This beautifully written book takes place (mostly) in an English mansion that's slowly falling apart. Frances Jellico has been sent to research the architecture in the surrounding gardens, a welcome change after years spent caring for her mother. Encountering Cara and Peter, she's enchanted by this couple and how easily they seem to embrace her into friendship. However, as the summer continues, Frances can sense things aren't quite rosy between Cara and Peter. Stories that Cara tells her don't quite add up, either. As Frances becomes more and more entangled in their lives, the boundaries between truth and lies start to waver and blur and a small crime leads to another so terrible that it will change all their lives forever.
Fuller tells this story through Frances' perspective, both in the present where Frances is much older, and then in the past, when it's the hedonistic summer of Cara and Peter. Is Frances a reliable narrator? It's hard to say, which means that no, she may not be a reliable narrator at all. Fuller brings the lush setting to life, so you feel immersed in the summer that the three people shared at this dilapidated place. I found Frances to be a sly storyteller at times, where you can't tell if she's quite giving you the real story or not. Her own perspectives on people and relationships are warped, to be sure. I'd put this in the category of dark mystery, although it's much more than that, as it's a definite exploration of the human soul.
No comments:
Post a Comment