Review: The Girl in the Picture by Kerry Barrett

The Girl in the Picture

By: Kerry Barrett

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery

Length: 384 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Two women. One house. Centuries of secrets

East Sussex Coast, 1855 

Violet Hargreaves is the lonely daughter of a widowed industrialist, and an aspiring Pre-Raphaelite painter. One day, the naïve eighteen-year-old meets Edwin; a mysterious and handsome man on the beach, who promises her a world beyond the small costal village she’s trapped in. But after ignoring warning about Edwin, a chain of terrible events begins to unfold for Violet…

East Sussex Coast, 2016 

For thriller-writer Ella Daniels, the house on the cliff is the perfect place to overcome writer’s block, where she decides to move with her small family. But there’s a strange atmosphere that settles once they move in – and rumours of historical murders next door begin to emerge. One night, Ella uncovers a portrait of a beautiful young girl named Violet Hargreaves, who went missing at the same time as the horrific crimes, and Ella becomes determined to find out what happened there 160 years ago. And in trying to lay Violet’s ghost to rest, Ella must face ghosts of her own...

This haunting timeslip tale is perfect for fans of Kate Riordan, Tracy Rees, Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley.

Review:

Rating:

***Caution May Contain Spoilers***

So I recently joined a small online book club, this book was our very first read and I must say it was an excellent start. Kerry Barrett is a phenomenal author, weaving the past with the present. She wove these two women's lives together perfectly. I would not past up the opportunity to read another one of her books. 

The story begins with Ella and her family moving into a new home near the coat of Sussex. Ella is a cautious young mother, and devoted daughter, worried about disappointing those she loves. At first, her new home has her on edge, questioning her choice to uproot her family from their home in London. Then one day while in town she stumbles upon the mysterious disappearance of young Violet Hargreaves. 

I loved the way Kerry Barrett weaved these two women's lives together, both young girls with suppressed passions; one for painting, the other for writing. Both loyal daughters, never wanting to disappoint their fathers. It almost had you wondering, could they be related somehow?

I loved going back and forth between past and present, hearing Violet's story and trying to solve the mystery right along side Ella. Wondering did Violet survive the struggles with Mr. Forrest, her mentor and lover? Or did she meet a more violent end? Did she run away and pursue her dream of becoming one of the first female artists to join the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood?

Along with the remarkable writing and phenomenal storytelling, there was the history. Kerry Barrett did an amazing job incorporating some history regarding Pre-Raphaelites and their art. After finishing the book many of us in the book club googled PRB and found that much of the book was historically accurate, from the will known artists to the scandals between these artists and their sponsors; which only made the book more interesting. You can tell Kerry really did her research in order to bring the story to life. 

This book was a very fun read and like I said before I would not hesitant to pick up another one of Kerry Barrett's books. The Girl in the Picture is a fast read and keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what happen to poor Violet? And I must say the ending is not what you would expect. If you haven't already I would definitely give this book a read, you won't be disappointed. 

Published by: K