
The Death of Jane Lawrence is a gothic horror novel by Caitlin Starling that follows the story of Jane, a young woman who proposes a marriage of convenience to Dr. Augustine Lawrence. Initially, their agreement seems straightforward - Jane will help the doctor with his books while he keeps his secrets about his family manor, Lindridge Hall. However, as Jane starts unraveling the mysteries surrounding Augustine and the manor, she discovers dark secrets and supernatural elements that challenge her perception of reality. The plot is filled with twists, eerie settings, and a mix of blood, ghosts, and dark magic, creating a haunting and chilling atmosphere that keeps readers on edge.
The writing style of The Death of Jane Lawrence is described as atmospheric, creepy, and vivid, capturing the increasing paranoia and gory scenes with skill. The characters, particularly Jane and Augustine, are complex and not always likable, adding depth to the narrative. The author weaves a tale of madness, loss, grief, and black magic that pushes the boundaries of traditional gothic horror, keeping readers engaged with its mysterious and suspenseful plot.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include graphic surgical gore, themes of madness, trauma, and supernatural elements that might disturb some readers.
Has Romance?
While the romance plays a significant role, it does not dominate the story, allowing for other themes to flourish.
From The Publisher:
***AN INSTANT BESTSELLER!***
Best Books of 2021 · NPR
From the Bram Stoker-nominated author of The Luminous Dead comes a gothic fantasy horror-The Death of Jane Lawrence.
"A delicious Gothic romance.... By the time the book reached that point of no return, I was so invested that I would have followed Jane into the very depths of hell." -NPR.org
"Intense and amazing! It's like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell meets Mexican Gothic meets Crimson Peak." -BookRiot
Practical, unassuming Jane Shoringfield has done the calculations, and decided that the most secure path forward is this: a husband, in a marriage of convenience, who will allow her to remain independent and occupied with meaningful work. Her first choice, the dashing but reclusive doctor Augustine Lawrence, agrees to her proposal with only one condition: that she must never visit Lindridge Hall, his crumbling family manor outside of town.
Yet on their wedding night, an accident strands her at his door in a pitch-black rainstorm, and she finds him changed. Gone is the bold, courageous surgeon, and in his place is a terrified, paranoid man-one who cannot tell reality from nightmare, and fears Jane is an apparition, come to haunt him. By morning, Augustine is himself again, but Jane knows something is deeply wrong at Lindridge Hall, and with the man she has so hastily bound her safety to.
Set in a dark-mirror version of post-war England, Caitlin Starling crafts a new kind of gothic horror from the bones of the beloved canon. This Crimson Peak-inspired story assembles, then upends, every expectation set in place by Shirley Jackson and Rebecca, and will leave readers shaken, desperate to begin again as soon as they are finished.
"Don't read this one alone at night; Caitlin Starling has done it again. Unsettling, atmospheric, and downright brutal at times, The Death of Jane Lawrence will continue to haunt you long after you leave Lindridge Hall…if the house lets you leave, that is." -Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart
Ratings (14)
Incredible (4) | |
Loved It (7) | |
Liked It (2) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (47):
Read It (15) | |
Want To Read (26) | |
Not Interested (6) |
1 comment(s)
I received an advance copy of this book for free from Netgalley.
Actual rating: 4.5 stars.
This was, overall, just
fantastic. It was everything I had wanted and expected from a gothic romance/haunted house horror story, while still being innovative and surprising. The cast was fascinating: Jane in particular felt fully realized and sympathetic as a character, and the psychological elements of this novel were believable and captivating. I also love what Starling did with the overall theme (
of shame
), and her creative melding of mathematics and magic. To top it off, it was beautifully written and absolutely horrifying.
I knocked off a half star because it got off to a
rough start. In the opening chapters, the writing style seemed a bit amateur, and worse, major plot points seemed unnecessarily contrived: specifically, I didn't really buy the reasoning behind Jane's very rushed engagement, her immediate participation in Augustine's surgery, and especially the events that led to her 1) arriving at Lindridge Hall, and then 2) staying there past the first night. These decisions did not make sense to me outside of needing to happen for plot purposes, and also seemed like they could have easily been replaced with other explanations/events that would have been more believable and made more sense given the characters' personalities.
However, once Jane finally arrives at Lindridge Hall, Starling really hits her stride. From then out, the novel is tense and terrifying and full of twists and turns that I could have never predicted (that ending…).
I can't wait to see what Starling does next!
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.