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The Red House by Emily Winslow
Writing book reviews, especially for fiction, is very personal. I frequently ponder whether our reactions to fiction—or any form of art, for that matter—can reveal more about the viewer than the actual work. Or is the beauty of it just because the two ideas are inexorably connected, like in a classic case of chicken or the egg?
We all bring our unique interests, experiences, and personalities to the table, so it’s not only that we can read the same words and derive different meanings. There will be people we get along with and some we won’t in any social setting, and the same is true of books.
Back in 2013, I discovered Emily Winslow’s writing and fell in love with it right away. The Start of Everything by Emily Winslow combines literary elegance with the gritty intensity of a top-selling criminal thriller, the complexity of a challenging intellectual riddle, and unforgettable characters. Any future publications by this author are something I eagerly forward reading.
Two years later, as I started reading The Red House, her most recent book, I could almost hear “the click.” Winslow immediately builds up the tension and dread, supports this with gory discoveries, and introduces us to important persons who will be involved in the drama that is going to take place. Even before I read the prologue, I was fascinated.
The reader is transported once more by Winslow’s descriptions of Cambridge and its surroundings. It conjures a sensation of admirable timelessness as well as a sense that the characters are unable to escape a destiny that has been created by the decisions made by those in the past. The alternating first person narrative format that I have previously found to be so effective is used by Winslow in The Red House.
What makes it so effective? Because this framework highlights the idea that each person is predisposed to see the same set of circumstances in a different way. The viewer gains a deeper knowledge and appreciation of both the events and the characters themselves by hearing the same interaction or occurrence narrated by other characters.
Additionally, it provides Winslow with a way to develop tension and keep the reader on the edge of their seat while simultaneously allowing him to examine character nuance and the complexity of the mystery surrounding The Red House. I remind him that tomorrow is our singing session. That sensation of being inside a note that breaks apart into a chord so gorgeous that you wouldn’t mind breaking apart yourself is what I want.
If I were to contrast this book with The Start of Everything, I would have to admit that I did not have quite the same feeling of kinship with the characters. However, The Red House features first-rate prose craftsmanship, juxtaposition, and symbolism. In my humble view, there is no better place to look for a high calibre literary thriller than Emily Winslow’s writing.
About The Book
When Maxwell starts to wonder if his fiancée Imogen is his own biological sister who was separated by adoption, he is experiencing the worst nightmare imaginable. His anxieties grow as he visits the Cambridge home where Imogen was born and experiences déjà vu.
While his former colleague Detective Inspector Chloe Frohmann is investigating a suicide case in which Morris’ daughter Dora is suspected of aiding the killing, Detective Chief Inspector Morris Keene is stuck at home dealing with a crippling injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The suicide is connected to Imogen’s childhood when buried corpses are found adjacent to an old barn, exposing the horrors of the past and new perils in the present.
The Review
The Red House
9.3 Score
Emily Winslow's Keene/Frohmann Mysteries are elegant, atmospheric psychological thrillers. This series isn't for binge reading - rather, you want to take your time with the character-driven plots, enjoy the local color that you get when an 'outsider' writes about her new home country, and enjoy the feeling of being deeply, gratifyingly, unsettled. The Start of Everything, The Whole World, and The Red House are terrific books for your summer/fall 2017 reading pile!
PROS
- Unique Characters.
- Elegant Plotline.
- Real Pageturner.
- Atmospheric Psychological Thrillers.
CONS
- Coarse Language.
- Highly Implausible Story.
- Poorly Written.
- Dumb Characters.
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