Paperback, 432 pages
Expected publication: March 22nd 2016 by Headline Review
Reader, I murdered him. A Gothic retelling of Jane Eyre.
Like the heroine of the novel she adores, Jane Steele suffers cruelly at the hands of her aunt and schoolmaster. And like Jane Eyre, they call her wicked - but in her case, she fears the accusation is true. When she flees, she leaves behind the corpses of her tormentors.
A fugitive navigating London's underbelly, Jane rights wrongs on behalf of the have-nots whilst avoiding the noose. Until an advertisement catches her eye. Her aunt has died and the new master at Highgate House, Mr Thornfield, seeks a governess. Anxious to know if she is Highgate's true heir, Jane takes the position and is soon caught up in the household's strange spell. When she falls in love with the mysterious Charles Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma: can she possess him - body, soul and secrets - and what if he discovers her murderous past?
My Thoughts…
Jane
Steele is written directly to the reader.
It is a story told by Jane Steele for the readers. This is the story that is told of how Jane
Steele perceived her life. It is not an
easy story. Her life was not easy. There is the loss of loved ones, murder,
being homeless, and so much more. The
story moved at a good pace with never a boring minute.
There
are many recollections of Jane Eyre. I
have never read Jane Eyre and was concerned that I would miss some of this
story. I did not! I followed the story easily. Some have said that it would be helpful to
read Jane Eyre first, but I am fine with not having read it first.
You
may wonder why I choose to read Jane Steele if I was not a fan of Jane
Eyre. I have to say it is the
cover. It is unique and beautiful. It
drew me into the story before I even opened the book. They say not to judge a book by its cover
but in this case it had to be the reason for me starting the book.
Purchase
your copy here…
More Praise for JANE STEELE:
“Let’s be honest here. When I was sent an advanced
readers’ copy of Jane Steele, which was billed as an historical crime novel with a Jane-Eyre-style heroine who becomes a serial killer, I thought
someone was pulling my leg. I decided to read ten pages, just to annoy
myself as I’m often inclined to do. Also, to show what a good sport I
am. I was hooked by page five and read my way through at a merry
clip.
I loved this book! The language rings true, the period
details are correct. Jane Steele is a joy, both plucky and rueful in her assessment of her dark
deeds.
The plotting is solid and the pacing sublime. If this were
a series, this would be the perfect introduction. As a stand-alone, I
give it an A+”
—Sue Grafton
“Lyndsay Faye pulls off the most elusive feat of historical
fiction: to give us a book that reads as though it was unearthed from a perfectly
preserved antique chest.
Sneakily charming and wildly well written, like Faye’s other
novels Jane Steele demands attention.”
—Matthew Pearl, New York Times-bestselling author of The Dante Club and The Last Bookaneer
“Jane Steele is lethal good fun!
In Jane, Lyndsay Faye has created a heroine unwilling to suffer tyrants
or fools.
The result is a darkly humorous, elegantly crafted story of an
‘accidental’ vigilante. A delicious read.”
—Suzanne Rindell, author of The Other Typist
“From the gasp-inducing moment Jane Steele utters the words ‘reader, I murdered him,’ you know you are in
for a rollicking romp of an adventure that recasts the Jane Eyre story in an entirely new
light.
But mixed in with the verve and vivacity is a story of real
heart, exemplary, near-forgotten history, and an utterly unforgettable
heroine.
Brava to Lyndsay Faye for what’s already one of my favorite
thrillers of the year.”
—Sarah Weinman, editor of Women Crime Writers:Eight Suspense Novels of the 1940s & 50s
“Enchanting. Jane Steele is beautifully rendered and utterly captivating, from the first
cry of
‘reader, I murdered him’ to its final pages. Lyndsay Faye
is a masterful storyteller, and this is her finest tale yet.’
—Maria Konnikova, New York Times-bestselling author of Mastermind: How to Think
Like Sherlock Holmes
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