At a Glance

Title: The Women in the Mirror

Author: Therese Anna Fowler

Expected Published: March 17, 2020 by Minotaur Books

Page: 368

Genre: Gothic Fiction, Mystery

Goodreads Rating: 3.87 out of 5

My Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis

“For more than two centuries, Winterbourne Hall has stood atop a bluff overseeing the English countryside of Cornwall and the sea beyond.

In 1947, Londoner Alice Miller accepts a post as governess at Winterbourne, looking after Captain Jonathan de Grey’s twin children. Falling under the de Greys’ spell, Alice believes the family will heal her own past sorrows. But then the twins’ adoration becomes deceitful and taunting. Their father, ever distant, turns spiteful and cruel. The manor itself seems to lash out. Alice finds her surroundings subtly altered, her air slightly chilled. Something malicious resents her presence, something clouding her senses and threatening her very sanity.

In present day New York, art gallery curator Rachel Wright has learned she is a descendant of the de Greys and heir to Winterbourne. Adopted as an infant, she never knew her birth parents or her lineage. At long last, Rachel will find answers to questions about her identity that have haunted her entire life. But what she finds in Cornwall is a devastating tragic legacy that has afflicted generations of de Greys. A legacy borne from greed and deceit, twisted by madness, and suffused with unrequited love and unequivocal rage.”

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My Thoughts

The Women in the Mirror is a gothic tale with both mystery and some spooky aspects. The story is broken into two parts and is told through the view point of Alice Miller in 1947 and Rachel Wright in the present day. The gothic stay of the story and the creepy atmosphere of Winterbourne really sucked me into the story.

The story itself centers around the Winterbourne estate which has been apart of the De Grey family since the early 1800’s and is built on a bluff that overlooks the ocean. The house itself is massive and draws inspiration from a number of time periods, however the house and by association the family has generated a reputation for being a little ‘weird’.

In 1947, Alice Miller takes a governess position for the De Grey twins. She immediately feels attached to not only the children but also to the house, the family, and the twin’s father Captain De Grey. As Alice starts to unravel, we can’t help but wonder if they house is really a friendly place.

Fast forward to the present, Rachel Wright, adopted at a young age, comes to own Winterbourne. She’s determined to find answers about her birth mother. Rachel soon finds the family she always wanted and a place to belong. But will Winterbourne let her keep her happiness?

Personally I felt that I enjoyed Rachel’s POV more than Alice’s. Mainly because I found Alice to easily swayed and slightly fanciful. However, the back and forth between the characters flows nicely and I was constantly guessing as to the mystery behind Winterbourne. Anyone who enjoys a good mystery mixed with superstition will enjoy this book, ★★★★.

This book comes out March 17th! If you think you’d like to read this book, get your copy HERE!

I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on The Women in the Mirror. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books. Huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my advance copy of the book. All opinions are my own.  

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