This might have been more successful for me than Fingersmith, which I enjoyed, but I’d seen the film adaptation first, and preferred the changes to the source material. Knowing nothing about this, the first little bit had me a bit slow off the mark. Mostly concerned with building the relationship between MC and her mother, it dragged pretty substantially.

However, when the paying guests arrive—a couple on somewhat rocky footing—things start to get much more interesting. An unlikely romance blossoms in a historical context that makes it more complicated, but still highly relatable to today. And things just get more tense, as a spark sets the plot ablaze.

Waters felt like she had meticulously contrived each section, but particularly the characters’ reactions and nuanced interactions. Each point jumps off from the next, and though shocking, follows what’s established. Very enjoyable. I’d call it a literary slow burn thriller with good queer rep and a touch of romance.