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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Absolutely brilliant!!! I loved The Sundown Motel, but I love this book even more! 5 stars isn't enough! Safe to say that Simone St. James is like a fine wine and her writing gets better with time!
The boarding school Idlewild Hall sets the stage: as a bleak, joyless dumping ground for unwanted girls in 1950, and no more than haunting ruins in 2014.
In 1950, we follow four students who have been shunted off to Idlewild Hall by their parents. Making the best of their situation, they have each other's backs during the day and spend their nights sharing whispered secrets, fears, and hopes. Former student Mary Hand is said to haunt the school as a malevolent spirit – and then one of the girls disappears shortly after a sighting…
In 2014, the novel follows Fiona Sheridan, a journalist determined to solve the decades-old mystery of her sister's murder, whose body was found on the grounds of Idlewild Hall. Dark secrets come to light, as Fiona unravels the school's history.
The characters are mostly written well, with distinct personalities, believable strengths and weaknesses, and multi-layered backstories. Though I wish that a few of the minor characters, who were left with blank spots in their characterization, were explored in even more depth.
Intricately layered, the plot knits together gothic mystery, eerie ghost story and contemporary crime drama. With engaging storytelling, Simone St. James creates an atmospheric narrative that evokes a feeling of chilling suspense. Despite the genre-blend and the dual timelines, the storyline makes sense and its plot twists are believable – if you accept the novel's unique framework and are not averse to a story with a hint of the paranormal!
The resolution might be just a bit too clean, not fully embracing the haunting, sometimes gritty feeling of its build-up. A few aspects of the motivation behind the crime were explained with a broad stroke, brushing over the details.
Still, the evocative atmosphere makes up for the minor points of criticism. »The Broken Girls« might not be perfect, but it's a captivating read that successfully combines multiple genres to deliver a unique and engaging experience.
In 1950, we follow four students who have been shunted off to Idlewild Hall by their parents. Making the best of their situation, they have each other's backs during the day and spend their nights sharing whispered secrets, fears, and hopes. Former student Mary Hand is said to haunt the school as a malevolent spirit – and then one of the girls disappears shortly after a sighting…
In 2014, the novel follows Fiona Sheridan, a journalist determined to solve the decades-old mystery of her sister's murder, whose body was found on the grounds of Idlewild Hall. Dark secrets come to light, as Fiona unravels the school's history.
The characters are mostly written well, with distinct personalities, believable strengths and weaknesses, and multi-layered backstories. Though I wish that a few of the minor characters, who were left with blank spots in their characterization, were explored in even more depth.
Intricately layered, the plot knits together gothic mystery, eerie ghost story and contemporary crime drama. With engaging storytelling, Simone St. James creates an atmospheric narrative that evokes a feeling of chilling suspense. Despite the genre-blend and the dual timelines, the storyline makes sense and its plot twists are believable – if you accept the novel's unique framework and are not averse to a story with a hint of the paranormal!
The resolution might be just a bit too clean, not fully embracing the haunting, sometimes gritty feeling of its build-up. A few aspects of the motivation behind the crime were explained with a broad stroke, brushing over the details.
Still, the evocative atmosphere makes up for the minor points of criticism. »The Broken Girls« might not be perfect, but it's a captivating read that successfully combines multiple genres to deliver a unique and engaging experience.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
dark
mysterious
medium-paced