Note I write this review having received a free copy for review prior to publication. However, what I did not realise is that I was receiving only one half of this book - the full version of which incorporates two halves, either of which can be read first. So this review is written on the basis of having only read the 1880s element of the story.

I don't think I need the other half! This story was excellent, gripping, intriguing, full of mystery. Plenty of times the other half of the story is referred to, but it's not a missing piece, more likely just a complementary partner.

Set primarily in the library of a country parson, on an isolated island which is cut off at high tide, the parson is sure he is dying, and a doctor is summoned. Trapped within the walls of the library in a glass cell, is the parson's sister-in-law, declared mad after supposedly killing his brother. Can she be the one behind the parson's current illness, and is he really dying?

Really enjoyed this, though the premise of the double-halved book seemed rather unnecessary - perhaps it would be more necessary if read from the other end.

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

I appreciated what I read as it's well plotted but I was left wondering what was in the second part and how it worked together with the first.
I liked the storytelling and the style of writing.
I think this book must be read in paper as that's the way this type of book works
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I enjoyed the start of first half so much I've bought the hardback and will read the whole book. This is so clever and inventive- two books in one that can be read in either order. Can't wait to read the whole thing now!

Oh this is so cleverly written and I love the unique and clever way it's presented. I've never read anything like this before, it's so beautifully done.
This review is only for the ARC e-book of part one set in 1870, but now I have read it, I have ordered the full hardback version so I can read part 2 and read it in the way it was meant to be read. A book as unique and glorious as this deserves a place on the physical shelf.

Written as a tête-beche novel this book is two interlinked stories told back to back. Finish one and turn the book over to read the other. It does not matter which order you read them in and I started in 1930’s Hollywood when a young man meets a rich writer who then dies in mysterious circumstances but who has left a novel that gives clues to his families notorious past and possible reasons for his death.The story in 1880 is set in Turnglass House in gothic Norfolk and is a dark story of obsession and revenge. I enjoyed these stories very much and had to concentrate on their twists and turns and the links between them. An interesting concept that kept me enthralled. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

Having read part one of the story, I went on to read a review copy of the book.

Intrigued by the cleverness of the storytelling I raced through both stories in the space of a couple of afternoons as I was captivated by the fine quality of the writing and the way in which this talented author manipulates a dual time narrative with comparative ease. I can say that I've never read anything like The Turnglass before and I think that's where the real magic of the stories lie in that in this unique experience both novellas offer their secrets ever so slowly but with such subtlety that I found myself turning back to re-read sections just to see what clues I missed first time around.

“‘It begins in February 1939.’ Simeon closed the book, … and examined it more closely. Florence had wanted him to read this so there had to be some significance he could not yet see. … It carried the name ‘O. Tooke’. Whoever he was, he was writing about the future, and describing it as the past.”

My thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for an eARC via NetGalley of Part One of ‘The Turnglass’ by Gareth Rubin.

As I have enjoyed previous novels by Gareth Rubin, I admit that I had failed to register when requesting this title that it was only Part One rather than the entire text. This made it somewhat difficult to properly review ‘The Turnglass’ as a whole. Therefore, this feedback is restricted to the first part.

The first novella is set in 1870s England. Idealistic young doctor, Simeon Lee, is summoned from London to treat his cousin, Parson Oliver Hawes, who is sickening from an unknown illness. Hawes lives at Turnglass House, on Ray, a desolate tidal island located off the Essex coast.

Parson Hawes believes that he is being poisoned and accuses his sister-in-law, Florence. Simeon learns that Florence had been declared insane after killing Oliver’s brother in a jealous rage. She is being held in a glass-walled, self-contained apartment in Oliver’s library. The story of how she came to be there is found in Oliver’s tête-bêche journal, where one side tells a very different story from the other…..

This was quite an intriguing tale and Gareth Rubin did well in recreating the atmosphere of the late 19th Century from the bustling streets of London to the barren Essex coast with its culture of smuggling.

It was somewhat frustrating to not have access to Part Two, set in 1930s Los Angeles, California. However, based on my experience of Part One, I have given it 4 stars.

I have now purchased the entire book and plan to continue reading. When I have finished the book the review that I will submit to Goodreads, Waterstones, and Amazon U.K. will reflect my experience of the entire book. As a result, the 4-star rating may be adjusted.

Edit: on reading the entire book, I amended my rating to 5 stars.

The Turnglass is a tete-beche book, meaning that if you flip the book you will have another story. You can start from one side or the other, and once you reach the middle, you flip the book and read the other part. The stories are intertwined, without being really built on one another. The idea is great.

I was given access to one part of the novel, where in 1880, Simeon, a doctor, is called to cure his dad's uncle in a remote island on the coast of England. What he expected to be a small sickness ends up being worst than he thought, and Simeon doesn't know how to cure his relative. Oliver, the uncle is also a parson, and in his house, behind a glass wall, lives Florence, imprisoned behind the library wall after attacking and killing her husband, the parson's brother. Simeon starts to question some of the information he is being given, especially when they dont add up.

I found this part to be an ok "thriller"esque novel. The parts about the other novel didn't get me so enthusiast that I HAVE to flip the book though... In short :loved the idea, but the result (of this part as least) wasn't as great as I hoped.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Uk for access to the first part of this e-book.*

Set in the 1880s, it sees Dr Simeon Lee arrive at the house of his cousin, Parson Oliver Hawes. Oliver is ill but believes he is being poisoned & there doesn't seem to be any shortage of suspects: is it the two servants, one of whom provides the food that Oliver eats, or is it one of the townsfolk in the neighbouring village who speak of Turnglass House with disdain, or is it Florence Hawes? Once married to Oliver's brother, James, Florence killed him in a rage over another woman & she now lives behind a glass wall in Turnglass House. How would she get out though to commit the crime?

There are several references to the second half of the story which is set in 1930s California & involves the death of Oliver Tooke & the appearance of a book about a young doctor named Simeon Lee. This book is written as a tête-bêche novel - two intertwined stories where you can read one then the other or read alternate chapters. I didn't realise it when requesting, but this was only one of the two parts to the story so obviously that choice was not open to me, but I didn't enjoy the story enough to read the second part. I found it a bit hard-going for some reason, can't quite put my finger on what I didn't like. Many reviewers seemed to really like it though, so don't let me put you off as it's something different in today's book world.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Simon & Schuster UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

The first part of this book is very promising, though it is difficult to give a full review without receiving the full story. It is engaging immediately, but the progression of the plot and characters will determine a lot about the overall quality of this story.

⭐ ⭐
The Turnglass
by Gareth Rubin

I have had a galley of this since July. I was intrigued by the puzzle aspect, and I'm always drawn to unusual structures, but it was early days and I don't remember seeing it anywhere on Bookstagram or hearing about it on podcasts etc. It was purely the publisher's description I had to go on. So I completely mistook the detail about this being only the FIRST HALF of the book.

It's a tête-bêche novel, meaning two front covers, two stories, read one, flip it over, read the second story. Not unique, but the interconnectedness of the two stories is the novel's USB. I'm all for a puzzle, and was relishing reading this, allowing the anticipation to build over the months.

The end ( I didn't know it was the middle) came all too suddenly and with no second story to impress me with it's cunning I have nothing to comment on regarding the success of the construction or the technical devices the author uses, other than a moderately interesting gothic left hanging.

Feels a bit gimmicky. Maybe it's brilliant.

Sorry, but can only go on what I have here.

Publication date: 1st November 2023
Thanks to #NetGalley and #simonschusteruk for the egalley

#bookreview #irishbookstagram #theturnglass #garethrubin #tetebeche

This was an interesting Victorian tale with characters who should have been honourable people, but many of whom were not. It was well written with an interesting plot which explains why Florence is encased in a glass prison in the house.
I had not realised it was only half of the book - only one of the novellas so difficult to review properly - I will certainly be looking out for the whole book.
Three stars because I can't assess this without reading it all.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Gareth Rubin/Simon & Schuster for a digital copy of the first half of this title.

The Turnglass by Gareth Rubin is an intriguing proposition. It’s a tête-bêche novel, with two front covers, and two different stories that can be read in either direction or even in both directions at once by alternating chapters. Unfortunately the excerpt provided for review is only one half of the book, so I was not fully able to test the theory or indeed provide a full review. From the portion I was able to read, the writing style was interesting, and quite old fashioned which was in keeping with the story being told. The author was able to evoke a strong sense of time and place in his descriptions and the characters were interesting. I enjoyed this part of the story but as I was unable to read the companion tale it seems unfair to give the book anything more than an average three stars, I normally do not rate books that I do not finish but this one does have potential and I am keen to read the entire book ,
I read and reviewed a partial ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher all opinions are my own.

A Victorian cross between Gothic novel and Whodunit. The start had strong The Woman in Black vibes but luckily it shakes itself free of it as the story progresses. It throws in quite a few ideas maybe slightly overused in this type of novel: contraband, small communities with their conflicts, prostitution, poverty, addiction, 2 faced characters etc. But despite everything I found The Turnglass a very gripping read, perfect for the season and fans of the genre.

Now the problem is that I've read some of the other reviews and I feel I've been cheated out of a story?! I've read an ARC and while there was a mention of the second story set in LA, the story itself was missing and I am obviously rather confused: was my copy incomplete? A decision was made to separate the 2 stories? Do I need to find a physical copy of the book rather than the ebook? I DO NOT KNOW! HELP! lol

I was drawn to read this book as I had never heard the concept of writing two books back to back.
The storyline was mysterious, reminiscent of "Jamaica Inn" or "The Woman in Black".
The characters and locations were vividly described and I was soon immersed in the story, and eager to find out the explanation of the strange events that occurred.
The back to back concept was held within the story itself rather than in the book.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes a gothic drama

I really liked the premise of "The Turnglass" by Gareth Rubin, a tête-bêche book where, when you have read one novella/story, you flip it and read the other. Part 1 was interesting enough but it is difficult to give a full review without reading part 2, and seeing how the interplay works with each story. I can only therefore give it half marks BUT it does merit an extra star for a very clever way to kill someone, extremely clever.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the first part of this book with no obligation to review.

I enjoyed this and while I did not get a copy of the second part, this story could stand alone. It is a mystery set in Victorian times with all the usual things - the stews of London and opium dens (like Dickens) a mysterious lonely house on an island cut off by the tides (like The Woman in Black), a resourceful independent minded female character (like The Ruby in the Smoke) and it all adds up to a very enjoyable read.

It is atmospheric but not disturbing, the descriptions of the island and London and the various characters are vivid and believable and it is quite a page turner.

I will be interested to read the second book and I wonder if it is about the futuristic California and the glass house mentioned in the first book.

I enjoyed the first part of this story, the glass prison and the mysterious Florence especially
The setting is very atmospheric..

It's definitely got me interested enough to want to read the second half, and discover the book within a book.


I have not published my review, as its only for first part of book.

Like some of the other reviewers, it slipped my mind that only Part 1 of this novel was available. Part 1 of the story functions in its own sphere, and as someone who likes atmospheric tales this really fit the part of a classic Gothic. Very intrigued by the second part of this endeavour, so will be purchasing the book to find out the link between the two halves.

It feels unfair to review a book when you've only read half of it, but what I can say is that what I read was very intriguing, and I loved the unique tête-bêche format. Only giving 4*s as I need to see if it sticks the landing.

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to this great read; here's hoping that it finishes well!