The reimagining of a classic is always an interesting adventure. Some authors twist the original story by turning the hero into a villain. Others may choose to transport the characters through space and time. Sometimes, writers shine a light on characters who barely had a voice in the original. Betsy Cornwell’s Reader, I Murdered Him (2022) falls into that final category by giving life and background to Adele Varnes from Charlotte Brontë’s 1847 classic Jane Eyre. Cornwell fleshes out characters who served merely as plot devices in the original, giving them voices and histories that were previously unexplored. Beware: there may be some spoilers ahead for both books. There are also some areas of the book that require a content warning for sexual assault, self-harm, and, as the title indicates, murder.
Before diving into Reader, I Murdered Him, here’s a brief synopsis of Jane Eyre. This well-loved, timeless classic follows the story of Jane Eyre, a governess who arrives at Thornfield Hall to care for the young Adele, who is the ward of Edward Rochester, a dark and brooding figure with a complicated past. Jane and Rochester fall in love, but their romance is shadowed by a hidden secret: Rochester’s mentally ill wife, Bertha Mason, who is locked away in the attic. Their story is a tense and dramatic tale of love, morality, and the obstacles that stand between two people drawn to each other.
In Cornwell’s retelling, Adele is the central character. The book reads a bit like a diary, with a broken fourth wall here and there. It starts with Adele recalling her childhood, and then her early years at Thornfield Hall. When it comes time for Adele to begin her education, governess Jane arrives.
Jane is a mostly benevolent character who is firm yet loving towards Adele. Adele does well in all her studies but needs to work on her English skills. To further these efforts, Jane and Rochester suggest that Adele write to her cousin Eric Fairfax. They develop a strong friendship and even forge a fun story together, taking turns doing the telling. Adele often fantasizes about a life with Eric.
After finishing her lessons with Jane, Adele is sent to boarding school. There, she meets a girl named Hannah whom she quickly starts to fall for. Adele admits to feeling conflicted because she feels attached to Eric, yet is unsure of those feelings because Hannah is there, in the flesh, and Eric is far away.
At a school social meant to introduce the girls to potential suitors, Adele reluctantly joins in and unexpectedly enjoys a dance with a mysterious stranger. When her friend Hannah disappears, Adele finds her being assaulted and, in defending her, accidentally pushes the attacker off a balcony. Shaken but empowered, she vows to protect her classmates.
Soon after, Adele discovers that the person she danced with is actually a woman named Nan, a member of a crime ring made up mostly of LGBT outcasts. Nan recruits Adele to act as her connection within high society, and the two fall in love. Their happiness is interrupted when Adele is summoned back to Rochester’s estate, where she learns her dying father is actually Eric — Rochester himself — who declares his love and asks her to marry him. When Adele refuses, he attacks her, and she pushes him out a window in self-defense. In the end, Adele and Nan reunite and remain together.
It’s easy to get lost in the weeds of this story because it is a retelling, but to clarify: Adele is the bisexual character. The clearest example of this comes right before the social. Adele gifts a dress to Hannah and finds herself even more enamored with her than she was before. On the same day, she receives a heartfelt letter from Eric. She grapples with her feelings, noting that “It was in that moment that I knew I loved them both”. We also find evidence in that she was drawn to Nan even in her male appearing form, yet loved her in her female form as well.
I think that the bi representation in this book was great. Young readers who are just finding their bisexuality will appreciate the story and how accepting Adele was of her own sexual orientation. It’s the sort of coming out that is comforting and may help people feel at peace with their own stories. In the 1800s, people didn’t come out. Heterosexuality was the norm, and anything else was met with punishment and even death. Yet the little club that Nan invited Adele to was a special place where all sexual orientations were accepted and embraced. Although the world today allows us to be less cloistered, I still think the idea of these private places of safety is very salient. The bi story was handled with great care.
In terms of plot, Reader, I Murdered Him offers an engaging start, full of intrigue and energy. The first half draws readers in with its sense of mystery surrounding Eric and Adele’s evolving journey. As the story progresses, the tone shifts toward action and empowerment, highlighting Adele’s growing strength and independence. While the pacing accelerates quickly and some transitions feel abrupt, this momentum may definitely appeal to younger readers who enjoy fast-moving stories with dramatic turns.
Ultimately, Reader, I Murdered Him succeeds in giving Adele a distinct voice and thoughtfully portraying bi representation within a historical reimagining. Its adventurous pacing and emotional shifts align well with a YA audience, even if more experienced readers may wish for a steadier progression.