Winifred Notty is the new governess of Ensor House who arrives with ulterior motives and a mysterious past. She manages to ingratiate herself with the phrenology-obsessed Mr. Pounds, the master of the house, while Mrs. Pounds delights in finding new ways to humiliate her. And the servants just think she's weird. As Winifred tends to her charges - teaching them fake French and pinching them when they misbehave - small secrets from her past bubble to the surface. Along with these secrets, a bloodthirsty appetite for violence.

Prepare to be enchanted by Feito's delightfully psychotic female main character. Written from Winifred's perspective, the reader is given the chance to swim among the murky, blood-soaked morass of her mind. And it is delicious. The writing is sharp and humorous, keeping the pace tight and the text engaging as Feito buils to an epic conclusion.

This book is the definition of a fever dream. I was entertained from the first page. I needed to see where this went and what was real vs what was the MCs psychopathic machinations. In the end I wanted a tiny bit more real plot out of it, but it was a fun, short, easy ride that left me laughing in disgust.

Thank you NetGalley and Liveright for this ARC Copy!

WTF did I just read and why did I like it so much, is pretty much what I though through this entire book. What a wild ride... The FMC was shocking, understandable, weirdly relatable at times, and completely and utterly violent with no remorse whatsoever. I never knew where this story was going but I was hooked throughout the whole story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Wowowowow.
This was so insane and diabolical. I couldn't look away even when my jaw dropped in horror/repulsion. American Psycho in a victorian era and I couldn't predict where this was going, it surprised and shocked me at every turn. I do think it will translate well to film with Margaret Qualley as the lead!!!
Will be buying a physical copy to annotate and I loved the writing style!

This book was just strange. Gory, graphic, dare I say, psychotic? It gave me weird vibes throughout and it kind of reminded me of a demented Mary Poppins or something. Maybe that was the point? To be weirded out? I don't know. Not really the book for me.

This book was truly a rollercoaster, and I think I will be looking at autumnal foliage a bit differently.
I went into this book not expecting it to be as grotesque as it was and that was definitely a poor judgement call on my behalf. As vivid as some of the imagery was, I did thoroughly enjoy my reading experience.
I also hope to never come across anyone like Miss Notty. 😂

Thank you Netgalley & Liveright for an eARC ♥️

Victorian Psycho: A Deliciously Dark Read

Meet Winifred Notty, a governess with a secret: she's got a taste for blood. But don't worry, she's got it under control... or so she thinks. As she navigates the creepy world of Ensor House, Winifred's patience is put to the test. The Pounds family is basically the worst, and Winifred's got some seriously clever ways of dealing with them.
I loved how this book was both dark and witty at the same time. Virginia Feito’s writing is so engaging, and the suspense is killer (no pun intended). I couldn't put it down, and I didn't see the ending coming at all.
If you're in the mood for a book that's a little bit creepy, a little bit funny, and totally addictive, then Victorian Psycho is the way to go. ♥️



Would I recommend it? Heck yeah!

A great blend of dark humor and horror!

Winifred is certainly a 'psycho' but she's also funny as hell. She perfectly straddles the line between batshit crazy and "oh, don't mind her, she's just a poor, uncultured governess." The social commentary is smart and entertaining throughout, the violence effective without being excessive. If the book had been longer the premise likely would have worn thin, but this is a quick read that packs a punch and ends precisely when it should. I even loved the tiny "twist" at the end.

Towards the end, Winifred's narration does veer strongly into fever dream territory and it can be hard to follow. You are never quite sure what is happening and what she's imagining. Other events happen in the blink of an eye and can be confusing. And while I think that most of her early exploits are perfectly believable, the climax does get a bit silly.

Winifred may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I think a lot of people will find her, and this book, delightfully fun.

I was totally not prepared for the crazy mess of a character that is Winifred Notty, but here we are! She’s this super dark, totally twisted governess who, like, doesn't even try to hide her wicked thoughts. Honestly, I was laughing at all her crazy schemes, even though I shouldn't have been. But, seriously, this book just has that perfect combo of creepy, sarcastic, and—wait for it—bloody brilliant! The whole vibe is so eerie, and it totally sets the stage for some major chaos.

And don’t even get me started on the characters! Ugh, everyone’s messed up, but Winifred? She’s next level. Her descent into madness is, like, chef's kiss perfect! It’s not a slow burn; it’s more like a fireball of insane thoughts and, uh, some pretty gnarly moments (prepare yourself for that). But if you like dark humor and don't mind a little—okay, a LOT—of gore, you’ll be sooooo into it.

The ending? Shocking. Totally shocking. I did not see that coming. But I was here for it, like, all the way through. It was a quick read, and I totally could not put it down. So, yeah, this was a 4-star for me, definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you love a messed-up thrill, you’re gonna want this one.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Victorian Psycho was a trip in the best way. Knowing what I was getting into, I was still rather confused upon beginning it. It moves very quickly and is particularly short which I think is one of the flaws of this novel. I wish there was more for us to figure out.
Winnifred Notty is basically a psychopath, and the gruesome acts she both imagines and performs had me disgusted although I could not stop myself from reading. I needed to know what happened next.
It was incredibly captivating to see her relationships develop with the Pounds (Poundses) and I needed to know their fates.
While this book wasn’t necessarily scary or terrifying, it was horrific and I found myself unable to look away.

I dove into this book blindfolded, knowing only that it was "unhinged" - and boy, did it deliver on that promise - it was unhinged in the most bizarre and darkly hilarious way imaginable, thanks to Feito’s witty and satirical writing style.

The story centers around Winifred Notty, who is hired as a governess for the Pounds family in their remote gothic manor. Although the children treat her poorly, Ms. Notty remains unfazed, as we quickly learn she’s unable to feel genuine human emotions - a result of her dark and troubled past. Everything seems to be going well on the surface but little do the souls of Ensor House know, the new hire conceals a sinister intent and a psychopathic nature…

Winifred is fascinating, her internal dialogue reveals a diabolical character that’s slowly unraveling as she sets her vengeance into motion. Ms. Notty’s antics were so outrageously twisted that I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all - from sneaking dead critters into meals to putting the children to sleep with morbid bedtime tales and messing with the staff, I was entertained by the twisted randomness of it all! I was also completely caught off guard by that plot twist, and the ending was so gloriously disgusting that I devoured every last morsel of it - it was pure horror fan heaven!

I devoured my first book by this author and I'm already craving more. If you're in the mood for a Victorian horror novel that's equal parts bloody and darkly hilarious, look no further.

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito follows governess Winifred Notty as she begins working at Ensor House. It soon becomes clear that the family she is working for has a myriad of issues, but Winifred is not scared off. In fact it is the Pound family that should be scared of Winifred. We quickly learn that there is an evil inside of the governess. One that is itching to get out. I won't say more than that on the plot as this is a short novel in which a lot happens.

I will say this is not for the faint of heart. Many of the scenes are gruesome and probably will haunt me for a while. There is a lot of death in this and some scenes are described so horrifically that I had a hard time getting through it.

The novel also bounces back and forth between the present day and Winifred's past, but it was often difficult to tell when one time ended and the another began. I felt the author could have done more to inform the reader when we were switching between time periods.

We eventually learn there is more to the story of why Winifred is at Ensor House, but until that is revealed you are grasping at why she is there tormenting this family. I understand she is meant to be evil, but it was just so strange to me. She would make comments to the family about killing and sing songs to the children about death. And then kills multiple people within the house and doesn’t make a mess? How is this not noticed? How was she not let go the minute she walked into the house?

I suppose you could argue this is some sort of commentary about the class differences or how servants were treated (or ignored) by the well to do in Victorian England, but to me there just wasn’t enough there in this novella to justify that.

If you are looking for a short and gory horror novel, this may be for you. I just don’t think it was it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Liveright for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Victorian Psycho releases on February 4, 2025.

This was everything I wanted and more. Dark, funny, gothic, a little gay, please inject it into my face. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this five star read from the author of my much loved Miss March!

Winifred Notty, or Fred as her demons prefer, is the exact opposite of who you want taking care of your children, or living in your house. Or really, to be acquainted with at all.

Miss Notty moves in to the Ensor house to be the governess of Drusilla and Andrew, two insufferable children who are destined to grow up to be as dense, condescending, and bleak as their parents. Little do they know they are no match for the unhinged Fred and her psychopathic tendencies.

Virginia Feito’s Victorian Psycho will draw you in from the very first page. Have you giggling through the sarcasm and bad behavior, cringing at the gore and twisted thoughts bumping around in Miss Notty’s head, and questioning your sanity and how ridiculously intriguing this woman and her story is. 10/10 forever will recommend. My favorite of the year so far!

Thank you to NetGalley and Liveright Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book.

In this compulsively readable novel, we follow Winifred as she begins a new job as a governess to two children in a remote manor house. The only problem is she’s a total sociopath with a long history of violence. We follow the entire novel within her head and through her perspective and it makes her fated time at Ensor House a truly wild ride to follow. I just have to say, I was immediately locked into this novel within like three pages. The narration is sharp, dryly funny, gruesome and gory. You know from page one this girl is crazy, but the whole time you’re into seeing just how far she’ll go. And she goes just about as far as a human person can go. And I loved it. If you like unreliable or unlikeable main characters, Winifred is pretty top tier. There’s a couple twists in the last third that are expertly crafted and they felt natural instead of twists coming out of nowhere. This is a short novel, and it’s absolutely readable in one sitting. It’s a violent, bloody gothic fever dream and I loved experiencing it.

This will post on my instagram closer to the pub date- @boozehoundbookclub

Winifred Notty has accepted a governess position at Ensor House, where she will be taking care of Andrew and Drusilla Pounds. You learn that by the end everyone in the house will be dead, such a great opener! I really enjoyed being in the head of Miss Notty and hearing her psychotic and sometimes humorous thoughts. This book has some detailed gore that I really liked! However, the writing style took a while to get into, and you really have to suspend your disbelief to enjoy it.

A gothic fever dream of a novel, this story follows a sociopathic nanny whose chilling narcissism makes for a darkly entertaining—if unsettling—ride. I loved the unreliable narrator and satirical dark humor but the pacing felt too rushed, leaving me wanting more depth in its themes. I still enjoyed the blend of horror and dark comedy that kept me engaged, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this gets the big-screen treatment or becomes a new a24 adaptation.

I really don't have words for this book. Not a single character in this book has any redeemable qualities. This book is just crazy, gory, violent and hard to put to down.

5⭐️

Dark & unsettling. This book was so hard to put down, I simply didn’t want to stop reading!

Winifred Notty was hired as the governess at the Ensor house, and she came with a plan for every person in the house…

I loved this book so much! We are truly put into the mind of a psychopath and we don’t know what is true and what is not. It was a dark fever dream of a book.

I would consider this book a dark literary horror.

This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This book is such a fun and wild ride! It’s filled with great ponderings on privilege and sexism, weird rich people doing/saying weird rich people stuff, feminine rage, creepy victorian kids, explorations of a sprawling manor, satire, and black comedy.

The fmc is as charming and fun as she is brutal and grotesque! I both loved and kind of hated being inside her unhinged mind, watching her give in to her intrusive thoughts. From the beginning, you know exactly what you are getting into and Winifred wastes no time giving you hints! And sometimes, you aren’t sure if what she’s thinking is just a fantasy or if it’s actually happening. Her mind is like a gruesome fever dream!

From the beginning of the book I was reminded of the 1961 psychological horror film, The Innocents, in which a woman takes the job of governess to two strange children & madness ensues. This book has a similar gothic dreamlike vibe that I adored.

I loved Feito’s unapologetic and macabre writing style, and I hope to read more from her in the future!