The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton

I watched the BBC adaptation of The Miniaturist a few years back and really liked it so I knew I’d enjoy the book. I’d pretty much forgotten the plot though so went into the book (almost) fresh!

The book follows protagonist Petronella Oortman, and is set in Amsterdam in the seventeenth century. Nella is newly married to wealthy merchant Johannes Brandt and moves into his grand house, having barely spent any time in his company, and is immediately greeted by her new husband’s two household staff and his frosty and unwelcoming sister, Marin. Johannes is nowhere to be found, and remains increasingly elusive as the weeks go by, barely showing his face to his new bride - let alone paying a visit to her bedchamber.

What he does present her with, however, is an ornate cabinet filled with an exact replica of the rooms in their house, complete with identical furnishings in mini form. Nella is given the task of completing the furnishings of the little house, and so enlists the help of mysterious local miniaturist to craft some items to decorate her new toy.

Before long, the miniaturist begins sending extra parcels to Nella, filled with miniature items from around her house which she had not requested - and often items which eerily predict future events. Nella becomes alarmed that the local craftsman is apparently able to manipulate or influence events which have not yet happened, and with her new husband nowhere to be found and her sister-in-law wrapped up in her own predicaments, it is up to Nella to find out the truth.

I absolutely loved this eerie and mysterious tale, and was utterly baffled by the novel’s twists and turns. I loved the protagonist, who became a strong and gutsy young woman over the course of the novel where she had been timid and unsure to begin, and found the plot completely mesmerising and magical. I highly recommend this book and I’m excited to read The Muse which is waiting on my shelf!