My Five Word TL:DR Review: Return to the Creepy Cutouts

I absolutely loved The Silent Companions so was really excited to hear about House of Splinters which once again brings to us the creepy wooden characters that haunted the first book.

House of Splinters is a prequel to The Silent Companions and takes us back to the remote country estate known as The Bridge.  This time we get to explore a little more of the ancestors whilst taking a closer look at the current inhabitants and their own haunted pasts.

I love a gothic tale and House of Splinters really delivers on that score.  A somewhat rundown mansion with secrets a plenty and an unnerving amount of wooden ‘companions’.  Moving into The Bridge with her husband Wilfred and their two children is a dream come true for Belinda Bainbridge.  She is finally able to step out from her mother’s shadow and take up a position in Wilfred’s ancestral home.  Unfortunately, the untimely death of Wilfred’s father remains something of a mystery but the two are determined to make a home at the Bridge.  Wilfred tucks into the estate’s accounts, which are a little sadder than he had realised, and Belinda tries to take up various projects – such as transforming certain aspects of the garden – although with little success.

Added to this is the appearance, from the attic, of a number of wooden ‘companions’ that Belinda’s son Freddy takes a real shine to.

Once again Purcell manages to create atmosphere and tension with apparent ease.  The story incorporates a number of current issues that add to this giving a feeling of escalation as the local villagers become incensed with the new owner.  Added to this is the constant talk of ‘curses’ and the dreadful history attached to the mansion which gradually bring a feeling of hysteria to the current occupants.  And then throw in the sudden and unexpected appearance of another family member.

What I really enjoyed with this.  I love the ‘companions’.  I feel like Purcell has come across something so creepy with these wooden characters.  She seems to have tapped into our innate fear of puppets, dolls, and the like with these ‘dummy boards’ that were actually really popular in past times, although nobody really knows their real purpose – perhaps for decoration, perhaps as a deterrent, maybe even to make a home seem lived in and less lonely (hence ‘silent companions’).  Whatever the reason these are chilling to say the least and give the Bridge an extra creepy vibe as they seemingly pop up all over the house when least expected.  Their eyes and expressions sometimes seem to move or appear more sinister – they really are nightmare inducing.  Added to this and heightening their ‘creep factor’ is that Freddy seems to have made friends with one of the companions. This really adds to the haunted vibe, I couldn’t help thinking of The Shining and the little boy who can see and hear all manner of scary things.  Shivers!

I really enjoyed House of Splinters.  It took turns that I really didn’t expect, it briefly touches on local issues and history that bring a more reality based explanation to some of the events but at the same time it infuses the story with doubt and creepiness soaking it with a feeling of pervasive dread.  I was literally willing Belinda to scoop up her children and run.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4 of 5 creepy companion stars