The Companion is a very compelling read, Narrated by Lucy who is on death row accused of murder and waiting for the hangmans noose. Set in the mid 19th century in New Hampshire we follow Lucy as she reminisces about her time working as a servant/ companion to the blind mistress of a grand house. We see her arrive at the house and try to fit in. It soon becomes obvious that she is a complex and not completely reliable character.
It's historical fiction, mystery and psychological thriller all rolled into one and very well written.

I loved getting inside Lucy's skin I felt her longing to be needed and her frustrations and buried grief for her own losses.

I recently read another couple of books, somewhat similar in theme and feel that readers who enjoyed The Conviction of Cora Burns by Carolyn Kirby and The Confession of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins will also, as I did, enjoy this as will anyone who enjoyed Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood.

A great book! Flew through the thing and make me forget about my life for the time my eyes where glued to the page. I didn't connect with the characters overall, but still a great story.

A haunting story with twists and turns that keep you reading. Lucy's past puts her into a manipulative household, from there you are caught up in obsession, jealousy, murder and mystery!

A historical crime fiction set in New England as narrated by the main character, Lucy Blunt. I was enthralled through parts of this read while feeling bogged down and somewhat confused in others. The interactions between the many women in the house seemed to be on point with current trends in fiction and movies. The relationship between Eugenie and Mr. Burton was confusing to me. I kept wondering if he was aware of all of the reasons behind all the turmoil in the house. I sensed maybe he knew more than I thought when he rode back to say goodbye again to Eugenie. Loved the way the two timelines were woven together. Many thanks to Kim Taylor Blakemore, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read and enjoy this arc.

Lucy has been charged for a double murder, but is she really as guilty as she appears to be? This was a historical fiction novel that kept me guessing about the protagonist’s motives. This novel is very well written that details how women were treated in Victorian society. I also lIke the reader immediately questions the narrator’s reliability. The only thing I did not like about this book was that there was some disturbing scenes. Still, I recommend this for fans of Fingersmith, Blue Asylum, and Wide Sargasso Sea! Full review to come!

I really enjoyed the set up of this book. I liked how the author flipped between the present and the past to keep the truth of the murders until the end. I really enjoyed the story, but I felt like the ending fell a bit flat. I would have also likes to have seen Rebecca's character built up a bit more. Overall, an intense read that kept me hooked!

I really enjoyed reading this! I found it very reminiscent of Atwood’s Alias Grace (with hints of Sarah Waters’s characters) whilst also maintaining an interesting and original storyline. I think the dual timeline adds a lot to the pace of the plot and made it a compelling read.

the effect of the unreliable narrator is well done here – it's a familiar enough premise (murder lesbians and crimes of passion), but the dual storylines are alternated enough to keep things interesting and not set in stone. i do think the reveal of the narrator's motives happened a little too quickly, and too close to the ending. that was one of the moments when i wished the prose might have been a little more straightforward and not as austere/detached. otherwise i thought the writing style worked well, especially in defining a world that is shaped by the reservations and intimacies between women.

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This book had me captured from the first chapter. What an amazing ride. Ms. Blakenmore’s writing is like a movie playing in my mind. We follow Lucy through heartbreak, love, betrayal. This is a mystery of how Lucy came to be where she finds herself and pull for her through out. An excellent book that draws you in from the first pages

The Companion by Kim Taylor Blakemore. Lake Union Publishing, 2019.

In this mid-19th century New Hampshire story, Rebecca is already companion to the blind mistress when after being cast out of her home, Lucy joins the household as maid, replacing Mary who has just drowned.
As the story moves back and forth through Lucy’s life, we learn why she was thrown out of her family home and realize that at some point soon she will be imprisoned for murder.

While very well written, this story was too grim and hopeless for me. While I can’t fault the plot or the story’s descriptive elements, I did not enjoy it.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Companion0 for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Elegant prose and assured pacing made this historical suspense novel a pleasure to read. The storyline and the atmosphere reminded me of Hannah Kent's Burial Rites, a book I adored, but Blakemore's take on the doomed narrator is her own. Lovely and haunting!

Creepy, atmospheric and delicious New England Gothic set in Southern New Hampshire, an old stomping ground of mine. An added bonus is the LGBTQ main characters vying for the love and attention of Mrs. Burton, the blind wife of a local man of means. It is reminiscent of Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, with a true crime feel, so you know it’s going to be dark. I love how the plot unfolded, revealing and enlarging on Lucy’s secrets as we get closer to the cold-hearted truth. Lucy is sympathetic and believable, utterly without friends or family (well, almost) and the noose is tightening from page one.

The detail of a rural domestic servant’s life in 1855 is fascinating, the tedium, the battle against the seasons, giving this historical fiction a very authentic feeling. I loved this novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced by this opportunity.
A well written, atmospheric novel that reminds the reader of Atwood’s Alias Grace and Sarah Waters Affinity.

Lucy Blunt tells lies. Now she is being charged with two murders. She is claiming innocence, could she be telling the truth?
Yes, Lucy has used many aliases. She has changed her papers to get work. This is because she is trying to get away from an alcoholic father. She is a good friend and a hard worker. An excellent companion.
She will be entwined in a murder or accident and another killing she is not involved with. That's if you choose to believe her.

This really reminded me of The Confessions of Frankie Langton by Sarah Collins.

I liked the main character. Her narration is cleverly done and it’s hard for the reader to trust her which is always important when there’s a couple of murders at hand. Keeps the pages turning and makes you read between the lines.

The variety of characters is also interesting, quite a cast when the setting is a house in the middle of nowhere but they all seem to fit. I can totally picture this novel being produced as a film or limited series.

Thank you for the advanced copy! I really enjoyed reading it.

It's 1855 and Lucy Blunt, a housemaid, is about to be hanged for a murder she has committed. the book opens a few days before Lucy's hanging and tells the story of that fateful day as recollected through Lucy's eyes.
This is a very interesting plot with many twists and turns that make it hard to put the book down.
After reading this novel, I would read more of Kim Taylor Blakemore's writing, very good story!
Thanks You NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Historical crime fiction, set in mid nineteenth century New Hampshire and told in unreliable first-person narrative by a double murderer is a tantalising proposition. Nevertheless, whilst there is nothing inherently flawed with ‘The Companion’, to my mind there’s not much point telling a story similar to one which has been told so much better by the likes of Margaret Atwood and Sarah Waters. Comparisons to ‘Alias Grace’ and ‘Fingersmith’ are unavoidable for feminist historical crime fiction aficionados, to Kim Taylor Blakemore’s detriment.
Having said that, this story is worth reading if one is not familiar with the precedents mentioned above. The author’s use of historical detail is effective and naturally woven into the storyline whilst the characters’ dialogue sounds authentic. Lucy Blunt, the accused, is by turns devious, tragic, pragmatic and loving. Whilst we most certainly cannot believe in everything she narrates, we should remember that her path to the gallows begins because she lives in a patriarchy in which women are there to be useful and used. Incarcerated in prison from the outset, Lucy’s case is hardly going to be treated with sympathy, given the world in which she lives. So, the final chapters bring few surprises and the ‘reveals’ are predictable.
My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced by this opportunity.

This book was just alright for me. I couldn't click with the characters nor the story. The premises are there but once I've gotten in the book I felt like I was reading something totally different, unfortunately.
Probably the book was not just for me. The writing was nice though!

The Companion is a fantastic historical thriller that I could not put down. A must read for the year. Twists and turns. Well written and great characters.

Interesting storyline with twists and turns the reader won't be expecting. I couldn't put this book down.