by Julie Cohen
SYNOPSIS
Three women carry unspeakable truths in their heart. At what cost will they find their freedom? In Victorian England, Viola is an amateur photographer struggling with the grief of her father's death and the sterile atmosphere of her marriage to her childhood friend, Jonah. When she discovers a talent for capturing ghostly images on camera, Viola comes to the attention of a spirit medium, and a powerful attraction between the two women is sparked... As each woman puts herself at risk, secrets are brought to light that will change their lives forever. Driven by passionate, courageous female characters Cohen explores themes of sexuality, gender and prejudice, firmly establishing her as one of our best storytellers.
REVIEW Viola and her new husband Jonah move to Dorset in the hope that a change of scenery and some sea air will help her to recover from the death of her father. Viola is desperately lonely and has noticed a change in Jonah since his return from India. Despite being hailed as a hero after his actions during an uprising in Delhi, he refuses to open up about what happened there. The distance between them is obvious but Viola can’t find a way to get through to him.
Viola decides to start pursuing her photography again as a way to feel closer to her father and she is shocked when ghostly images start appearing in the photos she has taken. Henriette, a well-known spirit medium, takes an interest in these images and the friendship that forms between them triggers the events that will change all three of their lives forever.
Spirited is a haunting historical novel with a twist. The story had supernatural elements reminiscent of Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse and I loved the combination of factual information – shown in the form of newspaper cuttings or old documents - and the comments from sceptics that were dotted throughout the book making me question if there actually was something spiritual going on or if this phenomenon was a fraud.
On top of this, Spirited is also a story of love and loss, friendships, relationships and identity. A truly unique book which would be the perfect addition for any historical fiction fans.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Julie Cohen grew up in the western mountains of Maine. Her house was just up the hill from the library and she spent many hours walking back and forth, her nose in a book. She studied English Literature at Brown University and Cambridge University and is a popular speaker and teacher of creative writing, including classes for the Guardian and Literature Wales. Her books have been translated into fifteen languages and have sold over a million copies; DEAR THING and TOGETHER were Richard and Judy Book Club picks. Her most recent novel is the critically acclaimed LOUIS & LOUISE. Julie lives in Berkshire with her husband, son and a terrier of dubious origin. www.julie-cohen.com
Thanks to Anne Cater - @RandomTTours, @julie_cohen and Orion @orionbooks for the opportunity to read & review.
Fiction: Historical Fiction / Supernatural
Product format: Hardback
ISBN: 978-1409179870
Pages: 352 pp