"Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Country: British
Written in: 1938
Pages: 446

A working woman marrying a wealthy man and trying to make her way among new society can be scary enough. But also feeling the constant competition of his dead former wife is... Well, we read all about it in this gothic thriller.

Here's an excerpt from the blog, Julia's Bookshelves:
The novel follows an unnamed young woman who is working as a lady’s companion in Monte Carlo when she meets the widowed English Aristocrat Maxim de Winter. A romance soon forms between the pair, and with the older, wealthier, and more mature Maxim proposes to the naive and lovestruck narrator. Maxim takes the narrator back to live at his gorgeous manor home Manderly.
Manderly has been in the de Winter family for a thousand years. While generations of people have walked these halls, the narrator finds herself most haunted by Maxim’s previous wife, Rebecca, who died the previous year. Everyone at Manderly, most notably the leering Mrs. Danvers, cannot help but notice all of the ways the narrator differs from the late Rebecca. Manderly keeps years of history behind its doors, but beneath the grandeur, unimaginable secrets lie waiting...

...This is a book to read more than once. After finishing Rebecca, I realized that so many scenes were packed with symbolism that doesn’t become clear until readers have finished the book. It’s not often that I recommend someone read a book twice, but Rebecca is just that captivating. I know I will pick it up again when I get the chance.
Expect a slow, meandering pace when reading Rebecca. The story takes care to set up rich history, details, and imagery before getting to the twists. But it is well worth the wait! From the iconic first line to the final twist, Rebecca is an unforgettable read packed with imagery and surprise.

*****
New to the Hungry Hundred Book Club? Here's what you need to know:

1. Read the book (If you don't manage to finish it by the meetup date, don't worry. As long as you're not going to be too disappointed by spoilers, you're still welcome to join.)
2. Come to the meeting, usually (but not always!) on the last Sunday of every month.
3. Be prepared to order food/drink at the venue to show our appreciation for letting us use their space. This is a requirement. A lot of time and effort has been put into finding a place that will accommodate our group without an outrageous minimum charge or rental fee, and you'll never be asked to contribute to organiser fees, so please show your respect and support for the restaurant that's letting us use their space.
4. Discuss! It's a casual conversation, so don't be afraid to ask questions and let us know what you think.