When We Were Silent

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

Discover the dark boarding school psychological thriller, an exploration of power, corruption and retribution, perfect for fans of Girl A, My Dark Vanessa and Anatomy of a Scandal.

“I’m not here for prestige. I’m here for revenge.”

Lou Manson is an outsider when she joins the final-year class at Highfield Manor, Dublin’s most exclusive private school.

Beyond the granite pillars and the wrought-iron gates is a world of wealth, privilege and potential.

But Highfield is also hiding a dark secret – and Lou is here to expose it.

When she befriends the beautiful and talented Shauna Power, her plans are thrown into turmoil. Speaking out against the school would mean betraying Shauna, and Lou soon discovers that the Highfield elite will go to any lengths to protect their own reputation . . .

. . . Even when the consequences are fatal.

Thirty years later, Lou is called to testify in a new lawsuit against Highfield. But telling the truth means confronting her past.

And there is one story she swore she’d never tell . . .

'Excruciating suspense' Stephen King
‘One of the most compelling books I've ever read…compulsive, tender and chilling’ Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates
‘A powerful, unforgettable read’ Andrea Mara, bestselling author of No One Saw A Thing

©2024 Fiona McPhillips (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critics Review

Fiona McPhillips captures the claustrophobic nuance of teenage loyalties, lies and privilege on every page. A twisting, turning dive into a web of long-buried secrets, When We Were Silent marks Fiona McPhillips as one to watch
Jane Harper, New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of EXILES
Suspenseful and beautifully written, this novel perfectly captures teenage intensity and anguish
The Guardian
Secrets involving sexual abuse at an elite private school. Excruciating suspense. Well-written. Made me think of serial abuser/rapist Larry Nassar.
Stephen King
I love a great literary psychological drama. I devoured Fiona McPhillips's debut, a lovechild of Tana French and Patricia Highsmith, but also totally original. Absolutely brilliant!
John Boyne, bestselling author of THE HEART'S INVISIBLE FURIES
Tense and unsettling
New York Times
A stunning debut – beautifully written, tender and poignant, but pulls no punches. A powerful, unforgettable read
Andrea Mara, bestselling author of NO ONE SAW A THING
A complex story of power, abuse and secrets
Irish Times
With a dark and poetic pen, Fiona McPhillips snakes through the waters of a tony private school, peeling away secrets in tiny waves until they crash into a powerful ending. This book absolutely nails what it feels like to be young, female, powerless, and dead set on redemption. A wonderful, relevant, and beautifully written debut.
Julia Heaberlin, bestselling author of WE ARE ALL THE SAME IN THE DARK
Angry, accomplished . . . arresting
The Times
Taut, compelling, powerful and devastatingly relevant. A sensational debut
Louise O'Neill, bestselling author of IDOL

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