A review by amothersmusings1
The Bone Flower by Charles Lambert

5.0

“THE BONE FLOWER” is the most satisfying Gothic ghost story I’ve read recently…..I simply adored it from start to finish and I genuinely didn’t want it to end. The author Charles Lambert has returned with this masterpiece, perfect for the onset of Autumn and for fans of Susan Hill and Andrew Michael Hurley. 

It’s November in Victorian London. Edward Monteith is sitting around the fire with his friends at a gentleman’s club, listening to far flung tales and legends of the supernatural. Upon leaving, he sees a young flower seller and instantly senses a mutual attraction. As his curiosity about the possibility of an afterlife has been piqued, he’s offered to attend a supposed seance where he meets the flower seller girl again. However, society of the time does not look kindly on a relationship between a gentleman and a Romani girl and after the threat of being cut off by his family, he makes a decision with horrifying consequences. Two years later, Edward has made a new life for himself but is his past about to resurface in a most frightening and supernatural nature?

I absolutely adored this Gothic ghost story. I felt like I was immersed in a black and white Gainsborough film of the 1940’s with the likes of James Mason and Lauren Bacall…..(since I’m a certain age to appreciate those movies) - which enabled me to visualise each scene vividly in my mind. The characters were so well developed and I thought Edward’s friend Giles was superb but really there wasn’t one character I didn’t like or endear to. Evocative and atmospheric, Charles’ descriptive storytelling meant I could almost smell the sweetest of flowers and the orange blossom trees. 

What stood out for me the most was how social expectations was so cruel and even true love couldn’t break that barrier down.  The two social divides never mixed and it was interesting how the Romany travellers protected their own at all costs. The focus of grief, guilt, betrayal and superstition was transformed into a fabulous readable novel that was addictive and engrossing.

Charles Lambert is a truly exceptional author who captures exactly what he has in his mind for a story and conveys this to his readers perfectly.  Born in England, he has lived in central Italy since 1980 and his novel ‘Prodigal’ was shortlisted for the Polar Prize for LGBTQ writing in 2019. 

#TheBoneFlower - 5 stars and more!