Another stunning, well thought-through and fast-paced historical fiction which is both topical and very sinister – an absolute must-read – meet The Peacock Room by Anna Sayburn Lane.
The plot:
A literary obsession. An angry young man with a gun. And one woman trying to foil his deadly plan.
When Helen Oddfellow starts work as a lecturer in English literature, she’s hoping for a quiet life. But trouble knows where to find her. Disturbing poison pen letters lead her down dark paths, until Helen is the only person standing between a gunman and a massacre.
I’ve only read two of Dan Brown’s books but give me Lane’s over them any day
I ADORED Lane’s previous book, Unlawful Things (my review here), and The Peacock Room has gone that one step further. This author cannot write books quick enough – I’m ready for at least the next 5 books now.
From the first page, I was instantly reminded how fantastic the writing is, as well as the topics which may lay ahead. You’re introduced to an ominous character which immediately draws you in – you won’t be able to put this book down.
Whilst this is the second book in the Helen Oddfellow mystery series, you can read it as a standalone. There is a big spoiler for Unlawful Things, however you may not fully understand the extent if you haven’t read it. With this, I would say that you might not connect to the protagonist if you haven’t had that introduction, and also, both books are fantastic so you might as well start from the beginning.
The Peacock Room is much more topical and relevant – it includes feminism and the dark web, as well as disturbing topics including rape and mental health.
This is much darker, in my opinion, which is why it just edged ahead of the previous book for me (weirdo, I know). It had its gruesome and entirely unexpected shocks throughout to keep you on edge, and also the historical fiction element just made sense! It’s a believable plot and there’s so much analysis and research gone into it.
I’m already in awe of how the author comes up with these ideas, wrapped up with the mind-blowing and plot twist ending, and offering the reader food for thought throughout. This is one of those rare books which deserves a standing ovation.
I’ve only read two of Dan Brown’s books but give me Lane’s over them any day. A high, high 5-star – this has undoubtedly claimed a spot in my top reads of the year, like Unlawful Things did last year (here).
The Peacock Room, Anna Sayburn Lane, RRP £9.99 (paperback);Amazon
Pages: 374
Independently Published
Genre: Historical Fiction/ Thriller
