Frightful Femme

This review is can also be viewed on my Substack, UnbelieveablyLit, where I talk about more than just the horror genre.

In 2024, I started a book club for anyone who wanted to read horror written by women. We are a small group, but I look forward to our monthly meetings because the mix of personalities makes for an eclectic and, most of the time, ridiculous conversation. (You should come to one of our meetings and ask about the butthole business cards.) The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell is one of our 2025 reads.

In about 300 pages, readers are presented with 3 timelines and 2 points of view. We are taken through Elsie’s time in the country house, named The Bridge, in 1865 and Anna’s account from 1635. Elsie is also leading the 3rd timeline, which happens after everything in the house comes to a head, ending at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

I thought Purcell did a fantastic job of setting the scene in a slow unfolding that made for a very unsettling Victorian ghost story vibe. I read the majority of this book in my bed on my iPad with the lights off. Did that add to the atmosphere? Yes. Did I regret it at different points in the story? Also yes. I sleep in a king-sized bed, but I still tucked my blankets under my feet a few of these nights.

The companions, pieces of art that can move on their own, were a stroke of genius. When it comes to horror that will actually get my heart pumping, there are only 2 subjects that can even come close to doing so, home invasions and creepy inanimate objects. The descriptions of these particular “inanimate objects” gave my brain just enough to run wild with. So much so, I woke up one night in a slight panic because my cat digging in the litter box in the other room sounded like the hiss used to describe the companions moving around to my sleep addled brain. I really enjoyed the originality of these things! Are they inspired by something real? I plan to find out.

The bit I didn’t like was the “off-screen” kills. Part of me knows that this was necessary because how would you describe what is essentially a flat, wooden painting killing a human? The other part of me was craving violence, apparently, and I really wanted some action. Regardless, the aftermath of these kills were set up well and fit the vibe. In addition to the loss of bloody battles, there were a few things I thought were not fleshed out enough, which ultimately lost this read half a star on my StoryGraph review.

I would absolutely read this again. In fact, November and December provide a perfect backdrop to this gloomy, creepy story. Even though this book was originally published in 2017, making it well outside of the spoiler territory, I feel this is best enjoyed when you go in with the least amount of information possible. Obviously, I recommend. So…go read it!