A powerful family with dark secrets. After personal tragedy, Piper Boone retreats to her childhood home–a secluded mansion for the wealthy Boone family, who are practically American royalty. When catastrophe strikes, her family is put in the spotlight, and the line between victim and suspect gets blurred. A forensic artist with his own haunting past. Tucker Landry is drawn to Piper in the midst … is drawn to Piper in the midst of the trauma, but the connections being made to her family might prove to be their undoing. With a hurricane beating down on the private island, there isn’t much time to find answers.
The truth will determine whether she lives or dies.
Praise for Relative Silence:
“Danger and drama abide in this tale that takes a walk on the perilous side. With a flair for the macabre, the story will linger in your head long after the last page.” –Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author
“One of the most engrossing suspense novels I’ve read in a long time. Pitch-perfect pacing and characterization along with Parks’s knowledgeable hand with forensics kept me on the edge of my seat.” –Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling author
“The perfect beach read! Relative Silence is an expert mix of family drama and slow-burning thriller, leavened with Parks’ trademark humor. You’ll be pulling for Piper and Tucker as the story builds toward a hurricane-force climax.” –Rick Acker, bestselling author
“With skill and her ever-present wit, Carrie Stuart Parks has arranged puzzle pieces and woven story threads into an engaging and quick-moving read with tantalizing questions, quirky characters, and . . . oh yes, some well-placed fictional curve balls along the way. Enjoy!” –Frank Peretti, bestselling author, for Relative Silence
- Full-length, stand-alone suspense novel with a thread of romance
- Award-winning, bestselling author
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
more
This page-turner set on an island off the South Carolina Coast chronicles the lives of Piper Boone Yates and her rescuer Tucker Landry as they face haunting past losses and present dangers. The well-crafted story is told in first and third person which works well for this narrative. The suspenseful story is fast-paced and easy to read with surprises around every corner and several “I didn’t see that coming!” moments. A shooting, a hurricane, and family betrayal add to the excitement of the drama. The characters are well-developed and relatable. Some I love, some I strongly dislike, and some I am not sure how I feel about! A bit of romance and humor are woven in, and the faith element is effectively sprinkled throughout the story. I thoroughly enjoyed my first read from Ms. Parks and will definitely be reading her other works.
I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
I have read and enjoyed all of Carrie Stuart Parks books. The same is true of this one. I did appreciate the fact that she managed to set a different tone. While there were parts that lined up with her expertise (having one main character who is a forensic artist), this felt like a fresh read. Sometimes authors who have written for awhile end up writing repetitive books, and this is not the case at all.
The Boone family – one cannot help but admire and fear this family. Characters are intense. Some connections are brought to life – a few are predictable but many more are not. I did guess certain aspects, but Parks definitely threw in several unexpected twists.
How can one move on from loss? Not easily. Piper is still hurting. One cannot help but feel sorry for her yet the grief seems to make sense with her character. In the end, many relationships are still complicated, yet forward movement was evident. Not everything was wrapped up neatly, and I think that makes for a stronger book. This title is about family relationships and forgiveness. Suspense is plentiful and so is a hurricane. Both those elements get the reader’s heart pumping. I do recommend this book for those who enjoy the Christian suspense genre.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for allowing me to read an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
A gripping tale that will keep you guessing:
This book had plenty of intrigue and mystery, with the suspense drawing me in right from the start. The plot was complex with many twists and turns, however I was able to follow along with ease and found that it was well paced. With murder, family betrayal and even a hurricane to contend with, there was plenty to enjoy about this book.
However I would have preferred the romance to have been a greater part of the story and for more resolution to the characters personal development and situations. I felt the ending and epilogue was rushed and choppy. This book does not seem to be part of a series and I was left with a lot of unanswered questions. I also found myself a bit confused whilst reading as it switched frequently between points of view, with often just short snippets being provided each time. Despite this, I would still recommend this book as the plot, drama and suspense was well done.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
I loved “Relative Silence” by Carrie Stuart Parks. I believe this is my favorite book, so far, by Carrie Stuart Parks, and I’ve read all of them. This book was intriguing from the first page, and I couldn’t put it down as I didn’t know how it would end! There was a huge twist that I didn’t see coming.
Pipe Boone is the main character in this book. She lost her only daughter fifteen years ago in a boating accident. Piper survives her divorce and losing her job and comes back to her hometown of Curlew Island. Her family are pretty much American royalty. Weird things have happened on this island and continue since Piper has moved back home. Along the way Pipe meets Tucker Landry. Together, they start piecing together the death of her daughter and the other mysterious deaths.
I highly recommend this book. It is clean yet full of suspense and adventure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
‘No one had an alibi and everyone had a motive.’
There’s an old saying that every family has skeletons in the closet. Well, welcome to the closet. Piper Boone suffered a great loss fifteen years ago when her only child, two year old Dove, was killed in a boating accident. She returns to her childhood home on Curlew Island, South Carolina, after a divorce and determines to live as secluded life as the home is secluded. Her family is practically American royalty but she wants no part of all that. Her longing for a quiet life is suddenly destroyed when a mass shooter opens fire and kills three women at a café where she is having lunch, one woman at her table. It’s not long before the press is bringing up the old Curlew Island Curse that hovers over the Boone family.
Tucker Landry, forensic artist is also a survivor of the shooting and also saves Piper’s life. He is given the job of sketching the shooter because Piper remembers how he looked. They have a bit of a bond between them but soon the police make new discoveries and Piper’s own family is suspect.
Carrie Stuart Parks, an internationally known forensic artist herself, is in fine form here. Her skills as a forensic artist absolutely make her books come alive. She deftly crafts a puzzle which is gripping and she has a great eye for detail. This is a compelling read, and as the action draws to a conclusion, with a hurricane bearing down on the island, no one seems to be safe and everyone looks like a suspect. A riveting conclusion that I absolutely did not expect! Bravo! Highly recommended.
*
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Good suspense!
Wow! Original and unpredictable! Amazng!
This excellent book put Carrie Stuart Parks on my ‘must read’ list. Piper doesn’t know she’s in danger at first, but once she does, the list of potential suspects quickly mounts and many of them are the people she trusted the most.
Don’t miss this outstanding read.
LOVED this book. Lots of mystery and quirks, and some laughs along the way. Kept me guessing right up to the last chapter and I never figured out the protaganist!
I loved this suspense story. It kept me guessing and coming back for the next piece of the puzzle. Very intricate story line with believable characters. Loved the animals in the story, especially the dog, Nana, who happened to be a male. I appreciate very much an author who can be trusted not to use offensive words and events while still offering an excellent work.
I would give it 6 stars if possible! You won’t be able to put this book down.
Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks is a gripping thriller from start to finish. Hold onto your seat for this one! Wow. I love suspense novels and read many. This is one of the top five I have ever written. It is superbly written with amazing characterization— Piper is such a complex yet flawed character— and a plot that never stops twisting. In this book, nothing is what it seems. It is a fantastic read and I recommend it wholeheartedly. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
Title: Relative Silence
Author: Carrie Stuart Parks
Pages: 336
Year: 2020
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Piper Boone is hiding out at the family mansion on remote Curlew Island, South Carolina. She has faced tragedy many times in her life and now she is just trying to make it through each day. Her family is wealthy and considered the local aristocracy. There is one other inhabitant on the island, a neighbor who calls wanting to talk to Piper. Piper is out to lunch with a friend when shots ring out, leaving her friend dead. Piper was protected from the shooter by a nearby man, Tucker Landry. After this terrible event, Piper returns to the island. Piper has missed the call from her neighbor and wonders why the neighbor called. She decides to visit the neighbor but finds her home empty. It appears as though she just got up and left with her granddaughter due to arrive for a visit in a few days.
Tucker Landry is a forensic artist and after his recovery from the bullet wound suffered while saving Piper, the police ask him to sketch the shooter from Piper’s description as she remembers seeing him. Tucker arrives on the island and meets Piper’s family. Her mother is cold, distant and only concerned with appearances and her son’s political career. Her brother is running for office but seems to genuinely care for Piper. Tucker is dealing with his own grief and sees Piper struggling with her grief. Shortly after Tucker arrives on the island, a body is discovered. From that point, the action, suspense and mystery are nonstop. Oh yeah, on top of all this, there is a hurricane quickly approaching the island!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! The complex plot and characters drew me into the story right away. Piper’s quoting movie lines and titles when she gets stressed was an interesting way to cope. The lengths that some people will go to in order to keep secrets hidden was enlightening. Piper and Tucker both discover that people aren’t necessarily who they appear to be. There are many twists in the plot that will keep readers guessing and engaged until the very end!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
I was unable to put this book down. The main characters had depth and the descriptions of setting were wonderfully done. (And I am NOT a setting person!) The mystery was interesting; this is one of the very few books where I didn’t have the whole thing solved. The suspense was well-written and had me on the edge of my seat. There was a little romance, but it did not detract from the story at all. There were also some elements of faith throughout the story to leave the reader with a sense of hope amidst the darkness. If you haven’t read a book by Carrie Stuart Parks, you are missing out. I have enjoyed everything I have read by her and look forward to reading more in the future!
I’ve always enjoyed Carrie Stuart Parks books, and Relative Silence was a pleasure to read. It’s the kind of book you aren’t able to put down. Parks is wonderful at keeping the reader guessing while also writing endearing characters that you care about. You will enjoy this new book.
“We believe she was still on the boat. I’m afraid she is missing” ends the prologue of Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks.
The first chapter has Piper Boone on the ground under a man who is protecting her from gunfire. Her friend and lunch partner lies where Piper can see her, dead. Who is doing the shooting and who is the man on top of her and who is he shooting at and why? These are the questions that were running through my mind as I started the book.
Because of the death of her daughter, her marriage ended in divorce. She is living on an island owned by her family. Her family comes to the island once a year for the board meeting for the company. She doesn’t get along well with her brother or mother. The man who saved her life is in the hospital recovering after having been shot. She is drawn to him and wants him to help her figure out how her daughter died.
A woman who lives on the island has gone missing and the woman’s granddaughter arrives on the island to help figure out where her grandmother maybe. As Piper and Tucker Landry, the man who saved her, dig deeper into what happened they come to find out that her family’s history has a lot to do with it.
I love a good psychological thriller and found this one to be compelling and easy to get into. I read it in a few sittings. I found myself to be truly immersed in the story. I was totally surprised by the ending, didn’t see it coming at all. From doing a bit of research I found that the author has written a few great-sounding novels. I hope that there is a sequel to Relative Silence, I can see the story continuing!
Loved it and highly recommend this novel
This is a book that kept my eyes glued to the page. Piper suffered the worst kind of personal tragedy years ago and she has lived a more solitary life since. When Piper’s life is put into jeopardy, Tucker saves her life. When Piper brings him home to her family’s island compound, he starts to help her look at her past and her future. As Tucker starts to unravel her family’s secrets, Tucker is kicked off the island and his secrets are revealed. As a hurricane approaches, Piper and Tucker work together, but their lives are in danger. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I love a good mystery, including this one. I did guess at one of the twists, but i didn’t realize who the real villain was until the end. I like how Piper with Tucker’s help was able to look at her past and her family, and her faith. I also like how Tucker still was struggling with his own personal problems. This book had plenty of suspense and would make a good movie thriller. This is the first book that I have read by the author, but it won’t be my last. I really liked this book.
3.5 stars
” . . . the perfect home on the perfect island for the perfect family.”
That’s how Piper Boone’s life began; it’s not at all how it ended. Everything changed one fateful afternoon when the loss of what was most precious to her became a painful reminder of what she never could regain. Returning to Curlew Island, South Carolina became a way to survive her loss of employment, a failed marriage, and the many, many painful memories.
Except that now, ” A man’s weight across (her) body crushed (her) to the sidewalk. . . . . . Don’t move”. . . . . . . then, “Like the eye of a hurricane, silence”. What were the chances that a pleasant lunch date with a friend would involve an active shooter, a hero, and more questions than answers. As Piper and Tucker Landry (the man who took a bullet for her) begin to unravel the supposed curse surrounding the powerful and prestigious Boone family, it isn’t surprising how shocked they become with the outcome.
“You are my angel, my soul-mate, my friend. I’ll be right with you till the end. And when you fear the stormy gale, I’ll keep you safely on the trail.”
What a thriller! Impossible to figure out; this story all but begs you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!
Will truth set them free…or kill them instead?
I’m stunned. Reeling. Shocked, I tell you. Over the last few years I’ve read most of Carrie Stuart Parks’s novels and I’ve come to expect nothing but exceptional work from her. And I got it in spades with Relative Silence. Her characters are flawed, messed up people that you can’t help but fall in love with. Her writing style is superb. Her skill at weaving each individual thread of the story, slowly building up the tension until the characters and readers are nearly at their breaking, and then….BAM! Your every preconceived notion is shattered as the final revelations are laid bare.
When I tell you that I couldn’t put Relative Silence down, I mean it. Usually I would read a book like this over about a 24 hour period. Not this one. I finished in scarcely more time than what my e-reader predicted, and that’s counting mealtimes etc. Carrie Stuart Parks had me at the explosive page one and she didn’t turn me loose until I’d turned the last one.
Up until recently I would have said that Formula Of Deception was my favorite Carrie Stuart Parks novel but after reading this one I would say that Relative Silence is giving it a good run for its money and it could easily tie for that number one position. It’s just THAT good! It’s definitely going on my favorites list for this year.
After reading this book you’ll never look at family quite the same again…especially when they seem to be perfect…
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
3.5 Stars
Carrie Stuart Parks ventures from the left side of the US to the South Carolina low country. Relative Silence also does not focus on forensic art as much as her Gwen Marcey series did (but there’s a small element of it).
Instead, this book focuses on family and secrets and events that have pulled them apart. And, oh boy, did Piper’s family leave me appreciating my own even more. Wealth and prestige haven’t exempted her from pain and years after her most heartbreaking loss, Piper is taking life day by day.
While I had one part of the story figured out early on, there were enough questionable characters to keep me guessing who was targeting this family. Even though the story is a little far-fetched, it is engaging but I do miss the special element Parks had in her first series.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.