This is an easy recommendation during spooky season but fans of gothic novels will enjoy it year round. The Jane Eyre and Rebecca influences are of course felt, but the fantasy setting and darker edge make it unique and fresh. It hits all the notes I want a gothic novel to hit.

The Death of Jane Lawrence wasn't quite what I expected, but I loved it nonetheless. The integration of magic into math and vice versa was fascinating. I was also fascinated following the autistic-coded main character, and I was on the edge of my seat to see what she (or the house) would do next.

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling is an eerie Gothic novel that blends romance, horror, and mystery in a story reminiscent of classic haunted house tales. The book follows Jane Shoringfield, a pragmatic young woman who marries Dr. Augustine Lawrence out of convenience, only to discover unsettling secrets about her new husband and his crumbling manor. The tension steadily builds, but the plot becomes overly complex and veers into confusing supernatural territory. While the book succeeds in mood and intrigue, the twists may disorient some readers. It is a solid choice for fans of Gothic horror who enjoy an intense, unpredictable read.

What to listen to while reading...
Heart Heart Head by Meg Myers
Blood in the Cut by K. Flay
Feral Love by Chelsea Wolfe
Holy by Zolita
6 Underground by Sneaker Pimps

Solid thriller/horror that kept me turning the pages well in to the night. Will definitely read more from this author in the future. Highly recommend!

This was so very interesting and thrilling! I couldn't put it down! If you love Gothic novels, then look no further than this. I recommend this book to horror and thriller fans alike.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review. I enjoyed the time I spent reading this book but I wouldn’t necessarily read it again. The pacing sometimes felt slow and I didn’t always feel connected to the characters.

OK....cue the music. The back story sounds reasonable, almost reasonable. Then the weather changes and the creepy music starts, telling me that something is going to happen and I'm going to jump when it does. The story is so well written, it pulls you in and shows you some things you'd really rather not see. Caitlin Starling is a new to me author, but she's obviously skilled....she certainly managed to make me jump several times.

This book was good but not great. I loved the atmosphere and the writing style, and yet something about it just felt lacking for me, I think many people can enjoy this, however it was just ultimately not what I wanted.

This was absolutely right up my alley and a book I will continue to recommend to readers of the horror and thriller genre. This is a book that I think will stay at the top of my recommendation rotation in the lirbary.

I do love a good gothic horror book and this one is exactly that.

Jane was a wonderful character. She makes her own decision at a time where women’s destiny are usually decided by me. She knows she doesn’t have a lot of prospects so she decides to make a marriage of convenience with Doctor Augustine Lawrence. The only condition to this marriage is that Jane must never visit the Doctor’s residence Lindridge Hall. We all know what is going to happen here. After an accident strands Jane at the manor is when things take a turn.

This is the kind of book that you expect a certain something from and then it takes you somewhere else completely. It was odd and made me wonder until the end. To be honest I’m still not sure of what happened 😂 and it’s not a bad thing. I like books that surprise you. If you enjoy weird gothic horror romances than this is for you.

This book started off strong. It sets the tone and creates a gothic atmosphere that I found immediately intriguing.
Unfortunately, the book really meanders in the middle. It really dragged and never felt like it delivered on it's promise.

This was just so twisted and creepy and weird and I loved it! It definitely won't be for everyone but it was for me.

I apprecitate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this a really interesting mystery and the characters are quite engaging. it kept me guessing until the end. I highly recommend.

I absolutely adore Caitling Starlings way with words, especially when she's leaning toward a more gothic vibe like in this one. THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE is a little slow to get into at the start, but it quickly picks up about 25% through and does not let up until the absolute end. The Shirley Jackson comps are ON POINT for this!! Perfect for fall or winter time reading, or anytime tbh, but something about curling up with a spooky gothic book like this is just so perfect for cold weather & a snuggle blanket with a warm drink on the side.

Also, can we talk about that cover? GORGEOUS.

I enjoyed this novel a lot! It was intriguing and pleasantly gothic. I can’t wait to buy myself a copy!

I will never not love a gothic twist of a book. For those vibes alone this book is excellent. There was some confusion in the beginning but otherwise this book had me questioning what was real in a good way.

This book was very enjoyable, if not quite what I was expecting. It was creepy and kept me on the edge of my seat; like Jane, I kept questioning everything and everyone about what was real and what was in her head.

I can see the similarity with Crimson Peak, but Jane seemed like a much stronger and more assured character.

This was my first book from this author, and I’m sure it will not be the last.

This book is more fantasy than horror. I came in expecting a horror novel in the vein of The Haunting of Hill House, with an essence of Jane Eyre. Instead, it was a book of magic, reminding me a bit of Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, but after graduation? And set in the Victorian era? (Or is it the Victorian era? The time and setting was confusing).

Secondly, I found Jane's character confusing. She is introduced one way and acts completely differently. I was disappointed in her, not because she fell in love, but because she fell in love so quickly when we were led to believe that was not in her nature at the start. She was not cold and calculating, but emotional.... which was disappointing after the introduction.

I skimmed quite a bit.

Really appreciated the horror elements (especially all the scares and gore!). However, the story itself was a bit too meandering for me and lost me by the end. I adored The Luminous Dead so I'll continue looking forward to what Caitlin Starling writes.

Where do I begin?
I was given this book from NetGalley a while ago, and somehow it is now that I am reviewing it. "The Death of Jane Lawrence," was, for me, a 2.5. It was not a bad book, however, I found that it did not capture my attention the way that I had hoped it would. So much so, that it took me far longer than I intended to finish it. I enjoyed the character Jane, very much in the beginning, but as I progressed through the story, I found myself not believing nor understanding some of her choices. The ending was for me predictable, but throughout the story the author did a great job bringing in small pieces of information that I would not have expected. I have not read a great deal of the modern gothic/horror novels, but I think that this book is a great entry point for readers if they would like to read this genre. Caitlin Starling will definitely be an author that I would love to try again, and I am looking forward to reading her next work.