Maybe it’s just that I had an overabundance of intense emotions as a teenage girl. But every time I read a new book that prods me in the feelings that I thought I’d safely boxed away with my memories, I’m reminded anew that other girls suffered in the same way I did, from longings so fierce and bright that it’s a wonder that half the world hasn’t burned down already from our savage desires to be admired, accepted and appreciated for who we are – but most of all, from our desperate need to have our truths believed.

The Undoing Of Violet Claybourne is one of these books, with a deadly twist. Our narrator is Gillian Larking, who is aging gracefully as the 20th century draws to a close. Now in her seventies, she’s shocked to receive a letter written to her on behalf of her old school chum Violet Claybourne.

Violet is the youngest daughter of landed gentry who, back in the 1930s, were living a life of genteel aristocracy even as they teetered on the brink of poverty. Gillian hadn’t known any of that when she befriended her new roommate at the ghastly boarding school where they were both enrolled. After Violet invited her to spend the Christmas holidays at Thornleigh Hall however, Gillian quickly learned much more about the Claybournes – and by extension herself – than she’d ever anticipated:

QUOTE
Whereas before, at school, I had thought Violet amusing and unusual, I was beginning to realize that, with all her games and childish interest, she was actually rather immature. Certainly her sisters saw her that way.

I could also see now that Violet and I were really quite different. I couldn’t wait to leave behind the confines of childhood, whereas Violet was frightened of growing up and all that meant. I suspected she wished to stay a child forever, like her beloved Peter Pan.

I know it would be impossible to distance myself from Violet when I was here at Thornleigh as her guest, but I longed for Emmeline and Laura to see me as one of them, or at least recognize my potential; that I could be nurtured and molded into something that resembled them.
END QUOTE

As Gillian is drawn further into the Claybournes’ orbit, she’ll have to decide how far she’ll go to be like them… or at least like Violet’s glamorous and bold older sisters, Emmeline and Laura. For all that Violet seems immature to Gillian, she’s really the most reasonable of the sisters, until the very worst happens and Gillian is forced to take sides.

The consequences of that fatal holiday will haunt Gillian for years, leading her to abandon all the ideas she once nurtured of a perfect life as she throws herself into the war effort that soon seizes England. Running into a much changed Laura Claybourne when the war is well underway is a surprise. Laura is perhaps understandably eager to confide in one of the few other people who knows the truth about those dreadful days, and to explain how she’s tried to atone for her role in what happened:

QUOTE
[“]Oh, I know I can never make it right,” she said quickly. “But I thought to myself, if I can just love this one man with all my heart and do right by him for as long as I have, then perhaps I can find a way to live with what happened. Do you really understand, Gilly?”

“I do,” I said, thinking about the long hours I worked, arriving home each evening bone-tired, unable to think about anything at all.

“But we have to carry on, don’t we?” Laura said, tracing the rim of her glass with her finger. “Because it’s all so beautiful and extraordinary. That’s what I tell myself, anyway.”
END QUOTE

Alas that Laura herself will not enjoy her beautiful, extraordinary life much longer, as the curse of the Claybournes comes to claim her too. As the decades wear on, Gillian tries to stay away from Thornleigh and the sorrow that it’s brought her. But when that letter arrives in 1999, she knows that the time has finally come for a reckoning.

Adolescence is a time at once so fiery and formative that, without the grace of adequate emotional and moral support, it runs the risk of turning malleable teenagers into hardened sociopaths. It’s difficult not to feel bad for all the Claybourne sisters, as Emily Critchley deftly shows us how the weight of expectations crushes them each slowly underfoot, with Gillian as their living witness. While Emmeline, for one, deems her an accomplice in what happened, Gillian is no more – and in fact far less – to blame than any of the people who selfishly taught the sisters to ignore the truth in favor of prettier, if not more materially lucrative, versions of reality.

Layered and wrenching, this book felt like a murderous parallel of my own more benign if no less deeply felt adolescence, as girls are taught to hide the truth for fear of shame, no matter the human cost. Given the long view it takes of the repercussions of silence, this novel will hopefully hammer home for readers who do not yet understand the fact that suppressing the necessary truth is rarely ever worth it, and only leads to worse consequences in the end for almost everyone involved.

Gillian, practically an orphan with no siblings, is brought into the cut-throat world of Thornleigh Hall by her best friend from boarding school, Violette. When Gilly meets Violette's elegant sisters, she can't help but want their love and friendship. When an accident threatens a fragile peace at the estate, choices are made that change the course of their lives. Everyone deals with the fall out in their own way.

This gothic novel inspires a true sense of dread for the first 50 percent. You know something tragic and very bad will happen, but it isn't yet clear what. The book takes interesting turns, and hooked me around the 60% mark. I enjoyed the tale overall but felt that the heroine, Gilly, was a bit too passive as a character and only reacting to the choices of other characters. Like her, the reader feels like an interloper just sneaking a peak into the lives of these three wild sisters.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I don’t tend to love historical fiction unless something really stands out for me. This book just didn’t stand out to me.

I wasn’t a big fan of any of the characters and the pacing was just too slow for me.

Some reviews say that it picks up around 40% and while I agree, it didn’t totally grab me. I need it to grab me before 40%.

I hope others love this one but it wasn’t for me.

I did not finish this book. After reading a few chapters I found this novel really didn't appeal to me. I disliked the characters and with that said, I abandoned the book. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Much in the style of The Great Gatsby, a non-society character finds themselves desperate to join society by any means possible and then witnesses the scandals and demise of the very people they emulated. In the case of The Undoing of Violet Claybourne, Gilly is the passive observer of the demise of each of the Claybourne sisters over her lifetime.

Gilly's stagnancy and passivity throughout the novel is a major point of frustration for the reader, as she has many moments in which her inactivity and complacency contributes to the fall of various characters. In this way, Gilly is culpable in the fate of all of the characters she interacts with.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this eARC.

This was a lovely book. I got more historical fiction vibes rather than mystery/suspense, but there were parts of the book that were definitely suspenseful! I really enjoyed the dual timeline and thought the pacing of the story was great. I’ll be recommending this to historical fiction fans! Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC.

4.5 ✨

This book took me so long to read and I really wasn’t into it until Part II. THEN, I was locked in. I didn’t really like any of these characters and so many moments made me want to scream from the rooftops, but maybe that’s what makes a good book? It was uncomfortable to read and to witness the things people will do to be accepted by others or to try to meet a standard they feel society has set for them. The gaslighting, the betrayal, the lies, and the sheer insanity of this book deserves all the stars.

*Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

If you are into family secrets, gothic mysteries and pre-WWII books then you will LOVE this book! I was so captivated by the relationships between the sisters and Violet and I did NOT see that ending coming!!

Sisters. A friend. High society. Trauma. Mental health. Full of never ending twists and turns. The descriptions and details perfection. The characters palpable. I truly didn’t want this to end but I also needed to know how it would end. It flows very well and at a good pace. I’m highly recommending this!

I really enjoyed this book, but I have to say, the first half of this one was so slow I almost dnf'ed it many times. The second half was such an emotional rollercoaster and I am glad I stuck with it to get to the end. The characters are all awful and not likable but I know that's the point. I enjoyed seeing how everyone unraveled and what they did to each other. It was like watching a train wreck happen. My biggest issue with this book was the writing. I wasn't a huge fan and at times, felt like there was parts that could've been edited out and I noticed some redundancy. Especially with the scenes at Thornleigh and with Violet at school. I realize she was trying to set it up to explain where the plot would go but it did take me out of the story many times when I noticed it. Overall I would recommend this book for those who like historic fiction. Thankful to the publisher for allowing me this copy to read.

The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a beautifully written and emotionally layered novel that explores identity, memory, and the long shadows of the past. Emily Critchley crafts a deeply introspective story around Violet, a woman whose carefully constructed life begins to unravel as she confronts truths she's long tried to forget.

The novel moves at a measured pace, allowing readers to sit with Violet’s thoughts and memories as she revisits pivotal moments from her childhood and adolescence. The writing is elegant and atmospheric, creating a strong sense of place and emotional depth without becoming overly sentimental.

Violet is a compelling protagonist—flawed, introspective, and quietly courageous. Her journey feels authentic, and the emotional shifts in the narrative are handled with subtlety and care. While the plot isn’t driven by dramatic twists, it is deeply character-focused, offering a satisfying exploration of healing and self-discovery.

Some readers may find the pace slow at times, but the payoff lies in the novel’s emotional richness and the authenticity of Violet’s voice. It's a thoughtful, poignant read perfect for those who appreciate literary fiction with heart.

I enjoyed this book - there are some really good twists and turns and secrets to be uncovered. I loved how this story starts with Gillian in 1999 looking back to 1938. In present day she had received a letter that brought back so many memories. As a young girl, she never really fit in until she met her new roommate Violet Claybourne.

The Claybourne’s were high society and Gilly was amazed at Violet’s stories about her family and their home. Gilly is invited to spend time with them…and then tragedy hits…

There are so many dark secrets and drama and betrayal. The gaslighting and manipulation will have you yelling at your book - The Claybourne’s are a privileged hot mess! No spoilers but the second half of this book is wild - I have to say I found the ending to be very satisfying.

✨What To Expect
🖤Historical Fiction/Thriller
🥀Gothic Mystery
🫖Bridgerton Vibes
🔥Slow Burn
🔪Secrets & Betrayal
⁉️Suspense
👑High Society
💜OCD Rep

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚄𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚅𝚒𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎
𝙱𝚢 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝙲𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚕𝚎𝚢

Available on paperback, Kindle and Audible!

📖 Read if you like:
🤫 Secrets and betrayals
🇬🇧 UK
🏡 Old estates
👸🏻 High society

💭 My Thoughts: This book gave me major Bridgerton vibes, but with a dark twist of murder, mystery, and manipulation! The whole story had this spooky, eerie feel that I really loved, with just the right amount of foreshadowing to keep things interesting. My only struggle was not being able to resonate with Gillian. She had me yelling at her quite a bit lol BUT you don’t always have to love the protagonist to enjoy the story, and the ending tied everything together in a way that felt intentional and satisfying.

⚠️ CW: suicide, violence

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘈𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘏𝘜𝘎𝘌 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨.

#bookstagram #pastpages
#arc #violentclaybourne #emilycritchley
#gothic #mystery

The perfect moody fall read! This slow burn gothic mystery takes a while to get rolling, but you will not want to put it down once it does.

The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley
.
Set in 1938 England. Gillian has a new roommate as school, Violet Claybourne. They become friends and Violet invites her to spend the holiday break with her well-off family at their estate: Thornleigh Hall. While there tragedy unfolds and the consequences will affect Gillian for years to come.
.
What I liked:
-This book was NOT what I expected it to be and surprised me in a good way.
-I loved how much this book dug into Violet and her family. They were the main characters but we were viewing them through Gilly’s eyes.
-There were some jaw-dropping twists in this.
-The ending was also 😳😮 but felt just right.
.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I don’t want to say more but this was like a gothic-historical-thriller? Felt somewhat niche and I really liked that about this book. If you also enjoy books that don’t quite fit into a mold then this would be great to read.

This is my kind of historical fiction. This was an addictive read. This was full of an incredibly unlikable bunch of young women. Yet, I needed to know what was happening and what was going to happen. Critchley set up quite the psychological thriller; simultaneously creating doubt and hope throughout. The gaslighting was unreal. Such a satisfying, grim ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC!

First I want to say kudos to the author because l've never hated a character so much as I hated one in this book, the family secrets and dysfunctional relationships were so well done.
I was going to DNF this book, and then I hit 40% in and I couldn't put it down.
At the beginning being in Gillys POV was a bit boring. & then I went from bored to NOW wait a dang minute what is going on, that really didn't happen like that... and I was fully invested.
If you think this book is boring keep going at about 40% you will be wide eyed and devoting all your time to it!
Thank you to the author for letting Violet have her moment in the end!

I love stories about houses, and so when this story came up, I was excited to read and review it.

When the story begins, Gillian McCune, an old woman in 1999, looks back on her childhood, particularly on the fateful days she spent as a guest at Thornleigh Hall, and the part she played in the events that took place there.
Gillian ‘Gilly’ Larking is in her sixth year at Heathcomb school when the privileged Violet Claybourne is admitted there, and they find themselves roommates. Gilly, with no real family and no good friends, is swept off her feet into Violet’s world. The friendship grows quickly with both girls believing in tandem with their Classics lessons, Nos Contra Mundam (Us against the world).
Invited to the Claybourne home, Thornleigh Hall, for Christmas, Gilly becomes enamoured with their world. There she meets Violet’s older sisters, Emmeline and Laura, and her parents, Giles and Olivia Claybourne. Gilly longs to have Emmeline and Laura see her as one of their own, as an equal. At every step, she tries to set herself apart from Violet, and closer to Emmeline and Laura, who are classist and believe themselves superior even to their sister, Violet.
Before the Christmas break is over, Thornleigh Hall will be beset by tragedy, with one life lost and another destroyed. What part will Gilly play in this travesty of justice?

The book is set in 1938, so the shadow of World War I still looms large over the characters. Lord Claybourne and many of the members of the police force have served in the war, but Frank Marks, a gameskeeper who lives on the grounds of Thornleigh Hall, has been a conscientious objector. As the book progresses, the characters find themselves in the middle of World War II.

This is a time when a woman is called upon to make a good marriage, then be a good wife and mother. It is against this background that the Claybourne family hopes that 22-year-old Emmeline will be wooed by the nearly forty-year-old Viscount Cadwallander, who might help save Thornleigh Hall from almost certain ruin.

The bulk of the story takes place between Christmas and New Year. The construction of the period was done well.

The book also makes a mention of post-partum depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), both conditions for which the medical science of the time might not have had satisfactory answers. Undoing is how Violet refers to the odd rituals she does “to undo what might happen.” The Undoing is Violet’s OCD. It is also a reference to how her life is undone, and how she seeks to undo that wrong.

The chapters end on a note of finality and expectation, inviting us to turn the page. I kept thinking about the events of this book even when I wasn’t reading it, especially about how far the characters deserved the fates that had befallen them.

The author has done a fine job with the descriptions of Thornleigh Hall, the Randolph Hotel, and Heathcomb school.

I can’t remember when I last detested a bunch of fictional people. I despised nearly all the main characters here. In the case of the narrator, Gilly, I must add that this was the first time that I began by liking a protagonist and then went on to change my mind about her. The author does make an effort to redeem her in our eyes, in a later part of the book, but it didn’t work for me.

Only the smaller characters like Frank Marks, a groundskeeper who lives on the property, and Robin, the fatherless son of Mary, the maid, and, to an extent, Violet, left a positive impression on me.

There are scenes featuring elaborate and intense gaslighting that are well written.

I also loved the resonance in the book, the parallels between Gilly and Robin. The fact that they have each lost a parent.

Gilly’s first meal with the Claybournes reveals their habits and characters, the sense of superiority they nurture in themselves. In true upper-class fashion, Laura and Emmeline insist that the foxes enjoy the fox hunt. “You can see it on their faces,” they say, in justification of their own pleasure and lifestyle. I couldn’t help reflecting on the hypocrisy of one of the sisters who hates any show of emotion but thinks nothing of the flutter of disgust that crosses her own face.

The colonial mindset is evident when Violet says about school, “We only learn sums, and which bits on the map still belong to us.”

Gilly, with her tendency to steal and lie, has her own flaws, making her believable.

I felt a sense of sorrow for Violet, for the ‘undoing’ of her at the hands of those she trusted. I hoped the book would not end on a note of wrongdoing and injustice.

This book was a trip!!

I would have loved more future coverage as that was really exciting!!

The characters were all rather pompous but I kinda loved that! I hated what was happening to Violet and I couldn't get past how her family was...

Great plot, could have done with a slightly faster pace but I loved every second of it.

4 stars

A difficult, tense read that never lets up or gives you a moment’s peace. Set in the 1930s on the brink of war, four young women are forced into decisions by society and their own understandings of place that put them on paths for which they can never imagine the ending. If you’re not prepared to be angry, sad and exhausted, steer clear.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.