The prose is solid, the atmosphere was distinctly gothic, and it was enjoyable to read historical fiction with a competent female protagonist who’s focused on her family and their business concerns Other than that, I really didn’t get along with this book - the premise had so much potential that simply wasn’t realised for me.

I found the attempts to build tension overly belaboured in the beginning - the feeling of ‘something bad is coming’ was stressed so much, at every opportunity, that through the first chapter it was ~noticeable~ and by the end of the second chapter I was just frustrated with it. In contrast I found the ending somewhat anticlimactic, and it didn’t tie up several of the elements I was most interested it.

Other than Lucy and possibly Mr Rivers, the rest of the characters were quite flat and only seemed to be there for narrative purposes, playing particular roles throughout rather than having proper character development arcs.

Possibly my biggest disappointment with the book was how little it actually addressed or resolved the arsenic allegations. While I enjoyed the use of a very personal lens to show the consequences of the poisoned wallpaper - having the Braithwhite family be directly affected - the actual controversy floated in the background without being properly dealt with. And that was a letdown, considering it was this line in the marketing that made me pick up the book: “Set against the backdrop of the real-life arsenic wallpaper controversy of the late 19th century.” But ~backdrop~ needs to be heavily emphasised, since the book is hardly at all about the controversy at all - in fact, ironically, it’s basically the wallpaper in front of which the rest of the story is told.

In general I wish this book just had… more. The premise deserved richer characterisation, meatier plot, a stronger resolution. (This isn’t even a comment on the length, although it’s quite a short novel, because the space it did have felt underutilised.)

I received a free audiobook from NetGalley in return for an honest review. The narrator, Beth Eyre, did a great job.

A wonderfully gothic historical novel set in London 1870. Lucy is heir to a fortune from Braithwhite and company-a seller of fine wallpaper. Since the death of her father Mr Luckhurst has ran the company, when he passes the future of the company is in peril.
A mysterious stranger comes along to claim he has been in training with Mr Luckhurst to run the company when he is no longer around, who is this charming man and what is the truth of his involvement?
Based around facts that there was arsenic in the dyes that was used to make wallpaper and this could cause poisoning and death
This is a dark and hypnotic read just like the wallpaper they sell, full of gothic mystery and intrigue. I was so engrossed in the story and mystery, the prose was gorgeous and the characters well fleshed out
I’m a lover of this genre and thought this was wonderful while the audiobook narration was done extremely well

This is my favourite book so far this year, and having read the ebook I was keen to listen to the audiobook as well, and having just dipped into it I can see the narrator will do this brilliant story justice as she acts the story and carries off the characters' voices well. Can't recommend this enough!

I read a lot of gothic historical fiction and this is one of the best of the genre I've ever read, the writing is sublime, the characters are flawed and complicated, the tension is high and I loved absolutely everything about it!

This is based on the real life scandal surrounding arsenic in wallpaper in the late 19th century, Braithwaite & Company are a very successful manufacturer of luxury wallpapers, but within their dazzling designs lies a dark and dangerous secret, which some of the Braiwthwaite family have known about for some time.

The family are supported by Mr Luckhurst, the company's manager who gives his all to the family and the company but following his death, the charming Mr Rivers takes over, and the family can never imagine the danger this will bring to each of them.

This had me hooked from the very first pages and I've raced through to the dramatic conclusion. I very rarely re-read a book, but this is one I'll treat myself to picking up again in future!