Last year, I visited a stately home with friends, and when we were there we saw some dummy boards. Figures made of wood were used as an old-fashioned security system to make it appear that homes were occupied when families may have been away, usually placed to cast a shadow or be seen from a window. A fairly basic but rather ingenious idea, I remember thinking.
This story reminded a friend of a book she had recently read and suggested that it may be a book that I would enjoy. That book was ‘The Silent Companions’, and I am ashamed it has been sitting on the tbr for quite some time since that trip, but this December I decided to pick it up. And, although it may not be the usual pick for this time of year, I thought it was perfect for these dark December evenings, especially if you are someone who enjoys a ghost story for the winter months. In fact, I read past my bedtime to find out how it would end, and a little chill passed over me as I read the very end of the story.
‘The Silent Companions’ is a novel with a Victorian Gothic feel, and I loved that about it. We meet Elsie as she has been confined to an asylum and, from that moment, we find out exactly what put her there. As the story unfolds, we find out she has inherited a house, ‘The Bridge’, from her late husband. But this house appears to hold a dark secret – in the form of silent companions. However, the silent companions also seem to know the secrets of those around them, or so Elsie thinks.
This is a wonderfully constructed, creepy story that keeps you turning the page, as we move between the present (the 1800s in this case) and the 1600s to find out how the silent companions came to be and who exactly they may be. This was such a clever narrative, as there are moments where you realise conclusions you may have reached may not be correct, which really adds to the gothic feel of the tale.
If you like historical fiction with a creepy twist, then this is the book for you. It reminds me of the classic Victorian ghost stories, but it has a fresh feel. And, more importantly, it turns out that there is a sequel (which can also be a standalone) called ‘The House of Splinters’ set in the same house as ‘The Silent Companions’, and I am so excited to read it, as I think Laura Purcell is a talented ghost/horror story writer.