House of Shades, Lianne Dillsworth
House of Shades, Lianne Dillsworth
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House of Shades
A Novel

Author: Lianne Dillsworth

Narrator: Sara Novak

Unabridged: 8 hr 1 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Harper

Published: 07/16/2024

Synopsis

In this dark, immersive tale steeped in atmosphere and drama, the author of Theatre of Marvels returns to Victorian London to tell the story of a young Black female doctor’s dangerous quest to find the truth that unearth the secrets of the past. London, 1833.Doctress Hester Reeves has been offered a life-changing commission.But it comes at a price. She must leave behind her husband and their canal-side home in Kings Cross and move to Tall Trees—a dark and foreboding house in Fitzrovia.If Hester can cure the ailing health of its owner, Gervaise Cherville, she will receive payment that will bring her everything she could dream of.But on arriving at Tall Trees, Hester quickly discovers that an even bigger task awaits her. Now she must unearth secrets that have lain hidden for decades – including one that will leave Hester’s own life forever changed. . . .

About Lianne Dillsworth

Lianne Dillsworth has MAs in Creative Writing and Victorian Studies and won a place on the London Library Emerging Writers Programme. She was first runner up in the 2020 SI Leeds Literary Prize for Black and Asian Women Writers in the UK. Lianne lives and works in London. Her debut novel, Theatre of Marvels, was published to high acclaim. House of Shades is her dazzling second novel.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Emma on February 28, 2024

I found this story strangely flat. On reading the blurb and seeing the cover, I expected a gothic and atmospheric read, but I didn’t feel that either the writing or story delivered. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.......more

Goodreads review by Rachel on December 06, 2023

House of Shades is well written with developed and believable characters, a plot filled with twists and turns, and there are lots of positives here - my only complaint and the reason for the 2 star review? I was simply bored throughout. Now that doesn’t mean others will be bored reading this, I thin......more

Goodreads review by Nads on January 20, 2024

This book wasn't what I expected. The description made it sound as though it was going to be more of a gothic, almost supernatural/historical fiction novel. It became obvious as I read that where the house held secrets, it was the family itself that held the secrets. This is a story of an ailing sla......more

Goodreads review by Dan on May 15, 2024

The year is 1833. London. Doctress Hester Reeves has been offered a commission which won’t merely change her own life, but will shape the future of her dear sister, and her loving and patient husband. But she must be careful should she take on what is being offered, for every nerve in her body will b......more

Goodreads review by Kim on May 07, 2024

3 1/2 stars In Victorian London a young doctor is hired to care for a dying man - unusual because the doctor is female and Black. Hester has her own reasons for taking the job mainly one of protecting her sister and stays even when she discovers why her patient chose her. Suffering from night terror......more

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