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The Broken Girls

Name: The Broken Girls
Price: 10.99 USD
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ISBN: 9780593201497

✍️ Simone St. James

Reader Score

4.3

(8 reviews)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A journalist investigates her sister's death at a haunted Vermont boarding school across two timelines.

The novel operates through a dual narrative structure that connects the 1950 disappearance of a student at Idlewild Hall with the 2014 investigation by Fiona Sheridan. St. James uses the setting of the abandoned school to explore themes of isolation and hidden trauma. The story relies on local legends and personal memory rather than official records to drive the plot forward. Fiona’s professional curiosity merges with her personal grief as she examines the renovation site. The text suggests that the past is not truly buried, as secrets from the 1950s resurface through physical discoveries and unexplained phenomena. This approach creates a atmosphere of lingering dread rather than immediate horror.

Key Themes

haunted boarding school unsolved murder mystery sisterly grief

Literary Context

The story is set in Vermont, contrasting the year 1950 with 2014. It draws on American gothic traditions involving isolated institutions and local legends about haunted places. The narrative reflects mid-twentieth-century attitudes toward unwanted girls and illegitimate children.

Simone St. James

📚 all books by this author (13) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Daphne du Maurier · Shirley Jackson · R.L. Stine · The Sun Down Motel

🕯️

Supernatural

🏛 Berkley Books 📅 2020 📖 448 pages 🌐 English 📔 Mass Market Paperbound ISBN: 9780593201497

📝 Description: The Broken Girls

Simone St. James, a New York Times bestselling author known for The Sun Down Motel, presents a chilling suspense novel centered on an abandoned boarding school in Vermont. The narrative alternates between two distinct time periods. In 1950, Idlewild Hall serves as a refuge for unwanted girls, including troublemakers and those deemed too intelligent for their own good. Four roommates form a close bond while navigating whispered fears and local legends about the school being haunted. Their friendship fractures when one student vanishes without explanation. Twenty years later, journalist Fiona Sheridan investigates the cold case of her elder sister, whose body was discovered in the fields near the ruined hall. Although her sister’s boyfriend was convicted, Fiona harbors doubts about the verdict. She travels to Vermont to report on the school’s restoration by an anonymous benefactor. During the renovations, she uncovers evidence linking her sister’s death to hidden secrets from the past. A persistent voice refuses to remain silent, forcing Fiona to confront the truth. This dual timeline structure allows readers to see how past events directly impact present-day investigations. The book suits fans of gothic fiction and supernatural mysteries who appreciate slow-burn psychological tension. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or clear-cut resolutions without ambiguity.

💎 Our verdict on The Broken Girls

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Simone St. James delivers a chilling suspense novel that relies on atmosphere rather than gore. The dual timeline effectively connects personal grief with historical mystery, creating a sense of inevitable dread. However, this approach may not suit readers seeking fast-paced action or clear-cut resolutions without ambiguity. The narrative prioritizes psychological tension and local legends over definitive answers. While the investigation is engaging, the slow pace might frustrate those expecting immediate thrills. It is best suited for patients who enjoy gothic fiction where the setting plays a central role in the horror. Those looking for straightforward true crime or high-octane supernatural battles should look elsewhere.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate slow-burn psychological tension and gothic atmosphere will find this novel deeply rewarding. It appeals to those interested in dual-timeline structures that explore how past secrets resurface to impact the present. Fans of supernatural mysteries will enjoy the investigation into a cold case intertwined with unexplained phenomena. The book offers a compelling look at isolation, hidden trauma, and the power of memory over official records. It is ideal for readers who prefer lingering dread over immediate shock value. Those drawn to stories about friendship, betrayal, and the consequences of silence will find resonance in the narrative. It serves as a perfect entry point for fans of atmospheric horror who enjoy complex character dynamics and ambiguous resolutions.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Readers who crave atmospheric mysteries with strong female bonds and ghostly undertones will adore this tale. However, if you prefer fast-paced action over psychological tension or dislike dual timelines that slow the narrative momentum, this book may not suit your taste.

Reader rating

4.3

Based on 8 reviews

James S.

July 7, 2026

Genuinely scary

Was skeptical at first. The monster is scarier for how little you see of it. If you like this kind of cooking, don't hesitate.

Mark H.

April 19, 2026

Worth the read

This has been on my wishlist for months. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. Genuinely unsettling in places, and it earns it without cheap tricks. A couple of the side characters are thinly drawn.

Liam T.

January 5, 2026

Needed a good scare and got one. A few scenes I will not forget, whether I want to or not. The audiobook crowd will want the paper copy for the margins. Happy enough with the purchase.

Julia C.

November 24, 2025

A modern classic

Added this to the shelf next to the ones I reread. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. It is the kind of horror that rewards reading with the lights on. One of my better finds this year.

Ethan V.

August 30, 2025

Solid horror

A friend from my book club recommended it. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. Gorier than the description lets on, if that matters to you. Good, with the caveats above.

Megan S.

July 23, 2025

Mixed feelings

Added this to the shelf next to the ones I reread. Good introduction if you have not read this author before. The cover feels thinner than expected. Good, with the caveats above.

Maya T.

June 26, 2025

This has been on my wishlist for months. There's real craft in how much is left unsaid. Glad I finally picked this up.

❓ Frequently asked questions

The narrative blends psychological suspense with subtle paranormal hints. While the haunting atmosphere is palpable, the core mystery remains grounded in human secrets and historical truths rather than overt ghostly activity.

No, the alternating perspectives are clearly marked and tightly woven. The past directly illuminates the present investigation, making the structure a strength that enhances the emotional impact rather than hindering comprehension.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Simone St. James stands firmly within the tradition of gothic suspense, echoing the eerie isolation found in Shirley Jackson’s works while blending it with modern cold-case journalism. This novel revitalizes the classic haunted boarding school trope by grounding supernatural hints in systemic injustice and female solidarity. By juxtaposing 1950s repression against contemporary investigative rigor, it honors horror’s legacy of using the past to haunt the present, proving that secrets buried in institutional walls always resurface with devastating force.