Silence for the Dead by Simone St. James (2014)
A chilling tale with an interesting historical backdrop.
Laura’s Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Plot: Kitty Weekes is desperate for a job when she arrives at Portis House hospital to fill a nursing role. The remote hospital houses soldiers after WWI that are haunted not only by their experiences at war, but also by something more sinister going on at Portis House.
Analysis: This is the fourth book I’ve read by Simone St. James now and it was one of my favorites! The isolated and mysterious Portis House is a perfectly unsettling backdrop and it felt very gothic. I love a good asylum/sanatorium and this one was unique as it featured “shell shocked” soldiers. The post WWI setting was unique for a mystery and created good context for the novel.
It was interesting to see the time period’s understanding and treatment of patients with PTSD and other mental health issues.
The book was well written and the characters were flawed but (mostly) endearing. The book reminded me a little of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, with a cast of unique patients chock full of personality. As with St. James’s other books, there is an element of the supernatural, which I enjoyed. Silence for the Dead is a unique blend of thriller and historical fiction and I’d recommend it to readers of both genres.
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