Publishers Weekly
12/09/2019
James’s haunting, if flawed, debut centers on a mysterious manor, Winterbourne Hall, on the coast of Cornwall. In 1947, Alice Miller arrives at the house as a governess to care for the twin children of Jonathan de Grey, a moody and handsome widower who was injured during WWII. At first, Alice thinks of the placement as idyllic, but as she learns more about the family, she discovers deep and disturbing secrets. The house seems to come alive, too, and the spirits that inhabit it want her gone. Meanwhile, in the present day, New Yorker Rachel Wright, who was adopted and never knew her birth family, is surprised to learn of an inheritance from unknown English relatives—ruined Winterbourne Hall. After she arrives in Cornwall, Rachel becomes enthralled by the house and its history. Unfortunately, the plot stumbles with a too neat ending involving characters who arrive late to the story. Until then, the author maintains a scary and atmospheric mood, and the descriptions of the house and the surrounding landscape are stunning. Readers will be eager to see what James does next. Agent: Madeline Milburn, Madeline Milburn Literary (U.K.). (Mar.)
From the Publisher
"A gorgeous mansion thick with ghosts, enchanting children, a dangerously mysterious master of the house—THE WOMAN IN THE MIRROR has it all. Not since THE TURN OF THE SCREW has a governess encountered so much glorious Gothic malevolence. A deliciously atmospheric read that causes the hair on the back of the neck to stand up as something rustles in the shadows in the corner…read it with all the lights on." —New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn
"Haunting, unnerving, infused with atmosphere, dread and secrets...the perfect Gothic thriller." —New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick
“As dark and twisted as the creeping vines of malevolent wallpaper presiding over the governess's haunted bedroom, The Woman in the Mirror draws from classic horror sources to devise a sinister tale entirely of Rebecca James's devising. Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Susan Hill are echoed here, but the intertwined modern and historical plots make for a uniquely riveting tale.” —Lyndsay Faye, author of The Gods of Gotham
"Like a modern day Turn of the Screw, this book draws you in and slowly chills you. It's beautiful and spooky. I loved it!" —Christi Daugherty, author of The Echo Killing
“...a dark treat of a book, steeped in Gothic detail and heavy with unease.” —Kate Riordan, author of The Stranger
"...elegantly written and deliciously creepy.” —Emylia Hall, author of The Thousand Lights Hotel
“Deliciously sinister...” —Nicola Cornick, author of The Phantom Tree
“Brilliant, addictive and superbly gripping.” —Kate Furnivall
"The Woman in the Mirror is a creepily enthralling tale." —Shelf Awareness
"James (Sweet Damage, Beautiful Malice) pens a delectably creepy tale. If Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre had a baby, it would be this well-crafted Victorian Gothic mystery." —Library Journal (starred review)
"Atmospheric and gloomy … This thrilling gothic endeavor keeps the pages turning with tense scenes and lush depictions.” —Booklist
“Haunting … Readers will be eager to see what James does next.” —Publishers Weekly
“An innovative take on Henry James’ Turn of the Screw.” —The Palm Beach Post
