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Having fallen in love with Du Maurier and her most well-known novel, Rebecca, earlier last year, I have been desperate to read her other work ever since. I’ve heard such great things about both Jamaica Inn and My Cousin Rachel, that I decided to delve into another one of her most loved stories.
SYNOPSIS: Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grand home as much as he does himself. But the cosy world that the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries - and there he dies suddenly. Jealous of his marriage, racked by suspicion at the hints in Ambrose's letters, and grief-stricken by his death, Philip prepares to meet his cousin's widow with hatred in his heart. Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious Rachel like a moth to the flame. And yet... might she have had a hand in Ambrose's death?
REVIEW: Reading My Cousin Rachel has further confirmed that I absolutely love Du Maurier’s writing. Her storytelling is like no other and is so original in its crafting. The plot of My Cousin Rachel keeps you so hooked, whilst also making you second-guess yourself at the end of every chapter. Every time I tried to guess the truth/plot, Du Maurier led me down a different path.
I could vividly picture every single character and the setting which allowed me to become so invested in the story that I didn’t want it to end. I felt so close with all the characters and even after finishing the book, I was still thinking about Phillip which is always a sign of a good book to me. I absolutely loved that letter writing/reading was such a prominent part of the book and Du Maurier was so clever in how she used letters to build tension and twists. I absolutely loved this book and I would say it felt very similar to Rebecca so if you enjoyed Rebecca, you will definitely enjoy My Cousin Rachel.
READ THIS IF:
📿 You enjoyed Rebecca
📿 You’re looking for a book that will keep you on edge with lots of twists
📿 You like books that are a slow burn
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