Rating: ⭐⭐
About the Book
The Secret of the Lantern Keepers by Jenni Keer is the first book in The Averly Sisters trilogy, following three Victorian triplets who each possess an unusual ability. After their father’s death, the sisters discover that they must spend a year apart and each solve an unsolved crime if they want to inherit their family home.
Edith Averly’s gift allows her to see echoes of violent events from the past. Her father’s unfinished case sends her to Green Briar Lunatic Asylum on the Cornish moors, where she goes undercover as a patient to investigate the unsolved murder of Dr. Hawkins. But the asylum holds secrets of its own, and Edith soon finds herself questioning who she can trust.
A Premise That Pulled Me In
Based on the synopsis, I had high hopes for this one. A gothic mystery, an asylum, triplets with unusual abilities, and cold cases to solve? Yes, please.
I especially loved the idea of three sisters, each with a different ability, potentially using those gifts to solve mysteries from the past. The opening chapter was deliciously jarring and wonderfully shocking, immediately drawing me into the story.
I was also happy with the backstory about the girls and their father. As the beginning of a trilogy, some setup was expected, and I enjoyed getting to know the sisters and their unusual upbringing.
The Atmosphere Was Excellent
The setting was one of my favorite parts of the book.
An asylum on the Cornish moors?
Wonderful.
There was so much potential for a dark, atmospheric gothic mystery, and Jenni Keer does a lovely job creating that atmosphere. The writing was beautiful, the language was evocative, and the character interactions were well done.
Unfortunately, the story itself didn’t quite live up to that promising beginning.
Where the Mystery Got Lost
The cold-case murder I expected to be at the heart of the story ultimately felt more like a backdrop. Instead, much of the book focused on the treatment of women during the 1880s.
Women were sent to asylums for things we now understand differently, including what we would recognize as symptoms of menopause. There were abusive and unfaithful husbands, families who dismissed women, and women who had very little control over their own lives.
I found these historical elements believable and, in many cases, important. My problem was that they eventually overshadowed the mystery.
As the story progressed, I found myself wondering when we were going to return to the murder investigation. I had picked up this book wanting to get to know Edith, explore her unusual ability, and watch her use it to help solve a cold case. Instead, the historical commentary became the dominant storyline.
Edith’s Ability Felt Underused
This was particularly disappointing because Edith’s ability had so much potential.
Her ability to see echoes of violent events from the past could have been a fascinating investigative tool. I kept waiting for it to become more central to the mystery, but it never quite became the asset I expected it to be.
That left me feeling that one of the most intriguing elements of the premise had been pushed aside.
Too Much Historical Commentary
The historical focus also affected the pacing for me.
There are 41 chapters in the book, and I felt the actual mystery was concentrated largely in the opening and closing sections, leaving a long middle where the same general message about the treatment of women was revisited repeatedly.
Again, I don’t disagree with the historical reality being presented. Women faced significant injustice during this period, and those stories are worth telling. I simply felt the message became so prominent that it overwhelmed the gothic mystery I had been expecting.
There was also a reference to the idea that “men wrote the Bible” in the context of explaining why men could treat women as they did, essentially suggesting that this gave men permission to do as they pleased without consequences.
While the book never explicitly states that conclusion, that was how the reference came across within the larger discussion. As a Christian reader, I believe Scripture was written under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so I found that particular reference unnecessary. Rather than adding to the story for me, it pulled me out of it.
A Rushed Conclusion
By the time I reached the ending, I was ready for the story to wrap up.
The conclusion felt very rushed, particularly after such a long buildup. I had actually considered DNFing around the 70% mark, but decided to finish because I wanted to see how everything came together.
Unfortunately, the ending didn’t completely redeem the slow middle for me.
Will I Continue the Series?
Probably not.
That is disappointing because I was initially very interested in meeting Edith’s sisters and discovering their abilities. The concept of three sisters with three different gifts solving three different cold cases is genuinely intriguing.
However, after this experience, I’m concerned that the remaining books may place a similar emphasis on the historical commentary rather than the mysteries and supernatural elements that attracted me to the series in the first place.
Final Thoughts
This was my first book by Jenni Keer, and I really wanted to love it.
The premise had so many things I enjoy: a gothic setting, a mysterious asylum, unusual abilities, family secrets, a cold case, and a supernatural element that isn’t centered around occult practices. The writing and atmosphere were strong, and there were certainly moments when I was completely absorbed in the story.
Ultimately, though, the book I thought I was getting and the book I actually read were two different things.
The gothic mystery got lost somewhere along the way.
Two stars from me.
Not because the book was poorly written – it wasn’t. There was a lot here that was beautifully written and wonderfully atmospheric. It simply wasn’t the story I hoped it would be, and the elements that interested me most weren’t given enough room to shine.
Clean Reads Note
This review reflects my personal reading experience and expectations based on the book’s premise. If you enjoy historical fiction that focuses heavily on women’s experiences and social injustices during the Victorian era, you may connect with this book more strongly than I did.
