Book Review: "The Two Deaths of Lillian Carmichael" by Paulette Kennedy

Check out my review of The Devil and Mrs Davenport by Paulette Kennedy here:

I bloody love the books of Paulette Kennedy. She is one of those authors whose books can definitely be described as the 'modern gothic'. Her books often contain some sort of folklorish or supernatural element which creates tension and involves the reader in the story more rather than simply being a plot device for fear. Supernatural elements having a function in the story are definitely difficult to write but when done well, they can really bring us into the story - making the novel feel almost like an urban legend. From The Witch of Tin Mountain to The Artist of Blackberry Grange and The Devil and Mrs Davenport, this is a recurring idea in Paulette Kennedy's books and ever since I read The Witch of Tin Mountain, I knew I adored her books. The Two Deaths of Lillian Carmichael is yet another modern classic she has written. I implore you, if you love the modern gothic then you must read Paulette Kennedy's books.

Lillian Carmichael is in prison and praying for the next morning, she's to be hanged for the murder of her sister - something she maintains she did not do. But once she's hanged and her coffin is placed in the family vault alongside her sister, something weird happens. She wakes up. Paulette Kennedy gives us an astounding opening few chapters in which we don't really know what to think, but we must read on as Lillian claws and pushes her way out of her coffin, basically rising up from the grave. But then, in order to protect her family, she must disguise herself as it might go around that someone has seen a woman who was meant to be dead, walking the streets in the middle of the night.

But that isn't all. Chapters that turn up now and again feature dead women, drained of their blood. Lillian witnesses the finding of some of the bodies and is thoroughly disgusted. Many people don't know what to think but it is clear that a vampire has been passing by and it's only a matter of time before someone sees him, and someone sees Lillian. The whispers on the street speak of a woman who has come back from the dead and Lillian hears them mutter. Lillian's sister's best friend gasps when they brush by each other, but it is unclear whether she recognised the 'dead' prisoner. Lillian's moves through the world must be secret and silent, but as the whispers grow louder and Lillian's father dies - there's another burial set for the family vault. That's when they discover Lillian's broken and empty coffin.

Paulette Kennedy's writing will quite literally leave you breathless with atmosphere. It is a brilliant mixture of supernatural and thriller literature in which the gothic, especially American Dark Romanticism, makes a huge appearance throughout. It almost feels like an Anne Rice novel with all of its charm and wonder, and it is also festering and dark. I love the way Paulette Kennedy writes and this book should not be skipped over if you want to discover her many talents.

Finding the real killer will prove difficult since these murders and the supernatural element to them means that suspicion really does turn to Lillian. But when she meets Kate and tries to reinvent herself entirely, she feels like the walls might close in around her at any moment. But what of this vampire and is he really a vampire? What kind of man goes around prowling for women in the dead of night and, could he be getting closer to Lillian? Or is Lillian getting closer to him?

Paulette Kennedy's novels are ripe with the gothic, often coated in strange romances and complete with tons of vivid and intense atmosphere. Scenes are often filled with existential crises and the way in which she writes makes you picture a scene so completely, you can feel the 19th century Southern American vibe being injected into your very bones. This is another brilliant novel from one of the world's most convincing dark storytellers. If you are thinking of reading a modern gothic written by a woman then please consider the novels of Paulette Kennedy.