.jpg "Attic at Wilton Place by C.E.Rose")
The Attic at Wilton Place by C.E.Rose is a compulsive and suspenseful domestic noir, with Gothic undertones.
Blurb:
The perfect life. The perfect home. But at what price?
Introspective Ruth Parker is desperate for love and attention. Overlooked as a child by her cold and critical mother, her pain manifests in loneliness and a crippling lack of self-esteem. When glamorous actress "Aunt" Vanessa, her mother's childhood friend, shows an interest in her, Ruth basks in the blinding light of her attention.
Once Ruth escapes to university in London, Aunt Vanessa invites her to Wilton Place, her stunning Belgravia residence. As she blossoms under Vanessa's guidance, Ruth finds herself torn between student life and the hypnotic, luxurious confines of Wilton Place. Belgarvia wins out, but when Ruth explores the gloomy attic of her new home and finds a hidden, locked door, she discovers that Vanessa is hiding the darkest secrets from her childhood, secrets that threaten everything Ruth knew about her own mother.
How far will Ruth go to find the truth - and how much does she really want to know?
"...the Parker family didn't ever discuss feelings and now wasn't the time to start".
Ruth's family is not what you would call a loving environment. Her elder brother is a golden child, the parents seem to care about each other, while Ruth is an ugly duckling of the family, unloved and criticised, mainly about her looks and achievements.
Joy, Ruth' mother, has a knack for making her feel unattractive, unloved and rejected.
Her father Clive is a total pushover, who while acknowledging his wife's shortcomings, seems to be dismissive of her damaging parenting.
No wonder Ruth struggles with self-esteem. She craves love and attention, even in sporadic doses, as rationed by Joy's "sophisticated, exotic and attractive" friend Vanessa. Unlike cold Joy, she is affectionate, generous and pretty amazing, according to young Ruth. "You're good, very good. Vanessa had noticed me! She's seen something in a solitary, introverted and invisible ten-year-old that no one else had, even if it was only my average talent for art".
Vanessa is a movie star, beautiful, smart and impressive. Ruth admires her "aunt". She had "touched me like no one else had; she'd noticed me and made me feel special..."
When Ruth arrives to London, the lack of social skills and low self-esteem ensure that she doesn't acquire any new friends.
That's where Vanessa steps in, beguiling Ruth with her luxurious lifestyle and expensive house in Belgravia. There is a butler who is ready to obey your every whim, who cooks restaurant-style meals and drives Ruth and Vanessa in a gleaming black Bentley.
The house reflects the personalities of its owners, it is chic, stylish and sophisticated. One day Ruth discovers a hidden door in the attic. Why is it always locked? And why are Vanessa and the butler evasive, when asked about it? What do they have to hide?
Sergio, Vanessa's Italian "toyboy" husband might be a talented artist. He is also quite uncivilised, bordering on rude, grumpy and ill-mannered. And very handsome too.
Vanessa flitters in and out of Ruth's life, showering her with expensive presents and warmth one day, then disappearing for long periods of time without any notice. Even loyal Ruth acknowledges that being picked up and made feel special whenever it suited her, and the discarding at the other times, is not on. She is not a toy to be played with.
Ruth is a talented musician, and appreciates Sergio's obsessive ways with his artistic aspirations.
As the story progresses, Ruth sheds her dowdy persona, and acquires confidence. She is set on finding out the secrets behind the closed door in the attic.
Will the truth help her understand her own family's skeletons in the closet? Is it worth pursuing the secrets of the past?
This is a character-driven story.
I have sympathised with Ruth up to a certain point. I felt sorry for her, who wouldn't, but she is too needy, insecure and desperate, and that doesn't make her an appealing character. At some point in our lives we need to begin being responsible for our own destiny, and not rely on the handouts from the others, be it expensive gifts or affection.
The Attic at Wilton Place is a compelling and menacing tale, ripe with all the twists and turns. It explores the emotional damage and the co-dependency of abused and traumatised vulnerable children. It is also about power and control, and dark, complex motivations.
Author's Bio and Social Links:
No comments:
Post a Comment