20181128_171853.jpgHappy Wednesday! I wasn’t going to blog today because it’s my birthday, but I couldn’t keep myself away!  Today I have a review of The Woman in the Lake by Nicola Cornick, a new historical fiction title publishing in February 2019 via Graydon House/Harlequin Books.

My Thoughts:

I read my first book by author, Nicola Cornick, The Phantom Tree (review), just a couple months ago. Thanks to my dear friend, Stephanie, for the recommendation for this author. After that breathtaking experience, I couldn’t wait to read The Woman in the Lake. It held up! 

There are three narrators in The Woman in the Lake. Lady Isabella and her maid, Constance, both in the 1700s, and Fenella, in the present day.

Lady Isabella‘s husband is ruthless and abusive. Constance does her best to care for her, but there is only so much she can do. Fenella has a problem with taking what is not hers. There is a loose thread that spans from past to present that ties these women together, and how that joins them is part of mystery held within these pages.  

The Woman in the Lake is rich with themes of jealousy and revenge in times of decadent living and the society life. The characters are complex and feel both  natural and realistic. They also elicit strong feelings: I adored Lady Isabella and despised her evil husband. Affairs, plenty of darkness, and a fast-paced clip kept the story moving. There is also a supernatural element that is part of Cornick’s signature. 

I found the story to be chilling and suspenseful, even more than I expected, and the historical backdrop of Georgian England was quite charming. Everyone has his or her flaws, and the characters were what really made this story, especially Lady Isabella and Fenella. 

Thank you to the publisher for complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own. 

Synopsis:

In the tradition of the lush historical dramas of Kate Morton, Philippa Gregory and Barbara Erskine, USA TODAY bestselling author Nicola Cornick’s The Woman in the Lake is a delicious tale of jealousy, greed, plotting and revenge that spans the generations between decadent Georgian society and present day.Discover why Publishers Weekly calls Nicola Cornick “a rising star”–watch for The Woman in the Lake, coming soon from Graydon House.

Have you read The Woman in the Lake, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR