November 1816: Restless but naïve Emeline Fitzpatrick is desperate to escape her stifling life in foggy Halifax. Her guardian is lining up repugnant suitors, but Emeline has her eyes set on a handsome lieutenant in the British navy. She just needs to persuade him to propose, or her one chance at happiness will be gone forever.

But when Emeline’s hopes end in scandal, she finds herself with only one suitor left: the wealthy and enigmatic Captain Graves. Having already lost two wives to tragic circumstances, the unfortunate widower is seeking a new companion in his cloistered seaside manor, Faraday House. Or at least that is what Emeline had been told, because when she arrives, she is horrified to discover that the second Mrs. Graves, Georgina, has not yet died.

Emeline is only certain of two things: something ghastly is afoot at Faraday House, and no one is going to save her. She will have to rely on her own courage, her burgeoning bond with the ill but strong-willed Georgina, and the aid of a handsome reverend with a mysterious past to unravel the secrets at the heart of the manor and forge her own destiny.

This mystery kept me on my toes and while I thought I had if figured out I kept questioning my assumptions, which turned out to be mostly correct. Go me! I enjoyed Emeline's character development and finding herself through this story. Well done Myers.

Not the most original gothic novel I've read, but it did take some unexpected turns. Enjoyed seeing Emeline grow into herself and become more headstrong as the mystery of Faraday House slowly unravels. The romance didn't do much for me unfortunately!! But this was a quick read, perfect for spooky season if you want something lightly spooky and eerie but not too scary.

The Third Wife of Faraday House by B.R. Myers is another book I’ve read in 2024 that had so much potential; however, it failed to impress me. It moved at what felt like a snail’s pace for a good portion of the book before suddenly rushing to the end like a boulder rolling down a hill. The main character of Emeline Fitzpatrick was also very unlikeable, and she never redeemed herself. Not for me. From beginning to end, I strongly, strongly disliked this novel. The “thrill” and “horror” were nonexistent, and I called so many “twists” in this book the moment I first met the characters involved.

Now, let me talk about Emeline Fitzpatrick. She thinks she’s only worth something because she’s beautiful, and you are reminded of this throughout the entire novel. Emeline has no self-worth. She goes from being madly in love with a British navy officer to falling for someone else who doesn’t love her “in the right way” to, finally, being in love with herself and standing on her own two feet. But how this journey of self-development was portrayed was elementary and simplistic. Up until almost the end of the book, Emeline was helpless and dependent, and I, quite frankly, hoped someone might kill her so the book would end. I did not care about her nightmares. I did not care that she’d come to Faraday House in hopes of avoiding scandal. I did not care that she had this “great mystery” with how every young wife who came to Faraday House passed away. I just wanted Emeline GONE.

Myers is good at imagery; I will give the author that. But character development? No. They were all one-note. Emeline is pretty. Georgina is sick. Graves is old. Once you encounter a character, I was able to guess his/her role in the story, and I was typically right. The book doesn’t have many characters, so it’s easy to narrow down the villains. But then the supposed relationships between the characters are also incredibly shallow. The “romance” feels like more of a girlhood crush. And the “I’ve seen the light” moment was nothing. The villains’ motivations were obvious. The friendship between Georgina and Emeline? They’re practically strangers, even near the end of the book, and suddenly they’re best friends? I know this review has only talked about characters, but they are SO IMPORTANT to me. If you don’t have good characters, you don’t have a good plot. And I didn’t like any of the characters featured in this particular Myers’ novel.

The Third Wife of Faraday House by B.R. Myers just made me roll my eyes and hope to reach the end faster. I probably would’ve liked it a lot more had the main character not made me want to pull my hair out. She was whiny, naïve, and childish. I don’t care that exemplifying all these traits at the beginning showed how she grew by the end. First impressions mean a lot to me. If I don’t like you at the start of a novel, I’m probably going to dislike you at the end. B.R. Myers’ most recent work just did nothing for me, and I’m disinclined from trying the author again.

The wives of Faraday House tend to die at an early age. When Emmaline is caught in a compromising position, her guardians arrange for her to be the third wife of Mr. graves. When she arrives at the isolated property she discovers that Georgina, Graves’ second wife, has not yet died. She is attended by Mrs. Clayton, who has taken care of Faraday House along with her husband for the last ten years. She had also attended to Esther, the first wife, who died in childbirth. Georgina became ill shortly after arriving at Faraday and Reverend Pellerine has arrived to be with her in her last days. Mr. graves is ill-mannered and temperamental, but Emmaline finds Pellerine easy to talk to. With little staff, Emmaline is called on to sit with Georgina and realizes that the only way to avoid marriage is to keep her alive. Georgina has suffered from stomach pains and no longer eats. When Emmaline brushes her hair it falls out in clumps. She is served a bitter tea to help her sleep, leading Emmaline to believe that she is being poisoned. While she does not believe in ghosts, her dreams are filled with visions of Esther and trails of blood. If she is to save herself and Georgina she has to find out what really happened to Esther.

Emmaline’s guardian raised her to believe that her appearance and ability to flirt were what mattered. Now she has to discover strengths that she never knew she had. Pellerine’s companion, a bear sized dog named Moses, takes to Emmaline and becomes protective when he senses danger. While Pellerine cares for Emmaline, he must tread carefully. If he angers Graves he will be banned from Faraday and he needs to be there for Georgina. When tragedy once again strikes Emmaline discovers just who she can trust, but the secrets held at Faraday also pose a threat to her life. With its’ isolated setting and dark athmosphere, this is a perfect story to keep you up at night. I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for providing this book.

Thank you, Netgalley for the opportunity to review this title. I will be reading more from BR Myers, for sure. I loved the mystery and haunting turn of events, but oh did Moses have my heart all the way through! I'm glad all the tragedy came to a happy ending. Those Claytons were the most evil part of the story, but the Mrs. had me fooled for a bit there!

Starts off slow as we get to know the MFC and her wanting to get married and learn of her arraigned marriage. Its set in the 1800's but this book def picks up toward the end and draws you in. Has gothic and supernatural vibes but overall a great book and very well written. Not my normal type of setting but the author drew me in and made me want to read more of her work. Some romance is in it. But this is overall a page turner to find out what happens in the Faraday House and why everything happens there.

As a child, I wasn't particularly interested in reading, but I distinctly remember being captivated by Charles Perrault's "Bluebeard." For some inexplicable reason, it became my favorite childhood story, and now I find myself drawn to anything related to this classic folklore. B.R. Myers' work on "The Third Wife of Faraday House" as a retelling of the Bluebeard tale was especially impressive to me.

"The Third Wife of Faraday House" tells the story of Emeline Fitzpatrick, whose life has always been marked by tragedy. When she is found in a compromising situation with the man she loves, her guardians are desperate to avoid scandal. They give her an ultimatum: join a convent or marry the mysterious Captain Graves. Emeline chooses the latter and embarks on a journey to Faraday House, where unforeseen obstacles await, marking the beginning of her struggle for survival.

As I delved into the story, I found myself experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. Initially, I was filled with curiosity about the eventual outcome of the young woman's journey. However, as the narrative progressed, my curiosity gave way to a growing sense of fear. B.R. Myers masterfully creates a paranormal environment that gives the reader chills. This haunting atmosphere turns us into detectives, leaving us to wonder whether the malevolent forces emanate from the house itself or if the blame lies with the inhabitants.

"The Third Wife of Faraday House" is impressive because of the secrets that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. In the most unexpected and chilling twist, you discover that all the wives in Faraday House die one way or another.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC in return for an honest review!

Emeline Fitzpatrick is a product of her times, but she longs for romance, adventure, and a sense of self-worth. When her attempts to secure those things ends in disaster, she has no choice but to flee to a remote island and an arranged marriage. However, from the moment she arrives in Shoreditch, things begin to go wrong. What seemed like merely an inconvenient delay in the destiny she had planned becomes a terrifying, possibly deadly mystery. Can she save herself and create a life to match her dreams, or will she become another of "all the wives [who] die young at Faraday House"?

This book is a deliciously shivery, gothic mystery. With the secretive house help, tributes to the dead and almost dead, an unpredictable and possibly dangerous husband, and a huge house full of secrets, I was reminded strongly of Rebecca, The Fall of the House of Usher, and other tales of suspense. The setting, being in Canada in the early 19th century, adds some local and historical flavor that is off the beaten path and very welcome. Emeline is a believable and sympathetic character, and I appreciated that part of the plot misdirection was through her second-guessing her naive decisions. Nor was hers the only dynamic character; this book was much less predictable than I thought it would be, and it was a quick read for me because I was anxious to see the resolution to the many questions that ebbed and flowed like the tide that determined the fate of those on the island.

While the pacing is a bit slow, and the twists are a bit cliched and predictable the characters in the story are what makes this story enjoyable. The ending is satisfying and the journey was fun,

The story of a young woman who reluctantly leaves her soul mate behind to marry into money at the wishes of her guardians. Upon arriving Emeline discovers that the present wife of her betrothed is not quite dead yet...on her way out, but still very much alive. Well, that's awkward. The house and its inhabitants are filled with secrets that may threaten Emeline's very life. If you're a fan of gothic historical fiction, don't miss this one. It's my first by this author and I'm excited to find her. The story is original and the writing is definitely far above a lot of the drivel found in contemporary novels (if that makes me a book snob, so be it).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

The Third Wife of Faraday House is about Emeline, a young woman who gets entangled with scandal in 1800s Halifax, Nova Scotia. Needing to avoid the impropriety of her scandal and convinced her lover will come to rescue her, Emeline agrees to marry Captain Graves, a wealthy man who owns the mansion Faraday House on an island off of the remote coast. When she arrives, she realizes that the second Mrs. Graves is still alive, and that the house holds secrets of the previous wives of Faraday House.

After reading the blurb, this gave me Bluebeard vibes, which is one of the more chilling fairytales that I know. While this definitely isn't an exact retelling, but I felt like it was similar and wanted to give it a read!

Man, what a perfect book for the beginning of October! The Third Wife of Faraday House was the perfect combination of a cool setting, interesting characters, a chilling mystery, and some supernatural elements. Gothic horror is definitely the perfect description!

My two favorite things about the book are first, the characters. The characters are very multifaceted and morally gray in the way that humans really are. I liked that darker sides of characters were revealed without them being the final "villain." The same with good things, too. The second is the setting. Such a remote house by the sea had very unique spooky feeling that I really enjoyed.

I also early reviewed one of the author's previous books, A Dreadful Splendor, which had similar spooky vibes. I felt like the pieces of that book didn't quite piece together for me. This one really did. I'm looking forward to seeing what Myers writes in the future!

I had a great time with this book and recommend it for a spooky read! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC, my thoughts are my own!

CW: Violence, blood, assault, death, descriptions of dead bodies, descriptions of injuries, terminal illness

The Third Wife of Faraday House is a gothic mystery that follows Emeline Fitzpatrick as she struggles to unravel the curse of Faraday House.

After reading A Dreadful Splendor, I had high hopes and much excitement about The Third Wife of Faraday House. Unfortunately, I think I set too great of expectations. Although I enjoyed the book, I found it very slow paced and struggled to favor any of the characters. Moses, the dog, was my favorite character and I enjoyed the small humorous moments that Emeline had while he was around. Additionally, the timeline was occasionally difficult to follow when it jumped into hauntings/visions.

As with A Dreadful Splendor, I would recommend this to friends, but I'm not sure I will reread. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a very unique book that I'm not sure quite how to categorize it. I think my students will like the blend of regency meets romance meets mystery meets maybe a ghost story. It's a great example to provide to my students of how different genres can blend together to create an entertaining story.

This historical mystery is a slow burn – fair warning. It reads more like historical fiction with splashes of mystery but loads of gothic vibes. The atmosphere of the house and the grounds of Faraday House were crafted to perfection – I could see the holes dotting the grounds beneath the gloomy trees and smell the salty wind-whipped sea air.

In the end, I wound up liking Emeline’s character, but it was a struggle for the first quarter of the book. I think that is what pulled me out of the story the most. While I understand Emeline clinging to Frederick because of the events that transpired, he didn’t deserve it. Her many letters and thoughts about him were tiring, tedious, and detracted from her character. Thankfully, she grew as a person throughout the book but it took her too long to accept reality. Reverend Pellerine was my side character, I don’t think Emeline would have grown as a person without him or Georgina.

"I wanted to swallow all the rocks to weigh myself down so I could walk along the bottom of the ocean.

I’d creep among the seaweed until I reached Bermuda. With putrefied skin covered in barnacles and starfish clinging to my hair, I’d emerge from the turquoise waters to claim a terrified Frederick. His screams would be my lullaby as I dragged him back to the ocean, keeping him tightly in my arms as he drowned. Both of us resting at the bottom in an eternal watery embrace."

Many thanks to William Morrow for the opportunity to read this moody historical mystery. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction and atmospheric reads with a splash of mystery.

A fantastic historical fiction Gothic reimagining of the Rebecca story that sees a young Halifax socialite sent off to a distant island to become the third wife of a ship captain. The catch is when she arrives it's to discover that the second Mrs Faraday is still alive but ailing terribly and the one man she's hoping will come rescue her is not able to be reached. Chilling and great on audio, this had creepy vibes, ghosts and lots of secrets and misdirections. Highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

📗+ 🎧-The Third Wife of Faraday House-a standalone

✍🏾 By: B.R. Meyers-new to me author

🗣️Narrator: Imogen Church voices all characters. The narrator's voice fit the characters with standouts from Emeline, Georgina, and Pellerine. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along with the E-book and audiobook.

Page Count: E-book 352

Run Time: 12:24

Publication Date: 8-20-24 | Read: 9-19-24

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks for this ARC💚! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre: Gothic Romance, Historical Fic/Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal

🌍 Setting: Canada 1816

Tropes:
👰🏾slow burn
👰🏾ghosts
👰🏾atmospheric/supernatural
👰🏾female friendship
👰🏾arranged marriage
👰🏾surprise pregnancy

⚠️ TW: death of spouse-H, death of parents-h, visions from the dead-h, murder-poisoning, shooting

POV: single, 1st person h

💭💭💭 Summary: Emeline is looking for a way out of Halifax. She has a secret lover who plans to marry her and whisk her away to Bermuda, but she gets caught in a scandal. Her guardians arrange a marriage with Captain Graves at Faraday House, or she will be shipped off to a convent. Once she arrives at Faraday, she discovers there's a curse on Faraday women and she starts seeing visions of the past. Will she marry in peace or is there something sinister going on?


🚺Heroine: Emeline Fitzpatrick- 20, naive, innocent, beautiful

🚹Hero?: Captain Edgar Graves- retired shipping merchant in trading and sawmills.

🚹Reverend Pellerine- has weekly visits Faraday House to give private sermons. He wanted to be Emeline's rescuer, asked to marry Emeline but she turned him down.

🎭Side cast:

•Esther-1st wife, deceased.

•Georgina-2nd wife, alive but sick

•Judge and Mrs. Shackleton-Emeline's guardians

•Hettie-housemaid @ Faraday House

•Reverend Pellerine-mysterious stranger who works for Capt. Graves but tries to help Emeline.

•Lt. Frederick Fletcher-Emeline's 1st love, in British Navy

•Mrs. Clayton+ Mr. Clayton- works for Faraday House, caretaker for Georgina

🤔🤔🤔My Thoughts: This was a good, haunted house mystery. It reminded me of Rebecca and the movie Crimson Peak. Emeline tried to correct her mistakes and gain her independence. She underestimated herself believing her only asset was her beauty, just as her guardians told her. She was strong, intelligent, and resourceful in dealing with the staff, Graves, Reverend, Esther, and Georgina. She discovered self-love, protected herself, and found her HEA!

Range of emotions:
🌶️ : Spice 1/5-kiss only
🗣️️: Narration 4/5
😭 : Emotion 3/5
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 : Couple 3/5
️✨: Rating 4/5

Like the synopsis says, for people who love Gothic novels, you're going to be jazzed about this! Lots of the Gothic novel characteristics and settings -- a great fall read.

1816

Emeline Fitzpatrick, 20, has lived with Judge and Mrs. Shackleton as their ward for the last 10 years. They do not approve of her and she fears they will send her to a sanatorium. They are searching for suitors for her but she is in love with Lieutenant Frederick Fletcher and writes him numerous letters hoping he will propose to her.

Mrs. Shackleton wants to marry her off to Captain Graves who it is said has outlived two wives who both died in childbirth. The man is a retired shipping merchant, owns two sawmills, and has a large estate. After Emeline is discovered outside at a ball with Frederick, Mrs. Shackleton decides to send her to Captain Graves.

Enroute to his home, the carriage wheel breaks leaving her alone until the driver returns. Then the Reverend Pellerine drives by and takes her to the Graves house, He said he is heading there to perform last rites of the second Mrs. Graves!

As Emeline tries to settle into the house, she meets Georgina and wonders at her fragility and if she is being poisoned. The house is cold and dark with the winter weather closing in. The housekeeper and her husband work there and there is only one other maid. Strange things happens in the house that scare Emeline and she only wishes that Lieutenant Fletcher will come and rescue her. Will he make it in time?

This book is really creepy and we have a ghost too. The dark atmosphere is described very well and the coldness of it all can be felt by the reader. Brrr! I liked Georgina, but Emeline took a bit of time to figure out. However, this is a spooky read that I’m sure readers who like a scary story will enjoy.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is an engaging book with lots of spooky autumn/gothic vibes. It starts out like a Regency era Bluebeard retelling set in Canada, but the story soon develops plenty of twists, turns, and secrets. Not to mention a ghost of two. I thought the creepy moments were well done. It’s a great read to get you in the spooky season spirit.

I haven’t read many books set in early 19th century Canada. I liked how geographical locations and historical events were woven into the story.