I was drawn to read this book as I had never heard the concept of writing two books back to back.
The storyline was mysterious, reminiscent of "Jamaica Inn" or "The Woman in Black".
The characters and locations were vividly described and I was soon immersed in the story, and eager to find out the explanation of the strange events that occurred.
The back to back concept was held within the story itself rather than in the book.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes a gothic drama

I really liked the premise of "The Turnglass" by Gareth Rubin, a tête-bêche book where, when you have read one novella/story, you flip it and read the other. Part 1 was interesting enough but it is difficult to give a full review without reading part 2, and seeing how the interplay works with each story. I can only therefore give it half marks BUT it does merit an extra star for a very clever way to kill someone, extremely clever.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the first part of this book with no obligation to review.

I enjoyed this and while I did not get a copy of the second part, this story could stand alone. It is a mystery set in Victorian times with all the usual things - the stews of London and opium dens (like Dickens) a mysterious lonely house on an island cut off by the tides (like The Woman in Black), a resourceful independent minded female character (like The Ruby in the Smoke) and it all adds up to a very enjoyable read.

It is atmospheric but not disturbing, the descriptions of the island and London and the various characters are vivid and believable and it is quite a page turner.

I will be interested to read the second book and I wonder if it is about the futuristic California and the glass house mentioned in the first book.

I enjoyed the first part of this story, the glass prison and the mysterious Florence especially
The setting is very atmospheric..

It's definitely got me interested enough to want to read the second half, and discover the book within a book.


I have not published my review, as its only for first part of book.

Like some of the other reviewers, it slipped my mind that only Part 1 of this novel was available. Part 1 of the story functions in its own sphere, and as someone who likes atmospheric tales this really fit the part of a classic Gothic. Very intrigued by the second part of this endeavour, so will be purchasing the book to find out the link between the two halves.

It feels unfair to review a book when you've only read half of it, but what I can say is that what I read was very intriguing, and I loved the unique tête-bêche format. Only giving 4*s as I need to see if it sticks the landing.

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to this great read; here's hoping that it finishes well!

Awkward writing, unnatural dialogue, thin plot, and lazy use of a tedious ‘evil clergyman’ trope.
Who was Tyrone? A random stranger who for no good reason attaches himself to Oliver? Or some sort of Jekyll and Hyde alter ego? Who knows? So much seems to happen purely for the weak reason that it has to, in order for the tale to reach the conclusion the author has determined.
The concept of a tête-bêche novel is a great hook, but you have to follow through with skilful writing and a tight plot – or in this case, two. Preferably nicely intertwined. I’m almost glad this was only half the book – now I have no need to wade laboriously through the second half.

I did not manage to download this before archive date. Apologies. I will be purchasing once available.

The Turnglass by @gareth.rubin

Thanks to Anne @randomthingstours for having me in the tour and for my #gifted copy of the book. Thanks also of course to the publisher @simonschusteruk & the author Gareth.

Have you ever read a Tête-bêche novel before? I have not and so was intrigued not only by this format but the intertwined stories held within.

Both stories draw you in right from the first page and it becomes very hard to put down - so much so that I bought the audio so that when I was forced to do other things such as cook, I could continue to read the stories.

You can start from either side of the book - it has no back cover but 2 front covers! So once you are done with one story, you flip the book and read the other. You can start from either side.

The blue side has almost a gothic feel to it. Set in 1880’s England. I started here because I wanted to go in chronological order.

I really enjoyed the the character development and the mysteries contained within each.

My favourite? I think I liked the 1880’s England one the best - probably because the main protagonist Simeon was a doctor and was very methodical in his thinking and action. Though I did really come to like Ken too.

#TêteBêche #TheTurnglass #ReadAndReview #Bookish #Bookstagram #Mystery

Really liked this first part of the book.

The setting of the remote island, the tight-knit group of islanders who won't give away their secrets fearing Simeon might sell them out. The slow reveal of why and how Florence ended up being trapped in her rooms at Turnglass House.

It was all exactly what I had hoped for in this book. Likeable and unlikable characters, a murder with a twist (saw it coming, sorry), and all set at one of my personal favourite time periods for medical and scientific discoveries.

I was so engrossed in the story that it had slipped my mind that I was only reading part 1 of it. Fortunately, it's not long until I can get a physical copy of the book and finish the story.

Yes this is only part one of this wonderfully clever book but that was enough for me to immediately order the full book. The writing is exceptional and in only reading part one you are truly left wanting more.

I will be able to update more once I have reread and then finished the book in it entirety.

I received this as an ARC for an honest review but sadly the premise of the book did not work on my e-reader.

I love the concept of two books within the one book and I feel a hard copy would make this so much fun. I enjoyed The Turnglass but was unable to see the second story.

The Turnglass had a great plot and characters and I really enjoyed it.

Part 1 of the story is a full story in its own right. I loved the gothic feel, a murderous woman locked in a glass jail in a house only accessible by foot at certain tides. A doctor trying to decipher what is wrong with his ailing relative.
Excellent story & I look forward to getting the physical book so I can turn it over & read the other part of the story!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read the second half.

Part One of The Turnglass is a thrilling gothic mystery.

Rubin's writing is dark, gripping and eerie. Whilst I initially found the story a slow burner, by the end I was on the edge of my seat. The ending was very clever and a complete surprise.

Overall highly recommended and I look forward to reading Part Two!

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for the ARC.

Firstly - I was aware that this approval would have been of Part 1 only. It is somewhat difficult to form a full opinion based on half of the book only.
However. the beginning of Part 1 was really intriguing. It took me in immediately and I think read the first 60% in basically one sitting.
I have to admit, the last part dragged a bit for me. Unfortunately I wasn't as engrossed as the first part of Part 1.
Said so, maybe my opinion would change if I read the second part as well.
At the moment, I can give a max of 3 stars just because I have not read Part 2.

I was intrigued by the unique premise - an innovative approach to mystery novels through the tête-bêche format. Although the ARC included only one of the two expected narratives, thereby providing merely half of the reading experience expected in the final book, Rubin's creativity shines through. From start to finish, I was captivated by the intricate storytelling, which was nothing short of brilliant. It feels like solving a puzzle within a puzzle, and I look forward to reading the second story to find out how each piece contributes to the larger picture. If you're a fan of mystery novels but crave something fresh and imaginative, The Turnglass is shaping up to be an absolute must-read. Its unique premise sets it apart, and I have no doubt that holding the physical copy in my hands will elevate the already captivating story to an even higher level.

The Turnglass has a fantastically intriguing concept: It's a tete-beche novel, which means it's two books printed back to back, two mysteries, intertwined. I love this idea and that's why I requested the ARC. (Thank you to the publishers.) But a book needs more than a great hook to be readable.

The very first sentence, "Simeon Lee's grey eyes were visible above a kerchief..." pulled me short. Visible to whom? Not to Simeon, he can't see his own eyes. From there on, the prose skips from what feels like 3rd person limited to an outside pov, and I eventually concluded that the writer doesn't handle pov in a way that I can read. It's too internal to be omniscient; it's too external to immerse me in Simeon's experience.

The book continued like this, full of writing that should have been polished during the editing process. "Dr Simeon Lee had long, slim features and a long, slim frame that rose lithely up the stairs to their rooms..." Vague visuals and an unnecessary adverb. The visual description is vague throughout. I was never pulled into the scene, the awkward writing never stopped jumping out at me. And the lithe rising was followed by dialogue that did nothing to disguise the fact that it was exposition.

The quality of the writing is just not there. The book should have had a least one further edit, possibly several. I'm sure there are interesting characters and a good story hidden amount the adverbs, clunky exposition and weak scene setting, but that's not what I want from traditionally published novels. So I DNF this book.

A clever book taking the form of a tete-beche. One book is a gothic and atmospheric story about the inhabitants of Turnglass House. I enjoyed discovering with Simeon the truth about Florence. There is a menace behind every page and twists as you discover all is not quite as it seems.. The companion story reads like a Bogart and Bacall thriller which was a surprise but once the links to the first story became more obvious it was a real page turner.
Clever novel and great for anyone who love a twisty turning thriller!

It was an exciting book, I enjoyed the story but still feel confused at the ending. Edit: I just remembered that there is a part two on the way. So yes, my rating for part one changes to reflect that

I did enjoy the author's style {I have read some of his articles before and seen Images of Bedlam.

The reading of this book straddled both July and August. I was sent part 1 in July from NetGalley, and then part 2 by Simon & Schuster in August and so my reding of it was split, but I hope this review ties both parts up nicely.

The first section I received covered the 1880s story - although you can read them in either order, but having read both, I think it works better this way. It is very chilling, the eeriness, the terror, the silence, it all seeps from the page and you find yourself perched on the edge of your seat, about to slip into this frightening and uncomfortable but curious world.

I then read the 1930s section as part 2 - but again, you can read this one first if you want to. I knew it was linked to the first story, of course, but it's not obvious to begin with, and I found that exciting, trying to remember what happened in the other story and would this one could be eluding to. It draws you in before offering up its goods.

It is a very clever way of writing: two different stories, but both linked, and within those stories are more stories. Which one is the true story? The real characters? It's beyond me how someone could write something like this so successfully. I mean, how do you write two stories that are linked, but can be read as standalone stories, and in either order. I can only applaud Gareth for managing it.

If I had to pick, I think I enjoyed the 1880s story a smidgen more, but we're splitting hairs here. I would have gladly read full books about either story, which is unusual for me, as I rarely ask for a longer book.

I was given a digital copy of this book and so was worried it wouldn't have quite the same effect if I couldn't physically turn the book halfway. It didn't stop the enjoyment of the book, but I will have to get my hands on a physical copy at some point so I can experience that. I feel it deserves to have the full effect felt by holding it in your hands. And I also want to find out which cover - green or red - fits which story.

It's a murder mystery, a psychological thriller, a gothic mystery, a horror - it is so layered and it's got so much depth, in both parts. It's about terror, yes, but there's a warmer heart to it in my opinion. One about family and friendship and love, and to what extent would you go to protect them, whether someone can be truly good or truly evil, what we consider to be acceptable and what would be too much. And it really makes you think about your own moral decisions.

After finishing it, I found that if you go on www.thebooktrail.com, you can visit the locations in the book and I think it would be really interesting to see these places, and then reread the stories to see if they come alive any more.

It is fully immersive and all consuming. If you're like me, you'll find it near impossible to read either story with any distractions. You need your full attention, it deserves it, and you'll find the stories easier to link. But you're absorbed in it from page 1 - whichever page 1 you decide to start from.

I can't see there being another book in this vein or aa series or anything, as everything is rounded up nicely, but it has whetted my appetite as to what Gareth can and will produce next.