If i had picked this up in a shop i would not have bought it as its a historical setting and that really doesnt do much for me at all, however it was a pretty decent read.

Set in the 1800's it tells the tale of Belinda and her husband Wilfred who inherit the family estate when his father passes away. Known as the Bridge, the house is known to have a dark reputation and when the family moves in, strange and concerning things start to happen to Belinda, and her son Freddy.

I found this book deeply unsettling and it took some courage to puch though it because it gave me nightmares. I wont give away which elements creeped me out but if this had been a movie i would have been no sir im out and walked out the theatre.

Compelling, creepy and deeply unsettling, its well written, i later learned its a sequel but i dont feel as though i missed out of anything because its well explained throughout with regards to the history of events.

A book that will stay with me for a long time, but damn i couldnt read it again. Well done Laura!

Laura Purcell has woven a tale that feels like stepping into a shadowed room where the air is thick with secrets. House of Splinters is gothic fiction at its most atmospheric—rich in mood, subtle in horror, and deeply unsettling in the best way.

Set in 1774 England, the story follows Belinda Bainbridge, a woman long stifled by her controlling mother. When her father-in-law dies, she sees a chance for freedom—but moving to The Bridge estate brings more than just a change of scenery. The garden is wild, the house whispers of old tragedies, and strange wooden figures seem to watch from every corner. There’s talk of curses, and the past refuses to stay buried.

Purcell’s writing is elegant and immersive, with a quiet intensity that builds like a storm on the horizon. She doesn’t rely on jump scares or gore—instead, she crafts dread from silence, from glances, from the slow unravelling of a family’s fragile peace. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the last page.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a gothic twist, or stories that explore the psychological toll of repression and inheritance, this one’s a must-read.

With thanks to Laura Purcell, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

The Silent Companions are so ridiculously creepy, and if you weren’t freaked out enough by those menacing wooden beings in the first book, you can come back for more in the prequel!

This follows a similar pattern to the first book. We have the same house, the same discovery of the companions and (a shorter) look at the ancestors that first obtained the companions. However the residents of the house are different and we see a complex family drama play out. This time we have a far more loving and supportive central marriage, a dedicated family struck by tragedy.

We still have the same deeply uncomfortable menace from the companions, but this time there’s a different, subtler threat to contend with too. This author does atmosphere and creepy houses so well. The sense for the characters that they can’t trust what they are seeing, and the fraying nerves creates a simmering anticipation of great tragedy.

You don’t need to read The Silent Companions first, you can certainly read this standalone. However you will get more backstory for the companions and understanding of what they are if you read that one first. I am glad I read them in this order. These two books are seriously unsettling and put quite an imaginative spin on ghost stories. They are freaky and make you feel really sorry for the characters!

I read an eARC of this book on Net Galley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

f you want an eerie gothic chiller that sends shivers down your spine then 'House Of Splinters' is the book for you. It's a novel with scenes that will haunt you whilst perfectly capturing it's historical setting too. It's a novel that feels like the unsettling moments when an unexpected noise in the night or an odd glimpse of movement out of the corner of your eye causes that inevitable rush of panic with some very creepy 'companions' sitting at the centre of it all.

Back when I first read it 'The Silent Companions' was the novel that first made me fall for gothic fiction so it's no exageraton to say that my expectations were extremely high for this one. Straight away I was sucked back in by Laura Purcell's gorgeous prose, sinking into an atmosphere that sent shivers down my spine. It was disturbingly delightful to find myself back at The Bridge (in fictional form anyway, you'd have to drag me there kicking and screaming in reality given the events of the authors two books set there) and the author certainly managed to capture that unsettling atmosphere all over again.

If you haven't read 'The Silent Companions' then this is definietely the sort of read that will leave you questioning whether the mudane or mystical are at play. If, like me, you have then I'm thrilled to say that this novel still manages to be truly haunting. It didn't matter that I'd seen events unfold at The Bridge once before, I was still utterly glued to these pages throughout. It still gave me chills; I was still turning pages with a mounting sense of dread. And, much to my delight, 'House Of Splinters' still managed to sneak in a couple of surprises.

The characters within 'House Of Splinters' are wonderfully fleshed out and felt perfectly real to me. Everyone had depth to their characters and my feelings towards some individuals changed in ways that caught me off guard over the course of the novel.

The narrative is split between Belinda's and Wilfred's points of view and both were beautifully crafted. Belinda falls prey to the haunting atmosphere of The Bridge, telling the story through the eyes of someone who believes in the horror of the 'companions' whilst Wilfred is a sceptic, determined to find the natural explanations behind all the strange events that are taking place. Both have the power to convince readers that theirs is the right viewpoint if you're new to the setting; although you're sure to have a somewhat biased mindset if you've visited The Bridge before. I also particularly apprecited Freddie's scenes throughout this book - his actions really added to the unease of the narrative.

As well as sending shivers down my spine and leaving me to read on with a mounting sense of dread 'House Of Splinters' really put me through the emotional ringer on occasion too. I didn't realise I'd come to care for this cast of characters as much as I did and that factor only added to the impact that this book had upon me.

Given everything I've said up to this point you're probably wondering why this didn't end up being a five star read for me. The majority of the novel was but unfortunately I found the ending a little bit rushed (and trust me when I say it crushes me to say so, I actually had to try and digest my feelings for a couple of days before writing this review, whereas normally I can dive straight into them). It wasn't a bad ending so please don't get too deterred; it had lots of tension and moments that made me flinch. I just feel like one element (which I obviously can't name) could have been stronger and it left me feeling slightly let down; although I do think, in part, how note perfect this was up until that point made my disappointment hit a little harder than it usually would.

So overall I definitely recommend checking out House Of Splinters'. It's a strong follow up to 'The Silent Companions' that managed to send shivers down my spine all over again. It gets under your skin, like a splinter, and sends constant pangs of dread rushing through your blood. If you're new to The Bridge then you're perfectly able to start off your venture here although I would advice starting with 'The Silent Companions' as some events from the novel are referenced. It's easy enough to follow, with no prior knowledge, but picking this one up first may dampen the surprises within that one. If, like me, you've read the previous novel then this is still a gloriously chilling novel with a few surprises thrown in to boot. It's left me itching to re-read the original later this year and I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

Truly chilling and terrifying, another brilliantly spooky book from Laura Purcell.

The book is set in the same house but many years before The Silent Companions, and although you don’t need to have read the previous book to follow this one, having that context definitely helps. It was fun to return to The Bridge and to see a whole new cast of characters meet Hetta for the first time - and I can confirm, she’s just as creepy this time around!

I really liked how the book leaves you guessing how much of the haunting is from human manipulation versus actual supernatural forces. I also liked that Purcell didn’t fall back on typical gothic tropes, such as women questioning their sanity or just being portrayed unquestionably as ‘hysterical’. Belinda is quite a strong-minded character, and I liked that both she and us as the reader could see the machinations and manipulation being used to suggest she is mad or imagining things.

The horror elements were really grim and effective, and there were plenty of jump scare moments. I absolutely had to stay up late to read the last 100 pages in one go, because I couldn’t put it down!

Laura Purcell has done it again! Read it one sitting as it was totally unputdownable. Purcell has an unrivalled ability to make the reader feel uneasy and uncomfortable from the first page, but at the same time she makes it impossible for you to put the book down. At first, returning to the world of The Silent Companions seemed a strange decision as that story had already been told, but in this end the return was the perfect plot device. Another layer has been added to that creepy, disturbing house and family cursed by the silent companions. Brilliant read!

Laura Purcell is an auto-read author for me, so I was really happy to get an advance copy of her latest book, The House of Splinters.
HoS is a prequel to The Silent Companions, and is also set in The Bridge, a stately home with a dark past and a history of odd occurrences.
We follow Belinda, whose husband has recently inherited The Bridge after his father’s sudden and strange death. The family relocate from London to the rural stately home, and almost immediately are beset by bad luck and creepy experiences and Belinda starts to fear for her sanity as she is torn between believing in simple bad luck or the supernatural.
The ‘silent companions’, painted lifelike 2d figures, are just as unnerving as the first time we met them. I read and watch a lot of horror, so for a book to give me an actual jump scare is quite something!
I wouldn’t say it’s essential to read ‘The Silent Companions’ before HoS but I would recommend you do!
This would have been a 5 star read but for the rushed ending. I can’t fault the rest of the book and thoroughly enjoyed it!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-ARC.

Having read and loved the whispering muse this book was an immediate must read for me!
I found the first half of the book very slow and uneventful however the second half is where this book gets SO good!. Laura has a fantastic way of writing, this book is atmospheric and creepy!
I really enjoyed this one!

House of Splinters was a first for me in the historical fiction genre and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

I loved the education aspect of the time period and learning what certain customs were typically like back in 18th century England. Together with the thrilling plot and absolutely creepy silent companions, I really struggled to put the book down.

I honestly wasn’t expecting to go on such a journey with the characters, discovering their pasts, secrets and lies this book definitely had my brain working overtime wondering what would come next and how things would play out!

No question about it, I’ll definitely be reading more of Laura Purcell’s work in the future! Big thanks Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for the ARC!

Laura Purcell does it again! Such an easy five stars from me, I couldn't stop thinking about this book when I finished it and I found myself turning on more lights than usual at night 😂 I absolutely ADORED The Silent Companions and I started this book without realising that the Companions would feature in this one as well. I was intrigued and terrifed in equal measures!

Can't recommend enough to fans of thrillers, horror and historical fiction. No one does it like Laura Purcell!

Laura Purcell has done it again! Her new novel is so chilling, so sinisterly good, I've had to sleep with the light on! Returning to the world of the Silent Companions was everything I had hoped it would be - a dark, twisting, emotionally charged story - and I didn't want it to end. The historical detail was subtle, the pace was perfect, the characters were flawed and excellently conjured. Brilliant stuff!

An outstanding return to The Bridge and the world of The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell.
Chilling, tense, gothic and unsettling, it's a other brilliant gothic ghost story from this brilliant author. This is less of a sequel, more of a tale from the original book's world, and it is a great one in its own right.
Loved it and it is sure to delight fans of the book

Laura Purcell is an auto read author for me, I’ve loved all her books. This one really didn’t disappoint. Eerie and chilling like all her books, I couldn’t put it down

House of Splinters – Laura Purcell

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow, this book guys. House of Splinters is incredibly eerie, spooky and really gave me the chills more than once. I don’t scare easily, but something about malevolent spirits always gets to me, and this book was no exception.

This story tells the tale of Belinda Bainbridge and her Husband Wilfred, as they move to Wilfred’s family estate after the death of his father. The estate, “The bridge”, is not what it seems, it has history beyond its years, and not all of that history is as it seems. The Silent Companions, which are wooden cut-outs, painted artfully are the part of the house, part of Wilfred’s inheritance, and they are spooky. Did you ever feel in the dead of the night that you saw something move from the corner of your eye? Did you feel that thrill of adrenaline, the silent companions are not just the things that go bump in the night. 😬

This book just oozes gothic imagery, creating such magnificent images in the mind, Half of the time I felt like I was at The Bridge with them, whisked away into a gothic tale of woe and eerie vibes. I really enjoyed Laura Purcell’s writing, it’s not easy to capture such suspense and thrilling atmosphere, but she creates a world that really drags the reader in and that’s something special.

House of Splinters comes out in October, just in time for spooky season and is available to Pre-order now!

A huge thank you to Laura Purcell, Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgallery for this amazing read.

This book was a wonderful gothic horror read, it took a while to get into the 'action' however the first half of the book was still a good read as it built the atmosphere for what was to come.
I enjoyed this and was surprised by the twists, just when I thought i knew what was coming next I was taken by surprise.

1774 brings so much change to Belinda's life. The death of her father-in-law was certainly sad, but it had its advantages too.
It meant an inheritance and a move out of London to her husbands family home, The Bridge. But most of all, it meant moving far away from her overbearing mother, some advantages indeed....
Even early on, within the first few pages, the house, The Bridge feels menacing... wrong... dangerous even, with its shadowy corners and it's deathly tomb-like coldness.
But it wasn't just that was it ? It was the sinister wooden statues that lay around the house, like ghostly guests, very unwelcome guests.
Into this house go a pregnant Belinda, her husband Wilfred and their son Freddy. I'm scared for them all ! Something terrible is going to happen I just know it....

Eerie, spooky tale that will turn your spine to ice from the start. Read it in the daylight!

Laura has been and will remain an auto buy for me, I love her books and this is a new favourite. How spine tingling is the back cover ! Same setting as The Silent Companions.

Suse

I've been a fan of Laura Purcell ever since <i>The Silent Companions</i>, so it was very nice reading another novel in the same setting. Personally, I liked <i>House of Splinters</i> even more than Purcell's debut. It was a really great book from start to finish.

I really liked the cast of characters. From the start I became attached to Belinda and her family and I followed their story with great participation and worry. I thought Belinda's relationship with her maid Sawyer was especially well done, and her relationship with her husband was also interesting. 

The story was a little slow paced at first, but the atmosphere and the sense of impending danger were always very well done. As the book went on there were a lot of creepy moments and also very unexpected, action packed scenes. I also loved the fact that we discovered much more about the past of the house and about the silent companions, even if some things remained mysterious or uncertain. There was also a very good twist which I had hoped to see in <i>The Silent Compaions</i>, and so I was extremely happy to see it used here. The ending was also extremely well done, everything wrapped up as I was hoping.

Definitely one of my favourite books by Purcell, highly recommend.

House of Splinters a gothic novel that will haunt you and shock you from the begging to the end. I am in love with Laura Purcell’s the masterful writing, vivid characters and creepy haunting settings. This is the third book I’ve read from her and it is by far my favorite.
This is not marketed exactly as a prequel/sequel to The Silent companions, but I feel that it’s imperative you’ve read it before going into this one. It’s a whole separate story, taking place a century before the events of The Silent companions. But if you go with the knowledge of the companions and the history of Anne Bainbridge, this new nightmare could be experienced fully and with greater understanding.
What I love the most here are the characters – our protagonist Belinda is very likable, she has a great arc and character development. Freddy is by far my favorite, I love children in horror stories, especially in gothic settings. He was adorable.
I highly recommend if you love haunted mansions, family affairs, ghosts and historical plots. The horror elements are on another level, there is gore, brutal descriptions and scenes I would love to see in a movie. The plot moves fast, there is no dragging or fillers, that’s why the writing may not looks like something special, but the way Purcell can create atmosphere is epic. That’s also why I loved the Whispering Muse and The silent companions that much.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Raven Books for providing me with the ARC.

The best horror book I’ve read in a while—creepy, atmospheric, and completely absorbing. The slow build of tension, mysterious deaths, and those unsettling wooden figures kept me hooked from start to finish. A brilliantly eerie gothic tale.
Would recommend.

House of Splinters is an atmospheric exploration of anxiety and female agency in the past, of folklore and rural community beliefs with spectres and human malice.
I've never read the Silent Companions before but I absolutely will be after reading this.
Purcell has the wonderful ability to make the paranormal seem possible.
With characters so fully fleshed out they seem to make the very pages breathe.
Definitely a great autumn/winter read!