Twenty-one years ago, Emma Shephard was sexually assaulted and forced to leave college. She has tried to forget the trauma, building a new life as a loving wife and parent with a successful marketing career. Then her world is rocked when her rapist buys the pharmaceutical company where she works.Now it’s an impossible choice between keeping the safe life she’s created and pursuing justice. With … With her marriage at risk and her child in danger, Emma finds herself at the center of ugly secrets and scandals.
more
When I started this book I was not sure I was going to be able to handle it. It starts out quite violently. A young college girl getting beaten and raped in a stairwell outside a frat party. It was horrific. But it was the beginning of a book that will give you a lot to think about.
This book sure touches on quite a few subjects. College football players getting away and even encouraged to rape young freshman girls. The girls being told it’s their fault and subsequently being forced out of the college. The sad thing is this is actually happening in colleges all across this nation and they are getting away with it. The corruption that goes into choosing players. Paying them off to come to each college. The promise of drugs and girls. I sure hope all colleges do not do this but am willing to bet almost all of them do. It definitely needs to be stopped.
Also the drug manufacturers and what is going on there. It’s a huge money making racket that some very high up people are getting rich from at the expense of us as humans who may depend on said drugs to live. Money being paid to officials to keep quiet about the side effects of dangerous drugs. It’s all for the profit not the health of the people.
Combine these two things and you have a story of a woman who was brutally raped and then years later having to face that rapist as her boss. That alone would be more than I could handle but Emma is a very strong woman. She’s already been through a lot in her life. She’s happily married and has a daughter who will soon be leaving for college. She also suffered numerous miscarriages that ripped her and her husbands hearts into. It’s a sad story in many ways but also a happy one in that they have such a strong marriage that they can endure almost anything. Aidan, Emma’s husband does not know for a long time why Emma hates Richard so much and so deeply. But when he does find out he is beside her through everything. He supports her no matter what. As he should. It took Emma a long time to face what happened after being made to feel she did something wrong and was the cause of the attack.
This book will give you many feelings. Some of hatred. Some of loss and a lot of anger. It made me cry in so many places to think about what Emma went through as a young girl starting out. She had already lost so much. But she does have a happy life twenty one years later and that is so wonderful. You will root for her and Aidan to make it. To be strong and be there for each other. For their daughter Sophie too. She plays a very important part in this story as does Emma’s roommate in college.
Most of the characters in this book are very likable. Lovable actually. But a few you will totally detest and wish bad things on so be warned. When a person is that evil you just want to see them hurting.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #ElenaMikalsen and #WildRosePress for the eARC of this book. This is my own true review of this story.
I gave it a star and a very high recommendation.. You have to read this one to believe it.
This is author Elena Mikalsen’s third book, and with each her prose has tightened. Here, she draws upon her experience as a psychologist. Her protagonist, college student Emma, has been raped, beaten, and left for dead by a football player. She is forced from school and spends years trying to block out the attack. Eventually she moves on, finds a loving husband, and has a high-school-aged daughter. Emma works in marketing for a pharmaceutical company. When her company is bought out by another, she learns that her new boss is her rapist. All her old feelings of despair and anger return. She vows revenge.
This emotion-packed thriller is particularly apt in light of the current #MeToo movement. Emma’s rape kit was destroyed before it could be tested. The people who were supposed to help her (her counselors, the dean, even the police) instead sweep her rape under the carpet—all so the school could build a sports complex.
Adding to the drama are Emma’s infertility and the fact that she’s never told her husband, Aidan, that she was raped. Emma’s desire for revenge endangers not only herself, but her family, and often approaches illegal methods.
Mikalsen also provides an intimate look into the world of the pharmaceutical industry. Like many of the mega-industries in American, Big Pharma is full of graft and corruption with profits made at the cost of people’s lives. As a physician myself, I found these elements accurate and they gave a sense of verisimilitude to the novel.
This book reads as a near-documentary of many of America’s current flaws.
All the Silent Voices is a suspenseful , well-written, #metoo tale that will pull you in right away.
It’s hard to imagine living the horrific situation of coming face to face with a rapist from your past (and then having to work with them), but Mikalsen puts us in those shoes with her main character Emma, and as a reader you live all the fear, anger, and questions of what makes for appropriate retribution (and does revenge pay?) right along with her.
I particularly appreciated how the story uniquely combines several elements you would not normally expect to find together; in addition to the ethical questions of revenge and when is it merited, Mikalsen has clearly done her research and gives the reader an interesting look at what’s broken inside the FDA drug approval process as a core part of the story.
Even though this book is somewhat different to Mikalsen’s last two novels (which skewed more toward women’s fiction with romantic undertones), the writing is just as good, and there is still a touch of romance in the main character, Emma Shephard’s, relationship with her husband. He is clearly her rock in such a way that you know, when Emma starts to question whether to let him into the dilemma of facing her college rapist, that all is truly not well. And I was rooting for her to let him in!
Mikalsen handles the subject matter with sensitivity and just the right amount of detail at the right places (no graphic rape scenes or flashbacks) . I predict this novel will keep you engaged throughout with the suspense of whether Emma is truly going to get revenge on her rapist, and it has a surprising, yet satisfying ending.
Elena Mikalsen, author of “All The Silent Voices” has written an intense, suspenseful, captivating, intriguing, edgy, and thought-provoking novel. The story is told in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Psychological Suspense, and Thriller. The author describes her dramatic characters as complex, complicated, flawed, and vengeful. One of the themes of this story is based on the “Me-Too Movement”. There are betrayals, corruption, deep- dark secrets, revenge, and persistent danger. I would highly recommend this thought-provoking novel for readers who enjoy an extraordinarily suspenseful novel.
Emma Shephard is happily married and works at the same company as her husband. They have a wonderful daughter. Emma still struggles with memories of a traumatic rape twenty-one years before that forced her to leave the college she was attending.
The company that both Emma and her husband work at is being purchased by a bigger company that deals with pharmaceuticals. Emma is startled to see that the new president of the company is her rapist. Can you imagine what will happen? While I was reading the suspense and danger were killing me. The author has written a compelling, vividly detailed novel that will have you sitting at the edge of your seat.
Twenty-one years ago, Emma Shephard was sexually assaulted and forced to leave college. Her rapist, Richard, was a big man on campus and the star football player so the school didn’t even listen to her and tried to convince her that it was all her fault. Twenty one years later she has a loving husband and a daughter ready to go away to college. She has never told her husband about the assault. Emma and Aidan are both in executive positions at the same company. When the company is bought out, her whole world falls apart when she finds out the new owner is the man who raped her 21 years earlier. Her husband thinks that he is a great guy and a fantastic business man and keeps praising him while at the same time Emma is quietly falling apart. Her feeling soon turn to anger as she begins to plan revenge on Richard for ruining her life.
Will Emma get her revenge or will the actions in the past threaten her husband and daughter and the life that they’ve built. Will Emma be able to make the right decisions so that her family can find happiness in their future? Will her marriage survive her secrets from the past?
This book is not only a real page turner but the main character Emma is so well written that you feel like her friend. I could feel her pain and anger as she had to make decisions to save her family. Unfortunately, this book is based on stories that are happening every day at colleges and workplaces around the country.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
This is the story of a woman who was raped in college, by the football star. She tries to get justice, but everyone is seems is against her, and she gets blamed for the rape. And is forced to leave the school. Then, 20 years later, she’s married with a teenage daughter. Her and her husband work for a pharmaceutical company. And she soon learns that her rapist is not her boss.
This book.. it had the promise of a good story. But I just couldn’t get into it. There were parts that kept my attention and I couldn’t put it down, but then, through most of it, I had to force myself to read it. The story seemed to be all over the place. And I couldn’t get into all the pharmaceutical talk. You did feel sorry for the main character, though she makes some bad choices in her quest for revenge. And I really did enjoy the ending. It was certainly a surprise
All The Silent Voices
By Elena Mikalsen
About the book:
Twenty-One years ago, Emma Shepard was sexually assaulted and forced to leave college. She has tried to forget the trauma, building a new life as a loving wife and parent with a successful marketing career. Then her world is rocked when her rapist buys the pharmaceutical company where she works.
Now it’s an impossible choice between keeping the safe life she’s created and pursuing justice. With her marriage at risk and her child in danger, Emma finds herself at the center of ugly secrets and scandals.
All The Silent Voices is a dynamic suspense novel with a twisting turning plot line and a cast of resilient characters. Fast-paced and intriguing, the snowball effect of jealousy rage, secrets and lies grabbed my attention until the end! But above all that, this book does a fantastic job supporting and giving a voice to sexual assault victims. Elena Mikalsen uses the fictional story of Emma Shepard to speak up for the #ME TOO movement and those too afraid to share their story. Highlighting not only the physical effects but the years of emotional and mental trauma these victims endure after having been assaulted. Starting a conversation is the first line of defense in helping these victims speak up and put an end to the destruction and cover ups that are so prevalent in our society and the author does a fantastic job of that with All The Silent Voices.
Full review on my blog: https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/20…
All the Silent Voices is an ode to every woman who has been silenced through trauma. To every woman who has been told it was her fault. To every woman who felt that she couldn’t speak up. To every woman afraid. In a time of the Me-Too movement, this book is poignant and important. It will not be a story for everyone, it may trigger some terrifying memories and it is important to note that this book is vivid. But, it is important. It is horrifying and visceral because it is so real.
Now, I must admit that I kept holding off on writing this review. It is not because I didn’t like the book, but that I was afraid I wouldn’t do the topic justice. Sexual assault is something women fear daily. Walking alone at night, catching the eye of someone who doesn’t look away, the feeling of being brushed up against in public. We are taught to be cautious and afraid on the inside while maintaining composure on the outside.
Reading All the Silent Voices you feel that fear and anxiety. Mikalsen does an amazing job of conveying all of the emotions that come with being forced to face the man who assaulted you. Which is probably why this book captures and keeps your attention. The realness of the story is sad, in a this is a terrible situation, but something that far too many women face.
All the Silent Voices takes you on many twists and turns. Drama, scandals, and more unwind throughout these pages.
4.5 stars
All The Silent Voices is a unique fast-paced roller coaster ride of emotions. This story of a woman sexually assaulted who decades later finds herself working for her rapist was nothing like I expected.
Mikalsen does an excellent job of making you feel all of the emotions a survivor in this situation would go through while still providing plenty of twists and turns. I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like it, part thriller, part survival story. Mikalsen combined several elements to weave a great tale of secrets, scandal and revenge.
I recommend this one if you love a good page-turner or are looking for a satisfying Me-Too read. I could have easily devoured this in one sitting.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The Silent Voices by Elena Mikalsen is an incredible read. This is a fast paced domestic suspense that will keep you up at night turning the pages until the dramatic ending.
Trigger alert for rape and sexual assault.
Emma Shepard was sexually assaulted back in college and she did everything right including reporting the assault and yet SHE was the one thrown out of school . She moved on and went on to live a seemingly “normal” life. Though there really is not a normal life for someone that has been sexually assaulted. She is married and a mom. Suddenly, the company that Emma and her husband work at is bought by the predator that attacked her in college.
This was an incredible read, and is expertly written about the trauma that Emma had to endure and how the #metoo movement is giving these women a voice when they previously did not have one.
There is some incredible twists with an ending that was incredible!!!
“He means to kill me—I see it in his eyes.”
Elena Mikalsen’s new novel begins with a literal punch and ends with a figurative one too. This important novel speaks out for any voice that has been silenced over and over again.
Twenty-one years ago, Emma Shephard was sexually assaulted at a fraternity party and forced to drop out of her university when the school refused to believe her story. She tried to forget about the trauma over the years and eventually married and started her own family. Just when Emma thinks her past is buried enough for her to move on, her rapist buys the company she works for and she’s now spending every day with him face to face. Now, Emma has a choice to either find justice or live a safe, quiet life.
All the Silent Voices is raw, relevant, and realistic. In our climate today, many women face issues presented in this book, and I commend Mikalsen for writing a story that sheds a light, although fictional, on a topic that is very much a reality for many. This story is quick-paced and heart-wrenching. The characters seem like a tight-knit band of personalities and the injustices are handled with care. This was a truly eye-opening and beautifully written novel that kept me on the edge of my seat with the various twists and turns.
This novel earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars for the main character that possesses grit and grace, supporting characters that bring to life the small-town setting, and themes are delicately, yet fiercely portrayed.
Thank you to the author, The Wild Rose Press, and Suzy Approved Book Tours for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
All the Silent Voices is available now.
Disclaimer: There are other triggers in this book along with sexual abuse such a miscarriage and bullying.
Great read! Fast paced and suspenseful. From a college rape to a drug company corruption; I couldn’t read fast enough. This authors books seem to get better with each one I read! Highly recommend if you like suspense.
All the Silent Voices was a thought provoking, topical read. The idea of someone who had such such a huge impact on Emma’s life turning up as her boss was very interesting to me as a reader, and would be gut wrenching if this happened in real life.
The way the story unfolded was something that really kept me turning pages, wanting to find out what happened. I did enjoy the character of Emma and found her reactions and emotions to be very realistic.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction and has had interest in the #MeToo movement. Thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC at my request. All thoughts in this review are my own.
I rarely binge read, but this grabbed me from the get go! It’s a tense psychological novel that relates to the current #MeToo movement. A brutal rape in college, continues to affect its multiple participants 20 years later, as the rapist invades Emma’s life, when he buys the company she works for. Attempting to protect her family from her pain, she chooses revenge to try and even the score and destroy him.
This is a well researched by talented Elena Mikalsen as she develops strong, interesting characters, as she navigates the pharmaceutical companies, the FDA and a corrupt police department, elite college and other county officials.
It will keep you hooked until the conclusion. Thanks to #NetGalley #WildRosePress for my ARC All opinions are my own.
What would you do if after twenty-one years your new boss turns out to be the man who drugged, beat and raped you? Emma has moved on and is happily married, but then learns that the new president of the company that both she and her husband work for is that man. What should she do? Neither her husband or daughter are aware of what happened in her past. She wants the justice that she was denied so many years ago, but at what cost? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author. (by paytonpuppy)
ALL THE SILENT VOICES by Elena is a book that really kept me turning the pages. How far would you take revenge in getting back at those that harmed you in the past. After being sexually assaulted and force to leave college, Emma Shepherd has built a new life for herself. Only her close friend actually knows all that happened to her in the past. When your company is taken over by your worst nightmare, what do you do. What follows is a thrilling read, action packed with all kind of twists and turns. I highly recommend this book to those that love psychologial suspense thrillers.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my fair and honest review.
This was a very thought provoking story. Emma was raped and beaten as a young college student. The system failed her even though she did everything right, she reported it, went to hospital, had exam, saw counselor, reported to university….but he was a hot shot quarterback…she was a nobody, she “asked for it” “what did she expect at a frat party?” Nobody paid but Emma…She went on to go back to school after working for yrs to pay for it having lost her scholarship, PTSD plagued her life but she passed it off as anxiety. She was married, had a daughter life was good….then her company is bought out and who is her new boss??? Her rapist….her world explodes around her…Elena gives a voice to all the silent voices out there, very well written story dealing with difficult subjects
Divergent Style Shows Strength As Storyteller. The singular best thing I can say about this book is that with its dramatic departure from the style and tone of the author’s previous book The House With The Cypress Trees it truly shows just how great of a storyteller she is. This particular book is a drama with few laughs and a fair amount of heartbreak going back over two decades, with its overall story solidly rooted in the travails of the MeToo movement and anti-Big Pharma activism. For many, the reader’s own thoughts on those two subjects will largely determine how you feel about the book, but speaking as someone who was leery of the book when I noticed it was diving towards MeToo stuff it actually turned out to be a solid, well balanced tale. Very much recommended.
Fast-paced, hooked from the beginning … Definitely recommend.
Thank you #netgalley and #wildrosepress for the eARC.
A fast paced thriller that kept me turning the pages, rushing to the very end. I’ve read all of this author’s books and each one keeps getting better and better. Definitely recommend. Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy