This book was bananapants and I loved it. Gothic vibes plus magic. It reminded me of a cross between Rebecca and Jonathon Strange, but still had some unique elements thrown in too. It was great! I definitely recommend as a terrific spooky read for the season this year. Also... THAT COVER!

Fellow sensitive readers, beware!

I made it 7% through this book before I decided I couldn't do it anymore. The narration was absolutely fantastic. She did a wonderful job at setting you in this gothic, creepy mood that gave you chills and made you want to keep listening. The plot was great, the writing was fantastic. I have no complaints at all. I would love to finish this book. However, the too realistic descriptions of the surgeries and blood and gore was too much for faint of heart me. It definitely has it's place within this book and I don't doubt that so many people are loving this one. It sounds fantastic and I'd love to finish it- if only someone could just tell me where all the gory parts are so I can skip those.

Caitlin Starling, you did too good of a job for me! I recommend this to any reader and lover of horror mixed with gothic fiction.

☠️Happy Publication Day to 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖙𝖍 𝖔𝖋 𝕵𝖆𝖓𝖊 𝕷𝖆𝖜𝖗𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊☠️

Guys I JUST finished this one (like 34 seconds ago) and I don’t even know what I just read🤯

Not my favorite book but also not a bad book by any means. Far from it.

🌶𝐈𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐭🏚.

Contents include:

👻𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞
👻𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧
👻𝐀 𝐃𝐫. 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
👻𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬
👻𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭

🕸SO the bar was set high for this one. I loved how atmospheric this novel was. I did not love reading about a crooked surgeon. As someone who is in healthcare, and 100% believes and trusts that doctors have humanity, it’s hard for me to stomach reading otherwise. Too close to home I suppose. I’m sure a lot of you will enjoy the horror aspects!

🕸The other major complaint I have is that the plot just KEPT developing. I felt as if it stretched too far, far past the point of probability (even for a witchy, fictional book). The ending did BLOW my mind haha so. That was awesome.

🕸All that being said, I highly encourage you to pick this up if you like gothic horrors with a dizzy plot!!

3.5 Stars
✨ The Title/Cover Draw:
This was a pick coming up for the Literally Dead book club by #BooksAndLaLa and I was able to get an advanced copy to read from @Netgalley and St Martin's Press.

💜 What I liked:
The story is truly in the gothic / horror theme. It reminded me a lot of Rebecca or Crimson Peak in that the main character, Jane, marries a man she barely knows whose previous wife is dead. There are some major creep vibes and body horror here.

😱 What I didn’t like:
This book is awesome for like ¾ of it and then it gets weird. I can’t explain why or even tell you any explanation as I have no idea what exactly happened. Ok, that’s an over exaggeration. But if you like strange tales, this one's for you!


🚦 My face at the end: 🤪

💭 3 Reasons to Read:
1. Gothic horror house
2. Distorted reality
3. Magic - real or not?



🕧 Mini-Summary:
Jane offers to marry Augustine Lawrence, a doctor with a mysterious past and secrets in every corner of his forbidden house.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Received from Netgalley.

Mathematics, Medicine, and Magic-
Using the impossible to define, and redefine, reality.

THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE starts running right out the gate and doesn't relent until the very end - a claustrophobic ghost story in a decaying house that had me questioning my own perceptions of the story as much as Jane herself.

A non-spiritual, atheist reimagining of post war britian is the backdrop to one of the most emotional ghost stories I've ever read - the non-religious "grounding" of the country leading to a very refreshing nonreligious approach to the Victorian Era haunting story, not to mention Janes reliance on numbers and mathematics feeding into her approach to the 'less-than-probable' as the story progresses.

From gristly and heart-wrenching descriptions of surgery and medical proceedings to reality bending, sleep deprived, horrors in the night, THE DEATH OF JANE LAWRENCE is an absolute *treat* to any horror fan (and held quite a few surprises even as a long time horror fan!)

Strong Jane Eyre vibes! In order to secure her independence and employment in the early 1900s, Jane Shoringfield proposes a “marriage of convenience” to the handsome but reclusive doctor Augustine Lawrence. On their wedding night, the fearless surgeon becomes troubled and paranoid - haunted by nightmares. Yep, some Jekyll and Hyde vibes too! This novel is written in a classic gothic horror style - Unsettling, disturbing, forbidding and full of malevolent spirits. If you’re in for some page-turning Halloween creepiness, this is your book.

I love a good modern gothic, especially this time of year. This one had unreliable characters, mystery, and just enough body horror to cause me a visceral reaction but not go too far. The audiobook of this was really well done and I loved the performance. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys cozying up with gothic and/or horror fiction

3.5 stars rounded down

Starling is a master of atmosphere. Whether that's claustrophobic (and maybe haunted) caves on a wasteland planet, a cult/farm, a spooky garden, or, now, a haunted manor.

There were, however, two big things that kept me from really buying into this story: one was pacing (the middle section before Jane's inevitable descent into madness dragged - and even the madness stretched wide) and the other were the jumps in logic / assumptions we had to make to buy in to the contents of the story.

Jane wanted a marriage of convenience but falls irreparably in love with this guy after talking to him 3 times? Also, what does everyone else think about this eclectic doctor who retreats to the crumbling manse every night? Jane seems to be the only one who questions it.

There were some brilliant parallels at the end, and some decisions that I thought were a little bit much. And I found myself very interested in the sheer number of people who dabbled with witchcraft - and why some of them suffered extreme consequences and others just had a fun time.

Also mad props to the audiobook narrator who played Jane brilliantly throughout.

Book Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Audiobook Rating: 5 stars

Wow! This was a gothic romance that was heavy on the creep factor. Who would have thought that a book about a marriage of convenience between an accountant and a doctor would end up being quite so scary? From the first page, The Death of Jane Lawrence had me under its gothic spell.

This book was just what I needed - - a creepy, Gothic setting with an aging country estate, a mysterious doctor with secrets and an insecure but talented accountant and a great deal of additional back story that will keep you engrossed in this tale. Our main character, Jane is a talented accountant who no longer wants to be a burden on the family who took her in years before as their ward. As they are preparing to move to another area, she realizes that she won't be unable to stay behind and be unwed. Therefore, she makes a list of eligible young men in the area and Dr. Augustine Lawrence is at the top. When she approaches him with the proposition, he hesitates. However, he soon acquiesces, but has several rules. They sound strange and creepy - - and they end up being in place for just those reasons.

I was really impressed with how the author blended the different elements of this story together. There were some twists I didn't see coming. The characters were so well-developed. The suspense and horror elements were done with such flair. I was glued to this story all the way through.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The narration for this book was perfection. The narrator's voice and accent lent to the creepy and gothic feel of the novel. The pacing was well done. The narrator kept the listener's attention and made you want to continue on with the story. I both read and listened to the audio version. In my opinion, the audio made the story even better.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own

Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this book. The narration was great. When it comes to the story the first half was absolutely awesome. The second was ok. Overall 3.5 stars out of 5.

Jane needs to get married, so she convinces Augustine to marry her. Augustine is a drip and a half. He's a widow, and that doesn't excuse his self-pitying ways. He's literally haunted by the people he couldn't save, and he still brings someone into his life.

How can a book about using magic to fight ghosts be so dull? The magic part of the book doesn't happen until the end but getting there was a slog. I was waiting to be riveted. It didn't happen when the ghosts appeared. It didn't occur when magic practitioners appeared. My last hope was when Jane finally learned magic to fight back, but I realized I was still bored.

The narrator is good, at least.

Review based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

This was a fast paced, book that can only be described as bazaar. I read this in one day. The narrator was perfect for the book. This was heard to keep me interested in when we were getting close to the climax the pacing turned slow and it pulled me out of the book I found I had to increase the listening speed. For that reason its a solid 4 stars.

4.4 stars

Creepy, atmospheric, psychological

I am grateful to Macmillan Audio for sending me an advanced copy of this audiobook for review.

This is a story of a woman who got more out of her marriage than she planned for. Very early on I could see where the comparisons to Rebecca came from. The setting and atmosphere for this were both done very well, and the limited number characters combined with the fact that the entire story takes place in two confined locations made everything feel heavy and claustrophobic. The author also did a great job of switching the tone of Jane's perspective from a very clear one into a hazy and unreliable one. This meant that at several points I had to stop to wonder what was real and if the narration could be trusted.

Our main character Jane has a very interesting personality which made her perspective intense. She comes off as very strong willed, but we soon see that she can easily shift her views when presented with new situations and information. I think the way her character processed things says a lot about women in society during that time period, and the way people interacted with her was also typical of the time. The conditioning that women went through during that time meant that Jane had no one to turn to and could not even trust herself.

The story was creepy. The scenes that were described were disturbing. Being in the perspective of a character who feels helpless much of the time and seems to be teetering on the edge of sanity for the rest of it made the story very engaging and a fast read.

I recommend this to fans of suspenseful stories, psychological , and gothic horror.

When Crimson Peak meets Jane Eyre! A spooky and gothic read with ghosts in all the nooks and crannies of a falling apart mansion. A spooktacular book to get you ready for Halloween 🎃

Jane is an account and she knows numbers. She does the exact calculations and knows what kind of life she wants. So she proposes a marriage of convenience to Augustine Lawrence the local Doctor. And that’s where things get weird especially when dark magic is in play.

This book was very long. With that said I still found my self captivated; wanting to know where this is going.

If you like gothic horror, set in 19th century Great Britain in the countryside with a magical twist and characters with frightening secrets, then this book is for you!

The audiobook was narrated by Mandy Weston and I thought she was fantastic.

Thank you to @MacmillanAudio and @netgalley for this audio e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Death of Jane Lawrence is a gothic fiction novel following protagonist Jane Shoringfield, who in the beginning is looking for "a marriage of convenience". Jane makes a list of men who she deems suitable for a loveless marriage, and the mysterious Doctor Augustine Lawrence is at the top of her list. Jane approaches an at-first reluctant Augustine about an arrangement in which they marry to appease the public, but that is in reality, a business arrangement, with Jane offering to be his medical secretary.

While Augustine is reluctant to marry Jane at first, after having her aid him in a surgery he changes his mind and agrees with certain terms to their marriage. As their relationship grows, Jane learns that Augustine Lawrence and his family home may be more than she signed up for.

This book was creepy, descriptive and full of twists. It was a dark read, with an elaborate story that continues to unfold just when you think you've figured things out.

The audiobook was particularly enjoyable. I really liked the narrator and the emotion they brought to the characters, the character of Jane in particular.

I just finished listening to the audiobook The Death of Jane Lawrence. The book is about practical, logical Jane Lawrence Shoringfield who decides that the next most logical step in her life is a marriage of convenience to someone who will allow her to remain independent and occupied with meaningful work.
Her first choice, the dashing but reclusive doctor Augustine Lawrence, agrees to her proposal with only one condition: that she must never visit Lindridge Hall, his crumbling family manor outside of town.

Yet on their wedding night, an accident strands her at his door in a pitch-black rainstorm, and she finds him changed. This gothic novel takes the reader through the mysteries of Lindridge Hall and her new husband.
I liked both characters, the idea of a logical, practical woman being thrown into a world of ghosts, spells, and magic and being torn between what and what not to believe. I also appreciated the flawed doctor, Augustine. It becomes apparent quickly that this marriage will be more of that than just convenience.
I did find this book to be a little longer with its descriptions, and I often found myself mentally willing the story forward. I wanted to get to Jane’s “death” as indicated in the title.
Overall, I would give this book three stars. I liked the prose, the character development, and the ending. I just felt that some of the shock value was diminished by the length of each chapter, even the climax of the story.

I genuinely don't know how we went from the incredible work that was The Luminous Dead to this. I wish I could get the time back that I spent on this one.

This book is literally about two of the most unremarkable and pedestrian characters who do NOTHING to warrant caring about what happens to either of them.

So incredibly frustrated.

Beautifully detailed, and decadently gothic, The Death of Jane Lawrence is a wonderful listen.

MV Rating: 6/10
•Jane is an independent, free thinking woman who is faced with unearthly challenges to save her husband and herself.
• I immediately resonated with how the character of Jane was written, she’s extremely relatable even in modern times, and her brazen need to forge her path is one I don’t see written very often.
•though sometimes the writing can be a bit confusing, as the character list grows and time becomes a construct, overall this was a fun, engaging audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for early access to this title!

I loved this book! Finding a good gothic horror is not easy, but this one is excellent all around. Jane is appropriate for the age and time. Wondering what the doctor's secret was had me guessing at the beginning. Reviewing this book without spoilers is very difficult. This is Mary Shelley meets Bridgerton. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

This 👏 book 👏

If you have this on your #tbr , I highly recommend preordering it.

Jane was a fascinating main character to read about. She’s very analytical, with a mind for math that causes her to look at the world expecting everything to be as straightforward as mathematic formulas. As she’s plunged into this new world she never thought was real, she’s forced to mold that view to see the bigger picture. I loved hearing her reasoning for not only what was happening around her but her own actions and emotions.

The gothic atmosphere is unparalleled. From the mysterious Lindridge Hall, Augustine Lawrence’s work as a doctor, and the truths Jane unearths all blend together in a deliciously dark medley that horror fans will not be able to get enough of.

The Death of Jane Lawrence is a story about shame, desire, the power of our will, of hope, realizing how powerful we are as we are. It’s a bit technical at times in explanation but it’s the perfect take for this book, balancing out the other elements. The ending left me giddy and wanting to restart it all over again. I plan on snagging a physical copy to reread.

Truly, I can’t recommend this enough. The only thing that could make this better is if it got optioned for TV 😍 The Death of Jane Lawrence is out 10/5/2021. Thank you to @ for the gifted copy.