The Room in the Attic: The TOP 5 bestselling novel from Louise Douglas

Reviews

Lindsey Brogan

A Room In The AtticI began reading this book with great expectations as Louise Douglas is one of my favourite authors. The rest of the characters are quite brilliant and lovable too. With ‘The Room in the Attic’, Douglas gets pretty close.

Carol Ann

So cleverly done and really made me think about the past and the future, how lives and paths meet. The elements of gothic horror, psychological distress, science-fiction, and the supernatural, make this book every bit worth a reader’s time and you’ll see why. Dickensian descriptions juxtaposition with contemporary conversations, it is a mysterious, gothic ghost story spanning time and settings. The last time I was this blown as a reader was when I first read Rebecca and while I thought there is no beating the gothic stature of that novel.

Asha Seth

But there are some warm, lasting friendships made. In conclusion, “The Room in the Attic” is a stunning novel that combines mystery and historical fiction perfectly to give readers a masterpiece. The characters in “The Room in the Attic” are compelling and multi-dimensional.

Lewis, in particular, is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist. And this gripping schoolboy yarn with its surreal turn-of-the-century melodrama didn’t disappoint. As Lewis uncovers the school’s secrets, its history, and the stories of the residents of the institution, the narrative seamlessly shifts back and forth, revealing mind-boggling twists and turns. There is the asylum on Dartmoor converted to an austere boarding school - a bleak house which is ‘home’ to some lost souls.

Here’s a mesmerizing tale where past is more alive than present itself. What a brilliant story so brilliantly written. With its well-drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and a narrative that effortlessly spans decades, this book will leave readers turning pages through midnight.

At the heart of the book is a Lewis Tyler and nurse Emma Everdeen, both belonging to different time periods, and what ties them is this intricate tale of suspense about a young girl and his mother found aboard an abandoned ship. Falls right in league with Maurier’s Rebecca or Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale when it comes to writing, setting, and the goth factor. One of the novel’s strengths lies in its seamless blend of two distinct timelines.