A Haunting Debut: A Review of My Darling Dreadful Thing

My Darling Dreadful Thing

Johanna van Veen

Synopsis

In a world where the dead can wake and walk among us, what is truly real?

Roos Beckman has a spirit companion only she can see. Ruth—strange, corpse-like, and dead for centuries—is the only good thing in Roos’ life, which is filled with sordid backroom séances organized by her mother. That is, until wealthy young widow Agnes Knoop attends one of these séances and asks Roos to come live with her at the crumbling estate she inherited upon the death of her husband. The manor is unsettling, but the attraction between Roos and Agnes is palpable. So how does someone end up dead?

Roos is caught red-handed, but she claims a spirit is the culprit. Doctor Montague, a psychologist tasked with finding out whether Roos can be considered mentally fit to stand trial, suspects she’s created an elaborate fantasy to protect her from what really happened. But Roos knows spirits are real; she's loved one of them. She'll have to prove her innocence and her sanity, or lose everything.

Review:

Johanna van Veen's debut novel, My Darling Dreadful Thing, casts a captivating spell, weaving a chilling gothic horror narrative with a touch of forbidden romance.  We meet Roos, a young woman burdened by the weight of an unconventional upbringing.  Roos and her enigmatic "mother" conduct seances, exploiting the grief of others to make a living.  However, beneath this facade lies a hidden reality: Roos harbors a spectral companion named Ruth.  Their connection, though unusual, offers a strange sense of solace for both.

The arrival of Agnes Knoop, a wealthy widow seeking solace after her husband's death, disrupts the stagnant rhythm of Roos's life.  An undeniable spark ignites between them, offering Roos a glimpse of a future filled with possibility and escape from the confines of her past.  However, this newfound happiness is tragically short-lived when a brutal murder throws their world into disarray and casts suspicion upon Roos.

The narrative unfolds through a masterfully crafted  dual timeline.  The present finds Roos under psychiatric evaluation, forced to recount the events that led to her current predicament.  Interspersed are vivid memories of her past, meticulously detailed, revealing her life with Ruth and the blossoming relationship with Agnes.  This structure allows the reader to piece together the puzzle of Roos's life, building suspense and a sense of unease.

The author excels at crafting a chilling atmosphere.  The Dutch setting, often overlooked in horror fiction, adds a unique layer of menace.  The imposing architecture, shrouded in mist and steeped in history, becomes a character itself, amplifying the sense of isolation and vulnerability.  The exploration of spiritualism, with its inherent ambiguity between reality and illusion, further fuels the unsettling ambiance.

While the horror elements simmer beneath the surface, they lean more towards psychological suspense than outright terror.  The true strength of the novel lies in its exploration of complex characters and their unconventional relationships.  The bond between Roos and Ruth is particularly intriguing, a symbiotic connection tinged with a hint of the macabre.  We witness a unique co-dependence, where each provides a sense of belonging and solace in the absence of true human connection.

The burgeoning romance between Roos and Agnes, though rushed at times, possesses undeniable charm.  Their connection transcends the physical, offering emotional intimacy and a sense of belonging Roos has never known.  However, the weight of their unconventional circumstances and the societal constraints of the time cast a long shadow, adding a layer of bittersweet yearning to their relationship.

This is a well-written debut with a captivating premise.  Readers seeking a purely bone-chilling experience may find the horror elements understated.  However, those who appreciate a gothic atmosphere, meticulously crafted characters, and a touch of the supernatural will find much to enjoy in My Darling Dreadful Thing.  Johanna van Veen lays the foundation for a promising writing career, leaving readers eager to see what chilling tales they'll weave next.