Review: Return to Wyldcliffe Heights - Carol Goodman

Review: Return to Wyldcliffe Heights - Carol Goodman - July 2024

Reading Return to Wyldcliffe Heights felt like stepping into a world of eerie deja vu. Even though Goodreads told me I hadn’t read it before, there was something about this book that felt so familiar—perhaps because it taps into a beloved trope of mine: the unreliable narrator. It’s a type of story I can never resist, and this one absolutely delivered.

Agnes Corey, a junior editor, is hired to transcribe the long-awaited sequel to The Secret of Wyldcliffe Heights, a 1993 literary hit by the reclusive author Veronica St. Clair. St. Clair’s life has been shrouded in mystery since the release of her book, which was followed by a tragic fire that left her scarred and blind. When Agnes arrives at St. Clair’s crumbling estate, once a psychiatric hospital for “wayward women,” she expects a routine project. But as St. Clair dictates the sequel, Agnes uncovers chilling details that blur the line between fiction and reality, hinting at a long-unsolved murder that could be tied to the very story she’s transcribing.

The vibes of Jane Eyre are undeniable, with echoes of the madwoman in the attic and the haunting fire that changed everything. Fans of The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield will also recognize the same atmospheric, magical realism tones that linger long after the book is closed. There's a subtle pull that keeps you turning pages, unsure whether to trust the unreliable narrator—or your own senses.

What’s truly captivating about Return to Wyldcliffe Heights is how Agnes’s descent into the tangled web of fiction and reality mirrors the experience of losing yourself in a book. The secrets of Wyldcliffe Heights, once uncovered, may be more than Agnes can bear, and perhaps more than any reader should know.

For fans of psychological suspense with a touch of gothic allure, this one’s for you. Expect to lose yourself—and maybe never find your way back.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FXDdCw