The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton | Review

Discovered: Goodreads

Status: Read

Purchased: Barnes & Noble

Mode: Hardcover

Goodreads Rating: ***

Summary: 

"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 . . ." -Goodreads

In-Depth:
I picked up the book thinking it was a historical drama, yet I was pleasantly surprised with the suspense. It was addicting and the buildup was refreshing. Jessie Burton perfectly captured the emotion and chaos of pure shock. I literally dropped the book on one occasion.

Unfortunately, I was left hanging at the end with no closure involving the Miniaturist and her figurines. The revelation of the Miniaturist was definitely a surprise, despite the lack of the fantastical I had presumed. I can see how the Miniaturist was kind of a mirror-figure, rather than a prophetess, who provided a reflection on the lives of women. However, the book's tackle on one-too-many subjects muddied the subject of the Miniaturist herself. Don't get me wrong, I definitely enjoyed the family drama and Burton's touch on gender, sexuality, race, social classes, religion, and economy. But I picked up the book based on the premise of the title itself and I was left hanging.