Thank you netgalley for the advanced preview book. I just love getting advance copies! This one lives up to the hype!

“The reader is therefore advised to proceed with caution. What tricks lie in this narrative are never evident or foretold. Indeed one of the only reasons to read it, aside from that of satisfying the most morbid of curiosities…”

Long after the Braithwhite family passed on, a narrative penned by Lucy Braithwhite was discovered in their abandoned home in Devonshire. Lucy recalls her ideal childhood in Devon playing on the moors with her brother John. Gradually unfolding through the narrative are details of a terrible accident with lasting impact. London, 1870: Braithwhite & Company is the lifeblood of the Braithwhite family, yet tragedy haunts the family with deaths and illness. Mother, John, and Lucy, the only remaining family, trust Mr. Luckhurst to manage their successful wallpaper company. But he dies suddenly, leaving the family floundering. Mr. Rivers, Mr. Luckhurst’s assistant, inserts himself into the family to manage the Company, inexplicably knowing much of their private affairs. But Lucy is suspicious while he charms Mother and John.

The Company’s success comes from the lush, stunning greens, blues, and yellows in the wallpaper it produces. But these colors are enhanced by copper arsenite from their Devon mines. While the family and the Company are under attack from the media and the public over the arsenic in their wallpaper, John and Mr. Rivers refuse to bend to public ‘sentiment’.

The wallpaper adorning the family’s walls becomes a character – the birds, vines, and foliage change with the light, and the bold patterns seem to take on a life of their own. Lucy is unsettled and disturbed by the wallpaper. Her paranoia is everywhere on the pages – the ultimate unreliable narrator. What role is the poisonous wallpaper playing on her psyche and her ill family? Is Mr. Rivers the sinister man she suspects? A wonderfully creepy Victorian tale to chill the reader.

Historical Novels Review, November 2024

The premise intrigued me. The descriptions of the poisonous wallpaper with its vivid colors and images of vines and carnivorous plants fascinated me. The editor's note, claiming that the manuscript should have been left to rot and never found or read, ,kept me reading. But there's not much to read on for. The most interesting part of the story was the public's growing outrage about the arsenic in the wallpaper and the family's lack of response to it.

The premise of this book was incredibly fascinating. I was unaware of arsenic in wallpaper in Victorian England, and how it impacted people. I found the plot to move really slowly in a way that worked for this book - it caused tension to slowly build and kept me engrossed. The ending was extremely ambiguous, moreso than I prefer, but has had me ruminating on it since I finished it. This is a perfect read for Autumn.

Lucy Braithwaite is an heiress to Braithwaite & Company, a company that manufactures stunning and intricate wallpapers. When the manager dies without a strong succession plan, she discovers that Julian Rivers has been trained to take her place. Soon, things start to go wrong.

I really loved the idea of this story. Parts of it were very entertaining and it was a unique premise. The biggest issue I had is that it was maybe a bit too long and repetitive. I feel like it would have been better as a novella.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. This book is very Victorian gothic and I loved the vibes of this book however it was a little bit confusing to follow. This book follows Lucy and her brother John in their “company” which is wallpaper with arsenic. I was instantly hooked by the writing because it was written beautifully but it was an extremely slow burn and I feel like it was focused more on detail than the plot. I did still enjoy this one very much. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read an early copy.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!
Whew what a quick read- you quickly get into the story told by the daughter of the family, following some very strange deaths and occurrences in her family and the wallpaper company they run. I wasn't all that thrilled with the style of writing- it felt like a police interrogation or someone telling a story in their old age. The story starts off with a strong sense of foreboding and grows slowly as the story moves along (certainly hits on the gothic vibes). I really loved how the house and setting became part of the plot as the story continues. The characters seem a bit flat and one sided to me and I didn't really find myself siding or cheering for any of them. Overall 3 stars

*The Company* by J.M. Varese is a hauntingly atmospheric and richly detailed novel that masterfully blends historical fiction with psychological intrigue. Varese’s vivid storytelling and complex characters create an immersive world that keeps readers hooked. It's a compelling, eerie tale that lingers in the mind long after the last page.

"London, 1870.

Lucy Braithwhite lives a privileged existence as heir to the fortune of Braithwhite and Company - the most successful purveyor of English luxury wallpapers the world over. The company's formulas have been respected for nearly a century, but have always remained cloaked in mystery. No one has been able to explain the originality of design, or the brilliance of their colours, leaving many to wonder if the mysterious spell-like effect of their wallpapers is due simply to artistry, or something more sinister.

When Mr Luckhurst, the company's manager, and the man who has acted as surrogate father to Lucy and her invalid brother John since they were children, suddenly dies, Lucy is shocked to discover that there is no succession plan in place. Who will ensure that the company and her family continue to thrive?

The answer soon arrives in the form of the young and alluring Julian Rivers, who, unbeknownst to Lucy and John, has been essential to the company's operations for some time. At first, he seems like the answer to their prayers, but as Lucy begins piecing together Julian's true intentions, and John begins seeing spectral visions in the house's wallpaper, it becomes clear to Lucy that she must do everything within her power to oppose the diabolic forces that have risen up to destroy her family.

Set against the backdrop of the real-life arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 19th century, The Company is a dark and haunting slice of gothic Victoriana, following one woman's fight to preserve all that she holds dear."

Gothic Victoriana! AND poisoned wallpaper to boot!

I was so incredibly excited to receive an ARC of The Company. I enjoy the stories of historical controversies and disasters, and arsenic in wallpapers is one that has always been most intriguing to me.

Unfortunately, though the premise of the book is what drew me in (and that gorgeous cover), this was a major disappointment for me.

What I enjoyed:
-The authors writing is beautiful and I have no doubt they’re an incredible writer. I hope to read other works from them.

-The story was so atmospheric - it really felt gothic and the impending doom was palpable.

-The hallmarks of a great thriller were there, it just didn’t pull through the way I felt was needed.

What I didn’t enjoy:
-It was such a slow build that led to, what I felt, was a dead end. The mystery wasn’t officially solved by the end, but at the same time it felt unbearably obvious.

-The tension for a terrifying conclusion was there, but it just fell flat.

-The characters were a bit dull for me, including our main character. One dimensional, only there for the plot to play out as need be.

-For a book that was built on the premise of arsenic in wallpapers, it was really an afterthought in the entirety of the story. Another reviewer referred to it as the literal backdrop and not much else which I feel is an apt description.

If you enjoy a metaphoric gothic story that and aren’t concerned with a solid conclusion at the end of beautiful prose, then this may be the right book for you.

Thank you to Baskerville and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Company.

This was a vey strange book: creepy old house, arsenic-inflamed wallpaper, conflicted characters, contested legacies, all imbued with a heavy dose of Gothic mystery and conflicting interests. While the premise was intriguing, the story itself slogged along at a snail’s pace, and I admit I skimmed through multiple passages. If setting, detail and a murky story appeal to you, then this book will be a winner. If you do not like speculative fiction, untrustworthy characters and meandering dialogue, this book will frustrate you (I am I this category).

Thanks to NetGalley and Baskerville for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

You can't tell a book by its cover! You also can't tell a book by its summary, or for that matter the reviews. So all that being the case, none of the aforementioned didn't settle into my mind as I requested this novel. Big mistake. My thanks to NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. Hope to have better instincts (and luck) in my future requests.

This book was too slow, and the story didn't even make up for it. The problem with the speed would have been fixed in part if it wasn't quite repetitive. While the main character (Lucy) is well written and had plenty of depth, the rest of the characters were flat. I did like how the book was written from Lucy's point of view through writings that were found. I also liked the plot in theory, but I found the execution lacking.

Interesting premise and characters, but felt a bit slow and clunky at times. It is definitely atmospheric and gothic Victorian as promised, and I thought the author did a really good job with that, but other parts just seemed like missed potential. It could just be personal preference and the writing style not really being for me, but it was hard to stay engaged the entire time.

Lucy and her brother John enjoy a privileged life as the heirs to a mining and manufacturing company renowned for its brilliantly colored wallpapers. But the formulas for those colors hold a deadly secret. When the company’s manager suddenly dies, Lucy is shocked to find no succession plan in place. Enter Julian, a young and charming man whose arrival seems fortuitous. However, as Lucy uncovers Julian’s true motives, she realizes she must confront the dark forces threatening her family’s future.

This is a lyrically written, slowly evolving gothic suspense. It’s not horror and it’s not paranormal. The story is fascinating and the ending ambiguous—but it’s also illogical to the point of being unclear. A story like this only works if the ending is tight, and this one isn’t. Still, I enjoyed about 95% of the story, and the ending does raise some interesting questions.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I was excited to read J.M. Varese's The Company, because I enjoy the time period and am somewhat familiar with the arsenic wallpaper scandal. Unfortunately, the book didn't meet my expectations. I found the characters to be unsympathetic and I couldn't get myself to care about the fate of the "company" or the Braithwaite family. I think the book would have been much more interesting if it were told from the viewpoint of Mr. Rivers, who is cast as the villain in the story.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.

J.M. Varese's "The Company" is a compelling exploration of human ambition, intrigue, and the dark side of business ethics and family secrets in the 1870s. The narrative weaves together the lives of diverse characters touched in some way or another by the luxurious London wallpaper company, Braithwhite & Company, each driven by their desires, fears, and aspirations, making for a richly textured story.

One of the novel's standout features is its deep and mysterious character development. Varese masterfully creates complex characters who feel real and relatable, even when they make morally questionable decisions based on the horrific experiences they endured as children. The protagonist Lucy Braithwhite, in particular, is captivating, thought-provoking, and strong - highlighting the often blurry line between what may be her personal ambition and ethical compromise as she wavers from resurfaced memories of the damage and death the company has caused and concern for her family’s survival.

The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged from start to finish. Varese's writing style is both elegant and intriguing. The pacing is well-balanced, maintaining a steady momentum that keeps the reader invested in the outcome of the sinister plot unfolding.

"The Company" can also offer us a critical look at the modern corporate world, raising important questions about the cost of success and the true nature of power. While the story is fictional, its themes resonate deeply with real-world issues, making it a meaningful read as we still see this over a hundred years later where companies place profits over people.

Loosely based on the arsenic wallpaper poisonings in the late 19th century, “The Company" is a highly recommended historical fiction read for those who enjoy haunting, gothic dramas with a touch of suspense. Varese has delivered a memorable and impactful novel that lingers long after the last page.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #JMVarese, and #hachettebookgroup for the digital ARC of #thecompany for my honest review.

A bit like watching paint dry, or in this case wallpaper hang. The first person really hindered a lot of the story. There were not a lot of chills or atmosphere and for most of the book I couldn’t tell who was actually experiencing something ghastly or if our narrator had spent too much time licking her dollhouse wallpaper.

Thanks to NetGalley for the freebie, but not a winner for me.

Lucy is a strong and resilient MFC who’s trying to keep her family together, and brother in good health to run their family’s legacy business - wallpaper colored with arsenic - afloat after the deaths of her father and his business partner (I won’t go any further into the synopsis).

The Company is a wonderfully written and compulsively readable Gothic thriller that pulled me in right away as it set the stage for atmosphere and the paranormal.

The not-so-good (for me) -
*Lucy was the only notable character, the others fade into the background
*I found the ending anticlimactic

Despite the not-so-good aspects, I couldn’t stop reading.



Thank you to Baskerville and NetGalley for the DRC

This gothic suspense tale, set against the backdrop of the arsenic wallpaper scandal of the late 19th century, had me intrigued from the start with its blend of historical intrigue and eerie ambiance. The writing captures the lush, atmospheric tone of classic Victorian Gothic novels, creating a vivid and moody setting. However, while the concept of a female protagonist fighting to save her family's wallpaper empire from sinister forces was promising, the execution fell short. The pacing felt slow, and many of the character motivations and plot twists were predictable, leaving me a bit disappointed. Despite its strong foundation and beautiful prose, the novel didn’t quite live up to its potential.