Fan-flipping-tastic. Absolutely everything I hoped it would be and more. Give me fifty million books just like this and I’ll be the happiest bookworm that ever existed. Absolutely no notes. 

Have you ever had one of your most-anticipated novels of the year not only live up to every expectation you had but surpass them? Yeah, that’s Victorian Psycho for me. This book is every gleefully macabre, disturbing, violent, and bloody fever dream I’ve ever had shaking hands with sardonic narrative, razor-sharp wit and tight, smart writing. 

Virginia Feito has made a grisly and hilarious masquerade of Winifred Notty, our protagonist, ostensibly a governess by trade but really just a criminally insane serial killer. Behind her staid grey dress and white wool stockings, Miss Notty not only knows she’s full of darkness that will one day lead her to the gallows, she relishes the idea. She revels in violence, darkness, death, and gore. She’s quite simply one of the most memorable main characters I’ve read in years and I love her all the more dearly for lacking anything one would consider humanity. 

This book is more than evocative or atmospheric; it’s immersive. No sense is spared, for good or for ill. Your sensitivities will not be considered and I’m the type of reader who loves the blunt force trauma of experiencing every event in all of its glory with the darkest main characters literature has to offer. So this Victorian horror comedy was good to the last chop (sorry, couldn’t resist).

I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Body Horror/Dark Comedy/Historical Horror/Horror/Horror Comedy/Serial Killer