The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

"When newly widowed Elsie is sent to see out her pregnancy at her late husband's crumbling country estate, The Bridge, what greets her is far from the life of wealth and privilege she was expecting. When Elsie married handsome young heir Rupert Bainbridge, she believed she was destined for a life of luxury. But with her husband dead just weeks after their marriage, her new servants resentful, and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie has only her husband's awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. Inside her new home lies a locked door, beyond which is a painted wooden figure--a silent companion--that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself. The residents of The Bridge are terrified of the figure, but Elsie tries to shrug this off as simple superstition--that is, until she notices the figure's eyes following her. A Victorian ghost story that evokes a most unsettling kind of fear, this is a tale that creeps its way through the consciousness in ways you least expect--much like the silent companions themselves"--

Okay what was that ending?! What? No! It can't end like that!!

I felt like some stuff was left rather vague, like why Hetta went after servants and why she started up after 200 years of silence. I guess a demon is gonna demon? Also, regarding whether or not Sarah existed, why didn't they ask the butler, or Peter the carriage driver, both of whom saw her and were not killed. Anyway, for all that it was an exciting and fun book.

That was one of the best gothic novels I have ever read. Creepy dolls, witchcraft, hauntings, murder and madness. Perfect for Halloween season

This was quite a ride! While it took a little while to hit its stride (I feel it really swept me away once the diary entries began), Elsie was an immediately sympathetic character. It took me a little puzzling and reading on to figure out what was going on, but that's a good point, I think - it's far more intriguing than being spoon-fed the plot.

There are all the elements of a great Gothic tale - a capable woman unfortunately constrained by social mores and tragic circumstances, a creepy old pile of a house, servants who may know more than they tell, and plenty of unsettling atmosphere. Ooh, that atmosphere! Purcell does a great job of evoking the house, the companions, and lots of creeping dread.

This has a lot of talented writing - not only the palpable atmosphere of horror, but clever echoes from the diary to Elsie's account, and within Elsie's own life. There are oblique-but-telling hints throughout Elsie's narrative so we discern more of her history than she herself knows for much of the story. And while the supernatural story is quite delicious, one can also reflect back and frame the whole narrative as tragic but not magical. Ye olde unreliable narrator is used to good effect.

Speaking of “ye olde,” one small complaint I have is that Anne's voice is unrealistically modern. I really liked her and she had a distinct character, but it would have been more believable had her language been less anachronistic. For instance, here's a passage from Anne's diary, contrasted with an excerpt of the real-life diary of Samuel Pepys:

So that's what we did all day while the servants worked to make the house perfect: ran about like children, placing the companions in the strangest places, trying to make each other jump.

The new Common Council of the City do speak very high; and had sent to Monk their sword-bearer, to acquaint him with their desires for a free and full Parliament, which is at present the desires, and the hopes, and expectation of all.