Paulette Kennedy’s THE ARTIST OF BLACKBERRY GRANGE is an utter gothic delight. Her signature use of an atmospheric southern setting, evocative prose and gothic suspense create a winning combination. Kennedy keeps readers hooked until the very last page. Pitch-perfect pacing combined with very real—very human--characters make this a novel that will stick with you long after the final pages.

I have to say that Paulette Kennedy is quickly becoming one of my “Break Glass In Case of Emergency” authors. If she writes it, I know I’m going to read it and absolutely love it. Her newest novel, THE ARTIST OF BLACKBERRY GRANGE is no exception. This one is an utter gothic delight. Sadie is so relatably human with all the flaws and strengths that come with the condition. One of my favorite things about Kennedy’s novels is her use of gothic dread to ratchet up the tension. This one literally has everything I love in a book: a creepy house, ghosts, a gardener love interest, magic (or something very like it!), a satisfying romance. I am obsessed with it. It's simply a gorgeous book inside and out.

Sadie is such a relatable character, flaws and all—and I think her growth arc is what I love the most about this book. She makes mistakes and still learns along the way. Without too many spoilers there were definitely parts of this book where I was actually concerned for how they were going to get out of it alive. I gobbled this one up in a day. If you are a fan of gothic novels, ghost stories with a touch of magic, and a satisfying romance—this is definitely the one for you. Fans of Simone St. James and Hester Fox will really be in for a treat with this one.

Despite the long list of content warnings and the tragic aura of the Victoriana cover, this story was written with a light touch, boasting a magical painting, moments of gothic melodrama, time-slip, and a gorgeous narrative voice - arch, witty, knowing, with a touch of Stella Gibbons' Cold Comfort Farm. It was fast-paced and I was happy to be swept along.

The author's note at the end revealed that it had its foundations in some challenging real-life experiences and extensive historical research. This was my first Paulette Kennedy novel, and I look forward to reading more. I think it would appeal to fans of Jenni Keer's recent novel The Ravenswood Witch which has a similar storytelling magic.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This was my first book by this author. I can see why it has gotten such rave reviews. I loved the writing style, which gave off a creepy/gothic feel. It was nice to read a novel and be able to connect with the characters for a change. I loved the dual timeline. I also love a story that will take you away for a while. This one did just that. Perfect escape read, but also sad due to the topic of dementia.

I experienced a range of emotions while reading this, it tackles some difficult themes from caregiving to dementia. The timeline which kept flitting back and forth made for interesting reading and i enjoyed the gothic aspect of this. Im definitely interested in looking more into this authors other novels the praise for them also has intrigued me.

I had enjoyed the previous book that I read from Paulette Kennedy, and this book was wonderfully done. It had that realism about dementia and that struggle. It was written perfectly and made me care about the characters and what was going on.

A bold, fresh story about the ghosts that haunt us and the ones we overcome. Paulette Kennedy explores loss and humility through the eyes of a saucy flapper who may bend the rules, but not her sense of morality. This book will linger in your heart like the fond memory of a loved one.

I'm thrilled to see the gothic romance genre coming back to life, with updated, spunky heroines, not the shrinking violet virgins of the past. Great fun

I’ve been really into gothic novels lately, and this book captured that eerie, atmospheric vibe with a story that was different from anything I’ve heard before.

I love a dislikable main character, but here it didn’t feel entirely realistic. There were plenty of lies, manipulations, and toxic relationships, yet it felt like the novel only skimmed the surface. I wanted to feel manipulated myself as a reader and experience a deeper, more authentic view of the inner turmoil and emotional confusion of the characters. Instead, it left me craving a rawer portrayal of their experiences. The relationships didn’t quite resonate, and I didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters. Still, the mystery kept me intrigued throughout.

Paulette Kennedy only knows how to write absolute bangers, and this book was no different. This story included everything that I love, and thus I loved the book.