Fyneshade: A Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of 2023

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The house of Fyneshade itself holds even more troublesome secrets, some hidden deep within its walls.

Henry James fans will also love the literary nod to his most influential supernatural tale, The Turn of The Screw-I don’t want to spoil the surprise on that front so I’ll leave things there, but trust me the payoff is definitely worth it! There’s an old house stuffed with secrets and darkness, there’s eerie plinky plock music floating down the corridors, a governess named Marta, the woman of the house who is not who she seems and some weyward children to boot. turns out she's Miss Jessell from The Turn of the Screw and this book ends as she's about to enter that second literary adventure!When she arrives, she is told the girl's mother is dead and the master is away for the unforeseen future.

As holidays are rare things in my life, that can mean I sit on a longed for book for ages sometimes. Our protagonist, Marta, was raised as an orphan by her grandmother, a cunning woman versed in ancient and secretive occult knowledge. Marta as a main character and narrator is a head strong woman, who is capable of many things, ruthless and cunning being her main attributes. Kitty Peck and the Music Hall Murders, Kate's first book, won the Stylist/Faber crime writing competition.

Marta is offered a governess position at Fyneshade following the death of her beloved Grandmere, who was believed to be a witch by the locals.

On the day of her beloved grandmother’s funeral, Marta discovers that she is to become governess to the young daughter of Sir William Pritchard.I loved how Kate griffin builds the tension with each chapter and how she linked Marta’s story with the seasons of the moon.

I was drawn to this book by the brooding, Gothic cover and blurb, then realised whilst reading that it was inspired by Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw – I won’t give away how, but readers of that story will spot the link! Or is she the woman she tells us she is, a powerful, gifted woman who is the victim of an even more powerful man? She’s been plotting and planning since her arrival at Fyneshade, using everything within her power to succeed. I was equally horrified at how Marta treated Grace and yet mystified enough to want to get the answers out of her myself.Here the author has cleverly reversed many Gothic mystery tropes, so that the ‘innocent young governess’ arriving at the creepy big house full of dark family secrets appears to be more predator than prey… but you know what they say about appearances and this story is FULL of deception! And the writing style is so good it draws you straight in to the spooky atmosphere of the house and keeps you there until the final page. Marta's days are brightened by the arrival of Vaughan Pritchard the heir to Fyneshade, who spends his days as a falconer until his inheritance is released.