The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

From Goodreads

Set in seventeenth century Amsterdam--a city ruled by glittering wealth and oppressive religion--a masterful debut steeped in atmosphere and shimmering with mystery, in the tradition of Emma Donoghue, Sarah Waters, and Sarah Dunant.

"There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed . . ."

On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office--leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.

But Nella's world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist--an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . .

Johannes' gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand--and fear--the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction?

Enchanting, beautiful, and exquisitely suspenseful, The Miniaturist is a magnificent story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth. 

My thoughts

This was a dark tale about a young woman called Nella Oortman, who marries Johannes Brandt a merchant trader. It's not long before Nella is left alone with Johannes' sister Marin. Marin sees herself as lady of the house and isn't keen to be usurped by such a young woman despite the fact that Nella, being the married lady of the house has taken in ways taken Marin's place.

When Johannes, is at home he is often on his own or accompanied by a friend. Nella whilst being married appears to be living the life of a single person still, the marriage isn't all it at first seems and when certain events are brought to light, she realises the reason why her married life isn't as it should be.

Nella has received a gift from Johannes, a replica small scale version of her new home. It's not long before Nella is keen to furnish her gift and she employs the services of the Miniaturist an artist capable of creating small scale items of furniture and people. As events occur that become eerily similar to the items that she receives from the Miniaturist. Nella is keen to find out the identity of the Miniaturist, as she thinks that they are a key player to events in so much as that they may be able to predict the future and what happens.

This was a well written story that engaged from the first few chapters, I found it quite an easy read that was at times quite dark and had a gothic feel to it. My enjoyment was marginally marred as I had seen the BBC dramatization of the story and it spoilt things a little for me.

I gave this a well deserved 4 stars or 8/10 and can thoroughly recommend it to readers who enjoy stories set in the past.