Lucy and her brother John enjoy a privileged life as the heirs to a mining and manufacturing company renowned for its brilliantly colored wallpapers. But the formulas for those colors hold a deadly secret. When the company’s manager suddenly dies, Lucy is shocked to find no succession plan in place. Enter Julian, a young and charming man whose arrival seems fortuitous. However, as Lucy uncovers Julian’s true motives, she realizes she must confront the dark forces threatening her family’s future.

This is a lyrically written, slowly evolving gothic suspense. It’s not horror and it’s not paranormal. The story is fascinating and the ending ambiguous—but it’s also illogical to the point of being unclear. A story like this only works if the ending is tight, and this one isn’t. Still, I enjoyed about 95% of the story, and the ending does raise some interesting questions.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I was excited to read J.M. Varese's The Company, because I enjoy the time period and am somewhat familiar with the arsenic wallpaper scandal. Unfortunately, the book didn't meet my expectations. I found the characters to be unsympathetic and I couldn't get myself to care about the fate of the "company" or the Braithwaite family. I think the book would have been much more interesting if it were told from the viewpoint of Mr. Rivers, who is cast as the villain in the story.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.

J.M. Varese's "The Company" is a compelling exploration of human ambition, intrigue, and the dark side of business ethics and family secrets in the 1870s. The narrative weaves together the lives of diverse characters touched in some way or another by the luxurious London wallpaper company, Braithwhite & Company, each driven by their desires, fears, and aspirations, making for a richly textured story.

One of the novel's standout features is its deep and mysterious character development. Varese masterfully creates complex characters who feel real and relatable, even when they make morally questionable decisions based on the horrific experiences they endured as children. The protagonist Lucy Braithwhite, in particular, is captivating, thought-provoking, and strong - highlighting the often blurry line between what may be her personal ambition and ethical compromise as she wavers from resurfaced memories of the damage and death the company has caused and concern for her family’s survival.

The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged from start to finish. Varese's writing style is both elegant and intriguing. The pacing is well-balanced, maintaining a steady momentum that keeps the reader invested in the outcome of the sinister plot unfolding.

"The Company" can also offer us a critical look at the modern corporate world, raising important questions about the cost of success and the true nature of power. While the story is fictional, its themes resonate deeply with real-world issues, making it a meaningful read as we still see this over a hundred years later where companies place profits over people.

Loosely based on the arsenic wallpaper poisonings in the late 19th century, “The Company" is a highly recommended historical fiction read for those who enjoy haunting, gothic dramas with a touch of suspense. Varese has delivered a memorable and impactful novel that lingers long after the last page.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #JMVarese, and #hachettebookgroup for the digital ARC of #thecompany for my honest review.

A bit like watching paint dry, or in this case wallpaper hang. The first person really hindered a lot of the story. There were not a lot of chills or atmosphere and for most of the book I couldn’t tell who was actually experiencing something ghastly or if our narrator had spent too much time licking her dollhouse wallpaper.

Thanks to NetGalley for the freebie, but not a winner for me.

Lucy is a strong and resilient MFC who’s trying to keep her family together, and brother in good health to run their family’s legacy business - wallpaper colored with arsenic - afloat after the deaths of her father and his business partner (I won’t go any further into the synopsis).

The Company is a wonderfully written and compulsively readable Gothic thriller that pulled me in right away as it set the stage for atmosphere and the paranormal.

The not-so-good (for me) -
*Lucy was the only notable character, the others fade into the background
*I found the ending anticlimactic

Despite the not-so-good aspects, I couldn’t stop reading.



Thank you to Baskerville and NetGalley for the DRC

This gothic suspense tale, set against the backdrop of the arsenic wallpaper scandal of the late 19th century, had me intrigued from the start with its blend of historical intrigue and eerie ambiance. The writing captures the lush, atmospheric tone of classic Victorian Gothic novels, creating a vivid and moody setting. However, while the concept of a female protagonist fighting to save her family's wallpaper empire from sinister forces was promising, the execution fell short. The pacing felt slow, and many of the character motivations and plot twists were predictable, leaving me a bit disappointed. Despite its strong foundation and beautiful prose, the novel didn’t quite live up to its potential.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars

Beautifully written with many a nod to the style of Victorian Gothic novels, "The Company" uses the real-life scandal of arsenic-ridden wallpapers as a launching point. Knowing a bit about that background and the symptoms of arsenic poisoning helps in understanding some of the novel's more fantastical elements, though it still leaves elements open to conjecture.

I was disappointed that I sussed out many of the character motivations and secrets well ahead of time, so that by the end I was left thinking, Is that it? And the beginning was slow going, with too many oblique references that confused or bored me rather than piqued my interest, as I'm sure they were meant to. If it's lush writing and a moody ambience you're after, this will fill the bill.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Book Group, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Did not enjoy. Very slow. Not much happens. I guess if you really like gothic tales of this kind , you will like this book-but it was not my cup of tea. Well written though.

Really wanted to love this book but unfortunately i DNFed this book after 70 pages. I felt disconnected to the characters and story. The pacing and dialogue were weak to me. The concept was very intriguing it just did not deliver.

Wallpaper colored with arsenic? A Gothic suspense novel set in mid 19th C? A female hero struggling to run her family's company against a backdrop of existential dread? Yes, yes, and yes please!

Alas, I was not transported. I was not creeped out. I was left a bit flat. I was unconvinced. It's a shame that this book, even with its good research and solid writing in the vein of classic Gothic novels (<I> The Mysteries of the Udolpho </I> being the gold standard of course), just didn't work its spell on me.

Perhaps this would be a good choice if you are on a Gothic reading binge, or maybe as part of a Halloween challenge?

Thanks to Baskerville and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

I think this book is probably best for someone who has never read a gothic suspense novel. For me, the heavy foreshadowing in the narrative was too much; I felt very led by the hand. The galley was not formatted well, so I ended up not finishing this. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read.

The way this book is written definitely takes me back to the gothic, mystery vibes of some of the classics. I like the moodiness of the setting and descriptions and I think it sets up for a potentially interesting and thrilling story.

However, I think sometimes the plot is predictable and that takes away from the intent behind the vibes.

I enjoyed the characters and the dialogue. I think their interactions are a highlight and it helps to develop them. I would like to see a bit more action within the story so that the pace speeds up and slows down instead of being at one pace for most of the story.

Overall, the book is enjoyable and okay. I think it could still be stronger but I see what the author is trying to do in the story.