The Spirit Engineer by Publisher : Duckworth (7 Oct. 2021) Language : English Hardcover : 304 pages ISBN-10 : 0715654330 ISBN-13 : 978-0715654330 A book review by Holley Cornetto The Spirit Engineer takes place in Belfast in 1914, telling the story of William Jackson Crawford and his family. Crawford, a young and upcoming professor of engineering, seems to have a bright future ahead of him until he becomes acquainted with a family of spiritual mediums, the Golighers. Convinced at first they are a family of frauds, Crawford sets out to expose them, but a series of inexplicable occurrences illuminates a new path for Crawford. The Spirit Engineer is based on true characters and events. West has done a tremendous amount of research, which shines through in the story’s telling. Each detail of the setting is rendered beautifully, fully immersing the reader in a sense of time and place. While reading this book, I felt transported. West blends imagination and insight with history to fill in the gaps to bring the Crawford and Golinger families to life. While the characters are complete and complex, they are not likeable people. In my reading, I found almost none of the characters likable or sympathetic, which might be a turn off for some readers. For me, it perfectly matched the bleak tone of the story. While the setting, atmosphere, and characterization are all there, the one complaint I had was regarding plot. I won’t reveal too much in an attempt to avoid spoilers, but in general, I dislike when the conflict of a story could have been avoided had one party or another simply sat down and told the truth. This is doubly true when carrying on a deception causes more harm than the secret itself. But I suppose this sort of device is not uncommon in Gothic fiction, which is often about secrets. Despite those minor complaints, this story is compelling. West depicts obsession, mania, and madness in an intriguing and believable way, having it all unfold in a beautiful yet bleak historical setting. The book shines in its attention to historic details and ability to transport the reader. Recommended for fans of historical fiction and those interested in the spiritualist movement or the occult. The Spirit Engineer: |
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