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A review by monazaneefer
Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
3.0
(Listened to it as an audiobook.)
Okay...I don’t really know the entire point of this novel in all honesty. Harsh opener for a review and, for what my actual thoughts are, but that question is at the back of my mind.
It started out like an Agatha Christie novel with a little bit more characterisation in the mix. But then the mystery was becoming jarringly obvious before it unravelled itself midway or a little over midway of the novel, making me realise that the premise is no detective-mystery-sort of story; it’s only one feature.
The writing and scene building was great for the suspense it created. For eg: when Lady Audley was planning to set fire to the inn Robert was staying in that night. Her inner monologue and then her discreet night journey; the way she tread carefully outside her room and outside the house before meeting Phoebe (I was creeped out).
But the plot structure was such a waste; every potentially great revelation was given away prematurely with full intention. We pretty much knew everything about the story from the beginning. It’s like those times you’d hear about a crime and then later a book comes out that’s based on it - only issue is that you know everything already. So it begs the question: what’s the point?
And Lady Audley’s secret - it wasn’t THAT ghastly (maybe it was during its publication) so that revelation didn’t turn things around for me.
The characters aren’t forgettable but at the same time they won’t stand a chance at being literary icons...except for Lady Audley maybe.
A positive (amongst others don’t worry) was the fact that George was alive :”) I was quite happy. And his and Robert’s friendship was lovely.
My review seems so harsh for a book that neither I hate or am frustrated or disappointed by. It was enjoyable (until I start analysing it) but it is mainly the negatives that are fruitful for discussion. The positives can be summed up with: “Ah yes that was a nice element” without any further discussion really.
Okay...I don’t really know the entire point of this novel in all honesty. Harsh opener for a review and, for what my actual thoughts are, but that question is at the back of my mind.
It started out like an Agatha Christie novel with a little bit more characterisation in the mix. But then the mystery was becoming jarringly obvious before it unravelled itself midway or a little over midway of the novel, making me realise that the premise is no detective-mystery-sort of story; it’s only one feature.
The writing and scene building was great for the suspense it created. For eg: when Lady Audley was planning to set fire to the inn Robert was staying in that night. Her inner monologue and then her discreet night journey; the way she tread carefully outside her room and outside the house before meeting Phoebe (I was creeped out).
But the plot structure was such a waste; every potentially great revelation was given away prematurely with full intention. We pretty much knew everything about the story from the beginning. It’s like those times you’d hear about a crime and then later a book comes out that’s based on it - only issue is that you know everything already. So it begs the question: what’s the point?
And Lady Audley’s secret - it wasn’t THAT ghastly (maybe it was during its publication) so that revelation didn’t turn things around for me.
The characters aren’t forgettable but at the same time they won’t stand a chance at being literary icons...except for Lady Audley maybe.
A positive (amongst others don’t worry) was the fact that George was alive :”) I was quite happy. And his and Robert’s friendship was lovely.
My review seems so harsh for a book that neither I hate or am frustrated or disappointed by. It was enjoyable (until I start analysing it) but it is mainly the negatives that are fruitful for discussion. The positives can be summed up with: “Ah yes that was a nice element” without any further discussion really.