A review by krissysbooked
The Bone Flower by Charles Lambert

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.0

 

If you’ve been following me for a while you’ll know that I love a bit of Gothic literature, my favourite book is Wuthering Heights after all. So when The Bone Flower landed on my doorstep I was very excited (I have waaaay too many books to read though so it’s taken me a while to get to it).

We start the story following Edward in London as he goes to a party and a seance with some friends. On the way he meets a flower seller who mesmerises him. At the seance however a prediction is made about his future love and family that he pushed to one side but soon derails his life. A bad decision and it’s consequences leave him alone and heartbroken and he flees to Europe.

Skipping forward 2 years and Edward returns from extended time abroad with a new wife and a child on the way, but his past literally comes back to haunt him and his new family.

This story was gripping and so beautifully written. I really felt the love and grief that gripped Edward and the fear that struck him and his family as the hauntings’ developed. I kid you not, I had to do the quick run from my bathroom back to bed whilst staying up to finish it one night because I was so creeped out.

I also really enjoyed the attention to detail and interweaving of different beliefs and traditions regards death and restless souls from Africa, to Europe, and even Romany traditions.

This is definitely belongs alongside other classic Gothic literature like the Woman in Black and Rebecca. I’m now intrigued to read more by the author, Charles Lambert.

Verdict: A perfect drop of gothic literature that is best read in spooky autumnal weather!