I really struggled to put this book down, reading three quarters of it in one sitting.

I love a historical novel and I confess I know little about TB which is what attracted me to it. There do seem to be some parallels with the Covid pandemic (and this book was born as a result of it, as mentioned in the comments) but it’s very subtle. This made it much more enjoyable.

I thought the characterisation and the overall plot of this book was great. I really didn’t see the plot twist or work out what was really going on. The ending was subtle too. Overall, I really, REALLY enjoyed this book. It was great to read something that I was happy to devote time to and be lost in.

Thanks to the author, publishers & NetGalley for access to this arc in return for an honest review.

I loved the way Polly Crosby keeps up the sense of jeopardy and feeling of menace throughout the book. Well-written, and hugely descriptive, I found this book hard to put down. The setting is very well portrayed and the characters interesting. The sinister undercurrents continue right to the end, which came as a complete surprise. It is atmospheric, fascinating, and full of glamour which the reader soon understands hides the dark underbelly of the story. A good read.

I absolutely loved "The House of Fever" by Polly Crosby (who is quickly becoming a firm favourite author of mine). Set in the 1930s against the backdrop of TB, we meet Agnes who marries Dr Christian abroad and then joins him (with her mother) at his sanatorium in the UK. Not just any sanatorium but one that caters for the rich and talented. A nice life if you can ignore the TB! I was getting "Rebecca" and "The Great Gatsby" vibes here - very decadent with some sinister undertones. Nice to read something historical which one can draw parallels with covid and some really good twists to keep the readers on their toes.

In the early twentieth century, tuberculosis was a disease that had reached epidemic proportions. There was no cure and, until after WW2, no reliable vaccine. Death from TB was prolonged and almost certain. It is no wonder that Agnes, the female protagonist in House of Fever, is prepared to do whatever it takes to try and cure her mother – including winning the heart of one of the world’s most pioneering TB doctors and eventually marrying him and moving both herself and her mother to his English sanatorium, Hedone House.

Widow Christian Fairhaven runs his establishment as more of a luxury hotel than a hospital – patients are called “guests” and, after quarantine periods have been observed, are able to recuperate in style, with access to the vast grounds, swimming pools, hearty meals and the occasional drug and alcohol-infused soiree. At first, Agnes feels encouraged by the sight of the progress being made by other guests, including the glamorous Juno Harrington – but the discovery of a secret pauper’s graveyard in the grounds, along with her step daughter Isobel’s increasingly erratic behaviour, makes her start to question whether or not all is as it seems with her husband’s unorthodox method of treatment.

As a fan of historical fiction that delves into the historic treatment of both physical and mental health, I devoured this book. Crosby builds tension slowly and deliberately, with her characters growing and changing along with the developments in the story. The writer does not shy away from full sensory descriptions of both death by illness and substance use, which may be triggers for some.

As well as the rich description and solid characterisation, I particularly enjoyed the little interludes where we followed Isobel around the forbidden corridors of Hedone and saw her interactions with the most unwell patients. Living through a global pandemic ourselves, any modern-day reader will not fail to be moved by the tenderness with which Isobel greets those who have been left alone and frightened towards the end of their days.

My only complaint about this novel is that it was over too soon – I wanted it to go on and on and look forward to reading more from this author in future.