A review by karaklos
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
5.0
The Woman in White is one of the most atmospheric books I have ever read. Spooky and full of mystery, Wilkie Collins kept me guessing. Well-written with lots of humor peppered throughout, it was a fun read.
Told from the perspective of multiple characters (sometimes but not always like testimony in a trial), it grants great insight into each person’s character, thoughts, and motives. I loved that Collins had a strong female character in Marian Halcombe to combat the villiany characters. I wish Collins had included Marian in the last part of the book. After she becomes ill, she’s no longer involved in the action. I felt like Marian abandoned us which was disappointing after her earlier sleuthing. I enjoyed the dialogue and interactions with Marian and Count Fosco. Their mutual attraction and respect despite being on opposite sides was humorous.
The descriptions of the landscape mirror the story and add an element of gloom that made me more and more fearful for the characters as the story went on.
There were many silly moments which were probably not considered silly in 1859 that made the book melodramatic at times. Collins tied up all of the loose ends very nicely. Cleverly written and suspenseful but also very dense requiring more concentration than your average mystery.
Told from the perspective of multiple characters (sometimes but not always like testimony in a trial), it grants great insight into each person’s character, thoughts, and motives. I loved that Collins had a strong female character in Marian Halcombe to combat the villiany characters. I wish Collins had included Marian in the last part of the book. After she becomes ill, she’s no longer involved in the action. I felt like Marian abandoned us which was disappointing after her earlier sleuthing. I enjoyed the dialogue and interactions with Marian and Count Fosco. Their mutual attraction and respect despite being on opposite sides was humorous.
The descriptions of the landscape mirror the story and add an element of gloom that made me more and more fearful for the characters as the story went on.
There were many silly moments which were probably not considered silly in 1859 that made the book melodramatic at times. Collins tied up all of the loose ends very nicely. Cleverly written and suspenseful but also very dense requiring more concentration than your average mystery.