Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Silence for the Dead

"There was silence from the bottom of the stairs, a waiting silence, of something patiently watching me come closer, something with all the time in the world."
 Silence for the Dead by Simone St. James is a perfect mix of historical fiction, mystery and ghost story; an added dash of romance makes this novel a delicious read.

It takes place in 1919 at an isolated estate in England called Portis Hall where sixteen shell-shocked soldiers have come to convalesce. But there is something evil haunting Portis Hall that makes it anything but restful.

The two main characters are Kitty Weekes, who isn't really a nurse but who comes to work at Portis Hall anyway hoping to escape her own past, and Jack Yates, a war hero tormented by nightmares of his own. Together they try to solve the mystery of what, or who, is haunting Portis Hall.
"This house was a vampire, feeding on the pain, the insecurity, the despair of these men. It was feeding on Creeton, it was feeding on Archie, it was feeding on Mabry and Jack. It knew my weaknesses, my fears, and it was only a matter of time before it fed on me. I let go of the bucket, put my head in my hands, and surrendered to my own madness, the madness of this place."
I love the eerie atmosphere St. James creates in her novels; cold and crumbling Portis Hall is remote and unwelcoming and the perfect setting for a gripping ghost story. And St. James' characters, while imperfect, are engaging and likeable. Then there's the romance between Kitty and Jack...sweet and sexy. I really enjoyed this book. It's a well-written and fast-paced mystery (and an awesome airplane/trip book, too)!

Happy Reading!

Be sure to check out Simone S. James' other books:
     The Haunting of Maddy Clare

2 comments:

  1. I loved this one too. Very eerie, very creative!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wasn't it? I think Simone St. James is one of my favorite authors; I've enjoyed every one of her books that I've read.

      Delete