The Woman in the Wallpaper
- Author Lora Jones
- Narrator Emily Carey, Izzy Meikle-Small, Sarah Slimani
- Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
- Publish Date 20 February 2025
- Run Time 15 hours and 22 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Historical fiction.
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What to expect
For readers of Jessie Burton, Elizabeth Macneal and Stacey Halls comes a breath-taking mystery set in the heart of the French Revolution
'Spellbinding' SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN
'Enthralling' HESTER MUSSON
'Astonishingly accomplished' CARI THOMAS
'Beautifully woven' HARRIET CONSTABLE
'Exquisite' ANNA MAZZOLA
'Expertly plotted' JOANNE BURN
___________________
Paris, 1789. The Oberst Factory, which crafts exquisite wallpaper for the most fashionable French homes, is a place shrouded in mystery. Most enigmatic is the woman pictured in each of its prints, rumoured to be the late Mrs Oberst, who died in peculiar circumstances.
When sisters Lara and Sofi arrive there for work, they quickly form a friendship with Josef Oberst, the motherless heir to the factory. Whilst Sofi's political fervour intensifies, Lara is disturbed by the uncanny way her life appears mirrored in the wallpaper. Meanwhile Hortense, Josef's spoilt aristocratic wife, is similarly unnerved by the scenes that line the walls of her new home. With the mobs growing ever more violent, is she in danger of meeting the same untimely end as the last Mrs Oberst?
As revolution blazes across France, the lives of Sofi, Lara and Hortense are set to collide in unimaginable and irrevocable ways. Can they change what lies ahead, or are some patterns destined to be repeated?
_________
'Gorgeous' SARAH BROOKS
'Sumptuous' ALEX HAY
'Extraordinary' LIZ HYDER
'A rare delight' LAURA SHEPPERSON
'Perfection' POLLY CROSBY
'Stunning' JESSICA BULL
'Spellbinding' SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN
'Enthralling' HESTER MUSSON
'Astonishingly accomplished' CARI THOMAS
'Beautifully woven' HARRIET CONSTABLE
'Exquisite' ANNA MAZZOLA
'Expertly plotted' JOANNE BURN
___________________
Paris, 1789. The Oberst Factory, which crafts exquisite wallpaper for the most fashionable French homes, is a place shrouded in mystery. Most enigmatic is the woman pictured in each of its prints, rumoured to be the late Mrs Oberst, who died in peculiar circumstances.
When sisters Lara and Sofi arrive there for work, they quickly form a friendship with Josef Oberst, the motherless heir to the factory. Whilst Sofi's political fervour intensifies, Lara is disturbed by the uncanny way her life appears mirrored in the wallpaper. Meanwhile Hortense, Josef's spoilt aristocratic wife, is similarly unnerved by the scenes that line the walls of her new home. With the mobs growing ever more violent, is she in danger of meeting the same untimely end as the last Mrs Oberst?
As revolution blazes across France, the lives of Sofi, Lara and Hortense are set to collide in unimaginable and irrevocable ways. Can they change what lies ahead, or are some patterns destined to be repeated?
_________
'Gorgeous' SARAH BROOKS
'Sumptuous' ALEX HAY
'Extraordinary' LIZ HYDER
'A rare delight' LAURA SHEPPERSON
'Perfection' POLLY CROSBY
'Stunning' JESSICA BULL
Critics Review
Spellbinding and decadent, this is an utterly original novel with taut evocative prose and a plot of stunning and intricate complexity, making THE WOMAN IN THE WALLPAPER an astounding debut of true turn-paging quality.
An enthralling story, deftly plotted, with a mystery that winds ever more tightly around the characters, as relentless as the advancing French Revolution with all its hopes and terrors.
A brilliant debut: vivid, passionate and beautifully woven, which completely transports us back to 18th century France
An epic, elaborate plot told with exquisite, captivating detail. Political intrigue and personal mysteries unfold through the eyes of three riveting female characters searching for some kind of freedom even as they are held in traps beyond their making. An astonishingly accomplished debut.
A gorgeous, haunting story of how love, ideals, and art can become twisted but also how they can survive
Sumptuous, mysterious and so beautifully textured. Each scene is crafted with the same care as the wallpaper vignettes. What a debut!
Exquisite writing and a riveting plot. As beautifully crafted, and mysterious, as the wallpaper that seems to mirror the characters' lives. A truly brilliant book.
Extraordinary. Lora Jones's storytelling is exquisite, her characters as intricately drawn as the images on the detailed wallpaper patterns that appear throughout the book. The Woman in the Wallpaper is sweeping and yet intimate, powerful and passionate and yet subtle and unnerving. Full of atmosphere and intensity, it's a glorious read and I loved it - I predict great things for Lora Jones!
Immediately swept away into the tumultuous world of revolutionary France, I was captivated from the opening pages by the three young women whose lives are thrown into turmoil by events both personal and political. Skilfully written, we are gifted a platter of intriguing, unpredictable characters and an expertly-plotted narrative that delights and amuses despite the darkly unsettling mystery that urges the story on at a pace.
The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones is that rare delight: a work of historical fiction that makes you consider anew the past you thought you understood, and see it through fresh eyes. An immersive tale of the French Revolution through the eyes of three women and their personal tragedies, The Woman in the Wallpaper will keep you guessing until the end.
The Woman in the Wallpaper is a beautifully crafted novel, filled with the kind of exquisite historical details that make a story sing. Perfection.
Beautifully written with a heart-stopping plot
A dark mystery set against the backdrop of revolutionary France. An exquisite page-turner that will keep you up at night.
Spellbinding, chilling and utterly mesmerising. A twisty portrayal of sisterly devotion and a moving exploration of generational trauma set during the turmoil of the French Revolution. This stunning debut is not to be missed.
Set during the French Revolution, this sweeping historical debut is a gripping and beautifully woven tale of intrigue and darkness that is hard to put down
Lora Jones is a remarkable new talent in the world of historical fiction. An utterly spellbinding novel.
As detailed as a Toile de Jouy designs, The Woman in the Wallpaper is an impressive historical novel about sisters, tragedy, & the dangers of harbouring bitterness and seeking revenge.
A gorgeously atmospheric story about three women grappling to find their place amidst tumultuous social changes. Witty, moving and nail-biting in equal measure, this is a perfectly crafted novel.
Perfectly plotted and beautifully drawn, The Woman in the Wallpaper is a triumph of a debut. A blazing tale of destiny and revolution in 18th century France.
A deeply emotional and beautiful debut. The combination of exquisite writing and a page-turning plot line, with unexpected twists throughout, had me hooked right from the start. Most of all though, I was pulled into the close, complex relationship between sisters Sofi & Lara- and the men in their lives. The setting is so interesting too - the French revolution - but the family at the centre of it all, really had my heart. It made me cry on the tube!
Spellbinding
The Woman in the Wallpaper combines all the tension of a story set during the French Revolution with all the intrigue of a twisty gothic mystery, in what makes for a compelling and atmospheric debut.
Readers who enjoy a Gothic tale will absolutely love this
A highly visual, immersive novel . . . Lora Jones delivers a sweet turn of phrase and demonstrates a deft touch when it comes to developing character
Jones' debut is a seductive swirl of sisterly secrets, class war, supernatural wallpaper and women's role in the French Revolution
Atmospheric and slightly supernatural, this assured debut is a gift of a book
User Reviews
10/03/2025
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