Loved this Gothic novel. Elizabeth Macneal is becoming one of those authors that I'd buy the book without reading the blurb, knowing I'd enjoy it!

The Burial Plot is a captivating historical thriller that immerses you in its rich, gothic atmosphere from the very first page. The story's dark undertones are expertly woven into an engaging plot that keeps you on edge, especially as secrets and manipulations begin to unravel. The novel's focus on burial grounds adds a unique and intriguing layer, shedding light on a real issue that Victorian England grappled with.

The author does an excellent job of transporting readers back in time, creating a vivid and believable world where the characters come to life with authenticity. The tension builds steadily, and the darkness at the heart of the story makes for a thoroughly absorbing read. If you're looking for a historical novel with a blend of mystery and gothic intrigue, The Burial Plot is an excellent choice.

Headlines:
Web of lies
Murder
Conning the con artist

There was so much packed into this historical fiction. It was dark, with initial grimey vibes and rather morally grey characters. I cannot say that I liked the main characters but they were compelling to read about and eventually, Bonnie did grow on me eventually.

The story moved from the poor and difficult streets of 1800s London to a modest country estate owned by a grieving widow and his daughter. Mr Moncrief had no idea who he'd let in his doors in the shape of Bonnie and then Crawford. Crawford was a hideous character but I enjoyed what he brought to this story.

The deceit woven between Bonnie and Crawford (but directed by Crawford) got incredibly uncomfortable to read about. The plot had me stressed with the lies, set-ups and the constant potential for things to come crashing down on Bonnie. I found myself willing things for Bonnie and Aubrey to work out. The later reveal about Cissie was truly shocking.

I would have loved a little more at the end, but it did end with feeling of completion.

Thank you to Picador for the review copy.

The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal transports readers to the atmospheric streets of Victorian London, a time of burial crisis when Dickens referred to the overcrowded cemeteries as "beastly scraps of land and savage abominations."

Worldbuilding and History
Macneal's vivid descriptions and meticulous detail breathe life into the city's rich history and gothic allure. The novel’s backdrop of burial grounds and overflowing cemeteries not only adds an intriguing twist but also provides an educational glimpse into this historical issue.

Character Development
The novel centres on Bonnie, a young woman fleeing an arranged marriage who finds herself navigating the gritty underbelly of London. Her character is complex, and evolution from naive runaway to a determined survivor and finally a fierce heroine is both compelling and transformative. Bonnie's relationship with the charismatic yet scheming Crawford adds another layer of intrigue, as his private agenda slowly unravels throughout. The supporting characters are also well-drawn adding depth to the story.

Themes and Social Commentary
The Burial Plotdives deep into the societal issues of Victorian England, highlighting the plight of women in a male-dominated society and the problems posed by overflowing cemeteries. Macneal explores themes of manipulation, murder, freedom, choice, and independence while maintaining gripping narrative. The historical context enriches the story, making it not just a thrilling read but also a thought-provoking one.

Conclusion
Overall, <i>The Burial Plot</i> is a brilliant read with darkness at its core. The gothic vibes, rich historical detail, and well-crafted characters make it a standout novel. The tension and suspense will keep you hooked, while the evocative writing and immersive worldbuilding will transport you back in time.

If you enjoy historical fiction with mystery, intrigue, and strong, intelligent women, this book is definitely for you.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

📚 Book Review 📚

A gothic, Victorian story set amongst the backdrop of death, vagabonds, thieves, liars and love. Just my cup of tea!

This novel starts in London in the 1830’s against a backdrop of overflowing cemeteries and poverty. The main female character Bonnie, lives a life of tricks and theft with her lover Crawford and his friend Rex. Bonnie manipulates men into lonely, dark spaces where they are later robbed by Crawford and Rex. After a life changing event, Crawford arranges for Bonnie to become a lady’s maid at a beautiful gothic mansion in the country, where we meet recently widowed Aubrey and his daughter Cissie.

Here, a plan so devious and deliciously dark begins to unfurl.

I really enjoyed reading this. As the first book I have read by Elizabeth Macneal, I had no preconceptions but her use of language and the twists and turns in the story are just so well written. I originally thought that I could see the path ahead of the characters but around 75% of the way through, all the little threads come together and the twists are terrific.

This is a great read. The Doll Factory has been on my kindle for ages and it’s now been bumped further up the list!!

I’d like to Pan MacMillan, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book released on 6th June 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I do love most genres in books and this one was a book I really immersed myself into, went to a different world and I loved it. It is Gothic, Fantasy, Historical and definitely thrilling. The setting in London, 1839 this story revolves around death and those who need a burial plot. What a greta dn different setting for a novel.

Love the writing, the characters and the them of this story and that is what makes it different from others I have read. It really draws you in and I just couldn't put it down. Well told and well read.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Elizabeth has done it again!

I love her gothic, eerie, settings. Her characters are clever, diverse and relatable. You feel connections with some and despise others!

I loved the history, the storyline, the twist, the fast paced action. It was fab!

This book has everything you could want from a gothic, historical fiction read. Victorian London, a run down old house, cemeteries, a mausoleum, a first wife who died in mysterious circumstances, secret pasts and a character you’ll love to hate. Elizabeth Macneal ticks all the boxes for me and she is fast becoming a go to author for historical fiction.

Crawford is perfectly villainous, while Bonnie is a plucky young woman who desperately wants to break free from the preordained path which has been agreed for her. The fate of young women at that time is something which is explored through the characters of Bonnie and Cissie.

If the gothic setting and cast of eccentric characters aren’t enough, there are a few twists in the tale which will keep you on your toes and the pages turning.

I really enjoyed it, if Jane Eyre and Rebecca are your bag then this one is for you!

Overall I enjoyed this book which is well researched and historically accurate. The house and cemetery were beautifully painted and a rich setting for the story and the author is a brilliant and poetic writer.

Unfortunately I found that it dragged a bit, it seemed very long with not a lot of action. Perhaps I've just read more pacey gothic novels recently. I kept waiting for something more, it fell a bit flat with the action at the end too little too late, as I hadn’t felt enough tension build.

Bonnie was an interesting and relateable character and Crawford was sufficiently vile. Other characters seemed superfluous, almost as if their storylines were cut in the editing process.

A fantastic premise with slightly sluggish delivery not saved by a slightly predictable ending.

‘But there was nowhere to hide. If only the house might sprout another turret, grow another room, and seal them inside.’

I was drawn to Elizabeth Macneal when ‘The Doll Factory’ appeared in the library with that wondrous cover, and I gobbled up Tuppence Middleton’s narration of ‘Circus of Wonders’ when it came out, both of which were sublime. So, when ‘The Burial Plot’ popped up on NetGalley, I couldn’t help myself.

But – wow! The blurb gives absolutely everything away! If you can avoid reading too much about the book, you might enjoy it better. I went in blindly, having requested a copy solely on the strength of it being the new Elizabeth Macneal. And having avoided any write-ups, I was fantastically defenceless against Macneal’s powers of atmosphere and character creation. She cinches both expertly in the opening line: ‘It was close to nightfall and Bonnie was killing moths in the bedroom that had once belonged to Mr Moncrief’s dead wife.’ Captivating!

In the past, I’ve been engrossed by Macneal’s reflections on women’s views and women’s situations in the 1800s. Here, she sets this against an exploration of contemporaneous attitudes towards death and burial. This just adds to what I can only call her superlative capacity for writing atmosphere. In ‘The Burial Plot’, I found narrative and atmosphere clasped closely together – as though atmosphere were the line against which the plot taughtened and pulled.

And this hooking-together of plot and atmosphere is so effective. It came to a point when reading where I became aware of crescendos in atmosphere parallelling the plot points in Macneal’s structure. In fact, I realised, this is Macneal’s gift for making reading seem as natural as breathing: the first time I noticed, I’d hit an important threshold when our protagonist makes an accidental discovery in the glasshouse, and when I happened to glance down, I wasn't surprised to see that my progress was exactly 20%. And this happened again and again. Big plot points, big crescendos in atmosphere, tend to peak at nice round, even points in the book’s progress (I think an exceptional one came at exactly 70%, if I remember rightly). Something about that - even if you’re not consciously aware of it – makes the text resonate with a natural ‘rightness’.

Similarly, I felt my sensitivities towards characters changing and developing organically as Bonnie led me through the movements of the plot. I was entirely happy with Bonnie figuratively taking me by the hand and showing me other characters’ sympathies and feelings. She is a natural witness, yet perhaps veering too much towards the part of an onlooker, at certain points. Other reviewers have articulated their uncertainty regarding the ending of the novel, and I couldn’t help but feel, after all, that there seemed to be something missing in terms of Bonnie’s agency, at the end.

My thanks to Pan Macmillan for an advanced copy to review.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Picador/Pan MacMillan for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: implied rape, sexual assault, animal death and abuse, injury, abusive relationships

In 1839 London, Bonnie and Crawford live a life filled with crime, trickery and theft. Bonnie believes that Crawford is the love of her life and her saviour after she escaped marriage to an old vicar and travelled to London for a new life. However, after one of Crawford’s schemes goes wrong and Bonnie is forced to fend for herself, a gentleman ends up dead. Bonnie needs to run and hide before the hangman can find her- and Crawford has the solution. She will become a lady’s maid to the eccentric sixteen-year-old daughter of a near-destitute architect who faces ruin after the suicide of his excessive wife. Upon arrival at the Gothic, crumbling house called Endellion in Twickenham, Bonnie establishes a new life for herself: she grows close to Cissie, who writes love letters to herself in the same style her mother did, and gradually to Mr Moncrieff who spends his days drawing elaborate mausoleums for his dead wife Josephine as the family fortune vanishes. Soon enough Bonnie thinks she’s free then Crawford arrives, placing himself into the household as her brother. His plans become more complicated: he wants Bonnie to seduce and marry Moncrieff so they can take it all. At the same time, Bonnie’s idea to build an enormous, peaceful cemetery for the people of London in the abandoned grounds to save the house seems like it’s going to become real- but at every turn, Crawford is plotting his next trick, and it becomes clear that he has a vendetta against Mr Moncrieff that none of them will be able to escape.

I raced through this book within a few days, unable to put it down until I found out what would happen to Bonnie, Cissie and Moncrieff. This is a brutal representation of the realities of the rich and poor in 1830s London while also showing the strength and determination of women in a terrible era. Crawford is a brilliant villain, at once convincing and charming but also violent and manipulative. I really loved the way that the house and its mysteries were written and the way that Bonnie gradually discovered more about the family was so tense. Cissie and Bonnie’s relationship was gorgeous, there was a point where all I wanted was for the two of them to be happy. The themes of dark truths, secrets and lies are woven together into a slow burn, historical mystery with deeply complex characters- while also teaching the reader about the creation of Victorian cemeteries and the importance of believing in the best.

In Victorian London, Bonnie Fairchild and her two friends, the Macchiavellian Crawford and bullish Rex, have a steady “business” going, fleecing amorous old men…until one such event goes horribly wrong.
To remove Bonnie from possible prosecution, Crawford manages to insert her as a lady’s maid into the household of Mr Moncrieff at his country mansion.
But Crawford has much bigger plans, fuelled by his past.
Bonnie’s naïve loyalty and Crawford’s cunning are well portrayed as the plot slowly unfolds: “And she realized that there was no turning back: that they were like a great weight on a hill, and they were only gathering momentum, plunging further and further down.” Watching Bonnie grow from a timid mouse to a courageous woman was very gratifying.
Cleverly set at the time of the Victorian building boom, edifices for all purposes, even for the dead - enterprises to make a man…or ruin him.

As far as Gothic novels go, “The Burial Plot” is at the top of the genre.

I was so lucky to get a copy of this via NetGalley. I loved the book. I think her writing gets better and better if that is possible. I was so hooked in terms of what would happen to all the characters. I don’t want to give any spoilers but I was happy with the ending.

This is such a great gothic novel, I really enjoyed the premise of it with the graveyard connection which isn't something I'd ever thought much about before. The characters were excellent and it was definitely a page turner as I was desperate to know the fate of Bonnie. Highly recommended!

Another fabulous tale of historical fiction.
Not quite as enthralling as The Doll Factory but still a great read .

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

i think that Victorian Age was obsessed by death and the rites of death. This is a novel about the rites of death, how to honour those who passed, and grief,
Plus a con woman who's trying to understand what's going on in the weird and bereaved family she's working for.
A fascinating and intriguing story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Macneal excels at gothic thrillers and this is no exception. Set in 19th Century London, runaway Bonnie finds herself embroiled in a life of deception and thievery. In order to escape arrest, she poses as a lady’s maid in a fine house near Richmond. Here she endeavours to uncover the mystery around the death of the former mistress of the house and in doing so puts all around her at risk. A great read.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

'The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal. Just look at the cover 😱 this started as a slow burn with a lot of rich historic detail that we know and love from Macneal. The obvious parallel is Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca' particularly around the mysterious circumstances of Mr Moncrieff's wife, who was believed to have drowned by her husband's hand. The house, Endellion house (which I love is based on a real place) holds something for Crawford, a dream he believes is his, and he will stop at nothing to get it. Themes of: death, murder, suicide, treachery, deceit, violence, illegitimate children, historical fiction, pregnancy, Gothic horror

I enjoyed this novel and it was such a page turner that I felt compelled to read it straight away, and not put it down until I had finished it.
Bonnie was a believable character, and it was well written as well. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh I so wanted to love this book having enjoyed previous works by this author but I just couldn't get into it. I found the story very slow and Bonnie just wasn't a captivating character.. I'll give it another go when it comes out in paperback -I may enjoy it more in a different format.