Successful city girl Rachel is happily living on her own in New York when she receives a letter. Although Rachel was adopted, it seems that she’s inherited some property by her birth family. The catch? It’s in Cornwall. Oh, and it’s haunted. I thoroughly enjoyed the back and forth storyline between Rachel in the present, and Alice as the nanny at “Winterbourne Hall.” I loved the suspense, the old-fashioned gothic influence, really everything about it. With most of the books I’ve read lately, this one also tries to pull one last twist in the final pages. Not necessary (in fact, it detracts a bit for me), but the book itself is work a read!

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

They wanted her land. She didn't want to give it. He made her fall in love with him. And then he labelled her a witch. She can hear the horses coming. She knows he has betrayed her. But if she is to die, it will be on her own terms and heaven help Ivan de Grey's family and the cursed land where he will build his enormous Gothic home, Winterbourne Hall. On the bluff overlooking the sea, where once a woman had lived, loved and died.

And so it stood in Cornwall in isolation, looking gloomy and slightly scary.

In 1947, Alice Miller is living in London but can't wait to get away. Memories of horrible things haunt her. When she sees the advert about a governess position at Winterbourne, she jumps at the chance. Her job will be to care for Captain Jonothan de Grey's children. Twins, a boy and a girl, 8 years old and motherless. 

Alice falls in love with the children as well as their father. The children seem to adore her but when they start behaving alarmingly like little demons and turn on her she is suspicious. The house seems to be cursed. When her one night with her boss leaves her pregnant and half-crazed, Jonothan tells her they are going to Paris. He drops her off with the nuns and hopes she will be safe there. 

In the present day, Rachel Wright, just opening her gallery has also just received a letter for solicitors that her Aunt Constance has died and left Winterbourne and everything to her, her niece. Rachel is stunned. She was adopted as an infant and has been searching for her mother for a long time. She sees this as a chance to find out what happened to her mother and who was her father?

The answers she finds are alarming and sad. The house itself is dark and foreboding and you just know there is a dead body or two waiting to be found!

There are multiple timelines here. And we hear Alice's and Rachel's and someone or something else. Something malicious that wants them all to die.

Rachel gets answers and decides to stay in Winterbourne. After all, they have destroyed the mirror and the house does seem lighter, but you can bet this isn't the end!

The timelines were a bit much but looking back, it was the only way the story could be told. And Oh what a story it is!

A good old fashioned ghost story! Witches, Curses, Women driven mad, Scary Children, I would say this one had it all!

NetGalley/March 17th, 2020 by Minotaur Books

This book falls clearly into the dark, gothic genre. As with so many books I have read lately it bounces back and forth between two time periods and two female story lines, and the two almost certainly end up being related. While I did enjoy the book I didn't love it. The development of Rebecca's story and her relationships with both men felt a little rushed and Alice's descent seemed to happen so quickly - after so much build up. I was compelled to keep reading so it clearly kept my interest and I was very intrigued by how the children would eventually impact the outcome for Alice. But what bothered me most was why "the woman in the mirror" was haunting the females of Winterbourne and not the males. But I cannot say more on that topic without spoiling part of the story. I am probably just overthinking it. Overall the book delivers an interesting story with characters that you connect with and a satisfying conclusion - one that I didn't see coming.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this expecting a haunting and atmospheric thriller in the same vein as Rebecca. I was not disappointed. It was haunting and suspenseful. The dual timelines made the story so much richer and I was really invested in Alice and Rachel's stories. If you like a gothic pageturner, this book is for you!

I would call this one a ‘throwback’ to my younger self, when I was obsessed with romantic, mysterious gothic novels that took place in the wilds of Cornwall. It has a dark and mysterious man who needs a governess, a naive and gullible young woman, a manipulative witch from the past, a smart career woman of today, a hot friendly neighbor, all mixed together to create a mystery that must be solved. Yep, all the pieces of yesteryear. It did the trick and made me turn pages, but I did have to stop myself from sighing over the melodrama yet... That’s the Point!

This was such an interesting novel! I love gothic settings, and creepy castles that seem to be a character themselves are an absolute treat.

There are three female POVs in this novel, although one only appears briefly at the beginning. The main POVs are Alice Miller, a woman in 1947 who accepts a job at Winterbourne as the governess to two young children; and Rachel Wright, who in present day is an art gallery curator in New York, who just learned she is sole heir to Winterbourne. The story goes back between Alice and Rachel, exploring something that could be horribly wrong with the manor. Particularly in Alice's POV, there is an issue of an unreliable narrator, as something seems to be inhabiting the bodies of those living at the manor--something malicious is ruining their otherwise idyllic life and twisting minds.

Truthfully, I really enjoyed the story until the last 10%--it would have otherwise been a solid 4 star read. But I really didn't like the explanation of what was causing the issues at the manor. In cases like this, I actually prefer no explanation--why can't the paranormal and creepy exist without a reason? There was also a really out-of-character moment that did not sit well with me.

If you're interested in creepy castles with paranormal elements and an unreliable narrator, consider picking this up!

For any lover of the gothic, this is your book. Winterborne Hall holds many secrets, chiefly those of the late Laura de Grey. When Alice Miller accepts a position as governess at Winterborne Hall for Captain de Grey's twins (yes, I immediately caught the Jane Eyre-esque connections), she begins experiencing some strange things, some with the children and some with different belongings that she inherited at Winterborne. Alice, like Jane Eyre, (probably my reason for my connections) begins to have feelings for Mr. Rochester--I mean Captain de Grey, and he becomes somewhat of an obsession for Alice.

What makes this novel so intriguing is the alternating point-of-view that has become so often utilized in literature today. However, the alternating perspective works perfectly, and is in demand here, because the perspectives range from Alice in 1947 to Rachel in 2018. Since Rachel was adopted, she has no heritage to claim, until she receives word that she has inherited a vast homestead on the cliffs near Cornwall in Polcreath. As she begins investigating her new home, she begins to unearth some mysterious pieces of information and letters that tell her what really happened in 1947.

This book actually made my heart race, and not because it is downright scary, but because it was simply just eerie. The characters were eerie, the house was eerie, and it just all made my skin crawl, in SUCH a good way. I absolutely loved the conclusion: fabulous. It definitely left me thinking. If you appreciate attention spent toward establishing the setting, pick this one up!

This was a very interesting novel with elements of older gothic books. It is set in two different times and I thought it was really intriguing and kept you interested.

I really enjoyed this atmospheric suspense! All the characters were quite mysterious too and I liked the pace that their stories unfolded. This is probably best for readers that like a slow build up, because it does take a bit to get to the core of the story.

The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James is a gripping, Gothic love story about obsession and madness. Set in a the rural Cornish countryside, the story's ominous atmosphere quickly drew me in and held my attention until the brilliant end.

Told in dual POV, I found both narrators, Alice and Rachel, to be complex, well-developed, interesting characters. James does a admirable job writing both women, but she excels when she writes Alice's sections. Throughout the book, the reader must question Alice's sanity, and the writer does such a fantastic job that you start to actually FEEL her madness seeping through the pages.

Magical realism + supernatural elements within thriller/mystery/suspense fiction is definitely a major genre this year, with many, MANY books releasing, but I thought The Woman in the Mirror stood out among the others. It felt original, the plot unique, and the themes are wonderfully enthralling. Is Winterbourne house haunted? Or is there something suspicious about the de Grey family? Is Alice insane? Or are her fears justified? I thought the ending did a wonderful job of tying up all the loose ends and many plot lines. I absolutely recommend this one!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

In 1947, Londoner Alice Miller accepts a post as governess at Winterbourne while desperately trying to escape her past transgressions. In present day New York, art gallery curator Rachel Wright has learned she is a descendant of the de Greys and heir to Winterbourne and desperately wants to discover who who ancestors are.

Nice gothic story. Good characterizations of its residents, big creepy mansion with a love lorn ghost on a sea swept landscape.

3.75☆

Odd. What a very odd book.

While this book hearkened back to the old 60's/70's Gothics, the writing was very clumsy and or the narration was very bland.

I couldn't tell if the Winterbourne house was cursed/not cursed/or simply from bad story-telling it just ended up being a whole bunch of coincidences.

I found the characters very one-note and or not memorable. The worst character or the most deranged character was Alice. One minute she seemed pretty sane and then the next she became an absolute psycho.

I feel that there is a story in this book but I don't think it was that well crafted to convey the Gothic imagery that the synopsis provoked.

The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James has all the right ingredients for an atmospheric English mystery: a gothic manor built high on a cliff, apparitions dressed in black, twin children who are equal parts beautiful and creepy, and of course fog and mist across the moors. This book follows two women who are drawn to Winterbourne Hall, but 70 years apart; one is trying to escape her past and the other is trying to discover hers. With gentle foreshadowing, the mysteries of Winterbourne are revealed in a well-paced manner. The ending was very satisfying (not happily ever after, but satisfying nonetheless). The reason this is not a 5 star instead of a 4 star review is because I felt there were a few parts that were a bit rushed. I also felt like the American character was using too many English references which made it feel slightly inauthentic. Overall a really great mystery/ghost story that I would recommend to anyone who likes a good atmospheric novel. I will be posting this review to my Bookstagram and companion Facebook page @thatreadingrealtor today. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for granting me access to this advance reading copy.

The Woman in the Mirror was a haunting story set in a moody, gothic oceanside estate in the English countryside. I love historical fiction novels that go back and forth between different times, and this book did just that, alternating between post WWII and present day.
While I didn't really care for the character of Alice the governess at all, I was still interested in the part she played as the secrets of the estate were revealed to Rachel in the present day. I'm not a fan of books that are too scary, and this story hit all the right notes for me in terms of spookiness, giving me chills more than once! The mystery unfolded at a nice pace, with a great twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly I wasn’t a fan of this one. It seemed like a good premise and the atmosphere was definitely dark, haunting and gothic but the action was ssssooooooo slooowwww. In fact there wasn’t any action. If I was explaining this book to someone else it would take me about 3 minutes to describe the entire book. I wouldn’t even call it a slow burn because that implies that action eventually happens. Not the book for me but I could see how others would enjoy it.

Rebecca James is a new author to this reader and hardly ever read gothic or dark thrillers. However, “The Woman in the Mirror" is a very creative and compelling story that captured my attention to the very end. The plot and scenery described were exceptional...i.e., the cliffside manor and moors. The author manages to draw the reader into the story from beginning to end. I got a feel of uneasiness and a bit of fear when reading which was excellent and what I thought was necessary to keep me captivated. The transition between the timelines were easy and I didn’t have a problem following.

Overall, this is typically not my cup of reading tea but somehow managed to be a nice comfy read for me.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.0 Stars

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. It simply blew my mind. I remember reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier as a young girl, and this book has some shades of it but with some chilling and horrifying twists. I am never buying a mirror or a painting from an antique shop now -that's for sure.
A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

For more than two centuries, Winterbourne Hall has stood atop of a bluff overseeing the English countryside of Cornwall.

In 1947, Alice Miller accepts a post as governess at Winterbourne, looking after Captain Jonathan de Grey's two children. When she arrives, she immediately falls in love with the house, the children, and the Captain. But then sinister things start happening to Alice. And the twins' adoration becomes almost hateful and they start believing that Alice is not to be trusted. As the weeks go by, the manor seems to be turning on her, it resents her and is clouding her judgment. Or is it? Can we trust Alice, a girl with a damaged past?

In present-day New York, Artist Rachel Wright learns that Captain Jonathan de Grey was her grandfather, and she's now the heir to Winterbourne. Rachel, who was adopted as an infant, travels to Cornwall to learn more about her identity. But what she finds is a horrible legacy that has haunted the de Grey family for over two hundred years.

The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James is a gripping Gothic story of love, obsession, and madness. Set in the rural Cornish countryside, the story's foreboding atmosphere quickly drew me in and held my interest until the last page. The story switches between the two timelines and is told from the perspectives of Alice and Rachel. I found Alice to be a very likable character. The author does a brilliant job of making the reader question Alice's sanity and making you feel like you're going crazy right along with her.
I really didn't care for Rachel's character in the beginning but warmed to her as the story progressed. With each chapter, more dark secrets come to light and the tension and suspense slowly build until we finally get some answers to the Winterbourne house. Is it haunted, or is there something wrong with the de Grey family? I really like how everything tied together and thought the ending was brilliant. I highly recommend this book, it's the perfect story to curl up with on a rainy day.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This kept my attention, and I appreciated the nods toward the classical gothic suspense (clear acknowledgment to Rebecca here). Enjoyed it mostly.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of "The Woman in the Mirror."*

"The Woman in the Mirror" is "Jane Eyre"/"Rebecca" with a paranormal twist. The book definitely conveys a feeling of uneasiness that is so characteristic of Gothic literature. Jumping between two timelines (really three but that is a bit beside the point) and two main characters. The book follows the lives of two women and their time in Winterbourne and how they are haunted by the women that came before.

Sarah Miller was brought to Winterbourne post WWII to serve as governess to the motherless 8 year-old twins of Captain De Grey. Decades later, Rachel inherits Winterbourne when her aunt Constance (one of the twins) passes away.

I ended up giving the book 3 starts for a few reasons, first and foremost, it was a bit too scary for me. I have a hard time with books with a paranormal story line that plays out too closely to children. Additionally, I felt that both the the paranormal and normal storylines could have been fleshed out a bit more. Reading the book felt like dipping your toes into a much more intricate story, and indeed, the ending suggests the pattern of this story will continue.

If you aren't as much of a scaredy cat as I am, you will love this book!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3125877570