Part ghost story, part suspense novel, part mystery, I found this difficult to put down. Fortunately I read it over a weekend that I didn't have to put it down very often! I would have liked to have delved into the historical elements a bit more, but even so, this was an absorbing read.

My review of *The Broken Girls* is in the April 2018 issue of Gumshoe Review:
http://www.gumshoereview.com/php/Review-id.php?id=6040

VERMONT, 1950. THERE’S A PLACE FOR THE GIRLS WHOM NO ONE WANTS—THE TROUBLEMAKERS, THE ILLEGITIMATE, THE TOO SMART FOR THEIR OWN GOOD. IT’S CALLED IDLEWILD HALL. AND IN THE SMALL TOWN WHERE IT’S LOCATED, THERE ARE RUMORS THAT THE BOARDING SCHOOL IS HAUNTED. FOUR ROOMMATES BOND OVER THEIR WHISPERED FEARS, THEIR BUDDING FRIENDSHIP BLOSSOMING—UNTIL ONE OF THEM MYSTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARS…
VERMONT, 2014. AS MUCH AS SHE’S TRIED, JOURNALIST FIONA SHERIDAN CANNOT STOP REVISITING THE EVENTS SURROUNDING HER OLDER SISTER’S DEATH. TWENTY YEARS AGO, HER BODY WAS FOUND LYING IN THE OVERGROWN FIELDS NEAR THE RUINS OF IDLEWILD HALL. AND THOUGH HER SISTER’S BOYFRIEND WAS TRIED AND CONVICTED OF MURDER, FIONA CAN’T SHAKE THE SUSPICION 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 THE RENOVATIONS WILL LINK THE LOSS OF HER SISTER TO SECRETS THAT WERE MEANT TO STAY HIDDEN IN THE PAST—AND A VOICE THAT WON’T BE SILENCED…

Fabulously eery, goolishly haunted, historically accurate and bone chillingly good! Corruption at its worst and a journalist determined as ever to get the facts of her sister’s murderer correctly documented was the foundation for this awesome story. Some strange cast of characters that aren’t who they seem, and an intense historical account of an old school, along with how a girl from a German prison camp came to live and die there kept Fiona very interested in tying all the strings together. But Fiona isn’t the only one searching for answers. Someone doesn’t want her to find them and will stop at nothing to ensure she doesn’t! Simone’s story was excellent and very fast paced. Highly recommend! 5 stars!

This is one of the best thrillers I've read this year. Part murder mystery, part ghost story, it's also a story of friendship and redemption that is truly well written and deliciously spooky. I stayed up way too late trying to finish this one and I can't wait to recommend it to patrons!

This is not my typical read and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this thrilling tale. It was a great read! It had everything needed to make you completely focused and enthralled with the story!

The Broken Girls proved to be a breezy and exciting read in all of the best ways. The hooks were there, pulling me further and further into the story until I became one with it. Until the hours and pages flew by alike and I realized I’d finished it all in one sitting. Who isn’t intrigued by the thought of “throw away” girls from a time long ago? Simone St. James makes her own literary footsteps in shoes she fills well, for The Broken Girls is most definitely Ruth Ware meets Fiona Barton with an American Northeast twist.

If that line wasn’t enough to tell you exactly what to expect here, I’ll elaborate. This novel reminded me of an equal cross between The Lying Game and The Widow from the very start. The writing style is very similar—fluid and paced so that the read flies by breezily, tinged with intrigue. Even the theme of camaraderie among boarding school girls—their mischief, their backstories, their own haunting pasts—investigated in present-day scenes by a character who also has skin in the game, is the same. Here, you can even cozy up to the same scenery: wide open fields ringed with thickets of trees and old dirt gravel roads of the past. These novels were all cut from the same cloth, though they all told their stories in a way of their own.

While so many thrillers suffer from too many ideas in the plot, The Broken Girls weaves together a handful of story lines with just the right recipe. A chase here, a haunt there—a thrilling journey to the end—all brought to a boil and served up heartily leaving me full and satisfied in the end. None of the story lines felt overpowering or underdeveloped; they all fit together hand in hand, seamlessly drawing me back and forth between two periods of time over sixty years apart. Because of this skillful flow, St. James’ Girls read at a quick pace, allowing me to immerse myself in the story without interruption. That’s half the battle with a thriller, right? I was most impressed with the handling of the ghost story here in this novel. It was brilliantly done, haunting me as it haunted those four girls—never overdone or melodramatic, relying on parlor tricks like flashing lights and other theatrics; this ghost was a leading lady all her own and deserving of the space she occupied with those pages.

As is sometimes a danger with thrillers, I will say that there were a few areas that were obviously formulaic, plucked straight out of the “thriller-with-a-villain” motif and those couple of sections in the novel made me cringe enough to warrant shaving off a star. BUT, the rest of St. James’ The Broken Girls was deftly handled and intricately woven in a way that made me want to come back for more. I highly recommend this novel for anyone in need of a cozy thriller and for absolutely anyone who has read and loved Ruth Ware or Fiona Barton, because these Broken Girls served up more twists than I’d expected and more intrigue than so many novels of the same genre, scoring an easy and strong 4 stars. ****

Four girls become roommates and friends in a school for broken/unwanted girls. As they endure the daily struggles in the boarding school with a haunted past their bond grows until one of them disappears. Years later a young woman obsessed with her older sister's murder begins to search for answers she may not want to discover. "The Broken Girls" was an excellent story with mystery, ghosts and the convoluted makeup of a small Vermont town. I was quickly drawn into this story and found it very hard to put down. When I was forced to put it down, I found myself thinking of what happened to Sonia, missing girl, who really killed Deb and carelessly dumped her in a field and many other questions. Well-developed characters, engaging storyline add up to a truly intriguing read that I highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free eCopy of Broken Girls. All opinions are my own.

Broken Girls is one dynamic, spooky, and thrilling novel that I highly recommend. It has a lot going on but all of the pieces in this complex puzzle melt together smoothly and beautifully! There is a group of teenage girls stuck at thier less-than-desirable boarding school, Idewild, in 1950’s Vermont. Each girl is a cast off, a girl that no one knew what to do with. Out of sight, out of mind was the 1950s way of thinking. Fast forward to 2014 and to a journalist who is researching the surprise resurrection of the long shut down boarding school. But wait there’s more! That unloved boarding school Idewild? Oh yeah...it’s haunted!

I was really engrossed in this book from start to finish. The chapters alternate between the present day journalist, Fiona, and Idewild when it was still in operation in 1950. In the 1950s chapters, each girl tells a little of her story. I was fascinated learning about different reasons for each girl’s banishment to the school. Fiona’s research for her article also turned up new information about the school, gaining more insight into what might have gone on there....and what still does. Some of the parts with the resident ghost are downright chilling and I had a hard time putting this book down! I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!

This book was intriguing and it kept me reading. Loved the spooky element to it. Reminded me of Jennifer McMahon. I am going to check out the author's other books.

Favorite Quote: She’d always known the monsters were real.

In the 1950’s there was a school for girls in Vermont called Idlewild Hall. It was a place for the troublesome, the illegitimate, the unwanted. Rumored to be haunted, four girls bond over shared fears and secrets, until one of them disappeared.

Fiona Sheridan knows what it is to have lost. Having lost her sister to a murderer, her mother to cancer, and her father to his grief, she still struggles to understand exactly where and when it all went wrong. When she hears Idlewild Hall is being restored by, the place where her sister’s body was discovered, Fiona is determined to find out who they are and why.

Where a shocking discovery is made during the renovations, it links to young women together across time and opens to door to secrets someone will kill to keep hidden.

The Broken Girls is my first time reading Simone St. James but certainly not my last. Her clever prose and strong voice weave a potent atmospheric charm around the reader as she takes us on an adventure brimming with mystery, suspense, a hint of romance, and a bittersweet ghost story. Alternating between the past and present, St.James uses a multitude of voices that speak of love, family, friendship, hope, and a dogged determination to discover the truth. The menacing nature of the school and the stories told by those who lived there only intensifies your feelings of fear and distrust the further you are drawn into the story.

Fiona Sheridan, a freelance journalist, lost her older sister years ago. Supposedly murdered by her boyfriend who was tried and convicted for it, Fiona always felt there was something strange about the whole situation and has never quite let it go. When a local legend-Idlewild Hall-is slated for restoration and possibly reopening, Fiona can’t help but feel this may be what she needs to finally lay her sister to rest. When a young woman’s body is discovered yet again on the grounds, Fiona begins to dig into the school’s background, With the reluctant help of her cop boyfriend and her famous journalistic father, and discovers the history of four girls who lives there; one whose life was tragically cut short.

Fiona is a mystery reader’s dream heroine. Intelligent, honest, straightforward, and determined. Her narrative flows effortlessly and I enjoyed watching her investigational methods as she boldly strides into the unknown, systematically hacking away at the various blockades thrown up in her path while also reestablishing her relationship with her father. Her grief over her sister’s death is an excuse that many use to detour her but Fiona’s determination is a sight to behold, especially once she discovers another young woman whose death is suspicious. I liked that St. James doesn’t attempt to martyr or canonize Fiona. She isn’t perfect and makes mistakes throughout the story. It’s her honesty and passion that compels your sympathy. I found it interesting that it’s death that officially wakes Fiona up to what is happening around her and breathes “life” back into her.

St. James use of alternating chapters to tell us the history of Idlewild Hall through the eyes of those who lived there is a flawless in its application. These girls effortlessly drew me in and I couldn’t help but see the parallels between the #metoo movement and the reasons behind the school’s existence. Four girls, each sent to this boarding school through no fault of their own. Throughout time, women have been made the scapegoat for the crimes of men. Our very existence temps boys and men to do things and we are to blame for their weakness. Kat sent to Idlewild Hall after being sexually assaulted. CeCe is the product of an affair between a married man and his housekeeper. Rebecca had a small nervous breakdown when she witnesses a, and Sophia is the victim of WWII. I loved the strength and determination of these girls-especially Kat. Told is hushed voices, we begin to see a pattern of abuse and neglect from the school, the families of the girls, and the town itself. Interwoven into these stories is a malignant force-a ghost-who seems to punish those at the school for actions unknown.

As we drawn closer to the end, we begin to see the faint lines between the past and present grow brighter and stronger. Clues continue to reveal themselves, helping Fiona and the reader understand exactly what happened…and why. St. James wraps everything up in a stunning finale that I found astonishing in revelation yet perfect overall. Various secondary charters help to soften any rough edges and propel the story along through subplots and action though the story definitely belongs to Fiona and the four girls of Idlewild Hall. My only complaint is it ended. I wanted to spend much more time with Fiona and the girls. I rather hope St. James thinks about making Fiona a recurring character in the future. A sort of cold case/ghost hunting journalist nee detective. *crosses fingers*

Simone St. James is a haunting voice in thrilling supernatural mysteries and well worth reading for all fans of this genre.

Grade: B+

A sad and tragic story from the past. A reporter digging into that story in the present. The story alternates back and forth between what happened and the revelations the reporter is finding as she digs ever deeper into the mystery. The story revolves around a boarding school and the unwanted girls who attended there. As you navigate the twists and turns of the story, you keep reading - you just can’t seem to stop.
The Broken Girls is that kind of book. I didn’t really want it to end, but end it did...satisfyingly in fact. A fast-paced mystery that will keep you guessing and turning the pages until the end. It’s always a joy when I find a book like this.

This story is a hands down MUST read! I was in complete awe of this book and when I finished the book I had to go back and read through the story again to see how everything tied in! I was utterly addicted and an immediate fangirl! The hype for this book is well deserved. I stayed up hours past my usual bedtime because I had to know how this story concluded and was highly pleased with the results!
I am usually confused by different time tables and different POVs but this novel pulled it off perfectly! The plot was fast paced yet wonderfully descriptive. This is a page turner that I don't think many would be able to forget. There was so many different amazing elements of this sorry such as; depth, drama, suspense, thrilling and chilling moments, paranormal, romance, war crimes, tragedy, and perspective on how much things have changed over the last 50 years.
I was captivated and intensely invested in all of the enticing characters in this novel. There were so many unique personalities with such intriguing backgrounds that you can't help but become invested. If you love reading a story filled with twists and turns, this is one that is sure to please. I only figured out one twists out of so many unexpected plot twists! I highly recommend this book! This is surely one of the best stories that I had the privilege to experience!😍
I want to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate this opportunity and all views expressed are my own.

THE BROKEN GIRLS BY SIMONE ST. JAMES BOOK REVIEW
The Broken Girls is like the most wonderful episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? arrived in novel form. First, it’s a ghost story that switches between past & present. You already know I am all over that. Switching time periods keeps my attention & I can’t wait for the two timelines to intersect. Second, the story takes place at a super creepy school for troubled teen girls that is LEGIT haunted, and I don’t mean, lights flickering & cool breezes. There is a girl who haunts the property & generations of girls have seen her. Lastly, a present-day journalist can’t stay away from the dilapidated school.

Years ago, Fiona’s sister is murdered on the property. When she hears someone has the intent to re-open the school, she begins to investigate the structure & land before it changes. Even though her sister’s boyfriend is in jail for the murder, there are some facts that don’t add up.

THE GHOST OF MARY HAND
If I see a girl wearing a black dress & veil I am running so fast & I DON’T RUN. Mary Hand is the ghost who haunts the property. Rumor has it she was locked out of the school & froze to death. She can be heard asking you to let her in. Yep, good luck sleeping tonight! Another rumor has it that her baby was buried in the garden, the same garden where the girls are forced to attempt to grow plants. Fun times! The scariest thing about Mary Hand is she knows your deepest fears & secrets & makes you relive them!

GHOSTS, FEAR & WHISPERS
Much like the terrifying Pennywise, Mary Hand does not play around. Quietly, she’s whispering in your ear while playing field hockey making you recount your family’s saddest day. Suddenly, she’s forcing you to remember the time your mother tried to drown you when you’ve tried to so hard to forget. Hidden in the school textbooks are all sorts of stories, sightings & myths about the ghost of Mary Hand. Everyone has seen her or heard from her. Mary’s ability to know YOUR fear is what makes her so powerful & frightening. Mary Hand is a nightmare.

THE BROKEN GIRLS
The present broken girl is Fiona. Her older sister’s death rocked her family & they’ve never recovered (who would?). Fiona gathers the facts to ensure she knows exactly what happened the night her sister was murdered. It has consumed most of her adult life, and if she doesn’t give it her all right now, the school, the landscape & the scene of the crime will be changed forever.

The Broken Girls of the past are the true stars of this story. These are girls who need extra love, someone to talk to & another chance. Instead, they are stuck in this crazy haunted school tormented by Mary Hand & the ghosts of their families. As the story comes together, these girls play such a large role in the novel & I loved getting a chance to learn more about each of them. These girls are not broken. Like Fiona, they are strong-willed, smart & determined to have a fulfilling life after they leave Idlewild Hall.

THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book. I can’t recall reading a book like this where it satisfied my love for ghosts without being too paranormal. It’s a thriller that switches between past & present & I LOVE that in a book. The different narrators really keep me on the edge of my seat. The Broken Girls also centers around real relationships between women that stand the test of time & I love that as well. While Are You Sleeping was likely my favorite book of 2017, The Broken Girls is in the lead for 2018. Please read it soon; I want to talk about it!

Special thanks to Simone St. James, Berkley & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Broken Girls by Simone St. James
4.5/5 Stars
An eerie suspenseful novel that presents a splendid thriller with a tinge of paranormal shade.
The story alternates between two timelines. 1954 and 2014.
The 1954 story is set in Idlewild hall, a boarding school for troubled girls (Its either for the girls who didn’t have any family or they are unwanted by their family). It features Katie, Cece, Roberta and Sonia, who are roommates at Idlewild Hall. They are all damaged and hurt in their own way. Over time, they bond over their troubled life stories. They become friends and they depend on each other.
And then there is Mary Hand:
“Mary Hand, Mary Hand, dead and buried under land…
Faster, faster. Don’t let her catch you.
She’ll say she wants to be your friend…
Do not let her in again!”
Mary Hand is something of a legend among generations of Idlewild girls. She wears a black Veil and haunts the Idlewild grounds. Many have claimed seen her and some have heard her speak. During their stay at Idlewild hall, all four of the girl’s experience Mary Hand one way or the other. When one of them goes missing, is it the work of the Mary Hand?
The 2014 story tells us the story of a journalist named Fiona Sheridan. She is the daughter of the famous journalist of the town Malcom Sheridan. Twenty years ago, her sister Deb Sheridan was murdered and dumped in the field of Idlewild Hall (which is now abandoned). Tim Christopher, Deb’s boyfriend at that time was found guilty and charged for the murder. Even after 20 years, Fiona thinks something is missing regarding her sister’s case. She often visits Old Barren Road (where Idlewild hall is located) at night and tries to find out what’s driving her instinct.
When she finds out that Idlewild hall is about to be restored and converted into a boarding school again, Fiona is intrigued and decides to write an article about it.
As she starts digging, more dirty secrets unravel.
I absolutely loved the novel. Right from the prologue, the story kept me on hook. Usually when the narration moves between alternate timelines, it slows down the pace of the novel. Simone St. James has crafted it so skillfully that you never feel the story slowing down even when the narration shifts. At the end, when both the timelines merge into one, its seamless as it can be.
This is definitely a character driven novel. Its certain that the author has done her work in crafting each and every character in the book. I loved Fiona. She is flawed but very intelligent and stubborn. I don’t know if she will ever show up on another novel. But I will love to see her again. I am looking forward to read more from the author.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the ARC.
If Paranormal thriller is your thing, Pick this up !!

Ghosts, twists and a riveting plot make for masterful gothic mystery
“Mary Hand, Mary Hand, dead and buried under land. Faster, faster. Don’t let her catch you. She’ll say she wants to be your friend…”

These words appear frequently in Simone St. James’ “The Broken Girls,” the first time being in the prologue. A girl is making her way back to Idlewild Hall in Vermont after spending the weekend with relatives, but she is convinced she is being chased. The prologue ends with these words: “The girl looked into the darkness and screamed.”

I can’t think of a more perfect way to begin a Gothic mystery/ghost story.

Idlewild Hall is home to the broken girls—the illegitimate, the troublemakers, the troubled and damaged. It is isolated and dreary, the perfect place for parents to stash unwanted children. And it is haunted by Mary Hand, a ghost dressed in black, including a black veil, who appears to girls using their greatest fears to terrorize them.

In the thread of the story taking place during the 1950s, four girls became great friends, helping each other to survive and deal with the problems that brought them to the school. Katie, Sonia, Cece and Roberta share everything as they try to understand all the strange happenings. But then one of them disappears, and none of the authorities seem to care.

The other thread takes place in 2014. Freelance journalist Fiona Sheridan is still mourning the murder of her sister, whose body was found on the grounds of Idlewild Hall in the 1990s. The school closed shortly after the murder, and a mysterious purchaser has bought the property and is starting renovations to reopen the school. Although the murderer is in jail, she doesn’t feel all her questions were answered, so she seizes the opportunity to write about the renovations,hoping it will let her dig more deeply and finally make peace with her sister’s death. When another body is discovered during the renovations, the stakes get even higher.If my details seem sparse in this review, I don’t want to spoil the read for anyone.


This is the first time I’ve read a St. James book, but I confess I’m a fan already. Edge of your seat doesn’t come close to describing how hooked I was, eagerly awaiting the spectacular finale as the two stories merge seamlessly, but not without a lot of twists, turns and roadblocks. Fiona stirs the waters of the entire town as she tries to solve two murders.

The plot is seamless, the mystery riveting, and the appearances of Mary Hand kept the chills running up and down my spine. “The Broken Girls” is a masterful Gothic mystery.

Sandy Mahaffey is former Books editor for The Free Lance-Star.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A haunting tale linking the past to the present in one positively addictive and gripping thriller.

THE BROKEN GIRLS is an unsettling and chilling read which will keep you up at night reading. From the beginning to the end, I was completely spellbound by this story.

The author’s ability to weave together a tale that blends the past with the present so seamlessly is nothing short of exquisite. Sometimes an author can get lost in the space between a story that spans so many years, but St. James brought it to life. The craftsmanship behind the writing, the broad spectrum of characters, and the richness in the quality story made me want to slow down as I was reading so that I could make it last just a bit longer.

I know it sounds like I am gushing, and it is because I am. I have not been this captivated by mystery with a hint of the supernatural since I finished HOW TO HANG A WITCH by Adriana Mather. If you want to read a gritty, intense, and all encompassing mystery with heart, look no further than THE BROKEN GIRLS. I cannot believe how much I loved this book and cannot recommend it more.

This story was such a good mystery. THE BROKEN GIRLS combines some creepy elements into a past/present mystery. Add in a haunted location with a creepy ghost to a few murder mysteries, past and present, and we have THE BROKEN GIRLS. A story about the girls of misfortune.

Somewhere in Vermont in 1950, there was a girls home called Idlewild Hall that sat on haunted grounds. The girls there were all bad, and this reform school was their last option. Some of them had families full of hope that they would recover, and some girls had no families at all. These girls existed only on the school grounds and grew tight like family living and learning together.

In that same town in 2014, is woman who is haunted by the death of her sister twenty years earlier. Her sister's body was found on the old school grounds and her murder was caught and is not serving time. For some reason Fiona can't let it go. Fiona is a journalist and when she gets wind that the old school grounds, the site of her sister's murder, are being renovated she takes on the story hoping to uncover some secrets about the location.

This book has a real creepy set up. I loved the ghost stories pasted from girl to girl in the textbooks of the old school. The girl's school girls tell a good story as one of them is murdered in the prologue. Then we follow Fiona along as shs tries to retrace the night of her sister's murder. I was wrapped in both the past and present characters in this book.

The historical elements to this story made this an easy read. Fiona does a smooth job of uncovering the mystery of the people behind the renovations and the girls who lived at the school. I was entranced with the people she met and what she was able to see with her journalists eye. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I highly recommend it to readers who love a creepy mystery with a bittersweet ending.

I read it very quickly and enjoyed every bit of it. THE BROKEN GIRLS, at it's core, is about grief and the many ways people work through it.

The Broken Girls is a bone chilling, spine tingling psychological thriller that will leave your head spinning at the end with all of it's revelations.

We follow Fiona Sheridan, journalist, daughter to another well-known journalist, and sister to deceased Deb, found murdered on the property of the old Idlewild Hall. She had never gotten over her sisters death even though the killer had been caught. When she finds out Idlewild Hall is being restored, she sees a story that needs telling. However, in the process of researching this story she finds herself deeper and deeper in a web of secrets, lies, and danger.

The beginning of the story was slow. I found myself wishing it would pick up. The story was jumping between years and I was trying to wrap my head around what was going on and why these two stories that appeared to be separate were going to tie together. That feeling of reading two different stories continued throughout the book but, as it got into the story more, you could slowly tie pieces together and see that somehow, someway it was going to tie up in a bow in the end. I was not a big fan of the ghost story vibe in the beginning, but I later figured out that it wasn't the center of the story and it was just that added creepiness that gave more body to the story. More interesting backstories. It really helped round out the edges of the story, even though it was not the primary focus. This is not just a ghost story. It is so much more than that.

St. James did a great job of developing these characters at a slower pace with the use of flashbacks, moments of clarity, and a show of emotions. We got to learn about the characters from both 2014 and 1950 that was like a a slow build to a peak of their high point or most important decision. I loved Fiona and her independence. She was someone you could relate to on certain levels, but also someone you hoped to be like. That strength she carried even when the world had beat her down over the years was inspiring.

Simone St. James wrote a fantastic mystery novel that will literally keep you guessing until the very end. This is the book for mystery, suspense lovers everywhere. Everyone make sure to check it out.

Though Simone St. James had been on my radar for ages (creepy, potentially paranormal tales full of dark, Gothicy goodness!), it wasn’t until 2016 that I actually read one of her books. Although my GoodReads Recommends post based on Black Rabbit Hall (STILL one of my favorite books!) suggested Lost Among the Living, it was The Other Side of Midnight that ultimately became my introduction to her work. And I was utterly hooked. So it was a no-brainer for me when a publicist reached out about participating in the book tour for Simone’s latest, The Broken Girls!

Bouncing between 2014 and 1950, The Broken Girls weaves a tale of a boarding school for wayward girls and a modern-day journalist who hasn’t moved on from her sister’s murder two decades earlier. An urban legend (of a young woman rumored to haunt the school) that just might be more fact than fiction and the discovery of a girl’s body made this one a book I absolutely could not put down.

I’m a ‘the more, the merrier’ kind of girl when it comes to narrators in the books I’m reading and was delighted to see so many here! There’s the present day, following Fiona as she obsesses over her sister’s death (her body was discovered just outside the grounds of Idewild Hall) and her horror upon hearing the news that the now-decrepit building had been bought and will be undergoing renovations to be brought back to its former glory. Using the remodeling as her ‘in,’ Fiona convinces her boss to allow her to write the story, to meet with the new owners…and possibly discover a thing or two about the night her sister was murdered.

There are also the voices of four roommates who were students at Idewild. Each one felt genuine (as painful as that may be for some of them) and I loved each one of them. From Ce-Ce, the illegitimate daughter of a powerful man, to Sonia, still haunted by memories of a childhood spent in a concentration camp, each girl was her own person and the friendship these four had made me cheer. They loved each other, they championed each other, they were their own support group and their own fiercest defenders.

It’s probably evident by the title, but there are some seriously heavy themes here, especially in Sonia’s case. The Broken Girls is definitely not a light-hearted read, though it does have its joyful moments. For me, it’s heaviness, its bleakness and the mystery surrounding what’s discovered during the remodeling made it a perfect winter read. Simone St. James is an author I think of as being more of a Halloween/fall author (mainly because of the creepiness factor and, well, ghosts), but The Broken Girls had my full attention on a long, cold, snowy winter day. Mood readers looking for a broody, richly atmospheric novel, look no further: Mary Hand still walks the halls of a crumbling boarding school in Vermont, the home of many decades’ worth of bad memories for countless girls. Sadness and despair rule here and I couldn’t tear myself away.

To give you an idea of just how much I was captivated by this one: I love Jennifer McMahon. Her novels, particularly The Winter People (also set in Vermont!), creeped me out so much I could ONLY read it in broad daylight – and with all the lights on! The Broken Girls? I couldn’t stop reading. I read WELL into the night on a weekend when Matt was away on a trip. Yeah. You could say I liked this one. While The Broken Girls might be hard to top, luckily for me, Simone St. James has four other novels I have yet to read! To say this one was great is an understatement – I wholeheartedly recommend it and will be eagerly awaiting her next book!

I love a good ghost story!

1950: at Idlewild Hall, a boarding school for delinquent girls, 4 roommates develop a bond over their shared circumstances. Lurking in the background is the simmering fear of Mary Hand, the ghost that roams the grounds. Mary Hand summons your deepest fears and calls to you to let her in from the cold. If you don’t resist her, you die.

2014: Journalist Fiona Sheridan is investigating the refurbishment of Idlewild Hall. Why would an eccentric wealthy stranger want to restore this dilapidated building to its former glory? Buried secrets come to light during the renovations that reveal the mysteries of what happened to those four friends back in 1950, and also the real story of what happened to Fiona’s sister, Deb, who was murdered twenty years ago and left on the grounds at Idlewild.

The story moves back and forth in time from 1950 to 2014, the constant presence of the ghost Mary Hand tormenting those who visit Idlewild. The supernatural elements of this story were spooky enough to keep me turning the pages, and the earthly, present-day evils only enhanced the tension. The denouement was a bit far-fetched, but I still enjoyed way everything came together.

There is a lot going on in this book. There is the simmering suspense of Mary Hand, and the author weaves in other plot elements of unsolved murders and disappearances to create a complicated story. I was enthralled from start to finish, and relished the creepy atmosphere of Idlewild Hall.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advance copy.