When Louise becomes the newest student at Highfield Manor, an elite private school, she feels like a fish out of water. Being from a lower class, she’s immediately seen as an outsider and when she starts digging into the school’s secrets, she finds there are much higher powers at play. Thirty years later, Lou is contacted by a lawyer wanting her to testify against the same school in a big case - will she confront her past and find out what really happened all of those years ago?

WHEN WE WERE SILENT by Fiona McPhillips is such a strong, powerful debut suspense.

This book has the darkness and snark of an Irish novel, which I loved, and the fish-out-of-water private school setting was done so well!

I enjoyed the alternating timelines and seeing everything slot in place - this is one of those stories where, as a reader, you find yourself yearning and needing some justice and that feeling really helped build the suspense.

Highly intrigued by what McPhillips cooks up next!

Thanks to Flatiron Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: May 21