<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35305625-the-broken-girls" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Broken Girls" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1497406195m/35305625.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35305625-the-broken-girls">The Broken Girls</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4981568.Simone_St_James">Simone St. James</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2165600440">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Netgalley # 10<br /><br />Many thanks go to Simone St. James, Berkley, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.<br /><br />One more WWII historical fiction book. They seem to be quite popular lately. How could it be an original twist? Well, St. James pulled it off! She succeeded in intertwining the past with the present. Not every author pulls that off. It often feels forced like a topic from history was picked first, but he had no idea how to tie it to now. It's obvious the thought process was very clear here. <br />In Vermont there is an all-girls boarding school named Idlewild. In the twentieth century the young ladies felt persecuted by the teachers, hated the food, had little interaction with the town or their own families, oh, and were haunted by Mary Hand. In the twenty-first century a freelance journalist dating a police officer is writing an article about the building's restoration while still being haunted by her older sister's murder, whose body was found on Idlewild's grounds. See? Perfect, seamless tie-in! <br />I admit I became so absorbed in the story I forgot to bookmark notes after 26%. I just wanted to read. I had no idea how either of these storylines would resolve. Corruption runs rampant in this small town , and Fiona, our nosy journalist, gets caught in a trap. Our students experience loss and learn to make the most out of lives that have been forgotten by the ones who should care about them the most. <br />I loved the ending. Retribution lands in hands that have been empty too long. I thought it was very appropriate. <br />This is my second St. James novel and I've loved both of them.
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This story goes back and forth in time, telling of events from the perspective of an adult woman and four 15 year olds. All of the young girls agree that there is also a ghost around, each having heard or seen things on the grounds of their school.



So the novel forms questions around two specific things - is there a ghost that haunts and possibly harms, and is there a murderer loose in the world?



The opening chapter, set in the 1950s, pulls you in with a ghost mystery and you quickly realize there is back story that needs to be told to explain the scene.


Then the book switches to the present day and you realize there's also a murder mystery in the present, revolving around the same location as a girl that went missing in the 1950s.


It's an interesting idea, to combine a mystery with a ghost story. How do they relate to each other.... read the book and find out!

Review will post on my site on release date.

When I read the synopsis of this one, I knew I wanted to read it. It takes place at a boarding school (these stories always attract me), in Vermont (where I grew up), and involves a mystery surrounding a young student's death. Sign me up! The only thing I did not pick up on was that there would be a ghost involved (one of my immediate turn offs). Kudos to the author, because despite my intense dislike of books containing ghosts, I wanted to keep reading this one regardless. Yes, the other parts of the book are that good! I loved the way the characters were drawn, the good ones and the bad. The setting was just creepy enough so you could read it without being terrorized, and I loved the references to places that actually existed from my past. The mystery was well written, and its outcome, with a few details that were a bit too convenient, was satisfactory. I particularly appreciated that the writing took you where you needed to go without a lot of unnecessary fluff thrown in. Was the ghost necessary? I'm sure many would say it was an integral part of the plot, and added that much more to the story. The jury is out for me, so I'm going to let you read it and decide :)

While I personally could have done without the ghost parts (for which I did remove a star), this is a great book that will keep you turning pages, not only to discover the who-dunnit, but to find out how all the characters lives turn out.

So I personally did not really enjoy this book. Yes the plot was intriguing and I liked the way it ended. However, had I know this book would be so much about ghosts and the supernatural I probably would not have read it. But if you were into this sort of book you would have loved it!

Once again, Simone St. James has written a story that captivates the reader from start to finish. She has a way of drawing the reader in with beautiful descriptions and realistic mysteries that would make anyone eager to read until the very end. Once you pick this book up, you will certainly have a hard time putting it down until you find out the ending. It's a haunting ghost story that centers around tragedy, betrayal, and what true justice really means.

60 years ago, four teenage girls are sent to a boarding school following tragedies in their lives. Bound together by their shared circumstances, they go through their days fighting to stay true to themselves in a world that would change them forever if it could. Until one day when one of them doesn't come home. In 2014, journalist Fiona Sheridan is still trying to process the murder of her sister 20 years earlier, found beaten and tossed aside like trash in the field of an abandoned boarding school. The school is set to be restored, and Fiona uses it as an excuse to learn more about her past. But she's not the only one interested in the school or what happened there, and she finds out that secrets have a way of being exposed from beyond the grave.

This story really sent shivers up my spine from the very first page. Immediately the author draws you in with a young girl being chased in a dark forest, ending with a scream of terror. You don't truly find out what happened until the book is nearly finished, and that means you wait with bated breath as you read through each chapter, flipping between 1950 and 2014. There is a significant ghost element in the story, which reminded me strongly of the movie, The Ring. This just amped up the thrill factor for me, especially because this story is much more imaginative than the movie it reminded me of, in both its backstory and in the way the ghost haunts each person. She doesn't just haunt each person in the same way - she finds the one thing you fear the most and uses it to terrify you. She being the ghost, who ties everything together between the past and the present in one amazing display of ghost story writing by Simone St. James.

I am never disappointed when I read her books, and I can happily say that I would recommend this book to anyone. It truly is an exciting book and one I will remember for a very long time.

**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James is a creepy good ghost story that alternates between events in 1950 and 2014. This story is set at a girls' boarding school in Vermont and revolves around the mysterious disappearance of one of the students at the school. The disappearance is quickly covered up and considered to be a run away case. Fast forward to 2014 and the case becomes relevant again. This story will keep you up late into the night as you race to the ending all while trying not to get too spooked by the ghost that makes a frequent appearance. Read and enjoy!

In all honesty, I was hesitant to read The Broken Girls. I'm a big fan of Simone St. James' novels, but dual timelines is something I avoid when choosing the books that I read. This style of writing, along with time travel, is just one of those things that puts me off as a reader. In the case here, I'm a dedicated St. James fan and figured that I shouldn't let my bias stand in the way. While I still prefer the historical ghost stories that St. James has written previously, the same atmospheric storytelling is evident in The Broken Girls; not that I really had any doubt of that.

There are a number of mysteries in The Broken Girls and initially I wasn't sure that it would work, but its clear that they all slowly tie together. Flipping back and forth between 2014 and 1950, readers are introduced to Fiona Sheridan in 2014, who is a freelance journalist writing about the restoration of Idlewild Hall, a boarding school for girls. For Fiona, this story is personal since her sister's body was discovered on the field at the abandoned school. In 1950, readers are introduced to four students of the school, one of whom goes missing. In 2014 the missing girl's body is discovered and Fiona diligently researches the disappearance and investigation uncovering uncomfortable trues in both the past and present.

Underscoring the mysterious disappearance of one of the students is a the presence of the ghost, Mary Hand. Anyone that's read St. James knows how well she writes a haunting and that is no exception here. There's something so disturbing about Mary Hand and its made all the more so by St. James' subtle descriptions. Mary Hand plays a role in both timelines; frightening both Fiona and the students at Idlewild Hall. What Mary shows those she haunts plays an important role for all those involved.

All the Broken Girls is another assured, atmospheric mystery from Simone St. James. Highly recommended to anyone that enjoys a gothic tale.

I love a good ghost story and Simone St. James weaves an intriguing tale in The Broken Girls! The setting is a boarding school in Vermont called Idlewild Hall, with time alternating between 1950 & 2014. Idlewild is where girls get sent that parents want to forget exist. They are outcasts, but several girls there in the '50s forge a friendship that sticks. They support and look after each other, and when one of their own goes missing, they know something is afoot. Not to mention the ghost they often see, what is she trying to tell them? In 2014, journalist Fiona Sheridan is still trying to get over her sister's murder nearly 20 years ago. She was found dead on the grounds of Idlewild, and Fiona is sure something went on that has never been figured out. She gets a chance to research the school first hand for a story, and for her own interests, when a new investor purchases the property and begins renovating. As she digs deeper and uncovers more and more, things get spookier. The writing is superb, as always, and the characters are so well drawn that you won't want this book to end. Both stories are equally compelling and when they collide, Oh my!

*Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for an ARC to read and honestly review!*

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It held my interest and was not completely predictable. It was a nice mix of past and present, with out confusion. Many suspense/supernatural novels are accompanied by an unrealistic plot. This novel had a believable story line and mixed in a little historical fiction with the mystery and supernatural elements. I would definitely read stories published by this author in the future. "The Broken Girls" was a little mature for students in my library, I will highly recommend it to the high school and public libraries!

Simone St. James has written a page turner. All the essential elements for a good mystery read with some elements of the paranormal thrown in for extra good measure. The plot develops at a great pace. The characters are well drawn and the reader comes to care about them as the story progresses.

A private girls' boarding school is the scene of the crime in current days and in the past, both fairly recent and decades prior to the start of the story. The main character is looking for closure after the murder of her adored sister and becomes involved in the past mysteries surrounding the boarding school. Her relationship with a local police detective could have been a run of the mill addition to the plot but in this case adds to the tension and plot arc. Well done.

For those who enjoy a bit of the supernatural, The Broken Girls has something for you, too. Legends of ghostly presences abound at the school both in the past and present times. The eventual connection of events past and present makes a satisfying read. Without giving away the ending it is safe to say that the manner in with St. James wraps up all the disparate pieces of the story are quite satisfying.

I read this in two evenings as I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this novel.

An interesting Ravensbruch tie-in but predictable overall.

A chilling story of lives in the past, being investigated in the near present day. Twists and turns, with real characters and ghosts. This was a "nope, gotta finish it by tonight" book. I highly recommend this totle.

LR Edit: Parallel narratives, one set in Vermont 1950 and the other in Vermont 2014, are woven together in this intricate mystery. Timely themes of violence toward women and abuses of power resonate throughout. A well-crafted and unsettling tale for fans of Gothic horror and female centered thrillers. (as written by a copy editor).

This is a very intricate mystery that kept me guessing throughout the narrative. We shift in time between two different decades, the early 1950s and the 2010s, and both time periods kind of reinforce the point that some things never change. The themes of feminism and oppression of/ violence towards women are, sadly, timely topics, and St. James shows the varying abuses of power through the ages. While I always kind of shy away from using Nazi Germany as a plot point, I thought that it was handled better in this book than other narratives I've seen. I think that I was more interested in the modern aspects of the book, following Fiona and the hunt to find out what happened to her sister, though the 1950s timeline at Idlewood also kept me intrigued. St. James did a good job of bringing it all together. Finally, the supernatural parts involving a ghost haunting the school grounds was a welcome plot point. Part of me worried that it would feel overwrought to bring this in, but I think that it just brought in more of the theme of women being mistreated and suffering because of their gender.

Overall, I think "The Broken Girls" was a well done and unsettling tale, and I can see myself recommending it towards fans of both gothic horror and female centered thrillers.

Barrons, Vermont, a small town whose only claim to fame is being the home of Idlewild Hall, a boarding school for girls - girls with problems, girls whose families have given up on them.

In 1950, Sonia Gallipeau, a french refugee from WWII, disappears from Idlewild Hall, leaving only her suitcase behind. In 1994, Deb Sheridan, a twenty year old college student, is found murdered on the deserted grounds of Idlewild Hall. Even though her boyfriend is convicted of her murder, her younger sister Fiona has never gotten over it. When a wealthy woman from out of town buys Idlewild Hall with plans to restore and reopen it, Fiona can't leave it alone. Now a freelance reporter, Fiona begins to research the school and its history with an eye to writing a story. But the more she learns, the more she wonders if the police really found the right guy twenty years ago. And, what happened to Sonia 64 years ago? Are the two in any way connected? They say that Idlewild Hall is haunted by the Ghost of Mary Hand but no one will talk about what they've seen. Who was May Hand and what, if anything, does she have to do with all of this? Did Tim really kill Deb or is there still a killer on the loose?

Flashing back between 2014 and 1950, this book had me hooked from the first page! Both the 1950s and the 2014 story lines are compelling and the characters come to life on the page. You feel what they feel and want what they want. As the story unfolds what began as completely unrelated events begin to come together in a way that will keep the reader guessing. There were even a few twists that I did not see coming (always enjoyable!). Highly recommended for fans of Gothic mysteries.

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James will keep you reading late into the night.

I have only read one other book by this author a few years ago and enjoyed it so when is saw this title and the premise, I thought, why not! With that being said, I really enjoyed this book, I found it hard to put down. I enjoyed the modern day chapters as well as the historical chapters and now they intertwined. I also enjoyed the ghost aspect of the novel.

An intriguing ghost story and murder mystery all wrapped up in one. The opening chapter grabs you and the enfolding story keeps you engaged throughout. The weaving together of time lines truly demonstrated the difference in culture and attitude that occurred between the 1940's and the present. That difference allowed a tragedy to go unremarked by those in charge and made for a fascinating mystery in the present.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book for review - all thoughts and comments are my own.

This book was INCREDIBLE - I love a good mystery, although I haven't found many mysteries out there that can incorporate a ghost story in such a completely thrilling, terrifying and believable way. This book managed to do all of that, while keeping me entirely absorbed in what was coming next.

The Broken Girls moves brilliantly back and forth between two narratives - 1950 when Idlewild Hall was a boarding school for unwanted girls and 2014 when Idlewild has been long since abandoned.

In the 1950's following four girls who become roommates and best friends, sharing secrets and creating a family that is unbreakable, until one of them goes missing. Idlewild is not without it's own secrets, and the ghost of a dead girl casting unbearable fear to all those forced to live within its walls.

2014, and Fiona Sheridan cannot move past the murder of her sister 20 years prior - a sister whose body was dumped on the abandoned Idlewild school grounds. It is the mysterious purchase of the school, with plans for renovation that lead to the discovery of a second body on the grounds, causing Fiona to start digging into secrets that were never meant to be uncovered.

I was sucked into this story from the start - this was such a wonderfully fast paced read, that kept me on the edge of my seat, and had me desperate for just one more chapter. Simone St James did an incredible job of creating characters who I fell in love with, and whose backstories were so wonderfully complex.

I also found myself completely absorbed by the ghost story, which was perfectly intertwined between the past and present mysteries of the dead girls. This particular ghost story was haunting in the very best way, and kept me up well into the night - its rare for a book to give me actual chills down my spine.

If you are a reader who loves a good mystery, a good crime thriller, or a good ghost story, then this book should be on the top of your to-read pile this spring. Keep an eye out, as this will be hitting bookstores everywhere March 20th!

From the very first page, I just could not put 'The Broken Girls' down. It is the kind of book that makes you want to want to stay up all night reading. It had so many wonderful elements: a creepy, gothic setting; memorable, flawed characters; a creepy ghost; a mystery and two unsolved deaths. The chapters alternating between past and present, and between different characters, worked very well. The reader is given a little more information, and a different perspective, in each chapter.

This book was very well done. I haven't read any books by this author before, but after finishing 'The Broken Girls' I immediately went looking for other books she has written.

I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery or ghost story.

First off, I enjoyed reading The Haunting of Maddy Clare, and thus decided I had to read this as well.

This book is told from 2 different times. One from 1950 and the other 2014. Each chapter goes back and forth between the two, and it's very easy to follow.

Our main character Fiona (from the current time) has been battling with the murder of her older sister for 20 odd years. She is a writer for a local magazine and decides that she needs to uncover the truth. She uncovers that and a whole lot more.

The other group of characters are the girls that attend Idlewild Hall in the 50s. (Idlewild is where Fiona's sister's body was discovered.) Idlewild is basically a school for wayward girls, and is the last stop for a lot of them. They too, are soon trying to figure out what happened to one of their own.

The two stories come together at the end and all crimes are solved. I really hate to give out too much as I don't want to spoil the plot twists that are in the story. The two stories are well told and really well woven together in ways I wasn't expecting. And yes, there is a ghost.

Overall I strongly recommend this book if you like mysteries with a bit of a ghost tale in the mix.

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James is a story about Idlewild Hall, a boarding school for troubled and unwanted girls, the ghost that haunts the place and a couple of mysteries. These mysteries involve past times, past disappearances, brutal attacks and murders. The author's storyline is well-developed and ends up answering all questions and solves the mysteries.

I was interested in reading about this methodical investigation by journalist Fiona Sheridan. I appreciated her dedication, determination and hard work. She didn't give up even when things got tough. This is a well-written story. The pace is a little slow at times but I believe that couldn't be helped because so much background needed to be established. The intricate background detail added much to the story.