The House of Brides
Saturday, February 29th, 2020

By Jane Cockram
The Short Take:
A disappointing take on a gothic thriller. It had all the elements–from the remote manor house on the coast to the handsome but perplexing man. But the plot and writing were a mess.
Why?
This book was clearly influenced by Rebecca but Cockram is no Daphne Du Maurier. In fact the most entertaining thing about this debut novel was spotting the Rebecca references, like the name of the main male character (Max Summer), an affair that takes place in a boat house, even towering rhododendrons– that last a stretch since the setting is Christmas time in England.
The main character, Miranda, is supposed to be in her late 20s but exhibits all the maturity of a tween. People’s actions and interactions are so illogical as to be incomprehensible. And the big reveals have you saying, “Seriously?”
That’s too bad because a nice updating of one of the best classic gothic thrillers would have been a great read. Which made me wonder why the classic movie Rebecca hadn’t been remade. A quick google and I discover Netflix is doing just that. Now that’s something to look forward to.
A Little Plot:
Miranda’s career as an influencer has crashed spectacularly. A letter arrives addressed to her deceased mother which asks for help at Barnsley House. Her mother wrote a tell-all history about the women of this grand estate and Miranda has always wanted to know more. Her father tells her to stay away. She doesn’t.