Mirrorland
Ratings7
Average rating3.7
15
Ratings7
Average rating3.7
Told with startling twists and haunting power, Mirrorland is a thrilling psychological suspense novel about twin sisters, the man they both love, the house that has always haunted them, and the childhood stories they can't leave behind. Cat lives in Los Angeles, far from 36 Westeryk Road, the imposing gothic house in Edinburgh where she and her estranged twin sister, El, grew up. As girls, they invented Mirrorland, a dark, imaginary place under the pantry stairs, full of pirates, witches, and clowns. These days, Cat rarely thinks about their childhood home, or the fact that El now lives there with her husband, Ross. But when El mysteriously disappears after going out on her sailboat, Cat is forced to return to 36 Westeryk Road, which hasn't changed in twenty years. The grand old house is still full of shadowy corners, and at every turn Cat finds herself stumbling on long-held secrets and terrifying ghosts from the past. Because someone--El?--has left Cat clues: a treasure hunt that leads back to Mirrorland, where the truth lies waiting... A brilliantly crafted story of love and betrayal, redemption and revenge, Mirrorland is a propulsive, page-turning debut about the power of imagination and the price of freedom.
Reviews with the most likes.
The publisher provided me with the opportunity to read this in exchange for providing feedback. (via Edelweiss+)
I struggled a bit in the beginning to get into this but once the pace picked up for me it was a quick read. It didn't go the way I was anticipating (not a bad thing!) and I enjoyed the writing.
I'd like to thank Scribner for sending me a copy of Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone. This story was fantastically dark and magical. I enjoyed it so very much! Yes, I had many questions while reading this book, but as the book came to its end, everything was revealed in a shocking conclusion but I dare not spoil anything for anyone. Let me just say It was so worth it! If you enjoy a thrilling domestic story woven nicely together, you'll probably love Mirrorland just as I did.
Cat and El are twins. Cat lives in Los Angeles, El lives in the family home in Edinburgh, where as children they created their own fantasy called Mirrorland. El has disappeared and everyone presumes the worst except Cat who thinks she might be involved in an elaborate game. Mirrorland is such a quirky, unique book. It's full of surprises, genuinely inventive and a real page turner.
Absurdity
The synopsis I read of this book made it sound magical Aaaaaand interesting.
But it's actually just another bad thriller relying on nonsensical plot twists, the nonsense of false memories, and two women fighting over one possessive jerk. It's not that the prose itself was bad. It's that the characters were ridiculous, the plot was convolutedly and horrendously bad, and none of this would ever happen. I'm flummoxed that an editor didn't call out the complete nonsense of everything in this book.
Oh, well. At least I wasn't too bored?
