pretty solid historical fiction/mystery set in london just after the great war, although i didn't really feel the promised haunting atmosphere. the writing and pacing were good and the main character definitely was one i could root for. the romance was the weakest part though, it didn't get enough time and development for me to care about them. i also think the plot could have been a lot stronger and less convoluted. it needed more drawn-out, action-filled reveals and higher stakes!

however, i really loved how much the novel focused on the extreme losses people experienced after the war, what it was like to go back to your life, and the many different ways people can grieve!

Set in post-war London, Grace, has lost both her brother and fiancé, with her mother in a nursing home after her sons death and Grace's only company is her father and their lodger, Elizabeth. Grace also works part time at Nursing World, and when Elizabeth's s body is pulled from the Thames in mysterious circumstances, Grace is then determined to use her journalist skills to solve the murder.

We soon discover Elizabeth's dark past and Grace is drawn into the murkier side of London, with the help of her mother’s unconventional friend Lady Bunty and the mysterious Tom Monaghan.

Overall this is a very readable mystery but at times it was a little slow for my taste.

This was a slow burn historical fiction with a mystery element to it.

Grace is a lovely protagonist - plucky and honest. There were a lot of side characters which I didn't feel were very well-developed but that might be because there were so many. Similarly, there were a lot of subplots - they did all tie up nicely but it was somewhat difficult to stay invested at time.

The historical scene setting and tone of the story was perfect for the post WW1 era - even the language used was convincing for the time.

I loved all the twists and revelations as we find out the truth about what really happened with Elizabeth. However, there wasn't so much sewing the seeds of clues as to them finding out information and correctly guessing its importance, with the next chapter being followed up by another character confirming their suspicions. As a result I struggled with the pacing a little bit, particularly in the middle.

But it was an enjoyable read and very well-researched.

*Many thanks to Helen Scarlett, Quercus Books, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Set in London in 1919, the book presents the atmosphere that prevailed then, with fresh memories of the fallen and the wounded in WW1, and this was what I like most. Its evident that the Author did splendid research into that period. I found the characters and the plot much less engaging. The mystery around the woman who resided with the Armstrong family and whose body was found in the Thames seemed too far-fetched to me. The interactions between characters were kind of unrealistic to me, especially between Grace and Tom and her best friend. Overall, an afternoon read that did not meet up my expectations.

I'm grateful to Netgalley and Quercus Books for providing me with this free advanced reading copy.
 
The Lodger by Helen Scarlett is a detective taking place in the aftermath of WWI in London. It's full of brooding and grief but also new beginnings and stories of healing.
 
It is a story of a young woman Grace who lost her brother and fiancé. Recently her friend had disappeared and then was found dead. Grace couldn't believe in her friend's suicide and started an investigation.
 
What I liked:
- The initial part was slow and intriguing. Full of hopes for the future blended with grief and inability to move on, it created a distinct mood. I couldn't put the book down
- The atmosphere of London after WW1. Small details described the right mood of the city, it felt waking up but also full of ghosts
- The detective story had unexpected but believable turns and it was interesting to follow the investigation
 
What parts feel neutral:
- Side characters. I appreciate the time the author took to research the recovery of people and wounds that will never heal. I liked the themes she discussed with the stories of side characters. But for me, there were too many sub-plots, we didn't have enough time to explore them. In my opinion, it could be better if we had just one or two side characters, but we could feel their story
- The finale of the investigation. I wanted it to hit harder. But I'm that reader who usually loves mystery more than revelation, so it was expected
 
What I didn't like:
- I didn't get the romance at all. The characters didn't spend enough time together and I didn't feel the chemistry. I saw that some readers enjoyed it, so maybe it just me. The finale scene was a bit cliché
- The middle part felt too slow for my taste and there was a lot of speaking about clues and small talk too, but not many active moments. The story lost its atmosphere in this part for me
 
So I can recommend this book to readers who want to experience London's atmosphere after WW1 and follow our main character in her investigation

A great follow up novel to Harriet Fleet. Set within the context of the Great War, it is dark and brooding and delightfully gothic in tone.

I initially struggled to get into this book although I’m not entirely sure why as I enjoyed it once I did. This is very different to The Deception of Harriet Fleet, which I loved, perhaps I’m just not as keen on this period of history.

I liked Grace and her tenacity, she was an interesting and intriguing character. However, I still felt, even at the end, that I wanted to know more about Lizzy. I wanted to hear from her directly, either her voice or via a flashback. It is probably more fitting or poetic that we didn't, but ultimately slightly less satisfying. I did appreciate the varied cast of female characters in this book and the different ways they were dealing with the aftermath of the war - the loss and grief but also new opportunities and freedoms. There was a lot of social commentary hidden amongst the story.

I would definitely read more by this author and recommend this to anyone who enjoys this period of history.

THIS WASN’T REALLY AS GOTHIC AND HAUNTING AS IT PROMISED; MORE OF A CRIME/DETECTIVE NOVEL TBH. AND QUITE SLOW GOING, NOT VERY ATMOSPHERIC, IMAGERY WAS LACKING APART FROM OCCASIONAL GOOD SECTIONS. MOST OF THE CHARACTERS WERE QUITE FLAT AND WE DON’T LEARN MUCH ABOUT THEM.
FIRST 30% WAS VERY SLOW, THOUGHT IT THEN PICKED UP A BIT BUT IT THEN LOST ALL SENSE OF PLOTTING AND WENT OFF A BIT OF A RANDOM DIRECTION. FELT LIKE THE AUTHOR THEN HAD TO CLAW IT BACK AND MAKE SURE THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS WERE RELEVANT. ALSO ENDED ON A MASSIVE CLICHE; MAN SHE REALISES SHE LOVES APPEARS ON A HILL AND THEN HAPPILY EVER AFTER ONE PRESUMES.

In post-War War I London, Grace Armstrong has lost her fiancee and brother. Her family’s lodger and her friend, Elizabeth, goes missing and then is fished out of the Thames, presumed to be a suicide. Grace doesn’t believe it and is determined to investigate and find out what happened, along with her mother’s friend Lady Bunty and a mystery man, Tom Monaghan. I enjoyed this atmospheric gothic mystery and the strength and courage of the main character.

A supremely talented historical fiction author. Gothic novels are having a resurgence at the moment but where The Lodger cuts above the rest is in the atmospheric detail of post war London. Grace is a protagonist you can root for from the first chapter and the way the story unwinds as she tried to solve the mystery of Elizabeth's disappearance is incredible.

I also loved Grace's romance arc with the mysterious Tom and the way the characters were so fully formed that their interactions in every scene felt incredibly natural.

An enjoyable read but quite slow paced. I enjoyed the setting and felt that the dark sadness of post WW1 really added depth to the story. Some great characters - particularly Lady Bunty!

"London in 1919 was a city of ghosts and absences, haunted by the men who marched away but never came back from 'the war to end all wars.'"

The Lodger by Helen Scarlett, the author of The Deception of Harriet Fleet, is a Gothic tale set after the Great War. I really like how the author worked with the growing emancipation of women and the traumas of the soldiers after the war. To my taste, the story begins too slowly. I like dialogues between characters, small talk, etc. but I didn't truly care about them there. This story will be great for old classic books lovers. I will give it a 3*, but I truly believe for someone else it will be a clear 5* book.

Thank you Quercus Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Set in post WW1 London, this is a gothic mystery which completely captivated me, I loved it.

The main arc of the story follows Grace who is mourning the death of both her brother and fiancé. I felt the collective grief was palpable on the pages, with so much loss from the war. Grace is trying to find their lodger, Elizabeth, who has disappeared. When she is found dead in the river, her death is noted as suicide, but Grace is certain this cannot be the case so sets out to uncover what really happened. In doing so, she is drawn further into secrets and murder, slowly unravelling through the story.

This book is beautifully written, with wonderful characters, twists and turns that fit and will keep you immersed in the story right to the end. One of my favourites this year for sure.

Dangerous liaisons ★★★☆☆

In grief-stricken post-war London, Grace mourns her brother and fiancé and the shadow her mother has become. When their lodger’s body is pulled from the Thames in mysterious circumstances, Grace is set on using her reporting skills to solve Elizabeth’s murder.

Grace is a plucky and resolute character who refuses to conform to society’s expectation of a young lady or to give up on the mystery of her lost friend even when Elizabeth’s secret past comes to light.

With the help of her mother’s unconventional friend Lady Bunty and the mysterious and troubled Tom Monaghan, Grace delves into society scandals and London’s murky underworld, risking her safety to expose the truth.

A story of disappeared women, abuse of power, bravery, and friendship in Edwardian London.

Another excellent novel by Helen Scarlett. This is a beautifully written Gothic mystery, set in post First World War London, which is brought cleverly to life. It is a dark and grim place, but there are plenty of plenty of solid, believable characters, with a strong and likeable female heroine to make this immensely readable. I could not put it down. The book gives a modern perspective on the frustrations of being a woman at this time with a Victorian father and societal norms of Edwardian England, after having enjoyed different freedoms and responsibilities. A must read!

I really enjoyed this. It’s brilliantly written, creepy and atmospheric. I didn’t have high hopes having read a lot of gothic fiction recently and become a bit disillusioned with it but this was brilliant. I loved it. There were so many twist and turns and the ghosts and depiction of grief added real weight to the story. Elizabeth was a total mystery and I didn’t see the ending coming. I highly recommend this.

Whilst grieving the deaths of her brother and fiancé during the First World War, Grace is shocked to find out that her families lodger, Elizabeth has also passed away. The police have ruled it to be suicide but Grace fears there’s more to the tragedy.



A beautiful and poignant description of post-War London, this mystery wove a tale that didn’t help but pull at my heart strings. No tears were shed, but the feelings of grief were portrayed subtly and effectively.



Grace is a truly likeable character, seeing good in the world and a thirst for truth. Her determination and awareness was quite refreshing, especially when set in a time where womens rights were being pushed for and understood.



The twist was good, a surprise but not unbelievable. An enjoyable read.

The Lodger is solid entry into the gothic genre. Using the atmospheric London streets during the aftermath of World War I to its advantage, the story follows Grace who is determined to find out the truth of what happened to her missing lodger, Elizabeth.

I found the story to be an enjoyable easy read, albeit set in ghostly and grim conditions. It thoughtfully handled the depiction of grief and the ghosts of the past, using it unravel our characters as they confront their shared histories and pain. Grace is a compelling main character and I very much enjoyed following her as she begins piecing together the clues as to what happened to Elizabeth. It worked well against the story threads related to her own family using it to highlight the impact of social change following the war

That said, I found the supporting storyline of her relationship with Tom a little lacking. He wasn’t in the story enough for me to see that relationship develop into its conclusion, but I did enjoy their interactions when they were together.

Helen Scarlett has followed her Gothic delight, The Deception of Harriet Fleet, with a thoughtful mystery which does not disappoint. Once again we are transported to a note-perfect historical setting in the company of a loyal, spirited protagonist; budding reporter Grace, who is determined to investigate the disappearance of her friend, the secretive lodger of the title.
The author uses her beautifully evoked setting – an eerie, watery, twilit London in the aftermath of the First World War, a place of ghosts at a time of collective loss and grief, the London of The Waste Land and Mrs Dalloway – to wonderfully dramatic effect as Grace’s pursuit of the truth leads her to confront her own demons.
As with her previous novel, Helen Scarlett succeeds in casting a slyly modern eye over a period of enormous social change whilst fully immersing the reader in the historical world she creates. Highly recommend.

A very big thankyou to Quercus book for such a brilliant thrilling gripping book .

A brilliant gothic, historic story set just after the first World War I found the story very gritty at times jaw dropping full of mystery it will captivate you from the beginning to the end there danger lurking around every corner which is right up my street .


I loved Grace as a main character she has seen so much sadness but doesn't let anything break her , until they find her lodger or more family friend found dead in the river in London , she cant let go of this and goes on hunt to find out what happening to missing girl and why her lodger was dead , its very dangerous as she goes more and more underground , she like the female sherlock Holmes to me .I enjoyed the fact around every corner there was a clue .but not to much that it gave everything away .


I loved the relationship that grace sparks up with the brooding , handsome tom oh even I fell head over heels
they made such a brilliant team I would love to see more of these characters maybe in a other book .


The story line it self was so cleverly written and my gosh the plot twists was just out of this world remember when I said jaw dropping yep this will happen .Helen writing is just oh gosh I need a word mind-blowing.

This book is coming out till 2023 but what a treat it will be .

This book will have your spine tingling and to me is a sign of a great book .

Im giving the book 5 thrilling stars