Fyneshade: A Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of 2023

Product Information

crashing down and she was at the receiving end of some of the tragedy she had previously been happy to dish out. I believe that she is supposed to be an unlikeable character even though there are more wretched souls in this story 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! And I’m glad to report that not only did it live up to my expectations, it actually surpassed them! The lush, mysteriously suspenseful descriptions were to die for and really wouldn’t be out of place in a Brontë novel. If you are a first time visitor to Fineshade Woods, this trail is a great place to start your exploration.

BHO. (1906b). 14. 'Houses of Austin canons: The priory of Fineshade or Castle Hymel', in A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2, ed. R M Serjeantson and W R D Adkins pp. 135-136. Retrieved November 2016, from British History Online: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/northants/vol2/pp135-136

Caravan and motorhome club at Fineshade Wood

Kate Griffin’s inspiration for Fyneshade was The turning of the screw by Henry James, which its self is a short, gothic horror about a governess and her charges. I am now compelled to also read this story if it inspired such a All is not well at Fyneshade. Marta's pupil, little Grace, can be taught nothing, and Marta takes no comfort from the silent servants who will not meet her eye. More intriguing is that Sir William is mysteriously absent, and his son and heir Vaughan is forbidden to enter the house. Marta finds herself drawn to Vaughan, despite the warnings of the housekeeper that he is a danger to all around him. But Marta is no innocent to be preyed upon. The pupil Marta has to teach turns out to be 'different'. Grace is a treasure, and she can draw beautifully, albeit Marta will not be able to contribute much to teach Grace anything. As a reward for ‘good behaviour’, Grace is taken to a room where there is an automaton of a monkey. The girl is completely mesmerised by it.

When she meets her ten-year-old charge, Marta is surprised at Grace’s appearance (she has encountered the moonface features before) and that she is virtually non-verbal. She’s meant to teach this girl French, to transform her into a lady? Marta, it turns out, is not what the housekeeper, Mrs Gurney expected either: young and attractive is a concern. A ghost story. A gothic one - drenched rich in atmosphere and mood, it's a finely crafted drama perfect for fans of the classics, there's a final reveal for this one that Griffin takes delight in dropping on the reader. As befitting of a gothic book set in a location; Fyneshade itself almost feels like a character - living and breathing as much as Marta, its protagonist. Each character has their own story to tell, their own secrets - and Fyneshade revels in that. 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. Separated from her lover and discarded by her family, Marta has no choice but to journey to Pritchard's ancient and crumbling house, Fyneshade, in the wilds of Derbyshire. The story is linked to the famous story The Turn Of The Screw and I think if you like that tale then this will most certainly be for you. There are also those Jane Eyre vibes to it with the house hiding secrets and a master of a grand house being hidden away.

The writing was easy to follow and the story captivating. It’s a gothic horror so there were a few creepy scenes, but generally it was less scary than I had expected. Having met the ousted son of the missing owner, she devises a plan to use him to get what she wants. She is warned off him by the housekeeper but she feels they are destined to be together. But does she really know him as well as the thinks?