Victorian Psycho: A Novel
Virginia Feito's Mrs. March was hailed as "a brilliant debut . . . [by] a writer who keeps pace with the grandees she invokes" (Sarah Ditum, Guardian)--from Daphne Du Maurier and Shirley Jackson to Patricia Highsmith. Now, Feito returns with her "silver-polish sentences and her eerie psychological acumen" (Constance Grady, Vox) to unleash an entirely new antihero on us all.
Grim Wolds, England: Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect governess--she'll dutifully tutor her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, tell them bedtime stories, and only joke about eating children. But long, listless days spent within the estate's dreary confines come with an intimate knowledge of the perversions and pathetic preoccupations of the Pounds family--Mr. Pounds can't keep his eyes off Winifred's chest, and Mrs. Pounds takes a sickly pleasure in punishing Winifred for her husband's wandering gaze. Compounded with her disdain for the entitled Pounds children, Winifred finds herself struggling at every turn to stifle the violent compulsions of her past. French tutoring and needlework are one way to pass the time, as is admiring the ugly portraits in the gallery . . . and creeping across the moonlit lawns. . . .
Patience. Winifred must have patience, for Christmas is coming, and she has very special gifts planned for the dear souls of Ensor House. Brimming with sardonic wit and culminating in a shocking conclusion, Victorian Psycho plunges readers into the chilling mind of an iconic new literary psychopath.
Grim Wolds, England: Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect governess--she'll dutifully tutor her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, tell them bedtime stories, and only joke about eating children. But long, listless days spent within the estate's dreary confines come with an intimate knowledge of the perversions and pathetic preoccupations of the Pounds family--Mr. Pounds can't keep his eyes off Winifred's chest, and Mrs. Pounds takes a sickly pleasure in punishing Winifred for her husband's wandering gaze. Compounded with her disdain for the entitled Pounds children, Winifred finds herself struggling at every turn to stifle the violent compulsions of her past. French tutoring and needlework are one way to pass the time, as is admiring the ugly portraits in the gallery . . . and creeping across the moonlit lawns. . . .
Patience. Winifred must have patience, for Christmas is coming, and she has very special gifts planned for the dear souls of Ensor House. Brimming with sardonic wit and culminating in a shocking conclusion, Victorian Psycho plunges readers into the chilling mind of an iconic new literary psychopath.
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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *Victorian Psycho* is a wild, dark, and fast-paced horror novel with a uniquely detached narrator who’s both captivating and unsettling. R...
Honestly not bad, it scratched my itch for another story about an unhinged woman after reading a certain hunger.
Straight off the bat, I will warn you that there is child murder in this book.
This book was so wild! A quick but entrancing read with a main character that you will somehow fall in love with, but who is also probably actually evil.
The balance between horror and humor is perfect, and not campy at all. There are some points in the book where it’s hard to tell if things are happening in real life or just in her mind. That is a huge part of why this book was so hard to put down though.
Most of the writing is in very true Victorian style language. However, there are some points when she switches it up and even acknowledges the reader as part of the story. It makes it much more interesting and makes you feel like you’re part of what is happening in her mind.
The twist at the end is dropped so casually that I audibly gasped.
Well, worth the read!
3.75**
Originally DNF due to animal abuse and the detached voice. I sucked it up and read it for a book club.
I had to remind myself: duh. Psychos are detached. If it's in first person, the psychotic main character isn't going to lament.
Originally DNF due to animal abuse and the detached voice. I sucked it up and read it for a book club.
I had to remind myself: duh. Psychos are detached. If it's in first person, the psychotic main character isn't going to lament.
Grotesque and wild this short horror novel about a strange governess with an urge to kill was a perfect read for the spooky winter season. Set just before Christmas, Mrs. Knotty is hired to care for the children of Ensor house but keeping them safe is hard when she’s the danger.
This was very graphic and very disturbing, if you can’t read about childsren dying don’t pick this one up. The protagonist is so insane but likeable and she has a penchant for disposing of her wards…
I really enjoyed this short horror novel and recommend it!
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