Pages: 293
Published: 2nd February 2023
Genre: Historical/Gothic Fiction
Content warnings: Gore, injury detail
At The Mercury Theatre in London’s West End, rumours are circulating of a curse. It is said that the lead actress Lilith has made a pact with Melpomene, the tragic muse of Greek mythology, to become the greatest actress to ever grace the stage. Suspicious of Lilith, the jealous wife of the theatre owner sends dresser Jenny to spy on her, and, desperate for the money to help her family, Jenny agrees.
What Jenny finds is a woman as astonishing in her performance as she is provocative in her nature. On stage, it’s as though Lilith is possessed by the characters she plays, yet off stage she is as tragic as the muse who inspires her, and Jenny, sorry for her, befriends the troubled actress. But when strange events begin to take place around the theatre, Jenny wonders whether the rumours are true and fears that when the muse comes calling for payment, the cost will be too high.
The theatre provides a backdrop like no other, with the opaque walls of reality often peeling away into translucence and giving rise to some of the world’s most longstanding superstitions. The very essence of that is captured thoroughly in this thrilling, dark masterpiece of a book where the author wrings out every possible ounce of atmosphere and eeriness from an exquisitely unsettling plot.
Across the staging of four suitably haunting plays, the fear factor is dialled up to the maximum and the Gothic vibes are everywhere we look as the growing dilemmas of a winsome protagonist occupy our thoughts, filling the air with a deep sense of foreboding. It is all-consuming, with supernatural elements and the merciless hand of the Muse of tragedy leaving an indelible imprint for weeks and months after the final page has been turned.
At first the plot seems relatively straightforward and everything points to there being little in the way of ambiguity about the characters. Living in the mind of the well intentioned and principled Jenny, it is easy to take sides and make up our minds about certain cast members very early on, but as we dig deeper we discover that the dynamic is not entirely what we are initially led to believe.
It is both intriguing and perversely thrilling to see Jenny caught in the middle of a battle of wits between the two women she works for, and the gradual escalation of events along with the divided loyalties that arise, create endless amounts of suspense. Ultimately Sylvia will go to any lengths to get total revenge on Lilith, who will in turn stop at nothing to achieve acting stardom, and the fact both of them need Jenny’s help to get there is one of the things which makes this book irresistible.
The truth is, however, that everybody in the story is powerless to avoid the fate dealt upon them by Melpomene herself. Here she is depicted as a chilling entity who leaves chaos and bloodshed in her wake by means of the watch that Lilith inherits, falling under its hypnotic, malevolent spell. As we near the end of each act it is clear that the plot is building up to something tragic and it does not disappoint, but be warned, there are some rather gruesome deaths to be had.
As a concept it is totally ingenious, just like the execution. The human element is what really gets you involved as the characters – even the supporting players – are so well crafted and brought to life, but the whole atmosphere and feel of it gives everything that extra urgency you as the reader are looking for. And although the page count is relatively low, not a word is wasted with interesting sub-plots revealing multiple layers of deceit.
Jenny is the first person narrator and she is fantastic protagonist; very honest and well meaning with a clear sense of right and wrong, but she also has a pretty sharp tongue and is not afraid to call people out for their misdemeanours. Her reaction upon meeting Lilith for the first time is priceless and it is similarly gratifying to see her treat the stuck-up Georgiana with such withering indifference.
A striking aspect of reading from Jenny’s point of view is that her morals are not shared by many of the other characters – indeed she is the saint surrounded by a bunch of liars and schemers who all try to take advantage of her kindness, whether it be the adulterous Guv’nor, her unscrupulous brother Greg, or the very persuasive Mrs Dyer. The internal dilemma that Jenny feels so often in this book is incredibly tangible.
The development of her relationship with Lilith in particular is powerful, as roles become reversed and Lilith is the one who ends up being vulnerable and in need of support, forcing Jenny into a fragile balancing act to keep everyone on side. All the while, goings on inside the theatre become increasingly shocking and the stakes are raised as Melpomene continues to strike.
Lilith is unlikable to begin and although she forever has her flaws, once you get to know her, you can appreciate her more. The stubborn determination she has is in stark contrast to the cowardly Guv’nor, who is polite but condescending. Greg and Georgiana are just as shallow as each other, and as for Mrs Dyer, well let us just say that there is a lot more beyond her caring, generous exterior.
The other actors and backstage crew are also engaging to read, especially Oscar, who for a lot of the story is Jenny’s only real confidant and the two end up growing close. There is also an affection between Anthony Frost and his dresser Silas, which is subtle but quite moving to read, with the latter especially having such a strongly defined personality despite only appearing for a relatively short time.
Whether it is being able to imagine the dark corridors and inner workings of a theatre, or feeling overcome by the hauntings of Melpomene, the setting is captivating. The place feels cursed, like death is perpetually hanging in the air – a mood that is emphasised by the two tragic occasions when Jenny brings her siblings Dorcas and Bert along to see a show. As in several of her other books, the author is able to conjure spookiness and gloom so effortlessly.
Her writing this time around is more compact and takes place on a smaller scale with less of a focus on mystery, and it is a formula which pays off spectacularly. A lot of famous literary works are used as inspiration, but this story is very much her own and every chapter is evocative. And as for the ending, well who would expect anything less when Laura Purcell is around?
Overall, if this book was a thespian it would be the ultimate scene stealer; a tour de force that has the audience transfixed to the stage and rising to universal acclaim once the final curtain comes down. With superbly drawn characters, a darkening tension that builds to a crescendo, and a riveting plot, contemporary Gothic fiction does not get much better or more memorable than this.
This book had me utterly spellbound. I am a huge fan of Laura Purcell’s books but this truly was a masterpiece – my favourite full-length read of 2024 so far.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stephen Reads Books 