Review: The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins

I really tossed up whether to share my review of this one here, because I really like to focus on books that I want to rave about and, as you’ll see if you read on below, this one just missed the mark a bit for me. I decided that in the spirit of transparency, and maybe vulnerability, I wanted to try and articulate what it was that did and didn’t work for me. I also think there are plenty of elements in here that might appeal to other readers. I’d love to know if you read my review whether any of this resonates for you too! I’m going to pop a little blurb in, and then continue with my thoughts below.

What is Bridget Collins’ The Silence Factory about?

Henry dreams of silence.

A world without the clattering of carriages through cobbled streets, the distant cries of drunken brawls, the relentless ticking of the clock.

Then he meets a fascinating, mysterious gentleman who sells just that. Precious silk that can drown out the clamour of the world – and everything Henry is so desperate to escape.

Summoned to Sir Edward’s secluded factory to try to cure his young daughter’s deafness, Henry is soon drawn deeper and deeper into the origins of this otherworldly gift: a gift that has travelled from ancient Mediterranean glades to English libraries.

Ignoring repeated warnings from the girl’s secretive governess, he allows himself to fall under the spell of Sir Edward and his silk… but when he learns its true cost, will it be too late to turn back?

My review of The Silence Factory

The striking cover of this book really caught my attention before I knew anything about it. Bridget Collins’ previous books have been on my tbr but I’ve never quite managed to get to them, and I knew when I had the chance to get my hands on a review copy that would be the extra nudge I needed to actually read it.

The very beginning of the book really grabbed me, and I was intrigued by the story, but once Henry arrived at Sir Edward’s I just found the pacing was off for me. Some bits felt like they dragged, and I struggled to get through some of the journal entries we’re shown from the past timeline – especially where there were longer descriptions of the island and the spiders themselves. This meant I was a reluctant to pick it up or keep reading when I did, so then it felt like it took even longer.

There was a second turning point for me about halfway through the book where everything picked back up for me and I flew through the remainder of it in just days. I do love the creeping unease of a gothic novel, and when this book hit that spot for me it was great. I thought the characters were mostly fantastically unlikeable, and I really liked the look at the inequity, discrimination, and danger of industrial England (I feel like I would have appreciated what Collins was examining in these themes more if I hadn’t struggled a bit early on).

Overall I think this is one that could go either way for fans of historical fiction, gothic fiction, and even readers who have loved her previous work (I’ve seen mixed reviews). I do think it’s worth picking up if you’re looking for something to make you feel a bit unsettled and are happy to take prose over pace while the story takes root.

Big thanks to Harper Collins Australian for approving my request for an ecopy through NetGalley (I actually bought my own paperback copy to read since I liked the cover so much!)

xo Bron
***

The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins
Out now from Harper Collins Aus
Source: I received an ecopy from Harper Collins via NetGalley (but also bought my own paperback)
Category: Gothic Historical Fiction

The Silence Factory on The StoryGraph and Goodreads

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