Acton reviewed Mysteries of Winterthurn by Joyce Carol Oates
Review of 'Mysteries of Winterthurn' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Joyce Carol Oates has written several gothic novels, but this is only the third I've had the pleasure of reading. The dreamy, almost realistic style of Mysteries of Winterthurn is hypnotic and provocative. Each mystery has an undercurrent of the supernatural and unexplained, especially the last one. How people perceive situations and other human beings--the assumptions, prejudice, and inevitable rumors--are things we can count on being part of both mystery novels and real life--are especially well formed in this novel, which is penned in a much older style.
Xavier Kilgarvan, the detective, is a complex character, an intelligent man who nonetheless has his demons and blind spots. Winterthurn, the place of his birth, sometimes seems to be under an evil enchantment, a pocket of land apart from its surroundings. For Xavier and some of his relatives, life is only cursed there.
Double Dog Dare spoiler alert:
About that last murder: …
Joyce Carol Oates has written several gothic novels, but this is only the third I've had the pleasure of reading. The dreamy, almost realistic style of Mysteries of Winterthurn is hypnotic and provocative. Each mystery has an undercurrent of the supernatural and unexplained, especially the last one. How people perceive situations and other human beings--the assumptions, prejudice, and inevitable rumors--are things we can count on being part of both mystery novels and real life--are especially well formed in this novel, which is penned in a much older style.
Xavier Kilgarvan, the detective, is a complex character, an intelligent man who nonetheless has his demons and blind spots. Winterthurn, the place of his birth, sometimes seems to be under an evil enchantment, a pocket of land apart from its surroundings. For Xavier and some of his relatives, life is only cursed there.
Double Dog Dare spoiler alert:
About that last murder: Perdita did it! She was the author of that mysterious summons to Winterthurn, she was the one who cut out all those hearts, and she was the one who killed her husband and everyone who happened to be in the way, because she wanted out of that marriage so that she could be free again for Xavier. She's fickle, but she's always been Xavier's biggest blind spot....Unless Xavier did figure it out, and had a breakdown as a result of his refusal to face the truth. Now he must watch his back, huh? Mwahahaha
The author completes the Winterthurn landscape with the customs and attitudes of the times, which adds enough realism into these stories for the reader to feel that she is in a real place--even if it is Winterthurn.
An intriguing read! I'm glad to have finally read this, and will read the others, as well. Eventually.