Review of 'A Dreadful Splendor'

In this wickedly whimsical Gothic murder mystery brimming with romance, betrayals, and chills, a fake spiritualist is summoned to hold a séance for a bride who died on the eve before her wedding, but as nefarious secrets are revealed, the line between hoax and haunting blurs.

In Victorian London, Genevieve Timmons poses as a spiritualist to swindle wealthy mourners—until one misstep lands her in a jail cell awaiting the noose. Then a stranger arrives to make her a peculiar offer. The lord he serves, Mr. Pemberton, has been inconsolable since the tragic death of his beautiful bride-to-be. If Genevieve can perform a séance persuasive enough to bring the young lord peace, she will win her freedom.

Soothing a grieving nobleman should be easy for someone of Genevieve’s skill, but when she arrives at the grand Somerset Park estate, Mr. Pemberton is not the heartbroken lover she expected. The surly—yet exceedingly handsome—gentleman is certain that his fiancée was murdered, even though there is no evidence. Only a confession can bring justice now, and Mr. Pemberton decides Genevieve will help him get it. With his knowledge of the household and her talent for illusion, they can stage a haunting so convincing it will coax the killer into the light. However, when frightful incidents befall the manor, Genevieve realizes her tricks aren’t required after all. She may be a fake, but Somerset’s ghost could be all too real…

A Dreadful Splendor is delicious brew of mystery, spooky thrills, and intoxicating romance that makes for a ghoulishly fun and page-turning read.

Review

A Dreadful Splendor follows Genevieve, a fake spiritualist whose life is on the line. She is blackmailed into service to help a grieving man move on. However, the “grieving” man has his own plans.

Atmospheric

Myers did a fantastic job of capturing the gothic atmosphere with the storytelling. A crumbling castle on the seaside was exceedingly gothic and reminded me of Edgar Allan Poe’s “Annabel Lee.” And when the strange and unusual happen around the fake spiritualist, the reader begins to second-guess the events around her.

Seeing the story unfold ever so slowly is chilling and thrilling. Myer’s built up the rising tension with misdirection and snippets of information here and there. The additional journal entries of Audra were also a lovely touch. Genevieve is trying to solve a murder to save her own skin. And as that tension builds, so does the romance between Genevieve and Mr. Pemperton, who we learn had no romantic interest in Audra.

Excellent Character Development

The romance between the two characters begins curtly. She is trying to rob him and run away to save herself from the gallows while he knows exactly why she is there. While everyone thinks he is grieving, he is trying to solve a murder and enlists her help to do so. Thus begins an uneasy truce that blossoms into a genuine friendship that soon develops into a romance.

The development of their relationship came off effortlessly. It sounds as though it could be a cliché. Still, it works because there is this push between the characters and an eagerness between them to understand each other.

They fall into a friendship with ease, making their romance believable. This also allows both characters to face their dark pasts, reveal their secrets, and grow from them.

Genevieve still carries the loss of her mother on her shoulders, while he carries the loss of his mother. Both have been unable to move on, plagued by guilt. So, to see them move forward, rise above it and find love in those moments was touching.

Final Thoughts

An excellent gothic novel, A Dreadful Splendor has the perfect amount of romance and mystery to keep the reader entertained until the last unpredictable minute.

• Writing Quality : 9/10
• Character Development :9/10
• "Couldn't Put It Down"-ness : 9.5/10
• Intellectual Depth: 9/10
• Originality: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 4 out of 5.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband, son and daughter and their two cats.