This was a haunting psychological thriller. At first, I couldn’t understand why a woman would be so intimidated by a house servant. I wanted her to speak up and stand up for herself. I soon realized that this was a different time. A woman’s role was very different in the 1940s than it is today. The new Mrs. DeWinter is the novel's narrator, so we can only see things from her point of view. The first thing we notice is that Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, has an unnatural infatuation with her employer, the late Rebecca. She hates Mr. DeWinter’s new wife because she sees her as a replacement for her beloved Rebecca. The intimidation begins at their first meeting. As the novel moves forward, you learn that although Rebecca seemed to be loved by all, she isn’t as she seems. Her untimely death sent the entire household into an uproar. All the while, the new Mrs. DeWinter is unable to settle into her new role because she is being haunted by the imagined presence of the dead Rebecca and by the very much alive Mrs. Danvers. One could not help but feel empathy for the new Mrs. DeWinter. The ending was shocking but somewhat satisfying. I recommend this novel for anyone who likes psychological thrillers. It will definitely keep the pages turning. Happy reading.
