Intrigue

I love Nicola Cornick's books. They never disappoint.
From the bestselling author of House of Shadows and The Phantom Tree comes a spellbinding tale of jealousy, greed, plotting and revenge—part history, part mystery—for fans of Kate Morton, Susanna Kearsley and Barbara Erskine.
This one definitely will keep you turning page after page and on the edge of your seat. A very good historical mystery. 5 stars all the way for it. ( )

Weaving between past and present, The Woman in the Lake by Nicola Cornick is a captivating mystery with slight romantic and supernatural elements.

In the present, Fenella "Fen" Brightwell has returned to her home town to start over. She has been divorced from her abusive husband, Jake, for two years but she fears he will track her down. When she receives a bequest from her grandmother, Fen's sense of dread increases and she reverts to an old childhood habit. With the unexpected help of her best friend's brother Hamish Ross, Fen hopes to uncover information about the gown that the seems to have a hold over her. Before they can learn the truth, Fen finds herself in grave danger but will she escape the situation unscathed?

In the past, Lady Isabella Gerard is in an abusive marriage with her husband, Eustace. Following a severe beating after he gives her a beautiful gown, she and her lady's maid, Constance, leave London for her country home. Although Isabella has no plans to wear the gown, Constance brings it with them after she disobeys Eustace's orders to destroy it. Upon their arrival, Isabella is consumed with painting and Constance plots a way to escape the Gerard family. The situation takes a tragic turn that forever alters both Isabella and Constance's lives.

The Woman in the Lake is a very atmospheric novel that is fast-paced and engaging. The two story arcs are well-written and quite fascinating. Each of the characters are vibrantly developed but not all of them are particularly likable. The gown is what ties the two storylines together, but Nicola Cornick does not reveal the connection until the novel's surprising conclusion. This entertaining story is quite enjoyable and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy a dash of mystery, a hint of romance and a slight supernatural element.
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This was my favorite kind of audiobook, where a variety of narrators perform, almost like a play. The very posh British accents added greatly to my enjoyment.

Three different women tell their stories, and unlike many of these back and forth narratives, I was equally interested in both the past and the present. In 1763, Lady Isabella and her maid, Constance, suffer at the hands of Lord Gerrard, a physically and mentally abusive brute. In the present Fennela Brightwell has recently escaped the clutches of her psycho ex-husband, who is said to have died in a train crash shortly after their divorce. But Fennela is positive he is very much alive and stalking her.

The link between the two stories is a beautiful golden gown (which come to think of it, "The Golden Gown" would have been a better title). Supposedly haunted and malevolent, the gown causes people to act on their worst impulses. Conceived as an object of destruction, the gown paradoxically proves to be the means of deliverance for all three women.

This was far fetched and a bit over-long, but entertaining. It held my interest and had secrets to reveal right up until the very end. ( )

The Woman in the Lake is really two different stories, from two very different timelines, united only by the golden gown. The constant shifting from one timeline to another can make this a difficult book to settle into.

I enjoyed the historical timeline, set in the mid 1700s. This setting came alive for me, and the characters and their situations drew me in. The modern-day timeline didn't intrigue me nearly as much, particularly through the first half of the book.

The second half of the book pulled me out of the sleepy lull. I wanted to know what happened with all the women, and I finally started connecting with Fen in the present timeline.

The content explores the issue of domestic abuse, both emotional and physical. This, I think, is the book's strength, as we see the lasting effects on a woman's life.

There is a strong paranormal aspect to this book that isn't explained away with any rationality, so you have to be willing to take that leap in order to enjoy the story.

*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine.* ( )