From USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews a supernatural Victorian gothic retelling of Charlotte Brontë’s timeless classic.

Yorkshire, 1843. When disgraced former schoolmaster John Eyre arrives at Thornfield Hall to take up a position as tutor to two peculiar young boys, he enters a world unlike any he’s ever known. Darkness abounds, punctuated by odd bumps in the night, strange creatures on the moor, and a sinister silver mist that never seems to dissipate. And at the center of it all, John’s new employer–a widow as alluring as she is mysterious.

Sixteen months earlier, heiress Bertha Mason embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Marriage wasn’t on her itinerary, but on meeting the enigmatic Edward Rochester, she’s powerless to resist his preternatural charm. In letters and journal entries, she records the story of their rapidly-disintegrating life together, and of her gradual realization that Mr. Rochester isn’t quite the man he appears to be. In fact, he may not be a man at all.

From a cliff-top fortress on the Black Sea coast to an isolated estate in rural England, John and Bertha contend with secrets, danger, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Can they help each other vanquish the demons of the past? Or are some evils simply too powerful to conquer?

My take:~

Lauded for her historical romance, the delectably chilling John Eyre confirms Mimi Matthews’ literary skill crosses genre boundaries with ease. Evocative prose ensures spine-tingling chills, gasp-worthy plot twists abound, and the characters are nothing short of divine!

Fierce, independent, and stalwart, Bertha Rochester is a force to be reckoned with, a heroine whose self-possession and vulnerability make her worthy of the name. John is circumspect and steady, the perfect foil to Bertha’s dark vibrancy and comes into his own in unexpected ways.

Matthews clearly cherishes the classic novels from which she has drawn from, handling them with respect while making the story her own.

Creepy, vivid, gothic, and captivating, beware stepping into John Eyre‘s pages as you will take a journey your heart and mind won’t soon forget!

With thanks to the author for my review copy. My opinions remain my own.

John Eyre is a clean (and creepy!) general market novel, releasing 20th July, 2021

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats. Her next romance, The Siren of Sussex, will be out in 2022 from Berkley/Penguin Random House.

Relz Reviewz Extras
All Things Matthews @ Relz Reviewz
Visit Mimi’s website and blog

Pre-order at Amazon: John Eyre