Florence & Giles

How it reads

Florence & Giles is horror (gothic horror, specifically), and its dominant mood is eerie. It's atmospheric and uncanny, with a sense that something is wrong. The pace is moderate — neither a page-turner nor a slow burn — so it holds up whether you read it in long sittings or short ones.

It's set in a small town setting, in the historical past, told in the first person by a single narrator. Its central concerns are family, secrets and identity. In weight it sits in the middle: substantial without being heavy going.

It stands alone, so there's nothing else you need to read first or after. The ending is dark — no rescue, no neat bow. At 272 pages it's a quick read. It's moderately known: read by plenty of people, but not a household name.