Catherine House

by Elisabeth Thomas

320 pages

English language

Published Feb. 9, 2020 by Headline Publishing Group.

ISBN:: 978-1-4722-6243-1

(11 reviews)

A gothic-infused debut of literary suspense, set within a secluded, elite university and following a dangerously curious, rebellious undergraduate who uncovers a shocking secret about an exclusive circle of students . . . and the dark truth beneath her school's promise of prestige.

Trust us, you belong here.

Catherine House is a school of higher learning like no other. Hidden deep in the woods of rural Pennsylvania, this crucible of reformist liberal arts study with its experimental curriculum, wildly selective admissions policy, and formidable endowment, has produced some of the world's best minds: prize-winning authors, artists, inventors, Supreme Court justices, presidents. For those lucky few selected, tuition, room, and board are free. But acceptance comes with a price. Students are required to give the House three years--summers included--completely removed from the outside world. Family, friends, television, music, even their clothing must be left behind. In return, the school promises a …

Trust us, you belong here.

Among this year's incoming class is Ines Murillo, who expects to trade blurry nights of parties, cruel friends, and dangerous men for rigorous intellectual discipline--only to discover an environment of sanctioned revelry. Even the school's enigmatic director, Vikt ria, encourages the students to explore, to expand their minds, to find themselves within the formidable iron gates of Catherine. For Ines, it is the closest thing to a home she's ever had. But the House's strange protocols soon make this refuge, with its worn velvet and weathered leather, feel increasingly like a gilded prison. And when tragedy strikes, Ines begins to suspect that the school--in all its shabby splendor, hallowed history, advanced theories, and controlled decadence--might be hiding a dangerous agenda within the secretive, tightly knit group of students selected to study its most promising and mysterious curriculum.

Combining the haunting sophistication and dusky, atmospheric style of Sarah Waters with the unsettling isolation of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, Catherine House is a devious, deliciously steamy, and suspenseful page-turner with shocking twists and sharp edges that is sure to leave readers breathless.

9 editions

cherold reviewed Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas

Review of 'Catherine House' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Catherine House is intriguing at first, putting us in a slightly odd school and offering a sense of mystery. And the author does a wonderful job of putting not so much in the mind of the "pretty bored girl" protagonist as in her body, voluptuously describing how everything looks and sounds and smells.

I was completely drawn in at first, but it felt like the book just sort of stalled out in the middle. And when it finally reengaged towards the end it was just weird and unsatisfying.

It's hard to say what this book is. There are hints of gothic mystery, bits of cult behavior, elements of thriller and sci-fi, and tons of college kids leading the wild life, but none of it really fits together or builds to anything. And even though the story is first person, the protagonist remains inscrutable. Her final decisions are all over the map and I neither understand why she made the decisions she made nor why the decisions were even difficult.

As for the other characters, they are bland and interchangeable, with superficial personality features but no seeming life beyond knowing the protagonist.

Even though I legitimately enjoyed this at first, I ultimately regretted reading it at all. This author writes very well but plots and develops character very poorly.

pithypants reviewed Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas

Review of 'Catherine House' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

2.5 rounding to 3. The author does a good job with world-building and constructing a creepy premise. I'm stuck down around 2 stars because the pay-off isn't worth the investment. I was expecting a big reveal, but it just sort of arrived with a fizzle. Still, she's a talented writer for the reasons I already mentioned, so I'll probably check out whatever she writes next.