My wish list is strewn with books written in recent years which fall into the historic/gothic genre, none of which I have so far managed to start. I want to; it just hasn’t happened. Bone China by Laura Purcell has finally got me over the starting line, courtesy of The Pigeonhole. This is my first book by Laura Purcell and hopefully it’s clear that I’m not well-versed in the work of modern gothic writers in general so what follows should be read with those caveats in mind. It’s also not easy to describe this book whilst avoiding spoilers but I can say with conviction that I loved it! An excellent choice to kick off my RIP XIV reads.
Formerly known as Esther Stevens, Hester Why is on her way to a new position in an isolated house on the Cornish coast. She wishes to disappear. But there is an accident as the coach pulls into Exeter and she is forced to reveal her nursing background in her attempts to save a man’s life. By the time she reaches her remote destination there are more questions raised than answered.
There are several story lines beyond Hester’s. Her own past is slowly revealed, as is the past of the lady she is now employed to care for, Miss Louise Pinecroft. Miss Pinecroft is very weak and almost mute thanks to a stroke some years ago. Her household includes her ward, Rosewyn, watched over by Creeda who has worked at the house since Louise first arrived with her father forty years before. Rosewyn is a child-adult. She carries a doll and wears her clothes inside out and Creeda runs a line of salt across the doorway to Rosewyn’s room – all to protect her from being “taken” as Creeda once was herself. Miss Pinecroft herself rarely leaves the china room. When she can be persuaded to sleep in her own bed she is locked in – a lock which records each entry and exit…
Integral to the various storylines is an insight into medical treatments and prevailing beliefs at the time. I was fascinated and repelled in equal measure by the medical and historical facts presented, which appear now as barbaric to our modern sensitivities but serve to anchor the book in time and place. The Cornish setting felt authentic, if extreme: bitterly cold and stark and a startling contrast to Hester’s previous life in London. And interwoven throughout is the folklore and superstition local to Morvoren House.
The beach wore a different aspect that morning. Louise felt she was seeing it for the first time. The grey rocks, hazed with moss and the droppings of birds, were ancient, unyielding as death. How arrogant it was for a mortal to strive against nature’s order. How utterly hopeless. The sick would die; the tide would come in.
The writing is gripping; the atmosphere is eerily tense, emphasised through Hester’s voice, the bleak desolation of a Cornish winter and the flipping back and forth through events past and present. Hester revealed just enough of her character and her past to have me questioning her reliability as a narrator, but despite what she felt about herself and despite her behaviour, I never disliked her and for the most part felt only sympathy for her. I found her well-rounded and plausible. There were clear reasons for her actions and her beliefs. The remaining characters felt less solid and certainly less reliable but that was no bad thing. I had no idea if there was anyone who could be trusted!
Throughout the story I was constantly second-guessing – revising my thoughts about who did what, what was true, who to believe, and how the pieces – and the people – truly fitted together. And the story seemed structured so that every guess I made seemed just that little bit more sinister than the one before. The end, when it came, was totally not what I expected and yet totally in keeping. Over the final few pages I began to realise what might happen and read with bated breath not daring to believe it until the very last sentence. For me at least, the ending felt right, though not from what I have read, for everyone.
Laura Purcell has written two previous gothic novels, both of which I would love to try. And there’s still the list of other recently-written gothic tales waiting their turn. I think now that I’ve read this one, it won’t be long before I start to tackle that list.
My thanks to Laura and to The Pigeonhole for making this book available to me.
A Corner of Cornwall 
Ooohhh, this book sounds delicious, Sandra! I love a good gothic thriller. Thanks for your review.
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It’s certainly got me wanting more of the same, Mary, especially at this time of year.
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A tantalising review, Sandra. Looks like I might need another name to the ever-expanding wish-list in the back of my diary.
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She’s certainly joined my list, Cath 🙂
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I have seen Laura Purcell on quite a few blogs recently. It seems that the few people, who are not reading Stephen King at the moment go for Purcell instead. Sounds like a great story and I am glad that Pigeonhole reading is working for you, I still haven’t tried it out.
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I’ve never read any Stephen King – I’m such a wimp! This one is less horror, more gothic. And It seems that I really like gothic. Who knew! 😀
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Intriguing – a mystery anchored in time and place, an somewhat unreliable narrator and a touch of the uncanny. A good one to recommend. Thanks, Cath!
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You’re welcome, Maria 🙂
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Well, this is an achievement on your part as gothic fiction is so not me, yet you’ve made me want to read this book. It’s on the list … though not on the actual pile yet.
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Ha ha, I have always said that gothic is not for me either. (Any more than crime is.) But it’s good to branch out and discover new things. List is good …. lists are less likely to topple over! 😂
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… but may eventually get torn up in frustration at never getting any shorter. It has been known in my case….
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In my case it’s ‘to-do’ lists that regularly get torn up. Surprising how little it matters too. All those things that apparently had to be done … the world keeps turning regardless 🙂
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Yes …..
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Ah yes, nothing like a bit of Gothic to set the spine tingling! You were very brave to read this without the porpy by your side. 🦔 Purcell’s books always sound great, including this one, but I fear I abandoned the only one I’ve tried – The Corset – because it was far too gory and blood-soaked for my tastes. and full of scenes of abuse. I prefer my horror to be a little more gentle! My favourite recent modern Gothic is probably The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware. 😱
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Mrs Westaway is one of those on my list which I WILL get to. Eventually. Thanks for the tip re The Corset; I definitely don’t want blood, gore or abuse so maybe I’ll try Purcell’s other book ahead of that one. And I’ll check it out carefully first. Bone China is not gory or abusive so might be easier on your nerves. I managed it very well without Porpy though if I really get into this genre, he may have to come and visit. Or send his brother… 🦔😁
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I recently DNFed Purcell’s first novel, one of my attempted RIP reads. Perhaps I’ll try again with this one — she may well have improved in the meantime.
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FictionFan disliked her other book, The Corset, so that’s a black mark against both her previous books. I shall give them a try but I’ll be prepared. Whether she’s improved remains to be seen!
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Another book set in Cornwall that sounds terrific!
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There are so many! 😀
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Can you see I added the ‘somewhat’ afterwards and forgot to check!
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I am always fiddling and leaving comments worse off than when they started! But the meaning was clear! 🙂
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I don’t think I’ve ever considered the sort of reading but, jeez, your review really intrigues me!
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To be fair, most things can be made to sound intriguing with judicious wording. I enjoyed this one certainly, but I’m a novice at this genre and there are other commentators who have not enjoyed her previous books. It’s good that we’re all so different in our tastes 🙂
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Sounds gripping, and your review sure set my spine a’tingling.
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A most thorough review
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I’ve just finished reading this and I enjoyed it too, though not as much as you, which is maybe because I’ve read some other very similar books recently. This was my first Laura Purcell book, but I do have a copy of her first one, The Silent Companions, and am looking forward to reading it.
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I am no doubt a little swayed by the Cornish setting, Helen, and because this type of book is new to me. I’m glad you enjoyed it though. What are the others you’ve read recently that you would recommend?
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It particularly reminded me of Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver, but also House of Glass by Susan Fletcher – both recently published gothic novels I’ve read in the last year.
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Thank you, Helen 🙂 I have Wakenhyrst here already and I love Susan Fletcher’s writing but hadn’t picked up on this one. It’s definitely on the list.
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Excellent that the Cornish setting here strikes you as authentic, Sandra, just one false note would collapse any novel’s credibility for me and probably for you too!
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It’s an exaggerated Cornish setting, Chris, but that felt in keeping with the nature of the book. I’m with you though, a jarring note bursts the bubble!
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Like Kerry and Margaret, I would not have thought to pick up this book, but I have found myself ordering it from the library – bravo on a cracking review!
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I wonder what you will make of it, Liz. It’s clearly not everyone’s cup of tea and I haven’t got much to compare it with but I enjoyed it very much!
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I decided to download a kindle version last night and am enjoying it so far, perhaps because it is so different from my normal reads (especially Whipple!).
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Yes! Very different to Whipple! We all need some variety 😁
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Indeed!
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Sounds very intriguing Sandra, I always like the sound of those gothic novels, although they don’t always live up to my expectations.
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I had no expectations for this one, Andrea, which is perhaps the best way to be. I’m currently reading something quite different for which I had huge expectations and I’m struggling with it as a result.
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Sounds intriguingly like a must-read. Thank you, Sandra.
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