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The Hush Sisters
***49TH SHELF UTTERLY FANTASTIC BOOK FOR FALL*** ***NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS WINNER, SUSPENSE*** ***NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS FINALIST, PARANORMAL***
Sissy and Ava Hush are estranged, middle-aged sisters with little in common beyond their upbringing in a peculiar manor in downtown St. John’s. With both parents now dead, the siblings must decide what to do with the old house they’ve inherited. Despite their individual loneliness, neither is willing to change or cede to the other’s intentions. As the sisters discover the house’s dark secrets, the spirits of the past awaken, and strange events envelop them. The Hush sisters must either face these sinister forces together or be forever ripped apart.
In The Hush Sisters , Gerard Collins weaves psychological suspense with elements of the fantastic to craft a contemporary urban gothic that will keep readers spellbound until the novel whispers its startling secrets.
Sissy and Ava Hush are estranged, middle-aged sisters with little in common beyond their upbringing in a peculiar manor in downtown St. John’s. With both parents now dead, the siblings must decide what to do with the old house they’ve inherited. Despite their individual loneliness, neither is willing to change or cede to the other’s intentions. As the sisters discover the house’s dark secrets, the spirits of the past awaken, and strange events envelop them. The Hush sisters must either face these sinister forces together or be forever ripped apart.
In The Hush Sisters , Gerard Collins weaves psychological suspense with elements of the fantastic to craft a contemporary urban gothic that will keep readers spellbound until the novel whispers its startling secrets.
312 pages, Paperback
Published October 5, 2020
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176 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 12, 2020
I was excited after the first page. With lines like, "... the Hush house, where everything that came wanted to leave and everything that wanted to leave, stayed," you immediately know it's going to be a good read. But then the prose drifted into the mundane. I don't mean boring, just more day-to-day event-oriented, and the literary, figurative language all but disappeared. It later returned in places, and I preferred those chapters. Sissy and Angus on the swings I thought was brilliantly written as were several other scenes.
Looking back over the story and the writing, this alternating style now seems to make more sense. I don't know if it's intentional, but the overarching theme is earthly-spiritual contrast, and the mundane-figurative form matches that. I also realize I was fully drawn into this story. Concrete writing does that. But also I once spent three months working in St. John's and every day walked up Kings Bridge Rd., along Forest Road, and into the back doors of the Fort William Building. This neighbourhood was like a second home to me.
Some events were a bit too deus ex machina, a bit too tidy. The Ava affair popped out of nowhere, at least for me, and was jarring. The final buyer, Flynn, was way too convenient. Those and some other minor elements felt contrived. But that is minor.
The "revealed" main events were on the high end of powerful. Wow! One can overlook many dislikes with a story like this. The story didn't pull me along--I wasn't compelled to know what came next--but it certainly didn't let me have any peace until I finished it. The story smacks you unexpectedly, and when it does, it feels right. At those points, I realized the groundwork was there for a reason. Overall, it ended up being one of those stay-with-you-forever reads, certainly the biggest wallop I've had in a long time, and I thank Gerard for that.
I certainly do recommend this book.
Looking back over the story and the writing, this alternating style now seems to make more sense. I don't know if it's intentional, but the overarching theme is earthly-spiritual contrast, and the mundane-figurative form matches that. I also realize I was fully drawn into this story. Concrete writing does that. But also I once spent three months working in St. John's and every day walked up Kings Bridge Rd., along Forest Road, and into the back doors of the Fort William Building. This neighbourhood was like a second home to me.
Some events were a bit too deus ex machina, a bit too tidy. The Ava affair popped out of nowhere, at least for me, and was jarring. The final buyer, Flynn, was way too convenient. Those and some other minor elements felt contrived. But that is minor.
The "revealed" main events were on the high end of powerful. Wow! One can overlook many dislikes with a story like this. The story didn't pull me along--I wasn't compelled to know what came next--but it certainly didn't let me have any peace until I finished it. The story smacks you unexpectedly, and when it does, it feels right. At those points, I realized the groundwork was there for a reason. Overall, it ended up being one of those stay-with-you-forever reads, certainly the biggest wallop I've had in a long time, and I thank Gerard for that.
I certainly do recommend this book.
December 16, 2020
5 Cranky Stars
This is a well written story that hits all your senses. There should be a "trigger" warnings because it deals with psychological and physical abuse. The characters are portrayed very realistically. You can feel the pain and anguish in each of them. The author's descriptions of the house and small town in Newfoundland make you feel as if you are there. I grew up in an old house, not quite as big, but with all the creaks and groans and totally understand the younger sister's love of the house.
The house is haunted as all old houses should be. Sissy (Cara) owns the house but her older sister, Ava wants her to dispose of it. It has become too costly to repair and both girls need the money. When Ava suddenly appears and keeps pushing for the sale, all the girl's secrets are brought to light. Their stories are similar but they didn't know it until now. In their thirties, it is now time to find the peace and love that they both deserve. It's a story of ups and downs and I never wanted to put it down. All in all, a very thought provoking read.
This is a well written story that hits all your senses. There should be a "trigger" warnings because it deals with psychological and physical abuse. The characters are portrayed very realistically. You can feel the pain and anguish in each of them. The author's descriptions of the house and small town in Newfoundland make you feel as if you are there. I grew up in an old house, not quite as big, but with all the creaks and groans and totally understand the younger sister's love of the house.
The house is haunted as all old houses should be. Sissy (Cara) owns the house but her older sister, Ava wants her to dispose of it. It has become too costly to repair and both girls need the money. When Ava suddenly appears and keeps pushing for the sale, all the girl's secrets are brought to light. Their stories are similar but they didn't know it until now. In their thirties, it is now time to find the peace and love that they both deserve. It's a story of ups and downs and I never wanted to put it down. All in all, a very thought provoking read.
November 2, 2020
Excellent read by a local NL author! Enjoyed it :)
September 1, 2022
4.5 Stars
When I first started reading "The Hush Sisters" I was expecting a ghost story, and it certainly met my expectations; but the book is so much more than a typical ghost story. It's a dark psychological thriller that left me completely mystified. I was not expecting it to be as dark as it was. The book delves deep into different forms of abuse, so trigger warnings are a must. With this being said, the book is still very enjoyable but it definitely looks at the impact of suffering from such forms of abuse. I do not want to give to much away as I want other readers to be able to experience the book without any expectations as well.
Sissy and Ava are the Hush Sisters and when Ava returns home for a visit neither of them are prepared for what the future holds. The story definitely has a gothic vibe with eerie descriptions of strange components found within the house and the supernatural elements found throughout the entire book. Sissy lives in the family home while Ava lives in Toronto. Ava believes it's time to move forward and leave the past behind them while Sissy is stuck and unable to let go.
Strange events take place within the house, ghostly apparations continually appear and the dark history of experiences lived within the house make the story one to remember. The story takes place in present day, but it also takes readers back into the past as we discover the Sister's childhood and backgrounds. There are many family secrets that come to light and those family secrets definitely add to the story and take the book to a whole new level of thrilling as it's extremely dark and heart wrenching.
I also love that this book was written by Gerard Collins, a Canadian author. The book is rich in Canadian culture as it depicts Newfoundland perfectly.
When I first started reading "The Hush Sisters" I was expecting a ghost story, and it certainly met my expectations; but the book is so much more than a typical ghost story. It's a dark psychological thriller that left me completely mystified. I was not expecting it to be as dark as it was. The book delves deep into different forms of abuse, so trigger warnings are a must. With this being said, the book is still very enjoyable but it definitely looks at the impact of suffering from such forms of abuse. I do not want to give to much away as I want other readers to be able to experience the book without any expectations as well.
Sissy and Ava are the Hush Sisters and when Ava returns home for a visit neither of them are prepared for what the future holds. The story definitely has a gothic vibe with eerie descriptions of strange components found within the house and the supernatural elements found throughout the entire book. Sissy lives in the family home while Ava lives in Toronto. Ava believes it's time to move forward and leave the past behind them while Sissy is stuck and unable to let go.
Strange events take place within the house, ghostly apparations continually appear and the dark history of experiences lived within the house make the story one to remember. The story takes place in present day, but it also takes readers back into the past as we discover the Sister's childhood and backgrounds. There are many family secrets that come to light and those family secrets definitely add to the story and take the book to a whole new level of thrilling as it's extremely dark and heart wrenching.
I also love that this book was written by Gerard Collins, a Canadian author. The book is rich in Canadian culture as it depicts Newfoundland perfectly.
August 12, 2021
First of all, no trigger warning, which is a no-no for books of this content.
I'm also a survivor of what is portrayed in the book, and while I understand my experiences are not going to be what all survivors of this kind of trauma experience, I feel that there was little to no effort in the book to show what the reality is really like. I also know other people who have experienced this, and it's not just something that passes or goes away because the abusers die or anything like that. It's a lifelong trauma one has to work through. Rape of any kind is beyond just the act of rape itself. It's a soul rape, most especially when it comes from a family member, like one's father - it destroys every fiber of your being.
In some cases, survivors even go on to become abusers and perpetuators of the cycle themselves. One of my guardians was one such person.
The author cheapened the experience of such trauma and made the incorrect association between that trauma and the sexual preferences of the survivor (a common mistake made by people who choose to write this topic without the necessary research required in advance).
In the end, it feels more like a male author's uncompassionate rape fantasy written out to eventually explore a lesbian fantasy, rather than a piece that really touches upon the dark and gritty reality of sexual abuse and rape by one's father or male family member.
Despicable when such a sensitive topic is used as a cheap plot device.
I'm also a survivor of what is portrayed in the book, and while I understand my experiences are not going to be what all survivors of this kind of trauma experience, I feel that there was little to no effort in the book to show what the reality is really like. I also know other people who have experienced this, and it's not just something that passes or goes away because the abusers die or anything like that. It's a lifelong trauma one has to work through. Rape of any kind is beyond just the act of rape itself. It's a soul rape, most especially when it comes from a family member, like one's father - it destroys every fiber of your being.
In some cases, survivors even go on to become abusers and perpetuators of the cycle themselves. One of my guardians was one such person.
The author cheapened the experience of such trauma and made the incorrect association between that trauma and the sexual preferences of the survivor (a common mistake made by people who choose to write this topic without the necessary research required in advance).
In the end, it feels more like a male author's uncompassionate rape fantasy written out to eventually explore a lesbian fantasy, rather than a piece that really touches upon the dark and gritty reality of sexual abuse and rape by one's father or male family member.
Despicable when such a sensitive topic is used as a cheap plot device.
October 19, 2020
The story of the Hush Sisters is a dark gothic, modern tale that draws you in then grips you by the mind until the end. The Hush house holds fears, anxieties and a few ghosts that will demand your attention. I couldn’t put this book down. I’ve been anticipating the release of this book and it did not disappoint for one second. Collins masterful writing uses concise, superb language to weave a suspenseful, dark tale with nuanced and real characters that won’t leave you anytime soon.
January 5, 2021
Thank you to Samantha Fitzpatrick at Breakwater Books for sending me a copy of this book back in October, to Silver Dagger Book Tours for hosting the tour that gave me the opportunity to finally read it, and to author Gerard Collins for sending interview responses along to feature on my blog post! I received my copies (both physical and digital) in exchange for an honest review, and I promise that my thoughts are my own and my review is indeed honest.
Read my review and an interview with the author at: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...
The Hush Sisters by Gerard Collins is a contemporary gothic fiction set in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. It tells the story of Ava and “Sissy” (Cara) Hush, a pair of adult sisters who disagree on what to do with the ageing and expensive family home. Sissy still lives here and wants to stay. Ava can’t stay far enough away and wants to sell. Many things are buried in and around this house, both literally and figuratively, but none of it is gone or forgotten. This book is told from two points of view, the two sisters, and jumps back into the past and pieces of their younger years become relevant to the mysteries unravelling in the present.
Normally when I finish a book I intend to review I like to rush over to Goodreads and see what stood out to other reviewers, and what stood out to me that they missed, so that I can organize my thoughts into a review that presents something new. This time, however, I’ve chosen to write my review entirely blind in that sense. This book is steeped in Newfoundland culture, and while I’m curious to see how international readers responded, I’m also a little worried that some stars will be docked for what a few CFAs perceive as poor editing when what they’re reading is actually the local dialect. On that note though, nobody said “Yes b’y!” in 300 pages? In St. John’s? Go on wit ya!
As someone who has called this province home since 2012 and spent the first two years living in St. John’s itself (now in CBS), I had a lot of fun spotting locations and businesses I’m familiar with. Obviously for legal purposes a lot of things couldn’t be named correctly, but I know which number to dial to get the orange taxi (rather than the yellow one or the blue & white), I have my suspicions which establishment Finnegan’s Pub actually is, and I really want to drive down Forest Rd to see if I can spot the inspiration for the Hush house.
I loved the way all the layers of mystery and horror unfolds in this book, no matter how horrible those horrors are. None of it surprised me, I called every reveal chapters before they came, but that didn’t spoil it at all. I do share an unfortunate amount of similar ghosts of the past with these sisters, so perhaps that’s why none of it surprised and maybe this book holds a lot more suspense for less storied readers. I will say the horrors were written beautifully and tastefully, true to form for gothic fiction, and didn’t go into needless gory detail. If anyone who sees their own past in the trigger warnings I’ll include at the bottom has had time to heal, then I would say approach with caution but don’t avoid this book. I’ll sleep fine tonight, and this masterpiece of a story was worth the read.
I really enjoyed all the different ways this book examined and explored intimate relationships. We’ve got Cara Hush, a divorcee who has no idea where her ex is now, and the travelling musical vagrant from across the pond who’s captured her timid heart. We have resilient survivor and career woman Ava Hush and the unexpected lover she finds while visiting her sister. We have the stories from the past that expose Mrs. Hush’s scared silence in her marriage to the monster who was Mr. Hush and her not so secret affair with the gentleman next door. Then there are the actual ghosts in the old Hush house both keeping Sissy company and slowly pushing her away.
My critiques of The Hush Sisters are minor. Besides the shocking lack of Newfoundland’s most famous colloquial phrase, Sissy (the one who actually remained in the province all this time) is surprised on multiple occasions that someone who just walk in uninvited or that Angus is so comfortable greeting random strangers. Maybe I’ve been living with baymen too long and townies are more uptight than I remember, but nobody coming to visit knocks on an unlocked door around here, nor calls ahead before coming. Every stranger on the street says hello. Sissy’s excuse that she’s a woman by herself is odd when they’re in broad daylight and she’s not even alone. I can’t check the mail without saying hello to at least 5 neighbours, day or night, and those who don’t say hello while passing by are still going give a way or a nod.
I was also frequently taken a little out of the story every time the character Cotton Hush was mentioned for the first time in a while or even made an appearance, for two reasons. First, I couldn’t figure out if Cotton is a nickname or a legal name. If it’s a nickname it’s odd that his legal name never comes up at all, even once. (My brother in law is Skipper around the family and Harold with his friends most of the time, but hang around long enough and somebody will call him Adam.) If Cotton is the character’s legal name, then that’s also odd. I’ve never met anyone here or elsewhere with that first name, and this book clearly takes place in the 21st century. This is the uncle to sisters whose parents’ gravestones say they were born in the 1940s. On top of that, the sisters repeatedly refer to him by his full name, Cotton Hush. Not Uncle Cotton, not just Cotton (I doubt they need to distinguish him from another Cotton,) but Cotton Hush.
Overall this book was a pleasure to read, and the in-laws are lined up wanting to borrow my copy (the print one, don’t worry!) as soon as I’m done with it. I high recommend this book to fans of gothic fiction or Newfoundland stories.
Trigger warnings: Sexual assault of a minor, death from cancer, murder, pregnancy loss, familial estrangement
Read my review and an interview with the author at: https://www.westveilpublishing.com/?p...
The Hush Sisters by Gerard Collins is a contemporary gothic fiction set in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. It tells the story of Ava and “Sissy” (Cara) Hush, a pair of adult sisters who disagree on what to do with the ageing and expensive family home. Sissy still lives here and wants to stay. Ava can’t stay far enough away and wants to sell. Many things are buried in and around this house, both literally and figuratively, but none of it is gone or forgotten. This book is told from two points of view, the two sisters, and jumps back into the past and pieces of their younger years become relevant to the mysteries unravelling in the present.
Normally when I finish a book I intend to review I like to rush over to Goodreads and see what stood out to other reviewers, and what stood out to me that they missed, so that I can organize my thoughts into a review that presents something new. This time, however, I’ve chosen to write my review entirely blind in that sense. This book is steeped in Newfoundland culture, and while I’m curious to see how international readers responded, I’m also a little worried that some stars will be docked for what a few CFAs perceive as poor editing when what they’re reading is actually the local dialect. On that note though, nobody said “Yes b’y!” in 300 pages? In St. John’s? Go on wit ya!
As someone who has called this province home since 2012 and spent the first two years living in St. John’s itself (now in CBS), I had a lot of fun spotting locations and businesses I’m familiar with. Obviously for legal purposes a lot of things couldn’t be named correctly, but I know which number to dial to get the orange taxi (rather than the yellow one or the blue & white), I have my suspicions which establishment Finnegan’s Pub actually is, and I really want to drive down Forest Rd to see if I can spot the inspiration for the Hush house.
I loved the way all the layers of mystery and horror unfolds in this book, no matter how horrible those horrors are. None of it surprised me, I called every reveal chapters before they came, but that didn’t spoil it at all. I do share an unfortunate amount of similar ghosts of the past with these sisters, so perhaps that’s why none of it surprised and maybe this book holds a lot more suspense for less storied readers. I will say the horrors were written beautifully and tastefully, true to form for gothic fiction, and didn’t go into needless gory detail. If anyone who sees their own past in the trigger warnings I’ll include at the bottom has had time to heal, then I would say approach with caution but don’t avoid this book. I’ll sleep fine tonight, and this masterpiece of a story was worth the read.
I really enjoyed all the different ways this book examined and explored intimate relationships. We’ve got Cara Hush, a divorcee who has no idea where her ex is now, and the travelling musical vagrant from across the pond who’s captured her timid heart. We have resilient survivor and career woman Ava Hush and the unexpected lover she finds while visiting her sister. We have the stories from the past that expose Mrs. Hush’s scared silence in her marriage to the monster who was Mr. Hush and her not so secret affair with the gentleman next door. Then there are the actual ghosts in the old Hush house both keeping Sissy company and slowly pushing her away.
My critiques of The Hush Sisters are minor. Besides the shocking lack of Newfoundland’s most famous colloquial phrase, Sissy (the one who actually remained in the province all this time) is surprised on multiple occasions that someone who just walk in uninvited or that Angus is so comfortable greeting random strangers. Maybe I’ve been living with baymen too long and townies are more uptight than I remember, but nobody coming to visit knocks on an unlocked door around here, nor calls ahead before coming. Every stranger on the street says hello. Sissy’s excuse that she’s a woman by herself is odd when they’re in broad daylight and she’s not even alone. I can’t check the mail without saying hello to at least 5 neighbours, day or night, and those who don’t say hello while passing by are still going give a way or a nod.
I was also frequently taken a little out of the story every time the character Cotton Hush was mentioned for the first time in a while or even made an appearance, for two reasons. First, I couldn’t figure out if Cotton is a nickname or a legal name. If it’s a nickname it’s odd that his legal name never comes up at all, even once. (My brother in law is Skipper around the family and Harold with his friends most of the time, but hang around long enough and somebody will call him Adam.) If Cotton is the character’s legal name, then that’s also odd. I’ve never met anyone here or elsewhere with that first name, and this book clearly takes place in the 21st century. This is the uncle to sisters whose parents’ gravestones say they were born in the 1940s. On top of that, the sisters repeatedly refer to him by his full name, Cotton Hush. Not Uncle Cotton, not just Cotton (I doubt they need to distinguish him from another Cotton,) but Cotton Hush.
Overall this book was a pleasure to read, and the in-laws are lined up wanting to borrow my copy (the print one, don’t worry!) as soon as I’m done with it. I high recommend this book to fans of gothic fiction or Newfoundland stories.
Trigger warnings: Sexual assault of a minor, death from cancer, murder, pregnancy loss, familial estrangement
December 5, 2020
"SIssy closed her eyes and listened to the things she usually held at bay for the sake of getting by. There were moans and whispers, shouts of terror, exhortations of pain, all vying for her attention, like constant macabre music somewhere just beyond her reach of vision."
🌿
Thoughts ~
A wonderfully crafted, dark gothic mystery!
Ava and Sissy Hush aren't close and have little in common, but following the death of their parents they inherite a strange old house and must decide what is to become of it. As the story unfolds these sisters experience the ghosts of the house's history, the darkness and secrets. Strange things start to happen.The sisters must come together and face this evil or fracture apart indefinitely!
Creepy old houses makes such a great background and atmosphere! Collins completely sucked me in with his suspenseful prose and wonderful character development. This was hard to put down and I could have easily read it in one sitting. Thank you @breakwaterbooks for surprising me with this one! ♡ #canlit
Opinion are my own. For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
🌿
Thoughts ~
A wonderfully crafted, dark gothic mystery!
Ava and Sissy Hush aren't close and have little in common, but following the death of their parents they inherite a strange old house and must decide what is to become of it. As the story unfolds these sisters experience the ghosts of the house's history, the darkness and secrets. Strange things start to happen.The sisters must come together and face this evil or fracture apart indefinitely!
Creepy old houses makes such a great background and atmosphere! Collins completely sucked me in with his suspenseful prose and wonderful character development. This was hard to put down and I could have easily read it in one sitting. Thank you @breakwaterbooks for surprising me with this one! ♡ #canlit
Opinion are my own. For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
November 11, 2020
Captivating and haunting, this tale of two sisters caught me from the beginning. Collins developed his characters slowly but methodically through secrets of their past and the bindings of their present while giving them, and the reader, chances to hope for their future.
Not for the faint of heart, this is both Sissy's story and Ava's, as they look back at their lives together and the people who raised them. Now middle aged and starting over, it is clear that Ava has demon's inside she's trying to forget and sell off anything that brings them back while Sissy has some demon's on the outside she is trying to part with.
While some of the foreshadowing was solved quickly, the revealing of each horrific moment was still shocking and heartbreaking.
A Canadian author does it again! Definitely a recommended read.
Not for the faint of heart, this is both Sissy's story and Ava's, as they look back at their lives together and the people who raised them. Now middle aged and starting over, it is clear that Ava has demon's inside she's trying to forget and sell off anything that brings them back while Sissy has some demon's on the outside she is trying to part with.
While some of the foreshadowing was solved quickly, the revealing of each horrific moment was still shocking and heartbreaking.
A Canadian author does it again! Definitely a recommended read.
October 12, 2023
Two sisters driven apart by their family secrets are eventually brought back together to hash out the truth and pick up the broken pieces of their souls. I really enjoyed the spooky vibe from this novel. Being from Newfoundland, I also enjoyed the familiarity of the language and places. I’m a sucker for dirty family secrets and this story certainly had its share. Redemption is oh so sweet! (The authors over use of commas annoyed me in the beginning of this book. He seemed to settle down with more complete sentences once he got going….is that a weird thing to complain about? Lol )
October 30, 2021
Sisters have an unique bond . They are the go to person in good times and bad . Sisters sometimes know though just how much another sister can deal with in her life . Therefore they sometimes will shield the truth to protect a more vulnerable one. This book is an example of that connection and protectiveness.This book takes place in the province of Newfoundland which is recognized for its rugged beauty , and hostile climate at times. The love of this landscape is evident in this book.
September 21, 2021
I borrowed this book from my local library and really enjoyed it.
I read it, not realizing the author lives in the same province as me.
I read it because the book was very interesting. These 2 sisters went through alot of trauma in their lives. Its a psychological suspense book . Its even a book with ghosts as well.
It was very well written to me and kept me interested from the first page. Looking forward to reading more by the author
I read it, not realizing the author lives in the same province as me.
I read it because the book was very interesting. These 2 sisters went through alot of trauma in their lives. Its a psychological suspense book . Its even a book with ghosts as well.
It was very well written to me and kept me interested from the first page. Looking forward to reading more by the author
January 23, 2021
B’ys, lay hands on a copy of Gerard Collins’ new novel The Hush Sisters [Breakwater Books]. Meet Sissy and Ava Hush, born and reared at 333 Forest Road, St. John’s, Newfoundland. Born and abused and reared and left struggling to find abiding solace in a sliver of space and time that is a paradigm of Newfoundland gothic.
For frig sake, The Hush Sisters is darker than Leonard Cohen’s final album — You Want It Darker.
As I read The Hush Sisters I realized the cliché-est cliché question in the Kingdom of Fiction drifted like a jellyfish in my noggin — Gerard old man, how did you ever come up with the idea?
The answer arrived with my final sip of goosed herbal tea. (Try it — the tea of your choice slashed with Grey Goose, God’s own vodka.)
Fancy your own personal demons rousting you from bed in the middle of a bitterly cold winter’s night. Picture yourself bundled up in your favorite wooly sweater — a hand-knitted jumper the size of a fleece — and huddled alongside a fireplace or, at least, near a furnace duct. A puncheon-sized mug of hot chocolate — with or without vodka — gives comfort and helps cast out those pestiferous friggin demons.
Got that?
Here’s what I think …
… Gerard Collins found himself — perhaps by choice — inside a circle of Satan’s imps, all wielding pitchforks. Lacking a wooly sweater, I s’pose, Collins decided to fight fire with fire, so to speak. He cloaked himself with the darkest literature from his bookshelves, not the least of which was Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. He allowed the darkness to percolate in his noggin until it brewed up Sissy and Ava, the tormented Hush sisters.
That make a grain of sense?
The Hush Sisters will make you angry and sad and perhaps even afraid of finding yourself in the earthen basement of a creepy ol’ — conceivably haunted — house … with a mound of dirt in the floor.
Pay heed. The Hush Sisters contains the best fog ever: “It was so thick that when Ava stood, disheartened, on the front porch, she grabbed a handful of it and stuffed it into her mouth. She chewed on it and tasted fog — light, fluffy, and lacking salt.”
Remember the “That’s a knife” scene in the first Crocodile Dundee movie?
Remember Carl Sandburg’s scrap of poetry that has fog coming on cat’s feet?
Well, Sandburg’s fog pussyfooting up from the harbor, that’s not fog.
The fog Ava stuffs into her mouth and chaws, that’s fog, eh b’ys?
Suck it up, Carl.
What?
I s’pose I could scribble a plot summary and thumbnail sketches of a character or two, but that’s not the way the Grey Goose flaps my wings.
Instead …
There’s so much more in a book than just the story. Among lots of other things — in this case hints about what really happened to Dear Old Dad — there are tidbits that trigger personal memories.
On page 38, Collins includes a children’s game you might know. It comes to Ava’s mind as she recalls particulars of sexual abuse:
“Two little dicky-birds/Sittin’ on a wall,/One named Ava,/One named Sis.”
When I was a stund-as-a-stump bay-boy an uncle used to amuse — bemuse? — me with a version of this game which involved vanishing and reappearing scraps of paper …
“Two little black-birds,/Sitting on a hill/ One named Jack/And one named Jill.”
Believe me, I was pushing puberty before I caught on to the magic in the game. See, stump-stund.
Gerard, gem-dandy darkness.
B’ys, thanks for reading.
For frig sake, The Hush Sisters is darker than Leonard Cohen’s final album — You Want It Darker.
As I read The Hush Sisters I realized the cliché-est cliché question in the Kingdom of Fiction drifted like a jellyfish in my noggin — Gerard old man, how did you ever come up with the idea?
The answer arrived with my final sip of goosed herbal tea. (Try it — the tea of your choice slashed with Grey Goose, God’s own vodka.)
Fancy your own personal demons rousting you from bed in the middle of a bitterly cold winter’s night. Picture yourself bundled up in your favorite wooly sweater — a hand-knitted jumper the size of a fleece — and huddled alongside a fireplace or, at least, near a furnace duct. A puncheon-sized mug of hot chocolate — with or without vodka — gives comfort and helps cast out those pestiferous friggin demons.
Got that?
Here’s what I think …
… Gerard Collins found himself — perhaps by choice — inside a circle of Satan’s imps, all wielding pitchforks. Lacking a wooly sweater, I s’pose, Collins decided to fight fire with fire, so to speak. He cloaked himself with the darkest literature from his bookshelves, not the least of which was Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. He allowed the darkness to percolate in his noggin until it brewed up Sissy and Ava, the tormented Hush sisters.
That make a grain of sense?
The Hush Sisters will make you angry and sad and perhaps even afraid of finding yourself in the earthen basement of a creepy ol’ — conceivably haunted — house … with a mound of dirt in the floor.
Pay heed. The Hush Sisters contains the best fog ever: “It was so thick that when Ava stood, disheartened, on the front porch, she grabbed a handful of it and stuffed it into her mouth. She chewed on it and tasted fog — light, fluffy, and lacking salt.”
Remember the “That’s a knife” scene in the first Crocodile Dundee movie?
Remember Carl Sandburg’s scrap of poetry that has fog coming on cat’s feet?
Well, Sandburg’s fog pussyfooting up from the harbor, that’s not fog.
The fog Ava stuffs into her mouth and chaws, that’s fog, eh b’ys?
Suck it up, Carl.
What?
I s’pose I could scribble a plot summary and thumbnail sketches of a character or two, but that’s not the way the Grey Goose flaps my wings.
Instead …
There’s so much more in a book than just the story. Among lots of other things — in this case hints about what really happened to Dear Old Dad — there are tidbits that trigger personal memories.
On page 38, Collins includes a children’s game you might know. It comes to Ava’s mind as she recalls particulars of sexual abuse:
“Two little dicky-birds/Sittin’ on a wall,/One named Ava,/One named Sis.”
When I was a stund-as-a-stump bay-boy an uncle used to amuse — bemuse? — me with a version of this game which involved vanishing and reappearing scraps of paper …
“Two little black-birds,/Sitting on a hill/ One named Jack/And one named Jill.”
Believe me, I was pushing puberty before I caught on to the magic in the game. See, stump-stund.
Gerard, gem-dandy darkness.
B’ys, thanks for reading.
November 2, 2022
This book feels like it was written backward. All the terrible things that happened we learn in retrospect, and it robs the reader (at least this one) of some of the emotional impact. We spend most of the book with the Hush sisters speaking to each other in staccato sentences (like for pages), and when they're not talking around each other, Sissy is dating an Irish folk singer who is so introspective and philosophical it's difficult to take him seriously. His first conversation with Sissy - in a bar, no less - he's basically probing her inner psyche. Yup, that's totally believable.
I've also never, ever heard or read of a father being so matter-of-fact about creating child pornography, never mind committing incest.
Overall I think there's a great story in here somewhere. Remove the ghosts (again, everyone is so matter-of-fact about them!), start when the kids were small, take us through the trauma and end with the sisters coming clean to each other - though actually, I think skipping Confession Time altogether would leave the reader with a lot on their mind long after finishing the book.
I've also never, ever heard or read of a father being so matter-of-fact about creating child pornography, never mind committing incest.
Overall I think there's a great story in here somewhere. Remove the ghosts (again, everyone is so matter-of-fact about them!), start when the kids were small, take us through the trauma and end with the sisters coming clean to each other - though actually, I think skipping Confession Time altogether would leave the reader with a lot on their mind long after finishing the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2021
Rich and compelling. Not a genre I normally read, but genuine characters in a world made all the more real by the unreal elements drew me in.
March 14, 2021
This is my review, as published in The Northeast Avalon Times January 21 issue.
You may remember Fintan Moon from 2014. Gerard Collins’s debut novel brought us to a small town and introduced us to a young boy like most young boys, except for his mysterious ability to heal with his hands.
With The Hush Sisters, Collins brings us another tale firmly rooted in recognizable (almost painfully so) reality and enhanced with an other-wordly brush. This time, the mystical part comes from the ghosts who live in the old family home of Cara (called Sissy) and Ava Hush.
Sissy has stayed in the home on Forest Road after the death of the Hush parents, nursing Dad Hush – a reprehensible sort – through his final illness, and continues to live there, withdrawn from the world, working at an antique store on Duckworth Street, and generally not dealing with all kinds of reality, including the maintenance needs of a century-plus home on Forest Road.
Ava left her horrific childhood behind and built a life in entertainment in Toronto. She’s back now, trying to persuade Sissy to sell the house, and bringing a restless energy to Sissy’s generally quiet and uneventful life.
The relationship between the sisters is beautifully drawn. Collins shows us the intricate and complicated bonds that develop over a shared lifetime; you could call it a love-hate relationship, but as with most sibling relationships, that only touches the surface of the reality.
This St. John’s includes memorable landmarks; I was particularly delighted to see Finnegan’s, the pub that once thrived on Harvey Road, playing such a central role.
Collins gives us hints of tragedy early. As he unfolds his story, he draws us into the complicated and appalling story of a family that whose respectable surface conceals terrible betrayals and the darkest kind of secrets. He does it with beautiful lyrical touches and pieces of magical writing like this one, describing a fog that “hovered over Quidi Vidi Lake like a spirit: … Ava … grabbed a handful of it and stuffed it into her mouth. She chewed on it and tasted fog – light, fluffy, and lacking salt.”
These fanciful touches contrast with Collins’s gritty St. John’s to produce a well-rounded and complex book; I don’t mind saying this story kept me up reading late way after I should have turned out the lights and gone to sleep.
I feel obliged to add that The Hush Sisters should have a content warning; it could be triggering for survivors of child abuse.
You may remember Fintan Moon from 2014. Gerard Collins’s debut novel brought us to a small town and introduced us to a young boy like most young boys, except for his mysterious ability to heal with his hands.
With The Hush Sisters, Collins brings us another tale firmly rooted in recognizable (almost painfully so) reality and enhanced with an other-wordly brush. This time, the mystical part comes from the ghosts who live in the old family home of Cara (called Sissy) and Ava Hush.
Sissy has stayed in the home on Forest Road after the death of the Hush parents, nursing Dad Hush – a reprehensible sort – through his final illness, and continues to live there, withdrawn from the world, working at an antique store on Duckworth Street, and generally not dealing with all kinds of reality, including the maintenance needs of a century-plus home on Forest Road.
Ava left her horrific childhood behind and built a life in entertainment in Toronto. She’s back now, trying to persuade Sissy to sell the house, and bringing a restless energy to Sissy’s generally quiet and uneventful life.
The relationship between the sisters is beautifully drawn. Collins shows us the intricate and complicated bonds that develop over a shared lifetime; you could call it a love-hate relationship, but as with most sibling relationships, that only touches the surface of the reality.
This St. John’s includes memorable landmarks; I was particularly delighted to see Finnegan’s, the pub that once thrived on Harvey Road, playing such a central role.
Collins gives us hints of tragedy early. As he unfolds his story, he draws us into the complicated and appalling story of a family that whose respectable surface conceals terrible betrayals and the darkest kind of secrets. He does it with beautiful lyrical touches and pieces of magical writing like this one, describing a fog that “hovered over Quidi Vidi Lake like a spirit: … Ava … grabbed a handful of it and stuffed it into her mouth. She chewed on it and tasted fog – light, fluffy, and lacking salt.”
These fanciful touches contrast with Collins’s gritty St. John’s to produce a well-rounded and complex book; I don’t mind saying this story kept me up reading late way after I should have turned out the lights and gone to sleep.
I feel obliged to add that The Hush Sisters should have a content warning; it could be triggering for survivors of child abuse.
June 9, 2023
First and foremost, the blurb for this book should really contain a content warning for child sexual abuse and rape. It's 2023; we know better than to spring this kind of thing on survivors.
There are a lot of nitpicky things I could say about this book (hair is never 'blonde'! It's 'she lay down' not 'laid'!) but I'll refrain because we have bigger fish to fry here.
It's often a bit cringey to read how men describe women and this novel, unfortunately, is no exception. Air whooshing up her 'hallway' (vagina) while she's on the swing? Really?!
Do you know how vaginas work? I'm also rather shocked that an mom would have her young daughter use a tampon instead of a pad. Especially and uptight Christian mom.
But I guess people weren't aware of toxic shock syndrome back then. Also, does the author really consider thirty-six to be middle-aged? Because I don't think most people would agree. The author uses the term 'sauntered' a lot to describe the women, even in situations when it seems unlikely one would saunter - for instance, when feeling sad or thoughtful.
But here's the real reason I disliked this book: It's not okay for men to trivialize and profit from sexual assault (which many of their readers will have suffered). The rape of a child was badly handled and portrayed; the author clearly isn't a victim of sexual assault himself because he'd never treat it so lightly - as a convenient plot device - if he were.
He's using a cheap and all-too-common trope - the one in which a woman must be shattered by trauma (often rape) to be 'interesting' or 'strong'. Well, that's bullshit. And we're tired of it. Victimizing women isn't the same as character development, and I feel like this author trivialized the rape of children for shock value.
Saying that a sexual assault survivor (Ava) would be flattered by the attention of a man (Harry) who assaults her is one of those dangerous myths that men, for some unimaginable reason, continue
to perpetuate. It needs to die.
He tried to give his characters a happy ending, I'll give him that. But I can't recommend this book.
There are a lot of nitpicky things I could say about this book (hair is never 'blonde'! It's 'she lay down' not 'laid'!) but I'll refrain because we have bigger fish to fry here.
It's often a bit cringey to read how men describe women and this novel, unfortunately, is no exception. Air whooshing up her 'hallway' (vagina) while she's on the swing? Really?!
Do you know how vaginas work? I'm also rather shocked that an mom would have her young daughter use a tampon instead of a pad. Especially and uptight Christian mom.
But I guess people weren't aware of toxic shock syndrome back then. Also, does the author really consider thirty-six to be middle-aged? Because I don't think most people would agree. The author uses the term 'sauntered' a lot to describe the women, even in situations when it seems unlikely one would saunter - for instance, when feeling sad or thoughtful.
But here's the real reason I disliked this book: It's not okay for men to trivialize and profit from sexual assault (which many of their readers will have suffered). The rape of a child was badly handled and portrayed; the author clearly isn't a victim of sexual assault himself because he'd never treat it so lightly - as a convenient plot device - if he were.
He's using a cheap and all-too-common trope - the one in which a woman must be shattered by trauma (often rape) to be 'interesting' or 'strong'. Well, that's bullshit. And we're tired of it. Victimizing women isn't the same as character development, and I feel like this author trivialized the rape of children for shock value.
Saying that a sexual assault survivor (Ava) would be flattered by the attention of a man (Harry) who assaults her is one of those dangerous myths that men, for some unimaginable reason, continue
to perpetuate. It needs to die.
He tried to give his characters a happy ending, I'll give him that. But I can't recommend this book.
December 23, 2020
Warning:there are some triggers in this book that may affect some readers
So I purchased this book last night just based on the description. I usually don't read stories regarding spirits and ghosts but I started in on the acknowledgements last night.
Tonight i started reading and I just finished it 4 hrs later.The Hush sisters is one of those stories that I just couldn't put down.
A very complex,beautifully written story. I felt Ava and Sissys struggles. I felt an attachment to Sissy. Her character moved me but Ava really annoyed me. So passive aggressive towards her sister that I just wanted to tell her off
This was Gerards doing. He made these characters come to life and are portrayed so realistic that every bit of pain they felt. You did as well
As someone who lives in St. John's I imagined that the house on 133 Forest Rd was an actual house on that Road.
I enjoyed this story and this book delivered. So it is a definite recommend.
So I purchased this book last night just based on the description. I usually don't read stories regarding spirits and ghosts but I started in on the acknowledgements last night.
Tonight i started reading and I just finished it 4 hrs later.The Hush sisters is one of those stories that I just couldn't put down.
A very complex,beautifully written story. I felt Ava and Sissys struggles. I felt an attachment to Sissy. Her character moved me but Ava really annoyed me. So passive aggressive towards her sister that I just wanted to tell her off
This was Gerards doing. He made these characters come to life and are portrayed so realistic that every bit of pain they felt. You did as well
As someone who lives in St. John's I imagined that the house on 133 Forest Rd was an actual house on that Road.
I enjoyed this story and this book delivered. So it is a definite recommend.
January 4, 2021
The plot centers on two middle-aged sisters, Cara (Sissy) and Ava, fighting over their family's manor, which needs some renovations. The oldest, Ava, wants to get rid of the house because the upkeep would be too expensive. The younger sister, Sissy, wants to keep the house. Throughout the story, dark secrets reveal themselves.
Many modern so-called gothic novels don't focus heavily on character development, and I'm glad to say Gerard Collins went the opposite route and gave us two fleshed-out characters. The descriptions are exceptionally detailed, which should be mandatory in every gothic tale. The old house is mysteriously creepy and helps set up the dark atmosphere.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Hush Sisters. It's a well-written haunting tale with intriguing characters and a spine-chilling setting.
Many modern so-called gothic novels don't focus heavily on character development, and I'm glad to say Gerard Collins went the opposite route and gave us two fleshed-out characters. The descriptions are exceptionally detailed, which should be mandatory in every gothic tale. The old house is mysteriously creepy and helps set up the dark atmosphere.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Hush Sisters. It's a well-written haunting tale with intriguing characters and a spine-chilling setting.
March 13, 2021
This is the second book by Gerard Collins I have read, the other being Finton Moon (actually at point of beginning this review I have less than 70 pagesof The Hush Sisters to finish, so I have read enough to begin review.) I have been reading this off and on since mid January, and I am rating it two stars because that is classified "it was ok", I can't say that I liked this book, which is three stars but I suspect much of that can be attributed to the subject: childhood sexual abuse, but I commend Gerard Collins for handling such a topic with care and not turning it into pornographic or erotic literature. He portrays the problem honestly, and captures the sisters confrontation of it and themselves very well.
Therefore I would say that Collins rating as an author with this book judged solely on style, character development is closer to four stars. He is definitely an author to follow for future works. I just might try to determine content of the work ahead of time.
Therefore I would say that Collins rating as an author with this book judged solely on style, character development is closer to four stars. He is definitely an author to follow for future works. I just might try to determine content of the work ahead of time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2021
How does one say they enjoyed a book with such dark and troubling themes? Maybe because it's not a book to enjoy but to be moved by, one of those you swim up from, out of breath and disoriented, your world having been tipped slightly on its axis. And that is the best kind of book to me.
It is dark and moody and painful, but also uplifting and hopeful, filled with moments both banal and dramatic in beautiful balance. Gerard paints his female protagonists with complexity and in such detail they leap vividly to life, and he portrays some deeply scarring events for them with great sensitivity. The house and indeed, the city of St John's, are as important characters in this book as the sisters. Thank you for that tour, Gerard!
It is dark and moody and painful, but also uplifting and hopeful, filled with moments both banal and dramatic in beautiful balance. Gerard paints his female protagonists with complexity and in such detail they leap vividly to life, and he portrays some deeply scarring events for them with great sensitivity. The house and indeed, the city of St John's, are as important characters in this book as the sisters. Thank you for that tour, Gerard!
April 27, 2023
The Hush Sisters is a comtemporary novel set in St. John's, Newfoundland which incorporates elements of Gothic horror with the big mansion on the hill and the pervading fog of the area. It revolves around the relationship of two very different sisters as they try to cope with their past and its secrets, and to decide whether to sell the family home. It begs the question - what is worse, the ghosts, or memories of your own family? Will the house consume them, or will they escape to live a happier life?
October 27, 2025
Scary, disturbing, sad, and written with clear and unflinching language, this classic Atlantic gothic novel will stay with you long after you finished the last page. Newfoundland is very much a character in this book, along with an old house in the middle of St. John's. The house, the street and the city is full of secrets and memory. You can almost feel the fog closing in around you. You could run for cover inside the house, but would it actually be any safer?
October 12, 2021
I had the good fortune of meeting the author at a book signing and picked up a copy. So glad that I did. It was a compelling read. I thought I had figured out all the big reveals but this story managed to surprise me.
April 14, 2022
What a fun book! These sisters have a strange relationship which is revealed slowly, along with intriguing dark gothic-like details . I love stories like this that have a twisty plot where the villain is villainous and the heroines, not so heroic but very human.
October 25, 2025
Purchased whilst in St John's, Newfoundland (where the story is set) and very much on a whim - I throughly enjoyed the way in which Collins builds the tension, the mystery, the characters and the slowly unfolding darkness of the story.
A great read - recommended.
A great read - recommended.
December 27, 2020
An excellent gothic tale.
February 16, 2021
For lover's of a good gothic tale this will both horrify and delight in good measure! And for those who love the city of St. John's this will be of particular interest.
September 22, 2021
Wasn’t quite sure what to expect and this one definitely surprised. Loved this!
October 26, 2021
Okay but draggy
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