Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito

Ok, this will appeal to readers with a strong bent for the dark.

Winifred Notty is hired as governess to the two Pound children at Ensor House, formerly a medieval house. Ensor is in the village of Grim Wolds, a Dicknsian name if there ever was one.We quickly see that something isn’t right with Mis Notty. Indeed, flashbacks show how not right she is. There are hints early on as to what she is capable of.  What is her motivation for coming to Ensor House? Who is she really?

The book is short (195 pages) and the pacing moves the reader along without a lot of unnecessary exposition, which I liked. The story didn’t need to be longer.

For me, Miss Notty’s wry, sardonic observations about the Pound family (mother, father, son, daughter)  and their acquaintances, the pretentious class structure, character and  deficiencies therein of everyone had me going from the beginning. About herself, Notty observes “I open my mouth wide in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the Darkness within me, to spy it peeking out of me, slick and muscular and toothed, like a lamprey swallowed whole.” Very vivid writing.The Darkness is always present and we have no doubt Notty does not have good intentions. She does something truly horrible about half way through but her cover-up made me laugh and delightfully skewers society. I did feel a bit guilty at this.

The story goes full-on bonkers at the end and I really mean full-on. If you read that far, be prepared.

I enjoyed this darkly twisted tale and will be adding her other novel, Mrs. March, to my TBR list.