ABL Review At-A-Glance
Ø Title: The Woman in the Lake
Ø My Rating: 4.5
Ø Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Ø Author:
Nicola Cornick
Nicola Cornick
Ø Format:
Paperback ARC*
Paperback ARC*
Ø Publication Date: February 26, 2019
Compare To:
Goodreads Synopsis
From the
bestselling author of House of Shadows and The Phantom Tree comes a
spellbinding tale of jealousy, greed, plotting and revenge—part history, part
mystery—for fans of Kate Morton, Susanna Kearsley and Barbara Erskine
bestselling author of House of Shadows and The Phantom Tree comes a
spellbinding tale of jealousy, greed, plotting and revenge—part history, part
mystery—for fans of Kate Morton, Susanna Kearsley and Barbara Erskine
London,
1765
1765
Lady Isabella Gerard, a respectable member of
Georgian society, orders her maid to take her new golden gown and destroy it,
its shimmering beauty tainted by the actions of her brutal husband the night
before.
Georgian society, orders her maid to take her new golden gown and destroy it,
its shimmering beauty tainted by the actions of her brutal husband the night
before.
Three months later, Lord Gerard stands at the
shoreline of the lake, looking down at a woman wearing the golden gown. As the
body slowly rolls over to reveal her face, it’s clear this was not his intended
victim…
shoreline of the lake, looking down at a woman wearing the golden gown. As the
body slowly rolls over to reveal her face, it’s clear this was not his intended
victim…
250 Years
Later…
Later…
When a gown she stole from a historic home as a
child is mysteriously returned to Fenella Brightwell, it begins to possess her
in exactly the same way that it did as a girl. Soon the fragile new life Fen
has created for herself away from her abusive ex-husband is threatened at its
foundations by the gown’s power over her until she can’t tell what is real and
what is imaginary.
child is mysteriously returned to Fenella Brightwell, it begins to possess her
in exactly the same way that it did as a girl. Soon the fragile new life Fen
has created for herself away from her abusive ex-husband is threatened at its
foundations by the gown’s power over her until she can’t tell what is real and
what is imaginary.
As Fen uncovers more about the gown and
Isabella’s story, she begins to see the parallels with her own life. When each
piece of history is revealed, the gown—and its past—seems to possess her more
and more, culminating in a dramatic revelation set to destroy her sanity.
Isabella’s story, she begins to see the parallels with her own life. When each
piece of history is revealed, the gown—and its past—seems to possess her more
and more, culminating in a dramatic revelation set to destroy her sanity.
My Thoughts…
This book opens with a unique voice. To set up the multi-narrator format, Nicola Cornick
introduces multiple characters. However,
instead of simply using the different characters to advance the plot, she as
different characters retell the same moments and the same space of time. This only really happens in the beginning,
but it’s incredibly powerful. I could
understand each character so much more deeply by seeing how they felt in what
were the same exchanges. This style
helped shape the characters in a way that describing them could not have
achieved. I now understood why the servant
felt resentment during an exchange, but from the Lady’s POV, she seemed reasonable
and sympathetic. Further proving the
point that the majority of communication is nonverbal, and why it’s so
important as an author to be good at both dialogue and descriptions.
introduces multiple characters. However,
instead of simply using the different characters to advance the plot, she as
different characters retell the same moments and the same space of time. This only really happens in the beginning,
but it’s incredibly powerful. I could
understand each character so much more deeply by seeing how they felt in what
were the same exchanges. This style
helped shape the characters in a way that describing them could not have
achieved. I now understood why the servant
felt resentment during an exchange, but from the Lady’s POV, she seemed reasonable
and sympathetic. Further proving the
point that the majority of communication is nonverbal, and why it’s so
important as an author to be good at both dialogue and descriptions.
Without spoiling too much, the ending was
wonderfully and deliciously satisfying.
After the events that take place in the book, the author gave a perfect
conclusion that was neither corny nor disappointing. As for the mystery plots, I was constantly
guessing and didn’t want to stop reading until I figured everything out. Tidbits of information were sporadically
provided, which generated just enough interest without giving any real answers.
wonderfully and deliciously satisfying.
After the events that take place in the book, the author gave a perfect
conclusion that was neither corny nor disappointing. As for the mystery plots, I was constantly
guessing and didn’t want to stop reading until I figured everything out. Tidbits of information were sporadically
provided, which generated just enough interest without giving any real answers.
My only criticism, and this is a pet peeve of
mine, were the realistic descriptions.
At one point a character gets on a train and is described as smelling of
stale sweat. Now, I know that
smell. I get it. When someone sits next to you on a train
after they have hurried to make it, the body odor is noticeable but usually
(hopefully) temporary. But when I’m
reading, and that description is used, I am instantly taken out of the
fictional world. Some people think this
makes a story more realistic. I’m just not
one of those people. All I could think
about was the smell of the guy and how much I would want to get out of there,
but this was a major plot point and the characters needed to have a longer
conversation, so I just had to get through it.
Maybe this means I need to be a little less intense about my reading, or
find authors that don’t create such great scenes that I get engrossed in them?
mine, were the realistic descriptions.
At one point a character gets on a train and is described as smelling of
stale sweat. Now, I know that
smell. I get it. When someone sits next to you on a train
after they have hurried to make it, the body odor is noticeable but usually
(hopefully) temporary. But when I’m
reading, and that description is used, I am instantly taken out of the
fictional world. Some people think this
makes a story more realistic. I’m just not
one of those people. All I could think
about was the smell of the guy and how much I would want to get out of there,
but this was a major plot point and the characters needed to have a longer
conversation, so I just had to get through it.
Maybe this means I need to be a little less intense about my reading, or
find authors that don’t create such great scenes that I get engrossed in them?
To sum up, I loved this book. I loved the cover. I loved the story. And as it turns out, I
loved the author. Unbeknownst to me, I
have read another Nicola Cornick book. I
didn’t realize it until I was writing this review and thinking of books to
compare it to. I thought of a book
called The Phantom Tree, and discovered that it not was only written by the
same author, but #2 of this series.
Needless to say, I have added the first book to my TBR. Each book in this series is a stand-a-lone
read, but dual time traveling is used as a series theme. Awesome concept with great execution.
loved the author. Unbeknownst to me, I
have read another Nicola Cornick book. I
didn’t realize it until I was writing this review and thinking of books to
compare it to. I thought of a book
called The Phantom Tree, and discovered that it not was only written by the
same author, but #2 of this series.
Needless to say, I have added the first book to my TBR. Each book in this series is a stand-a-lone
read, but dual time traveling is used as a series theme. Awesome concept with great execution.
* Special thanks to Nicola Cornick, Grayden House and TLC Book
Tours for providing a copy of The Woman
in the Lake in exchange for an honest review.
Tours for providing a copy of The Woman
in the Lake in exchange for an honest review.
Isn't this cover great?? It's so moody and it sets the tone for the book, I think. Thanks for being on this tour!
Sara @ TLC Book Tours
ABSOLUTELY.
Plus, it really sparked my imagination about what the gold dress looked like and who was in it.