House of Silence

Dec 17, 2012 Diane Will rated it 5 of 5 stars

Well what can I say, but ... I knew I would love it having read and loved Linda's other books. I waited patiently for this one to become available via printing my Amazon and was engrossed right away. I loved all the characters and the idea of the big house having secrets that unfold throughout was page turning. Gwen meets Alfie and is whisked away to Creake Hall to spend Christmas with him, but Alfie seems different when he goes back to the family home, but he only visits once a year, at Christm...more

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May 10, 2013 Triskele Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Books that don’t fit the mould always appeal to me and this one is no exception. House of Silence is a tricky book to define. It has mystery, romance, skeletons in the closet, a decrepit family manor house and a fair few emotional truths. I read it in one weekend, completely absorbed by the world the author creates.

The characters are deftly drawn, with layers upon layers of personality, and each with a distinct voice. Considering there are several scenes containing four sisters, this is some ac...more Books that don’t fit the mould always appeal to me and this one is no exception. House of Silence is a tricky book to define. It has mystery, romance, skeletons in the closet, a decrepit family manor house and a fair few emotional truths. I read it in one weekend, completely absorbed by the world the author creates.

The characters are deftly drawn, with layers upon layers of personality, and each with a distinct voice. Considering there are several scenes containing four sisters, this is some achievement. Our protagonist is also more complex than even she realises, and her journey of discovery is as much about understanding herself as it is about uncovering long-buried secrets.

Another area where Linda Gillard shines is in dialogue. The early conversations between Gwen and Alfie fairly crackle with wit and intelligence. My personal favourite was Hattie, whose butterfly monologues flit from subject to subject with flashes of colour and beauty.

The expertly paced plot is full of surprises, not least the romantic twist, and just when you think you know what’s going on, there’s another development. The damaging effects of long-distant choices reverberate down the years, surfacing in the present to upset the fragile balance.

And as with all Triskele Bookclub choices, the entire novel is suffused with a sense of place. Both the Norfolk location, with windmill, sea mists and December chills; and Creake Hall, the seen-better-days Elizabethan manor, with formal gardens and draughty attics, are beautifully realised and atmospheric. The hall becomes a character in itself.

I was initially wrong-footed by the switches in point-of-view, but once I got used to this stylistic choice, I found it an interesting way to experience incidents from two angles. Reading House of Silence reminded me of several other well-loved books, such as Cold Comfort Farm, The Pursuit of Love, Janice Gentle Gets Sexy and The Little Stranger and was a delightful way to spend a weekend.

Review by JJ Marsh

You can read Triskele Books' interview with Linda Gillard here:
http://triskelebooks.blogspot.ch/2013...(less)

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Jan 26, 2013 Ann rated it 3 of 5 stars

If you enjoy plot twists and family secrets, then this is certainly a book for you.

The story follows Gwen, a young woman who while working as a wardrobe assistant on a film set falls for Alfie, a charismatic and charming actor who definitely has a whiff of 'too good to be true' about him. As Gwen is an orphan she is desperate to spend Christmas with her new boyfriend and his family. However upon arrival at the rather imposing Creake Hall, everything slowly starts to fall apart...

As someone who...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Jan Ruth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another artfully described set of characters by Gillard, this time enveloped not only in an air of mystery, but set within a house which is almost a character in its own right. Creake Hall, in all it’s shabby sixteenth century glory, lends an almost old filmic quality to the narrative. It is in fact, the perfect backdrop for Alfie, the actor, who plays his biggest role to date when he reluctantly agrees to take girlfriend Gwen, home for Christmas.
All is not as it seems, and as Gwen pieces the su...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Kathryn Guare rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am a sucker for English novels set in mouldering manor houses and this one is a great read. The characters are vivid, the dialogue snappy and smart, and the whole thing moves along at a good pace with a few twists and turns along the way. This would be a good book club read because there's lots of room for discussion and debate about the motives and decisions of some of the characters!

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Oct 09, 2012 Joanne rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don't often give 5 stars to anything, but I loved this book. Linda Gillard is a genius - I finished this book in just over a day!
What I loved about this story was that it is so skillfully written you completely lose yourself in the story. Gwen, the main character, is drawn into the strange world of her actor-boyfriend, Alfie, and pulled into a mystery so deep before long she is completely immersed - and so are you! Fantastic characterisation, great narrative voice, brilliant use of first and t...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Tahlia Newland rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction

‘The House of Silence’ is a story about a family secret. We follow Gwen, a wardrobe assistant, as she unravels the truth behind her actor boyfriend, Alfie’s family. When she finally convinces him to let her accompany him to his family home for Christmas, she finds that he becomes someone else, and she starts to wonder if she really knows who he is at all.

It’s an interesting story and well told, though I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did ‘The Glass Guardian’ or ‘Untying the Knot’ two other books...more ‘The House of Silence’ is a story about a family secret. We follow Gwen, a wardrobe assistant, as she unravels the truth behind her actor boyfriend, Alfie’s family. When she finally convinces him to let her accompany him to his family home for Christmas, she finds that he becomes someone else, and she starts to wonder if she really knows who he is at all.

It’s an interesting story and well told, though I didn’t enjoy it as much as I did ‘The Glass Guardian’ or ‘Untying the Knot’ two other books by the same author, probably because I didn’t find the characters in this one quite as endearing as I did in the other two stories. I’m also particularly partial to the paranormal element in ‘The Glass Guardian’

Linda draws her very real and complex characters deeply, and this is the real strength of this book. The way the family works together to maintain an illusion for their famous and mentally unstable seventy-year-old mother is very skilfully shown in a series of scenes written from different family members points of view.

Gwen, an only child, comes from a dysfunctional family (who are now all dead) and she looks forward to being part of Alfie’s large family. She is received well by the family and she strikes up a friendship with Hattie, the youngest of the mature family. Gwen and Hattie’s share a passion for quilting and needlework, and the use of needlework imagery to reflect aspects of life is one of the things I really like about this book. Whilst working on a quilt in the attic, Gwen comes across something that simply doesn’t fit the story she has been told, and so she sets about uncovering the mystery.

The story shifts from Gwen’s point of view written in first person to scenes from other characters points of views written in third person. This worked well—in fact I really liked it—when the third person scenes were a different character’s point of view, but even though the changes were separated by a blank line, I found the third person a little disorientating when Gwen was in the scene, especially when the change happened within a chapter. It was a bold move by the author to do this, but I’m not sure that it was necessary when Gwen could have described all her own scenes from the first person.

Over all this is an excellent book and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with a mystery.
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Apr 01, 2012 Kathleen Jones rated it 5 of 5 stars

Another respectably published author whose publisher didn't think her latest book was 'commercial' enough, so Linda took the business into her own hands and has already sold 12,000 copies of her novel over the internet without any hype, reviews, or marketing campaign.

Linda Gillard is one of my fellow authors over on what used to be 'Kindle Authors UK' before Amazon complained and is now 'Authors Electric'.

I liked the plot summary of House of Silence (Rebecca meets Cold Comfort Farm) so I downloa...more Another respectably published author whose publisher didn't think her latest book was 'commercial' enough, so Linda took the business into her own hands and has already sold 12,000 copies of her novel over the internet without any hype, reviews, or marketing campaign.

Linda Gillard is one of my fellow authors over on what used to be 'Kindle Authors UK' before Amazon complained and is now 'Authors Electric'.

I liked the plot summary of House of Silence (Rebecca meets Cold Comfort Farm) so I downloaded a sample and was soon captivated enough to buy the book. Like a lot of E-books, it's an affordable bargain at £1.90, unlike the outrageous £11.49 you have to pay to read Philippa Gregory on Kindle - twice the price of her paperbacks. How do they justify that?

This is a very well written novel, easy to read with a fascinating plot. Gwen, an orphan, meets Alfie, the actor, on the set of a BBC TV historical drama and begins an affair. Things get a little sticky when he goes home for his annual Xmas visit and Gwen insists on being taken along too.

Alfie's mother is a famous children's author who has written a best-selling series based on her son. She has four daughters, all outrageously neglected and is currently a senile figure confined to her bedroom (the mad woman in the attic). Home is a 17th century manor in Norfolk (the aptly named Creake Hall) and the family turns out to have more secrets than the Pentagon.

I enjoyed every minute of this book. It's written with considerable panache and humour, despite the fact that there's a very serious underlying thread to the book - how do we, as individuals and families, deal with tragedy?

If publishers are going to turn down sure-fire bestsellers like this one (as they seem to be doing) then I'm afraid the industry is in for a crisis. Authors don't need publishers any more. Not when they can do it for themselves as successfully as this.

If you're interested in E-books and authors doing it for themselves, check out www.authorselectric.blogspot.com (less)

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Feb 04, 2012 Paula rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have read three books by Linda Gillard so far, 'Emotional Geology', 'A Lifetime's Burning' and 'Star Gazing', I enjoyed them all immensely as I did with 'House of Silence'.

Linda Gillard has a amazing talent in her creation and development of characters, characters you are care about and identify with. With 'House of Silence' all of the characters are memorable and leave a lasting impression. Gwen, the main character is down to earth, talented, likeable and strong. Her background has left a la...more

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May 09, 2011 Ali rated it 3 of 5 stars

House of Silence is Linda Gillard's fourth novel. Available as an ebook via Kindle.

Wardrobe mistress Gwen, meets the handsome Alfie, an actor, and embarks on a passioniate relationship. With Christmas approaching, she presuades him to take her with him to Creake Hall,his family home for the holiday. Alfie, however is very secretive about his childhood, and seems to have a difficult relationship with his family. Gwen senses early on that this Christmas is going to be very different, and that the...more

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Apr 28, 2011 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, british

Now a successful costume designer, orphaned Gwen Rowland has come a long way. While all her family has fallen victim to either drugs or alcohol, she is sober, grounded, and relatively normal. So with Christmas approaching and her relationship with terminally typecast actor Alfie approaching the five month mark, she isn’t shy in voicing her desire to join him and his family for the holidays. But usually easy going Alfie is strangely hesitant to bring Gwen along. Christmas is the only time he sees...more Now a successful costume designer, orphaned Gwen Rowland has come a long way. While all her family has fallen victim to either drugs or alcohol, she is sober, grounded, and relatively normal. So with Christmas approaching and her relationship with terminally typecast actor Alfie approaching the five month mark, she isn’t shy in voicing her desire to join him and his family for the holidays. But usually easy going Alfie is strangely hesitant to bring Gwen along. Christmas is the only time he sees his motley mother and fours older sisters and it’s an awkward and pleasure free visit for him. It is when he envisions Gwen spending yet another Christmas by herself that he relents. Considering her past Gwen couldn’t be more excited for a family Christmas at Creak Hall, the family’s Tudor mansion in Norfolk. However even Alfie doesn’t know how quickly her enthusiasm will wan upon arrival, when it immediately becomes apparent to Gwen that the estate isn’t the only thing that is rundown. There are secrets behind the mentally broken mother, Alfie’s affected affection for her, and an odd family photo – secrets that only Gwen can reveal.

Doesn’t the mystery at Creak Hall sound deliciously gothic? Regardless of the premise I was delighted when Linda Gillard asked if I’d be interested in receiving a review copy of her latest erelease, HOUSE OF SILENCE. I devoured EMOTIONAL GEOLOGY and STAR GAZING and her consistently smart writing and fully-fleshed characters are the only recommendation I need to read anything she writes. In this case though, I liked the foreboding sound of the title, the ominous clouds and traditional British estate on the cover and the COLD COMFORT FARM meets ATONEMENT meets REBECCA tagline. You don’t meet one of those books every day, so it was with piqued curiosity and hopeful anticipation that I picked it up.

Suspenseful and interesting, I can see the similarities to those works but HOUSE OF SILENCE stands firmly on its own two feet. Gwen and Alfie drew me in from the start. How they meet and the development of their relationship made me want to know more about them. Could Gwen be as well-adjusted as she seems? How will Alfie rise above the towering shadow of his mother’s popular Tom Dickon Harry books? Beyond the main characters, Alfie’s dysfunctional and misfit sisters are just as well characterized. Capable Vivien, hopeful Deborah, cold Fanny and young-at-heart Hattie are all memorable and endearing in their own way. True to the old traditions of English estates, even the gardener Marek is part of the family’s Christmas festivities. Rugged, mature Marek does not disappoint, neither does the dash of quilting and cello-playing, or the well-paced family mystery, which unfolds piece-by-piece and is surprising and satisfying at every turn. An unconventional mix of drama, mystery, and romance, HOUSE OF SILENCE is a page-turner that will surely please many different kinds of readers. It’s a shame that it was overlooked by publishing houses but I’m very glad Linda Gillard had the confidence in her story to go the ebook route because it was definitely warranted. The only novel of hers I haven’t read is A LIFETIME BURNING and I will be rectifying that soon.(less)

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Apr 21, 2011 Barbara Mitchell rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've just finished reading House of Silence and I'm blown away. The book has been published for Kindle and I don't have one, so Gillard kindly furnished me with a copy I could download and read on my computer. This process took a while because it was a little hard on aging eyes, but I'm so glad I read it. (And by the way, Linda, I'm definitely in the Marek camp.)

In the beginning we are introduced to a young woman named Gwen who works as a theatrical wardrobe mistress. She meets a charming actor...more I've just finished reading House of Silence and I'm blown away. The book has been published for Kindle and I don't have one, so Gillard kindly furnished me with a copy I could download and read on my computer. This process took a while because it was a little hard on aging eyes, but I'm so glad I read it. (And by the way, Linda, I'm definitely in the Marek camp.)

In the beginning we are introduced to a young woman named Gwen who works as a theatrical wardrobe mistress. She meets a charming actor named Alfie and they become lovers. Gwen had a pretty awful childhood and has no family, so when Alfie tells her he must go home for Christmas although he hates it every year, she talks him into taking her along. She pictures a lovely family Christmas with all the food and traditions she imagines a country house family in England must enjoy. And so they go off to Creake Hall. Love the name.

Gwen meets his mother, a famous writer of children's books who seems to be suffering from some type of senility, and Alfie's four sisters. Then she meets the gardener who is called Tyler. Mother can't remember names of gardeners so every time they hire a new one, he is called Tyler after the last one she remembers. Actually his name is Marek and he lives in the old mill on the property. All of these interesting characters seem to have secrets, in fact Gwen is the only character whose life is an open book. "Oh the tangled web we weave . . ."

Trying to figure out the truth about everyone is delightful fun, especially in the case of dark handsome Marek, who had been a psychiatrist, and Hattie, the youngest sister. Hattie is a quilter; she and Gwen become fast friends over needle and thread.

I did have a little trouble getting into the story, but that problem can be explained most likely by my reading it on the computer. That's one of the many reasons I have resisted buying a Kindle. Once I got well acquainted with the characters, though, I was hooked. Gillard has a talent for creating such believable characters that they seem like old friends. Nothing they do is out of character and they talk like real people talk. I'll be thinking about them for quite a while.

Another thing I like is that she includes a final chapter that explains what happened after the denouement of the plot. Not only that, it all makes perfect sense. As usual with Gillard's work, I highly recommend this although I do wish the powers that be would stop referring to her books as romance novels because they are so much more. (less)

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Apr 19, 2011 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-uns

I've been a fan of Linda Gillard's books ever since I read Star Gazing and Emotional Geology last year. I will never understand why her books aren't more available here in the States (and just in general), and I love talking them up so that more readers can find and enjoy them just as I do. So when Linda alerted me to the imminent publication of HOUSE OF SILENCE, I knew I would have to get my hands on it. It sounded deliciously fun. The story of this book's publication is very interesting indeed...more I've been a fan of Linda Gillard's books ever since I read Star Gazing and Emotional Geology last year. I will never understand why her books aren't more available here in the States (and just in general), and I love talking them up so that more readers can find and enjoy them just as I do. So when Linda alerted me to the imminent publication of HOUSE OF SILENCE, I knew I would have to get my hands on it. It sounded deliciously fun. The story of this book's publication is very interesting indeed. Linda's been trying to get it published for more than three years, but publishers seemed reluctant to attempt to market this cross-genre novel. Linda describes it as Cold Comfort Farm meets Atonement. And, of course, I'm sitting here thinking to myself, who in their right mind wouldn't want to read that book? Sometimes the publishing process mystifies me. So finally Linda decided to publish the book herself as an e-book. I applaud the move, and I was lucky enough to receive a copy for review.

My friends describe me as frighteningly sensible, not at all the sort of woman who would fall for an actor. And his home. And his family.

Gwen Rowland is precisely that--frighteningly sensible--though she has shockingly good reason to be. Raised (and I use the term incredibly loosely) by the unholy triumvirate of her drug addict mother, her nymphomaniac uncle, and her alcoholic aunt, Gwen's life has been one long exercise in pure anxiety, solitude, and longing for someone--anyone--she can trust. Orphaned and alone by the age of sixteen, she's since grown up and made a life for herself as a costume mistress. One day, while working on set for a BBC period drama, she meets the charming and offbeat Alfie Donovan, an actor playing a supporting role in the production. They strike up a friendship, which eventually leads to romance, and by the time Christmas rolls around Gwen feels it only natural Alfie might invite her to his home for Christmas. Seeing as she has no family to speak of. The usually composed and dapper Alfie is oddly reluctant, but he eventually agrees, and the two set off for his family manor in Norfolk. Though Alfie has prepped her for the eccentricities of his four sisters and mother, the reality is much more than Gwen expected. And soon she finds herself entangled in the unfolding drama surrounding the hapless and disturbing inhabitants of the Creake Hall.

What an absorbing read HOUSE OF SILENCE is. I will admit to a slight case of nerves as I sat down to read Linda Gillard's fourth novel. I had loved Emotional Geology so much, and I suppose I was somewhat worried about the self-publishing aspect, etc. But my mind was immediately set at ease as I found myself intensely fond of the characters right off the bat. I chuckled aloud at least a handful of times within the first few pages, and the writing was decidedly assured and the pacing even and extremely smooth. I loved the setup. Gwen (short for Guinevere, much to her distress), is a wonderfully sympathetic character, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her work her way into the hearts and lives of Alfie's family. A favorite passage early on:

We were kindred spirits in a way. Detached, self-centred, yet both obsessed with the past. Our past. The difference was, I had no family and Alfie did. He had a family-- a large one --but mostly he behaved as if he didn't, as if he wanted no part of them, however much they might want a piece of him.

As a lonely child, then a solitary adolescent, I used to fantasise about having a family--a proper family, teeming with rowdy siblings, jolly aunts and uncles and of course doting parents. Alfie had that. But I suspect his fantasy was that they all died, leaving him in peace as sole owner of Creake Hall.

It was a macabre joke we shared that he lived on grim expectations. I used to chide him for his callousness and he would get angry, which was unlike him. He'd say, 'You have no bloody idea, Gwen! You don't know how much they expect of me.'

And it was true. I had absolutely no idea.

The comparison to Cold Comfort Farm and, I think, to Rebecca is very apt. I was amused, touched, and effectively creeped out in turns. And I had a very good time attempting to decipher the mystery, to figure out just exactly what dark secret lay lurking under the quirky surface. The answer, by the way, doesn't disappoint. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the touch of romance in this book. I've loved that aspect of Ms. Gillard's previous books, and she comes through once again here in an extremely moving, tasteful, and unexpected way. The elusive and so often painful threads of our lives--happiness, family, grief, most of all, perhaps, forgiveness, as well as the daily struggle to hold them all together within one's consciousness--are at the heart of this engaging story. HOUSE OF SILENCE is a perfect choice for a rainy day or an evening in front of the fireplace. It has a little bit of everything and I definitely recommend it.(less)

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Apr 09, 2011 Martha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, e-book

Having read and loved all 3 of Linda Gillard's other novels, I have been waiting ages and in anticipation to read another and House of Silence certainly didn't disappoint!

House of Silence is completely engaging with it's mysterious plot based around an old country house, generations of one family and their hidden past. The mystery grabbed me from the beginning where we learn early on that the charming actor Alfie is not all that he seems... The unravelling of the past all takes place during the...more

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Apr 07, 2011 Lainy rated it 5 of 5 stars

House Of Silence starts with the introduction of our main characters, how they meet and the build up of their relationship.

Gwen has no family to call her own so when she gets the chance to meet and spend christmas with Alfies she jumps at it. Alfie isn't keen on spending Christmas with his family but it is tradition and the only time he does. He warns Gwen he is different around them and to prepare her for the meeting.

As the story progresses we see a different Alfie and pick up on the families w...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Jo at Jaffareadstoo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Linda Gillard is an author I trust implicitly to deliver a good story. From the beginning of House of Silence I was absorbed in the plot, and was carried along on an emotional rollercoaster, as Gwen and Alfie discover that life is never simple, and as one story closes, another yet unfolds. The beautiful Norfolk landscape sets the scene perfectly, and with just enough Gothic splendour the house becomes part of the story, yielding its secrets one by one. The characters blend seamlessly within the...more

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Sep 05, 2011 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars

I do love a book with a grand manor house as the backdrop of an atmospheric story. Linda Gillard's latest novel, House of Silence, has both along with an interesting cast of quirky characters and a mysterious story that unravels at a rapid pace as each lie, secret and deception is exposed. Gwen Rowland gets more than she bargained for when she convinces Alfie Donovan, an actor she meets during the filming of a costume drama, to take her to Creake Hall for the holidays.

"We were kindred spirits i...more I do love a book with a grand manor house as the backdrop of an atmospheric story. Linda Gillard's latest novel, House of Silence, has both along with an interesting cast of quirky characters and a mysterious story that unravels at a rapid pace as each lie, secret and deception is exposed. Gwen Rowland gets more than she bargained for when she convinces Alfie Donovan, an actor she meets during the filming of a costume drama, to take her to Creake Hall for the holidays.

"We were kindred spirits in a way. Detached, self-centred, yet both obsessed with the past. Our past. The difference was, I had no family and Alfie did. He had a family--a large one--but mostly he behaved as if he didn't, as if he wanted no part of them, however much they might want a piece of him."

An only child who grew up in an unhappy environment of hard-living relatives, Gwen has had to take care of herself for most of her life. Her mother, aunt and then uncle each died early as the result of destructive lifestyles. When she was only twelve Gwen woke up Christmas morning to a mother who had overdosed and carries with her painful memories. It's natural she's drawn to Alfie, a charmer with curly blond locks and eloquent brown eyes. It's only later she wonders whether it was Alfie's looks and easygoing personality or his situation that attracted her, as she has always dreamed of being part of a large, raucous family.

Alfie grew up in just such a household with four older sisters and a famous, though eccentric mother. He jokes about having an alter ego, which turns out to be a fictional character well-known and well-loved by so many children for which he served as inspiration. His mother is the author of a successful and long running series of books about a boy named Tom Dickon Harry and his many adventures. Only the books have taken on a life of their own and overshadow Alfie's career--he's known less for his own work than for his mother's creation. So it's with some resignation that he agrees to spend each Christmas at Creake Hall with his family, which for Alfie feels like a burden and chore, yet to Gwen sounds like a dream. He agrees to take her to his family's celebrations but tells her it may well be the second worst Christmas she's ever had. She has no idea just how correct he'll be.

Alfie does warn Gwen that when he's with his family he's a different person, but she's almost shocked by how much he changes when they arrive at Creake Hall, a large Elizabethan manor with extensive gardens. He's driven by duty more than love and seems almost cold in his manner towards his sisters. The eldest, Viv, has remained at home to take care of their mother who is in a fragile state of health. Rae rarely leaves her room and it's obvious that her memories are somewhat garbled. Hattie is closest in age to Alfie, sweet tempered but shy. Gwen feels a natural affinity towards Hattie as the two share a love of needlework and textiles. Gwen's work as wardrobe mistress and Hattie's skill with a needle mean the two have lots to talk about.

Although once at the Hall Alfie distances himself from Gwen, she discovers that she gets on well with his family. Rae finds her to be a sharp and capable young woman and both Viv and Hattie treat her as an honored guest. She has less success with Fan, when Alfie's two sisters who live away from home arrive. Frances is a successful London photographer, beautiful and elegant and always the first to leave in any relationship. Alfie has always been closest to Fan who seems to resent Gwen. Deborah, however, a divorced school teacher, treats Gwen with as much warmth as the other two sisters.

What begins as a promising holiday takes on a confusing hue when Gwen begins doubting Alfie is who he says he is. She's confronted with inconsistencies between what Alfie has told her and what she sees and hears in Creake Hall. Gwen is even more discomfited to find she is drawn to the Hall's handsome gardener, Marek, slightly older and of Scottish-Polish origin. He is a man of few words but of surprising depth and sensitivity, and it appears he has a few secrets of his own. When Gwen and Hattie set about working on a patchwork quilt that has been languishing unfinished for years, Gwen discovers proof of the family's deceit and begins questioning Alfie's part in it until the lies begin unraveling.

House of Silence isn't exactly a tale of suspense, and it's not exactly a romance either, though it has elements of both. It is to some extent a family drama, though the family is quite idiosyncratic. Part of the problem Linda has had in finding a publisher for this book (and why she chose to self-publish it) is it doesn't fit easily into one category, and certainly this does cross genres. I found it all the more appealing for this reason. Gwen is an entirely likable young woman who though well grounded discovers she still has ghosts of her own to exorcise. Linda's books are consistently well written, entertaining novels and if there is a common theme it is that she doesn't shy away from writing about people who are often damaged in some way or psychologically hurting. And she does so with grace and humor and always in a hopeful manner. I very much enjoyed House of Silence (and would be hard pressed to choose a favorite of her books now), and should mention I loved the references to needlework (they made my own fingers itchy to pull out a needle and thread), which you don't often find in novels! (less)

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Jun 07, 2012 Kasey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was really great, and so was the plot. What is really interesting with is this book is that there are three different perspectives presented throughout the entirety of the book. That makes it really different from any other book I have read before. I am usually the person that can guess what happens in a mystery/thriller type plot, but that didn't happen with this story. I was pleasantly surprised and very happy that I had no idea what was going to happen...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Lucy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. When I found out that Linda Gillard's new book was only coming out in digital format I was disappointed. I didn't have a Kindle and I wanted to read it (and honestly reading on my ipod really ruins the reading experience). So when I got my Kindle it was one of the first books I bought. Having really liked Emotional Geology and Star Gazing, and loving A Lifetime Burning, I had pretty high hopes for this one.

Were my hopes met? Well I enjoyed it certainly, and although it took a little getting in t...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Nikki Bywater rated it 5 of 5 stars

Gwen is working as a wardrobe assistant filming on set in Sussex when she meets aspiring actor Alfie. They begin a relationship and when Alfie tells Gwen that he is going to visit his family for Christmas, Gwen is more than happy to go with him. Gwen comes from a dysfunctional family who are now all dead, so she sees this as an opportunity to have a normal traditional family Christmas she is really looking forward to meeting Alfie’s family and getting to know them.

As soon as they arrive at Creak...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Hazel McHaffie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'd read three books by this author already so was delighted when she sent me this one to review. Although it features mental illness and dysfunctional families,in terms of plot and setting it's refreshingly different from the others. Gwen is a wardrobe assistant for film crews when she meets actor Alfie. Being entirely alone in the world herself she's mystified by Alfie's reluctance to share his family and ancestral home with her at Christmastime. She eventually persuades him but gets more than...more

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Apr 24, 2011 Annie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

With so many authors, their name on the cover tells you exactly what you’re going to find inside. Not so with Linda Gillard. The only thing you’re sure of when you pick up something she’s written is that it’ll be superbly written, meticulously plotted and that a couple of days of your life will disappear as you have to read to the very end.

“House of Silence”, sadly only available for the Kindle (for shame, publishers!) ticked every possible box for me. A strong lead heroine in Gwen, a magnifice...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Judy Tolley rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book set in England. Our main character, Gwen, goes to the countryside with her boyfriend,Alfie. He didn't want to take her at first but after a lot of persuasion from Gwen, he consents but warns her it will be a different Christmas and not a good one. Gwen came from a dysfunctional family and was orphaned at a young age. She never had a family Christmas and was looking forward to this one. Alfie indeed becomes a different character and the family seems to be holding a deep secret...more

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Feb 08, 2013 Pauline rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was fortunate to receive House of Silence in arecent book swap. What a wonderful story about family, friends, and acquaintances coming together for the holiday only to have everyone's skeletons stripped bare. Each person has their own history on why the lies were allowed to fester over the years. Gwen seemed to have a BS radar which didn't cut anyone slack but all of the characters were forgivable since everything was done out of love. At first glance, the Holbrooks looked like a family that d...more

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Jun 28, 2011 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Gwen is a girl who has been orphaned when her Mother, Aunt and Uncle all died from curses ranging from drink, drugs and living an immoral life!

She works as a wardrobe mistress on film sets and this brings her into contact with the mysterious Alfie, who invites her, reluctantly, to spend Christmas with is disfunctional family at Creake Hall. Normally she would spend Christmas alone, so thinks it will be nice this time to spend it with a family.

This family Christmas does not turn out quite as she...more

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May 06, 2011 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have just spent the most fabulous day fully immersed in Creake Hall and all it's intrigues!
I was a little dubious about reading on my laptop, I don't own a kindle, and as this book is (tragically) only available as an e-book, I downloaded the Kindle app for my laptop, intending to dip in and out and just read small sections! This worked well for the first quarter, and today, I sat down at 3pm to read another chapter or 2, 6 hours later, having only paused to cook dinner, I finished the book!

Gw...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Lin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have to admit I've avoided this author so far simply because she's apparently a friend of some friends, and when someone says "My friend wrote this book, it's really good," I tend to feel suspicious.
Still, I eventually took the plunge and had to admit I thoroughly enjoyed it - it took very few pages to draw me in to the well-drawn, fascinating characters and then of course the mystery took hold and I found it hard to put down until the end.
Gwen came across as both strong and vulnerable, Alfie...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Leonie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Another spectacularly spellbinding novel from Linda Gillard, the natural successor to Daphne du Maurier and Mary Wesley. Gwen meets Alfie on a film set and is invited home to meet his family, for an entirely unexpected Christmas. Linda paints a vivid and textured picture. Almost from the very beginning, I felt the Winter gloom build around me as Gwen explored the grounds of Creake Hall. Intrigue and mystery abound as the story builds to simmering point, at which point I couldn't put my iPad down...more

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Apr 26, 2012 J.S. Egan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this. The pacing is perfect.

(view spoiler)...more

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Sep 03, 2011 LaNae rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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