The Devil and Mrs. Davenport

How it reads

The Devil and Mrs. Davenport is historical fiction (historical gothic fiction, 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 third person, staying close to one character. Its central concerns are faith, secrets and family. 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 resolves happily. At 347 pages it's an ordinary novel's length. It's a hidden gem — known to relatively few readers.