The Companion

"THE STORY:<br/><br/>1855, New Hampshire. Lucy Blunt has been sentenced to death for two murders she claims she has not committed. While awaiting her execution, Lucy reminisces about bits and pieces of her life, in particular the ones that led her to the gallows. From her early days as a new housemaid in the Burton’s family mansion to her unexpected romance with the house mistress, and finally, her devastating predicament of being wrongfully accused of two murders. But is Lucy telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?<br/><br/><br/>My thoughts:<br/><br/>Whew! What a read! I devoured it so fast it now feels like I experienced a fever dream, a dark, gothic fever dream, one that kept me on my toes the entire time and at the end left me in tears. Why aren’t more people talking about Kim Taylor Blakemore? Do they know just how incredibly skilled of a writer she is??? If they don’t, they must find out because, believe me when I say this woman can write, and her understanding of human nature makes for extremely compelling characters and stories. I can’t tell you if it was the beautiful immersive prose that kept me turning pages or the deeply realistic and flawed characters. Actually, I can. It was both.<br/><br/>It’s always refreshing to see writers who portray people as they really are. Just like Lucy Blunt in “The Companion,” people exist in shades of gray rather than strictly black or white. We are a patchwork of passions, dreams, fears, lies, memories, and regrets. We are unique and flawed creatures, doing our best to navigate through the complexities of life. Some of us may be forced to scratch and kick, surviving one fight after another, wading our way through life with clenched fists and a willingness to stop at nothing, no matter the cost. Lucy Blunt falls into that category.  She used to live a privileged life as a child until she no longer could. So Lucy becomes a survivor, determined to live and thrive. According to the world, however, Lucy Blunt is also a thief and a murderer. So, who is the real Lucy Blunt? Is she truly the person that the press and public believe her to be? Did she really murder and steal, or is she a victim of unfortunate circumstances in an unforgiving society? There is a tally of casualties and numerous stolen objects, but to every grim tale, there are countless untold details that may never be fully comprehended or unveiled. “The Companion” is a tale of murders but also of grief, injustice, gender oppression, and a forbidden love, all told by Lucy herself as she awaits the dreadful ending. Lucy will be your reliable or maybe unreliable narrator. To you, she will whisper her truths and maybe even her lies. For you, she will come undone as if awaiting judgment. There will be constant time-shifting in her recounting, flashbacks, and bits of her life story put there for you to piece together. What will your final judgment be of Lucy Blunt? Is she being truthful or deceiving? Or maybe a bit of both, because again, she is human as you and I. Don’t  worry, I won’t tell you and spoil your fun.  What I will say is that despite any of Lucy’s  faults, I loved her character. Her complexity will either make you lover her or dislike her, and so goes for most of the more prominent characters in the story.<br/><br/>The historical settings and atmosphere, with their gothic elements, were impeccably executed. The whole time I was fully immersed, my attention never wavered. It was just excellent! Though this is actually not a romance novel, there is romance in it, and it is actually a driving force for the plot. Some of the reviews complained about the “timeline hopping” being confusing and off-putting, but what the reader needs to keep in mind is that we are in Lucy’s mind while she awaits death. Her mind is filled with pure dread, and her thoughts are running wild with it. She is trying to explain her motivations, and at the same time she’s trying to admit her faults and absolve herself. So yes, without paying close attention, the narration can come across as a bit convoluted but never off-putting,  at least not in my opinion. Take your time and read this book slowly, enjoying each line, and you won’t feel lost. In conclusion, this is without a doubt a dark and gloomy story, one that lingers long after. Don’t expect happy endings. You won’t find any. You will also be left with a lot of unanswered questions, which I think is a nice parting gift. I absolutely loved “The Companion.” If I could give it more than 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I would!<br/><br/>Should you choose to read it I would love to hear your opinion not only about how good or bad it was but also about the “whodunit” part, as I am dying to discuss it with anyone"