gripping and terrifying in a quiet, subtle way

I was utterly gripped. Way ahead of its time. Like nothing else I've read. Great.

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Vera

This is a moving story, brilliantly narrated. The tension builds and the whole is quite gripping.

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creepy story!

so shivery! that people like this exist! narrator was nice but her voices grated a little, especially Lucy who sounded maybe like someone had struck her once too often with a brick to the head when younger...

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Considered EvA’s best novel

The narration is easy and enjoyable although Lucy’s voice is comically child like and a cliché, a parody, which perhaps does truly suit her character. This is such a perfect book although written a hundred years or more ago in the days of dog carts, domestic service and male dominance. Everard Weemys is the most ghastly narcissist yet there is at first a creepy understanding of his appeal and somehow the decades of age gap between him and Lucy somehow surmountable. For me Aunt Dot is just perfect, a fine role model for a lady today even. I loved her.

Comedic value is there to be enjoyed alongside the gothic horror of Lucy’s predicament at The Willows, a precursor of Manderley many years later. Vera’s presence as the first Mrs Everard Weemys is as solid and recognisable as the first Mrs de Winter. A tremendously worthwhile listen although it does end rather abruptly. The introduction is best reheard after that as it will make more sense than it does before listening.

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The feelings of unease and desire to change the plot!

The character of the husband was horrid, well developed and described, but repellent. I normally listen to a book a few times, but couldn't bring myself to it with this one.

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Good but…awful narration

The narrator of this was fine and possibly better than most until she attempted to personify each character with their own voice, at which point I internally cringed and this repeated reaction became utterly distracting before the plot had really developed. Lucy’s thin, reedy, upper-crust voice inspired no sympathy, at all and takes her character miles away from the author’s intentions, I suspect. I generally gobble EVA novels but, combined with utterly dreary music between chapters (completely unnecessary), this one was a struggle.

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1 person found this helpful

This is a gripping book but be careful

This book is not a barel of laughs particularly when it comes to women's issues but it's use of language is great particularly when it comes to the moè humorous aspects of the humorous aspect of the book. It ìs very gothic in nature.

I feel like I have said this a lot in book review recently but I am mighty glad to be living in the time that I do as a woman

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She’s done it again,

This is my third book of hers and once again, I was completely enthralled by her characters and storytelling, This managed to be both a comedic and terrifying. My blood is boiling now.

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Defeated by the narration

I tried hard to read this but honestly the narration was really poor and the 'voice' used for the central character was too grating to listen to.

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