London, 1919: a city of ghosts and absences, haunted by the men who marched away but never came back. 'A poignant and readable mystery' THE TIMES Grace Armstrong believes that she has come to terms with her own loss, the death of her dazzling fiancé who was declared Missing in Action. But soon he starts to reappear both in her waking life and dreams. To make matters worse, a body, dragged from the Thames, is identified as Elizabeth Smith, who lodged with Grace and her family for the last eight years before suddenly disappearing. Elizabeth had been more than a lodger; she had become a close friend to Grace, who feels compelled to uncover the true circumstances of her death. In doing so, she is drawn reluctantly into the sordid and dangerous underbelly of London and a scandal that rocked Edwardian society. Will Grace find the answers she so desperately craves, or will she lose herself in the search? ******************** Praise for The Lodger 'A deliciously Gothic page-turner' BEST 'A gripping historical mystery' A. J. WEST '[Helen Scarlett] has a gift for pulling readers into the twists and turns of her story' SUNDAY TIMES 'A devastating reveal and a tangled web I won't forget' AMANDA GEARD
Reviews with the most likes.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Gorgeous cover on this book.
The Lodger by Helen Scarlett is a gripping and haunting gothic tale set in post-World War I London. When the body of Elizabeth Smith, a lodger who had become a dear friend to Grace, is found in the Thames after disappearing suddenly, Grace is drawn into the dangerous underbelly of London to uncover what happened to Elizabeth.
Despite my usual aversion to novels set during wartime, I was thoroughly engrossed in this book. The author did a fantastic job of capturing the atmosphere and era with vivid descriptions, and the mystery itself was well-crafted and kept me intrigued until the end.
While I enjoyed the characters and found them well-developed and likable, I felt that the romance between Grace and Tom was a weak point in the story. However, as someone not currently invested in romance novels, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.
Overall, The Lodger is an excellent read for fans of historical fiction with its captivating plot and realistic portrayal of post-war London.
ARC Via NetGalley
