The Silent Companions
by Laura Purcell
Published by Penguin Books
on March 6, 2018
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Horror
Length: 320 pages
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository
Synopsis:
Published by Penguin Books
on March 6, 2018
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Horror
Length: 320 pages
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository
Synopsis:
When newly widowed Elsie is sent to see out her pregnancy at her late husband's crumbling country estate, The Bridge, what greets her is far from the life of wealth and privilege she was expecting...
When Elsie married handsome young heir Rupert Bainbridge, she believed she was destined for a life of luxury. But with her husband dead just weeks after their marriage, her new servants resentful, and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie has only her husband's awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. Inside her new home lies a locked door, beyond which is a painted wooden figure--a silent companion--that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself. The residents of The Bridge are terrified of the figure, but Elsie tries to shrug this off as simple superstition--that is, until she notices the figure's eyes following her.
A Victorian ghost story that evokes a most unsettling kind of fear, this is a tale that creeps its way through the unconsciousness in ways you least expect--much like the silent companions themselves.
When Elsie married handsome young heir Rupert Bainbridge, she believed she was destined for a life of luxury. But with her husband dead just weeks after their marriage, her new servants resentful, and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie has only her husband's awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. Inside her new home lies a locked door, beyond which is a painted wooden figure--a silent companion--that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself. The residents of The Bridge are terrified of the figure, but Elsie tries to shrug this off as simple superstition--that is, until she notices the figure's eyes following her.
A Victorian ghost story that evokes a most unsettling kind of fear, this is a tale that creeps its way through the unconsciousness in ways you least expect--much like the silent companions themselves.
My Thoughts:
Newly widowed and pregnant Elsie Bainbridge has inherited her husband's estate, The Bridge, which has been in his family in for decades but oddly unlived in. Her only companion is her husband's cousin, Sarah, who had been turned out to be a companion at a young age. Together they explore the house and discover a locked door that mysteriously opens, revealing a painted figure that seems to look a little too much like Elsie. But the wooden figure is a little too unnerving and its' eyes seem to follow Elsie, Sarah, and the servants wherever they go. When another figure appears, Elsie is sure someone is playing tricks, but as she and Sarah unravel the history of the house and its' family, she finds that the truth is much more unsettling!
This was a truly spooky ghost story!
I'm so glad I gave this book a chance! It had a slow build-up and a nice leisurely pace as many historical fiction novels do, but it got spooky pretty quick and I didn't want to put it down!
I was originally in love with the atmospheric writing with its' heavy hints of the darkness and madness to come but I also really enjoyed the slow reveal of the history of the house and its' family through a diary that Sarah finds in the attic and is eager to read considering she is a descendant of the woman. Through this diary, we slowly learn why the townsfolk think the house is cursed and won't come near, and worse, what is haunting The Bridge and the Bainbridge family.
The overall story was full of haunting little moments that ranged from simple ghost story to a race for one's life. I loved the added horror dynamics and think this is a great Autumn read and may even make a fascinating movie adaptation someday!
Newly widowed and pregnant Elsie Bainbridge has inherited her husband's estate, The Bridge, which has been in his family in for decades but oddly unlived in. Her only companion is her husband's cousin, Sarah, who had been turned out to be a companion at a young age. Together they explore the house and discover a locked door that mysteriously opens, revealing a painted figure that seems to look a little too much like Elsie. But the wooden figure is a little too unnerving and its' eyes seem to follow Elsie, Sarah, and the servants wherever they go. When another figure appears, Elsie is sure someone is playing tricks, but as she and Sarah unravel the history of the house and its' family, she finds that the truth is much more unsettling!
This was a truly spooky ghost story!
I'm so glad I gave this book a chance! It had a slow build-up and a nice leisurely pace as many historical fiction novels do, but it got spooky pretty quick and I didn't want to put it down!
I was originally in love with the atmospheric writing with its' heavy hints of the darkness and madness to come but I also really enjoyed the slow reveal of the history of the house and its' family through a diary that Sarah finds in the attic and is eager to read considering she is a descendant of the woman. Through this diary, we slowly learn why the townsfolk think the house is cursed and won't come near, and worse, what is haunting The Bridge and the Bainbridge family.
The overall story was full of haunting little moments that ranged from simple ghost story to a race for one's life. I loved the added horror dynamics and think this is a great Autumn read and may even make a fascinating movie adaptation someday!
No comments:
Post a Comment