The Silence Factory is the latest novel by Bridget Collins, published in 2024. It’s a haunting and atmospheric blend of historical fiction, mystery, and magical realism.
Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Book Blurb
1820: Sophia Ashmore-Percy reluctantly accompanies her husband James to a remote Greek island, where he searches for rare biological specimens. Once there, however, she sets on her own voyage of discovery—stumbling across the very creature he is looking for, making an unexpected connection with a local woman, and ultimately reconsidering her marriage, life, and own desires.
Decades later, audiologist Henry Latimer is sent to the home of industrialist Sir Edward Ashmore-Percy and tasked with curing the man’s young daughter, Philomel, of her deafness. But Henry, eager to escape a troubled past, quickly becomes obsessed with the fascinating nature of Sir Edward’s business: spinning silk with a rare and magical breed of spiders.
The extraordinary silk shields sound, offering respite from bustling streets and noisy neighbors. The result is instant tranquility, as wearers experience a soothing calmness. Yet, those within earshot of the outward-facing silk are subjected to eerie murmurs that amplify with proximity. Bystanders suffer the consequences of this unnerving phenomenon, manifesting in physical and mental afflictions ranging from headaches and drowsiness to severe cases of madness.
As Henry becomes entangled in the allure of the silk and Sir Edward’s charm, he glimpses a more sinister family history. The closer he ventures into the inner circle of Carthmute House, the more he unravels the horrifying underbelly of the silk business.
The Silence Factory Book Review
I found the Silence Factory to be a deeply unsettling, gothic tale and I was captivated and horrified from the start! The spiders…just thinking about them makes me shudder!
The story is told from two different perspectives and timelines and I found the alternating viewpoints to be equally engaging. The story jumped between Sophia’s journey in 1820s Greece and Henry’s fascination with the Ashmore-Percy family’s magical silk in the late 19th century. Each narrative offered its own unique voice and atmosphere and I felt equally immersed into both worlds.
The setting of Carthmute House, along with the eerie factory where the silk is produced, drips with gothic tension. The descriptions of the silk itself and the way it can create an unnatural silence, were deeply unsettling. And have I mentioned the spiders?! The descriptions were so vivid I felt as though as I was right there, watching the spiders spin their threads.
The novel’s gothic atmosphere is enhanced by its exploration of power dynamics, particularly in Sophia’s storyline. Her journey highlights how powerless women were in the 19th century, not only in their marriages but in the way some men sought to control nature itself. Throughout the story, Collins weaves in themes of colonialism, class divides, and sexism, making The Silence Factory much more than just a gothic mystery.
Henry’s storyline is equally engrossing. His growing obsession with the silk and Sir Edward’s charm is fascinating, and as he delves deeper into the family’s dark past, the horrors lurking beneath the surface are revealed.
Bridget Collins’ writing is lyrical and evocative, creating an almost menacing atmosphere that pulled me in from the start. However, I did feel that the descriptive prose slowed the plot down in places. Thankfully, the slow burn pays off, building tension and momentum as the novel progresses.
Though this was my first Bridget Collins novel, it definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed how the story blended historical fiction, mystery, and magical realism and I’m now looking forward to reading her earlier works.