Set in London in 1833, "House of Shades" tells the story of Hester, a young doctor who helps the poor and vulnerable. She is offered a commission to help a man of wealth - the money earned would enable her and her husband to get away from where they live and, specifically, to get Hester's sister Willa away from bad influences. However, on arrival at the imposing home of Gervaise Cherville, Hester realises her new employer earned his money through slavery. And when he asks for her help with a task far beyond her medical expertise, Hester finds herself on a mission which could be more important but dangerous than any she's ever done before.

This is a really fascinating gothic tale which I found to be absolutely gripping. And the message it has about slavery and reparations is particularly relevant at the moment.

On a more trivial note, I could well imagine this translating really well to the screen but I would highly recommend that people read the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Dillsworth's strength certainly lies in her vivid depiction of the setting, from the imposing walls of the manor. However, despite the promising premise, the gothic elements hinted at by the cover and synopsis are not as prominent as expected. While the story delivers on historical intrigue and a dash of romance, it lacks the haunting atmosphere that defines the genre. Instead, readers are presented with a compelling yet somewhat subdued tale of a young woman's quest for identity and justice in the backdrop of Victorian London. Overall, "House of Shades" offers a captivating glimpse into a bygone era, but falls short of fully embracing its gothic potential.

A slow burner that, sadly, wasn't for me. Hester, a black doctoress is persuaded to attend Gervais Cherville in his dying days. As a slave owner, he wants to make reparation to his slaves particularly two who lived in London but escaped. Hester is asked to help find them. The story is very slow as, by a third of the way through, the scene is still being set. It's all a bit predictable. From the notes at the end of the book, the author believes in modern day reparations for slavery. I think she wrote this to make the point rather than concentrate on making a good, readable book. Although not for me, I'm sure many will enjoy the book.

This author is new to me and although I did enjoy the book I thought that it was a bit drawn out at times.
Set in 1833, Doctress, Hester Reeves leaves the poor people of Kings Cross for an offer that she can't refuse, wealthy Gervaise Cherville needed her administrations and was prepared to pay handsomely for them.
Newly pregnant Hester needed the money to enable her to move her husband and her wayward sister , Wila, out of London to start a new life.
Life at Tall Trees was even worse than Hester imagined, the only good thing was Jenny, the housemaid, who became her friend and confidant. Margaret the austere housekeeper was totally different, she didn't like Hester, she resented her from the start, Margaret was very closet to the ailing Gervaise and was jealous of Hester and would do everything in her power to get her removed, even colluding with Gervais's greedy, playboy son, Roland.
Gervaise had an ulterior motive for employing Hester, he had another job for her, having been a slave owner he needed Hester to locate two slaves that he brought to England, two slaves who had escaped. Gervaise needed to salve his conscience to stem the nightmares but little did Hester know the cans of worms that she would uncover, revelations that would wreak havoc in London's high society and nearly destroy Hester's life.
This book covers the cruelty of slavery, the problems of the abolition, the lives of the girls that plied their trade on the grimy, ill lit streets of London, the diseases that were rampant.
Thank you to Net Gallery for my free copy of this book, my review is voluntary

This book tried too hard to be a number of different things, a mystery, historical fiction, historical fact, a voice for reparation and restorative justice but sadly didn’t really manage to completely fulfil any of these. If you are looking for something different to read, give it a try but don’t be surprised if you give up halfway through. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.

Tall Trees, the house of shade and darkness is where Hester Reeves, a Doctress in 1833, gets a commission to work with Gervaise Cherville. A sickly man Hester expects to nurse him in his dying days but he sets her a task to find slave women he mistreated. This task sets Hester on a momentous journey where she finds the truth has always been kept from her.
Not quite the book I was expecting from the synopsis but a good read nonetheless. A story of attempting to make amends and reconciliation for past wrong doings

Sadly DNF'd as expected a gothic fantasy from the description, which it didn't turn out to be.

A little flat for me.

An interesting tale of deception and redemption. I can't imagine that there were many black female doctors in the 1800's so that added to this historical tale. Very character based story with the backgrounds and motivations of the characters nicely fleshed out.

Interesting story of slave owning, syphilis, Victorian London and mystery. I enjoyed the first half but found the characters a bit wooden and I lost a bit of interest. Great idea, not so good execution.

A weighty and absorbing historical story about Hester and her new employer, a mill-owning syphilis-ridden former slave owner who is looking for his own redemption before death. Hester is employed for a high salary to ease her employer's suffering, but she isn't welcomed or thanked for the task by the household. She wants to make a new life away from bad influences for her own family, but in the meantime she becomes entangled in her employer's business and its consequences. I really enjoyed the book, well-written with sympathetic characters and a well-created chilling atmosphere that is ready to inflict damage at any turn.

I do love a good historical story about a woman in a big manor house with secretive staff and a hoity-toity owner. I've read a lot and I haven't come across one I haven't enjoyed. There's something so magically nostalgic about them and I find them so gripping.

Lianne has masterfully created such a habitable world. It's not always a good one or a pleasant one, but you can see it, you can feel it. The description of the walls in the house, the chill of the pantry, the smells in the kitchen, the lushness of the garden out front. It's all there so wonderfully depicted that you could become a character yourself.

I know we don't judge books by their covers (we totally do), but this cover was beautiful. Simple but striking.

It is a historical novel mostly, but it's thrilling, with a bit of romance, a bit of mystery and intrigue. I was expecting a bit more of the gothic nature that the cover and synopsis suggested. This doesn't make what's there bad, no, what's there is very enjoyable indeed. But there were times I wanted just a smidgen more darkness, and more twists and turns. But that's literally the only negative point I have. It's a well accomplished piece of writing, great characterisation, and an interesting plot.

It is more character than plot, which is a plus for me. The plot is fine, but I actually found more interest, more intrigue, more secrets through getting to know the characters and how they interact with each other than what they were actually doing. I also felt the house became a character in itself, which is what I want from a book of this genre.

There aren't many characters, or not many that I felt were key players, but I'll mention a few important ones here. We obviously have Hester who was a very intriguing main character and I really adored her and felt she carried the story well. We also have Jenny, the kitchen maid, young, trustworthy, and someone Hester could be honest with. Margaret, the housekeeper, who is brash and rude and almost acts like she is on the same level as the family she serves rather than the rest of the staff. And then you have Gervaise Cherville himself. At first I was mixed, he was clearly unwell and so I felt empathy towards him, but he was a bit rude, but there was a complexity within him and he ended up being far more interesting than I thought he would be. And finally we have Rowland, Gervaise's son. He wasn't in it much, more so towards the end, but he was very slimy, very cocksure, and I really didn't like him, but he was very well written.

To read a book about a black female doctor in the early 1800s...I mean, I don't know much about the period but I assume there weren't many female doctors, or black doctors, so to have a black female doctor, it had this importance that carried through the story that I'm not sure would have been achieved if it had been a white female or a black male.

It's extremely easy to read. Some historical novels are so bogged down in information and detail that it can feel a slog to get through. But Lianne has managed it. I acknowledge I am a quick reader, but I picked it up between work tasks and before I knew it I was 100 pages in. It flows well off the page, in terms of the actual words used and sentence structure, but also the characterisation and the plot. It has relatively short chapters which I enjoyed. I read it all in less than 24 hours, it was so addictive.

I will be absolutely honest here and say Lianne's previous book, Theatre of Marvels, wasn't for me. I know I'm in the minority here and that's fine. But even then I could see that she was a very talented writer and I was keen to see what else she created. Even though it wasn't for me, I did recommend it to others though as objectively I can say it was a well written book, but just not to my tastes. But this proof has been sat on my shelf since November 2023 that I couldn't resist any longer.

This book has proved my reasoning for trying another book of hers. Don't write authors off just because you didn't like one of their books, because you might just be missing out on a gem.

**PLOT SPOILERS*** I want to say that although I'm giving it 3 stars. It's not a bad book. It just felt a little heavy handed towards the end. It seemed so convenient that the twist was related to Hester and how her mother was related to the owner of the book. I think that it took a really interesting perspective on the gothic novel focusing on race, slave ownership and women. It was also interesting how Hester was viewed very differently by the rich and the poor and what her skills were seen as. I think the characters were great and there was good tension. I just felt disappointed in the twist as it felt a little forced.

"House of Shades" by Lianne Dillsworth is a captivating tale set in London in 1833 that delves into the dark secrets and hidden truths of the Cherville family. Centred around Doctress Hester Reeves, a strong and determined protagonist, the story unfolds as she is tasked with a life-changing commission at the foreboding Tall Trees house in Fitzrovia.
The novel takes readers on a journey through a complex web of secrets and lies, with the backdrop of the historical context of slavery and the repercussions it has on the characters' lives. As Hester delves deeper into the mysteries of the Cherville family, she uncovers a legacy of pain, guilt, and atonement, leading to profound and unexpected events.
Dillsworth does an exceptional job of weaving historical elements into the narrative, shedding light on the impact of slavery and the complexities of guilt and redemption. Through Hester's perspective, readers are immersed in a world of deception and intrigue, where nothing is as it seems, and the truth lies buried beneath layers of deceit.
The characters in the story are well-developed, each with their own motivations and inner struggles. From the ailing Gervaise Cherville to the enigmatic Rowland Cherville, the family members come to life on the page, adding depth and complexity to the plot.
While the story follows a somewhat formulaic gothic structure, with its array of friendly servants, hostile housekeepers, and sinister family members, it still manages to deliver unexpected twists and turns that keep readers engaged. The themes of slavery, guilt, reparation, and atonement are skilfully interwoven into the narrative, offering a thought-provoking exploration of moral dilemmas and the consequences of past actions.
Overall, "House of Shades" is a compelling and immersive read that blends historical fiction, mystery, and drama. With its richly detailed setting, complex characters, and themes of redemption and forgiveness, this novel will surely captivate readers from start to finish.

There's a possibility I read the description of this book being 'a dark, Victorian mystery' wrong, but I was expecting more mystery, more twists and turns and excitement. So I went into this expecting something very different, alas the writing was beautiful and the story flowed well but it needed something more thrilling for me to rate this higher. A great book for those who prefer a simple story that includes events and elements that have happened in history. Also, love the cover.

I don’t understand why some reviewers have called this ‘Gothic’. It’s early 19th century and it’s got a bit of intrigue, but it’s not a Gothic mystery as I understand them. An interesting topic to write about and I liked Hestor being a healer. But overall the book lacked something for me. It was a disappointment. With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an e-ARC to read and review.

I think this book has a solid plot. The 'reveals' were easy to see coming, but that didn't lessen the enjoyment of the read. The writing was easy to read as well. I think my only complaint about the writing/story is that a lot of it felt very fast. Things happened very quickly once the main character starts at the house, which on a whole isn't too offensive to the read, but coupled with some of the relationships being at the extreme with no real build up made the book feel a bit rushed at points. For instance, the relationship between the two sisters felt very extreme. You know that Hester made a promise to her dying mother to look after her sister, but Hester just sort of comes across as obsessed with her and is constantly at the extreme with it. I think a bit more of a slow build might have been better. (Hester's husband is concerned her sister is coming between them and frankly, I agree with him. She was way too concerned with her sister - more than seemed healthy.) The housekeeper also was immediately rude and dismissive of Hester, which is somewhat explained by the fact that she was uninformed Hester was coming, but again, it just feels like too much too soon. (Also the amount of times the housekeeper and son call Hester a charlatan without her really refuting that made me mad. Fight back, Hester!) I think the first sentence/para wasn't needed (the whole 'let me tell you my story' bit) and it could have just started with the story proper.

Overall, I really liked the plot and I think it really brings up some interesting topics. The characters were generally likeable (well, the likeable ones at least) and the writing was good. I think some aspects just seemed a little extreme without the reader feeling that had been earned.

Loved this book and it's gothic portrayal of a strong black female character called Hester. She is a doctoress, having learned everything she knows from her Mother. She is well known in London for treating ladies of the night. Being offered the opportunity to look after a rich homeowner called Gervais Cherville she grasps the opportunity in order to earn a life changing sum of money to make a better life for her, husband Jos and her headstrong sister Willa.
She goes to live at Tall Trees and struggles with the dark overtones of the house and the attitude of the main housekeeper, Margaret who takes an immediate dislike to her. Whilst in the house, she gradually uncovers dark secrets and struggles with moral dilemmas, family loyalties and betrayals. A very entertaining read.

"House of Shades" is not the genre of books I would normally read, however I was swayed by the description and the cover. The story was not what I expected it to be. There are some twists in the story line but not enough to keep me interested. Not a book for me I am afraid.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy of this book.

House of Shades delves into Victorian London's murky depths, weaving a tale of a female doctor's moral dilemma. Hester Reeves grapples with her conscience as she navigates the treacherous waters of Gervaise Cherville's dark secrets. Lianne Dillsworth deftly explores themes of slavery, redemption, and familial betrayal against a backdrop of societal upheaval.
While the narrative may not fulfill every gothic expectation, it offers a compelling portrayal of historical injustices and the human cost of silence. House of Shades is a poignant reminder of the shadows that linger in the corridors of power and the courage required to confront them.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an electronic ARC of House of Shades. I give this book 3 stars.

I enjoyed this book but the blurb is very far off the mark, it’s not gripping and full of mystery, intriguing at best.

The timeline is a little odd, her pregnancy is very early stages but over the course of a couple of weeks, makes you think she’s jumped from 4mths to 8mths based on the language used and it never added anything, in fact, probably could have left it out and bumped up some more character development. I liked Hester, but there was no real depth to any of the characters so the book for me, all too one dimensional and was more of a sun lounger read, a book you find on the shelf at your hotel when you forgot all your books and it’s just a ‘nice read’.