Book Review: House of Splinters by Laura Purcell

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

House of Splinters by Laura Purcell

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror, Historical Fiction

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing (February 10, 2026)

Length: 346 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

My queen of gothic horror is at it again! Laura Purcell returns to the haunting concept she first introduced in The Silent Companions, bringing back those creepy wooden figures in House of Splinters. As a long-time fan of the author, stepping back into that eeriness and uncanny atmosphere felt like coming home, though as it turns out, home might not be the best choice of word.

The story follows Belinda Bainbridge, who has spent most of her life under the thumb of her anxious, overbearing mother. So when her father-in-law dies, prompting her husband Wilfred to relocate his family to take over management of his ancestral estate, Belinda quietly hopes the change will give her the chance to build a life of her own. With her young son Freddie approaching his breeching and another child on the way, the move feels like a turning point. However, the one tie from her past that she insists on bringing with her is her lady’s maid, a steady source of familiarity and reassurance as she prepares to leave her old life behind.

But when they arrive at the estate, known as the Bridge, Belinda quickly realizes it is nothing like the future she imagined. The place had never seemed particularly cheerful during her earlier visits, but now it’s practically falling apart. The house is in disrepair, the gardens neglected and lifeless. The villagers, long under the Bainbridges’ care, are resentful and wary of the family, whispering that they are cursed. Indeed, the Bridge has had its share of dark history, including an ancestor rumored to have been executed as a witch, the mysterious death of Wilfred’s sister when they were children, and the accidental death of a servant. Then there are the wooden figures known as silent companions, flat wooden cutouts once popular as household decorations during the Dutch Golden Age. Those that once belonged to Wilfred’s mother are found locked away in a room Belinda hopes to turn into a nursery, but once they are uncovered, strange things begin to happen. Freddie becomes oddly fascinated with them, talking to them and treating them like real people. And with the birth of her second child drawing closer, Belinda begins to fear that something is deeply wrong with the house and that something is haunting her family.

Considering The Silent Companions was the novel that first made me fall in love with the author’s work, one of the most exciting aspects of House of Splinters is how it reconnects with the world of the earlier book. While this novel tells a completely new story with completely new characters, Purcell cleverly revisits some familiar ground by returning to the Bainbridge family and the Bridge. Fans will recognize certain elements echoed in this one, like a pregnant protagonist, the rundown estate, the unwelcoming villagers, and of course, the stars of this horror show which are the silent wooden figures themselves. At the same time, this isn’t a rehash of the original plot with just a few things tweaked. Rather, it feels more like another chapter in the wider legacy of the unfortunate Bainbridges, exploring how multiple generations continue to become haunted by the house and the companions.

One of the things Purcell always does so well is atmosphere, and House of Splinters certainly delivers on that front. The Bridge is practically a character in its own right, and it serves as the perfect gothic setting with its isolation and decaying front, full of secrets that quite literally refuse to stay buried. You never know what might emerge from its overgrown grounds or from the shadows within the house, because the entire place carries an air of unease and the sense that something isn’t right. I’ve also always felt the companions concept had far more potential to explore, and they are again put to excellent use.

Beyond the paranormal elements, the novel also heartily embraces all the classic gothic themes. We have Belinda, a particularly sympathetic protagonist who wants so badly for her new life in her new home to work out, but feels increasingly trapped by the family secrets, societal pressures, and the guilt brought on by unrealistic expectations. And whenever children are involved, the horror becomes even more disturbing. Let’s just say there’s a reason why the “creepy child” trope has become so embedded in the genre, and Purcell taps into it big time here through Freddie’s increasingly strange behavior. The idea that something evil could be influencing a child or threatening a baby makes the implications especially chilling and difficult to shake.

If there’s any downside, it’s that the story takes some time to get going. But then again, it’s a gothic novel. Slow-building tension is par for the course. But once those threads start coming together, particularly with the arrival of Wilfred’s estranged brother Nathan, and the opening of the floodgates with regard to the Bainbridge secrets, things start gaining serious momentum. Is there something supernatural at work at the Bridge? Or is superstition and paranoia getting the better of our characters’ perceptions?

In the end, this ws another strong addition to Laura Purcell’s growing catalogue of spectacular gothic horror. If you enjoy slow-burning tales filled with atmosphere and uneasy mysteries, do yourself a favor and pick one up now. Dark and unsettling, House of Splinters is full of the creeping sense of dread that she does so well, and fans of her work will find plenty to enjoy here, along with the return of the eerie silent companions.