When We Were Silent is the dark & intense debut novel from Fiona McPhillips which follows the life of our protagonist Louise(Lou) Manson as she relives the trauma she experienced at the hands of Coach McQueen & Highfield Manor. While attempting to get justice for herself &the many other victims which have emerged, Lou discovers there are many more secrets buried deep within the imposing granite walls of this elite private Catholic school.

Using a dual timeline through Lou’s eyes, McPhillips examines the lingering destructive nature of the trauma caused by sexual abuse. At no point does she shy away from its severity, in fact she truly allows you to sit & fester in the insipid nature of the abuse. McPhillips adeptly interweaves the stories of Lou, her mother & her daughter to harrowingly show that the abuse doesn’t just affect the victim but indeed all those around them, often causing long standing generational trauma.

Within the first few chapters & throughout, there is a pervading palpable sense of fear that does not relent. This is reinforced by characters who are truly fleshed out in all their likeable & unlikeable glory. From the sometimes questionable inner thoughts & actions of Lou & Shauna to the vile & viciously manipulative nature of McQueen, nothing is held back. It has been a long time since a book has had such a physical effect on me & I found myself in many moments where my heart was thumping in my chest & I could feel bile rising to the back of my throat.

While it is a hugely dark story, McPhillips does provide small moments of relief in the safety of the familiar through many recognisable pop culture references. I found this juxtaposition so effective in showing how life still has to go on for victims, regardless of what they are enduring.

Sadly this book holds a terrifyingly accurate mirror to what has been coming to light in Irish society in recent years & McPhillips astutely demonstrates the harsh reality of the Ireland of its time.

A profound fictional novel firmly anchored in the reality of far too many, which emphasises the importance of speaking up & having your voice heard, even if you don’t believe it will go anywhere.

When We Were Silent
Fíona McPhillips

There was a good bit of hype around this one (not surprising, given the subject matter) and I was looking forward to it. However I honestly struggled to to finish it. I really don’t like giving bad reviews as writing a book is such hard work but I just didn’t enjoy the writing style at all. Thankfully, going by other reviews, I seem to be in the minority.

When We Were Silent is an extraordinary debut from Fiona McPhillips.

Now I know 'extraordinary' is a strong word. And the novel's themes are not exactly unusual, sadly. Grooming and abuse in a catholic school in the 20th century, the closing of ranks and the failure of authorities to protect children from paedophiles. Same old, same old.

What I think is extraordinary here is the clarity of expression. It's a difficult, at times harrowing, book to read, immersive in the worst possible way. It follows Lou Manson in a dual timeline as a schoolgirl and later as an adult.

I know the Dublin areas and social levels in which this novel is set, and boy does every line ring true. The realism of the setting makes the story feel very real and true, and as a reader the author's anger is infectious.

The entire novel is a raging, screaming #MeToo. But it is also, as a novel, highly successful: well constructed and vivid, with strong characterisation and plot. I'm not surprised that it has received such glowing endorsements, by the likes of no less than the master storyteller Stephen King himself!

Thank you to @NetGalley_UK, @fionamcp and @randomhouse for giving me a free copy of this book. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.

#WhenWeWereSilent #fionamcp #NetGalley_UK #bookreview #MeToo #randomhouse

If you keep up with book buzz you will have already seen so much about When We Were Silent, the debut novel by Fiona McPhillips. Nobody needs a review of it by me - Steven blooming King just recommended it. Nonetheless, here I am joining in.

Decades ago, Louise Manson, a seventeen-year-old schoolgirl, was admitted to a posh private school hoping to avenge her best friend’s death. Suddenly surrounded by entitlement borne of wealth (while at home her mum is desperately in debt) Lou tries to navigate her way to expose the abusive swimming coach. The details of the time, the music, posters and chatter of young girls, is keenly observed, and the intensity of feelings seems very real.
In the present day Lou is called to give evidence in a young boy’s case against a swimming teacher. I don’t want to spoiler anything so won’t say more than When We Were Silent is a gripping and tense tale that feels grimly plausible. McPhillips ramps the tension up and this becomes a real page turner as we read on to the thrilling conclusion.
#BookReview #Bookstagram #whenweweresilent

This is a difficult book for me to review as on the face of it. I should’ve loved it - a thriller dealing with tough and important issues told over two timelines. However, I thought it was just too much of a slow burn with the secrets and lies taking too long to come to light. I was much more interested in the events of 30 years ago than with the present day story and unfortunately had worked out the outcome fairly early on. That being said I think there’ are a lot of readers who enjoy this genre who will be totally engrossed in this novel and it deserves a wide readership.. Although the novel deals with some difficult and important topics which may be triggering for some it just wasn’t for me. I did a.lso listen to the book on audio and the narrator did a good job.Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. for allowing me to have an early copy of this novel in return for an honest review

This book tackles the difficult topic of pedophilia. In spite of the topic this book is excellent. It reads as a mystery story and is absolutely engrossing - switching from present day to thirty years ago and describing the impact a pedophile can have on the lives of vulnerable young people. Highly recommend.

Thank you Bantam for a copy of the ebook! I may have gone on to get myself a physical copy 🙊

It is best to go blind into this book but what I will say is that if you liked My Dark Vanessa then you will very possibly enjoy this too!

Short and sweet from me today:

This book is extremely well written and researched. It was maybe a little slow paced but I never found myself bored. The story packs a punch and has a lot to say!

Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

When We Were Silent is an immersive, powerful and moving debut from Fiona McPhillips.

Lou Manson is a working-class girl given a swimming scholarship to the prestigious Highfield school. Despite her precarious position as an outsider, Lou – both as girl and woman – is challenged to expose the school’s systemic grooming and abuse of the teenage girls in its care.

The book draws attention to the prevalence of abuse in Irish swimming during the 1980s, and sheds light on the failure of authorities to protect vulnerable children from sexual predators.

This was a difficult read at times – the book aches with agonising injustices, with the joy and energy and potential snuffed out. With the frustration of being young and powerless.

The righteous anger leaps from the page – and you can’t help but be infected with it – but whilst it is harrowing at times, the writing is always authentic and sensitive, never prurient or exploitative.

The empowerment of older women to defend their younger selves – and their peers – particularly resonated with me. Me too, me too, me too…

This is the kind of book you’ll want to press into the hands of everyone you know.

I was so looking forward to getting stuck into this one. The story unfolds within a past and present timeline. I found the pace a little slow and I was getting a little exasperated as I felt I was turning the pages but not getting there to where I needed to. At times I found it didn’t flow as easily as it could have and could switch at times without notice. The storyline itself is my kind of storyline and I found it was well developed but just needed that extra pace to add the momentum. There are some truly loveable and not so loveable characters and you can identify with their plight. I think the author tied it all up very well in the end. All in all I really enjoyed this one and will keep an eye out for this author in future.

3.5/5 🌟🌟🌟

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to listen to and review #WhenWeWereSilent

I have to apologize for my very late review on this amazing book. For some reason it took me a lot longer than expected to start it, not to actually go through it.

I must thank NetGalley, the publisher and author first for offering me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Honestly, I felt like the story was very heavy especially with some trigger warnings for rape.

However, the book overall was okay written in two timelines and it tells the captivating but devastating story of the main character, Lou.

A compelling but harrowing story about sexual abuse in an elite Catholic school in Dublin. A scholarship girl from the wrong side of the tracks comes to the school with an agenda - to reveal the abuse suffered by members of the swimming team at the hands of their coach - only to come up against a conspiracy of silence from both the school and the victims. Set in two timelines, the 1980s and present-day, it weaves the two narratives together seamlessly. The plot is immaculately drafted and the characters feel authentic.

With thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

A fancy school should protect its students right? It should be a safe place? But not for Lou, she soon finds out this place is not the haven it is made out to be. Fast forward 30 years and Lou is dragged into a lawsuit exposing the cruel going on's at the school. But if Lou tells the truth there will be consequences for her and others....will she spill the beans and risk exposing and endangering herself and others? Interesting read.

OMG What a debut novel!
Lou Manson has recently joined the Highfield Manor, Dublin's exclusive private school. She doesn't come from the same background as the girls that attend the school. The story timeline follows Lou as a teenager at the school and in the present. I found this book very hard to put down once I had started!

When We Were Silent is the type of book that sinks into your skin and fills you with rage.

God, this was one hell of a read. It is a book writhing with anger and concerned with questions of justice and the fallibility of the legal system. McPhillips interrogates the idea of perfect victimhood and whose narratives are upheld as truth, compared to those that are disregarded as falsehoods. We sit with the ideals of truth and justice and how they are complicated by power structures and dynamics. The plot unfolds twofold – in the present and past. This allows us to look at the impacts of trauma on characters throughout the passage of time.

Lou’s story is a difficult read at times, so please be aware of trigger warnings before reading. McPhillips does not hold back with some sickening scenes of manipulation, where you just squirm as you know where this is leading too. It does not feel exploitative or for effect, rather illustrating the horrifying reality. This is particularly in focus in terms of manipulation and gaslighting, constructing a new truth from a web of lies. While reading, your skin will crawl several times but it speaks to the crushing horror of reality. Highfield is a place of privilege, meaning Lou is on the wrong foot from the start coming from the wrong place and the wrong class compared to her peers. Of couse, she has ulterior motivations to entering this space that are slowly revealed. Her search for the truth is dogged and determined, with good reason. It becomes complicated by her relationships with friends and friends who become somthing more. She is a prickly protagonist – with years of building a wall to survive. You empathise with her across both timelines and are rooting for her to succeed.

When We Were Silent puts privileged institutions and the abuses of power they allow to continue firmly in the spotlight. It holds nothing back in this gritty, raw and real examination of the justice system and those it fails.

This book is truly a work of art. I don't know if I can put it to words how much I enjoyed this story. Everybody needs to read this book. Such an important topic and I did feel myself becoming angry while reading.

This is a well written and cleverly constructed novel about a very dark subject. Set in two timelines it tells the story of Lou.
In the present day Lou is a successful English lecturer in Dublin but when the brother of her old friend, Shauna, asks her to be a witness in an abuse case which is being brought by a pupil at her old school, Highfield, Lou is in shock- so many memories are dredged up, many of which she’d rather forget.
As a teenager she transferred to Highfield, a posh school seemingly looking for a fresh start after her best friend passes away. However Lou has an agenda, to avenge her friend and try and catch the abusive PE teacher and swimming coach who ruined her friend’s life. He is still working at Highfield and probably doing the same thing to other students.
The school itself is not great for Lou, she comes from a poor, single parent family and the other girls are not very accepting. Her home life with her alcoholic mother is not great either and as Lou starts to investigate Mr McQueen events start to spiral out of control.
I liked the way the story is told in the first person - the reader realises early on that the narrator, Lou is not revealing the true story and it’s difficult to know how much to believe. There’s a big secret that stays hidden throughout most of the book but which explains a lot about Lou’s state of mind.
I found the court room scene very compelling, wondering what was going to happen and felt aggrieved that no one in authority would believe Lou- she was left without a voice, something which has obviously affected her subsequent life.
The book was well written and the characters are believable but be warned, it is not a cheerful read and it is not a book for the faint hearted.
There are many good Irish authors at the moment and I would certainly number Fiona McPhillips among them. I will definitely look out for any further books by this writer.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

In When We Were Silent, Fiona McPhillips has written a barnstorming novel about secrets, lies, privilege and the vile abuse of power by a swimming coach at a private Catholic school in Dublin. What makes the book so compelling and so interesting isn't simply the excellent writing and gripping plot, but the fact that so much of what McPhillips writes about in the book is mirrored in Irish society.

Many of you will be familiar with Derry O'Rourke, George Gibney and Frank McCann, Irish swimming coaches who groomed and abused teenage girls in the 1980s, the latter conceiving a child with one of them and hiding it from his wife and daughter by murdering them in their own home. O'Rourke served time for his crimes. George Gibney was indicted on 27 counts of abuse but charges were dropped following a controversial ruling by the Supreme Court and he left for the US where he continues to be protected by the Catholic Church.

Combine the rampant sexual abuse in Irish swimming with the prolific sexual abuse by members of the clergy of the Catholic Church in Irish private day and boarding schools (Blackrock College, Belvedere College, Castleknock College to name but a few) and the State inquiry into that abuse, and you have all the ingredients of an explosive story which McPhillips has fictionalised.

It's Dublin in the 1980s and Lou Manson is a working-class girl on a scholarship to Highfield Manor, a posh, Catholic all-girls boarding school in South Dublin. Her best friend Tina recently took her own life following a confession to Lou that Tina had been sexually abused by the swimming coach McQueen at Highfield. Determined to get to the truth of what happened to Tina, Lou sets out to entrap McQueen but faces more than she bargained for. Fast forward to the present, when a new scandal concerning Highfield is about to emerge and Lou feels justice was never served. Can she bring about the truth this time?

I was completely absorbed in this book from the beginning. McPhillips captures the zeitgeist of the 1980s very well, with music and cultural references from the time. The picture she paints of privilege and the discomfort that abuse causes in those who revere the schools they were educated in is noteworthy - it's as though the legacy of the school is more important than exposing the crimes that destroyed so many of those who passed through it. I think that's a notion that persists to this day in how we as a society have failed to confront some of these truths head-on.

Only one small issue with the plot for me - McQueen was so slippery that I felt he probably would have been at Tina's funeral and would have heard Lou mouthing off as we are told she did, and so would have been more cautious about targeting her I think, although having said that perhaps the arrogance and narcissism of the man meant he knew he was invincible.

Excellent thriller that I would highly recommend. Irish book clubs will love this one. 4/5 stars

*Many thanks to @penguinrandomhouse Transworld Publishers for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. When We Were SIlent was published yesterday.

God this was hard to read but brilliantly done. This is such a difficult topic but I felt FM navigated it very well and has written a story that is captivating but devastating at the same time. Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy

Louise Manson has recently enrolled at Highfield Manor, Dublin’s most exclusive private school.

Lou is seen as an outsider because of her working-class status, until she is befriended by some of her gorgeous and affluent classmates. Yet, Lou’s efforts to uncover the school’s secret result in a lifeless body lying before her, marking the end of her time at Highfield. A shocking phone call comes for Lou after thirty years. The school is facing a lawsuit and Lou has been called upon by a well-known lawyer to give testimony. It’s time for Lou to confront her past and finally uncover the truth about Highfield.

Although it had a slow start, this book eventually captivated me, and I couldn’t stop reading. It was sometimes tough to witness the hardships faced by these characters and the lasting effects on their lives. What makes this book important is the author’s bravery in addressing taboo topics that many avoid. However, we must take responsibility for our own education and acknowledge that these things exist and continue to occur in our world.

As the book progressed, my fondness for Lou grew and I empathized with her as she navigated the challenges of her teenage and adult life. I enjoyed the gradual and realistic development of the story, and the ending evoked a range of emotions in me.

All in all, such an impressive start. The compelling strength of Fiona McPhillips’ prose highlights her remarkable talent. Despite the difficult nature of her story, she handles it with great sensitivity.

Many thanks to @fionamcp @TransworldBooks @netgalley for a review copy.