Margot, 16, is left orphaned after a terrible accident of which she is the only survivor. One thing led to another and he ended up in Copeland Hall, the illustrious home of a no less prestigious family. The Suttons welcome him, but Margot soon realizes that this good deed isn’t entirely free… She finds herself very involved in the life of the house, and especially that of the Suttons’ daughter, Agatha. Except that Agatha hasn’t spoken for a few years. Margot will work to understand this mystery, but also everyone who will introduce herself to her as she settles in. Here are three good reasons to discover this psychological thriller.
Immerse yourself in the gothic atmosphere as you wish
As you may have already guessed, with a name like that Margot’s new house has everything reminiscent of a haunted mansion: a huge building with several wings, some of which are disused, family portraits upside down, no neighbors in the area (who live in any case!), and even less than a telephone network…
Add to this inscriptions on the walls that appear without anyone knowing how and other mysterious facts, and you get a disturbing atmosphere, to say the least, reminiscent of Gothic novels. Of course we are not talking about the tendency to dress in black and appear sad, but about this literary genre that emerged in England at the end of the 18th century. These novels, like Frankenstein by Mary Shelley or The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, combines suspense, supernatural elements and tortured characters. If the story here is contemporary, Katie Alender flirts with this literary genre for our greatest pleasure.
A gripping plot
The author also plays on this thin border between fantasy and reality to keep us in suspense until the end! This is definitely the fastest 480 pages I’ve read in a long time as we are transported from one adventure to the next, with great reading fluidity. The lively and precise descriptions, without dragging, immerse us in this environment worthy of the Adams family and as close as possible to the questions of Margot, the narrator.
Through his (many!) discoveries, opening doors and drawers, it is his investigation that drags us along. We have the impression of seeing through her eyes and feeling what passes through her, always asking ourselves what the limit is between paranoia and truth in the face of more than disturbing facts, as in any good psychological thriller. The plot flows at a rapid pace, so much so that the pages turn without you noticing, or wanting to put the book down!
Contemporary social problems
Through narrative mechanisms that rely heavily on the psychology of the different characters, the author also manages to implicitly address social issues. You know, for example, when a mother tells her daughter that she must be “nice”, obey and not make a fuss. While it seems completely normal to him that his son goes on adventures to the ends of the earth, as he wishes.
Without wanting to spoil the story, this type of behavior can have some pretty tragic consequences. And without going that far, it is always useful to be aware of these built-in mechanisms of sexism or misogyny. Yes, we have been so brought up in a patriarchal climate that we can even, as women, have completely unconscious sexist behaviors. It hurts to say it, but realizing it is also the first step towards breaking out of this vicious circle.
If this aura of mystery intrigues you, go to the bookshop to discover Katie Alender’s new novel!
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
