In 1950, residents of Idlewild Hall, a boarding school for unwanted girls, believe the grounds are haunted by a ghost known as Mary Hand. When one student, Sonia Blair, disappears, her classmates suspect a local secret. Decades later in 2014, journalist Fiona Sheridan remains obsessed with the murder of her sister, whose body was found on the abandoned school property years prior. When an anonymous benefactor begins restoring the ruins, Fiona investigates the connections between her sister’s death, a 1950s cold case, and the site’s dark history.
Readers of historical mysteries and supernatural thrillers select this title for its dual-timeline structure and gothic atmosphere. It appeals to those interested in the social history of mid-century institutions and the mechanics of investigative journalism. The audience gains a detailed look at how historical trauma persists across generations and how archival research uncovers long-buried crimes. One finishes the book with a clear understanding of how institutional neglect can hide violence and the specific ways past injustices remain unresolved until confronted.
Practical, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
Insights from The Broken Girls
“The problem with things that are hidden is that they never stay that way.”
Silence is its own kind of ghost. Fiona spent twenty years wondering about her sister because nobody would say her name out loud.
“They were the broken girls, the ones who didn't fit, the ones who were too much or too little.”
Idlewild felt like a place where unwanted girls were sent to fade away. It shows how easily society discards children who don't fit a specific mold.
The bond between the four roommates was their only real protection. They created a family because the world outside the gates didn't want them anymore.
“She shows you what you've done. She shows you what you've lost.”
Mary Hand is terrifying because she feeds on the things you already regret. She doesn't need to attack when your own guilt does the work for her.
- Published
- 2018
- Publisher
- Berkley
- ISBN
- 9780698198487
- Language
- EN
