Unquiet

by E. Saxey

A young woman discovers her long-thought dead brother-in-law in her garden and sets about unravelling the mysterious circumstances of his disappearance in this gripping and unsettling Victorian gothic horror, perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Sarah Waters.

London 1893. Judith has been living alone in her family home for four months, the rest of her family travelling around the world whilst she tries desperately to get over the death of Sam, her brother-in-law, who drowned in an accident a year ago.

One icy evening, she discovers Sam, alive, in the garden. He has no memory of the past year, and remembers little of the accident that appeared to take his life.

Desperate to keep his reappearance a secret until she can discover the truth about what happened to him, Judith journeys to the scene of Sam’s accident, only to unearth secrets she never thought she would find.

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Historical Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Fiction, Adult Fiction

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2023

Reviews

[Lilibet Bombshell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was loving this book so much up until we got to the third act. Then, by the time we got to the end, I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room. I felt I had invested so much time and patience in this book that had gone from eerie, macabre, dark, and fascinating to scrabbling and messy and then it just slammed headlong into, “What the heck was that?”, and a general feeling that I had just wasted a great many hours of my time.

I love a good gothic horror mystery. I love good folk horror, and Jewish folklore is filled with some good material. I loved the premise of this book, and E. Saxey started this book out well! I was a happy little mouse, ensconced with Judith (our protagonist) as she stays alone (without a chaperone!) to grieve the loss of her sister’s fiance alone while her sister, mother, and her fiance’s brother are touring Italy together (they are, of course, under the assumption she has a chaperone, which is a con she set up herself so she could have the house and its quiet to herself). Sam, her sister’s fiance, perished roughly a year ago in an accident at a village festival when he fell and drowned in a river, though his body was never recovered.

Judith and her sister, Ruth, are big on rituals and harmless, made-up magic. Their father raised them on the folktales and mythology of England and fairy tales of the west when they first came to London. While their mother is selfish and cared not for much beyond wealth and their large house, their father spoiled them with pre-Raphaelite paintings, dresses straight out of middle ages so they could swan about like princesses, and a grand garden with a lake suited for two girls who wanted nothing more than to read about Lancelot and Guinevere or the Lady of Shalott. They were good Jewish girls, of course, until after their father died and they started keeping company with their new neighbors, Sam and Toby, and their mother never bothered to ensure her daughters’ reputations were kept secure. Ruth saw Sam as a sign that her prince had finally come. If only that had been true.

The first two acts of the book are filled with rituals, dread, fear, mystery, doubt, isolation, darkness, cold, feelings of wrong, rot, and decay. The feelings of being pushed, invaded, taken advantage of; but also the feelings of wanting to help but because you’re selfish, because you want, because you’re in the position to take.

Then, in the third act, it just starts to fall apart. Judith’s excuses for her actions fall thin and I lost my patience with her as a reader. The mystery has essentially been solved and yet she keeps hesitating to do the right thing. It feels like the book should be over and what hasn’t been resolved I had already guessed. The ending just unravels like a poorly-woven sweater, without any control to it. Then, the book just ends. No resolution. No denouement. It was like walking into a brick wall. I don’t know why E. Saxey chose that ending, but in my opinion it wasn't a fit ending for the book and it was a very poor choice. This review would’ve easily been a four star review without that ending.

I hope you like it better than I did.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Per personal policy this review will not appear on any social media or bookseller websites due to receiving a three star or lower rating.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars--I really liked this strange little book. Things I enjoyed: a Jewish heroine (the first time I've met one in a gothic novel, I think); the weaving of British folklore throughout the story; the mystery of Sam's identity. Though I'm not entirely sure it's correct to say Sam was lost in fairyland, I liked the sort of reverse-Tam Lin the heroine went through to rid herself of him.

[Tracey Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, what a wonderful surprise this novel was. Unquiet is the gorgeous, mysterious debut novel from E. Saxey, and is a gothic delight.

Judith is rattling around in her family’s huge house in late nineteenth-century London. Her mother and sister are traveling in Europe, as the whole family mourns the death of Sam, who was betrothed to Judith’s sister, and for whom Judith harbored a secret admiration. One evening, Sam reappears, with no memory of the year since he (apparently) died. Sam swears Judith to secrecy regarding his reappearance, while Judith tries to unravel the mystery of Sam’s lost year.

I have not been so consumed by a story for a while. I loved slowly realizing what was going on, only to be knocked sideways by a new development. And Judith, oh Judith! I just loved her so much, and her growth throughout the novel is wonderful. Her casual drinking, her artistic ambitions, the way she is intimidated by her maid Lucy. But most of all, her developing relationship with Sam. No spoilers, but I was literally cheering Judith on towards the end of the book.

Saxey’s writing is entrancing; they create an incredibly vivid sense of time and place. They never fully reveal what is happening, and encourage the reader to draw their own conclusions. I loved this sense of ongoing uncertainty. I saw similarities between Saxey’s writing and the short stories of Daphne du Maurier, which is one of the highest compliments I can give.

Unquiet is a deeply rich story, with memorable characters, and an ending that will stay with me for a long time. It really is quite special, and I’ve already ordered Saxey’s short story collection.

If you loved Sarah Waters’ The Little Stranger, you will adore Unquiet.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was pitched to me as “kind of shirley jackson” but it’s also jewish gothic maybe horror maybe mystery maybe folklore set in 19th century west london so really speaking EXACTLY my language i will not be shutting up about it anytime soon

(docked a star bc i do feel a bit mixed about judith’s sketched-out backstory and the ending; i felt like i either knew exactly what has going on or had no idea what was going on the entire time, and that continued all the way through)

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️
Mostly boring. Repetitive, the same situation over and over again. Skim read the last 80 pages to get it over with as I'd over invested my time in it already.

[Tobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done, with plenty of atmosphere and a growing sense that Things Are Very Wrong.

[Siobhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction
I was given a copy to review by Titan Books and Netgalley. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #ARCReview #Netgalley #Unquiet #ESaxey #TitanBooks #GothicFiction #GothicHorror

Review
It’s been a while since I have read a modern novel that has captured the gothic nature of Victorian, well, gothic novels but Unquiet does just that and also makes it its own. Set in London in 1893 we meet Judith who is living a solitary life in the family home save for the maid who haunts it. Still in mourning for the death of her soon to be brother-in-law a year prior she busies herself with art classes, books and strange rituals whilst the rest of the family travel the world.
This is until one icy evening, conducting such a ritual in her garden she discovers Sam, alive albeit muddy and with no memory of the year he has missed or the accident that appeared to take his life. A deal is made that she will keep his reappearance a secret until she can discover the truth about what truly happened to him. Judith’s quest for truth takes her outside of the West London Jewish community she calls home and to the scene of Sam’s accident but there are secrets waiting there for Judith, things that have laid dormant for so long and if she must uncover them all then she may have to admit to truths that she has been keeping herself.

Saxey creates a wonderfully dark and gothic atmosphere in Unquiet and pairs this with an heroine who is hard not to love. Nearing the turn of the century Judith is a new woman of the age as it were, pushing boundaries for herself and it was wonderful to follow her quest to seek answers to the mystery of Sam’s reappearance. I particularly liked the inclusion of the Jewish elements and community that were explored within the novel was well. Although the cast of characters is a small one each is well rounded, fleshed out and given their own voice and place in the narrative. But as I say my favourite was Judith.

I also loved the writing style that was perfect at building the atmosphere and tension in the novel. Plus the structure was unique told in days rather than ‘chapters’ as it were it really heightened the narrative showing how quickly or perhaps slowly Judith’s search was progressing. The setting itself captured the time and location perfectly. It really was like being transported back in time to London. I honestly adored this one and will definitely pick up a physical copy as well.

If you are a fan of gothic tales, strong heroines and atmospheric horror this one will give you all that a more. I think it safe to say Saxey has become an instant buy author from this entry alone.

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[Rishika Aggarwal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was an entrancing Gothic mystery that is built around a plot that is constantly examined and ripped into and ripped apart at every turn of the page.

I really enjoyed the folk horror aspect of this book, with the constant mention of rituals and folk traditions. The premise of this book was really interesting, and I loved the setting of the pre-Raphaelite house that Judith lives in.

Judith was a fascinating character, and I loved the insight into her interior life. She's a girl struggling to find her place in the world, and that really comes through in this book.

I also really enjoyed the atmosphere of the book, with the constant feeling of invasion, being taken advantage of, dread, isolation, and rot. At the same time, there's the feeling of trying as Judith attempts to help Sam figure out the mystery of his return.

The one thing that really worked for me was Judith's clumsy stumbling around. She's not a professional detective, and the book doesn't try to pretend that she is - she's painfully conscious of the fact that, even though she's doing her best, she's probably not getting anywhere. At the same time, there's also the sense that Judith thinks she's managing to get away with more than she actually is (convincing the rest of the world that she's fine without a chaperone). This space between conscious acknowledgment and unconscious bravado makes her such a well-rounded and fascinating character, and she immediately captivated me.

The other thing that works really well is the cast of side characters. I adore Ella and Lucy, and Bonnie and the vicar are both interesting characters as well.

Saxey has also done really well in writing the Jewishness of her characters. She's covered the Jewish tradition very well, and I especially loved the research that went into when/how Sam could be declared dead religiously and legally.

That said, I do wish the book was a bit shorter. It was a bit too long and could have been done with a bit of editing. Additionally, the ending feels a bit abrupt and disconcerting. I would have loved a little more to it, and maybe an introduction to Ruth, their mother, and Toby on their return from Italy.

Ultimately, this was a 3.5/5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars for me!

[Peter Baran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it only the dead that are Unquiet? It is the obvious usage here, as the Victorian Gothic tickboxes are checked off. Empty mansion except for a surly maid; recent death of significant menfolk, mysterious lights going on and off; and don't forget a busybody vicar in the parish. Not that our heroine needs a vicar, she is Jewish though the book does an awful lot less with that than I expected - though her name Judith is a constant reminder. But she is a solitary presence, making up her own occult rituals to pass the time, dilettante at art and succumbing to all the introspection you can fit in a gossamer nightie. And then that dead brother-in-law, presumed drowned in a swollen river, pops up suggesting he had amnesia. But, also he doesn't want Judith to tell anyone he's alive.

Because this is saturated in the Gothic sensibility, no matter how much Judith investigates Sam's whereabouts the eventual conclusion remains on the the table throughout. The book is structured in a rigidly chronological way, day by day for a week, and there are moments when you know there will be some late-night shenanigans because the chapter isn't long enough. It does go around in circles too, with the neighbouring house, and the issues with the maid, though some of these are eventually satisfactorily resolved.

I've fallen out of love with gothic novels a bit recently, and there is little in the way of subversion of tropes here. It ran a bit long and too introspective for my tastes and held few surprises in ist final passages. The lead did have a strong voice, and it certainly delivers good gothic, but felt like one for the purists.

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unquiet appears at first glance to be nuanced within the framework of the Victorian Gothic but its subtle visions hide a darkness full of lurking fear.
Judith Sachs, a young Jewish woman, is at peril, hardly able to clutch of the proprieties expected of her, she has a man hidden in her home. Is she slowly going mad?
Sam Silver is the boy from next door, once engaged to marry Judith's sister, and now very probably back from the dead.
The author pays homage to the tropes of the genre throwing in a mud bride, a golem, and rites of fertility and fire. I was particularly gripped by the character of the lonely village priest, clinging to the tatters of his faith and turning a blind eye to his pagan neighbours.
A superb evocation of creeping terror.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gothic isn't a genre I usually read; I grabbed this because the author is a friend and a fantastic writer. Sinister goings-on in Victorian London - supernatural or human? - a headstrong young woman alone (at constant risk of scandal), and ancient rituals in country villages. And, I suspect, a Cabin Pressure reference. So good.

[Fred Langridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror is not usually my thing, but this was more mystery and less scary. Very atmospheric, with an intriguing central mystery and engaging characters.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that exists. Everything was overwhelmingly fine. An okay mystery with an okay cast of characters. It had a very poignant atmosphere which was perfect for the story. The chapters were a little hefty so if you’re someone who prefers smaller chapters/lighter reading I’d recommend reading a chapter a day and starting on a Tuesday. That’s all I got unfortunately, didn’t hate, didn’t love, but didn’t provide me with too much emotion either.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judith has been home alone for four months while the rest of her family has gone to Italy, all to try and desperately get over the death of her soon-to-be brother-in-law. One evening she finds him in their garden all muddy with no memory of the accident or where he's been all this time.

Without the usual tropes of Gothic literature this does have all the expected atmosphere. The book takes place in the late 1800s and Judith is written very well as a modern girl of the times who pushes the envelope but still must meet the restrictions of the era. Other characters are mentioned but Judith and Sam are the main two characters with a small supporting cast. Judith reveals many secrets as she tries to uncover Sam's recent past and while not shocking they twist the plot around. A nice book with a dark, heavy atmosphere that I enjoyed but didn't love. 

[caro_cactus · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entrancing* Gothic story, built around a seemingly simple plot pattern which Judith's narration draws and re-draws and corrects and embroiders and tears apart obsessively. I'm always up for unreliable narrators and this confirms that I really like Saxey's turns of phrase, the metaphors they choose and the nuances of emotions they spin out ; the novel could arguably have been a little shorter but I certainly didn't mind spending more time in the lonely pre-raphaelite house - although Ella's ambitious, pragmatic visits was a welcome foil to Judith's hauntings.

*I really didn't mean to finish the remaining 3/4 of it today but once I'd gotten to the 60-65% mark I knew I needed to reach the end now.

[Amy (Sun) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I REALLY wanted to give this five stars. This is a historical fiction gothic horror (sort of?). The main characters are all Jewish, which i really loved, as it's so rare to get Jewish historical fiction that isn't WW2-based, let alone Jewish horror. There's a lot of mentions of folklore, Jewish and otherwise, as well as Jewish customs. I really loved all of that, and the main character. The reason I knocked it a star though is that it dragged a bit and it really didn't hit that horror/creepy vibe for me. A little, in parts, but mostly it was a mix of mystery and a tiny bit of a coming of age thing.

The end is very ambiguous, a bit of a "make of this what you will" which I'm never sure how I feel about. I wanted it to be clearer, I guess? But I still really enjoyed it.

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a lush and seething gothic novel which completely subsumed me, it was incredibly evocative of a time and place where folk lore, religion and superstition meld into an first person narrative that takes you straight inside Judith's mind.

She is alone in her family house, having dispatched her sister, mother and sister's fiance's brother, Toby, away to Italy following the disappearance and death of Sam, Toby's brother.

She roams the house in dresses made from velvet curtains, haunted by the ghosts of her relationships with her family members and what could be, but never was.

Following their move to the outskirts of London, where they remain outsiders, they band with the new arrivals, Sam and Toby in their status as 'not from around these here parts' and Ruth quickly falls for Sam.

His death devastates both families and as Judith dismisses all household staff, except for Lucy the maid, and becomes almost a wraith , a ghost of herself.

But in the absence of family and accompanied responsibilities of looking after them, she is able to explore her culture through her art.

And in the midst of this lonely existence where she believes she has done the right thing, sending her loved ones away, Sam returns.

Was he dead? Or just missing for a year?

Was it one of Judith's ceremonies which summoned him back, or something darker?

Is he even there?

I have to admit to doubting Judith at the same time as being completely engrossed in her version of just what was going on , desperate to find out what the cause of Sam's amnesia is, whilst hiding him away until she can formulate a logical response to the most unlikely of circumstances.

The details of Jewish culture are so respectfully done, I found myself looking up the various folktales that Saxey mentions, and was blown away by the way in which they add depth and resonance to the story.

I knew of the golem,and this is a motif carried through Unquiet, for a golem has no mouth, and likewise, Judith does, but is not encouraged to use it.

She is an anomaly, living on her own with what may or may not be a ghost or a person who has died, or maybe he never did-trying desperately to avoid spoilers here!-and I absolutely loved the way it hits at this time of year, the days are shortening and ghost stories and folk lore start coming to the fore.

Highly recommended for lovers of that exquisite space between fantasy and horror, whilst embracing both!

[Caitlin (cottagewitchreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book expecting gothic horror; I got so much more.

This is the story of a young woman, Judith, in 1890’s London. Her family are away in Italy and her recently deceased brother-in-law turns up at their house, unannounced and certainly not dead. Sam, the recently undead, has no memory of where he’s been in the last year, so he and Judith give themselves a week to try and uncover the truth before alerting their family to his return.

All the while Judith attempts to go about her life and struggles to unlock Sam’s memories, the turmoil of his return leads to doubts and more questions. And when more characters appear in the search, Judith thinks they know more than they’re letting on.

This was a mystery filled read and the author manged to capture the perfect gothic atmosphere. The writing made me feel like I was really in turn of the century London. I enjoyed the elements of paganism and folklore, along with the Jewish representation. And the format of the chapters is days of the week; I usually like shorter chapters but in this instance I really enjoyed this layout and it really added to the storytelling!

Throughout the entire book, you are consistently pulled every which way by the idea of “Is he, isn’t he?” (I will not elaborate, you will have to read it yourself!) Sometimes it was a bit disorientating and pulled me away from the story but as you kept gaining more insight, it became a good tool that grips the audience – we desperately want to know!

In Judith’s story you see her personal character development and how her relationships with others grow and change. In her relationship with Sam, I saw parallels with her growth and the 5 stages of grief; which I thought added a nice depth to it.

If you want a gothic horror set in an historic London, strong female characters with Jewish rep and folklore, topped with a gripping mystery – this is a book you should add to your TBR.

Thank you to Titan Books and Ellis for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1893 in the heart of Jewish London, this gothic ghost story features Judith and her neighbor, and sister's fiance, Samuel. Samuel was lost in a flood but one very cold night during Hannukah, he appears in Judith's backyard at the lake their houses share. Where has Sam been for the past year? Why doesn't he want Judith to tell anyone he's back? Is Judith having a mental breakdown, after all she's been living alone for several months with only her maid for company. As Judith investigates where Samuel has been, she learns there's more going on at her house, and next door, than she ever expected. It's a chilling tale.

As I read this one, I couldn't decide if Samuel was a ghost or a figment of Judith's imagination, or something more sinister like the The Return of Martin Guerre https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

The Jewish community is portrayed positively as are Jewish customs and rituals.

If you like a good gothic tale, this one's for you.

Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.

[Soma Kar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unquiet by E. Saxey is a gripping, gothic mystery.

The year is 1893, in London. Judith's life is pretty lonely, except for the maid who haunts her house. Following the death of her brother-in-law Sam in a drowning accident a year ago, she finds solace in art classes, books, and quirky rituals while her family is globetrotting.

One freezing night, while doing a ritual in her garden, she finds Sam, alive. He can't remember anything from the past year, and barely remembers the accident that seemed to kill him.
Judith desperately wants to keep his reappearance a secret until she finds out the truth about what happened to him. So, she goes outside of her West London Jewish community to where Sam had his accident. But there are secrets waiting for Judith there, things that have been hidden for so long, and if she wants to find out about all of them, she might have to face some truths she's been avoiding.

The story is well-written and the characters are engaging. Disquieting and atmospheric. I liked this novel.

[Charlotte Mylifeinbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was described as being for Shirley Jackson fans and as much as it definitely is, it’s so much more. I’d describe this book as a combination of Jewish folklore, historical fiction, gothic horror and mystery all rolled into one. The atmosphere was beautifully dark and eerie and I loved that. It’s a slow burn but that adds to the tension and mystery and that keeps you guessing the whole way through.

Judith lives a solitary life, her family are away and the only company she has is her maid. One evening she discovers her brother-in-law Sam, who was thought to be dead, alive outside her home. Sam has no memory of the last year and Judith plays detective in order to find out what happened to Sam and how he came to be here.

This was a good solid read that I really did enjoy, I’d of liked a little more action but that isn’t what this book set out to do.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an anguished 3-star review because so much was right about this novel, but like so many recent novels, it just didn't know how to end. It's especially maddening because Saxey writes beautiful, lyrical prose, and I truly was caught up in the mystery until it became clear there wouldn't be resolution. I so wanted to love this work and did until the last 1/3. I remember thinking around page 250, "Uh oh, I hope this isn't going to be another novel that doesn't have an ending that makes sense." I think it's imperative when writing a mystery that the author has a crystal clear sense of where the enigma ends and clarity begins. That's the implicit contract when reading a mystery. And, no, I'm not buying, "But it's all about the mystery!" We're owed clarity and closure, and neither is to be found here.

[Elyssa Silverman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think this book is necessarily bad - I think it just wasn't for me. The atmosphere is well-set, and the text gives off a bleak and dark vibe. However, I found the writing style to be dull and kind of forced. The characters all speak and act similarly, though the narration tries to instruct the reader to believe otherwise. The main plot jumps in way too soon before we get a chance to care about the characters at all, so I struggled to care about any of them the whole time. I started skimming towards the end honestly, and I hate doing that. The writing style was a huge roadblock for me.

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What an excellent, tightly written ghost story! The rich characterization pulled me in and the complex relationships and tense vibes kept me hooked until the end. Sam was a truly repulsive character, so the fact that I could still absolutely sympathize with Judith's many feelings for him was a testament to the author's skillful navigation of his charm. I also loved the significant role of Judith's Jewish heritage throughout.

[Annarella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mix of historical fiction, folk horror, and dark fantasy. It's good story and I liked the elements of the rituals, the stories and the setting.
I wasn't a fan of the mystery fan and I felt it a bit rushed.
Some less pages would have helped. The author is talented and there a lot of potential
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars! This book was so weird...and I kind of dug it. I think gothic horror is a good category for it, adding in that there is a fantasy/fae element to the tale. The book had good representation and an interesting plot line. I didn't enjoy the pacing and the ending fell a bit flat for me personally however.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh, I’m stuck between a 3 and a 4. This genre is not what i usually read ; I got this book from a monthly subscription that surprises you. I liked it but found it repetitive and boring at times. It was an easy read though. It made me curious to read more gothic books.

[Runalong · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed reaction. This has moments of uncanny ness and interesting character work all around the unsettling feeling that things are not quite as we think but the pacing for a relatively short tale is very slow and loses momentum. Promising author I will be interesting to see what they do next

Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF as this was too slow and just very dull.

[Megan]

Dnf at about 100 PG because had to return to library - note to self to resume it's very good