The Poison Thread by Laura Purcell is a chilling and unconventional gothic thriller. Set in Victorian England, the book follows Dorothea Butterham, an earnest heiress and phrenologist whose dedication to philanthropy includes outreach at Oakgate Prison. There, Dorothea’s life intersects with Ruth Butterham, a destitute seamstress-turned-inmate who believes her stitches have the power to take lives. Is Ruth a cold-blooded murderess beyond redemption or a traumatized young woman upon whom fate bestowed a bad hand?
After devouring The Silent Companions, a book that crawled under my skin and didn’t let go, it was inevitable that I would pick up The Poison Thread. While this one is decidedly less frightening and packs less of a psychological punch, it is still a tidy little tale that I enjoyed immensely. And if you gravitate more towards thriller than horror, The Poison Thread is probably the better choice. However, fair warning, the gore factor is pretty high sometimes and truth be told I skimmed those parts.
Purcell is incredibly skilled at weaving tension and complex relationship dynamics into her books in a way that really brings the characters to life. Almost everyone is morally grey and hiding their own inner demons so the atmosphere crackles with a frisson-y feeling that absolutely anything could happen. Another one of this book’s biggest strengths is the pacing. It becomes exponentially more gripping as time goes on and by the end I was nearly breathless with anticipation to see how the story would be resolved.
If you appreciate eccentric and stirring historical fiction that’s like nothing you’ve read before, I wholeheartedly recommend The Poison Thread. The intricate plot, emotional intensity of the characters and disquieting atmosphere is darkly satisfying and wholly absorbing. As the days grow shorter and the nights grow ever longer, The Poison Thread is a fun and riveting companion.
Find a copy of The Poison Thread at a bookseller near you.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
