A review by whatsamyreading
Silence for the Dead by Simone St. James

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I love the covers on the re-released versions of the Simone St. James earlier works. They almost feel like pieces of art, and I think Silence for the Dead is my favorite of the bunch. 

Since discovering St. James last year, I’ve been slowly working through her backlist and this book was the perfect choice for a spooky season buddy read with @moneisreading. 

This one had a bit of a different vibe than her newer books, necessitating a shift in expectations. The biggest difference was that the supernatural elements were far more subtle, although they did start to ramp up in the end. As a lover of all things spooky, I was left wanting more in this regard. 

The infusion of romance into the storyline was an unexpected bonus for me. I’m by no means a romance reader, but it helped keep things interesting when the plot lost some steam through the middle. 

The main character, Kitty Weekes, was my favorite. Her character was exceptionally well-developed and I loved that she was such a firecracker. I became entirely invested in her story, and rooted for her success. 

I developed an affection for nearly all of the patients throughout the book, especially Jack Yates. However, there were a few patients that I had difficulty telling apart. 

While this wasn’t my favorite book that I’ve read from the author, I still found it to be a quick and enjoyable read. I think this would be a great fit for someone new to read supernatural books.

Read if you like: 

✨Mental health hospitals 

✨Paranormal plots

✨Hint of romance