jbronderbookreviews

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

When newly widowed Elsie is sent to see out her pregnancy at her late husband’s crumbling country estate, The Bridge, what greets her is far from the life of wealth and privilege she was expecting . . .

When Elsie married handsome young heir Rupert Bainbridge, she believed she was destined for a life of luxury. But with her husband dead just weeks after their marriage, her new servants resentful, and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie has only her husband’s awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. Inside her new home lies a locked door, beyond which is a painted wooden figure–a silent companion–that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself. The residents of The Bridge are terrified of the figure, but Elsie tries to shrug this off as simple superstition–that is, until she notices the figure’s eyes following her.

A Victorian ghost story that evokes a most unsettling kind of fear, this is a tale that creeps its way through the consciousness in ways you least expect–much like the silent companions themselves.

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Author’s Bio

A former Waterstones bookseller, Laura is now a full time author of chilling Gothic fiction. Her ghost story THE SILENT COMPANIONS was published by Bloomsbury Raven in October 2017 and will be followed by THE CORSET in 2018.

Laura has also blogged extensively about the Hanoverian monarchy. Her biopic novels QUEEN OF BEDLAM and MISTRESS OF THE COURT are the first in a series covering the lives and loves of the Georgian era queens.

Website

My Review

4 stars

We start this story in an institution with a woman that is mute. Dr. Shepherd is trying to learn her story even though the guards are telling him that the woman is a killer and to not waste his time. We learn this is Elsie, that she has been horribly burned in a fire, and that she has gone through hell but can’t remember what happened.

Elsie is the daughter of a match factory owner. Rupert Bainbridge wanted to expand his holdings and marries Elsie. A couple months later, Rupert is found dead at his country estate, The Bridge. Of course there is scandal of the whole situation and Elsie’s brother sends her and Rupert’s cousin, Sally. The Bridge is decrepit and the local village clearly hates Elsie and Sally just because they are the owners.

While exploring the house, Elsie and Sally have strong occurrences like locked doors mysteriously being opened then locked and a nursery looking immaculate then decrepit. But the wooden figure that looks like Elsie, the Silent Companion. As Sally reads the journal they found, the women learn that The Bridge has a history of a witch and curse. It seems there is good reason for the villagers to hate the owners of The Bridge.

This is a great gothic mystery. Elsie though she was going to marry into a life of riches and finds herself in a rundown estate in the middle of a decaying country landscape. When the odd things happened I was curious about where this story was going. Then when I learn the history of The Bridge, I was starting to get seriously creeped out. But I have to say the part that got me was the flashes to the present as Dr. Shepherd is trying to get the story out of Elsie.

This is a great, creepy gothic story. I recommend checking it out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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Mask Beneath Her Face by Rafael Chandler

During the 1980s, slashers terrorized America. With machetes and masks, these unstoppable killers stalked college campuses, quiet suburbs, and lakeside cabins.

Thirty years ago, Bobbi Metzger survived a massacre at her 16th birthday party. She spent decades putting her life back together.

Tonight, Bobbi will face a new killer: a high-tech slasher hell-bent on opening the doorway to an abyss of unimaginable horror.

How long can Bobbi survive this nightmare? What will she do to protect the people she loves?

How much blood is she willing to spill?

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About the Author

Rafael Chandler writes novels (Hexcommunicated, The Astounding Antagonists), video games (SOCOM 4, Rainbow Six: Lockdown, MAG), and tabletop role-playing games (Teratic Tome, No Salvation for Witches, Lusus Naturae). He’s a metalhead, gorehound, and kaijuphile. For more information, please visit http://www.rafaelchandler.com.

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My Review

5 Stars

 Thirty years ago Bobbi Metzger survived a serial killer that slaughtered those at her birthday party. She has spent the last thirty years putting her life back together. She is not alone. Jesse Counsel is another survivor of a serial killer. And then there is Cristina Vargas who dreams of becoming one of the elite killers herself. Together along with several others we will follow along as Bobbi and Jesse try to stay alive.

I love the slasher movies from the 80’s. There is nothing like blood, guts, and gore with a great story. This story follows along that same line. It makes you think about what happens to those that lucked out and survived their night of terror. Do they just go on in their lives or are they destined to come back to this same point of horror.

I loved this book. It took me back to the time of good horror flicks, not the blood and gore stories we see in theaters now. It has a great story of some survivors and a blooming killer as she comes into her goals. If you like slasher films you will love this book. Make sure to check it out.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Reads & Reels for the opportunity to read and share this book.

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