1938. Gillian is in boarding school sent by her father who works in Egypt. She doesn’t quite fit in. The girls around her are upper class and seem to belong to another world, very far removed from Gillian’s working class roots. When she is befriended by Violet and invited to Thornleigh Hall, a crumbling mansion Gillian is delighted but overwhelmed, knowing she has to be on guard all the time.

The family dynamics are peculiar - the lady of the house is not keen on education for girls. All she wants is advantageous marriages. The father is kindly, but does not like confrontations and lets his wife have her way, Emmeline the eldest is holding out for a proposal from the eligible Hugh, rich and with piles of property. Laura the second is in love with Charlie, considered not good enough by Lady Claiborne and we have the youngest Violet who is the focal point in the story.

Machinations of a Machiavellian nature on the part of Emmeline who orchestrates it all, followed blindly by the girls, betrayal by Gillian of the deepest kind puts Violet in an extremely bad place. Everyone turns a blind eye to the reality and so many are damaged beyond belief.

The story told in two time frames show the damage that was done which led to the destruction of an entire family. Destruction that was deliberate, homicidal, psychotic and unbelievable.

The author brought the most improbable scenarios to the plausible, absolutely believable

Fabulous story telling capturing settings from the decaying grandeur of the Hall, to destruction of London during the war. The settings play a big role in this story. The characters were a story in itself. Each one was a separate story.

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery

Gillian Larkin while away at boarding school in 1938 is assigned to be roommates with the peculiar Violet Claybourne. They quickly become friends, despite Violet's differences, and Gilly is excited when Violet invites her home to Thornleigh Hall for Christmas. Gilly is completely swept away by the grandeur of Thornleigh, as well as Violet's two older sisters, Emmeline and Laura. Gilly will do anything to fit in with them. Then a terrible accident occurs on the grounds, and Gilly begins to realize the Claybourne sisters aren't exactly who she though they were. And now she is forced to make a choice that will change everyone's lives forever.

This was such a gothic, atmospheric read! I don't know why I wasn't expecting it, but it really was a nice surprise. Lots of dark secrets and suspense. Loved the setting in 1938 in England and exploring the themes of mental health, status, women, and education during this time. The characters were purposely unlikeable, but the book was still very enjoyable. That deep human need to be accepted and twisted into how it can also be dangerous was done so well with this book. Violet's character, especially, intrigued me so much and when you find out the double meaning of "undoing" in the title -- so interesting!!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 - The story was well-written and interesting, but I really did not like the characters. There was so much heaviness with very, very little to balance it out.

No other way to say it - this book is dark. The mystery and secrets at the heart of this novel are hard to stomach, surprising and shocking. Critchley successfully builds a world in which Gillian, friendless at boarding school until the new girl Violet Claybourne arrives, travels home with Violet to her family's crumbling estate for the 1938 Christmas season. To say much more would spoil the surprises Critchley has in store. Critchley is an expert at conveying pre-and post- WW2 London and Oxfordshire, the mores and foibles of the British upper class and the youthful feeling of needing to belong. Highly recommended for fans of tragic British historical mysteries. Thank you to Sourceboooks Landmark and NetGalley for the DRC.

The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a haunting exploration of acceptance from family, from society, and from ourselves. It delves into themes of belonging, friendship, mental health, and trauma, asking just how far one might go to find their place in the world.

Set across different timelines, the story follows Gillian, a girl longing for family, and Violet, a member of the titled class whose mind often wanders. When Violet invites Gillian to spend Christmas at Thornleigh Hall, Gillian is captivated by its grandeur. But appearances can be deceiving. As the layers of Thornleigh Hall’s past begin to unravel, Gillian is forced to make choices that echo for generations.🏘

🏕This gothic, atmospheric story is chilling in so many ways. Each character has their own reasons for their actions, but beneath it all lies a deep yearning for acceptance and belonging. The psychological manipulation in this book is disturbing, yet the reasons behind it that is revealed later are heartbreakingly understandable. I couldn’t help but wish someone had shown compassion to these girls. Their pain, their trauma that is hard to read at times, and even harder to forget.

This is a novel that's hard to put down, not just because of its chilling twists, but because you become deeply entangled in the world of Violet Claybourne.🏕

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for this atmospheric read.

CW: Some topics in this book can be disturbing, so caution is advised.

This atmospheric novel is full of intrigue and unsavory characters. I went in blind and was a bit surprised by the dynamic. The story follows Gillian who befriends the eccentric Violet Claybourne who Gillian is very pleased to have made friends with because she usually goes unnoticed and left out. When Gillian is invited to spend the holidays with Violet and her family, we begin to see that this story seems to be about social status. Gillian is enthralled by Violet and her life as she is much wealthier. When Gillian is invited to Violet’s estate she is enthusiastic until she finds out that all is not what it seems with the Claybourne family. There are many betrayals and hidden family secrets. Despite realizing that the Claybourne family is not what she imagined, she still feels as if she needs to become like them to fit in. Gillian is thrilled to be accepted by Violet’s sisters and feels a sense of belonging that she hasn’t felt before. This book nods toward the social class structure and the “haves” and “have-nots” of society. There is also mental health representation in this novel that I can appreciate. While this wasn’t a book I absolutely loved, I did enjoy some parts and understood the main theme(s) within the story. I think this book would be a great read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and the YA category.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

An interesting take on gaslighting and a solidly written Gothic suspense novel.

I liked the premise for this book a lot, a bit of an original twist on the gaslighting of a central character in a Gothic setting.

The atmosphere and eerie slow build here are well-rendered, as is the book’s macabre and isolated sense of place.

The story unfortunately fades a bit down the home stretch, building to what you expect to be an impressive denouement but is instead more of a slow deterioration. Still, that’s not to say that where the story goes is at all unsatisfying, and it does serve a bit of justice in the closing chapters, futile though it may be.

For the most part I enjoyed this, and it’s probably a four star read in terms of quality of story. That said, as per personal policy, I knocked off a star for the needless inclusion of an upsetting pet murder.

Critchley has written a rich gothic tale in 'The Undoing of Violet Claybourne.' While there are no supernatural elements, there is a feeling dread and foreboding throughout the novel. The novel follows Gillian and the Claybourne sisters, and what Gilly is willing to do to fit in. The novel is very atmospheric, especially when considering the mansion and grounds. 5 stars.

I was absolutely enthralled with this story; I read through it very quickly.

Most of this story revolved around one fateful Christmas at Thornleigh Hall. Our main character, Gillian Larking, is away at boarding school. Her mother passed away when she was born, and her father, who was always distant, is now remarried, and Gillian doesn't really have a place in his life now. Gillian has a new roommate, Violet Claybourne, and they become friends. But Gillian notices that Violet has some odd tendencies and seems rather immature for her age. But, when Gillian is invited to Violet's home for the holidays, Gillian gladly accepts.

What follows is a story of a tragic accident with horrific consequences. There are so many lies, excuses, and so much gaslighting, as Violet's older sisters try desperately to keep a secret, especially from Violet. Gillian gets caught up in the sisters secrets and must make some terrible and difficult decisions that will follow her through life.

This story has themes around privilege, what people will do to keep that privilege, of the lengths people will go to protect themselves and avoid taking responsibility, and the consequences of those actions.

Mental health plays a strong part in this book, and it's an interesting portrayal of the treatment and understanding of mental health in the past, especially when it came to women.

Overall, this is a powerful and infuriating story. I was hoping this story had a different ending than it did. It demonstrated the trickle effect of trauma and the consequences it can have throughout a lifetime, especially if hidden away as if it is shameful. I wanted a happy ending. I didn't really get one, but I suppose the book couldn't have gone any other way.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

EXCERPT: 1999 . . . this morning, I found myself driving to North Oxfordshire. Parking in the carpark (once a field belonging to the tenant farmer) and entering through the large oak, iron-studded doors. I paid an entrance fee and was given a guidebook. I wandered the rooms, avoiding the smiling, enthusiastic volunteers.
Looking around Thornleigh Hall, I felt suspended in time. Here I was, an old woman in sensible shoes clutching a guidebook, and yet there in the dining room was Emmeline drinking her morning coffee, Lord Claybourne reading his paper, Lady Claybourne complaining about her eggs, Viollet tucking into toast and blackcurrant jam. And there was Laura in the library, her stockinged feet up on the sofa arm, leafing through a magazine. 'Oh, hello Gilly,' she said, seeing me standing there. 'I wondered where you'd got to.'
I moved from room to room, pressing my nails into my guidebook. I watched the other visitors with their backpacks and cameras. Babies strapped to the chests of men. Mothers gripping the hands of small children. Look at that clock, darling, isn't it beautiful?
As for me, I felt like a traveler returning to a faraway land, only to find it a pale shadow of what it once was. I was reminded of a time in my life that was both full of possibility and fraught with the anxieties of the very young. Thornleigh Hall - my visit in the winter of 1938 and the events that followed - had been the marker that forever divided my life. After Thornleigh, there was simply a before and an after.

ABOUT 'THE UNDOING OF VIOLET CLAYBOURNE': 1938. Gillian Larkin is used to going unnoticed, until she is sent away to school and befriended by her roommate, the vibrant and spirited Violet Claybourne. As the Christmas holidays approach, Gilly can't believe her luck when Violet invites her to spend them at her home, the crumbling Thornleigh Hall.

At Thornleigh, Gilly is dazzled by the family's faded grandeur, and above all by Violet's beguiling older sisters who seem to accept her as one of their own. But following a terrible accident in the house's grounds, Gilly begins to realise the Claybourne sisters aren't quite what she thought they were. And if she's to survive in their world, she may have to become just like them . . .

MU THOUGHTS: A tale of the desire to belong, manipulation, and gaslighting set in the late 1930s.

Although I can't say I 'liked' or 'enjoyed' The Undoing of Violet Claybourne, I was riveted by it and read it over two days - something of a feat for me at the moment! The characters are all quite despicable - yes, even Gilly! - except perhaps for Charlie and Frank . . .

Gilly is young, impressionable, and desperate to 'fit in' to the Claybourne family since what remains of her own family don't particularly want her. She is in awe of Violet's very glamorous older sisters and hangs off their every word. She's a little like a labrador puppy, gazing at them with forlorn eyes, begging to be loved.

Violet's oddness, her OCD and other problems, seem to become increasingly worse while at Thornleigh Hall and Gilly, unfortunately, gravitates towards Emmeline and Laura treating their every word as gospel, especially when it comes to the treatment of Violet.

The story comes to a head when, one morning, the trio venture out into the woods leaving Violet at home. Nothing will ever be the same again.

There are a lot of secrets concealed over the years. Lady Claybourne is obsessed with 'propriety' and 'how things appear', wanting - no, needing - her daughters to make advantageous marriages in order to save Thornleigh Hall from the creditors. Anything remotely unsavory that happens is quickly swept under the carpet, hidden and never referred to again.

If you like your historical fiction dark, riddled with secrets, and the family dysfunctional and manipulative, you'll derive a lot of pleasure from The Undoing of Violet Claybourne. It doesn't paint the upper classes in a good light, but then no one comes out of this smelling of roses.

An interesting read.

#TheUndoingofVioletClaybourne #NetGalley

⭐⭐⭐.5

MEET THE AUTHOR: Emily was born in Essex and has lived in Brighton and London. She currently lives in Hertfordshire.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

The lines are grey everywhere in this novel.

Is Gillian, our main character as innocent as she seems? What lies in the mysteries of the fading Thornleigh Hall? What secrets do each of the Claybourne sisters hold?

It would seem Violet Claybourne would be one of the main characters here, but it seems her fate is what looms throughout the novel. She is an accessory to the tragic accident that happens at Thornleigh and pays the ultimate price for it.

How these sisters twist each other's minds in the end is mystifying and it is curious how different they all seem to be, and yet hold some of the same traits.

I don’t reach for historical fiction often, but I’m interested in boarding schools, exploration of class and privilege, and moody gothic stories full of family secrets. I picked this up because of the mystery promised in the blurb. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing because while the setting is well drawn and the writing is atmospheric, this is much more historical fiction and way less mystery than I expected and it’s not holding my interest. Almost the entire cast is unlikable (by design) and that makes it difficult to stay invested. I may return to this at another time, but I went in expecting more suspense over whodunnit rather than what will happen next. I may pick this up again in the future when I’m in the mood to read about horrible people betraying each other, but for now it’s not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of the eARC.

Thank you Sourcebooks! I really enjoyed The Undoing of Violet Claybourne was a surprise for me, I don't tend to enjoy historical fiction but I can't say no to books on social class, rich people things, and schools/boarding schools and how those themes intersect. The writing was moody and engaging and the themes well developed... and yet when I saw the real undoing, I needed to take a pause, to really think about the overall goal of the book (that's not a bad thing, just more oh wait let's sit with this and maybe talk about it). The book is a standout for gothic vibes, the unease and role of privilege and richness, even as it is coming apart, and how that connects to individuals with less power and privilege, and I wonder if some of the goal is also to illuminate the time, the emerging sense of chaos and the undoing of the world with WWII and the Great Depression and perhaps how that relates to experiences emerging in today's world....

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks and the author, Emily Critchley for the arc!

Ok. So this book grabbed a hold of me in so many ways I did not expect!

Darkish, gothic, atmospheric and oh so very deliciously twisty! The reveals slapped me so silly, that a couple of times I literally slammed my book down into my lap and had to take a minute to regain consciousness! All the family secrets, cover-ups, gaslighting, betrayals, acts of desperation and manipulation are just a few of the things that kept me flipping those pages!

And the ending? Heck YES!

I went into this one expecting one thing … and closed that last page in possession of so much more! 100% recommend!!! I absolutely have to go and check out more from this author! Gah!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the new novel by Emily Critchley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

It's 1938 and Gillian Larkin is sent away to school while her dad is an expat in Egypt with his new wife and son. She's used to being a loner but is befriended by her roommate, Violet Claybourne. Gilly is thrilled when Violet invites her to spend Christmas with her family at Thornleigh Hall. Gilly is dazzled by the family's wealth and glamour, and especially by Violet's older sisters. But when there is a terrible accident on the grounds, Gilly's loyalty and conscience are put to the test.

I was a big fan of the author's previous book, One Puzzling Afternoon, and was excited to read her latest. This book has such a gothic, dark feel, full of unlikeable characters that drip with privilege and secrets, and who will do anything to protect themselves. Told from Ginny's prospective, we feel her need to fit in at all costs and her resulting devastating decisions. I felt for Violet and her undoings (OCDd behaviors). It's a heartbreaking story, full of betrayal and gaslighting, but it will keep you turning the pages well into the night.

The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is Emily Critchley's new novel.

I always look at the cover of a book before I turn the first pages. I really liked this cover, it has a distinct Gothic feel to it. The images and the colours and tones used beckoned to me.

The first part is set in 1938. Gillian Larking attends a girl's boarding school in England. Gillian is quite lonely and unhappy at the school. She’s unsure when the new girl, Violet Claybourne, is to be her roommate. Violet is a bit different, but the two end up quite happy together. Gillian is thrilled to be asked to spend the Christmas holidays with Violet's family. She can’t wait to meet her mother, father and two sisters.

And this is where the good stuff starts. A crumbling manor, an atmosphere that is confusing, and a family that’s not as Gillian had imagined. Still though, she’d be very happy to be part of the family.

Emily Greeley does a fantastic job with what came next. Her plotting is excellent! Lots of twists and turns. And her characters? Oh my gosh, I can’t even….! And just when I thought we were finished we’re brought into current day and that was such a surprise turn as well! Kudos to you Emily Critchley!

This is my first read of Emily Critchley, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Gillian visits her friend Violet Claybourne at the family estate. The entire trip goes sideways once she's implicated in a tragic accident. Unfortunately, keeping herself free will mean framing her best friend for murder.

Violet Claybourne is the youngest of three girls and is considered too odd because of her rituals, her fears, and her repetitive intrusive thoughts. Gillian is essentially an only child, and had been jealous of the family and togetherness she assumed the Claybourne family had. The two are roommates at school and de facto become best friends, so Violet brings Gillian home with her for the holidays so she won't be alone or treated as an afterthought by her own family. Gillian is desperate for belonging, and Violet's older sisters make that very easy, saying she could be like a cousin to them. Gillian does what they ask of her, hoping to belong, even going along with Emmeline's directions when the unthinkable happens halfway through the novel.

There's such sadness and casual cruelty within the Claybourne family. For all of their titled history and wealth, it's greatly diminished as time goes on, and Gillian sees how far they go to maintain appearances. Poor Violet becomes the scapegoat, her oddities framed as insanity so no one would believe her if she ever reveals the truth about what happened. The fallout of those choices carries through the years, as well as into the next generation. This is when we find out more about the Claybournes, and how even the girls' parents had sacrificed their happiness for the sake of appearances. By the very end, Gillian is once again caught up in the family drama, this time to try to set things right. Nothing can undo what had been done, but she hopes to undo her mistakes much like Violet once wanted to undo her troubled thoughts.

4.5 Stars

Gillian Larking felt like she lived life on the margins, until she met her new school roommate, Violet Claybourne. Violet doesn’t follow the rules and she is the youngest daughter in the prominent Claybourne family. As their friendship grows, Violet invites Gillian to join her family at Thornleigh Hall for the Christmas holidays. Gillian becomes enamored with Violet’s older sisters and she hopes to impress them to get the attention she’s always longed for. But as she spends more time with the family, Gillian realizes there are more sinister motives at play in the Claybourne household.

When I think of Gothic Fiction, I immediately think of ghosts/hauntings, but Critchley definitely delivers a haunting story in The Undoing of Violet Claybourne without including a supernatural element. I felt like she did an amazing job creating a sense of foreboding in the story, making the reader feel that something is off, right from the start of Gillian meeting Violet.

Critchley develops a horror feel in the story, because of the actions committed by the characters, showing the lengths people are willing to go to, in order to protect themselves. I found Violet to be the only likable character, but I think that worked well, because this type of story calls for characters with questionable motivations. There are underlying traumas in the background and you can see how Critchley uses that trauma to develop each of the characters. Violet’s character also experiences OCD, and I felt Critchley did a great job, using it to shape her character.

I found The Undoing of Violet Claybourne to be an absorbing macabre read. It lived up to the expectations I am looking for in this type of story, and even though it is not a happy/lighthearted story, it is one that I really enjoyed reading. If you love books with suspense, twists, secrets, and tragic characters, then I would definitely recommend The Undoing of Violet Claybourne.

DNF 40%

While the setting and characters are interesting and well drawn, I'm just not engaged with the plot.