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daniellecowles's review against another edition
4.0
I was unsure of the book based on the synopsis on the back cover. And even more so as I worked my way through the first few pages. At times, the story can be hard to follow but Williams has actually weaved quite an elaborate tale that once you are in you have to finish. If readers find themselves confused I recommend continuing to read the story, everything makes sense the deeper you go into the story, and all comes together at the end. The climax is well done but the conclusion is rather a let down, for such a suspenseful novel. Overall, good book, and worth the time.
wyvernfriend's review against another edition
3.0
This should have been a winner with me, a pre-Peeler Victorian murder mystery with an undercurrent of mental illness, this one was largely a miss for me. There were moments that worked, but overall it just wasn't me.
Catherine Sorgeiul lives in Spitalfields with her Uncle. She is getting older and there is a possiblilty that she won't find a husband. Her uncle is eccentric and she herself is prone to what were referred to as fits of imagining. She has spent some time in institutions after her mother dies followed rapidly by her father going missing. She was passed from relative to relative and her sanity has been eroded at every turn. It is possible that with a focus for her life she could ahve found something to do and made something of her life but the Victorian era didn't really allow for this.
And it was for Catherine I kept reading. However I was never sure if what she was experiencing was real or imagined. There were several times that I suspected her as the killer. In the end I disliked her unreliable narration and the story. It just didn't really work for me and I finished it feeling somehow cheated.
Catherine Sorgeiul lives in Spitalfields with her Uncle. She is getting older and there is a possiblilty that she won't find a husband. Her uncle is eccentric and she herself is prone to what were referred to as fits of imagining. She has spent some time in institutions after her mother dies followed rapidly by her father going missing. She was passed from relative to relative and her sanity has been eroded at every turn. It is possible that with a focus for her life she could ahve found something to do and made something of her life but the Victorian era didn't really allow for this.
And it was for Catherine I kept reading. However I was never sure if what she was experiencing was real or imagined. There were several times that I suspected her as the killer. In the end I disliked her unreliable narration and the story. It just didn't really work for me and I finished it feeling somehow cheated.
livres_de_bloss's review against another edition
4.0
I have NO idea why this book has such a low average rating. I admit it dissuaded me for many months but I adore Kate Williams and decided to give it go.
I’m so glad I did!
This is a dark, haunting story. I liked the character of Catherine very much. I felt badly for her given the tragedy and darkness that surrounded her all the time. She was a tragic heroine.
The story was well-paced, intriguing and intellectual.
Please don’t be dissuaded by the average reviews here, if you like intellectual, gothic Victorian novels, read this book!
I’m so glad I did!
This is a dark, haunting story. I liked the character of Catherine very much. I felt badly for her given the tragedy and darkness that surrounded her all the time. She was a tragic heroine.
The story was well-paced, intriguing and intellectual.
Please don’t be dissuaded by the average reviews here, if you like intellectual, gothic Victorian novels, read this book!
ganzfeldstate's review against another edition
2.0
I read all but twenty pages of this in one 2hr sitting, which sounds like achievement but I think actually demonstrates its character as a page turner lacking in any actual depth. I've had my fill of Victorian young women who 'aren't like the rest of them' and the make-u-think paragraphs about the lives of women then which I think have been done infinitely better by other people. I actually thought this was picking up and then it had an ending that smacked of being forced to finish it in fifteen minutes and hashing everything together. And the 'reveal' - man what a cliche.
In summary, not very well written or interesting or original but I guess it kept me vaguely entertained.
In summary, not very well written or interesting or original but I guess it kept me vaguely entertained.
elliepamela's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hewlettelaine's review against another edition
2.0
I found this novel really difficult to get to grips with. It tells the story of Catherine Sorgeiul, a young woman with a past who is now living in east London with her uncle. When a spate of vicious murders occurs, Catherine becomes fascinated by them and hopes to track down the killer herself.
Williams' style of writing was very hard to read. She attempts to conjure up Catherine's disturbed mind with the very heavy use of elaborate, disjointed imagery but the only effect this had on me was to make me want to stop reading it very quickly! Catherine felt alien and it was hard to feel any sympathy for her as the protagonist. Likewise, the plot is so wrapped up in its own mysteriousness that it becomes almost unintelligable. I was left feeling unmoved by Catherine's plight and I felt that the motives of the other characters were never explored sufficiently. Frustratingly, the identity and motives of the London seriel killer, which underpinned the entire plot, felt briefly handled and underexplored.
Not a very satisfying read!
Williams' style of writing was very hard to read. She attempts to conjure up Catherine's disturbed mind with the very heavy use of elaborate, disjointed imagery but the only effect this had on me was to make me want to stop reading it very quickly! Catherine felt alien and it was hard to feel any sympathy for her as the protagonist. Likewise, the plot is so wrapped up in its own mysteriousness that it becomes almost unintelligable. I was left feeling unmoved by Catherine's plight and I felt that the motives of the other characters were never explored sufficiently. Frustratingly, the identity and motives of the London seriel killer, which underpinned the entire plot, felt briefly handled and underexplored.
Not a very satisfying read!
doritobabe's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5
Full review to come.
Largely this book did not paid well with my mental state which was deeply affected by a head cold. Wow
Review updated November 2021:
It's been several weeks, months since I finished this novel.
Working my way though my library TBR and this was shelved in 2014 or earlier.
The book was probably inspired by the Jack the Ripper murders and kept me hooked only because of the unreliable narrator. Readers cant solve the mystery because our view is obscured by the main characters mild madness and obsessions.
Stories that attempt big reveals for me are usually disappointing, so the ending of this left me wanting.
So I don't forget: plain, alone and bored. Trapped in the main house while the world exists and moves on around her, the main character is obsessed with her own wickedness and a series of murders taking place in London. She begins to fantasize and write stories from the murderers perspective, eventually getting into dangerous situations in attempt to find out if she is one to guessingbthe truth and to better understand. This leads to trouble, but being a helpless woman during that time, there isn't much that can be done. So, trouble continues, the murderer is revealed, and the main character is able to flee to a different continent. For a time.
Full review to come.
Largely this book did not paid well with my mental state which was deeply affected by a head cold. Wow
Review updated November 2021:
It's been several weeks, months since I finished this novel.
Working my way though my library TBR and this was shelved in 2014 or earlier.
The book was probably inspired by the Jack the Ripper murders and kept me hooked only because of the unreliable narrator. Readers cant solve the mystery because our view is obscured by the main characters mild madness and obsessions.
Stories that attempt big reveals for me are usually disappointing, so the ending of this left me wanting.
So I don't forget: plain, alone and bored. Trapped in the main house while the world exists and moves on around her, the main character is obsessed with her own wickedness and a series of murders taking place in London. She begins to fantasize and write stories from the murderers perspective, eventually getting into dangerous situations in attempt to find out if she is one to guessingbthe truth and to better understand. This leads to trouble, but being a helpless woman during that time, there isn't much that can be done. So, trouble continues, the murderer is revealed, and the main character is able to flee to a different continent. For a time.
anouk90's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
susan_ok's review against another edition
1.0
I'm sorry to say I cannot finish this. I'm not so down with the overwrought female and creepy uncle. And I needed something to happen more quickly. The Victorian horror is one of my favorite genres so I'd usually be really interested in this. But it's just not doing it for me. And I had such high hopes.
beastreader's review against another edition
1.0
Someone is murdering women. The murderer however does take the time to nicely arrange the women by braiding their hair and stuffing the end of the braid in their mouth.
Catherine Sorgeiul lives with her Uncle. She is supposed to be a proper lady and that means she does not have much of a life. With lots of time on her hands, Catherine soon finds herself drawn to the murders. Catherine starting writing about the murders. However, Catherine’s writing brings her into the killer’s sight.
This book sounded really good as it might still turn out to be good but for me, I found myself struggling to get into this book. In fact I sadly had to give up after only making it to page 66. The writing just seemed too monotone for me. There was nothing interesting about the story. I did not feel anything for the murdered women. This I felt was an important aspect of the story as this is the mina focus of what the story is about. If I do not feel anything for the women then there is no point in going any further with the book and trying to discover why the women were murdered.
Missing: A more interesting cast and a quicker story line pace.
Catherine Sorgeiul lives with her Uncle. She is supposed to be a proper lady and that means she does not have much of a life. With lots of time on her hands, Catherine soon finds herself drawn to the murders. Catherine starting writing about the murders. However, Catherine’s writing brings her into the killer’s sight.
This book sounded really good as it might still turn out to be good but for me, I found myself struggling to get into this book. In fact I sadly had to give up after only making it to page 66. The writing just seemed too monotone for me. There was nothing interesting about the story. I did not feel anything for the murdered women. This I felt was an important aspect of the story as this is the mina focus of what the story is about. If I do not feel anything for the women then there is no point in going any further with the book and trying to discover why the women were murdered.
Missing: A more interesting cast and a quicker story line pace.