Note: Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow Publishing, and Bridget Collins for the advanced reader copy of the book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

Imagine having the ability to block out all the extraneous sounds that bother us in life. No more cars honking, dogs barking, or sirens blasting in the middle of the night. For those of us who are light sleepers, it sounds like a dream. For someone who discovered how to do this, it could mean a fortune.

The Silence Factory shifts back and forth between a secluded Greek island in the 1820s and the latter part of the century in a small town in England. In the 1820s, James Ashmore-Percy and his wife, Sophia, travel to the Greek Island in search of an elusive spider described to him in letters from a friend. At first, Sophia has trouble adjusting to the primitive conditions, but later finds a place with the women of the village. James is frustrated by his inability to find the specimens he was told about. He’s unkind to Sophia in many ways and typical of an emotionally abusive husband.

Many years later, Henry Latimer is still mourning his late wife when Sir Edward Ashmore-Percy wanders into the shop his father-in-law owns. Sir Edward is looking for a cure for his daughter’s deafness. Henry, an audiologist, agrees to visit the estate and see if he can help the child to hear. Once there, he learns the town of Telverton is home to Sir Edward’s factory which weaves a magical silk born from the spiders brought back by his great Uncle many decades before. Henry falls under the spell of the silk and Sir Edward.

The story was slow to start, but eventually, it gripped me. It is a dark, sinister, and magical thriller with people behaving about as I’d expect. Sir Edward is a well-fleshed-out character who manipulates those around him. His status allows him to do what he wants with little questioning. However, the family fortune is dwindling and he’s counting on the silk to make him rich. He’s distant with his daughter and angered by her governess teaching her “fingerspeak” to help her communicate.

The story from Henry’s perspective is compelling. I could tell he was under a spell of sorts, but at the same time he sees things that are warning signs and can’t shake them. The setting of the town and the factory is seen through his eyes, and he knows something is wrong, but seems powerless to comprehend exactly what’s going on.

For people who like dark, noir thrillers, I think you’ll enjoy The Silence Factory. It’s not my particularly favorite genre, but this is a good read. It took a bit for the story to hook me, but once it did I really wanted to see how it would all end. There are a few curves thrown in the story that I did not see coming as well. I recommend it.