Who Would Like This Book:
If you love atmospheric Victorian mysteries laced with genuine gothic chills and a touch of the supernatural, Laura Purcell delivers in spades. The richly drawn world of Bath, the unique characters - especially a middle-aged heroine battling health and heartbreak - and the eerie storyline revolving around silhouette portraiture and séances, make this a perfect pick for fans of dark historical fiction. Purcell's writing is vivid, her characters unforgettable, and the suspense will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the ending unsatisfying or even confusing, feeling it tried a little too hard to be clever or twisted, which muddled the resolution. If you prefer mysteries where every loose end is neatly tied up, or you want straightforward answers rather than lingering ambiguity, this might not be your cup of tea. Additionally, the slow-burn start and the deeply tragic tone may not appeal to those looking for a lighter or faster-paced read.
About:
In "The Shape of Darkness" by Laura Purcell, readers are taken to Victorian Bath where silhouette artist Agnes Darkin struggles to keep her business afloat while dealing with personal challenges like recovering from an illness and caring for her family. The plot thickens as a series of murders occur involving Agnes's customers, leading her to seek answers from a child spirit medium named Pearl. The narrative weaves together elements of mystery, supernatural occurrences, and historical details, creating a gothic atmosphere that keeps readers on edge till the end.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains content warnings for themes of murder, mental illness, and possibly self-harm, which may be distressing for sensitive readers.
From The Publisher:
Edgar Award Finalist
A struggling silhouette artist in Victorian Bath seeks out a renowned child spirit medium in order to speak to the dead - and to try and identify their killers - in this beguiling new tale from the queen of Gothic fiction, Laura Purcell
As the age of the photograph dawns in Victorian Bath, silhouette artist Agnes is struggling to keep her business afloat. Still recovering from a serious illness herself, making enough money to support her elderly mother and her orphaned nephew Cedric has never been easy, but then one of her clients is murdered shortly after sitting for Agnes, and then another, and another... Why is the killer seemingly targeting her business?
Desperately seeking an answer, Agnes approaches Pearl, a child spirit medium lodging in Bath with her older half-sister and her ailing father, hoping that if Pearl can make contact with those who died, they might reveal who killed them. But Agnes and Pearl quickly discover that instead they may have opened the door to something that they can never put back.
Ratings (4)
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Liked It (1) |
Reader Stats (18):
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Want To Read (12) | |
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1 comment(s)
Brilliantly written. Spooky and kept me wondering throughout.
What can you read after
The Shape of Darkness?
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