From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
*
2025 Must Read Lesser Known Classics: Scheduled Reads
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 72 posts · 193 views
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 72 posts · 193 views
last updated Sep 06, 2025 07:14AM
Wilderness Classics: Buddy Reads
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 73 posts · 109 views
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 73 posts · 109 views
last updated Sep 14, 2025 07:17PM
showing 10 of 12 topics
view all »
Other topics mentioning this book
2025 Around the shelves in 80 books (OnGoing Challenge)
By Rafael , Brazilian Master of the Bookshelf! · 111 posts · 330 views
By Rafael , Brazilian Master of the Bookshelf! · 111 posts · 330 views
last updated Dec 28, 2024 07:14AM
What Classic are you reading now?
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 5876 posts · 2073 views
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 5876 posts · 2073 views
last updated Sep 15, 2025 10:40AM
Classics in Movies
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 306 posts · 400 views
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 306 posts · 400 views
last updated Aug 27, 2025 06:26AM
2020 Gothic Romance: Lady Audley's Secret: msg 165
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 168 posts · 90 views
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 168 posts · 90 views
last updated Aug 10, 2020 04:54PM
The rest of 2020: September, October, November, December
By Christine PNW · 77 posts · 71 views
By Christine PNW · 77 posts · 71 views
last updated Aug 31, 2020 05:07PM
2022 November: Author: Wilkie Collins
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 49 posts · 55 views
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 49 posts · 55 views
last updated Dec 12, 2022 10:37AM
*
2023: 800,000 Page Challenge
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 1368 posts · 600 views
By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 1368 posts · 600 views
last updated Jan 01, 2024 07:50AM
Title Game: Second Edition
By Rosemarie , Northern Roaming Scholar · 7808 posts · 625 views
By Rosemarie , Northern Roaming Scholar · 7808 posts · 625 views
last updated 26 minutes ago
2023: With Great Challenges comes Great Responsibilities!
By Pat the Book … · 48 posts · 193 views
By Pat the Book … · 48 posts · 193 views
last updated Dec 09, 2023 04:52PM

By Lesle , Appalachain Bibliophile · 1353 posts · 970 views
last updated Mar 21, 2025 04:18AM
What Members Thought

I had never heard of this book before beginning to explore the classics this year. When I learned that it is considered the first mystery novel I was excited to read it and moved it up my list. I wanted to love this book. Unfortunately I found it to be slow and didn't find enough tension. However, I also believe that I will read it again in my future... giving it a second chance. I am questioning whether it was the book that failed to enchant me or whether I was failing to pay attention.
...more

I added this book to my TBR pile because it was described as an early example of Gothic Horror combined with psychological realism. The description is spot on. I started reading with the expectation of a spooky little Victorian thriller. What I got was over 600 pages of intrigue, madness, and of course, a love story. The Woman in White is a surprising work of fiction that needs to be made into a PBS miniseries, stat.
Though the story is centered around the fortunes (and misfortunes) of Laura Fair ...more
Though the story is centered around the fortunes (and misfortunes) of Laura Fair ...more

I have to give this book 5 stars for being captivating from beginning to end and for being brilliantly written. Imagine a mystery where you find yourself half way through a fascinating story before a crime was even committed! Wilkie Collins tells his story through many narrators all in delightful character. His writing is wordy as to be expected in a victorian novel (why use but one or two words when you can use six?) but for the most part his wonderful descriptions are worth it.

I thought this would be some long, gothic ghost story but it's more like a Victorian detective novel. Unlike most Victorian novels, this one has no long, boring parts. There's always something of interest going on, always a new twist or turn.
I did get a little lost on the details as I read this book over a very long period of time but it almost doesn't matter. ...more
I did get a little lost on the details as I read this book over a very long period of time but it almost doesn't matter. ...more

Awesome...and sooooo well written. But if you don't like words..you won't like it.
It is very very descriptive..which I love.
I enjoyed all the characters..all of them..the good, the bad, the crazy!
I think this is a classic...If it isn't ..it should be.
...more
It is very very descriptive..which I love.
I enjoyed all the characters..all of them..the good, the bad, the crazy!
I think this is a classic...If it isn't ..it should be.
...more


Dec 16, 2010
t.s. cronenberg
marked it as to-read

Nov 23, 2011
Martha
marked it as to-read

Jul 02, 2012
Diana
marked it as to-read

Aug 06, 2012
Allison boozy bookworm
marked it as to-read

Jul 07, 2013
Karla
marked it as to-read

Sep 24, 2014
Navi
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
classics,
500-pages-plus

Oct 24, 2015
Mary Paul
marked it as to-read

Nov 23, 2016
Yvonne
added it

Apr 18, 2017
Petre
marked it as to-read