A Dreadful Splendor: A Novel

Written by B.R. Myers

Narrated by Olivia Vinall

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD

“This gem of a book sparkles with wit and originality. . . . There is no shortage of tricks and feints in this excellent novel and Genevieve is a delightful character.” — The Globe and Mail

“A spooky gothic romance with impeccable vibes. I loved this!"" — Erin Sterling, New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Hex and The Kiss Curse

In this wickedly whimsical Gothic murder mystery brimming with romance, betrayals, and chills, a fake spiritualist is summoned to hold a séance for a bride who died on the eve before her wedding, but as nefarious secrets are revealed, the line between hoax and haunting blurs.

Be careful what you conjure...

In Victorian London, Genevieve Timmons poses as a spiritualist to swindle wealthy mourners—until one misstep lands her in a jail cell awaiting the noose. Then a stranger arrives to make her a peculiar offer. The lord he serves, Mr. Pemberton, has been inconsolable since the tragic death of his beautiful bride-to-be. If Genevieve can perform a séance persuasive enough to bring the young lord peace, she will win her freedom.

Soothing a grieving nobleman should be easy for someone of Genevieve’s skill, but when she arrives at the grand Somerset Park estate, Mr. Pemberton is not the heartbroken lover she expected. The surly—yet exceedingly handsome—gentleman is certain that his fiancée was murdered, even though there is no evidence. Only a confession can bring justice now, and Mr. Pemberton decides Genevieve will help him get it. With his knowledge of the household and her talent for illusion, they can stage a haunting so convincing it will coax the killer into the light. However, when frightful incidents befall the manor, Genevieve realizes her tricks aren’t required after all. She may be a fake, but Somerset’s ghost could be all too real…

A Dreadful Splendor is delicious brew of mystery, spooky thrills, and intoxicating romance that makes for a ghoulishly fun and page-turning read.

""A delightful mix of gothic, mystery, and romance. I had such fun reading this book!"" — Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Not Your Average Hot Guy

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Aug 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9780063209855

B.R. Myers

Always in the mood for a good scare, B. R. MYERS spent most of her teen years behind the covers of Lois Duncan, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King. She is the author of the international bestseller, A Dreadful Splendor, winner of the Mary Higgins Clark Award, as well as numerous YA books. When not putting her characters in precarious situations, B. R. Myers works as a registered nurse. A member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Halifax with her family—and there is still a stack of books on her bedside table.

Reviews for A Dreadful Splendor

[slytherinfrost · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An amazing book of mystery and depth of characters. The author did an amazing job of keeping the story intriguing from beginning to end. Highly recommend.

[Lee Tatum · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable historical fiction and a mystery to boot! I hoped it would contain an element of the supernatural, but no. Still, I learned more about how a fake seance was done. Genevieve Timmons was a strong, sympathetic protagonist and I liked the other characters as well. A nice break from fantasy and science fiction.

[MariaMontgomery · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent mystery. Well written with lots of suspects and a nice romance of the side. Some aspects are easy enough to guess but other plot prints are harder to figure out than the average mystery.

[Saranne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't know what I was expecting with this but...WOW. So good. Tons of mystery and intrigue. I usually end up guessing the ending of these things by the first half but this one had me guessing until the very end. Great stuff and beautifully written.

[Jennie Worley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Poison Study meets Rebecca in this brilliantly crafted gothic mystery. Loved it.