Political games can be deadly… Elise Carmichael is a court sign language interpreter who reads lips all the time. As a widow with a young son who is deaf, lip reading is simply second nature, until the day she reads the lips of someone on the phone discussing an attempt to be made on a senator’s life–a senator who just happens to be her mother-in-law. Before she can decide what she needs to … decide what she needs to do, she receives the information that her son is rushed to the ER and she must leave. Then she later sees the news report that her mother-in-law has been shot and killed. But when she comes forward, her life, as well as her son’s life, may now be in the crosshairs of the assassin.
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This was a Christian suspense novel with strong female characters. This book grabbed my attention from page one and kept my interest til the end. I enjoyed the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
Dead Silence by Robin Carol – I was very impressed with this book. Suspense murder mysteries are not my normal genres. But this book was suggested to me and I thought I would give it a try. It’s one of those stories that grabs you right at the beginning and won’t let go, until you know what really happened. You can read the books description to get the storyline, but I would definitely recommend giving it a shot. The characters were strong and well defined. The plot was intriguing, with many twists and turns, perhaps a little too realistic. Although the subject matter was intense, it was handled in a clean and wholesome manor. There were Christian references, dealing with prayer, faith in God and scriptural messages. This is the first book I’ve read from this author, but I would be happy to give her other books a try. I received this book from Net galley and the publisher for my honest review.
Robin Carroll’s Dead Silence was a contemporary story about a woman who read someone’s lips as they threatened the life of a political figure. Due to a family emergency she did not report the threat and the politician was murdered. Original story-line and I like the characters. Would definitely recommend to those readers that enjoy murder mysteries.
What Would You do to Protect Your Family?
Elise, a widow, just read the lips of a man saying her mother-in-law, a senator, would be murdered! But before she can act on that, she is swept away by the news her deaf son, Sawyer, has been injured and is in the hospital. After the trauma of dealing with his injury and getting him home, she falls asleep before remembering to report the threat to her mother-in-law.
She is horrified the next morning to find that her mother-in-law has been killed. Elise tells all the details to FBI agents, only to find she and Sawyer’s lives are now being threatened. As more and more attempts are made to hurt them, Elise decides to take things in her own hands and try to solve the murder herself.
After that, her life really changes as she gets in even more dangerous situations. Should she have tried to investigate herself? What else can she do?
This tale is exciting and some of the characters rely on God to help them cope with threatening things while others express their doubt of His care. Including a deaf child in the story brings some understanding of a few of the special issues that would be present in real life. You will enjoy this 5-star book, and I recommend it to those who like thrillers or whodunits.
NetGalley has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of, Dead Silence, for the purpose of review.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am glad I read this book. There was so much to this story. It got my attention from the first page to the last one. The book is about Sawyer who was born deaf and mute and his mom who could read lips. Elise read the lips of a security guard about the attempt that would take place on her mother in law. But her son had an accident at school so she rushed to the hospital and the next morning her mother-in-law, the Senator was dead.
I could tell a lot of thought went into writing this story. It just flowed so naturally, and such attention to details. I usually don’t read murder mystery so I didn’t know what to expect. It was a wonderful story and where it was murder it should be sad and it was but I felt there was an undercurrent of other emotions too. I think that added to the mystery and a good mystery it was. If you are like me and murder mystery books isn’t what you would read, I say give this book a try because you will be pleasantly surprised.
Dead Silence is a contemporary suspense that could easily be inspired by current news and kicked up a notch or two. Featuring Elise Carmichael, widowed mother of a young deaf son, the story begins with Elise accidentally reading lips of a man discussing a murder plot. Once she has relayed the information to the FBI, Elise quickly finds herself and her son threatened time and time again. The danger ramps up with each page as Elise, her sister-in-law, and others work together to identify the person behind the threats.
I enjoyed the character of Elise, a gutsy mama bear of a woman who would do everything possible to protect her beloved son. It was fun watching her face off with the FBI agents – this woman pretty much told them what she thought of them. I also liked how she took things into her own hands when she felt that law enforcement was not doing enough to solve the case. A subtle faith message highlighted a disillusioned Elise who slowly found her way back to God.
I did have my suspicions early on but the narrative really didn’t let any obvious hints slip by to diminish my enjoyment of the story. Dead Silence would be a great book to recommend to those friends who may be looking for a good suspense without romantic elements to detract from the rest of the story. I recommend this book as well as Caroll’s previous novels.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Amazon Vine. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
What if you overheard a death threat against someone else but then got distracted and were unable to report it? What if that person was killed? What if you had to deal with the loss of your husband? What if your son is deaf? All of these struggles cause Elise to question her faith. This suspense book tackles the issues of telling the truth versus personal safety. What if the right thing puts you in danger?
This is not a romance, so if you prefer simple suspense, this is a book for you. I did predict part of the plot. But enough of the details were left unpredictable that I still enjoyed the book.
I liked the characters, and Elise was especially feisty. I hope this ends up being the first book in a series. Reading a book set in Arkansas was interesting, although I am not sure that there were enough city details to make the setting be a critical element.
Overall I do recommend this suspense! Thank you to #netgalley and to Shiloh Run Press for allowing me to read a preview copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Complex and compelling:
I quickly became invested in the story and wanted to just scoop up Elise and Sawyer and be there for them. It was intense and had me on the edge of my seat for most of the book. The pacing was well done and I was madly turning pages to find out what was going to happen next. You could feel the depth of Elise’s pain, confusion and anger at God and I enjoyed seeing her finally come to find healing and comfort in the arms of Christ.
I look forward to reading more books from this very talented author.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
I believe “Dead Silence” by Robin Caroll was the best book I’ve ever read by her! There was something about this book that was so engrossing to me. It hooked me from the first page and continued through the whole book.
“Dead Silence” is a fast paced, suspenseful novel. I could kind of see the way the story was playing out, but there were a few twists I didn’t see coming. The characters were very relatable. There was no romance in this book, just suspense. Usually I read suspense novels with a little romance, but I really enjoyed this one. The romance wasn’t even needed.
The main character is a mother with a deaf son. She reads lips and sees a guard talking about murdering the senator. This starts a mountain of problems for her and her son. This is a mother that will move heaven and earth for her son. I guess, as a mother, I could relate to what she would do to protect her son.
I definitely recommend this book if you love good, clean, suspenseful books. You won’t be disappointed!
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.
A United States Senator from Arkansas Lillian York is murdered. Her daughter-in-law Elise Carmichael, a court interpreter for the deaf, and Elise’s seven-year-old deaf son, Sawyer are now targets. Dissatisfied with the way the FBI is handling the investigation, Elise resolves to uncover the truth herself with help from her sister-in-law Mary Ellen, step-father-in-law Noland, and an up-and-coming reporter Wesson Kelly. Lip-read eavesdropping, threatening packages, mysterious e-mail files, stalking, and a kidnapping combine to make an easy-to-read, riveting story that moves at a fitting pace.
Dead Silence captured my attention with the first paragraph and kept it until the very end. The characters in this page-turner are well-developed and engaging. The faith message is prevalent in the story, and Elise’s faith journey through very difficult circumstances is inspiring. I highly recommend this book. Ms. Caroll is a new author to me, and I look forward to reading more of her works.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Dead Silence is a suspenseful thriller that will keep you turning the pages. Oh my heart! It is still beating hard after this emotional roller coaster ride. The heroine is a loving mom who is an interpreter for the deaf in a court of law. She reads lips and sees a man say make a threat against a senator. The senator happens to be her mother in law. Her son is deaf and they both are in danger. I won’t go into any more detail because you just have to read it. This is a suspenseful thriller with no romance. The love in this book is the love of a mother for her son and what she will do to keep him safe.
*I was given a copy of this book by Barbour Publishing. This is my honest opinion
4.5 stars
Have you ever wondered “why”? Sat up nights and railed against God, Who could have changed circumstances, but did not? The beautiful spiritual message resonated with this reader who, at times, had not been speaking with the Lord due to unanswered “why’s”. It is also excellent If you enjoy exciting suspense novels without romance. I loved it! While I could not wait to learn whodunit, I did not want it to end. The author offers captivating, well-developed characters and an expertly executed plot. Even though I had a good idea whodunit, I eagerly followed the drama to learn the full background.
Elise is a young widow with an adorable seven-year-old son, Sawyer. He is a cheerful boy who was only two when his daddy died while deployed with the Marines. Sawyer was born deaf and mute. He can lip read and use American Sign Language like a pro. Elise went to college to learn all she could about communicating with the deaf and became a specialist. She interprets in court for those who are deaf. One day when leaving a trial, she saw a guard in the federal courthouse and read his lips that her mother-in-law, Lilliana York, a long-time US Senator, would be taken care of permanently that night, and to wire the money to him.
As she digested that, she got a call that Sawyer was injured on the playground and was on his way to the emergency room. In a panic, she raced to the hospital, forgetting everything else. Sawyer had a broken wrist and needed her care. The next morning, Elise had to finish interpreting for the trial she was in, so Hallie, who works part time at Sawyer’s school, would watch Sawyer until it was over. Elise heard on TV that Lilliana’s husband found her murdered that morning. Elise planned to go to office of the US Attorney after the trial.
She didn’t have to go, however. FBI agents awaited her in the lobby of the courthouse, and she told them what she saw and why she didn’t report it the prior day. Her son needed her to interpret for him at the hospital, and everything but his care went out of her thoughts. After their meeting, she went home to break the news to Sawyer that his beloved grandmother died. Then the anonymous threats began. Every time the agents were at her home, Elise received another threat. The worst happened – Sawyer was kidnapped without a trace.
Elise could not trust the FBI; it seemed they had a leak. She would not trust God anymore. Her anger at the Lord for allowing her innocent child to be born deaf and mute, then taking his father away, now his grandmother. Her sister-in-law, Mary Ellen, continued to pray for and encourage Elise amidst the grief of losing her mother, yet Elise did not want to ask God for anything.
With help from a completely unexpected source, as well as Mary Ellen and Lilliana’s husband Noland, Elise tries desperately to find Sawyer before time runs out. The man who killed Lilliana was found dead, and the one leaving threatening packages for Elise died after a police shootout. Finding the person behind the killings was a true challenge. One little clue led me to my pet suspect, which was later confirmed. This was such a breathtaking suspense novel! There were surprises at the end and I was very satisfied. I highly recommend this to anyone who appreciates thrilling novels of intrigue with faith struggles and wonderful characters.
From a thankful heart: I received an eARC of this novel from Celebrate Lit, the publisher, and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Title: Dead Silence
Author: Robin Carroll
Pages: 2020
Year: 320
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
What an amazing and gripping tale! I sat down with the book and couldn’t put it down; it is that good. Elise Carmichael is a single mom, raising her son who is deaf and mute. Sawyer is like all little boys full of fun, energy and love waffles. As Elise is leaving work one day, she reads the lips of an officer on his phone. She knows she should report this incident to the authorities but never does as she gets an emergency call that Sawyer has gotten hurt on the playground.
The next day she learns from watching the news that her mother-in-law has been murdered. Liliana York was a senator. When Elise begins to report what she lip-read and answer the questions posed to her by the FBI, she and her son become targets. Life has been hard enough since her husband, who served in the Marines, was killed overseas. She will do whatever she needs to keep Sawyer safe and close.
There are many twists and turns in the plot as the author leads readers to try and figure out who ordered the hit on the senator. It was interesting to see how she adapted her life so Sawyer could experience the best life has to offer. I found myself gripped by the storyline and kept trying to figure out who would have benefited from the actions taken to remove Liliana York from office. The senator is a character who fights for what is right. Just before she dies, she sends two files to Sawyer’s iPad. When Elise opens the files, thinking they contain clues, she finds another mystery!
The novel is truly unique in that it has a deaf/mute character, a mother that works in the courts as an ASL interpreter, and more. The multiple mysteries all come together into one climactic ending that suspense lovers will find exciting! I plan to see what other books are available by this author as the book was entertaining, a quick read and one I hope others will take time to read.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
Dead Silence by Robin Carol – I was very impressed with this book. Suspense murder mysteries are not my normal genres. But this book was suggested to me and I thought I would give it a try. It’s one of those stories that grabs you right at the beginning and won’t let go, until you know what really happened. You can read the books description to get the storyline, but I would definitely recommend giving it a shot. The characters were strong and well defined. The plot was intriguing, with many twists and turns, perhaps a little too realistic. Although the subject matter was intense, it was handled in a clean and wholesome manor. There were Christian references, dealing with prayer, faith in God and scriptural messages. This is the first book I’ve read from this author, but I would be happy to give her other books a try. I received this book from Net galley and the publisher for my honest review.
This is a suspect story at its finest. As Elise struggles with her faith in God, she finally realizes that He is with her all the time. The focus on the power of prayer and how it changes her life, recharging her spiritual life, is affirming. A great story with wonderful characters and an intriguing plot makes for an interesting read. The details about Elise’s son’s day-to-day life while suffering from hearing loss was enlightening.
Thank you to NetGalley and Shiloh Run Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
This has been on my TBR for quite awhile. I received this book on NetGalley from the publisher to give it a try. I am so so glad I finally did! It was awesome. It pulled me in immediately and I could not put it down, because I had to know what happened next. I devoured this book, let me tell you. Excellent read. I will now be looking up more of Robin’s books as this was my first read by her, however it will not be my last!
I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
Dead Silence was a novel that I really fought to love, but sadly it fell flat for me. Elise is the narrator and protagonist throughout the entire book, and I think this hurt the narrative and limited the viewpoint of the situation. Though I could empathize with all that Elise has lost, and the nightmare ordeal that she finds herself in, I never could establish that connection with her.
I understood the faith struggle, and loved how God using “all things” did come full circle. I never felt like the parts that pertained to faith were preachy, but instead were a good reminders to hold onto faith in the tough situations we find ourselves in.
Though it was a satisfying ending, I do feel like it was a bit rushes, whereas the rest of the book did the opposite, and completely dragged. I would’ve liked to have heard more from the other supporting characters, and had really hoped for an unexpected twist to shake things up a bit, and allow the reader to get lost in the suspense, but sadly no surprise ever came.
Although Dead Silence, and Elise herself, did not click with me, I did enjoy the supporting cast and how truly wonderful they were in this tough situation. Honestly, I could see several of them having stories of their own, and would definitely give their stories a chance.
Dead Silence is a light, Christian suspense that focuses on faith and family that shows much-needed support when times get tough, which is a really sweet premise, but it’s just not what I had been hoping for.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Shiloh Run Press through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
Dead Silence by Robin Caroll is Christian suspense. I have read and enjoyed other books by this author and was excited to pick up this book. The premise sounded fascinating and I was interested in seeing how it all unfolded. Unfortunately, I was not pulled into the story and had difficulty finishing it at all. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
*I received a free digital ARC via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Christian political suspense
I should have paid more attention when picking this book up, that it was listed as Christian fiction, as I know that I have many problems with that. In fact, this book could also be surmised as “Mother of deaf child works her way back to God through additional trials and tribulations.” Yes, the substory was essentially that, which I felt a little uncomfortable with. It wasn’t too preachy, surprisingly, but as soon as a book goes into that sort of territory, I do hope that it’s not going to go too far.
But the main thing that invited me to read this book was actually the fact that the MC’s son is deaf. Sign language, lip reading, and deafness aren’t huge topics for a mystery suspense, so I liked the idea.
So, anyway, as for the main part of the story itself, we have a single mother, who lost her husband a few years previously, who now loses her difficult mother-in-law. She can sign and lipread, making her great as a court sign-language interpreter. But it also puts her into other difficult territory, when she reads the lips of someone without thinking, who turns out to be planning the murder of her mother-in-law, one of the state senators.
Well, of course, something comes in the way, so she can’t inform anyone, until it’s too late and the FBI are already at her workplace asking her questions. One FBI agent, who’s rude, abrasive, and incompetent. Another who is well meaning, but completely blind to how bad his partner actually is. When a leak puts Elise’s life in danger, all secrets are excruciatingly slowly forced out into the open.
In actual fact, it takes Elise herself, plus the assistance of a reporter who wants to help rather than going for the big money, and her ex-press step-father-in-law and sister-in-law, to crack the case. They somehow, between themselves, manage to uncover things that the FBI hasn’t.
How believable all of that truly is, I’m not quite sure. It was quite a ride, which left me wanting to read further at many points. Although it was pretty frustrating when it was revealed what Liliana (MiL) was actually working on and the penny didn’t even drop as to who the villain actually was. For me, it was blazingly obvious! So with the Christian elements, the FBI incompetence, and the supposedly ‘good sleuthing crew’ missing obvious clues, there were a few head bashing moments.
All of it put together, and it ends up as an OK read instead of a brilliant one. I don’t regret reading it, yet it doesn’t warm me to read any of the author’s other books.
Final rating: – Sort of liked/OK
This book was a super unique and cool twist on suspense—I mean, Elise has a deaf son, and is a lip reader and sign language-er (what’s even the right term here? Maybe interpreter?) at the courthouse. Obviously, she sees something she wasn’t supposed to, and now someone wants her silenced.
It was a good, suspenseful book, but…(there’s always that one little word, isn’t there?) I don’t know. The writing seemed almost…amateurish?
Don’t get me wrong, it was not at all like a middle-schooler had written it (nothing against middle schoolers, y’all, but your writing is supposed to mature with you). Usually the story hooked me. But then sometimes there were just those little words or phrases that completely took me out of the story.
The plot was engaging, and when I expected a romance to bloom, it didn’t (the main reason for that being that one of the parties involved was married, though that fact wasn’t brought out until over halfway through the book), so that was actually a pleasant surprise. The rookie agent, though? I felt like her character was…overplayed? I mean, her arrogance and condescending attitude made her character more real and diverse, I suppose, but I think it may have been a little bit over-the-top.
I appreciated Elise’s gradual wading back into her faith and prayer life (and if that was a spoiler, please forgive me), but somehow it seemed…detached from the mystery. Which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, seeing as how it was prayer that got her through it all, but…I don’t know. I wasn’t a huge fan of that.
Sawyer was super cute, though, and while he wasn’t perfect, he wasn’t a spoiled brat either, so that was utterly fabulous.
(And detective Rodriguez? Give the man a high five, for both his patience and his work!)
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. A positive review was not required. All thoughts are my own.