The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

“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!”

Ghost stories are not usually my go-to when I am looking for a suspenseful read, but the description of this book (and the cover) sold me on it. The book is about two time periods in Barrons, Vermont – 1950 and 2014. Both of the timelines revolve around Idlewood Hall, a boarding school for “broken girls.”

In 1950, Idlewood Hall is home to “broken girls.” There are rumors passed down through generations of students about the school being haunted by Mary Hand. Four roommates bond over shared secrets until one of the girls disappears.

In 2014, Fiona is a journalist who has spent her career writing freelance fluff pieces. She has never recovered from the murder of her sister. Twenty years ago, her sister’s body was discovered on the grounds of Idlewood Hall, which was in ruins after the school had closed. She learns the property has been purchased and will be restored. As Fiona begins to investigate the restoration of Idlewood Hall, she also dives into its history and uncovers many secrets.

I LOVED this story! The combination of suspense, paranormal and Idlewood Hall made a perfectly creepy tale. There are some more serious topics that are part of this story, but I don’t want to spoil anything. Just know it comes highly recommended!

Note: If you are doing the adult Summer Reading BINGO, this could check off “historical fiction,” “chosen for the cover” (I LOVE the cover!) or “recommended by a librarian”!

Check out The Broken Girls by Simone St. James at the Library (https://catalog.lclibs.org/polaris/search/title.aspx…).