Thea Rust moves to Oxleigh a small village in England, she’s from Melbourne, Australia and fifty years ago her father attended the prestigious boarding school. Thea’s a history teacher, she can hold her own on a hockey field and it's the first intake of female students at Oxleigh College. Thea and the girls are staying in nearby Silk House, built in the 1760’s for a silk merchant and his new bride. Thea notices odd things happening in the house, a piano playing in the middle of the night and she believes the place is haunted.

Thea begins looking into the history of Silk House, it was built for Patrick and Caroline Hollander. The story has a dual time line and it alternates between the 1760’s and 2019.

Rowan Caswell parents have passed away, she and her four younger brothers are living with her aunt and uncle and Rowan travels to Oxleigh to find work. She’s employed as a maid at Silk House, Prudence the cook is friendly and Alice the ladies maid is rather rude. Rowan notices all is not right in the household, her mistress is miserable and Mr. Hollander travels a lot for his work. Rowan learnt about herbs and healing from her mother, she has to be very careful about revealing this to anyone and women have been killed for practicing witchcraft.

Mary-Louise Stephenson lives in London with her widowed sister Frances, she dreams of being a silk designer and it’s a male dominated profession. Mr. Hollander hears about her, he wants Mary-Louise to make up three patterns for him and she does using drawings of deadly plants and flowers. When she doesn’t hear from Patrick Hollander as promised, she travels to Oxleigh and she desperately needs the money he owes her.

I received a copy of The Silk House from NetGalley and Hachette Australia in exchange for an honest review. The narrative is about the beliefs of the time and Thea uncovering a one hundred and fifty year old secret and all is not what it seems at Silk House. This is the third book I have read by Kayte Nunn, the author has an interest in the silk making industry in London and the use of herbs during Gothic times. Four stars from me and I did however prefer: The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant and The Last Reunion. If you enjoy reading spooky dual timeline historical mysteries, with a plot full of twists and turns and then The Silk House would be perfect for you.

I was transfixed by this story of a bygone age, witches, sorcery and mysticism. It drew me in, had my heart pounding and I couldn’t wait to read page after page.

An intriguing story of three woman living in different times, all linked to the Silk House. Themes of weaving. natural healing (and connotations of the time of the healer being a witch) drew me in and I wanted to solve the mystery Thea becomes part of when she arrives at an exclusive boarding school to teach history. She is to look after the first intake of girls in its 150-year history and they will live in the Silk House which is a building with a long and troubled past, where the shadows hide more mysteries than she could ever imagine.

In the late 1700s, Rowan Caswell leaves her village to work in the home of an English silk merchant. She is thrust into a new and dangerous world where her talent for herbs and healing soon attracts attention.

In London, Mary-Louise Stephenson lives amid the clatter of the weaving trade and dreams of becoming a silk designer, a job that is the domain of men. Arriving in the market town of Oxleigh, she brings with her a length of fabric woven with a pattern of deadly plants that will have far-reaching consequences for all who dwell in the silk house.
'The characters are all vivid and interesting, and there's a dash of romance, a splash of intrigue and a ghostly mystery to solve.

The ending left me wanting more though and I wonder if there might be sequel?

Played out across 2 timelines, Kayte Nunn’s ghost story The Silk House was a lovely bit of historical, feminist escapism. That’s a new genre, haven’t you heard?!
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This atmospheric novel follows Thea- the new teacher at a traditionally all male boarding school who has just this year deigned to admit girls. They’re all housed at The Silk House, a large historical residence down the road from the school. It also follows Rowan, a new maid of all tasks recently hired at the Silk House just after its building in the 1700’s.
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There’s witches and intrigue and hauntings. There’s feminism in a mans world and class issues. There’s silk and flowers and an apothecary. And most importantly a mystery THAT I GUESSED CORRECTLY! I almost never do that.
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I’ve read Kayte Nunn books before, and if you’re a fan this one won’t disappoint. It’s twisty and interesting and is incredibly readable. Of course it’s also not groundbreaking or controversial and was shallow in parts, there’s questions and events left unanswered and an almost too-tidy wrap up. It’s a lively read for when you don’t want to be challenged.

I loved Kayte Nunn's previous book and enjoyed The Silk Hose even more. This Gothic story is set in dual timelines, the late 1700's and present day England. Rowan Caswell, a young servant girl, comes to work for Patrick Hollander, a well known silk merchant. The mansion where she lives and works revolves around the silk fabric shop that is attached to the residence. Rowan is an expert on medicinal plants and potions and makes remedies for unwell people. Her specialty is frowned upon by many of the residence of Oxleigh and unfortunate things begin to happen. Thea Rust comes to live at Silk House 150 years later. Miss Rust, the new History teacher at Oxleigh's prestigious school, is in charge of the new female boarders. The Silk House where Thea and the girls live has an eerie feeling to it and Thea feels that there is a mystery to be solved. Thanks to NetGalley for my digital copy.

The Silk House is told through the POV of three characters over two different time lines. In the 1760s in the English country town of Oxleigh their lies a Silk House. When a young maid-of-all-things called Rowan is hired by the Silk Merchant she gets more than she bargains for working in the household. At the same period their is a designer named Mary that wants to create beautiful designs on silk and she gets brought on as a designer by the silk merchant.
Meanwhile in the present day, Thea, a young Australian history teacher has just moved to Oxleigh to work at the boarding school that has just recently taken in girls this academic year. The girls and Thea are boarding in the Silk House and when weird stuff starts to happen, Thea can't stop herself from doing research into the house.
This book is really interesting as the truth and past unravels slowly with stuff being revealed all the way till the end. Its full of witches, ghosts and deception. A great book.
4 1/2 Stars
Thanks to Netgalley.com and Hachette Australia for my complimentary eARC copy.

A tale of witches and hauntings and general spookiness set in two time lines. All very interesting and well told.

Kayte Nunn has done her research well and there was a lot to learn about witches and their skills and also about the production of silk fabrics. The main characters were all interesting and I particularly enjoyed the Dame, especially the twist at the end which I had guessed but I still liked seeing it confirmed.

This was my second book by this author and I now know where to turn when I am looking for a good piece of historical fiction.

Weaving, Healing, Haunting.
The first three words of the blurbs I have read and I can tell you I was not disappointed as this book was all this and more. This was the story of three women, two from the late 1700's period and one from modern times (2019). Rowan Caswell, employed by a silk merchant in 1760 to be a 'Maid of all work'. Then also in this same period was Mary-Louise Stephenson, determined to design patterns for the silk trade to support herself and her sister in a mans world. And lastly in 2019 there is Thea Rust, a history teacher who leaves Australia to work at an exclusive school in a small town in England, the one her own father attended. The common theme being Oxleigh, the small town where it all happened and of course 'The Silk House'.

And so a story is woven together that brings all of these wonderful female characters together in a thrilling tale of witchery, suspicion, ghosts, history, mystery and how the past can affect the now! The story switches from the different times and characters but you don't get lost as it flows so seamlessly.

This book is so well written that you really aren't sure what will happen until the very end. It is a book I just couldn't put down and I loved it.

In this atmospheric story Kayte Nunn transports the reader from the 18th century to the present with a deft hand; weaving the story of Rowan, a servant girl in the house of a silk merchant with that of Aussie Thea who has come to teach at a boarding school in the English countryside.
I thoroughly enjoyed the history incorporated into the book, which gives a glimpse into not only the silk trade of the time but also insight what it was like for women who risked much to help others, and were accused of witchcraft.
I loved both characters, the practical Thea who is unsettled by the creepy Silk House as well as young Rowan, simply trying to find her place in the world.
The story itself was a pleasure to read, I found it both interesting and engaging, with the author keeping you guessing as to what is really going on in this modern ghost story.

Weaving. Healing. Haunting. The spellbinding story of a mysterious boarding school sheltering a centuries-old secret...

The Silk House by Kayte Nunn is an absolute amazing read, it is so beautifully written, keeping me hooked from start to finish. Split over a dual timeline, the story centres around a building, The Silk House, which in the late 1700’s was home to Patrick Hollander, a silk merchant, and his wife Caroline, along with their servants including Rowan who had recently joined their service.

In the present the building is used to house girls who are attending the boarding school, the school is steeped in history and tradition, and it has just opened its doors to female students. Thea an Australian history teacher begins at the school, and is also in charge of looking after the girls at the school and boards with them at Silk House.

When strange things start happening in the house, Thea begins to looking into the houses 150 year history and it is amazing what she uncovers.

I totally recommend this book to anyone, it is definitely a five star read!

Thank you to @netgalley and @hachetteaus for gifting me a copy to read and review.

I enjoy Kayte Nunn’s historical fiction novels — my particular favourite is, The Lost Letters of Esther Durrant. I love the way she eases you into the narrative — enticingly dipping you into time and place. The Silk House is right on point for me again — but I think it’s all the richer for its sprinkling of alchemy.

This is a dual narrative, set in an unusual old building with an extensive, but somewhat troubled past. Thea Rust, is an Australian history teacher whose change of circumstance necessitates she resides in the building, now a boarding school. As boarding mistress to the first intake of female students in Oxleigh College’s long history, Thea becomes interested in the building and the village where rumours of strange hauntings and circles of witches have been linked to its history. Naturally, Thea doesn’t believe it. Nonetheless, a mystery relating to the building reveals ghosts from the past, as Thea is drawn into stories of the 18th century silk trade.

The second timeline dates to the late 1700s, where servant, Rowan Caswell, works in the household of a silk merchant of dubious character. A touch of the fey, some magical elements and healing herbs, and before you know it, a haunting mystery develops. Young Rowan is innocently drawn into an intrigue concerning the mistress of the household — and her life is threatened because of it.

It’s always a delight to see how two eras weave together — in a literal as well as a figurative sense. Throughout the narrative a third storyline is revealed —it is beautifully written. Mary is a silk designer, a career that was almost the sole domain of men, at the time. In my opinion, Mary is the heart of the story. She creates floral designs of immense beauty, but one of these depicts a trail of dangerous herbs —the rest you can only imagine.

And with a kiss and a promise, all is not revealed until the final pages. The Silk House a beautiful, haunting and delightfully evocative story.

I don’t usually read a lot of historical fiction but after reading The Silk House by Kayte Nunn this will definitely need to change as I was completely absorbed in this Gothic mystery - I just couldn’t put it down! I loved how seamlessly the past and present were woven together creating such a vivid picture of all the historical settings discussed in the book and I thought all three of the main characters were so well written and I was really invested in all of their stories. I loved the spookiness of the Silk House itself (who doesn’t love a great haunted house!) and the tying in of witchcraft in the 1700s and I also really enjoyed learning about the silk trade and elements of herbal remedies. This is the perfect read for these wintry evenings in Australia - a must read!
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A big thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Australia for this digital copy to read and review!!

For this title, I did a joint review with Marg from The Intrepid Reader. The first part of our discussion review is on her blog here: http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2020/07/silk-house-by-katye-nunn.html

The second part is on my blog here: https://1girl2manybooks.wordpress.com/2020/07/01/joint-review-the-silk-house-by-kayte-nunn/

Well, I have to confess that I have a love of historical fiction especially where there is moving between time zones; this is a magnificent example of such genre! Well written and an enthralling story with diverse and interesting characters.

Set in two periods - 1760’s and 2019 - the story moves between three characters.

In the 1790’s there are Rowan who becomes a maid-of-all-things for a silk merchant in the small town of Oxleigh and in Mary a silk designer, in London, trying to break into a man’s world of the creation of silk weaving patterns, who meet up with the Oxleigh silk merchant to buy her designs.

In 2019 thee is Thea who is a history teacher from Australia who taken up a teaching position in the Oxleigh Boarding School, which also was where he father was educated. Thea unexpectedly has to also become temporary housemistress for 13 new boarding girls - their accommodation is none other than the silk merchant’s house. Mysterious occurrences create tension for Thea who is drawn into the history of the house and its occupants. Moving between the past and the present the story unfolds.

I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a contemporary focus.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher Hachette Australia for a copy to read and review.

I did a discussion type review of this novel with a fellow blogger Bree from All the Books I Can Read.

You can see the first part of the discussion at the link below

http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2020/07/silk-house-by-katye-nunn.html

This story like the silk thread in the hands of a weaver… running across centuries, families, histories and countries...

I am not sure what gothic mystery should be like but I loved it. I loved The Silk House from the first to the last page. All three women (living across generations and across social spectrum) are amazing heroines. Each one of them as deep as the next one. There are many dimensions to the characters and to the setting.

The Silk House and its secrets, its tragedies and its escapes. The school with its traditions and history, memories and future. All the little signs and whispers. The author did an amazing job creating an atmosphere to which you want to return again and again.

Was it scary? In places. Was it haunting. At all times. Once started you want to know more and more.

The Silk House is about power of the weakness, knowledge and wisdom. It is about women and womanhood and the strength we do not know we have until we do..

Five stars from me.

‘Now about Silk House: it’s been through more hands and incarnations than almost any other building in the high street, I believe.’

The Silk House is an extremely well written tale. After reading and thoroughly enjoying Kayte’s other two books - The Botanist's Daughter & The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant - I eagerly anticipated her latest offering. Kayte explains that her interest in topics such as medicinal and poisonous plants (especially when paired with suspicions of witchcraft) and fabric weaving could come together to form a powerful story. She was right.

The Silk House, being a dual narrative, offers on the one hand a rich gothic tale of the past and on the other, a present day haunting ghost story. If you are a lover of old houses with a dark mysterious past, then this is most certainly the book for you. From the time of its construction and first inhabitants in the 1700s, to the tale of today being a boarding dormitory for young girls, there is much to tell. The two stories work well together and revolve around three young women.

In the past the main character is Rowan, employed as a maid at Silk House. Her knowledge of herbal tinctures may get her into trouble and accused of witchcraft. There is also Mary-Louise, a talented artist who applies her creativity to silk design but finds it challenging to be accepted in a male dominated trade. In the present day there is Thea who has come from Australia to take up a position in an exclusive boarding school in the English countryside. Residing in ‘Silk House’ and curious about its history, she begins to research the history of the building after some strange occurrences.

I particularly appreciated the strong female characters, especially Rowan and enjoyed learning about the silk industry and herbal lore of the time. The house holds a secret and over the years this continues to manifest through unusual events until Thea (present day) feels compelled to resolve this centuries old mystery.

This was an enjoyable read even though I am not of gothic inclinations. Kayte is a quality writer and I was invested to find out if Mary-Louise could succeed with her ambitions; if Rowan could avoid the title of ‘witch’; and, if Thea could unravel why this house wanted to let go of all its secrets.

‘Do you think you might perhaps be confusing tradition with history? One can evolve, you know.’

It was the late 1760s when a young Rowan Caswell was hired as house maid at the home of Patrick and Caroline Hollander, in their home beside the business where the finest silks were procured. Rowan had needed work to provide for her three younger brothers while they lived with their aunt and uncle, since their parents had died. The household was small with Prudence the cook, Alice a house maid and now Rowan. Rowan could see the mistress was unhappy, and noticed the master was rarely home.

Mary-Louise Stephenson and her sister Frances struggled to make ends meet in their home in London. Mary’s designs weren’t being accepted in the man’s world of silk, but she wouldn’t give up. When she was approached by a silk merchant from the small town of Oxleigh, and was presented with an order for three designs which were to be markedly different from others, she was determined to produce a pattern which would bring fame and fortune…

It was 2019 when Thea Rust arrived from Australia to a small town in England where her father had been at the exclusive boarding school. Thea was to take charge of the first intake of girls to a previously exclusive boys’ domain, as well as teach history. When she discovered the history of Silk House, where she and a few of the girls were staying, she was intrigued and as time moved forward the past and present began to blur. Strange things happened in and around the house and Thea, who didn’t believe in such things, began to wonder if there was a spirit roving Silk House.

The Silk House by Aussie author Kayte Nunn is an exceptionally well written historical mystery novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. The hauntingly poignant, mysterious and at times dangerous past blended well with Thea’s current day – I think she would have liked Rowan very much, had they met. Twisty, breathtaking, The Silk House is one I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and Hachette AU for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

‘You’re late.’

In the present, Thea Rust, a history teacher from Australia, arrives at Oxleigh College, an exclusive boarding school, in the British countryside. Oxleigh College has accepted the first intake of females in its 150-year history, and Thea is to live with them in their residence: The Silk House.

In 1768, Rowan Caswell is engaged as a maid to work in the home of an English silk merchant in the village of Oxleigh. She has a talent for the use of herbs in healing, which soon attracts attention.

In 1768 in London, Mary-Louise Stephenson dreams of becoming a silk designer. This is work traditionally confined to men.

All three of these stories will intersect. The Silk House is full of secrets, and tragedy.
In the present, Thea is troubled by mysterious unexplained events in The Silk House. She starts investigating the history of the building and its occupants.

In the past, Mary-Louise’s silk weaving skills have expanded to include beautiful patterns of plants, some of which are deadly. And Rowan is prevailed upon to use her knowledge of plants in ways that could be dangerous.

The story moves between the three women, between past and present. Can Mary-Louise succeed as a silk designer? Will Rowan be safe? And what about the silk Mary-Louise designs? Will Thea uncover the mystery (or should that be mysteries?) within The Silk House?

This is the third of Ms Nunn’s novels I’ve read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is terrific historical fiction with a brooding gothic mystery, a building with a past, peopled with well-developed characters.

Highly recommended.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

A modern-day ghost story that is woven through generations and is both a spellbinding and chilling read.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗸 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 by Katye Nunn is richly and beautifully descriptive. From the first few chapters I was desperate to know more about the House and women who’s history from the 18th Century to now were entangled in.

It’s part historical fiction, part ghost and witch story with strong elements of female empowerment, I throughly enjoyed it!