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A review by shawna_reads
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"You could not explain fear; you could only feel it, roaring through the silence and striking your heart still."
Elsie thought she was destined to a life of luxury when she married her husband, Rupert Bainbridge, however he died only weeks after their wedding. Pregnant and widowed, she only has her awkward cousin for company as the servents and villagers are hostile. Inside her new home behind a locked door she finds a wooden figure, a silent companion. The residents of The Bridge are terrified and Elsie tries to ignore it, until she notices the eyes are following her.
I very much enjoyed this wonderful Victorian ghost story. It was mysterious and unsettling, and everything I like in a historical fiction. Purcell did a fantastic job at creating an eerie atmosphere with unreliable characters.
The story was told through multiple timelines - Elsie as a patient recounting the events, Elsie as the events unfolded, and diary entries of Anna, a distant member of the Bainbridge family, centuries earlier. Each view provided insight into The Bridge and what occured with the creepy silent companions. I liked how they eventually tied together nicely as the story progressed. And that ending! Not what I was expecting, but I loved it.
Overall, a great book. There were hints of witchcraft, supernatural occurrences, gothic vibes, and death. I loved every minute of it and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author!
Elsie thought she was destined to a life of luxury when she married her husband, Rupert Bainbridge, however he died only weeks after their wedding. Pregnant and widowed, she only has her awkward cousin for company as the servents and villagers are hostile. Inside her new home behind a locked door she finds a wooden figure, a silent companion. The residents of The Bridge are terrified and Elsie tries to ignore it, until she notices the eyes are following her.
I very much enjoyed this wonderful Victorian ghost story. It was mysterious and unsettling, and everything I like in a historical fiction. Purcell did a fantastic job at creating an eerie atmosphere with unreliable characters.
The story was told through multiple timelines - Elsie as a patient recounting the events, Elsie as the events unfolded, and diary entries of Anna, a distant member of the Bainbridge family, centuries earlier. Each view provided insight into The Bridge and what occured with the creepy silent companions. I liked how they eventually tied together nicely as the story progressed. And that ending! Not what I was expecting, but I loved it.
Overall, a great book. There were hints of witchcraft, supernatural occurrences, gothic vibes, and death. I loved every minute of it and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author!