut historical novel, 'The Deception of Harriet Fleet', is inspired by the nineteenth century classics she grew up loving. The main character is a vulnerable govereness, who arrives at an isolated house, which is tainted by murder and dark secrets. It is set in County Durham, close to where Helen lives with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
February 7, 2023
Set in London in 1919, the book presents the atmosphere that prevailed then, with fresh memories of the fallen and the wounded in WW1, and this was what I like most. Its evident that the Author did splendid research into that period. I found the characters and the plot much less engaging. The mystery around the woman who resided with the Armstrong family and whose body was found in the Thames seemed too far-fetched to me. The interactions between characters were kind of unrealistic to me, especially between Grace and Tom and her best friend. Overall, an afternoon read that did not meet up my expectations.
*Many thanks to Helen Scarlett, Quercus Books, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
*Many thanks to Helen Scarlett, Quercus Books, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
April 4, 2023
London, just after WWI, and the city and its inhabitants are trying to get back to some normalcy, but are grappling with profound loss and societal changes. It is with this background that a young woman, Grace Armstrong, is trying to find the family of their former lodger who committed suicide. As she tugs along, she gets more and more suspicious that her death was in fact murder.
What I really liked is the description of post war London, even if it reminded me very much of Downton Abbey. The characters could just have been taken from this grand house to the slightly more family home of Ryedale Villa. And the pacing and escapism reminded me of "All creatures, great and small". However, midway through I found the pacing to become very slow and more and more emphasis was put on romance which is just something I don't like in mysteries.
All in all very well written, and if the mystery would have been more appealing and a little less romance, it would have made a a perfect read.
Many thanks to Quercus Books, NetGalley and the author for ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What I really liked is the description of post war London, even if it reminded me very much of Downton Abbey. The characters could just have been taken from this grand house to the slightly more family home of Ryedale Villa. And the pacing and escapism reminded me of "All creatures, great and small". However, midway through I found the pacing to become very slow and more and more emphasis was put on romance which is just something I don't like in mysteries.
All in all very well written, and if the mystery would have been more appealing and a little less romance, it would have made a a perfect read.
Many thanks to Quercus Books, NetGalley and the author for ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 27, 2023
I really enjoyed this historical novel set in 1919 London. A mystery is set up from the prologue when the body of a woman in a blue coat is found near London bridge. Grace Armstrong is a young woman who lost both her brother and fiancé in the war. She lives with her father at the family home Ryedale Villa, her mother is in a hospital with depression after the death of her son. After seeing the report in the newspaper about the body, it’s feared that it may be their former lodger, Elizabeth Smith who had moved out only two weeks before after living there for eight years. Grace starts looking into Elizabeth’s life (she can’t believe it was suicide) and there’s much more than she expected.
I was drawn into the story, the characters are given depth by the slowish pace and there’s an atmosphere of postwar grief and a changing society, within both class mobility and women’s roles.
I was drawn into the story, the characters are given depth by the slowish pace and there’s an atmosphere of postwar grief and a changing society, within both class mobility and women’s roles.
January 26, 2023
London, 1901. Since the end of the Great War, Grace Armstrong feels as if life has passed her by in some respects. She works at 'Nursing World', a small magazine but longs for more. Her fiancé, Robert, was listed as missing, presumed killed in action at the Somme, & she misses him & mourns their lost future. Her brother Edward was badly injured by shrapnel & died undergoing one of several operations needed. Even since his death, their mother has been distraught & is currently in a nursing home after a mental breakdown, & it's just been Grace, her father, & their lodger, the quiet unassuming Elizabeth Smith, alongside the few remaining staff, maid Bridget, & cook, Mrs Watson, at home. Grace is, therefore, shocked when she returns home after a short visit away, & is told that Elizabeth packed up her things, burned everything else including her artwork, & disappeared & has not been heard from since.
Edward & Robert's friend, Arthur, comes to visit & brings with him another colleague, Tom, who was injured & had to have several fingers amputated, putting to an end his music career. Tom is bitter about the war & clashes with Grace's father who keeps the quintessential English 'stiff upper lip' about his emotions & believes in the sacrifices made. When the body of a woman is found in the river, the description of what she was wearing is familiar & Grace goes along to the police station with a photograph & gets confirmation that sadly Elizabeth is dead. She cannot believe that the police are going to write it off as a suicide though - the Elizabeth she knew was not in that frame of mind, but as Grace investigates what happened with the surprising help of Tom, she finds that perhaps she didn't know their lodger as well as she thought.
After reading the wonderful 'The Deception of Harriet Fleet' by the same author, I thought it would be a difficult act to follow. I needn't have been concerned, as although this takes place in a different era & a completely different subject, it was just as good. The story takes place just after the 'Great War' (WWI) & Scarlett aptly conveys the grief & the guilt felt by those who survived. The plot gradually unfolds into a story which has many twists & turns & covers blackmail, infidelity, scandal, & murder. There's also a hint of the unknown as Grace is convinced she keeps seeing Robert everywhere but when she chases him down, he has always disappeared. Is Grace imagining things or is Robert still alive? If you enjoy slow burning mysteries in historical settings, or you enjoyed the author's debut novel, then you should give this a try too.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Quercus Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Edward & Robert's friend, Arthur, comes to visit & brings with him another colleague, Tom, who was injured & had to have several fingers amputated, putting to an end his music career. Tom is bitter about the war & clashes with Grace's father who keeps the quintessential English 'stiff upper lip' about his emotions & believes in the sacrifices made. When the body of a woman is found in the river, the description of what she was wearing is familiar & Grace goes along to the police station with a photograph & gets confirmation that sadly Elizabeth is dead. She cannot believe that the police are going to write it off as a suicide though - the Elizabeth she knew was not in that frame of mind, but as Grace investigates what happened with the surprising help of Tom, she finds that perhaps she didn't know their lodger as well as she thought.
After reading the wonderful 'The Deception of Harriet Fleet' by the same author, I thought it would be a difficult act to follow. I needn't have been concerned, as although this takes place in a different era & a completely different subject, it was just as good. The story takes place just after the 'Great War' (WWI) & Scarlett aptly conveys the grief & the guilt felt by those who survived. The plot gradually unfolds into a story which has many twists & turns & covers blackmail, infidelity, scandal, & murder. There's also a hint of the unknown as Grace is convinced she keeps seeing Robert everywhere but when she chases him down, he has always disappeared. Is Grace imagining things or is Robert still alive? If you enjoy slow burning mysteries in historical settings, or you enjoyed the author's debut novel, then you should give this a try too.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Quercus Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
November 11, 2022
I could not have enjoyed Helen Scarlett's second novel more. I love novels set just after the First World War, when the world is fast changing, but London's population is suffering in the aftermath of the devastations of the war, and young women are suddenly again constrainted by the mores of the times. The descriptions of London are atmospheirc. I was very involved in Grace's determined quest to discover the truth about the missing Elizabeth, and the awkward and compelling relationship with the dark, brooding, attractive Tom. They made a great team, and I would love to know what happnes next to them. The story is beautifully written, not a wasted word, the characters are believable and colourful, and there are plenty of twists and turns to make this a real page turner. I entered Grace's world so completely that I could not put the novel down.
October 28, 2022
A tour de force! Another atmospheric novel by Helen Scarlett, but this time set in London immediately after the First World War. The city is brought to life, with a cast of characters that are compelling, highly likeable and true to life. An excellent story-line - a real page turner. A must read!
June 10, 2023
A war to end all wars…
Elizabeth Smith has lodged with the Armstrong family in Tufnell Park in London for several years, becoming a friend to them all, and especially to Grace, the daughter of the house. While Grace is away from home on a visit, Elizabeth receives a letter – a highly unusual occurrence for this rather isolated woman – and a visit from a strange man, whom the servants felt was threatening. By the time Grace returns, Elizabeth has destroyed all her personal property and left, leaving no forwarding address. Grace is a little hurt, but mostly she’s concerned – it all seems so out of character for Elizabeth. And then a body is found in the Thames. When it is confirmed that it is Elizabeth and the police seem content to call it suicide and let the matter drop, Grace finds she can’t let go – she must find out more about Elizabeth’s past and what drove her to leave as she did.
Set just after the end of the Great War, this is as much an examination of the impact of the losses so many endured as it is a mystery. Scarlett evokes her post-war setting excellently, both physically and emotionally. She shows a society where no person has been untouched by loss – even those lucky enough to have their sons or husbands return to them have to deal with the psychological aftermath, or in many cases with lives shattered by life-changing injuries. But she also shows the resilience that somehow allows people to go on, to start fresh and to begin the slow process of rebuilding lives or building new ones. She shows society changing, with the working classes unwilling to go back to the rigid class systems of before and less deferential than they once were. Servants are hard to come by, since women have had the experience of doing more exciting and better paid jobs in factories and offices during the war, and don’t relish returning to the drudgery of domestic labour. For the middle and upper classes, the old rules of social interaction between the sexes are gone too – no more chaperones, nightclubs springing up, ladies drinking cocktails and smoking! For by far the most part, it’s entirely credible and free of anachronism, with just an occasional word choice that doesn’t quite feel right.
Unfortunately near the end two of the compulsory themes of the decade are dragged in – homophobia and sexual abuse. I assume authors can’t get publishing contracts without them, a bit like the new Oscar rules. At least racism was omitted for once. It’s not that I object to any of these themes – I’d just like them not to be quite so ubiquitous. I love chocolate fudge cake, but I don’t want it with every meal. Believe it or not, there are other aspects of the human condition worth exploring. And in this case, I felt the subjects of loss and renewal were more than sufficient, especially since she dealt with them so well.
Apart from that, I found the story interesting and compelling. Grace, who is our main character, has herself lost both a brother and her fiancé, and the story of her slow process of grief and gradual recovery is sensitively done. She too has had grim wartime experiences, working with severely injured men as a VAD nurse, and is now, still only at the age of 22, working with a nursing magazine, hoping it might lead to an opening into journalism. She is a strong, resilient and likeable character whose investigations stay well within the limits of believability throughout. With the help of her friends and the family servants, she begins to trace back through Elizabeth’s life on the basis of the few scraps of information they have all gleaned from this very private woman over the years. As Elizabeth’s past is slowly uncovered, we are led to some dark and shocking revelations.
It’s a slow unravelling of the mystery, but steady, so that I didn’t feel it dragged at any point. The pace allows for plenty of space to explore different reactions to the cataclysm of the war, from those men directly affected trying to deal with mental and physical injuries, to those who had endured a long wait ending perhaps with the awfulness of the telegram telling them their son or brother or lover would not be coming home. Scarlett reminds us that for many the verdict was missing, presumed dead, leaving a tiny glimmer of hope that cruelly drags out the process of acceptance. She shows us how this feeds into the rise of spiritualism, as people desperately seek some kind of closure – the possibility at least of saying goodbye, when there isn’t even a grave to visit. We see how society is divided into those who find comfort in the belief that the fallen had died gloriously for a great cause and those who feel it had all been an unforgivable waste, and how each side of that divide unintentionally adds to the hurt of the other. And yet through all this, Scarlett avoids mawkishness and over-sentimentality.
So, despite my mild disappointment at the late introduction of over-used themes, overall I loved this one. A strong mystery contained within an authentic in-depth look at a specific and significant period in time, and peopled by characters I grew to like and care about. I will certainly be reading more from this talented author, and recommend this one highly.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Quercus via NetGalley.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Elizabeth Smith has lodged with the Armstrong family in Tufnell Park in London for several years, becoming a friend to them all, and especially to Grace, the daughter of the house. While Grace is away from home on a visit, Elizabeth receives a letter – a highly unusual occurrence for this rather isolated woman – and a visit from a strange man, whom the servants felt was threatening. By the time Grace returns, Elizabeth has destroyed all her personal property and left, leaving no forwarding address. Grace is a little hurt, but mostly she’s concerned – it all seems so out of character for Elizabeth. And then a body is found in the Thames. When it is confirmed that it is Elizabeth and the police seem content to call it suicide and let the matter drop, Grace finds she can’t let go – she must find out more about Elizabeth’s past and what drove her to leave as she did.
Set just after the end of the Great War, this is as much an examination of the impact of the losses so many endured as it is a mystery. Scarlett evokes her post-war setting excellently, both physically and emotionally. She shows a society where no person has been untouched by loss – even those lucky enough to have their sons or husbands return to them have to deal with the psychological aftermath, or in many cases with lives shattered by life-changing injuries. But she also shows the resilience that somehow allows people to go on, to start fresh and to begin the slow process of rebuilding lives or building new ones. She shows society changing, with the working classes unwilling to go back to the rigid class systems of before and less deferential than they once were. Servants are hard to come by, since women have had the experience of doing more exciting and better paid jobs in factories and offices during the war, and don’t relish returning to the drudgery of domestic labour. For the middle and upper classes, the old rules of social interaction between the sexes are gone too – no more chaperones, nightclubs springing up, ladies drinking cocktails and smoking! For by far the most part, it’s entirely credible and free of anachronism, with just an occasional word choice that doesn’t quite feel right.
Unfortunately near the end two of the compulsory themes of the decade are dragged in – homophobia and sexual abuse. I assume authors can’t get publishing contracts without them, a bit like the new Oscar rules. At least racism was omitted for once. It’s not that I object to any of these themes – I’d just like them not to be quite so ubiquitous. I love chocolate fudge cake, but I don’t want it with every meal. Believe it or not, there are other aspects of the human condition worth exploring. And in this case, I felt the subjects of loss and renewal were more than sufficient, especially since she dealt with them so well.
Apart from that, I found the story interesting and compelling. Grace, who is our main character, has herself lost both a brother and her fiancé, and the story of her slow process of grief and gradual recovery is sensitively done. She too has had grim wartime experiences, working with severely injured men as a VAD nurse, and is now, still only at the age of 22, working with a nursing magazine, hoping it might lead to an opening into journalism. She is a strong, resilient and likeable character whose investigations stay well within the limits of believability throughout. With the help of her friends and the family servants, she begins to trace back through Elizabeth’s life on the basis of the few scraps of information they have all gleaned from this very private woman over the years. As Elizabeth’s past is slowly uncovered, we are led to some dark and shocking revelations.
It’s a slow unravelling of the mystery, but steady, so that I didn’t feel it dragged at any point. The pace allows for plenty of space to explore different reactions to the cataclysm of the war, from those men directly affected trying to deal with mental and physical injuries, to those who had endured a long wait ending perhaps with the awfulness of the telegram telling them their son or brother or lover would not be coming home. Scarlett reminds us that for many the verdict was missing, presumed dead, leaving a tiny glimmer of hope that cruelly drags out the process of acceptance. She shows us how this feeds into the rise of spiritualism, as people desperately seek some kind of closure – the possibility at least of saying goodbye, when there isn’t even a grave to visit. We see how society is divided into those who find comfort in the belief that the fallen had died gloriously for a great cause and those who feel it had all been an unforgivable waste, and how each side of that divide unintentionally adds to the hurt of the other. And yet through all this, Scarlett avoids mawkishness and over-sentimentality.
So, despite my mild disappointment at the late introduction of over-used themes, overall I loved this one. A strong mystery contained within an authentic in-depth look at a specific and significant period in time, and peopled by characters I grew to like and care about. I will certainly be reading more from this talented author, and recommend this one highly.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Quercus via NetGalley.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
October 25, 2022
I was very keen to read Helen Scarlett's latest Gothic treat, having enjoyed her previous book The Deception of Harriet Fleet so much. I wasn't disappointed. Once again, I was transported to a note-perfect historical setting in the company of a spirited protagonist who is determined to solve a mystery despite being haunted by tragic events.
The author uses her beautifully evoked setting - an eerie, watery, twilit London in the aftermath of the First World War, a place of ghosts at a time of collective loss and grief, the London of The Waste Land and Mrs Dalloway - to dramatic effect as amateur sleuth Grace investigates the disappearance of the secretive lodger of the title.
As with her previous novel, Scarlett succeeds in casting a slyly modern eye over a period of enormous social change whilst fully immersing the reader in the historical world she creates. Highly recommend.
The author uses her beautifully evoked setting - an eerie, watery, twilit London in the aftermath of the First World War, a place of ghosts at a time of collective loss and grief, the London of The Waste Land and Mrs Dalloway - to dramatic effect as amateur sleuth Grace investigates the disappearance of the secretive lodger of the title.
As with her previous novel, Scarlett succeeds in casting a slyly modern eye over a period of enormous social change whilst fully immersing the reader in the historical world she creates. Highly recommend.
October 19, 2022
I didn’t have high hopes of this, having read a lot of gothic fiction recently and become a bit disillusioned with it but this was brilliant. I loved it. There were so many twist and turns and the ghosts and depiction of grief added real weight to the story. Elizabeth was a total mystery and I didn’t see the ending coming. I highly recommend this.
I was given an ARC of this book by NetGalley, all views are my own.
I was given an ARC of this book by NetGalley, all views are my own.
October 18, 2022
Please note: I have read the ARC copy. However, all the opinions and views are my own as any other review I make.
Rating 4.5 🌟
Plot twist: 5 🌟
Beauty written gothic mystery murder novel that will keep you on your toes until the end!
I loved that the world building, it was a huge plus as there is something impeccably sexy and mysterious about London based books! 😍
The storyline was really unique and the plot twists were really well position within the book 📖 👏
This book gave me all the chills, thrills and excitement and defo surprised me! 😮
Elizabeth story really did break my heart 🥲 and was so close to what's happening in the real world that I wouldn't be surprised if it was based on true story 💔
The Lodger is one of the best ghotic novels I've read in 2022 and if you are a fan of mystery, murders and suspense, then this book is for you! ☺
Rating 4.5 🌟
Plot twist: 5 🌟
Beauty written gothic mystery murder novel that will keep you on your toes until the end!
I loved that the world building, it was a huge plus as there is something impeccably sexy and mysterious about London based books! 😍
The storyline was really unique and the plot twists were really well position within the book 📖 👏
This book gave me all the chills, thrills and excitement and defo surprised me! 😮
Elizabeth story really did break my heart 🥲 and was so close to what's happening in the real world that I wouldn't be surprised if it was based on true story 💔
The Lodger is one of the best ghotic novels I've read in 2022 and if you are a fan of mystery, murders and suspense, then this book is for you! ☺
March 1, 2023
London, 1919: a city haunted by the ghosts and absences of those brave men who marched away but never came back…
Grace Armstrong believes that after struggling to accept reality, she has finally come to terms with a loss from which she never thought to recover, the death of her brilliant fiancé who was declared Missing In Action but without a definitive answer, he starts to reappear and materialise both within her dreams, and her waking hours but surely this is mere trickery of the eye as Grace was duly informed of his loss.
A body is dragged from the bitter cold and unforgiving mistress that is the Thames, identified as Elizabeth Smith, a former lodger who Grace grew close to after sharing eight years together but one day suddenly disappearing into the night.
Elizabeth was much more than a lodger, she had become a dear friend to Grace, and these memories spur Grace on to uncover the true circumstances as to what led her friend to meet such a tragic fate.
In doing so however, Grace is unknowingly and reluctantly drawn in to a world full of dangerous liaisons and sordid encounters seemingly hidden in London’s underbelly reaching back to a scandal responsible for shaking the foundations of polite Edwardian society.
Grace must find out what happened to Elizabeth, yet the more she discovers, the more she loses of herself and in doing so could lead to her own tragic end when it becomes clear that her former lodger and friend wasn’t particularly innocent.
An unforgettable tale of gothic intrigue, thrilling twists, and a heroine you cannot help but grow to love.
Grace Armstrong believes that after struggling to accept reality, she has finally come to terms with a loss from which she never thought to recover, the death of her brilliant fiancé who was declared Missing In Action but without a definitive answer, he starts to reappear and materialise both within her dreams, and her waking hours but surely this is mere trickery of the eye as Grace was duly informed of his loss.
A body is dragged from the bitter cold and unforgiving mistress that is the Thames, identified as Elizabeth Smith, a former lodger who Grace grew close to after sharing eight years together but one day suddenly disappearing into the night.
Elizabeth was much more than a lodger, she had become a dear friend to Grace, and these memories spur Grace on to uncover the true circumstances as to what led her friend to meet such a tragic fate.
In doing so however, Grace is unknowingly and reluctantly drawn in to a world full of dangerous liaisons and sordid encounters seemingly hidden in London’s underbelly reaching back to a scandal responsible for shaking the foundations of polite Edwardian society.
Grace must find out what happened to Elizabeth, yet the more she discovers, the more she loses of herself and in doing so could lead to her own tragic end when it becomes clear that her former lodger and friend wasn’t particularly innocent.
An unforgettable tale of gothic intrigue, thrilling twists, and a heroine you cannot help but grow to love.
February 8, 2023
It’s 1919 and Grace Armstrong, like many other young women, is mourning the loss of her fiancé and brother in the Great War. She has done her best to move on – having served as a VAD nurse during the war, she is now pursuing a career as a journalist with the London periodical Nursing World – but she is still haunted by the thought that her fiancé Robert, reported Missing in Action at the Somme, could still be alive. Meanwhile her mother, struggling to cope with the death of Grace’s brother Edward, is under sedation in a nursing home. It’s a difficult time for the Armstrong family – and is about to get worse when their lodger, Elizabeth Smith, is found drowned in the River Thames.
Elizabeth had lodged with the family for eight years and she and Grace had become good friends. Unable to accept the verdict from the police that Elizabeth had committed suicide, Grace is determined to find out what really happened. The only person who is prepared to help her is Tom Monaghan, who fought with Edward in France, but as they begin to investigate Elizabeth’s death, they make some shocking discoveries about Grace’s friend.
This is Helen Scarlett’s second novel; I haven’t read her first, The Deception of Harriet Fleet, but both are standalones so that didn’t matter at all. I will probably look for that earlier book now, as I did enjoy this one. It’s a slow-paced novel, but I still found it quite gripping, mainly because of the vivid portrayal of a world emerging from war, with people attempting to move forward while still struggling with the trauma of the recent past. Nobody in the novel has come out of the war unscathed; we meet men left damaged both physically and mentally by the horrors of the trenches, families grieving for the deaths of loved ones – and perhaps worst of all, people like Grace who are unable to grieve properly without knowing whether their loved one is dead or alive. Grace sees Robert everywhere – in the street, on the bus, in her dreams – and feels that she’ll never be able to rebuild her life until she knows the truth.
I found the mystery element of the book less successful. The story of Elizabeth’s past seemed too far-fetched to be very convincing and as more and more of her secrets were uncovered I felt that the plot was in danger of becoming much too complicated. There’s also a romance for Grace which was predictable but satisfying, although I would have liked to have seen her spend more time with her love interest; that would have helped me to become more invested in their relationship.
Despite the few negative points I’ve mentioned, The Lodger is an atmospheric and moving novel and the image it evokes of a London in the aftermath of war is one that will stay with me.
Elizabeth had lodged with the family for eight years and she and Grace had become good friends. Unable to accept the verdict from the police that Elizabeth had committed suicide, Grace is determined to find out what really happened. The only person who is prepared to help her is Tom Monaghan, who fought with Edward in France, but as they begin to investigate Elizabeth’s death, they make some shocking discoveries about Grace’s friend.
This is Helen Scarlett’s second novel; I haven’t read her first, The Deception of Harriet Fleet, but both are standalones so that didn’t matter at all. I will probably look for that earlier book now, as I did enjoy this one. It’s a slow-paced novel, but I still found it quite gripping, mainly because of the vivid portrayal of a world emerging from war, with people attempting to move forward while still struggling with the trauma of the recent past. Nobody in the novel has come out of the war unscathed; we meet men left damaged both physically and mentally by the horrors of the trenches, families grieving for the deaths of loved ones – and perhaps worst of all, people like Grace who are unable to grieve properly without knowing whether their loved one is dead or alive. Grace sees Robert everywhere – in the street, on the bus, in her dreams – and feels that she’ll never be able to rebuild her life until she knows the truth.
I found the mystery element of the book less successful. The story of Elizabeth’s past seemed too far-fetched to be very convincing and as more and more of her secrets were uncovered I felt that the plot was in danger of becoming much too complicated. There’s also a romance for Grace which was predictable but satisfying, although I would have liked to have seen her spend more time with her love interest; that would have helped me to become more invested in their relationship.
Despite the few negative points I’ve mentioned, The Lodger is an atmospheric and moving novel and the image it evokes of a London in the aftermath of war is one that will stay with me.
January 6, 2023
The Lodger was an okay historical fiction read. The premise sounded interesting from the blurb, and in some ways it was, but I never really got completely invested in the story, nor in the romance aspect, which seemed a bit thrown in without a lot of page time or development. But, that said, there was nothing wrong with the writing and the pacing was fine. I certainly didn't dislike it; I simply didn't love it. If you are into historical fiction with a bit of a mystery twist, you are sure to find something to appreciate here. It gets 3.5 stars from me.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2023
I'm grateful to Netgalley and Quercus Books for providing me with this free advanced reading copy.
The Lodger by Helen Scarlett is a detective taking place in the aftermath of WWI in London. It's full of brooding and grief but also new beginnings and stories of healing.
It is a story of a young woman Grace who lost her brother and fiancé. Recently her friend had disappeared and then was found dead. Grace couldn't believe in her friend's suicide and started an investigation.
What I liked:
- The initial part was slow and intriguing. Full of hopes for the future blended with grief and inability to move on, it created a distinct mood. I couldn't put the book down
- The atmosphere of London after WW1. Small details described the right mood of the city, it felt waking up but also full of ghosts
- The detective story had unexpected but believable turns and it was interesting to follow the investigation
What parts feel neutral:
- Side characters. I appreciate the time the author took to research the recovery of people and wounds that will never heal. I liked the themes she discussed with the stories of side characters. But for me, there were too many sub-plots, we didn't have enough time to explore them. In my opinion, it could be better if we had just one or two side characters, but we could feel their story
- The finale of the investigation. I wanted it to hit harder. But I'm that reader who usually loves mystery more than revelation, so it was expected
What I didn't like:
- I didn't get the romance at all. The characters didn't spend enough time together and I didn't feel the chemistry. I saw that some readers enjoyed it, so maybe it just me. The finale scene was a bit cliché
- The middle part felt too slow for my taste and there was a lot of speaking about clues and small talk too, but not many active moments. The story lost its atmosphere in this part for me
So I can recommend this book to readers who want to experience London's atmosphere after WW1 and follow our main character in her investigation
The Lodger by Helen Scarlett is a detective taking place in the aftermath of WWI in London. It's full of brooding and grief but also new beginnings and stories of healing.
It is a story of a young woman Grace who lost her brother and fiancé. Recently her friend had disappeared and then was found dead. Grace couldn't believe in her friend's suicide and started an investigation.
What I liked:
- The initial part was slow and intriguing. Full of hopes for the future blended with grief and inability to move on, it created a distinct mood. I couldn't put the book down
- The atmosphere of London after WW1. Small details described the right mood of the city, it felt waking up but also full of ghosts
- The detective story had unexpected but believable turns and it was interesting to follow the investigation
What parts feel neutral:
- Side characters. I appreciate the time the author took to research the recovery of people and wounds that will never heal. I liked the themes she discussed with the stories of side characters. But for me, there were too many sub-plots, we didn't have enough time to explore them. In my opinion, it could be better if we had just one or two side characters, but we could feel their story
- The finale of the investigation. I wanted it to hit harder. But I'm that reader who usually loves mystery more than revelation, so it was expected
What I didn't like:
- I didn't get the romance at all. The characters didn't spend enough time together and I didn't feel the chemistry. I saw that some readers enjoyed it, so maybe it just me. The finale scene was a bit cliché
- The middle part felt too slow for my taste and there was a lot of speaking about clues and small talk too, but not many active moments. The story lost its atmosphere in this part for me
So I can recommend this book to readers who want to experience London's atmosphere after WW1 and follow our main character in her investigation
February 12, 2023
The Lodger is a historical mystery novel set in post-World War I London. We follow Grace, an aspiring reporter in her early 20s as she works to discern the truth of the death of her dear family friend and long-time lodger, Elizabeth.
The book has a cast of believable and fun characters, my favourite and a highlight of which is Miss Bunty (a cocktail and gossip loving lady that is a terrible driver). Grace is a nice heroine, and I really liked her drive and empathy. I like how the book explores grief and the everyday trials of mourning the losses of war. I was especially interested when these themes were explored through Grace and her Mother Isobel, and other women who were grieving, such as Bridget. Collective grief in a time of great change was a poignant motif in this book and I appreciated it. Though I was not really a fan of the actual mystery, the way it was slowly unraveled and told was well done, and I found it interesting how our perception of the lodger fluctuates throughout the book.
The romance in this book didn't really resonate with me, and could have been left out. The grief Grace experiences and how she processes her loss would have been enough here. The end of this novel was lacking unfortunately, it was entirely convenient and did not tie up the story or the themes explored in a satisfying way for me. I did not find the dialogue or the plot itself very believable either. The book was also missing a sense of time, and it did not feel very Edwardian in tone or through the descriptions, they were rather simple and ambiguous. The sense of atmosphere was quite strong though, and I liked the way that different areas of London were portrayed. Something about this book was missing, and I was unable to really connect with it unfortunately.
Thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book has a cast of believable and fun characters, my favourite and a highlight of which is Miss Bunty (a cocktail and gossip loving lady that is a terrible driver). Grace is a nice heroine, and I really liked her drive and empathy. I like how the book explores grief and the everyday trials of mourning the losses of war. I was especially interested when these themes were explored through Grace and her Mother Isobel, and other women who were grieving, such as Bridget. Collective grief in a time of great change was a poignant motif in this book and I appreciated it. Though I was not really a fan of the actual mystery, the way it was slowly unraveled and told was well done, and I found it interesting how our perception of the lodger fluctuates throughout the book.
The romance in this book didn't really resonate with me, and could have been left out. The grief Grace experiences and how she processes her loss would have been enough here. The end of this novel was lacking unfortunately, it was entirely convenient and did not tie up the story or the themes explored in a satisfying way for me. I did not find the dialogue or the plot itself very believable either. The book was also missing a sense of time, and it did not feel very Edwardian in tone or through the descriptions, they were rather simple and ambiguous. The sense of atmosphere was quite strong though, and I liked the way that different areas of London were portrayed. Something about this book was missing, and I was unable to really connect with it unfortunately.
Thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2023
Gothic literature would, I imagine for some, be a genre confined to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, yet it has always continued, albeit predominantly in the background of the preponderance of mainstream fiction. However, there has been a revival (of sorts) of this rather unique genre during the past few decades with some of the more well-known books being televised and even film versions being produced. With this revival, some great new books have been published, including The Lodger, by Helen Scarlett, released in March 2023.
The Lodger is Helen Scarlett’s second novel (following The Deception of Harriet Fleet in 2020) who, once again, delivers a tale of mystery and intrigue set amid a gothic atmosphere set amid a period of mourning in 1919 following the First World War.
Following the story of Grace Armstrong, a journalist for a small paper, mourning the disappearance of her fiancé at the Battle of Ypres, and led on an investigation following the mysterious disappearance of the lodger residing at the family home. What follows is a journey which will lead Grace to self-discoveries of her own past, the intrigue of a mystery from the past and her realisation of the ghostly presence of loved ones lost to the war.
One of the main attractions of The Lodger is not only a good story, but the characters are both identifiable and sympathetic, with Scarlett’s narrative making the story even more believable by making the characters, the scenes, and the story perfectly believable. With this re-emergence of Gothic fiction's prevalence to the modern reader, The Lodger will sit firmly at the top of the genre, with great storytelling from an author at the top of her game. There is so much to The Lodger that I actually felt compelled to buy Helen Scarlett’s first novel!
The Lodger is Helen Scarlett’s second novel (following The Deception of Harriet Fleet in 2020) who, once again, delivers a tale of mystery and intrigue set amid a gothic atmosphere set amid a period of mourning in 1919 following the First World War.
Following the story of Grace Armstrong, a journalist for a small paper, mourning the disappearance of her fiancé at the Battle of Ypres, and led on an investigation following the mysterious disappearance of the lodger residing at the family home. What follows is a journey which will lead Grace to self-discoveries of her own past, the intrigue of a mystery from the past and her realisation of the ghostly presence of loved ones lost to the war.
One of the main attractions of The Lodger is not only a good story, but the characters are both identifiable and sympathetic, with Scarlett’s narrative making the story even more believable by making the characters, the scenes, and the story perfectly believable. With this re-emergence of Gothic fiction's prevalence to the modern reader, The Lodger will sit firmly at the top of the genre, with great storytelling from an author at the top of her game. There is so much to The Lodger that I actually felt compelled to buy Helen Scarlett’s first novel!
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November 1, 2024I’m giving this 3.5 stars, mainly because she’s a fairly new writer.
November 12, 2022
Thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for my advance review copy of this book.
Dangerous liaisons ★★★☆☆
In grief-stricken post-war London, Grace mourns her brother and fiancé and the shadow her mother has become. When their lodger’s body is pulled from the Thames in mysterious circumstances, Grace is set on using her reporting skills to solve Elizabeth’s murder.
Grace is a plucky and resolute character who refuses to conform to society’s expectation of a young lady or to give up on the mystery of her lost friend even when Elizabeth’s secret past comes to light.
With the help of her mother’s unconventional friend Lady Bunty and the mysterious and troubled Tom Monaghan, Grace delves into society scandals and London’s murky underworld, risking her safety to expose the truth.
A story of disappeared women, abuse of power, bravery, and friendship in Edwardian London.
Dangerous liaisons ★★★☆☆
In grief-stricken post-war London, Grace mourns her brother and fiancé and the shadow her mother has become. When their lodger’s body is pulled from the Thames in mysterious circumstances, Grace is set on using her reporting skills to solve Elizabeth’s murder.
Grace is a plucky and resolute character who refuses to conform to society’s expectation of a young lady or to give up on the mystery of her lost friend even when Elizabeth’s secret past comes to light.
With the help of her mother’s unconventional friend Lady Bunty and the mysterious and troubled Tom Monaghan, Grace delves into society scandals and London’s murky underworld, risking her safety to expose the truth.
A story of disappeared women, abuse of power, bravery, and friendship in Edwardian London.
November 8, 2023
So, this is one of those books. You know the sort, the ones that start out with a bang and then, somehow, petered out.
I totally loved this one all through the first half. It sounded so realistic. The historical setting was spot on - if a bit expositional in places. There was Elisabeth's mystery: she appeared to have been a very different person before she went lodging with Grace and her family, and I wanted to know whether she had changed or whether she was a misunderstood woman. There was the WWI tread, where Grace kept seeing her husband around the city, and it could have been her hallucinating, but maybe...
And there were mysterious, unsettling dreams Grace was having about the war. There was also a thread concerning Grace's mother that was very very mysterious in the first part of the book.
I was so totally intrigued and desperate to learn how things stood.
Then, more or less halfway through, I don't know why, I thought, "Are we sure the author will be able to bring this mystery home?"
Maybe I sensed something. Maybe I subconsciously saw clues in the text, but right after that, things started to fall apart.
Most of the mysteries of the story turned out to be not really mysteries.
Grace's mother is a perfect example: there was, after all, no mystery there, and in fact, that thread unravelled in a very uninspiring way. The same happened to all the others. The dreams, for example, which I was so desperate to learn what meant, turned out to mean basically nothing. They were just nightmares.
It was so very disappointing.
The mystery, in the end, wasn't bad. It also made sense. But I felt that, with all the other things going on, it didn't receive the space and emotions it deserved, and therefore, it turned out to be disappointing too.
It was a book with a great concept and with very ambitious aspirations. Personally, I think that if it had been executed more skillfully, it would have been smashing.
Unfortunately, it wasn't.
I totally loved this one all through the first half. It sounded so realistic. The historical setting was spot on - if a bit expositional in places. There was Elisabeth's mystery: she appeared to have been a very different person before she went lodging with Grace and her family, and I wanted to know whether she had changed or whether she was a misunderstood woman. There was the WWI tread, where Grace kept seeing her husband around the city, and it could have been her hallucinating, but maybe...
And there were mysterious, unsettling dreams Grace was having about the war. There was also a thread concerning Grace's mother that was very very mysterious in the first part of the book.
I was so totally intrigued and desperate to learn how things stood.
Then, more or less halfway through, I don't know why, I thought, "Are we sure the author will be able to bring this mystery home?"
Maybe I sensed something. Maybe I subconsciously saw clues in the text, but right after that, things started to fall apart.
Most of the mysteries of the story turned out to be not really mysteries.
Grace's mother is a perfect example: there was, after all, no mystery there, and in fact, that thread unravelled in a very uninspiring way. The same happened to all the others. The dreams, for example, which I was so desperate to learn what meant, turned out to mean basically nothing. They were just nightmares.
It was so very disappointing.
The mystery, in the end, wasn't bad. It also made sense. But I felt that, with all the other things going on, it didn't receive the space and emotions it deserved, and therefore, it turned out to be disappointing too.
It was a book with a great concept and with very ambitious aspirations. Personally, I think that if it had been executed more skillfully, it would have been smashing.
Unfortunately, it wasn't.
January 24, 2023
Set in post WW1 London, this is a gothic mystery which completely captivated me, I loved it and a contender for my favourite this year.
The main arc of the story follows Grace who is mourning the death of both her brother and fiancé. I felt the collective grief was palpable on the pages, with so much loss from the war. Grace is trying to find their lodger, Elizabeth, who has disappeared. When she is found dead in the river, her death is noted as suicide, but Grace is certain this cannot be the case so sets out to uncover what really happened. In doing so, she is drawn further into secrets and murder, slowly unravelling through the story.
This book is beautifully written, with wonderful characters, twists and turns that fit the plot and storyline and will keep you immersed in their world.
The main arc of the story follows Grace who is mourning the death of both her brother and fiancé. I felt the collective grief was palpable on the pages, with so much loss from the war. Grace is trying to find their lodger, Elizabeth, who has disappeared. When she is found dead in the river, her death is noted as suicide, but Grace is certain this cannot be the case so sets out to uncover what really happened. In doing so, she is drawn further into secrets and murder, slowly unravelling through the story.
This book is beautifully written, with wonderful characters, twists and turns that fit the plot and storyline and will keep you immersed in their world.
November 21, 2023
Having read this authors previous novel and thoroughly enjoyed it, I was absolutely thrilled to be offered this title to review. Full of wonderful historic detail once again that immediately drew me into the storyline. A good read but unfortunately let down somewhat by a hurried, rather anti climatic, disappointing ending I felt.
September 4, 2023
Thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for the eARC of The Lodger by Helen Scarlett in exchange for an honest review! All opinions Expressed are my own.
I was loving the mystery at first but that sadly didn’t last long. Nothing really wrong with the writing, I could read it okay and it held my attention, but I just didn’t love it either. Does more telling than showing when presenting clues/new info, which is a reading pet peeve of mine. I think if it had been dual POV and we could discover the secrets from Elizabeth’s perspective rather than being told everything secondhand it could’ve been more intriguing/mysterious.
The story began to slow down a bit in the middle, making me lose interest 😭 The romance felt almost forced and the mystery waned! The characters involved in the romance barely have any scenes together so it just doesn’t make sense. The murder mystery completely slowed and there’s zero tension, it feels more like a cozy mystery than a gothic novel (which there’s nothing wrong with that but it’s not something I enjoy; I prefer mysteries with tension).
Flat characters-there’s no development or character arcs. It’s always the same things and we don’t learn anything new to add to the characterization of the MC or side characters. The main mystery also disappears for awhile and becomes more of a side plot to the romance and character relationships.
The book just tries to do too much and falls flat in its premise/execution! The one thing it does well is show Grace’s grief following World War 1 and the aftermath effects of how it affected the country as a whole. Honestly the book would have been much better as a historical romance or general historical novel that focuses on characters’ grief and trying to move on following the war.
Finally, the ending felt underwhelming and rushed. The novel as a whole felt way too long on the details it did focus on and way too short for the mystery portion. The revealing of secrets and solving of the mystery didn’t pack the punch I hoped for and left me underwhelmed because it took so damn long to reveal anything! Everything was revealed in the last 30 pages (which at that point I started skimming) and I just thought “okay and?” Like I wanted to finish the book to find out what happened but once I did I couldn’t have had less feelings about it all 🙈
If you read this, go in with zero expectations of it being a gothic murder mystery, because it absolutely isn’t 😅 If you enjoy cozy mysteries, with slight dark elements then you may enjoy this! That’s where I began to feel disappointed was because I expected and wanted a gothic mystery novel but didn’t get any of that.
TW/CW: death, war, grief, classism, murder, violence, abortion (brief mention), homophobia (brief mention), sexual assault, pedophilia, car accident
September 9, 2023
My thanks to Quercus Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Lodger’ by Helen Scarlett.
In 1919 London is a city haunted by the men who had marched away to war and never came back. Grace Armstrong believes that she has come to terms with the death of Robert, her fiancé. He had been listed as ‘Missing in Action’ after the battle of the Somme. However, recently he has started appearing in her dreams and on occasion Grace thinks that she glimpses him while she is walking through London. Could he have survived?
Added to this, there is the disappearance of the woman who has been lodging with the Armstrong family for the past eight years. Elizabeth Smith was a very private person though had become a good friend to Grace. Then a woman’s body is dragged from the Thames and is identified as Elizabeth.
With the police disinterested in investigating, Grace feels compelled to uncover the true circumstances of Elizabeth’s death. She utilises her experience as an aspiring reporter to interview people in Elizabeth’s life. Yet in doing so she is drawn into the sordid and dangerous underbelly of London and a scandal that had rocked Edwardian society.
I found ‘The Lodger’ a slow burn, character-driven mystery with a strong emphasis upon its post Great War setting. This includes examining the various changes that the war had brought about in society. There is also the theme of dealing with loss and grief.
Overall, I found myself quite drawn into Grace’s world and felt a great deal of empathy for her and her need to understand why her fiancé had died as well as her hope to carve out a new future for herself. ‘The Lodger’ is a contemplative historical novel very much in the tradition of Sarah Waters.
In 1919 London is a city haunted by the men who had marched away to war and never came back. Grace Armstrong believes that she has come to terms with the death of Robert, her fiancé. He had been listed as ‘Missing in Action’ after the battle of the Somme. However, recently he has started appearing in her dreams and on occasion Grace thinks that she glimpses him while she is walking through London. Could he have survived?
Added to this, there is the disappearance of the woman who has been lodging with the Armstrong family for the past eight years. Elizabeth Smith was a very private person though had become a good friend to Grace. Then a woman’s body is dragged from the Thames and is identified as Elizabeth.
With the police disinterested in investigating, Grace feels compelled to uncover the true circumstances of Elizabeth’s death. She utilises her experience as an aspiring reporter to interview people in Elizabeth’s life. Yet in doing so she is drawn into the sordid and dangerous underbelly of London and a scandal that had rocked Edwardian society.
I found ‘The Lodger’ a slow burn, character-driven mystery with a strong emphasis upon its post Great War setting. This includes examining the various changes that the war had brought about in society. There is also the theme of dealing with loss and grief.
Overall, I found myself quite drawn into Grace’s world and felt a great deal of empathy for her and her need to understand why her fiancé had died as well as her hope to carve out a new future for herself. ‘The Lodger’ is a contemplative historical novel very much in the tradition of Sarah Waters.
March 13, 2023
When a dead body is found in the Thames, Grace Armstrong is shocked to identify it as Catherine Smith, the lodger at her family home. She decides to discover the truth about her friend’s death and cannot be stopped by reluctant police officers or a lack of information about Catherine. Soon, she discovers that the case is connected to a gruesome crime…
The Lodger is an interesting position. The action takes place in London in 1919, and the city seems to be mourning the sons and husbands lost in the war. Grace’s fiancé was one of the soldiers declared missing after the Battle of Somme, and she cannot accept this loss. Grace is convinced that he is alive and sees him on the street of London. This overwhelming grief gives the novel a melancholic atmosphere, contrasted by the scenes where Grace visits relatively modern clubs with her friends. The story’s central theme is the investigation of Catherine’s life and death. It turns out that she had many secrets and a turbulent past. Soon, Grace’s actions are noticed by those interested in keeping the truth hidden…
I enjoyed this atmospheric, well-written book and would recommend it to everyone. Especially that, despite the gloom, there is a bit of romance.
Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for providing the arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Lodger is an interesting position. The action takes place in London in 1919, and the city seems to be mourning the sons and husbands lost in the war. Grace’s fiancé was one of the soldiers declared missing after the Battle of Somme, and she cannot accept this loss. Grace is convinced that he is alive and sees him on the street of London. This overwhelming grief gives the novel a melancholic atmosphere, contrasted by the scenes where Grace visits relatively modern clubs with her friends. The story’s central theme is the investigation of Catherine’s life and death. It turns out that she had many secrets and a turbulent past. Soon, Grace’s actions are noticed by those interested in keeping the truth hidden…
I enjoyed this atmospheric, well-written book and would recommend it to everyone. Especially that, despite the gloom, there is a bit of romance.
Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for providing the arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2022
The Lodger is solid entry into the gothic genre. Using the atmospheric London streets during the aftermath of World War I to its advantage, the story follows Grace who is determined to find out the truth of what happened to her missing lodger, Elizabeth.
I found the story to be an enjoyable easy read, albeit set in ghostly and grim conditions. It thoughtfully handled the depiction of grief and the ghosts of the past, using it unravel our characters as they confront their shared histories and pain. Grace is a compelling main character and I very much enjoyed following her as she begins piecing together the clues as to what happened to Elizabeth. It worked well against the story threads related to her own family using it to highlight the impact of social change following the war
That said, I found the supporting storyline of her relationship with Tom a little lacking. He wasn’t in the story enough for me to see that relationship develop into its conclusion, but I did enjoy their interactions when they were together.
I found the story to be an enjoyable easy read, albeit set in ghostly and grim conditions. It thoughtfully handled the depiction of grief and the ghosts of the past, using it unravel our characters as they confront their shared histories and pain. Grace is a compelling main character and I very much enjoyed following her as she begins piecing together the clues as to what happened to Elizabeth. It worked well against the story threads related to her own family using it to highlight the impact of social change following the war
That said, I found the supporting storyline of her relationship with Tom a little lacking. He wasn’t in the story enough for me to see that relationship develop into its conclusion, but I did enjoy their interactions when they were together.
April 3, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Gorgeous cover on this book.
The Lodger by Helen Scarlett is a gripping and haunting gothic tale set in post-World War I London. When the body of Elizabeth Smith, a lodger who had become a dear friend to Grace, is found in the Thames after disappearing suddenly, Grace is drawn into the dangerous underbelly of London to uncover what happened to Elizabeth.
Despite my usual aversion to novels set during wartime, I was thoroughly engrossed in this book. The author did a fantastic job of capturing the atmosphere and era with vivid descriptions, and the mystery itself was well-crafted and kept me intrigued until the end.
While I enjoyed the characters and found them well-developed and likable, I felt that the romance between Grace and Tom was a weak point in the story. However, as someone not currently invested in romance novels, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.
Overall, The Lodger is an excellent read for fans of historical fiction with its captivating plot and realistic portrayal of post-war London.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
The Lodger by Helen Scarlett is a gripping and haunting gothic tale set in post-World War I London. When the body of Elizabeth Smith, a lodger who had become a dear friend to Grace, is found in the Thames after disappearing suddenly, Grace is drawn into the dangerous underbelly of London to uncover what happened to Elizabeth.
Despite my usual aversion to novels set during wartime, I was thoroughly engrossed in this book. The author did a fantastic job of capturing the atmosphere and era with vivid descriptions, and the mystery itself was well-crafted and kept me intrigued until the end.
While I enjoyed the characters and found them well-developed and likable, I felt that the romance between Grace and Tom was a weak point in the story. However, as someone not currently invested in romance novels, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.
Overall, The Lodger is an excellent read for fans of historical fiction with its captivating plot and realistic portrayal of post-war London.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
March 23, 2023
I really enjoyed the beginning of "The Lodger" by Helen Scarlett. Set in post-war London, Grace is suffering the after effects of the Great War: her fiancé is MIA, various family members perished in the war and she has an ok job at Nursing World but dreams of being a real journalist. She is dragged into the mystery of the body found in the Thames which turns out to be a former lodger in her family home and as she starts to investigate she is wrapped into the seedy world of Lizzy, who turns out to be a completely different person than she thought. I really liked the parts where she kept seeing Robert (her fiancé who went missing in the war) and you can imagine this must have happened to many women after the war ended, especially when you didn't know whether they were alive or dead. The romance section was ok but I did find the story kind of dragged on and after a while it lost the impact that it had at the beginning.
February 3, 2023
Locations in the novel The Lodger
This was a very interesting case and storyline which I had never heard of before. Political scandal, a lodger who goes missing and then a body is found. Someone is keeping a whole lot of secrets. Luckily for the reader, the author drip feeds these one by one through the novel creating a lovely pace and a gripping case. Throughougly enjoyed this one!
London is very well evoked and it's just after the war so there is a lot of detail in this area - dark alleys, smoke, poverty etc. We go from posh houses to the kind of establishments that charge by the hour. Quite the city tour!
February 10, 2023
The Lodger is the first book I've read from Helen Scarlett.
While I enjoyed the plot and characters, I felt like it was missing something fundamental.
For me, that thing was the historic element. The book is set in the years following the first World War. While there were various mentions of this throughout, the book needed more context and descriptions. For example, clothing, buildings and attitudes of the time. In its current state, it felt like it could have been a plot in any point of time.
The plot went through a bell graph, peaking in pace around the middle. Historic books do tend to be on the slower side, but still, the ending felt like it fizzled out.
I'm sad to not be able to give this a higher rating but it just wasn't up there for me.
With special thanks to Netgalley for giving me an advanced reader copy in return for an honest review.
While I enjoyed the plot and characters, I felt like it was missing something fundamental.
For me, that thing was the historic element. The book is set in the years following the first World War. While there were various mentions of this throughout, the book needed more context and descriptions. For example, clothing, buildings and attitudes of the time. In its current state, it felt like it could have been a plot in any point of time.
The plot went through a bell graph, peaking in pace around the middle. Historic books do tend to be on the slower side, but still, the ending felt like it fizzled out.
I'm sad to not be able to give this a higher rating but it just wasn't up there for me.
With special thanks to Netgalley for giving me an advanced reader copy in return for an honest review.
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