The Lodger

Product Information

Helen Scarlett] has a gift for pulling readers into the twists and turns of her story’ SUNDAY TIMES Overall, The Lodger is an excellent read for fans of historical fiction with its captivating plot and realistic portrayal of post-war London. Unfortunately near the end two of the compulsory themes of the decade are dragged in – homophobia and sexual abuse. I assume authors can’t get publishing contracts without them, a bit like the new Oscar rules. At least racism was omitted for once. It’s not that I object to any of these themes – I’d just like them not to be quite so ubiquitous. I love chocolate fudge cake, but I don’t want it with every meal. Believe it or not, there are other aspects of the human condition worth exploring. And in this case, I felt the subjects of loss and renewal were more than sufficient, especially since she dealt with them so well.

The Lodger (Audio Download): Helen Scarlett, Lucy Paterson The Lodger (Audio Download): Helen Scarlett, Lucy Paterson

I didn’t have high hopes of this, having read a lot of gothic fiction recently and become a bit disillusioned with it but this was brilliant. I loved it. There were so many twist and turns and the ghosts and depiction of grief added real weight to the story. Elizabeth was a total mystery and I didn’t see the ending coming. I highly recommend this. I enjoyed this atmospheric, well-written book and would recommend it to everyone. Especially that, despite the gloom, there is a bit of romance. The Lodger is Helen Scarlett’s second novel (following The Deception of Harriet Fleet in 2020) who, once again, delivers a tale of mystery and intrigue set amid a gothic atmosphere set amid a period of mourning in 1919 following the First World War. The initial part was slow and intriguing. Full of hopes for the future blended with grief and inability to move on, it created a distinct mood. I couldn't put the book down Set in London in 1919, the book presents the atmosphere that prevailed then, with fresh memories of the fallen and the wounded in WW1, and this was what I like most. Its evident that the Author did splendid research into that period. I found the characters and the plot much less engaging. The mystery around the woman who resided with the Armstrong family and whose body was found in the Thames seemed too far-fetched to me. The interactions between characters were kind of unrealistic to me, especially between Grace and Tom and her best friend. Overall, an afternoon read that did not meet up my expectations.Grace must find out what happened to Elizabeth, yet the more she discovers, the more she loses of herself and in doing so could lead to her own tragic end when it becomes clear that her former lodger and friend wasn’t particularly innocent.

The Lodger by Helen Scarlett | Hachette UK

The story began to slow down a bit in the middle, making me lose interest 😭 The romance felt almost forced and the mystery waned! The characters involved in the romance barely have any scenes together so it just doesn’t make sense. The murder mystery completely slowed and there’s zero tension, it feels more like a cozy mystery than a gothic novel (which there’s nothing wrong with that but it’s not something I enjoy; I prefer mysteries with tension). London in 1919, a city of ghosts and absences. Grace Armstrong believes that she has come to terms with her own loss, the death of her fiancé, the brilliant and dazzling best friend of her brother. He was declared Missing in Action during the Battle of the Somme, but he starts to reappear both in her waking life and dreams.

Summary

Grace Armstrong believes that she has come to terms with her own loss, the death of her dazzling fiance who was declared Missing in Action. But soon he starts to reappear both in her waking life and dreams. The main issue I find with this book is that characters are flat. Despite the fact that the plot takes place in a space of about 6 months, the events don't seem to have too much influence on the characters' lives, beyond slightly modifying their routine. The few changes that you can be appreciate in Grace, Tom, or in any of the dozen characters in this story, seem come from the natural passage of time and the process of overcoming the trauma of war. Grace seems to accept the discoveries about Elizabeth's death and life like completing a puzzle. Elizabeth's story is full of secrets and taboos. But the information Grace gathers during the months following Elizabeth's death have no consequence. The final scenario would be exactly the same if the crime of the central plot was any other; and, what should have been the main story of the novel, becomes a secondary plot.