by Lindsay Marcott

3 / 5 stars
Find it on Goodreads!

Romance. Danger. Mystery. Suspense. A handsome, WEALTHY, brooding gentleman haunted by the ghosts of his past. A young, naive, woman with no job, no family, and no prospects. It’s literally the definition of a gothic romance novel (also, let’s be honest, the definition of a modern romance novel too).

Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost is a modern spin on Jane Eyre, and while it wasn’t groundbreaking, I’d say it’s a pretty successful adaptation. I confess that it’s been so long since I read Jane Eyre that I had to Google the plot to remind myself of some of the more detailed specifics. It’s also a pretty faithful adaptation of the original novel, and that’s where it falls a little short for me. I’m conscious of not spoiling the novel, but if you’ve read Jane Eyre you know what to expect. I think I went into this novel expecting, or maybe just hoping for, some sort of twist or turn that would take a bit off course from it’s inspiration and make it feel new. It’s difficult to effectively create tension when the reader (assuming they’ve read Jane Eyre) knows what’s ultimately coming their way.

Also, I’m a self-professed lover of the thriller / mystery genre but continue to be SO annoyed by protagonists in these books. WHY must they be so paranoid and suspicious ALL. THE. TIME. I imagine the Unsolved Mysteries theme song in my head while reading because it feels like every tiny little event or interaction is some great mystery to be solved.

All that said, I did enjoy it – it’s an easy read, and I liked it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.