Fyneshade: A Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of 2023

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I really like how Griffin makes you doubt your need to get behind the lead character of Marta, she's just a complex creation that is brought to life brilliantly.

The north side of the manor has long been closed off, although Marta occasionally sees a servant entering a room. Initially, I admired Marta's strength and the way she dealt with Grace, and how she managed to hold her own in that chilly, cold house with all its secrets. I'm very lucky that my current work as press officer for a heritage charity allows me to visit and explore some amazing, inspiring places, including the wonderful Wiltons Music Hall in the East End. Tucked away in the heart of Derbyshire, I swear I could hear it’s walls thinking as Marta and Grace explored and exploited its secrets. Mrs Gurney (a character who I loved – and not just because she has the same surname of one of my best friends) was an enigma from the start – and it was a joy discovering her motivations as the tale unfolded.I was drawn to this book by the brooding, Gothic cover and blurb, then realised whilst reading that it was inspired by Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw – I won’t give away how, but readers of that story will spot the link!

The young girl is not at all what she expected and the house, Fyneshade, a mysterious and dark place, the staff mostly hostile. crashing down and she was at the receiving end of some of the tragedy she had previously been happy to dish out.I can already see the hype coming, and while I feel some books are so overhyped they’re set up for failure, this one can’t be overhyped, as far as I’m concerned.

I love the idea of knowing more about a classic character and their motivations, especially when they have a dark streak. She makes an effort with Grace when she discovers that Grace can be of help to her, but Grace, from the very beginning, seems to understand that Marta is not to be trusted. Griffin gives the reader an enthralling gothic horror tale that might just be a prequel to a certain Henry James novella. Marta very much looks down on the other characters in the book and her sense of superiority will not appeal to some readers.It’s a gothic horror so there were a few creepy scenes, but generally it was less scary than I had expected. The atmospheric writing cleverly twists and turns as we are drawn deeper into the story, and as she uncovers more about the family and the house.