The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson
Genre: Gothic, Cultural (France), Paranormal
Pages: 386 (paperback)
Source: TLC Book Tours
Author's Website | Blog | Facebook
Buy it: Amazon | Kindle | B&N
Description:
A modern gothic novel of love, secrets, and murder--set against the lush backdrop of Provence.
Meeting Dom was the most incredible thing that had ever happened to me. When Eve falls for the secretive, charming Dom in Switzerland, their whirlwind relationship leads them to Les GenEvriers, an abandoned house set among the fragrant lavender fields of the South of France. Each enchanting day delivers happy discoveries: hidden chambers, secret vaults, a beautiful wrought-iron lantern. Deeply in love and surrounded by music, books, and the heady summer scents of the French countryside, Eve has never felt more alive.
But with autumn's arrival the days begin to cool, and so, too, does Dom. Though Eve knows he bears the emotional scars of a failed marriage--one he refuses to talk about--his silence arouses suspicion and uncertainty. The more reticent Dom is to explain, the more Eve becomes obsessed with finding answers--and with unraveling the mystery of his absent, beautiful ex-wife, Rachel.
Like its owner, Les GenEvriers is also changing. Bright, warm rooms have turned cold and uninviting; shadows now fall unexpectedly; and Eve senses a presence moving through the garden. Is it a ghost from the past or a manifestation of her current troubles with Dom? Can she trust Dom, or could her life be in danger?
My Rating
My Review: The Lantern tells the story of two women, Eve and Benedicte who are connected by their home, Les GenEvriers. Eve's story is in the present and Benedicte's story takes place in the past during the productive glory days of Les GenEvriers. Eve meets and is swept off her feet by the secretive Dom who she begins to distrust when he refuses to answer questions about his ex-wife, Rachel. Benedicte's story is a little less straight forward as an old mystery is slowly unraveled.
This story is beautifully written and I found myself continuously impressed by Ms. Lawrenson's descriptions. She creates a story that introduces relationships that are complex and introduces situations where all is not what it seems. Though I could recognize Ms. Lawrenson's talents, I really didn't enjoy the actual story. The pace was entirely too slow for my tastes. There were two big mystery's. One mystery surrounds Benedicte's story and the other Eve's. The reader did not become aware of the Benedicte's "mystery" until the book was almost over and then it was pretty easy to guess the answer. I know that I should have really wanted to know the answer to Eve's "mystery" but I lost interest half-way through the book. The build-up of the tension and suspense was just too slow. Unfortunately, if I didn't have a personal rule requiring me to finish every book that I start, I wouldn't have finished this one. Even with my rule, I almost gave up.
Readers who like well-written stories with vivid descriptions and deep meanings really might enjoy this. However, if you require a plot that moves steadily, this one might not be for you.
*If you are particularly sensitive to animal cruelty, watch out. There is a scene that really sticks with you.
Have you heard of The Lantern? Read it? What do think?