The Woman in the Lake by Nicola Cornick
About the book...
I see it all again: the silver moon swimming beneath the water and the golden gown billowing out about her…’
1765: Lady Isabella Gerard asks her maid to take her new golden gown and destroy it. Its shimmering beauty has been tainted by the actions of her husband the night before.
Three months later: Lord Eustace Gerard stands beside the lake looking down at the woman in the golden gown. As the body slowly rolls over to reveal her face, it’s clear this is not his intended victim…
1996: Fenella Brightwell steals a stunning gown from a stately home. Twenty years later and reeling from the end of an abusive marriage, she wonders if it has cursed her all this time. Now she’s determined to discover the history behind the beautiful golden dress…
My review...
The entangled web of history is a treasure chest of many secrets with artistic licence holding the key to create many wonderful stories. The Woman in the Lake is a compelling creation of such means. It's addictive nature was alluring and hypnotising and I was hooked from page one.
The writing style was spellbinding which lured me into a world of mystery and intrigue. I loved the dual time frames, with a single dazzling article, to connect and hold the two worlds together with a haunting passion. It was a stroke of wonder that kept me turning the pages in anticipation to find answers. The narrative was clever with twists and turns around every corner and just like that one dazzling article I was compelled by the story in a state of enchantment and excitement.
Character creation was another strong feature which worked remarkably well to bring the narrative to life and add additional highlights. Lady Isabella Gerard was a work of wonder and intrigue and my standout favourite amongst a glittering lineup of fascinating characters. The fact that her character profile is inspired by a colourful lady of history serves to elevate her likeness in my opinion and add additional layers to an already fascinating story.
I can't complement this story enough....it is spellbinding with a narrative that left me bewitched. If you don't already have this book on your radar then I suggest you quickly correct this oversight immediately and add it to your ever growing tbr mountains. It's not a book to be missed.
About the Author...
International bestselling author Nicola Cornick became fascinated with history when she was a child, and spent hours poring over historical novels and watching costume drama. She studied history at university and wrote her master’s thesis on heroes. Nicola also acts as a historical advisor for television and radio. In her spare time she works as a guide in a 17th century mansion.
