QUICK TAKE: as a HUGE fan of THE LUMINOUS DEAD, I was really looking forward to the latest from Caitlin, but unfortunately, while I really dug the opening of this book, I ended up DNF'ing the last 50 pages. The mystery never really took off for me and I found myself bored with characters and confused as to what their motivations were. I liked the idea of exploring magic and science the medical field in that time period, but it just never came together for me. Still interested in reading additional books by the author, thoough.

I expected more from this book after reading the glowing reviews, but it was boring to me. Try it for yourself. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

The Death of Jane Lawrence takes many gothic fiction tropes and twists them into something new and intriguing. There is a dark and stormy manor, a marriage of convenience/slow burn romance, spirits, pschological spirals - and of course magic and body horror - but the atmosphere and tone is much more creepynand chilling than gruesome. I enjoyed being in Jane's head as she figured out her puzzles and equations and mysteries. Overall just a really terrific Gothic horror fantasy!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for letting me read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you read one spooky book this fall make sure this is it!! I am so happy to see Gothic Horror is making a comeback, and man is this one a Gothic delight. This is probably the closest thing I've read to a Classic Gothic Horror (Frankenstein, Dracula) written in the modern era (and I've read A LOT). I was pretty much in love with this story, it had all the wonderful macabre delights, combined with the dark romantic undertones, the madness (oh the madness!) and the strange unearthly surrealism that makes you wonder if things really do go bump in the night...

The pace is fast right from the start, the story wrapping you up in its mysterious gothic clutches, all dark brooding and romantic with shocks of cringe worthy blood soaked moments - then it crosses over into pure haunting and mind-bendy magical mayhem, before its final strange and dark supernatural finale (still dripping in brooding gothic vibes). Along with the classics (especially Frankenstein) mentioned above it had a little hint of the mind-bendy-ness of Turn of the Screw (Is she or isn't she crazy? Is there or isn't there a ghost? Who's really haunting who?), and a dab of otherworldliness ala Lovecraft and VanderMeer. You may want to keep the lights on when reading this one at night....

I highly highly recommend this book. It has all the ahhhs, ooohs, chills and cringes. It's beautiful and horrific, and pretty close to being the perfect Gothic Horror novel. Perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic and Crimson Peak.

**Thank you so so much to both Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!**


**Partial maybe/kind of? Spoiler below:**

I will say this though, about 2/3 of the way through we enter a portion of the story where its obvious the narrator is descending into madness, and for me this part of the book went on way too long, its hard for me to feel any tension or intensity for things happening when we know our narrator is not to be trusted at this time. It sort of takes the wind out of the sails of everything they are seeing, doing, and thinking - so I was happy when it finally moved on from this portion and I felt like the suspense and intensity rekindled and I once more could not book the book down.

***Warning for potential spoilers, read further at your own risk***

"If the practitioner knows that magic is possible, then the practitioner can change the rules by which the world functions. But that knowing extends beyond belief, extends beyond mere acceptance. Magic must be a part of the practitioner’s every waking moment. It is an altered state of being.” Is it magic or is it madness? If you like Gothic Horror or weird books in general then just go ahead and preorder a copy of The Death of Jane Lawrence, trust me.

I enjoyed Caitlin Starling's writing style in 'Luminous Dead' but was pleasantly surprised to see that this new book was a completely different genre than her last. This book opens with Jane Shoringfield desperately trying convince Dr. Augustine Lawrence that a marriage of convenience could be beneficial to both. Yet there is a peculiar condition on his part. So the stage is immediately set for an unusual, eerie, twisted tale to come. The first half of the book is somewhat slow with character development but when the oddities crank up, the book really gets moving. Lindridge Hall is appropriately creepy. Although I didn't find the ghosts scary per se, some of the descriptions are mildly gory and the characters are believable. I enjoyed every bizarre moment of this book.

The Death of Jane Lawrence is a gothic Donnie Darko, a fantastic tale of fractured reality and impossibility. "This Crimson Peak-inspired story assembles, then upends, every expectation set in place by Shirley Jackson and Rebecca, and will leave readers shaken, desperate to begin again as soon as they are finished." I love gothic horror so much. I simply cannot describe accurately my excitement at being approved for an egalley review copy from St. Martin's Press.  Thank you so much. This book releases Oct 19th.

This one was intense and weird and Gothic and eerie and fascinating... There were several bits where things dragged on for me. Tthe descriptions of ritual steps started to feel as heavy in the read as they did for Jane herself at times, but the overall story arc was original and engaging and I was always curious to see how it would all play out.

I have seen this book pitched as a cross between Rebecca and The Haunting of Hill House and that would be my take as well. Jane is practical - she needs a husband but doesn't care for the romance. Independent and smart, she doesn't want a life tied to housekeeping and raising children. The handsome but tragic Doctor Lawrence fits the bill and accepts her proposal with one condition. She must stay at the doctor's office in town and never come to his dreary estate house. This wouldn't be a gothic tour de force if Jane stayed put and never caught a whiff of the dark and sinister going ons at the house at night as well as what it is doing to the good doctor. There is also the small matter of Elodie, a very haunted house and dark magic. This will appeal to those lovers of classic horror like Frankenstein as well as readers of gothic thrillers that feature unconventional women taking matters into their own hands for better or worse. Best read under the covers and not in a creaky old house.
My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Genre: Gothic Horror, Fantasy, Psychological Thriller 
Release Date:
For Fans Of: Mexican Gothic, Year of the Witching
Rating: 4/5

Caitlin Starling is back, and "The Death of Jane Lawrence" is a stark contrast to her 2019 novel sci-fi psychological horror "The Luminous Dead" (which is absolutely worth a read).

The novel's fictional setting, which feels like late 1800s Europe, reels in the wake of a brutal conflict that parallels World War I. Protagonist Jane Shoringfield is an orphan, sent to live in the town of Larrington with adoptive caretakers Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham. Years later, the couple decide to move to a new city and offer to bring Jane along, promising to pay her room and board. Jane, now fully grown, instead sees this as her queue to establish her independence.

While uninterested in romance or sex, Jane sees marriage as her most reasonable way to remain in Larrington without the support of the Cunninghams. She makes a list of bachelors with certain qualities - most notably those that share her impartiality to physical and emotional intimacy - Dr. Augustine Lawrence, Larrington's sole surgeon. She proposes to him a business arrangement: she will use her gift for mathematics to run the books at his surgery, and neither will require physical or emotional intimacy from the other. The doctor has a stipulation for her, however: she is never to visit his home, the decrepit Lindridge Hall outside of town. Especially not after dark.
It doesn't take long for their arrangement to fall apart.

Jane is everything you could want in a good protagonist. She's determined and calculated - a woman of action. As a mathematical prodigy, she functions on reason and order. This need to rationalize her problems comes into conflict when she is challenged by a world of ghosts and magic that may not have a rational explanation.
The Death of Jane Lawrence's plot begins to glow during the second act, when Jane uses her mathematical genius to analyze and document the supernatural occurrences around her. Similar to Karen Gillian's role in Mike Flannigan's (The Haunting of Hill House) 2013 horror film "Oculus," Jane treats the supernatural as if it is simply science yet to be discovered.

The novel telegraphs some of its twists, but will catch you off guard in the way they are executed. One of the most rattling reveals is delivered via a single sentence scribbled on a piece of note paper, and it froze me in my seat for a moment.

The story's supernatural entities (not much more can be said without revealing too much) are breathtakingly described, and I would certainly love to revisit their world as well as this alternate Europe in another novel.

The Death of Jane Lawrence is a gothic horror with unexpected twists and an unsettling atmosphere.

Jane Lawrence convinces the town doctor to marry her as a business transaction between them. The parameters are set, and the wedding commences, seeing as the arrangement is beneficial to both of them. But soon afterward, Jane finds herself wondering who she married. Why must Augustine sleep at his ancestral home every night? What haunts him within those walls?

Caitlin Starling has created a well-crafted masterpiece of slow, building dread. This novel epitomizes the gothic genre. There is a tone here of many influences, ranging from Crimson Peak to the Area X trilogy and back again to Shirley Jackson.

A sustainable dread builds. Something here is very, very wrong. The best part is that Jane is no wilting flower. She is her own savior, being an intelligent, well-educated, and logical woman. That's not to say there isn't a touch of romance, because there is, and it is surprising as well as perfectly sprinkled at just the right points in the plot.

The Death of Jane Lawrence is a marvelously creepy, scintillatingly gothic novel for any genre fan. (Also, that cover is gorgeous!)

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling was a mind-blowing, psychological thriller that pulled me in with the first sentence and has still not let me go. To be quite honest, I am still processing what I read! This novel is thought provoking and spirals into madness at about the halfway point in the text. The only other work I could compare The Death of Jane Lawrence to is the movie Fight Club, both delve into the human psyche and what goes on inside our minds.


Chapter One begins with an introduction to the novel's main character, Jane Stubblefield. She is a young lady that is trying to make her way in the world after being orphaned and raised by a loving family after World War I. She is very good at accounting and has devised a plan to create a business/marriage partnership with the town's local surgeon, Dr. Augustine Lawrence. At first Jane is met with shock from the doctor about her blunt proposal but after he has time to consider, he takes her up on her offer and invites her to sit in on a surgery with him. Jane's experience in the doctor's surgery can be described as nothing but magical. She witnesses the doctor take the life of another individual into his hands and do everything possible to save the man's life. Unfortunately, Jane also learns from this experience how quickly things can go wrong and how fleeting life truly is. She also learns that Augustine is not the strong person he outwardly presents himself to be. She begins to see the emotional toll that each patient's death brings to Augustine's psyche.

Jane, herself, suffers from what I would call PTSD/shell shock. In her young life she experiences heavy shelling and gas attacks during World War I. The war also took her parents. She has "built a wall" around this traumatic event in her early life and tells herself that she is fine. She is the person she is today because of what she has overcome and is thankful for it. She never seems to have really recovered from the loss of her parents, so it is no surprise that the memory of this traumatic event comes back to haunt her in her adult life. Jane has no idea that she has been building walls around herself to hide her regret and guilt over losing her parents from the world. She comes to the realization that she has been doing this as a coping mechanism when she performs her first "magical ritual". Jane forces herself into a state of sleep deprivation which causes her to have a mental break. Her "walls" crumble around her leaving her exposed and vulnerable and force her to deal with the "statues/ghost" that stand in her path and represent all the traumatic events/memories that have become obstacles in her psyche.

Caitlin Starling calls Jane's dive into her psyche a "magical ritual" and if the reader really thinks on it, it is a form of magic. Jane is calling what she is doing magic but it's living in the present, being self-aware and dealing with emotions as they happen instead of repressing them and building walls to hide behind. Augustine suffers from the same condition because as a doctor he isn't supposed to lose a patient. He heaps an incredible amount of responsibility on himself, but all illnesses and injuries are not repairable, everyone cannot be saved. He holds himself to a standard that no doctor could ever live up to. When Jane and Augustine begin to focus on the positive things they have and can do the real magic begins to happen and they begin to believe and understand that they are more powerful than any magical text could ever teach them to be.

I really thought I was reading a novel about two individuals sinking into madness but in the end The Death of Jane Lawrence turned into a novel about forgiving ourselves and the power of positive thinking and believing in yourself. The danger we run as humans is how incredible our minds are and how much we can remember. Good memories are great, but those bad memories can put us into real danger. There is no greater magical power in life than to forgive yourself and let go of shame, regret, and guilt, live in the moment, and feel every feeling.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for and advanced copy for an honest review.

Fans of The Luminous Dead won't find this book similar... until the final third, where the claustrophobia and madness ramp up. I enjoyed this book very much but did feel it dragged quite a bit in the middle - the end completely makes up for it, though, with quite an interesting "happily ever after". A little bit of body horror, a little bit of occult, a large helping of old fashioned gothic - this title will have broad appeal to readers. (Technically, one can say it is a romance.)

Horror, especially gothic horror, is not my go-to genre, but I attempted to branch out with this story and let's just say I don't think it's for me at all. The relationship was a roller coaster and not in the fun way; it felt very much like insta-love which is one of my least favorite tropes. The characters felt flat, but also all over the place at the same time and they were insufferable. I know horror is supposed to leave you wondering, but to me the ending was extremely unsatisfying considering all of the confusion I felt throughout the book. Overall, I would rate it 2 stars, but Caitlin Starling's writing is so beautiful that I ended up giving it closer to 3 stars.

First, I loved this book! It was historic, and spooky, and magical and I couldn’t have asked for more. I absolutely will be recommending this to customers at work!

I realize I’m in the minority here, but I thought The Death of Jane Lawrence to be too much. Too verbose, too heavy handed, and it took away my enjoyment of the novel.

Caitlin Starling doesn't miss.
This has for sure been my favorite that I have read of hers so far as it focuses a lot more on a haunted house and magic - whatever the cost of it is. Starling has such an ability to write morally grey and slowly unhinging women which is incredibly on brand for books I tend to love.

The Death of Jane Lawrence is a book that would be sure to get you out of any reading slump. I read the majority of it in one day just wanting to know what Jane will face next. Jane is intelligent and mathematical but Augustine Lawrence is soon to change her life in ways she could have never anticipated.

Jane Shoringfield has limited options for her path forward. She can either strain the finances of her relatives by continuing to stay with them or forge a particular path of independence through a marriage of convenience. With her practical nature and talent for sums, she decides to propose marriage to the local but reclusive doctor, Augustine Lawrence. He accepts on one condition: Jane may not stay at his home, Lindridge Hall. Curious but respectful of this condition, Jane agrees, and they are married. What was supposed to be a quick visit for show to Lindridge Hall after their wedding turns into an unexpected overnight stay when a storm hits. While there, Jane discovers that something dark lurks at Lindridge Hall, something that Augustine refuses to come clean about. If Jane hopes to unravel this mystery and save the man she may be coming to love, she will have to face terrors she never imagined.

THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE is another stunning horror from Caitlin Starling. Since THE LUMINIOUS DEAD, Starling has been a favorite horror author of mine, and this latest chilling tale has everything you could want in a Gothic horror story. The atmosphere of Lindridge Hall is full of crumbling rooms, mysterious objects, ghosts in the night, and even two servants who refuse to stay overnight. The tone is tense, haunting, and keeps you on edge, as if a new terror lurks around every corner. Like the best horror however, the truly terrifying isn’t necessarily the creatures that haunt the night but the shadows of doubt, shame, and guilt that can plague a person unlike anything else.

With Jane’s sense, steadfast planning, kindness, and frank honesty, Jane is endearing from the start, particularly as she strives to make a good life for herself and slowly opens herself up to unexpected possibilities, such as actually loving the man she chose to marry. Much like Augustine, she also has a past of tragedy, though her method of coping turned to control while Augustine’s turned to self-loathing. Her journey discovering magic, medicine, and secrets forces her to question the reality around her and whether anyone ever truly has control.

THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE is a brilliant addition to the Gothic horror genre and perfect for the spooky season. Those who loved Crimson Peak but wanted more romance will devour Caitlin Starling’s haunting work.

This book is set post-war in England, and it is literally a mind twister!
Jane after thinking about it a while she compiled a list of suitors, she decided that she wanted to get married so that she would not feel like a burden on her guardians. They have taken her in after her parents perished when she was a child, so while her guardians are moving and wanting to start anew she wants to get married and stay in the area. Jane decides to talk to Augustine and arrange a business type of marriage. She would do the books for his practice and he would marry her, they wouldn't stay together as he would stay at his family home and she would stay at the surgery in town. After careful consideration, Augustine agreed hesitantly. As they were married and they made the travel to the family estate she was supposed to go back to the practice on their wedding night and he was supposed to stay but when he sent her back to town there was a bad storm that sent her back to the family estate. The family estate aka Lindridge Hall is not in an exact living status, it is kind of in ruins in a manner of speaking. Augustine agreed to let her stay the night and the first night was fine but then on the second night because she couldn't get to town yet because of the roads creepy things started happening in the house ghost, apparitions of creepy creatures started giving her nightmares or that's what Augustine told her. However, the truth was much more sinister!  Especially when Augustine's friends come over to congratulate the couple, Augustine leaves the house leaving Jane to keep them entertained and that's when all the secrets start to come out. Is Jane supposed to believe everything their friends say? Is Magic Real? What really happened to the ghost or apparitions that are appearing in the house? What other secrets about Lindridge Hall and Augustine's history is he keeping from her?
I still do not know what I truly think of this novel. This is one of the books, that even after you finish it you are still thinking about it even a day later. Now, that is not a negative thing per se but it definitely messes with your mind! If you love horror or gothic horror books then this should definitely be your next read! I definitely recommend it! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the extraordinary opportunity to read and review this one!

“This world is real Mrs Lawrence.. There are ghosts in this house, and they will not go away merely if you ignore them.”

The Death of Jane Lawrence is a twisted, mind bending gothic tale of secrets and ghosts who come back from the grave. If you enjoy books such as Rebecca or the Haunting of Hill House this is for you.

The story predominantly takes place at the gloomy Lindridge Hall, an estate filled with secrets and spirits. Jane marries Augustine, a skilled Doctor who at first glance seems perfect. It soon becomes apparent he is keeping secrets from her that he has no intention of her ever finding out. Jane finds herself wondering - why does Augustine not want her to ever stay the night at Lindridge Hall? Who is Elody, the young woman who she finds out died there? Why is Lindridge Hall haunted?

The story in many parts is incredibly terrifying and blood chilling. Part of the horror was watching the psychological aspects unfold and the descent into madness. I truly feared for Jane and her safety. Those who enjoy feminist undertones will appreciate the aspects woven throughout. Jane fears her husband is part of some deeply dark activities but worries if anyone will believe her. Perhaps she will be the one thrown in an asylum. Reflecting upon history I do not blame her.

I was absolutely fascinated and enamored by the medical aspects of this novel such as the surgeries. Those who enjoy reading about medical procedures, autopsies and medical oddities may also enjoy this aspect.

I will gush about this all day to anyone who will listen to me. The Death of Jane Lawrence is a must read for fans of gothic literature and is one of my top reads of 2021.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this in advance.

I was excited to read this book based on the description and the reviews. However, upon reading for several chapters, I was unable to finish it. The writing is done well, it is the verbiage and over description of actions. It was written as if was to be happening in the 1800s. I have no qualms with that, but because of the prolixity, I was not able to finish the book.
If you enjoy such qualities of a book, this might be a book for you. The plot is good, it was the delivery I had a problem with.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

"The Death of Jane Lawrence" will be published on October 5, 2021!

At a very shallow level, I was drawn to this novel because of the book cover; the pair of hands "working" yarn/twine and the title in the center really draws your eyes and the colors work to draw you in as well. Not too much of a spoiler, but having finished the book, the pair of hands and yarn ties into the novel.

"The Death of Jane Lawrence" by Caitlin Starling tells the haunting story of young Jane Shoringfield. She intends to marry Augustine Lawrence, the young doctor of her town. Rumors abound say that the young doctor keeps to himself and that is precisely why Jane has chosen him. To her surprise, he agrees to the marriage with the big stipulation that she never step foot in his slowly dying family home, Lindridge Hall. Of course, the best laid plans can go awry. What ensues is a creeping, claustrophobic, and ghostly tale of ghosts, spectors, and magic.

Without giving away too much, this novel was such a pleasant and spooky delight! I loved Starling's write SO MUCH (it has me adding her prior work, "The Luminous Dead" to my TBR). Like one of the promotional reviews said, this novel reminded me very much of "Crimson Peak" and "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell". It has the trappings of a classic ghost story/haunted house story similar to "The Haunting of Hill House" and "Rebecca" and the added (and well done) embellishments of the pitfalls of magic use. Starling does a brilliant job of depicting a creeping and decaying home and our main lead, Jane, is a wonderful character.

I have always had a small disdain for math, but seeing math through Jane's eyes, it honestly sounded beautiful. Jane's characterization is so lovely. I found myself hoping that she gets all the happiness in the world for everything she had been through. Despite her bleak history, Jane never victimizes herself and never lays blame on others for her misfortunes (the few times she does, it's well deserved).

I really enjoyed this one and was so thankful to be able to receive an eARC. I will definitely be purchasing this and rereading it during the spooky season.