This book was not at all what I had imagined it would be. It was SO. MUCH. BETTER! If you are looking for a book that will creep you out, keep you guessing, and keep you flipping pages then look no further. I now plan on reading all of Simone St. James' backlist and everything she publishes in the future. It was that good.

This book was such a great gothic-style read,with intense myster(ies) and just enough of a paranormal element to send shivers down your spine. I was totally hooked, right from the beginning.

The plot summary seems complicated but it's actually fairly straightforward and asy to grasp.

The book has two main storylines, one that takes place in 1950, at Idlewild boarding school, where four roommates bond as they try to survive their own personal issues and the terrible school itself, which is a dumping place for troubled girls. Then one of them disappears and the rumored paranormal presence at the school seems more real. In 2014, Fiona is a journalist who is obsessed with Idlewild, now closed, after her sister's body was found there 20 years earlier. When she hears that the school is being renovated, she decides to write an article about it, but quickly becomes sucked into the mystery of Idlewild. The two stories collide as shocking discoveries are made.

I loved the setting of this one - Idlewild is a creepy, desperate place and it's the perfect scary story setting. The supernatural element is just enough to enhance that atmosphere, but not overpower it.

I also loved how everything fit together so perfectly. It really seamlessly blends together so well and that really made the story great, not just "good." The characters were also another great asset to the book; I can't think of one person who wasn't well fleshed out and interesting.

Overall, if you like creepy, spooky reads with some great twists, you will LOVE this book. I wish I could give it 10 stars.

A past and present mystery with a bit of a gothic feel. In the present we have a journalist in Vermont who has never gotten past her sister’s murder, even with the boyfriend behind bars. Not only is it the emotional toll of losing her sister, but something has just never sat right with her regarding the case. In the past we get to know a group of girls in a Vermont girl’s school in the 1950s. It’s the kind of school parents sent difficult and troubled girls to. A school that many have always believed to be haunted and is now set to be restored…

Gothic, fun horror. If Liane Moriarty and Stephen King wrote a book together, The Broken Girls would be the result.

I read The Broken Girls in one sitting. It was soooo good! I usually don't choose mystery books, but after reading the synopsis of this book I knew I had to give it a go. The Broken Girls had the essentials I look for; a school setting, troubled teens or adults, ghosts and a what happened in the past mystery. Historical novels are my favs so, having the plot go back and forth searching for clues made for great entertainment. In knowing the outcome of this is a book, I believe, that it could be reread and still maintain its spookiness and mystery. I would be remiss not to mention the cover. It makes you want to know the haunting of it all.

I was given an eArc of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

'The Broken Girls' is a fantastic suspense novel that combines past and present, truth and lies, and even the supernatural. I read mysteries and thrillers all the time, so it takes a bit to impress me anymore. I can easily say that this novel had me intrigued, constantly guessing, and on the edge of my seat the entire time. It's a wonderful breath of fresh air for the genre and one that readers are definitely going to want to get their hands on.

The plot immediately caught my attention when I read the description, but I really got hooked on the story starting with the prologue. There are a lot of aspects to this book that differ from others and definitely set it apart. For me personally, there were two major aspects that had me impressed. The first was the connection between the past and the present. The story continually goes between 1950 and 2014 as separate yet somehow connected events are happening at Idlewild Hall. I found it fascinating to feel transported to the past and then to see the parallels with the current happenings. The other aspect that I really enjoyed is actually directly connected to this one. It's the author's choice of writing style. Normally, I'm a huge fan of the first person point of view for a lot of different reasons. The author, however, chose to write this book in the third person. But what really sold me on it were the characters whose viewpoints we see. There are five main characters in the book - Fiona, a journalist in 2014; and four girls who attended Idlewild in 1950 - CeCe, Katie, Sonia, and Roberta who are roommates and best friends. We get to hear from each of them throughout the book - some more than others - as their stories unravel and the mysteries unfold. There are multiple cases to be solved, both from the past and from the more recent past. The author wove in several smaller storylines that easily wove together to form the overarching plot of the novel. And the best for last (at least for me) - part of it was a legit ghost story. Not one that turns out to be reasonably explained away, but an honest to goodness creepy ghost that haunts Idlewild and the surrounding property. I don't do spoilers, so I can't say much else without revealing anything.

Overall, this was an incredible novel that blended several genres together to produce a chilling thriller that will have readers devouring the pages. The writing was very well done and I look forward to reading the authors other books. Very highly recommended to fans of mysteries, thrillers, suspense, supernatural/paranormal, ghost stories, crime fiction, historical fiction, and contemporary fiction. There's a bit of something for everyone in these pages and I definitely recommend giving it a chance.

There is nothing more intriguing for me than a story about broken girls, so naturally I was intrigued by The Broken Girls by Simone St. James the minute I saw that cover. It looked eery and seemed like something I was looking for.

Oh the love I have for this book! I was just so smitten with the entire story, the dark atmosphere, the girls, the mystery. There are a lot of players at work here and the tense shifts from present to past and is told from multiple points of view, but each narrator is a strong and fierce woman with their own vibrant personality that nothing seems muddled together.

I loved the concept of this abandoned old school coming to life in the past passages, the kindred bond between the wayward girls, their subtle understanding and shared fears. And at the heart of this is a murder and a ghost story, woven nicely together, without being too transparent or hokey. Everything just came together so perfectly well.

This ghost story is immediately creepy. St. James has a way with building a whole atmosphere that centres around an eery, creepy feeling and I couldn’t shake this for the entire book. I don’t usually find ghost stories scary, they remind me too much of cliche horror movies, but the way Mary Hand is described here and the reactions of the girls involved, it really put me on edge and had my hairs standing on end.

The ending came together pretty quickly, perhaps a bit too conveniently at some points, but it didn’t feel rushed or like a letdown. I was perfectly satisfied with the end result and thought it tied up all the tangents quite nicely. I really thought it was a great book, a great story, and I enjoyed every page of it. I didn’t realize St. James was a Canadian writer, located not far from where I live, which I’m thrilled about. I can’t wait to go back and read more of her work.

Satisfying mystery where the past has an effect on the present. The cast of characters held my interest and the mystery surrounded by a touch of the supernatural all come together.

Murder…boarding schools…cold cases…I’m all about that when I need a quick, fun read!
This one was no exception, and I enjoyed this storyline, though it was rather sad in the final resolution. I had pretty much figured out what was happening, just not the actual means, but I’d still recommend it to those who want a suspenseful read. These type of books keep me going through the long winter!
Thank you for my e-copy!

Haunting and full of suspense! Exactly what I had hoped for when I requested this title. The plot, the story, the tone, the pacing.. all spot on! This is by far the best book I've read this year! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good suspense-filled mystery! Five stars - at least!

Oh, Mary! There’s a rumor that she roams Idlewild, a boarding school that once served young women, providing these women their last opportunity. The school closes in 1979 but Mary still roams, the rumor becomes a reality. Mary preys upon her victims, touching their lives forever. Mary is connected to Idlewild, her connection runs deep and she is not leaving until her business is finished.

The story of Idlewood is told in two time periods. The past and the present day. I found both stories fascinating and I enjoyed following the characters. In the past, we are introduced to the characters as they are students at the boarding school and we get to know their personalities. The girls learn firsthand about Mary and they try to learn about her history. It’s not an instant friendship as each of the girls adjust to their new surroundings, as these girls have each come from different backgrounds. They form ties with each other, some more connected than others.

In the present day, we learn that Idlewood has been vacant for some time but that is about to change. The school is being restored which is causing quite a commotion. Why would someone decide to reopen the school now and what about Mary? There has also been a murder committed on the school grounds a while back that Deb cannot get over. Her sister was the victim but the evidence surrounding the case just didn’t add up to satisfy Deb. There is an individual serving time for the murder but Deb again, is still not satisfied with the results of the case.

I liked how the each of the stories dug deeper and deeper into the lives of the characters. I learned some of the history of each of the characters and as the story was being led out, I enjoyed seeing how things were being placed together and how some things just did not fit. I liked how Mary’s character pulled in a mysterious and creepy element to the story. This was a deep-rooted story, a twisted story that brought the past back to life.

I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for sharing this title with me.

I think I may be in the minority here... but this book was just ‘meh’ for me. I really wanted to love it, with its gothic undertones, murder investigation, and haunting border school, but it felt disappointing. Don’t take my word for it though, as many of my favourite #bookstagrammers loved it. In my opinion, the characters were flat, and the story was all over the map. I felt like I was simultaneously reading 4 different books.

I was surprised by this book. The cover is neat, and the blurb didn't do it justice. Inside is an involved story, with a mystery, and a very suspicious boarding school. Now, that's not a unique set-up, but for this book, it worked well. It covers some creepy places, that are historical, horrific. A ghost, the past, and the preset are intermingled into a story that truly has suspense and a paranormal element. When the secret comes to light, it's a doozy. There's more of a supporting character feel to some of the main characters. That's the only major drawback.

My copy came from Net Galley, thank you! My review is my own, as are my thoughts and opinions and I have left this of my own free will.

I like stories that happen on two levels, or rather two periods, especially when the two periods are necessary to one another to better understand the plot or that one can solve the other. That's why I chose this book on NetGalley.

In this case, from the first pages, I also knew that there would be more to the reading, what with the bit of supernatural and it was not to displease me. So I was thrilled!

And did I find everything I expected from this book? Yes, in part. The two eras are not necessary to each other, except to give an excuse to Fiona to investigate this famous school for girls with multiple secrets and the two stories could have been written apart. And as for the supernatural side, although it serves to create a particular mood, it's also not useful to the story or the resolution of the two stories. But, aside from this little setback, I enjoyed every page of this book!

1950, Idlewild Hall is not really the school you want to go to. Families send their daughters there because they are turbulent or because they have experienced trauma they'd rather hide / shut up. The teachers are like kapos and a really dismal atmosphere reigns in the school. A group of four girls, with very different stories, share a room and create a united family... until one of them disappears into general indifference.

In 2014, Fiona hasn't still recover from the murder of her sister 20 years ago on Idlewild Hall grounds and discovers that the cursed school is to be renovated. She tries to find out why and by whom. Fortunately, between her father, a famous journalist who opens all the doors and her boyfriend, a policeman, she conducts her investigation masterfully. But then Fiona discovers secrets that some people would prefer to stay hidden.

Simone St. James immerses us in the atmosphere of those stifling little towns where everyone knows each other, where labels hinder the search of truth and where a former police chief and his good old method can reign supreme. This novel talks about the pain of losing a loved one and the silence that can sometimes govern the lives of those affected, of unspoken ones within a family, within a city and a police force that must find ways to do better. She speaks of courage, to find the truth, to confront ones demons, to survive, and the means that some people take to survive.

In a nutshell

A good book with well written and intelligent characters. Three stories that could have been written separately, but that allow the author to address interesting topics. It's a 4/5 for me.

I thought that this one was pretty good, I even bought the Hard cover version once it came out. While I was still able to predict the ending, I enjoyed the over all story and story telling.

"The Broken Girls" has some great aspects and others that I really struggled with. I found the characters to be unlikable and wasn't sure why some plot elements were included. There really is no need to have the paranormal ghost element, I kept thinking that it must be something besides a ghost but nope, it's just your run of the mill ghost hunting. This book alternates between the present and the early 1950's. I found that the present day parts dragged on and the characters were one dimensional. I could not relate to the obsessed journalist who has a one track mind or the cop who is only sees good. I did find the parts about the girls attending the boarding school in the 50's to be really interesting. The girls at the boarding school all have complex pasts and I wanted to know more about this. I wish the book was completely about the eerie boarding school in the 50's and the ghost, Mary Hand. Now I do realize that I am in the minority here, many people rave about this book. I say don't knock it until you try it!

While I did enjoy the story, there was something holding me back from loving it. It is creepy, gothic and well written but the overall story was not as engaging.

The story is told from both the past and the present POV. I didn't care about what was going on in the present. I found myself more intrigued about the four girls from the past. As the story goes along, you can see how the past shaped the future.

ARC provided to me for an honest review.

This was the perfect novel for me. I love the mix of ghost story and murder mystery that crossed through the years. I highly recommend The Broken Girls and will be telling friends and patrons about it.

At first it seems that only the location connects the disappearance of a boarding school girl in the 50s and the murder of a high school girl in the 90s, but journalist Fiona Sheridan begins to put together the pieces that lead to a much bigger and deeper mystery. This is one of St. James' best books yet, with moody, atmospheric prose creating a suspenseful atmosphere for readers. Highly recommended!

I couldn't put this down. There were so many twists and turns, ghost stories and real murderers. Loved it. Reminded me a lot of Tana French's In the Woods!