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A review by theoverbookedbibliophile
The Mirror House Girls by Faith Gardner
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
4.5⭐️
A chance meeting between twenty-two-year-old Winona and a young woman named in a grief counseling group eventually leads to her renting a room at the infamous “Mirror House” – a rental property decorated on the outside by its residents with mirrors - where she hopes to find friends and a sense of family. Simon Spellmeyer, an eccentric former psychologist who leads the group, employs his own unconventional methods for self-improvement that the Mirror House boarders must be willing to accept. Winona, despite her misgivings, convinces herself that giving in to Simon’s methods is the best option for her. We follow Winona as she navigates the shifting dynamics within the group and Simon’s leadership and his eccentricity. As she begins to buckle under the personal and psychological pressure of being a “Mirror House girl,” will she be able to extricate herself from the hold that Simon and her new “family” have on her and if so, at what cost?
Smartly crafted with an interesting premise, unsettling and suspenseful, this is the kind of book you would want to finish in one sitting. The premise of the novel might not strike you as entirely original but Faith Gardner is a master storyteller and with her expertly sketched characters, intricate plotting ( with more than a few shocking turns along the way) and insightful exploration of cult mentality – the power, influence, psychological and emotional manipulation, and complex interpersonal and group dynamics - renders this novel an intense and absorbing read. The author does a commendable job of depicting the psychology of cult dynamics, Simon’s “Simonisms” with which he takes advantage others' vulnerabilities thereby exerting control over the group and Winona’s inner struggles – her insecurities and low sense of self - as she tries to make sense of what is truly happening inside Mirror House.
The narrative structure is interesting with most of the story presented from the first-person perspective of Winona following her journey at Mirror House and excerpts from a documentary on the Mirror House (a year after the events described by Winona) interspersed throughout the narrative. The accompanying music was a brilliant addition to the narrative, making for an overall entertaining experience.
Overall, I found The Mirror House Girls by Faith Gardner to be a riveting read that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Though not a part of the author’s Jolvix series, I did enjoy the blink-and-you-miss-it reference to the same.
I always enjoy the bonus chapters in which the author ends her stories and “Home” was no exception!
I eagerly look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
Many thanks to the author and Mirror House Press for the digital ARC of this novel via BookSirens. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
A chance meeting between twenty-two-year-old Winona and a young woman named in a grief counseling group eventually leads to her renting a room at the infamous “Mirror House” – a rental property decorated on the outside by its residents with mirrors - where she hopes to find friends and a sense of family. Simon Spellmeyer, an eccentric former psychologist who leads the group, employs his own unconventional methods for self-improvement that the Mirror House boarders must be willing to accept. Winona, despite her misgivings, convinces herself that giving in to Simon’s methods is the best option for her. We follow Winona as she navigates the shifting dynamics within the group and Simon’s leadership and his eccentricity. As she begins to buckle under the personal and psychological pressure of being a “Mirror House girl,” will she be able to extricate herself from the hold that Simon and her new “family” have on her and if so, at what cost?
Smartly crafted with an interesting premise, unsettling and suspenseful, this is the kind of book you would want to finish in one sitting. The premise of the novel might not strike you as entirely original but Faith Gardner is a master storyteller and with her expertly sketched characters, intricate plotting ( with more than a few shocking turns along the way) and insightful exploration of cult mentality – the power, influence, psychological and emotional manipulation, and complex interpersonal and group dynamics - renders this novel an intense and absorbing read. The author does a commendable job of depicting the psychology of cult dynamics, Simon’s “Simonisms” with which he takes advantage others' vulnerabilities thereby exerting control over the group and Winona’s inner struggles – her insecurities and low sense of self - as she tries to make sense of what is truly happening inside Mirror House.
The narrative structure is interesting with most of the story presented from the first-person perspective of Winona following her journey at Mirror House and excerpts from a documentary on the Mirror House (a year after the events described by Winona) interspersed throughout the narrative. The accompanying music was a brilliant addition to the narrative, making for an overall entertaining experience.
Overall, I found The Mirror House Girls by Faith Gardner to be a riveting read that I would not hesitate to recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Though not a part of the author’s Jolvix series, I did enjoy the blink-and-you-miss-it reference to the same.
I always enjoy the bonus chapters in which the author ends her stories and “Home” was no exception!
I eagerly look forward to reading more from the author in the future.
Many thanks to the author and Mirror House Press for the digital ARC of this novel via BookSirens. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.