I had issues back in 2018 when I read The Muse. Not because Jessie Burton didn’t do a good job of creating a compelling narrative or loveable characters, because she did, but rather because regardless of the research and sources there were certain things that made me feel uncomfortable for Jessie to be putting to paper.

So I’ll admit that I was nervous to give The Miniaturist a go, especially seen as it was Burton’s first book, in case it felt like she was overstepping margins in an even more rough-cut or unedited way. I feel that there was less overstepping those unspoken social boundaries of who should or shouldn’t be portraying certain stories or moments of history on modern day paper but there were still moments that gave me a “oh no where is this about to go” thought process.

Beyond that there were certain moments that felt shoehorned in to bring things to a conclusion or to round the story out a little more. This is more bothersome because there is now a follow-on book to The Miniaturist that means it could have been less rushed or some things could have been developed further in the second book. Was I pleased for the tying up of some lose ends? Probably? But some of the ones I’m thinking of had completely slipped my mind because of the movement of the plot and character development elsewhere. I don’t think I would have missed not knowing those pieces of information.

There are certain things I wish had been covered or mentioned more. There is a moment when Nella, the main character (at least from the story telling perspective but really just another character in Johannes elaborate performance), mentions family and sending them gifts and Christmas time but there is really very little history or background given. With the way Nella mentions her childhood at points and seeming family loyalty there seems to be little interaction between the two and a lack of seeking guidance from Nella which, given she is just 18 and seems uncertain about the world and the capital, is a little surprising. There isn’t even an angry letter sent when she finds out the nature of her marriage arrangement; It just is hard to imagine that’s how events would really pan out.

In fact for me the biggest thing that is missing is really in-depth descriptions of the dolls house or the miniatures. Or perhaps I should say that there is enough description because all the items look like already mentioned people and items but those things are barely described. Not really. The lute Nella requests I imagine is like the one she played to Johannes before their engagement and wedding but we know little of what wood it was made from, what the strings were made of and if there was any decoration on it. So knowing Nella requested a lute leaves the reader to imagine a lot.

I’ve grabbed the follow-on book “The House Of Fortunes” as an audiobook through my local library and will give it a listen to see if it enhances those rushes ends and where it takes things to in the future. I’m also tempted to watch the 2017 BCC adaptation of this 2014 book to see how some of the bits I’m more dubious about get portrayed and perhaps to add a bit of descriptive flare to the images half-shaded in my mind.