This novel started out great (gothic setting, odd family) but started to slow down meander in the middle portion of the novel. With some further editing this could be greatly improved.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212806852

This book was very interesting and lovely to read. Mysterious, haunting, bewitching. I really enjoyed it and was on the edge of my seat the whole time!

Summary: Gillian is a quiet young girl at an English boarding school in 1938. She doesn’t have much family and leads a lonely life. Then vivacious Violet Claybourne arrives and is assigned to be Gillian’s roommate. Violet is the most unique character that Gillian has ever met and together they have daily adventures in which Gillian is never lonely or bored. When Christmas arrives Gillian is dreading the visit to her aunt’s home, so Violet extends the invitation to spend Christmas at Thornleigh Hall and Gillian gratefully accepts. Little do they know that this holiday season will change their lives forever. Gillian travels to Thornleigh, meets Violet’s family and gets to know the huge estate. One day, a terrible accident takes place on the estate grounds while the adults are all out. Gillian is trapped in a web of lies to cover up the true story and learns how far the Claybournes will go to protect themselves.

Thoughts: This beautiful and sad story pulled me into the world of pre-WWII England. It is a worn and dog-eared snapshot of a dead era – with grand country houses, grounds and servants. The master of the house holds shooting parties and the family “dresses” for dinner. On the surface, everything is perfect for the Claybourne family, but underneath there are many, many secrets. There is infidelity, sexual abuse, family discord, lies, petty thievery, mental illness and much worse yet to come. Gillian wants so desperately to become a part of this gilded family and to belong somewhere, that she is willing to do or say anything to be accepted. But Gillian doesn’t understand the rules of how this family operates and she is out of her depth. The characters are skillfully drawn and the twists are breathtaking. A wonderful novel which will stay with me for a long time.

Emily Critchley did a great job at immersing the reader in the 30s time period. Gilly is an interesting character and I thoroughly enjoyed reading through her journey. This was a great, enchanting read.

In the present, Gillian Larking receives a letter from a person claiming to be related to someone she used to know. In 1938, Gillian Larking is assigned a new roommate, Violet Claybourne. The two become friends, and Violet seems to be adventurous and brave while Gillian appears to be more cautious. When the Christmas holiday approaches, Violet invites Gilly to come and spend the time at Thornleigh Hall and Gilly can't believe she will get to meet the amazing sisters that Violet speaks about so often. What at first seems like a perfect holiday, quickly turns into something far more sinister. Gilly is surprised at how dilapidated Thornleigh is and while on the surface Violet's sisters, Emmeline and Laura, seem to be glamourous and sophisticated, Gilly soon sees that this is a facade. When a tragedy happens, Gilly is caught between her friendship with Violet and her desire to be accepted by Emmeline and Laura who will sacrifice anything to keep the family secrets. When the novel returns to the present, the secrets from that long ago Christmas come back with a vengeance and Gilly once again has to make a choice to protect the Claybourne secrets.

I have never read this author before but Critchely's prose paints a vivid picture of 1930s England, immersing readers in a world of rigid class structures.

The story developed slowly in some places but ultimately it was worth it to see the characters and plot develop. I have never understood how parents can stomach sending their kids to boarding schools. It seems so heartbreaking.

This story is evocative and beautifully done.

This was a good and enchanting read. I really enjoyed all of the characters and settings. One could absolutely get lost in this book.