A Dreadful Splendor: An Edgar Award Winner
A Dreadful Splendor: An Edgar Award Winner book cover

A Dreadful Splendor: An Edgar Award Winner

Kindle Edition

Price
$12.99
Publisher
William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication Date

Description

Always in the mood for a good scare, B. R. MYERS spent most of her teen years behind the covers of Lois Duncan, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King. She is the author of nine YA books. Her contemporary coming-of-age novel Girl on the Run was a CCBC Best Book for Teens pick in 2016. Her most recent publication, Rogue Princess , was chosen by the School Library Journal as one of the Top Ten Best Audiobooks. When not putting her characters in precarious situations, B. R. Myers works as a registered nurse. A member of the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Halifax with her family -- and there is still a stack of books on her bedside table. --This text refers to the audioCD edition. “Breathtaking, puzzling and spine-chilling all at once. A spectacular, haunting mystery with a touch of romance and twists galore. Absolutely brilliant!” — T.A. Willberg, author of the Marion Lane Mysteries "Delicious double crosses, a haunted estate, and a heroine who might just lose her heart—if shexa0can keep her neck out of the hangman's noose. Axa0Dreadful Splendour will keep readers guessing." — Kathleen Peacock, author of You Were Never Here "Thrilling, atmospheric and propulsive, with healthy doses of heart and humor thrown in for good measure, A Dreadful Splendour is a cleverly crafted mystery with an irrepressible heroine you won’t soon forget. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun reading a book!" — Tom Ryan, author of Keep This to Yourself " A Dreadful Splendour is a delightful mix of gothic, mystery, and romance, perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Sherry Thomas. Con artist heroine Genevieve is a memorable addition to literature's gallery of charming rogues. I had such fun reading this book." — Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Not Your Average Hot Guy “A spooky gothic romance with impeccable vibes. I loved this! Beatrix Greene fans, you will love it, too!” — Rachel Hawkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs “This gem of a book sparkles with wit and originality….There is no shortage of tricks and feints in this excellent novel and Genevieve is a delightful character.”xa0 — Globe and Mail (Toronto) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Features & Highlights

  • INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
  • WINNER OF THE MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD
  • “This gem of a book sparkles with wit and originality. . . . There is no shortage of tricks and feints in this excellent novel and Genevieve is a delightful character.” —
  • The Globe and Mail
  • “A spooky gothic romance with impeccable vibes. I loved this!"
  • — Erin Sterling,
  • New York Times
  • bestselling author of
  • The Ex Hex
  • and
  • The Kiss Curse
  • In this wickedly whimsical Gothic murder mystery brimming with romance, betrayals, and chills, a fake spiritualist is summoned to hold a séance for a bride who died on the eve before her wedding, but as nefarious secrets are revealed, the line between hoax and haunting blurs.
  • Be careful what you conjure...
  • In Victorian London, Genevieve Timmons poses as a spiritualist to swindle wealthy mourners—until one misstep lands her in a jail cell awaiting the noose. Then a stranger arrives to make her a peculiar offer. The lord he serves, Mr. Pemberton, has been inconsolable since the tragic death of his beautiful bride-to-be. If Genevieve can perform a séance persuasive enough to bring the young lord peace, she will win her freedom.
  • Soothing a grieving nobleman should be easy for someone of Genevieve’s skill, but when she arrives at the grand Somerset Park estate, Mr. Pemberton is not the heartbroken lover she expected. The surly—yet exceedingly handsome—gentleman is certain that his fiancée was murdered, even though there is no evidence. Only a confession can bring justice now, and Mr. Pemberton decides Genevieve will help him get it. With his knowledge of the household and her talent for illusion, they can stage a haunting so convincing it will coax the killer into the light. However, when frightful incidents befall the manor, Genevieve realizes her tricks aren’t required after all. She may be a fake, but Somerset’s ghost could be all too real…
  • A Dreadful Splendor
  • is delicious brew of mystery, spooky thrills, and intoxicating romance that makes for a ghoulishly fun and page-turning read.
  • "A delightful mix of gothic, mystery, and romance. I had such fun reading this book!" — Gwenda Bond,
  • New York Times
  • bestselling author of
  • Not Your Average Hot Guy

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(123)
★★★★
25%
(102)
★★★
15%
(61)
★★
7%
(29)
23%
(94)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

a good read for autumn nights

I usually read historical fiction, but enjoyed this book as a change in pace. Good imagery and it was fun trying to figure out the “who did what”.
3 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Loved it!

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely more mystery than romance which is fine with me. The mystery element was well done and kept me guessing until the very end. I thought I knew what the twists would be, and while I got a few elements right, there were also a few I got wrong and that was actually very satisfying. I also loved the protagonists thoughts and memories and love the relationship we got to see of her and 'Maman' through her memories. All in all a very enjoyable and distracting read and I can't wait for another book from this fabulous author!
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

great read

If you enjoy a murder story, with romance followed by twist and turns to keep you guessing , this is your book. I very rarely read a romances book but this was exceptional. Give it a read. You are going to love it.
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

A Gothic Murder Mystery

I was surprised at how much I liked this book. I enjoyed the characters and found myself rooting for Genevieve despite her career as a con-artist spiritualist and thief who ironically does not believe in ghosts. She can accurately read people which gains trust from her marks and she usually leaves them with a positive feeling about the departed person they want to contact. She is being blackmailed by a lawyer to conduct a fake séance for Mr. Pemberton so he will accept the suicide death of his fiancé 6 months prior while Mr. Pemberton wants her to conduct a séance to get his fiancé’s murderer to confess. Genevieve finds herself in a pickle with threats of going back to prison hanging over her head by both men as neither man believes in her abilities to speak to ghosts leaving her to discover who the killer really is. Story is complete in this book.
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Well worth the money

I loved this book! It is very well written and a fantastic mystery. I can’t wait to read others by this author.
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

beautifully written

Just finished and I can’t say enough good things about this book! Suspenseful, will keep you on your toes the entire time!
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

A plucky heroine.

Genevieve seeks freedom from the law by accepting the offer of a stranger.He wants her to give a seance at faraway Somerset Park. Twisty plot and lots of ghosts, too.
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

delightfully gothic and pulpy historical mystery

A Dreadful Splendor is a delightfully gothic and pulpy historical mystery. Genevieve is a young spiritualist who is coerced into performing a séance. The man who engages her services has promised to represent her in court (because, oh yeah, she's also wanted for quite a few crimes), but he has requested a specific outcome of the séance. He would like Genevieve to indicate that the dead lady of the manor is at peace.

After her arrival, she is soon approached by the lord of the manor, who also has an interest in a specific outcome of the séance - but he doesn't want a message of peace in the afterlife. Rather, he is convinced that the dead woman was the victim of foul play, and he is hoping that the séance can help identify the killer. Genevieve has to figure out the mystery of who killed the lady so that she can figure out how to satisfy both men's demands and get out of the manor alive. In the meantime, she's experiencing all sorts of otherworldly activities that she has NOT been directing.

The mystery has plenty of clues and red herrings that make the book fun to read, while the Victorian setting and spiritualist background add a bit of a Sherlockian flavor. There's also an understated romance - but can Genevieve trust her newfound flame? If you like Deanna Rayburn's or Sherry Thomas's Victorian mysteries, this is definitely one you'll want to check out.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Good Book

A Dreadful Splendor by B.R. Myers is a great gothic novel that has a bit of mystery, suspense, and romance all wrapped up into one.

I really enjoyed dabbling in this entertaining and relaxing Gothic fiction. It was smooth and easy to read in regards of pacing, narrative, plot, and subject matter.

I liked how the author crafted a story that placed the reader into the historical context, all the while adding a spooky, Gothic feel that really added to the mystery, suspense, and intrigue. The slow burn of a romance was a great addition as well. It gave a softer edge to the storyline.

I loved the setting of Somerset Park estate set in London during the Victorian era. Such a perfect backdrop to add that magical, “spiritual” atmosphere.

I liked Genevieve. She was fun, sassy, relatable, and made a great con-artist and a great other half to the parter in crime, Mr. Pemberton. There were twists and turns, surprises, and I was thoroughly engaged to follow along on their sleuthing.

Very entertaining.

4.5/5 stars
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Just okay for me

I really expected more from this book, given the high reviews. I especially did not like the ending; I thought it was unsatisfying and contrived, just too 'out there'. I won't be looking for any more books from this writer.

SPOILER ALERT:

(she just 'happened' to go back to the boarding house and just 'happened' to find the letter under the sofa - leading to a big 'lost' family and, of course, a rich one). I do not recommend this book; there are so many better ones out there to slog through this one IMO.