Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Review by Mr Matlock, Head of Faculty for English

Library age rating: KS3+ (recommended for Year 9+)

Genre: gothic fiction, mystery, romance, thriller
Content warning: murder, suicide

Plot summary

A young woman becomes the wife of the mysterious Maxim de Winter and is transported to his isolated country estate, Manderley. However, when she arrives she feels out of place: the West Wing is off limits; a ghostly housekeeper stalks her every step; and no matter where she goes she feels the presence of Maxim's deceased first wife - Rebecca.

Positives

It has a really gripping story with some truly haunting moments. I couldn't put it down!

Negatives

Zero!

 Reading recommendations

I am following this book with a further dive into the Gothic, reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Other recommendations with themes of mystery include My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier, Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett.