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Compañias silenciosas de Laura Purcell

de Laura Purcell - Género: Terror

Sinopsis

Ambientado en una mansión rural en ruinas, Compañías silenciosas es una inquietante historia gótica de fantasmas. Elsie, recién casada y también recién enviudada, es enviada a vivir su embarazo en la deteriorada casa de campo de su difunto esposo. Rodeada de sus nuevos y resentidos sirvientes y de aldeanos hostiles, Elsie solo cuenta con la incómoda compañía del primo de su marido. En su nuevo hogar se encuentra una habitación cerrada con llave, y detrás de esa puerta se encuentra un diario de doscientos años y una figura de madera pintada profundamente inquietante y con un parecido sorprendente a ella misma

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Una lectura inquietante que no podrás dejar de leerPara empezar, me gustaría agradecer el envío del ejemplar de este libro a la editorial DNX. Resulta que hace cosa de un año, la editorial me envío este ejemplar pero por diferentes causas no pude realizar la reseña y como es mejor tarde que nunca ¡aquí tenéis mi opinión sobre el libro de Laura Purcell!Primeramente, voy a dar mi opinión sobre el diseño del libro. Tanto la portada, solapas, contraportada? están genial estéticamente. Personalmente, creo que transmiten información y la idea general del libro. Además, el simple hecho de añadir un poco de relieve y brillo hace que sea más original el diseño, según mi punto de vista, y más ornamental y artístico. Así pues ¡punto positivo para el diseño del libro!Compañías silenciosas, nos cuenta la historia de Elsie. Ella poco después de casarse con Rupert Bainbridge cree estar destinada a una vida llena de lujos y despreocupaciones pero después de este terrible suceso lo único que hereda es una lúgubre, fría y oscura mansión donde nadie parece quererla. Allí, junto a algunas sirvientas y sirvientes escuchará unos ruidos extraños que suenan cada noche, miradas sobre ellas y diarios llenos de secretos al igual que la mansión Bainbridge y una serie de figuras de madera que habitan en ella llamadas compañías silenciosas.Personalmente, la historia me ha parecido increíble. A decir verdad, no suelo leer mucho este género, pese a que me encanta, pero me es muy difícil encontrar un libro de terror, suspense, misterio? que me llame la atención y este sin duda lo ha hecho. La historia, es súper original y el ambiente creado por la autora logra que el lector sienta de verdad que está dentro de esa oscura mansión recorriendo los largos pasillos. Otro punto bueno es que si no os gusta mucho el terror o pasar miedo con este libro no lo pasaréis. Cierto es que mantiene la esencia pero creo que el objetivo de la autora no ha sido que el lector/a pase miedo sino que descubra una historia algo inquietante. Seguidamente, otro punto muy bueno que le doy al libro es que es una novela coral. Esto quiere decir que está narrado para más de un personaje y eso le da mucha agilidad y hace que la historia se lea más rápido y sea mucho más interesante pues son dos historias que se juntan. Por si fuera poco, también está narrado en tres escenarios y tiempos diferentes: En la mansión en el año 1865, en la mansión el año 1635 y en el hospital St. Josephs en el año 1865. Un recurso narrativo que me ha encantado es el flashback. El lector o lectora, al empezar sabe cómo acaba la historia pero tiene la necesidad de saber cómo la protagonista ha llegado hasta ese lugar y situación.Los personajes, según mi punto de vista para este tipo de libro, están muy bien creados. Cada uno es diferente al anterior. Cierto es, que no se dan muchos detalles ni se acaban de describir pero creo que hay libros en los que conocer mucho a los personajes está genial y otros, como este, que conociendo lo más importante, eres capaz de saber todo lo necesario para entender y disfrutar la historia.El final, sin spoilers, me ha gustado bastante pero ha sido lo que me ha fallado un poco (aunque me ha gustado mucho el libro vuelvo a repetir). El libro te engancha y a medida que vas leyendo las páginas se pasan más rápido. Pero el final, para mi gusto subjetivo y personal, me ha parecido que está muy bien creado pero que quizás faltaban más detalles. Se entiende perfectamente pero no sé? me hubiera gustado saber más cosas sobre los últimos sucesos del libro. El final final, con lo que concluye el libro?¡espectacular e inesperado! Me ha gustado mucho y no me lo esperaba para nada. Además hace que te quedes pensando un rato algunas cosas.En conclusión, os recomiendo esta lectura sin duda alguna si buscáis un libro con un ambiente oscuro y lúgubre que os entretenga y os atrape sin pasar demasiado miedo. Si os gustan los misterios, secretos, novelas corales y algunos elementos sobrenaturales esta lectura es para vosotros y vosotras sin duda alguna. ¡Nos leemos en la siguiente reseña!

4/5 estrellas.Compañías silenciosas, por Laura Purcell, nos invita a viajar en el año 1865 hasta The Bridge, una mansión rural en la cual nadie se atreve a acercarse pues, además de estar aparentemente embrujada, han ocurrido numerosas muertes accidentales en el lugar, manchándolo con una reputación oscura.Nuestra protagonista, Elsie Bainbrige, está embarazada y, luego de llevar casada solamente un par de semanas, termina enviudando. Desconsolada por lo ocurrido, es empujada a llevar el luto y vivir su embarazo en The Bridge, esta deteriorada casa de campo de su difunto esposo.Allí solamente contará con la compañía de Sarah Bainbrige prima de quien fuera su esposo en vida, los hostiles sirvientes y los desconfiados aldeanos que, por supuesto, no figura en sus planes acercarse a la mansión.Sin embargo, apenas Elsie pone un pie en su nuevo hogar se da cuenta de que las cosas no van bien, y decide ignorarlo hasta que, repentinamente, comienza a escuchar sonidos extraños y siseos que la desconciertan. Todas estas inquietudes la llevan hasta la buhardilla, la cual tiene su entrada bloqueada sin explicación. Decidiendo creer que se trata simplemente de algunas ratas o ardillas, la ignora hasta que, sorpresivamente, se encuentra con la puerta abierta y, dentro de ella, encuentra los diarios de Anne Bainbrige su antepasado de hace 200 años, y una figura de madera muy inquietante con un fuerte parecido a ella.Sarah, obsesionada por conocer su historia familiar, se lleva uno de los diarios y la figura de madera, y entonces la puerta vuelve a bloquearse inexplicablemente.Y esto no hace sino empeorar pues, con un miedo que es capaz de calarnos hasta los huesos, vamos siendo partícipes de nuevas figuras de madera que aparecen de la nada y se mueven por su cuenta, sucesos extraños y siniestros en torno a la guardería, y otras tantas experiencias escalofriantes.Con tantos horrores y tragedias, ¿estará Elsie adentrándose en la locura o hay algo mucho más malévolo y profundo detrás de todo?Bien, ¡qué maravilla de libro! Me sacó absolutamente de mi zona de confort, y lo disfruté muchísimo.La historia en sí tiene 3 líneas temporales: La primera al comienzo del libro inicia en 1866 en un hospital psiquiátrico con nuestra protagonista, Elsie, que está recuperándose de quemaduras severas en el cuerpo, no puede recordar mucho, y es acusada de múltiples asesinatos. Ya que tampoco puede hablar, se alza con el lápiz y el papel a contarnos la escalofriante historia de The Bridge en 1865, que cada vez se torna más turbia.Pero esto me resultó nada comparado a la historia de Anne Bainbridge, recopilada en sus diarios y que nos llevó hasta 1635. No quiero mencionar nada sobre su historia porque todo llevaría a un spoiler, PERO ES ESPECTACULAR. Cada suceso macabro nos ayudará a desentrañar toda la pesadilla que se vive en la mansión 200 años después.Laura Purcell ha logrado una historia profundamente inquietante, una novela histórica de terror gótica tentadoramente espeluznante y amenazante, repleta de fantasmas, y estas compañías silenciosas aterradoras que, les aseguro si son tan inteligentes como yo y solamente leen el libro durante las noches, no podrán olvidarlas en un buen tiempo. La pluma de la autora realmente logra colocarnos en un ambiente lúgubre, sombrío y escalofriante, con una narrativa sutil y compleja que deja nos deja preguntándonos realmente en qué creer, y eso fue lo que más disfruté.Quiero destacar que el personaje de Elsie es fascinante. Se hizo TAN buen trabajo acá con respecto a ciertas pistas de su pasado en torno a sucesos traumáticos implícitos que, efectivamente, tan solo terminé por resolver una vez terminada mi lectura y discutida en grupo, y todo fue aún más impactante. Les aseguro que hay cosas que ameritan otra leída a esta historia, así que, por favor, si lo han leído pero no discutido con otra persona que lo haya hecho, corran ya mismo a hacerlo.Aún así, ¿saben qué fue lo que amé más? El final, ¡el bendito o maldito final! Queda absolutamente abierto a la interpretación de cada uno, jugará tanto con nuestra cabeza que deberemos leerlo varias veces y decidir en qué creer. Yo, por supuesto, me tiré hacia el lado de lo paranormal, pero me encantaría saber qué lugar tomaron ustedes.En conclusión, tenemos una muy buena historia, perfectamente ambientada, con unos escenarios espectaculares que, sin lugar a dudas, no decepciona en lo que promete. Una excelente lectura para tener en cuenta durante el mes de octubre (si celebran Halloween como yo). Enlace: https://www.instagram.com/p/..

Este libro ha sido una grata sorpresa. No es fácil escribir un cuento de terror con tanta maestría como lo ha conseguido la autora. Una historia bien narrada, en varios tiempos, adictiva y con suspense.La historia da comienzo en el presente con Elsie, la viuda de Rupert Bainbridge. Se encuentra en el hospital St Josephs, en un manicomio. al parecer todos la tachan de asesina. Elsie bloquea los recuerdos de lo ocurrido. Un nuevo doctor intenta ayudarla y para ello le facilita medios de escritura para facilitarte a contar lo que recuerde. Es así como vamos conociendo la historia de Elsie. Tiempo atrás, en 1865, tras la muerte de su marido y con un embarazo incipiente se muda a la mansión de la familia de su difunto marido llamada The Bridge. Lo hará en compañia de Sarah, la prima de Rupert y su hermano Jolyon. La mansión está en estado de abandono. El pueblo cercano no quiere trabajar allí por leyendas y supersticiones. Junto a los personajes de estas dos damas, conoceremos también a las criadas y personal que trabaja en la mansión.Una noche, Elsie escucha ruidos extraños que provienen de la buhardilla. al subir, se encuentra con el ama de llaves. Las dos comentan que pueden ser ratas. No tienen llave para abrirla y deciden llamar en un futuro a un hombre que abra la puerta. Días después, explorando la mansión con Sarah, encuentran la puerta abierta. Entre montones de polvo, encuentran un diario de los antepasados Bainbrigde y unas extrañas tallas de madera que parecen personas reales.Sarah, leerá los diarios de sus antepasados y así es cómo conoceremos lo sucedido en 1635 en la mansión The Bridge.Una de las claves de este libro es el recurso utilizado por la autora por narrar la historia en tres tiempos: Presente, 1865-1866 y 1635. Purcell compagina ambas historias sin extenderse demasiado y creando un enlace entre pasado y presente que va desgranando lo qué sucede de manera gradual; consigue así que el lector no pueda dejar de leer en busca de respuestas. Los diarios de los personajes son el hilo conductor.Los personajes están bien desarrollados, especialmente Elsie. El lector podrá sentir la zozobra de este personaje, con un peso del pasado que arrastra hasta el presente. Los demás personajes están bien perfilados y construidos, no desvelaremos sobre su evolución e implicación para no estropear la trama. Solo indicaremos que es un acierto el tratamiento de los personajes, tanto los de la historia pasada de los Bainbridge como la presente.La historia trata infinidad de temas interesantes, tales como: el desarraigo que produce la pérdida de un ser querido, las ambiciones y fantasías por escalar en sociedad, el sentimiento de unión familiar, el maltrato y abuso infantil, la delgada línea entre la cordura y la locura, ect..El estilo de la autora es armónico y claro. Se ha hecho un buen trabajo de traducción. El escenario principal del desarrollo de la historia es la mansión The Bridge. Un lugar siniestro para nuestra protagonista, donde se darán lugar toda clase de acontecimientos funestos. Personalmente, nuestra imaginación nos ha llevado a la mansión de la película de La cumbre escarlata (2015) dirigida por Guillermo del Toro. Otra historia de terror en Londres, digna de ser visualizada. En otras ocasiones, incluso pensamos en ciertos paralelismo con la película de Rebeca (1940) dirigida por Alfred Hitchcock, con un personaje muerto que no conocemos, una mansión.. Solo son impresiones personales, aquellas historias, aunque con elementos concordantes, lógicamente difieren del libro que estamos comentando. Purcell ha sabido conjugar una historia de terror a fuego lento, con originalidad y saber hacer que no deben perderse. ¡Recomendada su lectura!

La novela trata sobre Elsie Bainbridge, una mujer viuda que es enviada a vivir a la casa de campo de su fallecido esposo en compañía de la prima de éste, Sarah Bainbridge. Juntas llegan a The Bridge, terreno que los lugareños creen maldito y se niegan a acercase o trabajar en el lugar. Cuando las dos mujeres deciden explorar el ático de la mansión se encuentran con una figura de madera sospechosamente parecida a Elsie junto con el diario de Anne Bainbridge, escrito hace alrededor de 200 años atrás. Gracias a ésto, tanto los personajes como nosotros vamos desentrañando los sucesos y tratando de darle un sentido a las desgracias que caen sobre la protagonista.La pluma de la autora me gustó mucho: tiene una fuerte estética gótica que supo manejar muy bien, al igual que el terror. Crea un ambiente hostigador, oscuro y claustrofóbico. Toda la novela se narra dentro de los terrenos de The Bridge, por lo que no tenemos contacto con nadie más que las pocas personas viviendo en la mansión. (a excepción de capítulos muy cortitos que transcurren en el Hospital St. Joseph, un manicomio donde se encuentra recluida Elsie en el presente) La escritura es muy descriptiva y esto puede ser un arma de doble filo: por un lado sirve mucho para darle vida a los alrededores y la ambientación, pero por el otro, algunos capítulos llegaban a durar entre 40 o 50 páginas, haciendo la lectura bastante densa.No llegué a conectar realmente con los personajes, me parecieron bastante superficiales y fríos (creo que esto se debe a que eran varios personajes en una novela relativamente corta), aunque sí me daba muchísima curiosidad como se llegarían a resolver las cosas para ellos. Me gustó mucho Elsie como personaje, al principio no era más que una mujer ejerciendo el papel de ama frívola, pero a medida que avanza la trama se va abriendo a las personas y trata de depositar su confianza en ellas. En esta parte la sutileza con la que escribe Laura Purcell juega un gran papel, porque nos va dando pistas sobre un suceso importantísimo que nunca se menciona explícitamente en la novela y si bien es secundario da una vuelta de tuerca a toda la historia psicológica de nuestra protagonista.El final me encantó. Queda abierto a la interpretación de cada uno y es en ese momento cuando realmente dudé de la veracidad de los hechos que contaba Elsie. ¿Realmente tuvo algo que ver la brujería y lo sobrenatural o alguien estuvo jugando con su cabeza?También noté que el libro cae en varios clichés del género, pero no me parecieron tan terribles como para bajarle la calificación porque están bien usados y no están convenientemente para que la trama se desarrolle; así que los deje pasar.Creo que es un muy buen libro para los que recién estén empezando y quieran adentrarse al género de terror.

Hacía algo más de un año que tenía esta novela en la estantería donde coloco los libros que en principio quiero leer pronto... (en principio) y por fin le llegó su turno. Además no era un lectura muy extensa y cuando llega diciembre no sé por qué me apetecen lecturas más cortas y dedicar el tiempo a cosas diferentes, así que es me pareció el libro ideal.La novela me ha gustado bastante y aunque hay escenas que uno imagina inquietantes debo reconocer que yo esperaba que fuera una novela algo más terrorífica, la verdad, aun así he disfrutado de su lectura y del estilo de esta autora que desconocía.Compañías silenciosas es una historia de tintes góticos/vitorianos que se desarrolla en 1865 en el poco hospitalario pueblo de Fayford, sin embargo el primer capítulo nos sitúa en el Hospital St. Josephs donde se encuentra ingresada Elsie (la señora Bainbridge). La mujer no pronuncia palabra y es la sospechosa de haber provocado un incendio en The Bridge, la casa de campo a la que llegó para enterrar a su esposo y dar a luz a su hijo. En el incendio también hubo víctimas, así que además puede ser acusada de asesinato. El único que intenta ayudarla a demostrar su inocencia es su nuevo médico, y ya que no habla, la invita a escribir lo que recuerde desde que llegó a The Bridge.A través de sus recuerdos, llegaremos con Elsie a esa casa de campo donde ni los sirvientes que se encargan de ella ni los habitantes de Fayford parecen demasiado acogedores. Con ella llega también Sarah, una prima de su difunto esposo y la única pariente que le quedaba. La primera impresión al ver The Bridge es desoladora, la casa parece caerse a trozos e incluso rechazar a sus nuevas inquilinas. Durante una inspección por las habitaciones se encuentran la puerta de la buhardilla abierta, aunque hace años que nadie conseguía entrar y dentro encuentran entre otras cosas un interesante diario, escrito por antepasados de los Bainbrigde unos doscientos años antes y unas figuras de madera tan perfectas que parecen personas reales. La buhardilla daba la impresión de que el tiempo se había detenido durante siglos. Telas de araña adornaban los rincones pero ningún insecto se retorcía en ellas; estaban todos muertos en capullos o marchitos y disecados. Junto a la pared más alejada había tumbado un reloj que ya no daba la hora. La esfera estaba destrozada y las manecillas colgaban en un ángulo raro. Sábanas holandesas cubrían formas cuadrangulares que parecían ser retratos.A Sarah le entusiasman las figuras y deciden trasladarlas a otra parte de la casa. A partir de ese momento empezarán a ocurrir cosas muy extrañas, aunque no todos serán testigos de ellas, lo que está claro es que las figuras parecen cambiar de lugar y nadie admite haberlas movido.Mientras los días pasan, Sarah nos invitará a leer con ella el diario de su antepasada Anne Bainbridge donde conoceremos los motivos por los que esas figuras están en la casa, por qué los lugareños la consideraban un bruja y por qué ninguno quiere trabajar en The Bridge.Lo que más me ha gustado de la novela ha sido su estupenda ambientación. La autora logra trasladarte a esa casa destartalada, aislada y siniestra que llega a ser un personaje más en la novela, y aunque Elsie se esfuerza en hacerla más acogedora no hay forma de imaginarla más que de color gris. El clima además no ayuda a darle luz a esta historia que siempre está envuelta en niebla y lluvia e incluso los pesados ropajes que utilizan los personajes cuando salen al exterior hacen más agobiantes, pesados y sucios sus movimientos.Otro punto fuerte creo que son los personajes. No diré que Elsie sea una persona que caiga simpática, pero a medida que vas leyendo la novela, lo cierto es que no te gustaría estar en su piel y mi opinión sobre ella al final de la novela no tenía nada que ver con las sensaciones que me dio al principio. El único apoyo que parece tener en la casa en Sarah, que en muchos momentos importantes de la historia está con ella siendo testigo de cosas que nadie más parece ver.También me han gustado mucho los personajes protagonistas del diario, tanto Anne como Hetta. Me ha encantado leer en primera persona el diario porque te vas dando cuenta con Anne de lo que está ocurriendo a su alrededor aunque, igual que ella, no quieras creerlo. de hecho creo que la parte del diario es la que más me ha gustado de todo el libro.Ha sido todo un acierto contar esta historia alternando el diario con lo que estaban viviendo los habitantes de The Bridge y con la situación presente de Elsie en el Hospital St. Josephs. Me ha encantado la habilidad de la autora para crear momentos en los que la atmósfera es realmente inquietante para los personajes (y supongo que para algunos lectores también), su destreza a la hora de describir escenas que consiguen visualizar hasta el más mínimo detalle y que sin embargo no hacen la lectura cargada, todo lo contrario, es un libro que se lee rapidísimo y que seguro que os puede gustar. Enlace: https://bitacorademislectura..

Reseñas Varias sobre este libro

This is a tantalisingly creepy and menacing gothic horror novel, populated by ghosts, and set in 1866. It begins with a patient, Mrs Elsie Bainbridge, a woman badly burnt in a fire, being questioned by Dr Shepherd, a progressive psychologist at St Joseph's, after a year in which she has been recovering from her injuries. She is mute and cannot remember what happened. It becomes apparent there have been several deaths and she is suspected of murder. With a hangman's noose hovering over her, Dr Shepherd slowly gets her to remember what happened which she writes on a slate. It begins with a pregnant Elsie travelling to a dilapidated country house, The Bridge, where her husband, Rupert, recently died. She has never been there before, and is accompanied by a spinster companion, Sarah, a poverty stricken relative of her husband. The house leaves a lot to be desired, with two inexperienced maids and Mrs Holt, the housekeeper. Locals believe the house is cursed, once inhabited by a witch, with a history numerous strange deaths and accidents.

Elsie hears strange sounds and hissing which unnerves her. The house is littered with 'companions' constructed of wood and painting intended to startle, Dutch in origin. One looks uncannily Elsie, they appear to move, with new ones appearing out of thin air, sinister and exuding menace. Sarah is obsessed by finding out about her family history. With strange events revolving round the old nursery and the garret, and apparently hallucinatory experiences, Elsie hears about writings that come and go. The diary of Anne Bainbridge from over 200 years ago is discovered. This gives us a historical storyline about the marriage of Anne and Josiah Bainbridge, and their preparation for a visit by the King. Anne lost her beloved sister and conjures a pregnancy from potions and ancient words for a girl. This results in Hetta, their mute daughter, a young girl destined to haunt The Bridge. A litany of horrors and tragedies unfold, destined to echo and replicate down the centuries. The reader is left wondering whether Elsie is treading the territory of madness or whether there is a deeper malevolent evil at play.

Laura Purcell has written a deeply unsettling story inhabiting by ghosts, and the fearsome, scary, silent companions which are unly to be forgotten anytime soon by me. It is the ideal book to read around Halloween, or whenever you feel a need to be frightened out of your wits. It is a story of family secrets and the traumatic history of a house that is no stranger to death and tragedy. Purcell's writing is atmospheric, with a subtle and complex narrative that leaves the reader wondering what to believe. The character of Elsie, a woman hampered by the rigidity of Victorian expectations of women, is a brilliant creation. Her development charting her path to a broken woman is mesmerising. A brilliantly spooky and creepy read. Thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.fantasy ghost-stories literary-fiction ...more371 s1 comment Julie4,142 38.2k

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell is a 2018 Penguin Books publication.

The best Gothic Horror novel Ive read in a long time!

Elsie, recently widowed, and pregnant with her first child arrives in a remote village, with her husbands cousin, Sarah, to live in an old home, owned by her husband, referred to as The Bridge, which has not been lived in for quite some time. Due to her husbands wealth, and his sudden death so soon after their marriage, rumors and scandal are breathing down Elsies neck, but the villagers and her limited staff are also quite superstitious about her, and the house.

While exploring the house, which is full of locked rooms, Elsie finds some old diaries, as well a Silent companion which is a painted wooden figure that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie.

The staff is terrified of the 'companions', but Elsie is determined to learn of their origins. As it happens, diary entries written by Anne Bainbridge back in the 1600s, provides Elsie with plenty of shocking family secrets-

The story is told in three alternating segments-

Elsie, badly burned in a fire, is under the care of a doctor who is attempting to discover her culpability in that fire and her level of sanity. As the doctor slowly draws the story from Elsie we are taken back to her arrival at The Bridge, as she explains her experiences leading up to the deadly fire. We are also transported back to the 1600s via Annes diaries, where we learn Anne may have dabbled in a little witchcraft to conceive a child- a decision she may come to regret.

Wow! I let this book sit on my TBR list longer than I had intended. For some reason when I picked it up I was under the impression this was a historical mystery of some kind. I was totally taken off guard by the chilly ambience, the overwhelming Gothic tones, and the rip-roaring, spine tingling ghost story!! To say I was pleased is an understatement!

This is one of those stories that makes a good fireside read on a cold, dark winter night. Its very well constructed, multi-layered, written in a lush, almost beautiful prose. I havent read a recently published novel of Gothic horror this good in. I couldnt tell you when.

This is what Gothic horror should look - and feel . The atmosphere was thick and heavy with impending doom, the suspense was taut, keeping me on edge and practically glued to the pages. Id never heard of a Silent Companion until I read this book. The history behind them is interesting, but in this case, they creeped me out big time.

This is a perfect, shivery, chiller with an OUTSTANDING conclusion that will blow your socks off!

Yep, this one goes on the favorites list, for sure!!

5 stars
2018 e-book ghost-stories ...more255 s Charlotte May763 1,217

In London, she had learnt to scoff at her fear as nonsense, but now she was back she could feel it, creeping, slithering. Something dark and insidious.

Holy shit!!

What an outstanding Halloween read! This book was the definition of creepy.

Elsie is pregnant, newly widowed and about to move into her husbands family home The Bridge. It is full of rumours and the local villagers are terrified of the house. Elsie thinks its all ridiculous. Its just an old house. Together with her husbands cousin Sarah she begins working on getting the house clean and prepared for the babys arrival. When they come across these wooden figures referred to as companions, Elsie finds them intriguing and decides to bring them out.

Separately we have a timeline from after this era, when Elsie is in a psychiatric hospital and unable to speak. Her doctor tries to get her to tell the story of what happened.

Finally we have an even older timeline in the 1600s from Anne Bainbridge. Elsies husbands ancestor.

All these different elements combine to make an eerie story where everything creeps along, I thought it might have been too slow but honestly it was perfect to build up this feeling of dread.

If you creepy gothic fiction then this is for you. It combines horror with mental instability. The supernatural with the evil of humanity. I loved it and will be reading everything Laura Purcell writes.favourites historical-fiction horror ...more200 s John MauroAuthor 5 books737

My complete review is published at Grimdark Magazine.

The Silent Companions is Laura Purcells unnerving tale of Gothic horror that gradually reveals itself over multiple timeframes. The novel opens during an undisclosed year as the main character, Elsie Bainbridge, finds herself imprisoned in an asylum. She is suspected of murder and arson and has lost the ability to speak. Inexplicably, she is also covered with terrible burns.

The Silent Companions then flashes back to 1865, just before Elsies imprisonment. Elsie has been left widowed only a short time after her wedding. She is expecting a baby and travels to her late husbands family estate, the Bridge, where she stays with her younger brother, Jolyon, and her husbands reticent cousin, Sarah.

While staying at the Bridge, Elsie and Sarah discover a set of silent companions, i.e., cutout wooden boards with realistic paintings of people, also known as dummy boards. Silent companions were introduced as an artform in England in the 1600s. A quick Google search of dummy board will show you exactly how creepy they look. The silent companions give Elsie and Sarah the impression of being possessed.

Sarah discovers a diary of her ancestor, Anne Bainbridge, from the early 1600s. The diary tells the story of Annes daughter, Hetta. After having only sons, Anne wished for a daughter and apparently brought Hetta into the world through herbal witchcraft. But something went terribly wrong, and Hettas tongue never developed enough to allow her to speak. Hetta is strangely drawn to the group of silent companions brought into the house by Anne, and a series of gruesome events soon follows.

The Silent Companions continues along the three timelines of Anne and Hetta in the 1600s, Elsie and Sarah at the Bridge in 1865, and Elsie at the asylum. The Silent Companions is brilliantly crafted for maximum suspense as Elsie tries to understand what happened to herself and to her deceased husband, and to uncover the source of evil infecting his estate. But to understand these mysteries, Elsie must also come to terms with her own haunted past.

All of this leads up to a perfectly crafted climax, until the final word of The Silent Companions drops a bomb on everything you thought you knew.

The Silent Companions is Laura Purcells masterpiece and the original reason I fell in love with Gothic horror. I consider it to be the perfect entry point for readers new to the genre and wanting to give it a try.

I would to express my sincere thanks to Icey for introducing me to this book with her outstanding review. Thank you, Icey!183 s2 comments Mary Beth 390 2,090

4.5 stars

This is a Gothic suspense book set in a haunted mansion in England. Elsie Bainbridge is the main character. She is only married for a few weeks, then her husband dies. The story goes back and forth, to the past and present from 1635 and 1865. The present discusses her imprisoned in an asylum and the events that got her there. In the past she travels to her late husbands estate, an old crumbling mansion called, The Bridge. Elsie only has her husbands cousin for company. The new servants and local villagers are actively hostile and resentful. The locals fear the house. Inside the mansion is a locked door, beyond is a painted wooden figure, a silent companion that looks Elsie's twin but Elsie doesn't have a twin. It looks exactly her. The residents of The Bridge are terrified of this wooden figure. Elsie doesn't know what to think of it, but she is
the only one that is not afraid of it until she notices its eyes following her and watching her. This wooden figure is so eerie and sinister. There is also a diary full of entries when she lived in the mansion. The Bridge is full of secrets.

This is a very spooky creepy Gothic suspense novel. This book actually gave me goosebumps and I found it very chilling. I could just feel the Gothic suspense atmosphere brewing. It has all the ingredients in it, that you need in a gothic. I thought the silent companions of the story were a little disturbing. This book was so gripping from the very beginning to the end. I just can't give this book the justice, this book deserves.

I found the writing style captivating and was glued to the pages. It definitely held my attention and kept me reading to the wee hours of the morning. It creeped me out, and I would jump anytime I heard a noise in my house. I thought the whole town was eerie and I thought the author did a very good job in her characters.

I recommend this book to those that enjoy a spooky Gothic suspense ghost story.

I got this arc from Edelweiss.157 s Icey167 172

We have all heard the whisper in the darkness before.

A sound, a noise. The creaking floor, the rustling of leaves, the whirling wind. Or maybe something else.
A hiss.
Distant, but loud.
Did you imagine it?
That unsettling, evocative smell of silence enveloped you. There it was again, in the shadow of the housea lovers whisper, seductive but dangerous.
And you knew in your heart, at that moment, that there was no going back.

The Silent Companion proved perfectly why I love Gothic stories. Creepiness and uncertainty can become the most addictive poison when combined, and Laura Purcell did an excellent job. Her writing style reminded me a little bit of The Miniaturist; both books have a subtle and smooth beauty in them, which I immensely enjoy.
Immersive and atmospheric, it was such a fabulous reading journey.

Haunted houses are my favorite trope ever in a story, there is something so delicately and maliciously beautiful.
And a desolated countryside mansion set in Victorian?
Holy Ghost, of course Im here to read it.

Key Words: Gothic | Haunted house | Secrets | Dual timeline | Victorian5-star-beauties157 s LTJ169 320

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell started out pretty interesting. It had a solid opening that had me intrigued as to what was going on. Right off the bat, I enjoyed Purcells style of writing as this is the first novel Ive ever read by her. Once the alternating timelines started happening, I did enjoy the Gothic style of writing for the most part.

Before I jump into my review, there is one main trigger warning I wanted to share with everyone. There is cruelty to farm animals in The Silent Companions and I cant say exactly what since my are always 100 percent spoiler free as I dont want to ruin anything. Dont worry, no dogs or cats were harmed here, just farm animals and Ill leave it at that so if that triggers you, please dont read this novel.

Moving along, at first I didnt mind the two alternating timelines but once a third one was introduced, I felt it was overkill. Things got confusing, especially introducing even more characters without really focusing on the main one, Elsie. She was interesting to a degree but I felt that more character development with the main characters, especially her, would have made this a better read.

Unfortunately, things started to fizzle out for me the more I kept reading. It felt a slow burn at first that I was hoping would pay off over time but that wasnt the case. There are some decent creepy moments here and there but my goodness, this novel has way too much dialogue. The three alternating timelines with the super past, past, and current aspects of this novel just didnt work out at all for me.

It took way too long to get to those creepy moments and when it did, it wasnt all that scary. There is decent tension here and there but then things dragged on, the chapters got dull, and I was mostly bored because it was mostly dialogue and not enough unique horror to keep me interested.

I think if this novel stuck to just two alternating timelines, that would have been ideal. Its a lot to take in with different characters, situations, and events all happening that hits you with too many things to remember in three entirely different timelines. I felt it was distracting with no real main plot and too much about what happened in the past to make sense in the present.

Everything considered, I wanted more character development than dialogue, more horror moments, and fewer pages dedicated to overexplaining and over-describing things that didnt really need it. It ended up frustrating me as a reader as I wish all those extra pages were dedicated to making the creepy moments more horrific and scarier. You know, bringing more to the table in the grand scheme of things.

The ghosts or companions that are supposed to be terrifying just werent all that scary to me, its all little things here and there with nothing that jumped out and grabbed me to where I had to re-read it or anything. I spent way too much time reading dialogue after dialogue that again, bored me. The ending was also lame and very predictable, considering I was hoping it would redeem this novel and blow my mind but it ultimately left me unsatisfied.

I give The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell a 2/5 as I thought her writing was good but this wasnt a true horror novel to me. I felt it was a gothic family story that just so happened to be in a haunted house that was supposed to have a scary ghost element that just didnt deliver. It takes way too long to get to any of the scary parts with the majority of this novel being endless dialogue, repeated dialogue/situations, and just not anything Id recommend. It left much to be desired as I wanted more horror and less talking. I also think having three timelines happening in a single novel was a mistake without any specific timeline that shined due to having so many different characters and events. Awe well, onto the next one.157 s6 comments Beverly890 349

Hss. Hss. Hss. Five big stars for this Gothic horror show, to all my Goodreads friends who recommended this, "Thank you!" I have had a scary book appetite lately, but none of the books I devoured quite satisfied the craving until this delicious nugget. Short, but terrifying, this story begins with a woman in an asylum who has been drugged into insensibility.

She is being coaxed by a kind doctor to remember what happened or she will be hanged for multiple murder in 1860s England. He wants her to dredge up what she has carefully repressed. She travels back into her mind to when she first experienced the supernatural hauntings at The Bridge, the creepy ancestral home of her newly deceased husband.

The author creates a terrifying atmosphere in the home. There are no big bangs here, but a slowly encroaching unease, that rattles the nerves, and poisons everyone it touches. My hat is off to you Laura Purcell. Good show!horror149 s Brenda ~The Book Witch at Witch Words860 902

Traveling Sisters Review

I read The Silent Companions as a spooky Halloween read with six of my Traveling Sisters and this was the perfect read that brought out an extra creepiness to our Halloween.

The Silent Companion is creepy good, deliciously creepy and intriguingly creepy that grabbed our attention right from the very beginning and held it right to the end.

Laura Purcell does a good job setting up all the spooky elements for this story. We loved the spooky house, intriguing journals from the past, the hidden secrets and the creepy Silent Companions that had us shuttering with their creepiness.

The story left us wanting to sleep with the lights on and checking over our shoulders as we left a room for those silent figures to pop up. They creeped into our thoughts leaving us with a feeling of fear that really sparked this to the perfect spooky read. I highly recommend finding a comfy chair with just the right amount of light to read and let yourself be immersed in this haunting and unsettling world of delish creepiness.

Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Books and Laura Purcell for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Traveling Sisters Reviews can be found on our sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...139 s Debra2,700 35.7k

"You could not explain fear; you could only feel it, roaring through the silence and striking your heart still."

Fans of Gothic, atmospheric Victorian books should look no further - The Silent Companions should be right up your alley! This is Gothic done right! Have you ever read a book where the Author is going for Gothic and just fails to hit the mark? The Author not only hits the mark -she nails it. The crumbling estate is creepy and dreary. The countryside is dripping with atmosphere and dread. The villagers are hostile and refuse to help anyone at the country estate known as the Bridge. This story creeps along as does the feelings of dread and apprehension in this book. This story does jump around a little bit from the present day, to the past, to the not so distant past but it is never confusing. During the book, the reader sees the main character of Elise in a psychiatric hospital being evaluated by a psychiatrist. There has been a fire and Elise is believed to have started it and she is considered to be responsible for deaths which occurred before and during the fire. The reader also gets a glimpse into the year 1635, when a family lives at the country estate. The reader learns what occurred during the time and finally we see Elise moving into the estate and her time spent living in the home.

When Elise marries Rupert Bainbridge, she knows her factory days are behind her. She is going to live a life of wealth and privilege. But he dies unexpectedly a few weeks into their marriage. She travels to the Bridge, her husband's crumbling estate to carry out her pregnancy and is met with servants who are less than happy to work with/for her, her husband's lonely cousin, Sarah, a cat, and strange hissing sounds coming from the Garrett.

Elise decides to explore in hopes of figuring out what is causing the sounds coming from the Garrett. She invites Sarah to come investigate with her. I found it odd that Sarah had never really explored the home before as she was living there before Elise arrived, Sarah was apprehensive but decided to join Elise in this adventure and soon the women were in the Garrett where they found two silent companions and a diary. One of the silent companions had a striking resemblance to Elise. *Silent companions, also known as dummy boards, are painted figures used to amuse and trick guests (I looked them up as I had never heard of them before).

"Did evil have wants and needs? Surely not, surely that would make it too human."

Soon, these silent companions were brought downstairs where they frightened the staff and appear to move and show up in various rooms. To make matters worse, the silent companions seem to multiply and more appear each day. Plus, several members of the household began to see strange things. Each person sees something different from others living in the home and everyone is upset by this except for the head House keeper, Mrs. Holt who has lived at the home for several years. She claims nothing bad has ever happened while she has been at the house. Sarah finds the diary of Anne Bainbridge, the inhabitants of the country estate over 200 years ago. This once prosperous and noble family fell to ruin in 1635, when the queen's horse was killed on their property and Anne herself was burned at the stake for being a witch.

"Did people know when they were going insane? she wondered. Did they feel the weave of their mind ripping apart?"

The house has some history and none of it has been good. Many have died at the estate and the locals believe the house is cursed and they are superstitious about the history surrounding a witch having lived at the home. The longer Elise stays at the home, the more she sees the silent companions and stranger things begin to happen at an alarming rate. Is she hallucinating? Is she insane as her brother believes? Are the ghosts of the past terrorizing the house? Is everything is as it seems?

This book was very good and quite enjoyable! I love books which are atmospheric and evoke feelings of dread and unease. This book, the silent companions, will creep up on you and have you worrying about things that go bump in the night (or shall I say hiss?). Purcell builds the suspense as her story unfolds. I really enjoyed how all the story-lines/plot timelines came together and brought about the end of the book! Plus, the ending? Was anyone else scratching their head at the end, thinking "what just happened? I have my theories and think I have it figured out but that I was left with questions. I feel I was in the same boat as Elise at the end. Wondering what the hell just happened!?!

Thank you to Penguin books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

See more of my at www.openbookpost.comnetgalley132 s Norma557 13.5k

5 Spooky Spectacular Stars! This was my kind of book and the perfect Halloween read that I read along with six of my Traveling Sisters!

Traveling Sisters Read with Brenda, Lindsay, Holly, Diane, Dana and PorshaJo

THE SILENT COMPANIONS by LAURA PURCELL is a spooky, eerie, haunting, creepy, and absolutely fantastic gothic ghost story. I absolutely loved the creepy feel to it and I was immediately drawn into this story right from the very start. There is an underlying sense of foreboding throughout this whole story that had me questioning whether the events that were happening were supernatural, menacing or manipulation.

LAURA PURCELL delivers a clever, atmospheric, and well-written read here with an intense storyline, the perfect Victorian setting, and great characters. The tension slowing builds from chapter to chapter with an ending that definitely took me by surprise. I was reading this late into the night with all the lights out except for the backlight on my iPad and I was spooked! It will be a long time before I forget about those creepy and scary Silent Companions. I don't think this one was predictable at all but I do think that LAURA PURCELL left it up to us questioning whether the events within the story were in the supernatural nature or not.

To sum it all up it was an engrossing, unsettling, suspenseful, and unforgettable read that had me on the edge of my seat in anticipation and had me on hyper alert watching out for creepy wooden figures. Highly recommend to readers who love a really good ghost story!

Thank you so much to Edelweiss, Penguin Books and Laura Purcell for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!!

All of our Traveling Sisters Reviews can be found on our sister blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.comfavourite-reads-of-2017 netgalley-edelweiss-approved traveling-sister-reads122 s Lindsay L735 1,420

3.5 stars! This was a gripping, atmospheric and creepy tale!

This story involves an old haunted mansion, a woman living in an insane asylum, ghosts, an old hidden diary and three intertwining timelines. Add all of these up and you get one spooky, edge-of-your-seat horror story. The author, Laura Purcell, did a fantastic job creating a vivid and creepy atmosphere pulling the reader right into the frightening setting. I felt shivers creeping up my back a few times while reading this eerie and disturbing story.

The characters were well-developed I appreciated every one of them and how they fit into this sinister tale. I enjoyed each timeline every story carried an important piece of this mysterious puzzle. While I enjoyed the atmosphere and uniqueness of this story, I had a hard time suspending my disbelief a few times. I still have some lingering questions relating to how a couple events transpired.

I d the sense of vagueness left at the end of the novel. The story was left open to the readers interpretation which suited the novel completely.

This was an excellent choice for a Traveling Sister Read! I enjoyed reading this along with my sisters Brenda, Norma, Diane S, Dana and Holly B. They helped me get through the frighteningly creepy parts, although I still may have to sleep with the lights on for a while.

A big thank you to Edelweiss, Frontlist and Laura Purcell for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

To find this review, along with the other Traveling Sister Read , please visit Norma and Brendas fabulous blog at:

https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....edelweiss traveling-sister-read104 s Dem1,217 1,300

4.5 Stars
(Great atmospheric read for October)

What an intriguing, atmospheric and scarily good story which had the hairs standing on the back of my neck.

A chilling period piece set in two time frames 1860s and 1630s which I loved from page one. I was lucky enough to purchase a hard copy of this novel and cover is beautifully illustrated and unique. This is certainly a book I will be recommending to friends but I am not loaning this one out as its a bookshelf keeper.
image: This is why for me kindle and audible just don't compare to holding an actual printed copy.
A genuinely suspenseful and really quite chilling tale set in an old crumbling Country estate, newly married and newly widowed Elsie is sent to see out her pregnancy at her late husband's crumbling country estate, The Bridge.

With her new servants resentful and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie only has her husband's awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. For inside her new home lies a locked room, and beyond that door lies a two-hundred-year-old diary and a deeply unsettling painted wooden figure - a Silent Companion - that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself...,

I loved the eerie atmosphere created by the author and every time I picked this book up off my bedside locker I was so looking forward to getting back to the characters and the story. A book of intrigue and secrets and just a good old fashioned ghost story that chills as well as entertains.

Loved every moment spent with this novel as this is the book I needed to pull me out of my recent reading slump.
I think readers who enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale The Forgotten Garden or even This House is Haunted may enjoy this novel also.favorites historical-fiction recommended105 s Diane S ?4,853 14.3k

An asylum, a menacing house, journals found from the past, throw in Gothic and Victorian and I am all over it. Elsie, pregnant with her first child, travels to her husband's estate, called the Bridge. It is the middle of the 1800s and her husband has just died from unknown causes. Her story is a rags to riches one, daughter of a man who owned a match factory, she met and married her wealthy husband when he came to invest in the factory. Elsie herself has secrets held from her past, and the house she finds is not what she expected.

Was reading this on Halloween, and it was just creepy enough without being absolutely terrifying. The silent companions, things I had never heard of, make an appearance and keep making appearances despite the fact that they are gotten rid of time and time again. The journals from the past reveal the dabbling in of witchcraft and of terrible wrongs committed. As a reader I was never quite sure what was real and what was imagined. If what Elsie was seeing and experiencing was in her mind or an actual happening. Loved the Gothic, forboding style of this, the constant tension, and the mix between past and present. Other interesting characters are presented and one will have an important part in the twist at the end.

This was a sisters read and many of us had questions at the end. Trying to figure out exactly what happened, but I often think a book that causes one to question what they just read, is the mark of an interesting and worthy read.

ARC from Edelweiss.106 s Misty Marie Harms559 584

Why did it take me so long to read this wonderful book? It has history, mystery, horror, suspense, creepy cutout dolls, and a silent evil child. Soon as the companions entered the story, I was beyond scared. Why? I hate dolls. I hate anything that resembles dolls. Those weird staring eyes and painted faces. Just no. My oldest daughter terrorized me with her model wooden doll as a teenager until it mysterious caught on fire.

Did I know what was going to happen at the end? Yep, I pretty much guessed it. However, I didn't care. I was so involved in the story and these characters, I wanted more. Poor Anne created a monster that cursed her own family, didn't she? Highly recommend. Seriously go now!aficionados-challenge fiction historical-fiction ...more96 s Holly B (Short Break)879 2,439

The Silent Companions is a gothic, foreboding, spooky ghost story. It is very well written and I especially enjoyed the setting of the crumbling mansion (named The Bridge) in England. The story alternates between events of 1635 to the present day of 1865.

It begins with Elsie in an asylum, with a creepy attendant and a young doctor who exclaims, I am here to decide your fate. He wasnt joking.

The history of the house is told and it is a strange one. It was left empty during and after the Civil War, until family started to return, but no one stayed for very long. Were skeletons buried under the house?

When Elsie moves back into the house, she begins to experience it. She describes her bed as cold and sinister, she finds mysterious items, hears hissing in the night, walks on a wobbling staircase and the house seems to be watching her along with the lurking servants.

Just who is going mad here?

A spookalicious read with a ending that made me gasp!

For fans of gothic, spooky/creepy historical fiction, haunted houses and the paranormal!

Thanks to Edelweiss for my ARC. Rating 4/5 stars. I read it on Halloween night and it made it even more spooky!enjoyed-the-setting had-to-finish historical-fiction ...more97 s Tammy563 466

This novel presents the disturbing occurrences that happen to Anne Bainbridge in 1635 and Elsie Bainbridge two hundred years later. Interspersed between the two time periods are scenes from an asylum. There is a back story here with hints cleverly scattered throughout that may indicate Elsies state of mind.

If you well written, atmospheric gothic novels (and I do) you may rest assured that there are gothic tropes galore. Isolation in a crumbling estate? Yes, and I continue to read. Superstitious villagers? You bet and I go on. Confusion over what is real and unreal? Of course, and Im eating it up with a spoon. The subjugation of women? Its part and parcel of this genre and I continue to to read. Nightmares and dreams? Naturally. Im still reading here. And then...and then... the ending. It was two sentences too long and hit me with a resounding thud.93 s Melisa326 527

A completely creeptastic tale that had me jumping at the slightest sounds - warning: read with all the lights on!

This a dual timeline tale, alternating between the 1800s and 1600s, all based around a gothic castle in England with a long, tragic history. As the story unfolds, you learn more about what has occurred to put the haunted in the house.

This is a great, spooky tale, one youll absolutely have to suspend disbelief, but oh how great it is once you do! It does get a little gruesome at some points which was a little outside of my comfort zone, but then again, Im a big wimp so theres that.

Definitely recommend to historical fiction fans who are in the mood for a good scare.

Thank you to Netgalley, Laura Purcell and Penguin Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

arc netgalley paranormal ...more82 s Beata801 1,256

So many stellar have been written by my GR Friends that I feel I will refrain from repeating all good things that they have said about this book. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and have become Mr Purcell's fan ever since.92 s Caroline228 178

This is the perfect ghost story to keep you up at night. A Victorian Gothic novel told in flashbacks from an insane asylum. It jumps back and forth from the 19th to the 17th century; weaving a dark, sinister tale that makes your blood run cold, keeping you gripped in suspense right up to the horrific ending! I loved it!!82 s Phrynne3,540 2,394

This one is a bit spooky! Not horrific really - it would not keep me awake at night- but it is definitely on the creepy side.

Elsie, pregnant and widowed, finds herself living in a gothic style manor house with unfriendly villagers, useless servants, one unlikable 'friend' and a whole heap of silent companions. These are just figures painted on boards but they have a tendency to move around and cause unpleasant events. They reminded me of the stone angels on Doctor Who which also only moved when you were not looking at them! As I said, spooky!

The story is told from three POVs, Elsie as she is currently, in an asylum and disfigured by fire, Elsie at The Bridge in 1865 and Anne at The Bridge in 1635. Events start off pretty slowly and the book did not grab my attention at first but I kept reading and eventually it paid off. The ending was clever and with hindsight it was obvious that there had been a million clues I had overlooked!
I completely missed the fact that Jolyon was Elsie's son by her father. Apparently other readers more observant than me asked the author and she confirmed it.

Altogether an entertaining read although I think I slightly preferred this author's book The Corset.73 s Sofia235 7,982

This book is every Gothic fiction lover's dream. A crumbling haunted mansion, "silent companions" painted wooden figures with features so realistic they could be human whose eyes track Elsie when her back is turned...

Elsie Bainbridge, suspected of murder and arson, is locked in asylum. In her past, she is a recent widow and a new resident of the mysterious estate she inherited. Her childhood is full of tragedy and her future remains uncertain. When she uncovers a silent companion behind a locked door in her new home, along with a diary detailing the life of a child named Hetta, she begins to notice subtle changes in the atmosphere around her.

The Silent Companions is utterly genius. The suspense is unbelievable; this book is literally unputdownable. The gradual buildup and the carefully placed reveals made my heart race almost nothing I've read before. It's unnerving and chilling and feverish and so wickedly twisted. This is a must-read for all fans of Gothic horror and books that deserve to be called modern classics.

5 starsdark-dark-dark favorites horror74 s Emma990 1,074

A genuinely unsettling gothic story set in a ramshackle country house, this book kept me up late reading, then the rest of the night listening for strange noises. I knew it had its claws into me when I returned to my room and freaked out about an inexplicably open cupboard door: who did it? I was the only one in the house... Spoiler: I got a towel out, had forgotten, and accidentally left it that. Phew. But that's precisely the kind of split second reaction you get after reading this book. It's beyond atmospheric, so well written it seeps deep into you, affecting the way you think and feel. It's compelling and unnerving in equal measure, with an ending that could go either way: is there a mundane, human answer to this mystery? Or are the Silent Companions as supernatural as they appear? I won't ruin anything for you, but I thought it ended exactly the way it should, clever and scary.

Serious love for this spooky read. This author goes straight into my 'must read' list.

ARC via Netgalleynetgalley69 s Julie1,896 566

This book is an incredible, creepy-cool story! Two women living 200 years apart experience evil in the Bainbridge ancestral home. In the 1860's, Elsie comes to the house. She is a widow. Her husband recently died, and she feels lost. In the 1660's, Anne Bainbridge lives in the house. Her daughter Hetta is unable to speak and Anne feels incredibly guilty for using her herbal knowledge to bring about the girl's birth. She firmly believes her actions caused the girl to be born with a malformed tongue. Both women come under the spell of the Silent Companions.....wooden effigies painted people. At first they seem beautiful, more life than mere paintings....but then, they move. The horror of what lurks in the Bainbridge home is truly chilling.

What an awesomely dark Victorian horror novel! The suspense and horror build steadily until the very end. Descriptions of the Silent Companions are detailed and unnerving. Just the idea of fumbling around in an attic by candlelight with those things in the house.....supremely scary! The ending smacked me right in the face....I didn't see it coming. Twisted, demented, and frightening. The intro to the book tells readers not to read this story at night....I should have listened. There were a couple times it really creeped me out. I loved it!

This book would make an awesome horror movie!

I definitely recommend this book to any reader who s gothic horror, ghost stories or darkly creepy tales.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Penguin Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**read-review-copies-201870 s Helene Jeppesen690 3,614

What an eerie story! Be aware that if you have a fear of wooden dolls with eyes that follow you when you move around, this is probably not a book for you (or maybe its exactly the book for you, then!) :-)
Elsie is a resident in an asylum, and in the very first chapter she encounters her new doctor who is set to find out what turned her crazy and unable to speak a word. From that chapter onwards, we are taken back in time and learn that Elsie, then a recent widow, has taken over her husbands abandoned house in the countryside - a house that comes with its creepy share of mysterious events and creepy dolls.
This was one of those books that I had a hard time rating. Throughout my reading, I felt it was on the verge of a 4-star-read, but I also felt the full potential was somehow missing. However, having now finished the book Im confident that its a 4-star-read. Its an uncanny gothic novel that will mess with your mind (and maybe provide you with a few sleepless nights), and its the perfect autumnal read for when youre in the mood for a psychological horror story that will creep you out but that also messes with your mind and takes its share of twists and turns.
I d it in the end, but I think you have to reach that end to fully appreciate this intricate, however amazing story. 64 s mark monday1,748 5,552

Her whole existence dwindling down to a lone, barred cell. Why did chemists manufacture medicines that awoke people, when reality was dismal and hopeless?

the author is a talented artist; her prose, the atmosphere, the style... she is in complete control of her effects. but what does that artist do here? she starts by painting a black hole, an unsympathetic heroine, dull supporting characters, vindictiveness from all directions. she chooses additional colors: the grey of an overcast sky, shit-brown. with those colors she paints an insane asylum, an ugly village and an uglier countryside, a factory, a decrepit mansion. there is no contrast, there is no difference. all is ugly, all is dark. she paints a tragic backstory, a neglected child, bodies burned, a horse slain, wives kept down, bad mothers, madness, molestation, murder. all is ugly, all is dark, the whole world apparently. the artist swirls the black and the gray and the brown together; soon even those unappealing shades can barely be discerned as colors, they are just a mass of dreary darkness. a monotonous palette. a monotonous experience. if everything, everyone, everywhere is horrible, then specific horrors meant to horrify become drab, meaningless.

also: while the Silent Companions themselves were often effectively creepy, they did feel sillier versions of the Weeping Angels from Doctor Who.
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