I loved reading Erin Kelly’s The Skeleton Key, a story of family and obsession, it was a multi-layered thriller that I couldn’t put down. Now I have just finished reading The House of Mirrors, a story that explores family dynamics, secrets, and the lengths to which one will go to protect a façade. It is an excellent standalone novel but what I didn’t realise at the time was that it is a sequel to her debut novel The Poison Tree (which I have never read, but have now ordered).
The House of Mirrors is a complex tale of family secrets, murder and cover ups over several decades and what people will do to protect those secrets and their family.
The story follows the Clarke family; Karen (mother), Rex (father) and Alice (daughter). It starts in the sweltering summer of 1997 which leaves two people dead and another imprisoned. It then jumps forward to the present day where Karen is now married to Rex, the man who served time for the events of that fateful summer. Together, they have a daughter, Alice, who runs a vintage clothing company, Dead Girls Dresses, in London. But the truth of what actually happened that summer is simmering away under the surface and Alice wants to find out what really happened. Will she be able to find out the truth, the real family secret? Or will the mirrors of life reflect back their secrets and cause history to repeat itself?
Overall, The House of Mirrors is a great read. I thought it got off to a bit of slow start, but that is while the story masterfully weaves together the fine intricacies of the story, building the stories of some very interesting characters. The further you get into the book, the layers of the Clarke family history starts to be peeled back, slowly revealing details that keep you totally absorbed in the story (guessing and guessing again as to what is about to be revealed).
This is a masterful story packed with intrigue and suspense around family dynamics and family secrets, mostly between Karen and Alice, but each character builds on those secrets. The suspense builds as anonymous notes and phone calls bring the headstrong Alice deeper into the story, hinting that the long buried truth is slowly clawing its way back into the light. And what Karen will do to ensure that the secrets stay buried! It switches between the faithful events some 20-odd years in the past and the present day with ease.
The House of Mirrors has a very sophisticated plot, one that draws the reader into the very realistic narrative around family and secrets. The characters are excellent, some very likeable, others not, but each have their own exciting role to play. And as all good thrillers go, it delivers a twist that leaves you gasping.
An absorbing and thought-provoking story with vintage fashion, eco-activism, family dynamics, long hidden secrets, murder and mayhem. It’s a book that invites readers to reflect on their own family secrets and the mirrors we all hold up to our lives.
A fantastic thrilling and suspenseful tale of family drama. It will keep you hooked and absorbed in the story. And despite it being a sequel, it works extremely well as a standalone novel, a story in its own right.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £16.99 (Hardback) / £9.99 (Paperback) / £6.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit www.erinkelly.co.uk. Available to buy from Amazon here.
