The Lantern Review

A modern Gothic novel of love, secrets, and murder—set against the lush backdrop of Provence, France.

"Meeting Dom was the most incredible thing that had ever happened to me."

When Eve falls for the secretive, charming Dom in Switzerland, their whirlwind relationship leads them to Les Genévriers, an abandoned house set among the fragrant lavender fields of the South of France. Each enchanting day delivers happy discoveries: hidden chambers, secret vaults, a beautiful wrought-iron lantern. Deeply in love and surrounded by music, books, and the heady summer scents of the French countryside, Eve has never felt more alive.

But with autumn’s arrival the days begin to cool, and so, too, does Dom. Though Eve knows he bears the emotional scars of a failed marriage—one he refuses to talk about—his silence arouses suspicion and uncertainty. The more reticent Dom is to explain, the more Eve becomes obsessed with finding answers—and with unraveling the mystery of his absent, beautiful ex-wife, Rachel.

Like its owner, Les Genévriers is also changing. Bright, warm rooms have turned cold and uninviting; shadows now fall unexpectedly; and Eve senses a presence moving through the garden. Is it a ghost from the past or a manifestation of her current troubles with Dom? Can she trust Dom, or could her life be in danger?

Eve does not know that Les Genévriers has been haunted before. Bénédicte Lincel, the house’s former owner, thrived as a young girl within the rich elements of the landscape: the violets hidden in the woodland, the warm wind through the almond trees. She knew the bitter taste of heartbreak and tragedy—long-buried family secrets and evil deeds that, once unearthed, will hold shocking and unexpected consequences for Eve.

About Deborah Lawrenson

Deborah Lawrenson grew up in Kuwait, China, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Singapore. She studied English at Cambridge University and has worked as a journalist for various publications in England, including the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday, and Woman’s Journal magazine. She lives in Kent, England, and she and her family spend as much time as possible at a crumbling hamlet in Provence, France, the setting for The Lantern.

Connect with Deborah:
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My Thoughts

The Lantern is being compared to Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. Were I prone to make such statements I might go so far as to say Daphne du Maurier has been reincarnated as Deborah Lawrenson. Her modern day Gothic tale, filled with rich prose, is reminiscent of du Mauriers's classic story of romance and mystery on the Cornish coast.

I reread Rebecca just before reading The Lantern. Being taken back in time to visit Manderley again was like visiting an old friend, Rebecca is one of my favorite Daphne du Maurier novels.

Both novels are seen through the eyes of naive young women who fall in love with an older man. Both find themselves in a crumbling mansion filled with intrigue and concealing a dangerous past. There is of course the very mysterious first wife whose presence overshadows the couple's happiness. It is obvious Deborah Lawrenson was influenced by Daphne du Maurier but equally obvious she has a style all her own.

In The Lantern we find the stories of two women. Eve (not her real name but what Dom calls her) and Benedicte, a former resident of Les Genevriers, who lived there many decades before Eve and Dom arrive. As the past and present stories unfold we learn more about the lives of each of these women and gradually see how the past and present will intertwine. To add to the mystery there is talk of hidden treasure and even murder.

What I really fell in love with when reading The Lantern was the lush French countryside as described by Ms. Lawrenson. Her rich descriptive writing makes me feel as though I am strolling through a field on a summer afternoon with the aroma of lilacs riding on the warm breeze. Or feeling a bit of dust on my face while opening a ancient, rusty door to a hidden room.

The Lantern is not a book you will read in a single afternoon, instead it is like a fine wine, to be slowly savored and enjoyed.

I received an advance reader copy of The Lantern from Harper Publishing. I was not compensated for my review, all opinions are my own.