Tag: Simone St. James

Title: Silence for the Dead

Author: Simone St. James

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Horror, Paranormal, Fiction

Number of Pages: 363

My Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋

Book Summary:

In 1919, Kitty Weekes, pretty, resourceful, and on the run, falsifies her background to obtain a nursing position at Portis House, a remote, once magnificent estate turned hospital for soldiers left shell-shocked by the horrors of the Great War. Hiding the shame of their mental instability, the patients suffer from nervous attacks and tormenting dreams. But something more is going on at Portis House – its plaster is crumbling, its plumbing makes eerie noises, and strange breaths of cold air waft through the empty rooms. And why do the patients share the same nightmare, one so horrific that they dare not speak of it?

Kitty finds a dangerous ally in Jack Yates, an inmate who might be a war hero, a madman…or maybe both. But even as Kitty and Jack create a secret, intimate alliance to uncover the truth, disturbing revelations suggest the presence of powerful spectral forces. And when a medical catastrophe leaves them even more isolated, they must battle the menace on their own, caught in the heart of a mystery that could destroy them both.

My Thoughts:

I’m a sucker for books based on early medical practices, hospitals and mental asylums so this one immediately caught my eye on bookoutlet.ca. I was worried it was going to be an extremely slow burn, but the pace was steady. Though if you aren’t into a little romance mixed into your haunting, I’d skip this one. It may not be for you.

An old, decaying mansion converted into a medical facility, known as Portis House, for soldiers suffering from shell-shock and other mental maladies from the war. The perfect atmosphere to set a spooky ghost story. However, this story is filled with not only a mystery and haunting, but a story of self-discovery, friendship and a little bit of romance.

You quickly learn that Kitty is running from her past, falsifying her resume as a nurse to acquire a job at Portis House. However, the head nurse and her boss, quickly calls her out on her deception but keeps her due to the sheer fact the facility is understaffed and desperate for nurses. She basically has to learn hands on and quickly.

Kitty discovers immediately that this isn’t the easiest line of work and she is tested both physically and mentally on a daily basis. But her will is strong and her personality stubborn, she does gain some allies in other staff members and even some of the patients. Her main ally being Jack Yates, or patient 16, his identity being kept secret from the other patients until Kitty decides she just needs to know. Discovering the war hero and becoming enamored with one another as they begin to unfold the evil that is plaguing the patients and the mystery of Portis House.

The growth of the characters, especially Kitty, was nicely done and the stead unraveling of the mystery that surrounds Portis House was intriguing. I loved the subtle twists and turns, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place nicely. And I personally liked that Kitty and Jack got a bit of a happy ending.

All in all I give this book five Baci due to the historical setting, the gothic mystery and who doesn’t like a ghost story set in an old, decaying mansion turned medical facility. Wonderful story-line and cast of characters, would definitely recommend and one I’ll be keeping on my shelf. I’ll definitely be reading more from author Simone St. James!

I’m currently reading Ghost Camera by Darcy Coates.

Hope you enjoyed and keep an eye out for the next review!

Ciao!