A Dreadful Splendor
A Dreadful Splendor is quite the entertaining and cozy gothic novel that ensnares you with mystery, atmosphere, suspense, and romance.
It has been ages since I’ve picked up a Victorian gothic novel, and I had forgotten how much I enjoy the ambiance in this genre. B.R. Myers crafted a cinematic setting with all the spooky and gothic feels by creating an atmosphere that transports the reader right into the story. The historical context and the added layer of a “spiritualist” made this slow burn mystery thoroughly engaging and made me feel like I was Sherlock Holmes out to solve a murder or maybe uncover a ghost or two.
Overall, this haunting mystery was a fun read with twists and turns and surprises!
Thank you, William Morrow Books and TLC Book Tours, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
Synopsis: Be careful what you conjure...
In Victorian London, Genevieve Timmons poses as a spiritualist to swindle wealthy mourners—until one misstep lands her in a jail cell awaiting the noose. Then a stranger arrives to make her a peculiar offer. The lord he serves, Mr. Pemberton, has been inconsolable since the tragic death of his beautiful bride-to-be. If Genevieve can perform a séance persuasive enough to bring the young lord peace, she will win her freedom.
Soothing a grieving nobleman should be easy for someone of Genevieve’s skill, but when she arrives at the grand Somerset Park estate, Mr. Pemberton is not the heartbroken lover she expected. The surly—yet exceedingly handsome—gentleman is certain that his fiancée was murdered, even though there is no evidence. Only a confession can bring justice now, and Mr. Pemberton decides Genevieve will help him get it. With his knowledge of the household and her talent for illusion, they can stage a haunting so convincing it will coax the killer into the light. However, when frightful incidents befall the manor, Genevieve realizes her tricks aren’t required after all. She may be a fake, but Somerset’s ghost could be all too real…
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
