{"product_id":"the-silent-companions-by-laura-purcell","title":"The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBy Laura Purcell\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e(Used Paperback\/Hardcover — see photos for condition)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Silent Companions\u003c\/strong\u003e is a chilling Victorian Gothic horror novel that follows \u003cstrong\u003eElsie Bainbridge\u003c\/strong\u003e, a newly widowed and pregnant woman who arrives at her late husband’s crumbling estate, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Bridge\u003c\/strong\u003e, only to find hostility from the servants, fear from the villagers, and a locked room hiding a disturbing secret.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInside that room stands a painted wooden figure — a \u003cem\u003esilent companion\u003c\/em\u003e — eerily lifelike and bearing a striking resemblance to Elsie herself. Soon, more companions appear throughout the house, their eyes seeming to follow her, their numbers growing, and their presence blurring the line between superstition and the supernatural.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTold across dual timelines (1865 and 1635), the novel weaves diary entries, family secrets, and creeping dread into a story praised for its atmosphere, meticulous period detail, and classic Gothic tension. Critics have compared Purcell’s work to \u003cstrong\u003eShirley Jackson\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eDaphne du Maurier\u003c\/strong\u003e, calling it a “virtually flawless” and “genuinely eerie” modern Gothic tale. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"text-lg-strong pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:first-child)]:pt-3.5\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePerfect For:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul role=\"list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFans of Gothic and Victorian horror\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReaders who enjoy haunted‑house stories\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLovers of atmospheric, slow‑burn suspense\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollectors of modern Gothic fiction\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUsed book — condition varies; see listing photos for details.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67647313051890,"sku":null,"price":13.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0685\/2896\/3826\/files\/ED4D25420F62536EFC4F78517B087B8E01DC2BE0.jpg?v=1791328318","url":"https:\/\/mentonym.com\/products\/the-silent-companions-by-laura-purcell","provider":"Mentonym","version":"1.0","type":"link"}