Do you enjoy what you’re reading? By becoming all access members, you support the work you do as an independent media resource and unlock an increase in the entire article library and community features catalogue. Sign up now for $6 a month!
Virginia’s Victorian Psycho
Welcome to Ensaw House in Victorian England. We arrive here with Governess Winifred Notty, who has won two charges of her coming to the boring property: Drusilla and Andrew Pounds. As soon as they meet the kids, Winifred (or “Fred” as she sometimes calls out) realizes how completely inconspicuous, and frankly, they are both stupid. Nonetheless, Winifred is determined to play the perfect, well-behaved governor. She makes the most of her abilities to do her job. And she never commits violent crimes or kills a baby. Not this time. She promises herself.
But the longer she spends with Pond’s family, the more she feels the violent impulse she once again bubbles to the surface. Mr. Pound is not openly concerned about Ogling Winnifred, nor does he care about flirting with her with the full vision of others. Meanwhile, Mrs. Pound considers her husband’s actions to punish Winifred. Between the pound’s horny patriarch, the constantly lively patriarch, and two violently dimly lit children, Winifred struggles to contain his anger. And, yeah… okay… maybe Winifred starts giving to some of her stranger’s impulses. Who can blame her?
But Winifred has a plan. As she turns to the day leading up to Christmas, Winifred imagines all the horrifying things she wants to do to the Pound family and their uncomfortable rich friends. It’s not too long now before she makes her dreams come true. After all, every holiday is about wishes coming true.
Well, I know I talked a lot about Christmas while explaining this book, but trust me. This is not a comfortable holiday. Victorian Psycho It’s a brutal takedown of the upper class, and all the strange ideology we still support in modern society. If you’ve ever felt the desire to infuriate the system or simply torn the whole world apart, this book is for you. If you love feminist fears that you won’t be afraid to be a bit bloody, this book is for you.
Oh, and I haven’t mentioned anything I like yet Victorian Psycho: This novel is very interesting. Maybe it sounds strange to laugh about women who fantasize about eating children. But trust me. You’ll make her laugh with her when the fight directly delivers our narrator’s horrifying impulses and perversions. If you are put in the same position, you may wonder if you will not think and act the same way Winifred does.
Victorian Psycho It’s a horror novel we didn’t know we needed. If you’ve been feeling angry or sad in 2025, you may find this fast 208-page fever dream is the perfect one to scratch that itch.
Happy weekend reading, bibliography! Follow me on Instagram @embandhercat and check out my other newsletters, The Fright Stuff and Book Radar!

