Apparently, I love an unhinged Victorian. Ms. Winifred Notty was perfectly crass and completely psycho. The vibes were similar to an Ottessa Moshfegh book with irreverent and perverse characters and a touch of humor (think Lapvona). Every time Winifred would refer to her inner darkness I would think of it as her “Dark passenger” a la Dexter (iykyk).
The gothic winter setting definitely delivered on the creepy psycho vibes.

I highly recommend this book if you love:
••Unhinged characters
••Crass humor
••Body Gore
••Victorian Gothic Vibes
••Short books (208 pages/just under 5 hour audio)
(Check trigger warnings because there is a lot of twisted content😅)

((Thank you Netgalley and Recorded Books for access to the Advanced Listener copy. The audio book was very well done!))

This is a quick, little, gruesomely bloody read steeped in gothic horror themes. There are hints of "gross girl fiction," but thankfully, it doesn't rely on that too much and actually builds a story with more depth. I went in mostly blind, and I think that's the way to go if you enjoy the macabre and gore.

Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor. I’m in shock. I didn’t expect that ending and wow did it pack a punch. I don’t want to say much about this one because you need to go in blind. Just know the victorian vibes are incredible and be ready for a bloody good time. I also highly recommend listening to it on audio because the narrator does an amazing job.
4/5 Stars

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito is a wickedly sharp, darkly comedic gothic thriller that pays clear homage to American Psycho. Feito masterfully crafts a chilling portrait of an utterly unhinged governess whose descent into madness is as mesmerizing as it is horrifying. The novel’s lyrical prose drips with gothic atmosphere, weaving a tale of obsession, violence, and psychological unraveling with an unsettling elegance. The unique narration (at times even breaking the fourth wall) adds an extra layer of twisted charm, making the reader complicit in the governess’s macabre thoughts. With a razor sharp wit and a hauntingly immersive style, Victorian Psycho is a beautifully sinister gem for fans of psychological horror and gothic fiction.

WOW.
This book took me entirely by surprise as I, once again, did not read the synopsis. This sadistic and sardonic read had me in a chokehold as I listened to it in 2 sittings. Winifred is very much the 'women can do anything that men do' kind of gal which had me frothing at the mouth. Her deliciously dark inner monologue was such a delight to be apart of.
I don't want to express too much more about this book, because I truly think this is one you have to go into knowing it will be dark, gruesome, and such a vibe. But I will say, if you love Maeve Fly, pick this up immediately! This book deserves all of the hype and then some!

In Victorian Psycho, VFeito pulls the reader into the sickly, stifling world of Winifred Notty, a governess so far removed from the wholesome ideals of her profession that the very air around her seems to pulse with menace. Set in a dark, sprawling English estate where every portrait feels alive with secrets, Feito crafts a gothic horror tale that toes the line between deliciously unsettling and utterly unhinged.

The family she serves, from the lascivious Mr. Pounds to the sadistic Mrs. Pounds, are as much her prey as her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, who are as spoiled and revolting as the mansion itself. Feito's mastery lies in the slow burn of Winifred's unraveling, and the way she plays with gothic conventions to make them feel both familiar and eerily foreign.

For those who savor the unsettling and the grotesque, Victorian Psycho offers a perfect blend of wit, horror, and psychological torment. A gothic tale for the modern age, and one that will leave an indelible mark on anyone brave enough to follow Winifred through her deranged path to vengeance.

The title to this book says a lot about this story. The main character is totally unhinged and on a rampage. I think the fact that she sends dead babies to a nunnery in boxes says a lot about her mental state.

It's not a terrible story by any means. It had everything I usually enjoy in this type of novels, actually. But in this case, nothing hit. Nothing. The grotesque moments fell flat each and every single time, I never even snorted at some of the unhinged things she did, I was just completely indifferent towards this entire story and its characters. Some of the twists had me raising my eyebrows in a surprised kind of way, and I liked the poking fun at Victorians, because those people truly were unhinged. I think here it's very much a case of "it didn't hold my attention" rather than "this book is terrible". It has a lot of elements I know others might like so don't cross it off your wishlist because of me, but it was a bit of a flop on my part.

Winifred Notty is the new governess for the Pounds family. She does her best to outwardly portray the perfect caretaker for Drusilla and Andrew. However, with Mr. Pounds ogling her, Mrs. Pounds punishing her for it, and becoming increasingly annoyed by the children’s entitled upbringing, her true nature cannot be suppressed any longer.

This story gripped me and drew me in right away and I read it in one sitting. I know this book will not be for everyone, but it was certainly for me! Make no mistake, Winifred messed up, but being inside her head was so entertaining. This is a character driven story as we get her inner thoughts throughout. Be prepared that it’s not just gory and violent, but also cruel and disturbing. And sometimes funny?

I have not read the physical copy, but I very much enjoyed the audio. I felt like the even tone and consistent rhythm of the narrator really was the right choice for this character.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to listen to and review an early copy of this book!

There is a book out there written specially for you that identifies you and makes you happy, and fulfills your life. This is that book for me. After reading it a month ago I was so in love with Winifred Notty and I still am. I need my physical copy to hug to sleep every night. The audio narrator does amazing job, Anna Burnett has my admiration. Highly, highly recommend you to not miss this massacre. I want to share some quotes as well:
“Rusted freckles sprinkle his strikingly long forehead like the indiscriminate spray of blood from a slit throat.”
“Human expressions are like hides I’ve peeled throughout life, rolled into a ball, and slipped under my skin.”
“Sometimes evil is borne in one of the Lord’s creatures and there’s nowt to do about it, nowt at all/”
“Little girls everywhere will know they can aspire to kill, too – ‘tis not only the men that do.”
Thank you to NetGalley and PBmedia for providing me with the ALC.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio copy of this book. It definitely falls under “weird books about unhinged women” which is one of my favorite genres. This could’ve benefited from a bit more story and character development but was enjoyable nonetheless.

Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House in England to work as a governess for the Pounds family. She quickly realizes that the family has disturbing tendencies, with Mr. Pounds ogling her and Mrs. Pounds punishing her for his behavior. As Winifred struggles to control her violent impulses, she occupies herself with tutoring and needlework, all while planning something sinister for Christmas. The story is filled with dark humor and leads to a shocking conclusion, offering a glimpse into the mind of a new literary psychopath.

Wow! I was completely taken by surprise at how much I enjoyed this book! It was an unexpected gem that I received as an advance copy. Just imagine, back in the day, people didn't really talk about psychopaths and other mental illnesses because medical knowledge was lacking and still developing. It must have been a whole different ball game back then. This book serves as a fascinating peek into the minds of a few twisted individuals.

The narrator was a perfect choice, adding an extra layer of depth to the listening experience. The main character was truly one-of-a-kind, with her thoughts and actions slowly unfolding. Her dark tendencies and urges were revealed gradually, leading up to a shocking twist on Christmas day. The ending caught me completely off guard, leaving me pondering the hereditary nature of the issue and the unexpected helper involved. I won't give too much away, but this was a delightfully twisted listen!

If you're a fan of dark, creepy, and slightly gory stories, this one's for you. It'll stick with you long after you've finished, especially if you enjoy that gothic horror vibe. I'm grateful to live in a time where we have a better understanding of psychopaths, even if they're still not easy to spot. Cheers to modern knowledge!

Thank you, RBmedia | Recorded Books and Liveright, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House to serve as the governess for the Pounds children, Andrew and Druscilla. She spends her days tutoring the children and battling her murderous desires. I loved the gothic vibes, completely unhinged narrator and dark comedy.
Virginia Feito writes Winifred’s inner monologue as delightfully sarcastic and Anna Burnett perfectly captures the dark humor in her narration.

Wowwww, what a savage and unhinged ride! This gothic horror story is wildly funny and grotesque, extraordinary from start to finish (and the narration is top tier). Virginia Feito’s writing is immaculate, this book is binge-worthy as hell, and the denouement is chef’s kiss. This was an easy five star read for me and I highly recommend! Feito’s debut novel, Mrs. March, is also worth your time.

Imagine if Mary Poppins moonlighted as a bloodthirsty sociopath—enter Winifred Notty, the new governess of Ensor House, and the unhinged antiheroine of Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito. Winifred is absolutely, certifiably mad, and I loved every deranged second of it.

I don’t usually reach for horror because I’m easily spooked, but this book had me at its title and cover. And truly, what an exhilaratingly twisted ride it turned out to be. Winifred, hired to look after two children she openly dislikes, is lodged in a household where the master lusts after her and the mistress loathes her. Against this backdrop of dysfunctional Victorian propriety, Feito delivers an acerbic commentary on the era’s absurd social norms, gender roles, and sheer lack of scientific enlightenment.

The novel is a darkly hilarious, gleefully grotesque plunge into Winifred’s psychotic mind. Her razor-sharp wit makes for an amusingly unsettling contrast to the macabre events unfolding around her. And while I did have to suspend disbelief a few times, I didn’t mind in the slightest—I was far too entertained.

I listened to the audiobook, and let me tell you, Anna Burnett is Winifred Notty. Her performance is pitch-perfect, capturing every ounce of Winifred’s dry sarcasm and chilling indifference. If you enjoy horror that blends absurdity with the macabre, this one’s a must. It’s a gender-bent, Victorian-era American Psycho, complete with ghastly acts committed with all the passion of someone ordering tea. The humor? Deliciously dry. The horror? Disturbingly effective. The writing? It's gorgeous despite the grotesque subject matter.

And let’s talk about that twist. No spoilers, but let’s say I gasped audibly and had to rewind to make sure I’d heard correctly. Don’t read spoiler reviews—go in blind for maximum impact.

This isn’t the kind of horror that will have you checking under your bed at night, but Winifred’s casual approach to horrifying deeds will haunt you entirely differently. The body horror? Oh, it’s there, and it’s plentiful.

This book is off-the-wall bonkers, and I devoured it in nearly one sitting. It’s wicked, it’s weird, and it’s absolutely wonderful. I can’t wait to see how they adapt this madness for the big screen. If you have even a shred of darkness in you, you’re going to love every twisted second of it.

Thank you to Virginia Feito, RBMedia, and NetGalley for this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
Victorian Psycho will be on sale on February 4th, 2025

This is a short, fun, nasty little story. Well written and thought out and highly entertaining.

I was fortunate enough to receive an audiobook review copy on NetGalley and it definitely exceeded my expectations. The story flowed nicely, and the narrator nailed the cadence and pacing of the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed snickering at some of Winifred’s fiendish internal monologues.

This is my honest and voluntary review.

“This shan’t be like the other times.”

Thank you Netgalley for the audio arc of this book. The audio version was very well narrated. I really enjoyed how crazy and creepy this was. I flew through this audio so quick. I rated it a 4 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to review this ARC! Unfortunately, Victorian Psycho simply wasn't to my liking. I made it halfway through but couldn't continue. The narrative felt somewhat disjointed and peculiar, failing to capture my attention. However, just because it didn't resonate with me doesn't mean I wouldn't recommend it to others; it might just be your cup of tea!

"It is early fall, the cold is beginning to descend, and in three months everyone in this house will be dead."

Winifred Notty has just arrived at Ensor House to serve as the governess for the Pounds' family. She has searched for a long time to find the Pounds family. While passing the days tutoring the Pounds children, Drusilla and Andrew, Winifred tries to keep her violent imagination in check. She finds the children entitled and stupid, but she must continue and have patience. Christmas is coming and she has a very special gift planned for all those at Ensor House.

This book was my ideal horror - I love the gothic, Victorian vibes and the callous and dark humor of the main character. It was a quick read (208 pages) filled with devious humor and gore. The inner dialogue of Winifred is purely psychopathic and shocking but in the best way. If you don't like gore, then this one is not for you. The writing style is a little different but played to the thought process of the main character perfectly. You start to lose what is real or imagination as Winifred holds back her inner desires. This was a fun dark comedy horror following a woman seeking vengeance.

Thank you Netgalley and W. W. Norton & Company, Liveright for the ALC for review! I first read the e-book, but then got approved for the audiobook as well and listened to it again! Love it!

If you’re having a bad day with your kids, spouse, employer, relatives, random strangers, or anyone else, the “Victorian Psycho” audiobook will allow you to experience all your bloody revenge fantasies in your head, all narrated by a genteel British voice with perfect diction straight out of 1880’s London. Winifred Notty (delightfully pronounced “naughty” by narrator Anna Burnett) is Virginia Feito’s sarcastic, sociopathic, drippingly evil governess, in charge of Drusilla and Andrew (both with their expected elitist problems). They are the progeny of the brutal Mrs. Pound and lecherous Mr.Pound, and there’s never a doubt in this delicious horror novel that Winifred will be exacting more than a pound of flesh from them. The novel is short (200 pages) and the audiobook goes by quickly (less than 5 hours).

But, be warned, you’ll need to be in a mood for “Victorian Psycho.” It’s already being made into a film for A24, and you’ll see it (deservedly) on lists of the most anticipated books for February 2025. Horror isn’t one of my favored genres, but this one was just gory and short enough for me.

Anna Burnett’s tongue-in-cheek first person POV is pitch perfect. Author Feito’s prose is the correct combination of sneering, derision, and scorn. Her descriptions of the snooty manners and fringe-laden surroundings evoke the stuffy Victorian era we’re glad has been over for 150 years. 4 stars for the story; 5 stars for the narration.