Read as part N of the “Along the Library
Shelf” reading journey
Chosen because
N is an under-represented initial on the
fiction shelf and non-existent in the crime & thriller section - and I was
banking on at least a Jo Nesbo! However this was one of the available few and
had a tempting blurb, decent review quotes and a Costa Book Awards category
winner sticker.
The Review
It is 1898 and Samuel Godwin, straight out
of art college, thinks he has landed a plum job at the remote “Fourwinds” manor
house as at tutor to the recently widowed owner’s two attractive young
daughters. As this takes only a couple of hours a day this leaves plenty of
time to study and paint the house and garden as well as ponder on the household
set up.
This includes Charlotte Agnew, the girls’
governess / companion, who is barely older than her charges. She too is a
fairly recent appointment but already has her feet well under the table.
Of course this idyll soon begins to show
stress lines. Why are the girls a bit flakey? Why have only three of the four
wind sculptures been completed? What happened to the sculptor and to the
previous governess; and for that matter to the wife?
As befits the period, the respectable façade
hides some unpalatable depths; skeletons emerge too numerous for a cupboard –
at least a walk in wardrobe would be needed; and Samuel and Charlotte have to
deal with revelation after revelation.
These two take turns to describe their
involvement in events. Both adopt their best late Victorian, educated but
deferential style, so some concentration is needed to keep track of who is
currently in the story chair as the narrative zips along.
But that is just nit-picking - the
characters, atmosphere and plotline are well developed with a light touch that
makes this just a good, engrossing and enjoyable read.
Read another?
The author has written mainly for children
and young adults, but The Shell House and Sisterland may be worth a look.
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