The Broken Girls
Ratings62
Average rating4
15
Ratings62
Average rating4
A journalist uncovers the dark secrets of an abandoned boarding school in this chilling suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.
Vermont, 1950. There’s a place for the girls whom no one wants—the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the ones too smart for their own good. It’s called Idlewild Hall, and local legend says the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their friendship blossoming—until one of them mysteriously disappears….
Vermont, 2014. Twenty years ago, journalist Fiona Sheridan’s elder sister’s body was found in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And although her sister’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of the murder, Fiona can’t stop revisiting the events, unable to shake the feeling that something was never right about the case.
When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during renovations links the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past—and a voice that won’t be silenced….
Reviews with the most likes.
Simone St. James is a national treasure! Every time I read a new book of hers it becomes my new favorite. But this one just blew me away. Bad things happen in the world and St. James does an exceptional job of having her heroines face these bad things head on. They can't make things right again, it they can make them better going forward.
There are of course layers of mystery and every layer uncovers the story of a person who feels real. And in the end those people feel seen and heard. That makes a difference. I just love this book!
Okay so I didn't love the reveal of the whodunit but I loved the atmosphere here the creepy setting and the writing REALLY worked for me. I am REALLY enjoying this author. Time to tackle her backlist!
3.5 stars. I went into this expecting to be blown away, and in this case it was the high expectations that probably led to disappointment. It was a page turning, easy read, but I feel more could have been done with ‘the haunting presence.' I also wish more time was spent with the Idlewild girls because I found them fascinating. It was nothing I hadn't seen before. I fear I am becoming a jaded thriller reader. Maybe a break from the genre?
I quite liked the plot in this one, but the characters weren't gripping me as much to give it a higher rating. Plus some of my misleading expectations about what the mystery is gonna be about led me to be confused about where the story was actually going in the first half of the book. But I really like how it all came together, even if it was a bit too neat in the end.
