Winterbourne follows Anne Adams, a librarian seeking a fresh start after personal upheaval. When she accepts a job cataloguing the vast library of a remote Scottish island estate, she imagines quiet work surrounded by rare books and dramatic landscapes. Instead, Anne finds a a mansion that plunges into darkness each night, mysterious noises, and a secretive owner. I loved how atmospheric this novel is. From the very first chapters, Wolf creates a windswept gothic landscape that feels deeply reminiscent of Jane Eyre and Rebecca, both of which are indeed referenced within the story. Anne makes for a compelling protagonist, and limiting the novel to her perspective heightens the claustrophobia and uncertainty. We only ever know as much as she does and her growing paranoia is contagious in the best gothic way. The only part I struggled with was the twist ending. Without giving any spoilers, it takes the plot in an unexpected direction that, to me, moved away from the trends the book had established. Some readers may love the bold shift, but for me, it felt like stepping into a different genre entirely. A recommended read for fans of Jane Eyre, Rebecca, and gothic fiction. Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was completely drawn into the world of Winterbourne and found myself eager to read the next chapter- out of curiosity and sometimes fear!This book has such a dark, brooding, atmosphere from the off, and pulls you right into the world of Anne Adams.After a terrible car accident and the death of her twin, Anne is stuck. She blames herself for what happened and her injuries and her mindset mean she can’t go anywhere.When a former colleague advises her to get out of her parent’s house Anne applies for a job at Winterbourne - a house on a remote island off the coast of Scotland. Her role will be cataloging the owner’s extensive library - a simple enough task for a former librarian.But Winterbourne and the books are not quite what they seem. And neither is the owner of Winterbourne - Lucien Broussard.The longer Anne remains on the island the more she discovers, and the more she discovers the less she wants to know.Although a brilliantly captivating book to begin with, and hugely atmospheric, I felt this book lost its way towards the end. Unlike Du Maurier, who builds suspicion and unease without resorting to ‘magic’, I felt that Wolf lost her grip on the reader as soon as the book became unbelievable. It’s a shame, because without this element this could have been amazing.