[Review] When We Were Silent - Fiona McPhillips

Summary: Louise Manson is the newest student at Highfield Manor, Dublin’s most exclusive private school. It seems nearly perfect: the high arched window alcoves and tall granite pillars, the overspill of lilac at the front gate and the immaculate playing fields, the giggling students, the dusty, oak-lined library, and the dark, festering secret she has come to expose.

At first, Lou’s working-class status makes her the consummate outsider, though all that changes when she is befriended by the beautiful and wealthy Shauna Power. But Lou finds out that even Shauna is caught up in Highfield’s web, and her time there ends with a lifeless body sprawled at her feet.

Thirty years later, Lou has rebuilt her life after the harrowing events of the so-called “Highfield Affair,” when she gets a shocking phone call. Ronan Power, Shauna’s brother, is a high-profile lawyer bringing a lawsuit against the school. And he needs Lou to testify.

Now with a daughter and career to protect, the last thing Lou wants is for Highfield Manor to be back in her life. But to finally free herself and others, she has to confront her past, go to battle once more, and discover, for once and for all, what really happened at Highfield. Powerful and compelling, When We Were Silent is an unputdownable, thrilling story of exploitation, privilege, and retribution. (Pub Date: May 21, 2024)

 

Louise's sole aim upon enrolling at the school was to gather evidence against the man and institution responsible for her best friend's tragic demise. Instead, she finds herself grappling with decades of stigma, her discoveries seemingly insufficient against the entrenched system. Just when she believes the ordeal is behind her, a lawyer reopens the wounds, compelling her to recount the harrowing details once more. But does he truly comprehend the depths of what her experiences entail?

This book was an engaging read, striking a balance between imperfection and captivation. It unfolds with a realism that, though fictionalized, echoes the haunting realities faced by countless teenagers like Lou and her circle of friends. While I cannot ascertain its fidelity to actual events, its chilling plausibility is palpable.

However, the narrative could have benefited from more meticulous editing. While the storytelling shines as the book's cornerstone, some resolutions to conflicts struck me as naive. These instances, predominantly in the latter portion of the story (to avoid spoilers), stretched credibility—similar to a lone teenager infiltrating a school to ensnare an abuser, an audacious plan that, while central to the narrative's theme, feels improbable in execution. This recurring pattern of half-baked solutions succeeding dilutes the overall "believability" and leaves some threads feeling unresolved, despite no overt loose ends.

Despite these observations, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to friends who appreciate thrillers interwoven with personal drama. It particularly resonates with readers fond of YA narratives, offering a compelling blend of suspense and emotional depth.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Rating: 3 out of 5.