The Death of Jane Lawrence: #bookreview

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling is a Gothic horror novel set in England following WWI. It almost seems like the book could be set in the Edwardian era because no one really mentions cars. Cars weren’t in mass production until 1913. The lack of transportation plays a key role in this novel.

Dr. Augustine Lawrence has agreed to marry Jane Shoringfield. His one condition of agreeing to marriage is that Jane can never visit his family manor, Lindridge Hall. It is an odd request but since their marriage is more of a business arrangement, they both agree to the terms.

Unfortunately, an accident has left Jane stranded at Lindridge Hall on their wedding night. Her new husband is acting as if he is hallucinating. He thinks she is a ghost that has come to punish him. She wonders what on earth is going on with him until she sees an apparition for herself.

At another point in the book, Jane believes that the ghost of Dr. Lawrence’s deceased first wife is haunting the manor. She is trying to do whatever she can to stop the hauntings – even if she has to resort to magic.

Jane is a bookkeeper. She believes in numbers, logic and science. However, Jane thinks that she can figure out the hauntings. Then her husband gets stuck behind a wall in the cellar so time is of the essence.

Will she save Dr. Lawrence? Is he even behind the wall? If he reappears will they change the sleeping arrangements?

If you like Gothic horror and historical fiction, then I think you will enjoy The Death of Jane Lawrence. The style is fairly similar to older Gothic horror novels, which is not an easy task. It can be difficult to stay historically accurate.

If you have phasmophobia, also known as the the fear of ghosts, then this book will scare the heck out you.

• I received the ebook from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Obviously.

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