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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Entertaining, not soul rattling and the WW2 connection felt forced.
Vermont, 1950. There’s a place for the girls whom no one wants-—the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too-smart-for-their-own-good. It’s called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it’s located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming—until one of them mysteriously disappears... Vermont, 2014. As much as she’s tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister’s death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can’t shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.
When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past—and a voice that won’t be silenced…
This was a really nice, suspenseful, gothic tale. Not exactly what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a haunted ghost story, but the ghost aspect was more of a side story to a murder mystery. I was sad that the ghost story wasn't the main focus, but don't get me wrong. This was a very good book! The writing was solid and the plot kept you guessing all the way til the ending. This was the first time I read something by this author and I really enjoyed it. I would have no problem checking out some of her other work.
I listened to the audio book and I thought the narrator was ok. She had a little bit of a problem where a lot of the characters all kind of sounded the same. So that was a bummer.
When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past—and a voice that won’t be silenced…
This was a really nice, suspenseful, gothic tale. Not exactly what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a haunted ghost story, but the ghost aspect was more of a side story to a murder mystery. I was sad that the ghost story wasn't the main focus, but don't get me wrong. This was a very good book! The writing was solid and the plot kept you guessing all the way til the ending. This was the first time I read something by this author and I really enjoyed it. I would have no problem checking out some of her other work.
I listened to the audio book and I thought the narrator was ok. She had a little bit of a problem where a lot of the characters all kind of sounded the same. So that was a bummer.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was my first Simone St James book and I really enjoyed it. Can't wait to read more by this author.
4.5 i really enjoyed this and found the writing easy to read and i didnt expect some of the plot twist i had fun with it and that’s what i look for in a book.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Told from multiple POV’s in both the 1950s and the 2000s, we get multiple murder mysteries and a ton of suspense. While it’s not a twisty thriller, you can feel the tension through the pages. Present day’s FMC Fiona, is a journalist who wants to figure out what really happened when her sister was murdered and dumped on the grounds of a closed down all girls boarding school 20 years ago. The 1950s POV’s are from four different teenage girls who were students at the all girls school, Idlewild, when one of them went missing. Pair all of this with the haunting of Idlewild by a girl everyone called “Mary Hand”, and you get suspense throughout.