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readingoverbreathing's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This could not have been more up my alley — an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but all contained within a distinctly Persephone domestic setting.
I would pitch this as Tom Ripley (the later books, set more at Belle Ombre) meets the domestic concerns and self-conscious feminism that so characterizes the Persephone list. There's quite a lot of logistical considerations and ever-evolving obstacles and threats all up in the air, creating almost immediately an intensity that does not let up until the final page, very much in the same way that the Ripley books operate. Lucia's situation is even further complicated by a constant barrage of neediness from her own family, whom she paradoxically has done everything in her power to protect.
The wartime setting, the shortages, and the husband away, also make for an interesting angle here. I was surprised in the first few pages to realize that this was set in America, as I assumed that the focus on the Second World War surely meant this was a British book. It's not often, at least in my reading life, that I get the American take on domestic life during the war, and that backdrop certainly does a lot to intensify the events of the book.
My only complaint was that I found the constant arrival of unannounced guests to be a little tedious after a few instances. It was compelling to have so much of the book set almost exclusively on the Holleys' property, but all of this dropping by started to feel just a little too convenient after a while, though perhaps that would have been more common at the time.
Other than that though, I found the plotting to be excellent, perfectly paced, and always with an underlying uncertainty and mistrust that really makes for a great thriller. The characters were all great as well, transcending their rather archetypal roles to achieve a genuine human complexity that only made this all the more readable.
The past couple of Persephones I've read have honestly been a little disappointing, so it felt so good to pick up one I so thoroughly connected to and enjoyed. Highly, highly recommend!
I would pitch this as Tom Ripley (the later books, set more at Belle Ombre) meets the domestic concerns and self-conscious feminism that so characterizes the Persephone list. There's quite a lot of logistical considerations and ever-evolving obstacles and threats all up in the air, creating almost immediately an intensity that does not let up until the final page, very much in the same way that the Ripley books operate. Lucia's situation is even further complicated by a constant barrage of neediness from her own family, whom she paradoxically has done everything in her power to protect.
The wartime setting, the shortages, and the husband away, also make for an interesting angle here. I was surprised in the first few pages to realize that this was set in America, as I assumed that the focus on the Second World War surely meant this was a British book. It's not often, at least in my reading life, that I get the American take on domestic life during the war, and that backdrop certainly does a lot to intensify the events of the book.
My only complaint was that I found the constant arrival of unannounced guests to be a little tedious after a few instances. It was compelling to have so much of the book set almost exclusively on the Holleys' property, but all of this dropping by started to feel just a little too convenient after a while, though perhaps that would have been more common at the time.
Other than that though, I found the plotting to be excellent, perfectly paced, and always with an underlying uncertainty and mistrust that really makes for a great thriller. The characters were all great as well, transcending their rather archetypal roles to achieve a genuine human complexity that only made this all the more readable.
The past couple of Persephones I've read have honestly been a little disappointing, so it felt so good to pick up one I so thoroughly connected to and enjoyed. Highly, highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Racism, War, and Alcohol
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