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Het zijden huis
Drie onbevreesde vrouwen, verbonden door een betoverend mysterie dat honderden jaren verborgen gebleven is...
348 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2020
265 people are currently reading
4051 people want to read
About the author
Kayte Nunn
16 books583 followersKayte is the author of seven novels, including the international bestsellers The Botanist's Daughter, The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant, The Silk House and The Last Reunion.
The Botanist's Daughter was awarded the 2020 Winston Graham Historical Fiction Prize, and was selected as the National English Honour Society's Common Reader for 2023/4..
Her books have been described as, 'sensitive, atmospheric and often heartbreaking' (Who Weekly), offering 'compelling storytelling' (Australian Women's Weekly), and 'deliciously immersive' (The Daily Telegraph).
Kayte's novels are available worldwide in English, and have been translated into ten languages.
Born in Singapore, raised in the US and the UK, she now lives in Northern NSW, Australia.
The Botanist's Daughter was awarded the 2020 Winston Graham Historical Fiction Prize, and was selected as the National English Honour Society's Common Reader for 2023/4..
Her books have been described as, 'sensitive, atmospheric and often heartbreaking' (Who Weekly), offering 'compelling storytelling' (Australian Women's Weekly), and 'deliciously immersive' (The Daily Telegraph).
Kayte's novels are available worldwide in English, and have been translated into ten languages.
Born in Singapore, raised in the US and the UK, she now lives in Northern NSW, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 414 reviews
August 6, 2020
A tale of witches and hauntings and general spookiness set in two time lines. All very interesting and well told.
Kayte Nunn has done her research well and there was a lot to learn about witches and their skills and also about the production of silk fabrics. The main characters were all interesting and I particularly enjoyed the Dame, especially the twist at the end which I had guessed but I still liked seeing it confirmed.
This was my second book by this author and I now know where to turn when I am looking for a good piece of historical fiction.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Australia for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Kayte Nunn has done her research well and there was a lot to learn about witches and their skills and also about the production of silk fabrics. The main characters were all interesting and I particularly enjoyed the Dame, especially the twist at the end which I had guessed but I still liked seeing it confirmed.
This was my second book by this author and I now know where to turn when I am looking for a good piece of historical fiction.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Australia for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 21, 2020
It was the late 1760s when a young Rowan Caswell was hired as house maid at the home of Patrick and Caroline Hollander, in their home beside the business where the finest silks were procured. Rowan had needed work to provide for her three younger brothers while they lived with their aunt and uncle, since their parents had died. The household was small with Prudence the cook, Alice a house maid and now Rowan. Rowan could see the mistress was unhappy, and noticed the master was rarely home.
Mary-Louise Stephenson and her sister Frances struggled to make ends meet in their home in London. Mary’s designs weren’t being accepted in the man’s world of silk, but she wouldn’t give up. When she was approached by a silk merchant from the small town of Oxleigh, and was presented with an order for three designs which were to be markedly different from others, she was determined to produce a pattern which would bring fame and fortune…
It was 2019 when Thea Rust arrived from Australia to a small town in England where her father had been at the exclusive boarding school. Thea was to take charge of the first intake of girls to a previously exclusive boys’ domain, as well as teach history. When she discovered the history of Silk House, where she and a few of the girls were staying, she was intrigued and as time moved forward the past and present began to blur. Strange things happened in and around the house and Thea, who didn’t believe in such things, began to wonder if there was a spirit roving Silk House.
The Silk House by Aussie author Kayte Nunn is an exceptionally well written historical mystery novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. The hauntingly poignant, mysterious and at times dangerous past blended well with Thea’s current day – I think she would have liked Rowan very much, had they met. Twisty, breathtaking, The Silk House is one I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and Hachette AU for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Mary-Louise Stephenson and her sister Frances struggled to make ends meet in their home in London. Mary’s designs weren’t being accepted in the man’s world of silk, but she wouldn’t give up. When she was approached by a silk merchant from the small town of Oxleigh, and was presented with an order for three designs which were to be markedly different from others, she was determined to produce a pattern which would bring fame and fortune…
It was 2019 when Thea Rust arrived from Australia to a small town in England where her father had been at the exclusive boarding school. Thea was to take charge of the first intake of girls to a previously exclusive boys’ domain, as well as teach history. When she discovered the history of Silk House, where she and a few of the girls were staying, she was intrigued and as time moved forward the past and present began to blur. Strange things happened in and around the house and Thea, who didn’t believe in such things, began to wonder if there was a spirit roving Silk House.
The Silk House by Aussie author Kayte Nunn is an exceptionally well written historical mystery novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. The hauntingly poignant, mysterious and at times dangerous past blended well with Thea’s current day – I think she would have liked Rowan very much, had they met. Twisty, breathtaking, The Silk House is one I highly recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and Hachette AU for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2020
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**4.5 stars**
The Silk House by Kayte Nunn. (2020).
Australian history teacher Thea arrives at an exclusive boarding school in the British countryside and finds out she'll be the housemistress for the first intake of girls in its 150-year history, staying in Silk House, a building with a long and troubled past.
In the late 1700s, Rowan is hired to work in the home of an English silk merchant. Her talent for herbs and healing quickly attracts attention. While in London, Mary-Louise dreams of becoming a silk designer, a job that is the domain of men. A length of fabric she weaves with a pattern of deadly flowers will have far-reaching consequences for all who dwell in the silk house.
Another fantastic read from this author! I always appreciate a storyline that successfully uses dual timelines which flow together nicely and is not confusing. I think this one can be best described as a historical fiction mystery, with a paranormal/supernatural gothic feel as it features hints of witchcraft and ghosts. All three of the main female leads had interesting storylines, although it was Rowan's that I found the most intriguing. It's very clear that the author has well researched the topics of witchcraft and the silk industry; there is a perfect level of detail so it's enough to understand but not so much as to be overwhelming.
I would highly recommend this spellbinding story that will keep readers enthralled from beginning to end.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
The Silk House by Kayte Nunn. (2020).
Australian history teacher Thea arrives at an exclusive boarding school in the British countryside and finds out she'll be the housemistress for the first intake of girls in its 150-year history, staying in Silk House, a building with a long and troubled past.
In the late 1700s, Rowan is hired to work in the home of an English silk merchant. Her talent for herbs and healing quickly attracts attention. While in London, Mary-Louise dreams of becoming a silk designer, a job that is the domain of men. A length of fabric she weaves with a pattern of deadly flowers will have far-reaching consequences for all who dwell in the silk house.
Another fantastic read from this author! I always appreciate a storyline that successfully uses dual timelines which flow together nicely and is not confusing. I think this one can be best described as a historical fiction mystery, with a paranormal/supernatural gothic feel as it features hints of witchcraft and ghosts. All three of the main female leads had interesting storylines, although it was Rowan's that I found the most intriguing. It's very clear that the author has well researched the topics of witchcraft and the silk industry; there is a perfect level of detail so it's enough to understand but not so much as to be overwhelming.
I would highly recommend this spellbinding story that will keep readers enthralled from beginning to end.
February 8, 2021
This is an enjoyable, well written historical mystery with gothic overtones. Written in two time-lines, the present day and 1768, it's told from the points of view of three strong women.
In the present day, Australian Thea Rust has arrived at her father's old school, Oxleigh College in Wiltshire to teach History and assist coaching in Hockey. The 150 year old exclusive boys school has decided to start admitting girls and 14 high achieving girls are about to start the year in the upper sixth. When Thea arrives at the school, she is told that she will live with the girls in the Silk House, a boarding house in the village and will also be responsible for their pastoral care for the first half term. Strange events, including noises and ghostly shadows appearing in the house make Thea want to discover the mysteries of the house and she begins to research its history.
The Silk House was built in the 1760s for newly-weds Caroline and Patrick Hollander, a silk merchant. The account of the events that happened in the Silk House is told through the eyes of housemaid Rowan Caswell, a young woman taught by her mother how to use medicinal herbs to treat common ailments. An important role is also played by Mary Stephenson, an artist trying to break into the male dominated bastion of fabric design with her unusual and exquisite prints (based on the real Anna Maria Garthwaite, a successful mid 18th century fabric designer).
The two timelines work well in this haunting gothic tale, masterfully weaving supernatural elements and witchcraft into the mystery of Silk House as the tragic history of those who lived in it unfolds.
In the present day, Australian Thea Rust has arrived at her father's old school, Oxleigh College in Wiltshire to teach History and assist coaching in Hockey. The 150 year old exclusive boys school has decided to start admitting girls and 14 high achieving girls are about to start the year in the upper sixth. When Thea arrives at the school, she is told that she will live with the girls in the Silk House, a boarding house in the village and will also be responsible for their pastoral care for the first half term. Strange events, including noises and ghostly shadows appearing in the house make Thea want to discover the mysteries of the house and she begins to research its history.
The Silk House was built in the 1760s for newly-weds Caroline and Patrick Hollander, a silk merchant. The account of the events that happened in the Silk House is told through the eyes of housemaid Rowan Caswell, a young woman taught by her mother how to use medicinal herbs to treat common ailments. An important role is also played by Mary Stephenson, an artist trying to break into the male dominated bastion of fabric design with her unusual and exquisite prints (based on the real Anna Maria Garthwaite, a successful mid 18th century fabric designer).
The two timelines work well in this haunting gothic tale, masterfully weaving supernatural elements and witchcraft into the mystery of Silk House as the tragic history of those who lived in it unfolds.
November 17, 2022
Thea Rust moves to Oxleigh a small village in England, she’s from Melbourne, Australia and fifty years ago her father attended the prestigious boarding school. Thea’s a history teacher, she can hold her own on a hockey field and it's the first intake of female students at Oxleigh College. Thea and the girls are staying in nearby Silk House, built in the 1760’s for a silk merchant and his new bride. Thea notices odd things happening in the house, a piano playing in the middle of the night and she believes the place is haunted.
Thea begins looking into the history of Silk House, it was built for Patrick and Caroline Hollander. The story has a dual time line and it alternates between the 1760’s and 2019.
Rowan Caswell parents have passed away, she and her four younger brothers are living with her aunt and uncle and Rowan travels to Oxleigh to find work. She’s employed as a maid at Silk House, Prudence the cook is friendly and Alice the ladies maid is rather rude. Rowan notices all is not right in the household, her mistress is miserable and Mr. Hollander travels a lot for his work. Rowan learnt about herbs and healing from her mother, she has to be very careful about revealing this to anyone and women have been killed for practicing witchcraft.
Mary-Louise Stephenson lives in London with her widowed sister Frances, she dreams of being a silk designer and it’s a male dominated profession. Mr. Hollander hears about her, he wants Mary-Louise to make up three patterns for him and she does using drawings of deadly plants and flowers. When she doesn’t hear from Patrick Hollander as promised, she travels to Oxleigh and she desperately needs the money he owes her.
I received a copy of The Silk House from NetGalley and Hachette Australia in exchange for an honest review. The narrative is about the beliefs of the time and Thea uncovering a one hundred and fifty year old secret and all is not what it seems at Silk House. This is the third book I have read by Kayte Nunn, the author has an interest in the silk making industry in London and the use of herbs during Gothic times. Four stars from me and I did however prefer: The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant and The Last Reunion. If you enjoy reading spooky dual timeline historical mysteries, with a plot full of twists and turns and then The Silk House would be perfect for you.
Thea begins looking into the history of Silk House, it was built for Patrick and Caroline Hollander. The story has a dual time line and it alternates between the 1760’s and 2019.
Rowan Caswell parents have passed away, she and her four younger brothers are living with her aunt and uncle and Rowan travels to Oxleigh to find work. She’s employed as a maid at Silk House, Prudence the cook is friendly and Alice the ladies maid is rather rude. Rowan notices all is not right in the household, her mistress is miserable and Mr. Hollander travels a lot for his work. Rowan learnt about herbs and healing from her mother, she has to be very careful about revealing this to anyone and women have been killed for practicing witchcraft.
Mary-Louise Stephenson lives in London with her widowed sister Frances, she dreams of being a silk designer and it’s a male dominated profession. Mr. Hollander hears about her, he wants Mary-Louise to make up three patterns for him and she does using drawings of deadly plants and flowers. When she doesn’t hear from Patrick Hollander as promised, she travels to Oxleigh and she desperately needs the money he owes her.
I received a copy of The Silk House from NetGalley and Hachette Australia in exchange for an honest review. The narrative is about the beliefs of the time and Thea uncovering a one hundred and fifty year old secret and all is not what it seems at Silk House. This is the third book I have read by Kayte Nunn, the author has an interest in the silk making industry in London and the use of herbs during Gothic times. Four stars from me and I did however prefer: The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant and The Last Reunion. If you enjoy reading spooky dual timeline historical mysteries, with a plot full of twists and turns and then The Silk House would be perfect for you.
May 22, 2020
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
The Silk House is a haunting and spellbinding tale where past events are flowed through time to present day and woven together seamlessly in this exquisitely written and atmospheric ghost story about three young women.
Present Day - Oxleigh College is an exclusive boarding school in the English countryside and The Silk House is the residence where the female students board. Thea Rust has arrived from Australia to look after the very first intake of girls in the college’s 150 year history! Thea is also the new history teacher and a likeable character that finds herself researching the past history of the mysterious house after she witnesses some strange occurrences.
We are taken back to the year 1768 and follow the story of the family that ran the business and lived at The Silk House. Rowan Caswell is employed as a maid ‘of all work’ at The Silk House. When Rowan’s mother was alive she had taught her daughter how to make herbal tinctures and healing potions but Rowan dare not admit to having this knowledge to anyone.
For our third female protagonist we have Mary-Louise Stephenson who has a fondness of painting, she’s talented and forward thinking. Mary turns her skills to silk design but she’s finding it difficult as a woman to forge her way into a male dominated trade during this era.
I found this to be an absorbing and enjoyable gothic mystery story.
I wish to thank Netgalley & Hachette Australia for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Silk House is a haunting and spellbinding tale where past events are flowed through time to present day and woven together seamlessly in this exquisitely written and atmospheric ghost story about three young women.
Present Day - Oxleigh College is an exclusive boarding school in the English countryside and The Silk House is the residence where the female students board. Thea Rust has arrived from Australia to look after the very first intake of girls in the college’s 150 year history! Thea is also the new history teacher and a likeable character that finds herself researching the past history of the mysterious house after she witnesses some strange occurrences.
We are taken back to the year 1768 and follow the story of the family that ran the business and lived at The Silk House. Rowan Caswell is employed as a maid ‘of all work’ at The Silk House. When Rowan’s mother was alive she had taught her daughter how to make herbal tinctures and healing potions but Rowan dare not admit to having this knowledge to anyone.
For our third female protagonist we have Mary-Louise Stephenson who has a fondness of painting, she’s talented and forward thinking. Mary turns her skills to silk design but she’s finding it difficult as a woman to forge her way into a male dominated trade during this era.
I found this to be an absorbing and enjoyable gothic mystery story.
I wish to thank Netgalley & Hachette Australia for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2020
‘I’m interested in persecution ideologies – specifically witchcraft in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England.’
Oh yes…so am I! Another novel that seems as though it has been perfectly tailored just for me. Kayte Nunn is an author of exceptional talent. I would put her on a par with Kate Morton in terms of creating a vivid atmosphere, the depth and layering of the story, and of course, bringing those historical settings to life. I am a big, long-time fan of Kate Morton, so I mean this as a compliment. Each of Kayte Nunn’s novels seem flawless, and then she brings the next one out and you think, this is her best yet, and then she does it all over again, just continuing to go from strength to strength. Each of her three works of historical fiction have been vastly different from each other, truly unique stories, and yet they are united in a common framework: female agency, specifically, the lack of it within a woman’s life throughout different periods in history and across the different social and economic classes. It’s a theme she demonstrates throughout her narratives with blinding precision.
‘Here they were in a small back garden, stars beginning to pinprick the sky, the moon full and luminous. Five women holding hands in a circle in a garden after dark. In another time, they would have been burned at the stake for less.’
I am very partial to a bit of spooky in a story, particularly the kind that involves an old house with a myriad of secrets whispering from its walls and a reputation as being haunted.
‘Dodgy electrics, doors unlocking themselves and a possible infestation, not to mention the strange dream: Thea began to worry that something was very wrong with the house.’
‘They say the house wants something. Or wants to be rid of something.’
And then there’s the witch angle, one of my favourites, as mentioned above. Kayte explores this through her character’s talent as a herbalist combined with a highly attuned second ‘sight’.
‘The plans showed the gardens , including a sketch of the parterre garden in the shape of a pentacle. A pentacle, she was well aware, was a shape linked with witchcraft, a symbol alleged to be employed in magical evocation, to foretell the future, or to have power over the devil , though it was also often associated with the element of earth. So, it had been there from the very beginning.’
This is a dual timeline narrative, present day setting along with the late 1700s, but told with three distinct female voices. The way their stories intersected was masterful and I was completely enthralled with this novel, devouring it over the course of one (very long) night. It is steeped in atmosphere (think Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Bone China) and the sense of foreboding that Kayte builds throughout is utterly gripping. You just know you’re headed for something shocking, but it still catches you by surprise. The blend of herbology, weaving, and witchcraft, along with the strong feminist themes, makes this novel an absolute must read for any lover of gothic historical fiction. Brilliant, enthralling, and utterly perfect to curl up with for some winter reading. Preferably on a dark, stormy night.
Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley of The Silk House.
Oh yes…so am I! Another novel that seems as though it has been perfectly tailored just for me. Kayte Nunn is an author of exceptional talent. I would put her on a par with Kate Morton in terms of creating a vivid atmosphere, the depth and layering of the story, and of course, bringing those historical settings to life. I am a big, long-time fan of Kate Morton, so I mean this as a compliment. Each of Kayte Nunn’s novels seem flawless, and then she brings the next one out and you think, this is her best yet, and then she does it all over again, just continuing to go from strength to strength. Each of her three works of historical fiction have been vastly different from each other, truly unique stories, and yet they are united in a common framework: female agency, specifically, the lack of it within a woman’s life throughout different periods in history and across the different social and economic classes. It’s a theme she demonstrates throughout her narratives with blinding precision.
‘Here they were in a small back garden, stars beginning to pinprick the sky, the moon full and luminous. Five women holding hands in a circle in a garden after dark. In another time, they would have been burned at the stake for less.’
I am very partial to a bit of spooky in a story, particularly the kind that involves an old house with a myriad of secrets whispering from its walls and a reputation as being haunted.
‘Dodgy electrics, doors unlocking themselves and a possible infestation, not to mention the strange dream: Thea began to worry that something was very wrong with the house.’
‘They say the house wants something. Or wants to be rid of something.’
And then there’s the witch angle, one of my favourites, as mentioned above. Kayte explores this through her character’s talent as a herbalist combined with a highly attuned second ‘sight’.
‘The plans showed the gardens , including a sketch of the parterre garden in the shape of a pentacle. A pentacle, she was well aware, was a shape linked with witchcraft, a symbol alleged to be employed in magical evocation, to foretell the future, or to have power over the devil , though it was also often associated with the element of earth. So, it had been there from the very beginning.’
This is a dual timeline narrative, present day setting along with the late 1700s, but told with three distinct female voices. The way their stories intersected was masterful and I was completely enthralled with this novel, devouring it over the course of one (very long) night. It is steeped in atmosphere (think Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Bone China) and the sense of foreboding that Kayte builds throughout is utterly gripping. You just know you’re headed for something shocking, but it still catches you by surprise. The blend of herbology, weaving, and witchcraft, along with the strong feminist themes, makes this novel an absolute must read for any lover of gothic historical fiction. Brilliant, enthralling, and utterly perfect to curl up with for some winter reading. Preferably on a dark, stormy night.
Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley of The Silk House.
October 15, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘It was as though the layers of the house’s history were pressed together like a book, with some of the print – past events – leaching through the pages. It occurred to her that the top one, on which the new history was being written was now partly her story – hers and the girls.’
A beautifully embroidered tale of haunting secrets, persecution, ambition and mystery swirls around The Silk House by Kayte Nunn. The international bestselling author of The Botanist’s Daughter presents her readers with a compulsive three perspective based narrative that completely enthralls from start to finish.
The Silk House incorporates the compelling stories of three different female figures across the space of over two centuries. In the present day we meet Thea, a teacher from Australia who takes up a new position of employment at an exclusive British boarding school. Taking on the care and education of the first intake of female students in the school’s history, Thea is excited but also apprehensive about her new post. Thea is placed in the silk house, a very old building with dark history. It soon becomes clear that there are secrets from the past to unlock as Thea makes some startling discoveries about her new workplace. Intertwined with Thea’s story is an eventful passage back to the past which follows Rowan Caswell, a village woman who finds employment at a silk merchant’s home. Rowan finds her life threatened when she dares to draw on her knowledge of herbal medicines, where many surround her are suspicious of these healing measures. Finally, Mary–Louise Stephenson draws in the third and final perspective of The Silk House. Mary-Louise is an ambitious young woman of her time, with aspirations to venture in the male dominated world of silk weaving. It is a vocation that will bring Mary-Louise hope and pain, as her life become inextricably linked to the renowned silk house. Remarkable secrets unfurl as The Silk House reveals its hidden mysteries.
Gothic mysteries are by far my most favourite style of novel. I have been savouring this one to read and indulge in over the recent school holiday break. The Silk House didn’t let me down, Kayte Nunn has delivered yet another winning five star read, that I will be recommending to anyone who will listen!
Kayte Nunn is quite the storyteller and she goes that one step further with The Silk House. Graduating from her last two historical fiction novels, in The Silk House we have a triple perspective narrative. Ambitious in scope and detail, Kayte Nunn should be extremely proud of what she has achieved with this novel. I was completely mesmerised by the stories of Thea, Rowan and Mary-Louise. What I admired about these three female figures was their strength, endurance, determination and fighting spirit. Each lead protagonist had their own personal challenges to manage within the context of their individual histories, but each managed to rise above their circumstances to achieve great heights. I really admired this feminist history and the overview Nunn provided in the areas of silk weaving, witchcraft, along with the life traditional healers. We definitely need more books on the market of this nature.
The Silk House itself has such page presence, I found it hard pressed to turn away from this novel as soon as the silk house was mentioned. I was utterly captivated by the mystery, secrets and old charm of this murky abode. Nunn’s characterisation of the silk house and her cast is simply magnificent, I could not fault it in any way. I was equally invested in the affairs of Thea in the present day, along with the fascinating figure of Rowan and the admirable Mary-Louise. The support cast is equally well presented, adding an extra edge of speculation to this enthralling tale. The British locations based both in the countryside and market villages was vividly presented on the pages of The Silk House. It gave the reader an excellent insight into times past, but also the present day. The boarding house stage was a fabulous backdrop to this mysterious novel, as it provided plenty of mystifying puzzles for the audience to work through. This was definitely the driving force of the novel, imploring the reader to turn page after page in anticipation for what would ultimately be revealed. The close was just perfect in my eyes, restoring the unsettled events that mark both the past and present storylines.
An intricately knitted tale of wreathed worlds, history, witchcraft, healing, locked secrets, speculation and eerie happenings, The Silk House is Kayte Nunn’s beguiling new masterpiece. The Silk House has elevated this very talented author to new heights and I’m eagerly anticipating her next release.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Silk House is book #110 the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
‘It was as though the layers of the house’s history were pressed together like a book, with some of the print – past events – leaching through the pages. It occurred to her that the top one, on which the new history was being written was now partly her story – hers and the girls.’
A beautifully embroidered tale of haunting secrets, persecution, ambition and mystery swirls around The Silk House by Kayte Nunn. The international bestselling author of The Botanist’s Daughter presents her readers with a compulsive three perspective based narrative that completely enthralls from start to finish.
The Silk House incorporates the compelling stories of three different female figures across the space of over two centuries. In the present day we meet Thea, a teacher from Australia who takes up a new position of employment at an exclusive British boarding school. Taking on the care and education of the first intake of female students in the school’s history, Thea is excited but also apprehensive about her new post. Thea is placed in the silk house, a very old building with dark history. It soon becomes clear that there are secrets from the past to unlock as Thea makes some startling discoveries about her new workplace. Intertwined with Thea’s story is an eventful passage back to the past which follows Rowan Caswell, a village woman who finds employment at a silk merchant’s home. Rowan finds her life threatened when she dares to draw on her knowledge of herbal medicines, where many surround her are suspicious of these healing measures. Finally, Mary–Louise Stephenson draws in the third and final perspective of The Silk House. Mary-Louise is an ambitious young woman of her time, with aspirations to venture in the male dominated world of silk weaving. It is a vocation that will bring Mary-Louise hope and pain, as her life become inextricably linked to the renowned silk house. Remarkable secrets unfurl as The Silk House reveals its hidden mysteries.
Gothic mysteries are by far my most favourite style of novel. I have been savouring this one to read and indulge in over the recent school holiday break. The Silk House didn’t let me down, Kayte Nunn has delivered yet another winning five star read, that I will be recommending to anyone who will listen!
Kayte Nunn is quite the storyteller and she goes that one step further with The Silk House. Graduating from her last two historical fiction novels, in The Silk House we have a triple perspective narrative. Ambitious in scope and detail, Kayte Nunn should be extremely proud of what she has achieved with this novel. I was completely mesmerised by the stories of Thea, Rowan and Mary-Louise. What I admired about these three female figures was their strength, endurance, determination and fighting spirit. Each lead protagonist had their own personal challenges to manage within the context of their individual histories, but each managed to rise above their circumstances to achieve great heights. I really admired this feminist history and the overview Nunn provided in the areas of silk weaving, witchcraft, along with the life traditional healers. We definitely need more books on the market of this nature.
The Silk House itself has such page presence, I found it hard pressed to turn away from this novel as soon as the silk house was mentioned. I was utterly captivated by the mystery, secrets and old charm of this murky abode. Nunn’s characterisation of the silk house and her cast is simply magnificent, I could not fault it in any way. I was equally invested in the affairs of Thea in the present day, along with the fascinating figure of Rowan and the admirable Mary-Louise. The support cast is equally well presented, adding an extra edge of speculation to this enthralling tale. The British locations based both in the countryside and market villages was vividly presented on the pages of The Silk House. It gave the reader an excellent insight into times past, but also the present day. The boarding house stage was a fabulous backdrop to this mysterious novel, as it provided plenty of mystifying puzzles for the audience to work through. This was definitely the driving force of the novel, imploring the reader to turn page after page in anticipation for what would ultimately be revealed. The close was just perfect in my eyes, restoring the unsettled events that mark both the past and present storylines.
An intricately knitted tale of wreathed worlds, history, witchcraft, healing, locked secrets, speculation and eerie happenings, The Silk House is Kayte Nunn’s beguiling new masterpiece. The Silk House has elevated this very talented author to new heights and I’m eagerly anticipating her next release.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Silk House is book #110 the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
March 19, 2021
4.5 stars
October 7, 2024
Completely predictable but I really enjoyed this booked.
An easy read which doesn’t take much thinking about.
Jumping back into history with elements of a pleasant ghostly vibe.
An easy read which doesn’t take much thinking about.
Jumping back into history with elements of a pleasant ghostly vibe.
July 10, 2020
The Silk House is an entrancing novel from Kayte Nunn, unfolding over two timelines from the perspectives of three women.
The novel begins in the present as Thea Rust reports for work at her father’s alma mater, Oxleigh College. The exclusive English boarding school has accepted its first ever class of girls, and Thea, a history teacher, is to live in with them at their campus residence, known as Silk House.
In 1768, Rowan Caswell is an orphan employed as a maid-of-all-work by the owners of Silk House, silk merchant Patrick, and his wife Caroline Hollander. The home is not a happy one, for the master’s moods are mercurial and the mistress longs for a child.
Mary-Louise Stephenson is a spinster facing penury with her widowed sister. She believes she is capable of creating unique silk designs that will assure her a fortune, but the male dominated industry is uninterested until silk merchant Patrick Hollander offers her a commission.
Nunn weaves links between the past and present as Thea bears witness to the echoes of tragedy. Troubled by her experience of mysterious occurrences in Silk House, Thea investigates the building’s history discovering it’s reputation for being haunted due to a series of deaths, beginning with that of Caroline Hollander.
The story of Caroline’s haunting demise is revealed primarily through Rowan, who is an unwitting contributor to her mistress’s fate when her knowledge of herbal medicines, passed down to her by her late mother, is ill-used. A suggestion of witchcraft, an omen of bad luck, and a doomed love affair all contribute to the inevitable tragedy that stains Silk House.
To be honest I felt the third perspective of Mary-Louise introduced by Nunn was the only real flaw in the novel, as I thought it superfluous, even though Mary-Louise’s silk fabric design is of some significance in the story. Thea and Rowan are definitely the more compelling characters.
Nevertheless, part ghost story, part mystery the pacing is excellent as the story unravels. Nunn skilfully develops a sense of foreboding and unease as she weaves in and out of the past and present. The story is enriched by historical detail, enhanced by its feminist themes, and enlivened by interesting characters.
Atmospheric and intriguing, with gothic sensibilities, The Silk House is a finely written, spellbinding tale.
The novel begins in the present as Thea Rust reports for work at her father’s alma mater, Oxleigh College. The exclusive English boarding school has accepted its first ever class of girls, and Thea, a history teacher, is to live in with them at their campus residence, known as Silk House.
In 1768, Rowan Caswell is an orphan employed as a maid-of-all-work by the owners of Silk House, silk merchant Patrick, and his wife Caroline Hollander. The home is not a happy one, for the master’s moods are mercurial and the mistress longs for a child.
Mary-Louise Stephenson is a spinster facing penury with her widowed sister. She believes she is capable of creating unique silk designs that will assure her a fortune, but the male dominated industry is uninterested until silk merchant Patrick Hollander offers her a commission.
Nunn weaves links between the past and present as Thea bears witness to the echoes of tragedy. Troubled by her experience of mysterious occurrences in Silk House, Thea investigates the building’s history discovering it’s reputation for being haunted due to a series of deaths, beginning with that of Caroline Hollander.
The story of Caroline’s haunting demise is revealed primarily through Rowan, who is an unwitting contributor to her mistress’s fate when her knowledge of herbal medicines, passed down to her by her late mother, is ill-used. A suggestion of witchcraft, an omen of bad luck, and a doomed love affair all contribute to the inevitable tragedy that stains Silk House.
To be honest I felt the third perspective of Mary-Louise introduced by Nunn was the only real flaw in the novel, as I thought it superfluous, even though Mary-Louise’s silk fabric design is of some significance in the story. Thea and Rowan are definitely the more compelling characters.
Nevertheless, part ghost story, part mystery the pacing is excellent as the story unravels. Nunn skilfully develops a sense of foreboding and unease as she weaves in and out of the past and present. The story is enriched by historical detail, enhanced by its feminist themes, and enlivened by interesting characters.
Atmospheric and intriguing, with gothic sensibilities, The Silk House is a finely written, spellbinding tale.
August 22, 2020
I loved Kayte Nunn's previous book and enjoyed The Silk House even more. This Gothic story is set in dual timelines, the late 1700's and present day England. Rowan Caswell, a young servant girl, comes to work for Patrick Hollander, a well known silk merchant. Life in the mansion where she lives and works revolves around the silk fabric shop that is attached to the residence. Rowan is an expert on medicinal plants and potions and makes remedies for unwell people. Her specialty is frowned upon by many of the residence of Oxleigh and unfortunate things begin to happen. Thea Rust comes to live at Silk House 150 years later. Miss Rust, the new History teacher at Oxleigh's prestigious school, is in charge of the new female boarders. The Silk House where Thea and the girls live has an eerie feeling to it and Thea feels that there is a mystery to be solved. Thanks to NetGalley for my digital copy. I also read this for Books With Hearts July pick and enjoyed it very much.
July 1, 2020
My friend Bree and I did a discussion style review for this book..
Come see the first part of the review here
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2020...
And then follow the links to see the second part!
Come see the first part of the review here
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2020...
And then follow the links to see the second part!
July 25, 2022
With dual timeline novels, I normally find the sections in the past much stronger, I think that's true here as well, but the modern day story did sustain my interest too. The story weaves around the residents of 'The Silk House' in the 18th century and present day, and draws a parallel between misogyny and prejudice then and now. Rowan Caswell and Mary-Louise Stephenson are the two characters I was most interested in, a herbalist and a silk designer both struggling with patriarchal systems that fear their talents. In the present day, Thea, outsider, Australian sportswoman, joins an exclusive English boarding school, she has ghosts of her own to lay to rest as well as the ones she discovers there...
Particularly loved the details around Stephenson's botanical designs and the superstitions around them, the secret symbols and implied secret network of women protecting each other...
There were two cringe moments for me - a misplaced joke about the cat Isis's name not referring to 'Islamic State' - what is this doing here? Just felt off. And the balance of feelings around termination, especially in the wake of recent events, just hit the wrong note for me. I do think these were missteps and uncharacteristic of the rest of the writing which I otherwise enjoyed and found engaging. I would still like to read her other novels and like her choice of subjects/settings.
Recommend for fans of Laura Purcell, Stacey Halls etc
Particularly loved the details around Stephenson's botanical designs and the superstitions around them, the secret symbols and implied secret network of women protecting each other...
There were two cringe moments for me - a misplaced joke about the cat Isis's name not referring to 'Islamic State' - what is this doing here? Just felt off. And the balance of feelings around termination, especially in the wake of recent events, just hit the wrong note for me. I do think these were missteps and uncharacteristic of the rest of the writing which I otherwise enjoyed and found engaging. I would still like to read her other novels and like her choice of subjects/settings.
Recommend for fans of Laura Purcell, Stacey Halls etc
November 15, 2022
I enjoyed this so much, I have requested other books by the author from the library.
May 5, 2020
A mysterious old boarding school. Women that harbour knowledge that is as much feared as it is revered. A centuries-old secret that is about to be revealed.
Don’t you just love mysteries that feature old mansions with a dark past? Especially those creepy ones where things go bump in the night and one can never be sure if there is a rational explanation or it’s due to ghostly activity. I am happy to report that Silk House made for a perfect setting! With two timelines slowly exploring a past mystery going all the way back to the 1700s, I knew I was in for a treat.
When Australian English teacher Thea Rust arrives to take on a teaching position in an exclusive boarding school in the English countryside, she is not prepared for the dark secrets the old house is harbouring. As the reader, I had a definite advantage over Thea by being fully prepared and ready for the skeletons to come out of the closet, and I was ready for the ride!
It can’t be an easy task for any writer to weave together two separate timelines and several characters from varying backgrounds into a story that flows smoothly and keeps the reader’s interest equally through all POVs, but Nunn totally pulled this off for me. Thea, with her antipodean expectations of equality and fairness is not prepared for the misogyny and favouritism she encounters from the heads of the exclusive boarding school, who have been forced to allow girls to attend for the first time in the school’s history. I thought Thea to be a well-rounded and relatable character, her innocence (or naiveté) from growing up in a very different cultural environment obvious from the moment she first set foot onto British soil. She soon finds that Silk House, her new home, also offers something uniquely British –ghostly activity related to a 1700’s injustice that had been committed in these very walls.
The timeline set during the 1700’s opened up a fascinating chapter in English history I knew nothing about, the silk industry in the east of England in the early eighteenth century. Featuring floral patterns based on real botanical specimens, these fabrics set themselves apart from the French fashion at the time. As in Nunn’s book, history books show that a few women were among the designers, a trade dominated by males. Two of Nunn’s characters bring all aspects of this interesting chapter in British history to life: Rowan, who is maidservant to a wealthy silk merchant and a herbalist and healer in her own right; and Mary-Louise, an impoverished gentlewoman who follows her dream of becoming a fabric designer and incorporates images of real plants from the area into her elaborate designs.
Strong feminist themes, including the women’s wisdom and knowledge of healing and herbalism still feared and denounced as witchcraft among the country folk in the early 18th century, made for interesting reading and a degree of foreboding and tension as our characters me their fate. I really enjoyed the spooky element of Silk House and thought that it had even more potential to be creepy, but with such a lot of elements to the story, it never quite played centre stage. My only disappointment was that the ending felt rushed and abrupt, and the very clever and unexpected twist towards the finale got a bit lost in the tying up of the many plot points. Some of the characters’ interactions towards the end also suffered from the rush to bring the story to a conclusion, which made it not as satisfying for me as I had hoped.
All in all, THE SILK HOUSE was a multi-layered gothic mystery, tying a centuries old secret to the present, which manifests itself in the spooky happenings of Silk House, the perfect setting for such a story. With the rich historical context of the British silk trade in the early to mid eighteenth century, the book made both for entertaining as well as fascinating reading and I feel like I learned something about a chapter in history I knew very little about. Readers who like strong female leads and feminist themes will appreciate the rich cast of characters here who are each fearless in their pursuit of their dreams and destinies.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Australia for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
Don’t you just love mysteries that feature old mansions with a dark past? Especially those creepy ones where things go bump in the night and one can never be sure if there is a rational explanation or it’s due to ghostly activity. I am happy to report that Silk House made for a perfect setting! With two timelines slowly exploring a past mystery going all the way back to the 1700s, I knew I was in for a treat.
When Australian English teacher Thea Rust arrives to take on a teaching position in an exclusive boarding school in the English countryside, she is not prepared for the dark secrets the old house is harbouring. As the reader, I had a definite advantage over Thea by being fully prepared and ready for the skeletons to come out of the closet, and I was ready for the ride!
It can’t be an easy task for any writer to weave together two separate timelines and several characters from varying backgrounds into a story that flows smoothly and keeps the reader’s interest equally through all POVs, but Nunn totally pulled this off for me. Thea, with her antipodean expectations of equality and fairness is not prepared for the misogyny and favouritism she encounters from the heads of the exclusive boarding school, who have been forced to allow girls to attend for the first time in the school’s history. I thought Thea to be a well-rounded and relatable character, her innocence (or naiveté) from growing up in a very different cultural environment obvious from the moment she first set foot onto British soil. She soon finds that Silk House, her new home, also offers something uniquely British –ghostly activity related to a 1700’s injustice that had been committed in these very walls.
The timeline set during the 1700’s opened up a fascinating chapter in English history I knew nothing about, the silk industry in the east of England in the early eighteenth century. Featuring floral patterns based on real botanical specimens, these fabrics set themselves apart from the French fashion at the time. As in Nunn’s book, history books show that a few women were among the designers, a trade dominated by males. Two of Nunn’s characters bring all aspects of this interesting chapter in British history to life: Rowan, who is maidservant to a wealthy silk merchant and a herbalist and healer in her own right; and Mary-Louise, an impoverished gentlewoman who follows her dream of becoming a fabric designer and incorporates images of real plants from the area into her elaborate designs.
Strong feminist themes, including the women’s wisdom and knowledge of healing and herbalism still feared and denounced as witchcraft among the country folk in the early 18th century, made for interesting reading and a degree of foreboding and tension as our characters me their fate. I really enjoyed the spooky element of Silk House and thought that it had even more potential to be creepy, but with such a lot of elements to the story, it never quite played centre stage. My only disappointment was that the ending felt rushed and abrupt, and the very clever and unexpected twist towards the finale got a bit lost in the tying up of the many plot points. Some of the characters’ interactions towards the end also suffered from the rush to bring the story to a conclusion, which made it not as satisfying for me as I had hoped.
All in all, THE SILK HOUSE was a multi-layered gothic mystery, tying a centuries old secret to the present, which manifests itself in the spooky happenings of Silk House, the perfect setting for such a story. With the rich historical context of the British silk trade in the early to mid eighteenth century, the book made both for entertaining as well as fascinating reading and I feel like I learned something about a chapter in history I knew very little about. Readers who like strong female leads and feminist themes will appreciate the rich cast of characters here who are each fearless in their pursuit of their dreams and destinies.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Australia for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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February 13, 2023
I really wanted to like this book, get immersed in it, be scared and thrilled by a great ghost story. None of these things happened. Quite simply, the characterization and plotting were not strong enough for me. The main character in the 'now' (circa 2019) part was not fully rounded in my opinion, even though Nunn tried really hard to make her so. There was meant to be something haunting her from her own past, being brought up by a rigid sounding father she and her sisters found it hard to please, which never really materialised.
The plot relies on the oddly named Ms Rust (surely a name created solely to create tension for the ouija board scene) getting a job as a teacher at the very exclusive newly co-ed boarding school whose newest girls lodged in the eponymous building, the very same that her father attended as a boy. Cue lots of dull memories that never really amounted to much at all. Of course there is the obvious love interest (yawn - the puerile trope that they hate one another to start with and then find that some kind of attraction emerges at the end) in the surly male P.E teacher (aren't they all?) A series of odd things happens which are meant to be spooky punctuations, that a real ghost story writer would have imbued with genuine fear and tension. However none of this emerged with Nunn's perfunctory list which included the obligatory shadows, eerie piano music, strange piles of soil in the study, things being moved and a couple of nightmares clearly meant to be visitations by the characters in the 18th century backstory.
The main character in that was Rowan Caswell, the daughter of a hedge-witch with a kind of second sight who took up the position of a maid in the Silk Mercer's household. With a degenerate master, a mistress desperate for a baby and a fellow maid who may be closer to the master than she should be, the scene is predictably set for Rowan to create some potions to please the mistress, annoy the jealous maid, and get herself known for dabbling in witchery. Yet in spite of the structural tease of Ms T. Rust's historical investigation discovering there was a fire in the house and a maid who was tried for witchcraft, we never saw these things come to pass.
The second element in the backstory was another improbable tale of Mary Stephenson, a woman desperate to have her designs made into silks. After a day hawking them around the mercers and being rejected, she gets picked up by the feckless master of the house, who is that busy doing heaven knows what, but certainly not paying his debts that she gets sucked into the story, only to pop up at the end to move the straggling plot threads into a very rushed and ridiculous conclusion.
The last few chapters of this poorly paced and plotted effort were distinctly rushed, and felt as though they had been written by someone that desperate to get the damned thing finished, they left it in draft one format. Nearly everyone ended up in the river at one point, and of course the inevitable deaths and ruin neatly sorted it all out. Too neatly.
So we get back to the 'now' story. Our trusty (see what I did there?) heroine, decides to sort it all out herself. Rushing off to break in to the boys school to dispose of her father's remains, she almost causes the death of old 'Battle,' falls into the arms of the heroic P.E teacher (of course HE had to pop up there, didn't he?) and batters a wall down in her study to find the 'source' of the very weak and unfrightening haunting. Of course it is obvious. So obvious, that Nunn had to make another twist to make us all gasp. I won't say what it was, apart from completely incredulous, but I was glad to put the book down, and deeply, deeply disappointed. The only thing I gasped about was being free to find a book that I would enjoy.
The plot relies on the oddly named Ms Rust (surely a name created solely to create tension for the ouija board scene) getting a job as a teacher at the very exclusive newly co-ed boarding school whose newest girls lodged in the eponymous building, the very same that her father attended as a boy. Cue lots of dull memories that never really amounted to much at all. Of course there is the obvious love interest (yawn - the puerile trope that they hate one another to start with and then find that some kind of attraction emerges at the end) in the surly male P.E teacher (aren't they all?) A series of odd things happens which are meant to be spooky punctuations, that a real ghost story writer would have imbued with genuine fear and tension. However none of this emerged with Nunn's perfunctory list which included the obligatory shadows, eerie piano music, strange piles of soil in the study, things being moved and a couple of nightmares clearly meant to be visitations by the characters in the 18th century backstory.
The main character in that was Rowan Caswell, the daughter of a hedge-witch with a kind of second sight who took up the position of a maid in the Silk Mercer's household. With a degenerate master, a mistress desperate for a baby and a fellow maid who may be closer to the master than she should be, the scene is predictably set for Rowan to create some potions to please the mistress, annoy the jealous maid, and get herself known for dabbling in witchery. Yet in spite of the structural tease of Ms T. Rust's historical investigation discovering there was a fire in the house and a maid who was tried for witchcraft, we never saw these things come to pass.
The second element in the backstory was another improbable tale of Mary Stephenson, a woman desperate to have her designs made into silks. After a day hawking them around the mercers and being rejected, she gets picked up by the feckless master of the house, who is that busy doing heaven knows what, but certainly not paying his debts that she gets sucked into the story, only to pop up at the end to move the straggling plot threads into a very rushed and ridiculous conclusion.
The last few chapters of this poorly paced and plotted effort were distinctly rushed, and felt as though they had been written by someone that desperate to get the damned thing finished, they left it in draft one format. Nearly everyone ended up in the river at one point, and of course the inevitable deaths and ruin neatly sorted it all out. Too neatly.
So we get back to the 'now' story. Our trusty (see what I did there?) heroine, decides to sort it all out herself. Rushing off to break in to the boys school to dispose of her father's remains, she almost causes the death of old 'Battle,' falls into the arms of the heroic P.E teacher (of course HE had to pop up there, didn't he?) and batters a wall down in her study to find the 'source' of the very weak and unfrightening haunting. Of course it is obvious. So obvious, that Nunn had to make another twist to make us all gasp. I won't say what it was, apart from completely incredulous, but I was glad to put the book down, and deeply, deeply disappointed. The only thing I gasped about was being free to find a book that I would enjoy.
June 15, 2021
Who doesn’t love books about spooky mansions with a murder maybe in the past, with a sprinkling of an academic setting… err that will be me and I’m usually turning the pages quicker than a Jack Russell down a rabbit hole.
The author weaves the story of The Silk House, narrating its history as far back as the 1700s and how it touches the present day. Being a good Lancashire girl from a weaving town, I’m as giddy as that Jack Russell again at the thought of this book. Calm down Angela.
Thea Rust is a newly appointed teacher at an English boarding school which, for the first time, has allowed girls to enrol. Hooray welcome to the 20th century.. Thea is not only here to teach but is also appointed as head of the girls boarding house, The Silk House.
So you can well imagine she faces a resistance from the other teachers who believe in "tradition" and are, basically, being misogynistic.
The Silk House touches on a history I’m familiar with. Basically, The silk industry in English history was not very welcoming to women, well what industry was? And thus we are introduced to Mary-Louise who is an aspiring designer.
I loved the way Nunn described the floral designs, many of which Mary-Louise drew from poisonous flora used for holistic medicines.. Yes there could be a witch story here? mmmmhhh maybe not.
The second character during the 1700s is Rowan's, maid to a silk merchant, and is a remarkable healer or as the villagers say a witch in those good old days.
Thea's narrative was not my favourite; I found hers to pale in comparison to Rowan's and Mary-Louise's. I think that even without Thea's point of view, the book would have worked better, maybe it could even have been improved?
Transitioning from a rich historical narrative of silk designers and herbal healers to the contemporary narrative was like being yanked out of that Jack Russell rabbit hole by the tail. All the bumps and ghost like scenes with Thea did not serve much of a purpose to the story, in my opinion. It seemed to happen every so often, was too fragmented and did not contribute to the overall tension of the book.
While I enjoyed the historical perspective, this book did not deliver on its mystery and spookiness.
So for me I’m going back down that rabbit hole to see if I can find Alice?
Just about made three stars.
The author weaves the story of The Silk House, narrating its history as far back as the 1700s and how it touches the present day. Being a good Lancashire girl from a weaving town, I’m as giddy as that Jack Russell again at the thought of this book. Calm down Angela.
Thea Rust is a newly appointed teacher at an English boarding school which, for the first time, has allowed girls to enrol. Hooray welcome to the 20th century.. Thea is not only here to teach but is also appointed as head of the girls boarding house, The Silk House.
So you can well imagine she faces a resistance from the other teachers who believe in "tradition" and are, basically, being misogynistic.
The Silk House touches on a history I’m familiar with. Basically, The silk industry in English history was not very welcoming to women, well what industry was? And thus we are introduced to Mary-Louise who is an aspiring designer.
I loved the way Nunn described the floral designs, many of which Mary-Louise drew from poisonous flora used for holistic medicines.. Yes there could be a witch story here? mmmmhhh maybe not.
The second character during the 1700s is Rowan's, maid to a silk merchant, and is a remarkable healer or as the villagers say a witch in those good old days.
Thea's narrative was not my favourite; I found hers to pale in comparison to Rowan's and Mary-Louise's. I think that even without Thea's point of view, the book would have worked better, maybe it could even have been improved?
Transitioning from a rich historical narrative of silk designers and herbal healers to the contemporary narrative was like being yanked out of that Jack Russell rabbit hole by the tail. All the bumps and ghost like scenes with Thea did not serve much of a purpose to the story, in my opinion. It seemed to happen every so often, was too fragmented and did not contribute to the overall tension of the book.
While I enjoyed the historical perspective, this book did not deliver on its mystery and spookiness.
So for me I’m going back down that rabbit hole to see if I can find Alice?
Just about made three stars.
August 9, 2020
This is a beautifully written story set across two time zones in 1760’s and now in England at a very old boarding school in the British countryside, for the first time ever girls are starting at the school and they will be boarding in a very old house known as the silk house, but when the new teacher and girls arrive strange things are happening.
Australian history teacher Thea Rush has just taken up a position at the exclusive boarding school in England 150 years old and this is the first time girls will be boarding, the school is also special to Thea in other ways, but when they move into Silk House there seems to be an eerie presence and when Thea starts to research the house she finds that it has had a very troubled past with accusations of witches and she is compelled to get to the bottom of the mystery.
In 1760 Rowan Caswell arrives at the silk house and becomes a maid, she works hard for the owners and she also has a gift for healing but must be very careful about what she does, she soon becomes wary of the other maid that works there Alice and for good reasons and when she is asked to help the mistress Caroline with a problem this changes lives.
Mary-Louise Stephenson is living in London with her sister and struggling to pay the bills, she is a gifted artist with her beautiful drawings of plants and insects but also her deadly plants that are beautiful to look at only, and is keen to get some of her drawings taken on by the silk merchants and become a designer in a male dominated world, when she is offered work by a silk merchant from Oxleigh she jumps at the chance but maybe in haste.
This is a compelling story, haunting in the stories that Rowan and Mary-Louse tell of their lives, Thea works hard to uncover the mystery which surrounds silk house and is pulled in by the things she discovers, a lot of hurt and secrecy had gone on in this house and it is now time for Thea to put a couple of people to rest eternally.
I loved this story from start to finish, a historical ghost mystery story that I highly recommend thank you MS Nunn for another fabulous story
Australian history teacher Thea Rush has just taken up a position at the exclusive boarding school in England 150 years old and this is the first time girls will be boarding, the school is also special to Thea in other ways, but when they move into Silk House there seems to be an eerie presence and when Thea starts to research the house she finds that it has had a very troubled past with accusations of witches and she is compelled to get to the bottom of the mystery.
In 1760 Rowan Caswell arrives at the silk house and becomes a maid, she works hard for the owners and she also has a gift for healing but must be very careful about what she does, she soon becomes wary of the other maid that works there Alice and for good reasons and when she is asked to help the mistress Caroline with a problem this changes lives.
Mary-Louise Stephenson is living in London with her sister and struggling to pay the bills, she is a gifted artist with her beautiful drawings of plants and insects but also her deadly plants that are beautiful to look at only, and is keen to get some of her drawings taken on by the silk merchants and become a designer in a male dominated world, when she is offered work by a silk merchant from Oxleigh she jumps at the chance but maybe in haste.
This is a compelling story, haunting in the stories that Rowan and Mary-Louse tell of their lives, Thea works hard to uncover the mystery which surrounds silk house and is pulled in by the things she discovers, a lot of hurt and secrecy had gone on in this house and it is now time for Thea to put a couple of people to rest eternally.
I loved this story from start to finish, a historical ghost mystery story that I highly recommend thank you MS Nunn for another fabulous story
April 26, 2020
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Kayte Nunn’s latest book and I loved it. The Silk House is an elegantly woven ghost story that both chills and delights. I was torn between racing though the chapters as the story unfolded, and holding back to savour the beauty of the prose. Set in an old house that is a character in itself, this evocative tale of mystery and secrets continued to haunt me long after I turned the last page.
Read
January 30, 20253.5* A really good read & well written but I found it not so much spooky as dark and depressing. I did enjoy alot of the different timeline storylines & how they were all neatly tied together but found that the constant underlying referrals to death and doom a little off putting. Definitely not my favourite of this author’s but on a different day I might have loved it!
January 22, 2021
I love a good historical fiction novel with dual timelines that eventually interlink.
The key word is eventually- the plot too much of a slow burn and I got frustrated with not following how the stories would tie together.
This book had so much potential but lost me half way through.
The key word is eventually- the plot too much of a slow burn and I got frustrated with not following how the stories would tie together.
This book had so much potential but lost me half way through.
March 27, 2021
It feels like a comfort read.
The story is easy to get to and thank goddess that my reading slump was finally stopped.
The book has several my favorite elements, though the writing style and the characters are not impressive, I find enjoyment in reading it.
The story is easy to get to and thank goddess that my reading slump was finally stopped.
The book has several my favorite elements, though the writing style and the characters are not impressive, I find enjoyment in reading it.
June 26, 2020
The Silk House is an historical fiction novel by Australian author Kayte Nunn with a gothic mystery at its heart that unfolds in dual narratives. In the present, Australian history teacher Thea Rust takes up residence in Silk House, located in Oxleigh in the British countryside. She's in charge of the first intake of female students in the exclusive boarding school nearby and she will reside in Silk House along with the students.
We go back in time to the 1760s where the house is owned and occupied by a silk merchant and his family and bolts of silk are sold from the shop at the front of the building. Young Rowan Caswell is hired as a maid and we follow her as she settles into the household, her talent for making the odd tincture soon in high demand. Mary-Louise Stephenson is a talented artist living in London who dreams of becoming a silk designer.
The lives of these three women begin to intersect and overlap as they weave a delightfully engaging and haunting tale for the reader.
I love historical fiction that includes: an old building with character and perhaps a murky history; strong female characters; boarding schools; life below stairs; whispers of witchcraft; secrets waiting to be unearthed and a window into the past. I became heavily invested in Thea and Rowan's stories and enjoyed both narratives equally.
Rowan's determination and spirit reminded me a little of Alinor from Tidelands, and if you're a fan of Laura Purcell (in particular The Silent Companions or The Corset) or The Familiars by Stacey Halls I think you'll love this.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Silk House by Kayte Nunn and looked forward to picking it up again every night, admiring the stunning cover design and re-joining Rowan and Thea. Highly recommended.
* Courtesy of Hachette Australia *
We go back in time to the 1760s where the house is owned and occupied by a silk merchant and his family and bolts of silk are sold from the shop at the front of the building. Young Rowan Caswell is hired as a maid and we follow her as she settles into the household, her talent for making the odd tincture soon in high demand. Mary-Louise Stephenson is a talented artist living in London who dreams of becoming a silk designer.
The lives of these three women begin to intersect and overlap as they weave a delightfully engaging and haunting tale for the reader.
I love historical fiction that includes: an old building with character and perhaps a murky history; strong female characters; boarding schools; life below stairs; whispers of witchcraft; secrets waiting to be unearthed and a window into the past. I became heavily invested in Thea and Rowan's stories and enjoyed both narratives equally.
Rowan's determination and spirit reminded me a little of Alinor from Tidelands, and if you're a fan of Laura Purcell (in particular The Silent Companions or The Corset) or The Familiars by Stacey Halls I think you'll love this.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Silk House by Kayte Nunn and looked forward to picking it up again every night, admiring the stunning cover design and re-joining Rowan and Thea. Highly recommended.
* Courtesy of Hachette Australia *
June 27, 2020
‘Now about Silk House: it’s been through more hands and incarnations than almost any other building in the high street, I believe.’
The Silk House is an extremely well written tale. After reading and thoroughly enjoying Kayte’s other two books - The Botanist's Daughter & The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant - I eagerly anticipated her latest offering. Kayte explains that her interest in topics such as medicinal and poisonous plants (especially when paired with suspicions of witchcraft) and fabric weaving could come together to form a powerful story. She was right.
The Silk House, being a dual narrative, offers on the one hand a rich gothic tale of the past and on the other, a present day haunting ghost story. If you are a lover of old houses with a dark mysterious past, then this is most certainly the book for you. From the time of its construction and first inhabitants in the 1700s, to the tale of today being a boarding dormitory for young girls, there is much to tell. The two stories work well together and revolve around three young women.
In the past the main character is Rowan, employed as a maid at Silk House. Her knowledge of herbal tinctures may get her into trouble and accused of witchcraft. There is also Mary-Louise, a talented artist who applies her creativity to silk design but finds it challenging to be accepted in a male dominated trade. In the present day there is Thea who has come from Australia to take up a position in an exclusive boarding school in the English countryside. Residing in ‘Silk House’ and curious about its history, she begins to research the history of the building after some strange occurrences.
I particularly appreciated the strong female characters, especially Rowan and enjoyed learning about the silk industry and herbal lore of the time. The house holds a secret and over the years this continues to manifest through unusual events until Thea (present day) feels compelled to resolve this centuries old mystery.
This was an enjoyable read even though I am not of gothic inclinations. Kayte is a quality writer and I was invested to find out if Mary-Louise could succeed with her ambitions; if Rowan could avoid the title of ‘witch’; and, if Thea could unravel why this house wanted to let go of all its secrets.
‘Do you think you might perhaps be confusing tradition with history? One can evolve, you know.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
The Silk House is an extremely well written tale. After reading and thoroughly enjoying Kayte’s other two books - The Botanist's Daughter & The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant - I eagerly anticipated her latest offering. Kayte explains that her interest in topics such as medicinal and poisonous plants (especially when paired with suspicions of witchcraft) and fabric weaving could come together to form a powerful story. She was right.
The Silk House, being a dual narrative, offers on the one hand a rich gothic tale of the past and on the other, a present day haunting ghost story. If you are a lover of old houses with a dark mysterious past, then this is most certainly the book for you. From the time of its construction and first inhabitants in the 1700s, to the tale of today being a boarding dormitory for young girls, there is much to tell. The two stories work well together and revolve around three young women.
In the past the main character is Rowan, employed as a maid at Silk House. Her knowledge of herbal tinctures may get her into trouble and accused of witchcraft. There is also Mary-Louise, a talented artist who applies her creativity to silk design but finds it challenging to be accepted in a male dominated trade. In the present day there is Thea who has come from Australia to take up a position in an exclusive boarding school in the English countryside. Residing in ‘Silk House’ and curious about its history, she begins to research the history of the building after some strange occurrences.
I particularly appreciated the strong female characters, especially Rowan and enjoyed learning about the silk industry and herbal lore of the time. The house holds a secret and over the years this continues to manifest through unusual events until Thea (present day) feels compelled to resolve this centuries old mystery.
This was an enjoyable read even though I am not of gothic inclinations. Kayte is a quality writer and I was invested to find out if Mary-Louise could succeed with her ambitions; if Rowan could avoid the title of ‘witch’; and, if Thea could unravel why this house wanted to let go of all its secrets.
‘Do you think you might perhaps be confusing tradition with history? One can evolve, you know.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
January 12, 2022
I couldn’t put this book down, kept turning pages to see what would happen next. It’s a haunting but charming mystery/historical read. The story is told by three woman’s perspectives, which are also divided into past and present. I would definitely read more books by this author
February 18, 2021
Visit the literary locations of The Silk House here
Transport yourself to the secrets of a boarding school in England and the silk markets in London.
The Silk House of the title plays a role in the three timelines. Each story builds the next layer of the story so by the end you have a rich historical tapestry of depth and colour:
‘It was as though the layers of the house’s history were pressed together like a book, with some of the print – past events – leaching through the pages. It occurred to her that the top one, on which the new history was being written was now partly her story – hers and the girls.’
The story of a boarding school with secrets and a very dark history thrills from the start. Each page drips with atmosphere and it was the most beguiling tale. The author has used a brilliant way of telling the story and the pace, writing and characterisation really lends themselves well to the story they produce.
In each of the three story threads, we learn even more about Silk House. Present day sees Thea come to teach from Australia as she soon finds out that the old building might be trying to tell her something. We learn as Thea does and perhaps a bit more as we meet Rowan and Mary from stories in the past. Rowan is a woman who finds employment as a maid in a silk merchant’s house. She is a remarkable character as she has a talent with helping people with herbal medicines. Of course, people interpret this as witchcraft…
The world in the two past story threads was not a nice one for women. Where one character is accused of witchcraft, another one is refused entry to the world of silk-merchants. Mary wants to become a silk-weaver in a world and industry dominated by men. Both Mary and Rowan’s stories reveal the shadows of Silk House. Each strand of this story is clear and interesting in its own right, but when they combine…….wow.
The attention to detail in this novel is really quite something. This is an author who is meant to write historical mysteries with several threads. I was totally enraptured with the pinch of supernatural and ethereal strands which completed the picture. This is a complex story but carefully crafted.
Very vividly drawn, the setting of Silk House is a very memorable one.
January 20, 2021
Last year, I read and loved The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant, and so when the chance to read Kayte Nunn's latest novel, THE SILK HOUSE, came up I jumped at the chance!
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I loved this one even more! Set between 1767 and the present day, it has strong female characters, a startling sense of time and atmosphere and a chilling story of witchcraft and mystery
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I love how effortlessly Kayte Nunn blends past and present as the dual timeline alternates between Thea, a new teacher at a prestigious school and Rowan, a poor country girl come maid with a talent for healing. The connections between the two timelines is strong and I enjoyed both strands equally
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The parts set in the eighteenth century have a delicious gothic vibe, with The Silk House being the centrepiece for a story of betrayal and revenge. The present gives us a mystery to solve, as Thea discovers the history of the old boarding house she's found herself in charge of. Both era's feature women who are strong and independent, determined to make their mark where men have traditionally ruled. Evocative, rich and compelling, THE SILK HOUSE is a must read for historical fiction fans
July 2, 2020
The new novel by author Kayte Nunn is The Silk House (Hachette 2020), a gothic, haunting and thrilling tale of an English residence and some who have lived there over its 150-year history. Reminiscent of the novels by Kate Morton, The Silk House follows the lives of three different women in different times, all connected to the one old house, as the story explores the subjects of weaving, textiles, archaeology and history, botany, witchcraft, herbalism, mothering, apothecary and ghosts, and the themes of haunting, loss, ambition and superstition. The story features strong female characters unafraid to test the boundaries of their times and determined to uncover the truth that evades them.
This mystery, set in a small British town, takes place in an imposing structure that was once a fabric shop and family home in the late 1700’s, and has gone through many iterations since, but is now a fusty and traditional school boarding house. Thea Rust, an Australian history teacher, has accepted a job with the prestigious Oxleigh College, a solid stone building thick with ivy, arches and heavy oak doors and iron gates. The College was exclusively for boys, but this year is the first intake of girls, and Thea finds she is to be temporarily responsible, as housemistress, for the first group of 14 girls. Her father attended school at Oxleigh College and the many buildings it comprises have a long and troubled past. As Thea settles in, unsettling and disturbing behaviour from other members of staff rattle her, and inexplicable happenings in the house itself do nothing to quell her nerves.
The dual timeline in the story, set in the late 1700’s, concerns Rowan Caswell, a young servant girl who has left her quiet village to find work at the home of a wealthy patron. Employed at The Silk House, she is soon sought after for her knowledge of herbs and healing, attention that she tries to deflect because she is (rightly) afraid of being associated with witchcraft. Rowan is a young woman with few choices and even fewer rights, and her growth throughout the story as she gains confidence is well-drawn and empathetic.
At the same time, we are introduced to Mary-Louise Stephenson, a financially struggling spinster living with her sister and trying to make a living in the weaving trade. A woman ahead of her time, Mary-Louise dreams of becoming a famous designer of silk patterns to be woven by craftspeople onto fine material to be made into dresses for high society patrons. But designing is the realm of men (as were so many professions and trades at that time), and when Mary-Louise begins experimenting with patterns woven with deadly and poisonous plants, she cannot foresee the consequences for those who live in The Silk House.
Inspired by a real house known by the author, The Silk House is a mysterious and puzzling story that moves seamlessly between the past and the present, weaving together the lives of these three women as each of them attempts to find their place and to achieve their dreams. The evocation of the 1700’s is authenticated by rich sensory descriptions informed by significant research. The supernatural elements of the story are especially interesting when comparing the two time periods – how characters react to unnatural or creepy occurrences in 1768 is vastly different to the way characters relate to strange phenomenon in 2019, and yet still there remains a commonality of distrust, fear, suspicion and distaste. This is an easy-to-read, atmospheric novel that rests lightly on its historical scaffolding while incorporating modern dilemmas, and will appeal to readers of Lauren Chater, Melissa Ashley and Kate Morton.
This mystery, set in a small British town, takes place in an imposing structure that was once a fabric shop and family home in the late 1700’s, and has gone through many iterations since, but is now a fusty and traditional school boarding house. Thea Rust, an Australian history teacher, has accepted a job with the prestigious Oxleigh College, a solid stone building thick with ivy, arches and heavy oak doors and iron gates. The College was exclusively for boys, but this year is the first intake of girls, and Thea finds she is to be temporarily responsible, as housemistress, for the first group of 14 girls. Her father attended school at Oxleigh College and the many buildings it comprises have a long and troubled past. As Thea settles in, unsettling and disturbing behaviour from other members of staff rattle her, and inexplicable happenings in the house itself do nothing to quell her nerves.
The dual timeline in the story, set in the late 1700’s, concerns Rowan Caswell, a young servant girl who has left her quiet village to find work at the home of a wealthy patron. Employed at The Silk House, she is soon sought after for her knowledge of herbs and healing, attention that she tries to deflect because she is (rightly) afraid of being associated with witchcraft. Rowan is a young woman with few choices and even fewer rights, and her growth throughout the story as she gains confidence is well-drawn and empathetic.
At the same time, we are introduced to Mary-Louise Stephenson, a financially struggling spinster living with her sister and trying to make a living in the weaving trade. A woman ahead of her time, Mary-Louise dreams of becoming a famous designer of silk patterns to be woven by craftspeople onto fine material to be made into dresses for high society patrons. But designing is the realm of men (as were so many professions and trades at that time), and when Mary-Louise begins experimenting with patterns woven with deadly and poisonous plants, she cannot foresee the consequences for those who live in The Silk House.
Inspired by a real house known by the author, The Silk House is a mysterious and puzzling story that moves seamlessly between the past and the present, weaving together the lives of these three women as each of them attempts to find their place and to achieve their dreams. The evocation of the 1700’s is authenticated by rich sensory descriptions informed by significant research. The supernatural elements of the story are especially interesting when comparing the two time periods – how characters react to unnatural or creepy occurrences in 1768 is vastly different to the way characters relate to strange phenomenon in 2019, and yet still there remains a commonality of distrust, fear, suspicion and distaste. This is an easy-to-read, atmospheric novel that rests lightly on its historical scaffolding while incorporating modern dilemmas, and will appeal to readers of Lauren Chater, Melissa Ashley and Kate Morton.
December 31, 2022
A last hurrah for 2022.
I enjoyed the two past timelines (although the silk designer timeline was barely fleshed out) and didn't really care much for the modern timeline- why do so many HF books have to do that? It had a lot of cringeworthy moments and honestly a lot of unanswered questions. But overall a decent book!
I enjoyed the two past timelines (although the silk designer timeline was barely fleshed out) and didn't really care much for the modern timeline- why do so many HF books have to do that? It had a lot of cringeworthy moments and honestly a lot of unanswered questions. But overall a decent book!
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