An atmospheric blend of historical fiction and psychological suspense set against the turmoil of the French Revolution, The Woman in the Wallpaper is Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale meets the historical thriller bestseller The Frozen River. When Sofi and Lara, two sisters uprooted by their father’s death, begin work at the famed Toile de Jouy wallpaper factory, they notice something chilling: a recurring figure in the wallpaper—a woman whose tragic history may now be repeating itself.
After leaving their family home in Marseilles, Sofi and Lara settle in a quiet village near Paris. But life at the factory is far from peaceful. At the heart of the wallpaper’s idyllic vignettes is the haunting image of Madame Justine, the factory owner’s late wife, whose untimely and suspicious death still casts a shadow. As Lara finds herself drawn to Josef Oberst, the enigmatic son of the factory owner, unsettling parallels emerge between her life and the tragic events depicted in the wallpaper. Dreams turn dark, suspicion deepens, and Lara begins to fear that her fate may be inextricably tied to the ill-fated Justine.
Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Ariel Lawhon books, and the intricate storytelling of All the Colors of the Dark, The Woman in the Wallpaper immerses readers in French history while unraveling a chilling psychological puzzle. With vivid depictions of the French Revolution's chaos and an eerie, original premise, this novel masterfully explores paranoia, destiny, and the unseen threads connecting past and present.
Genre: Historical
After leaving their family home in Marseilles, Sofi and Lara settle in a quiet village near Paris. But life at the factory is far from peaceful. At the heart of the wallpaper’s idyllic vignettes is the haunting image of Madame Justine, the factory owner’s late wife, whose untimely and suspicious death still casts a shadow. As Lara finds herself drawn to Josef Oberst, the enigmatic son of the factory owner, unsettling parallels emerge between her life and the tragic events depicted in the wallpaper. Dreams turn dark, suspicion deepens, and Lara begins to fear that her fate may be inextricably tied to the ill-fated Justine.
Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Ariel Lawhon books, and the intricate storytelling of All the Colors of the Dark, The Woman in the Wallpaper immerses readers in French history while unraveling a chilling psychological puzzle. With vivid depictions of the French Revolution's chaos and an eerie, original premise, this novel masterfully explores paranoia, destiny, and the unseen threads connecting past and present.
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"A deeply emotional and beautiful debut. The combination of exquisite writing and a page-turning plot line, with unexpected twists throughout, had me hooked right from the start. Most of all though, I was pulled into the close, complex relationship between sisters Sofi & Lara- and the men in their lives. The setting is so interesting too - the French revolution - but the family at the centre of it all, really had my heart. It made me cry on the tube!" - Aliya Ali-Afzal
"A gorgeous, haunting story of how love, ideals, and art can become twisted but also how they can survive." - Sarah Brooks
"Spellbinding, chilling and utterly mesmerising. A twisty portrayal of sisterly devotion and a moving exploration of generational trauma set during the turmoil of the French Revolution. This stunning debut is not to be missed." - Jessica Bull
"Immediately swept away into the tumultuous world of revolutionary France, I was captivated from the opening pages by the three young women whose lives are thrown into turmoil by events both personal and political. Skilfully written, we are gifted a platter of intriguing, unpredictable characters and an expertly-plotted narrative that delights and amuses despite the darkly unsettling mystery that urges the story on at a pace." - Joanne Burn
"A brilliant debut: vivid, passionate and beautifully woven, which completely transports us back to 18th century France." - Harriet Constable
"The Woman in the Wallpaper is a beautifully crafted novel, filled with the kind of exquisite historical details that make a story sing. Perfection." - Polly Crosby
"As detailed as a Toile de Jouy designs, The Woman in the Wallpaper is an impressive historical novel about sisters, tragedy, & the dangers of harbouring bitterness and seeking revenge." - Rachel Louise Driscoll
"Lora Jones is a remarkable new talent in the world of historical fiction. An utterly spellbinding novel." - Essie Fox
"Sumptuous, mysterious and so beautifully textured. Each scene is crafted with the same care as the wallpaper vignettes. What a debut!" - Alex Hay
"Beautifully written with a heart-stopping plot." - Theresa Howes
"Extraordinary. Lora Jones's storytelling is exquisite, her characters as intricately drawn as the images on the detailed wallpaper patterns that appear throughout the book. The Woman in the Wallpaper is sweeping and yet intimate, powerful and passionate and yet subtle and unnerving. Full of atmosphere and intensity, it's a glorious read and I loved it - I predict great things for Lora Jones!" - Liz Hyder
"A gorgeously atmospheric story about three women grappling to find their place amidst tumultuous social changes. Witty, moving and nail-biting in equal measure, this is a perfectly crafted novel." - Carmella Lowkis
"The Woman in the Wallpaper combines all the tension of a story set during theFrench Revolution with all the intrigue of a twisty gothic mystery, in what makes for a compelling and atmospheric debut." - Katie Lumsden
"Perfectly plotted and beautifully drawn, The Woman in the Wallpaper is a triumph of a debut. A blazing tale of destiny and revolution in 18th century France." - Elle Machray
"Exquisite writing and a riveting plot. As beautifully crafted, and mysterious, as the wallpaper that seems to mirror the characters' lives. A truly brilliant book." - Anna Mazzola
"An enthralling story, deftly plotted, with a mystery that winds ever more tightly around the characters, as relentless as the advancing French Revolution with all its hopes and terrors." - Hester Musson
"Set during the French Revolution, this sweeping historical debut is a gripping and beautifully woven tale of intrigue and darkness that is hard to put down." - Rebecca Netley
"The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones is that rare delight: a work of historical fiction that makes you consider anew the past you thought you understood, and see it through fresh eyes. An immersive tale of the French Revolution through the eyes of three women and their personal tragedies, The Woman in the Wallpaper will keep you guessing until the end." - Laura Shepperson
"Spellbinding and decadent, this is an utterly original novel with taut evocative prose and a plot of stunning and intricate complexity, making THE WOMAN IN THE WALLPAPER an astounding debut of true turn-paging quality." - Susan Stokes-Chapman
"An epic, elaborate plot told with exquisite, captivating detail. Political intrigue and personal mysteries unfold through the eyes of three riveting female characters searching for some kind of freedom even as they are held in traps beyond their making. An astonishingly accomplished debut." - Cari Thomas
"A gorgeous, haunting story of how love, ideals, and art can become twisted but also how they can survive." - Sarah Brooks
"Spellbinding, chilling and utterly mesmerising. A twisty portrayal of sisterly devotion and a moving exploration of generational trauma set during the turmoil of the French Revolution. This stunning debut is not to be missed." - Jessica Bull
"Immediately swept away into the tumultuous world of revolutionary France, I was captivated from the opening pages by the three young women whose lives are thrown into turmoil by events both personal and political. Skilfully written, we are gifted a platter of intriguing, unpredictable characters and an expertly-plotted narrative that delights and amuses despite the darkly unsettling mystery that urges the story on at a pace." - Joanne Burn
"A brilliant debut: vivid, passionate and beautifully woven, which completely transports us back to 18th century France." - Harriet Constable
"The Woman in the Wallpaper is a beautifully crafted novel, filled with the kind of exquisite historical details that make a story sing. Perfection." - Polly Crosby
"As detailed as a Toile de Jouy designs, The Woman in the Wallpaper is an impressive historical novel about sisters, tragedy, & the dangers of harbouring bitterness and seeking revenge." - Rachel Louise Driscoll
"Lora Jones is a remarkable new talent in the world of historical fiction. An utterly spellbinding novel." - Essie Fox
"Sumptuous, mysterious and so beautifully textured. Each scene is crafted with the same care as the wallpaper vignettes. What a debut!" - Alex Hay
"Beautifully written with a heart-stopping plot." - Theresa Howes
"Extraordinary. Lora Jones's storytelling is exquisite, her characters as intricately drawn as the images on the detailed wallpaper patterns that appear throughout the book. The Woman in the Wallpaper is sweeping and yet intimate, powerful and passionate and yet subtle and unnerving. Full of atmosphere and intensity, it's a glorious read and I loved it - I predict great things for Lora Jones!" - Liz Hyder
"A gorgeously atmospheric story about three women grappling to find their place amidst tumultuous social changes. Witty, moving and nail-biting in equal measure, this is a perfectly crafted novel." - Carmella Lowkis
"The Woman in the Wallpaper combines all the tension of a story set during theFrench Revolution with all the intrigue of a twisty gothic mystery, in what makes for a compelling and atmospheric debut." - Katie Lumsden
"Perfectly plotted and beautifully drawn, The Woman in the Wallpaper is a triumph of a debut. A blazing tale of destiny and revolution in 18th century France." - Elle Machray
"Exquisite writing and a riveting plot. As beautifully crafted, and mysterious, as the wallpaper that seems to mirror the characters' lives. A truly brilliant book." - Anna Mazzola
"An enthralling story, deftly plotted, with a mystery that winds ever more tightly around the characters, as relentless as the advancing French Revolution with all its hopes and terrors." - Hester Musson
"Set during the French Revolution, this sweeping historical debut is a gripping and beautifully woven tale of intrigue and darkness that is hard to put down." - Rebecca Netley
"The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones is that rare delight: a work of historical fiction that makes you consider anew the past you thought you understood, and see it through fresh eyes. An immersive tale of the French Revolution through the eyes of three women and their personal tragedies, The Woman in the Wallpaper will keep you guessing until the end." - Laura Shepperson
"Spellbinding and decadent, this is an utterly original novel with taut evocative prose and a plot of stunning and intricate complexity, making THE WOMAN IN THE WALLPAPER an astounding debut of true turn-paging quality." - Susan Stokes-Chapman
"An epic, elaborate plot told with exquisite, captivating detail. Political intrigue and personal mysteries unfold through the eyes of three riveting female characters searching for some kind of freedom even as they are held in traps beyond their making. An astonishingly accomplished debut." - Cari Thomas
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