Suggest me a scandalous, atmospheric novel that is preferably set in an earlier era. Extra points if the lead is a woman. I am craving something akin to Shirley Jackson's 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' or 'Perfume' by Patrick Suskind.
P.S. Please no conventional ghost horror or paranormal hauntings. Think obsession, unease and depravity, not jumpscares.
by merlenski
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Try Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Braddon – a Victorian bigamy scandal novel. Decent read.
Thomas Hardy’s The mayor of Casterbridge (wife selling!) or Tess of the D’Urbervilles (illegitimate child) which have amazing atmosphere and descriptive writing about Dorset.
If you like Dickens, Bleak House features a scandal, plus a great plot twist of spontaneous human combustion.