The Fascination By Essie Fox

‘The Fascination’ is the latest book by Essie Fox.

Twin sisters Keziah and Tilly Lovell are identical in every way, except that Tilly hasn’t grown a single inch since she was five. Then at the age of 15 the girls are sold to a mysterious Italian known as ‘Captain’. Theo is an orphan, raised by his grandfather. Resenting his grandson for his mother’s death in childbirth, Theo is forced to leave home without a penny to his name when he remarries, and a new heir is produced. Unable to train to be a doctor as he’d hoped, Theo finds employment in Dr Summerwell’s Museum of Anatomy in London, and here he meets Captain and his theatrical ‘family’ of performers, freaks and outcasts. But it is Theo’s fascination with Tilly and Keziah that will lead all of them into a web of dark deceits, exposing the darkest secrets and threatening everything they know…

If there is one thing that I discovered whilst reading this book, it’s not for the faint hearted. Set in the Victorian era where people with disabilities were treated as freaks and entertainment for the rich.

The story is seen through the narrative of Keziah, whose father sold her twin sister Tilly, because she was tiny and Theo who’s been shunned from his family as his grandfather has a new wife and son. When Tilly, is taken away, Keziah and Theo along with the aptly named Captain run to rescue her and save her from a disastrous fate.

This story is an interesting one that made for uncomfortable and entertaining reading. The characters are range of strong personalities with unique traits. The author’s writing is incredibly detailed and they really bring to life the horrors that people have created and the terrible lives that they are exposed to.

Creepy from the first page, ‘The Fascination’ is an observational insight into people’s obsession and fascination with those who are physically different to others.

You can pre-order ‘The Fascination’ from Amazon and will be available to buy from good bookshops from 22nd June 2023.