Victorian Psycho - BookWyrm

208 pages

English language

Published Jan. 9, 2025 by Liveright Publishing Corporation.

ISBN:: 9781631498633

(1 review)

From the acclaimed author of Mrs. March comes the riveting tale of a bloodthirsty governess who learns the true meaning of vengeance.

Grim Wolds, England: Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect governess—she’ll dutifully tutor her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, tell them bedtime stories, and only joke about eating children. But long, listless days spent within the estate’s dreary confines come with an intimate knowledge of the perversions and pathetic preoccupations of the Pounds family—Mr. Pounds can’t keep his eyes off Winifred’s chest, and Mrs. Pounds takes a sickly pleasure in punishing Winifred for her husband’s wandering gaze. Compounded with her disdain for the entitled Pounds children, Winifred finds herself struggling at every turn to stifle the violent compulsions of her past. French tutoring and needlework are one way to pass the time, as is admiring the ugly portraits in the gallery . . . and …

From the acclaimed author of Mrs. March comes the riveting tale of a bloodthirsty governess who learns the true meaning of vengeance.

Grim Wolds, England: Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House prepared to play the perfect governess—she’ll dutifully tutor her charges, Drusilla and Andrew, tell them bedtime stories, and only joke about eating children. But long, listless days spent within the estate’s dreary confines come with an intimate knowledge of the perversions and pathetic preoccupations of the Pounds family—Mr. Pounds can’t keep his eyes off Winifred’s chest, and Mrs. Pounds takes a sickly pleasure in punishing Winifred for her husband’s wandering gaze. Compounded with her disdain for the entitled Pounds children, Winifred finds herself struggling at every turn to stifle the violent compulsions of her past. French tutoring and needlework are one way to pass the time, as is admiring the ugly portraits in the gallery . . . and creeping across the moonlit lawns. . . .

Patience. Winifred must have patience, for Christmas is coming, and she has very special gifts planned for the dear souls of Ensor House. Brimming with sardonic wit and culminating in a shocking conclusion, Victorian Psycho plunges readers into the chilling mind of an iconic new literary psychopath.

3 editions

Amber Herbert reviewed Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito

Quippy and Vibrant Femme Fatale

4 stars

Content warning Content-related spoilers ahead!

Feminine serial killers, particularly those with an erotically-charged fascination with the grotesque and twisted, have been trending for years. I enjoyed Victorian Psycho not for its originality but for its attention to setting and era. Having someone commit such atrocities in an era where it wasn't uncommon for children to die before their second birthday created an atmosphere more brutal than modernity. Feito used that horror and capitalized on it, never once holding back. I do not recommend this novel to anyone who can't handle depictions of infant and adolescent slaughter.

While the setting and narrative voice were great, the "reveal" halfway through was obvious from the first quarter of the novel. I would have appreciated less foreshadowing.

All in all, Victorian Psycho was a quick and engaging read. I'd recommend it to anyone searching for a quippy and descriptively vibrant femme fatale story. If you're looking for a more modern and intriguing alternative (without child deaths), I highly recommend Maeve Fly by CJ Leede.

Thank you to NetGalley and Liveright for the ARC.