Tripping Arcadia A Gothic Novel

Kit Mayquist's debut novel ticked off all the right boxes when it comes to Gothic novels. I just loved the composition of medicine and herbalism, plants and poison, references to classical Gothic literature while the story takes place in an eerie and labyrinthian mansion. As the novel begins with female protagonist Lena confessing to her audience that this account is nothing less than her personal confession, it is instantly clear that whatever is about to be told leaves behind the boundaries of socially and morally acceptable events. In short, Lena is hired as medical assistant to help take care of Jonathan Verdeau, son and heir of the powerful pharma-king Martin Verdeau. However, Lena and Jonathan's sister Audrey cannot shake the feeling that the family doctor Dennis Prosenko is not helping Jonathan at all but rather makes him sick even more. Both women are connected by their relentless efforts to shed light onto Jonathan's suffering all the while Lena comes to despise everything that the rich and ruthless are standing for. Even though I had my own suspicions, the plot was diverted by so many unforeseen plot twists that it was truly fun to keep on reading and to be enlightened by the final revelation at the end of the book.