Her children have a deadly secret. Can she uncover it before the police do?
Melissa Byatt’s life in Forest Grove seems as perfect as can be: a doting husband, three loving children and a beautiful house in a close-knit community. But appearances can be deceiving.
One evening, Melissa arrives home to the unimaginable: her husband lies stabbed on the kitchen floor, their children standing calmly … children standing calmly around him…With horror, she realises that one of them is to blame. But which one? And why would they attack their own father?
Her loyalties torn, in a split second she decides to protect her children at all costs—even if that means lying to the police. But when someone in the neighbourhood claims to know more than they should, Melissa discovers that some secrets are beyond her control…
Can she find out the truth of what happened before the rumours spread? And can the family unite to escape the spotlight of scandal—or are none of them as innocent as Melissa insists?
more
Wall of Silence presents an interesting mystery and an interesting concept. Melissa Byatt has an ideal life with three wonderful children and a popular husband who is running for a local office. She lives in an upscale “forest” community, with neighbors who look out for one another. Her childhood was less than ideal, but she’s risen above it and has so much for which she’s grateful.
One day she comes home from a bike ride to find her husband stabbed, her three children clustered around him with the knife. It quickly becomes apparent one of them is responsible, but which one and why? When the police arrive, Melissa decides to protect her children at all cost. With her husband, Patrick, in a coma waffling between life and death, Melissa must unravel what happened to so drastically alter her perfect family.
As the book progresses, the reader gains insight not only to the Melissa’s children, her in-laws, and her childhood, but also the neighbors in the community of Forest Grove. A neighborhood Facebook group is used for back and forth chit-chat (and gossip) to advance the story, which I thought was a brilliant and intriguing move by the author. Slowly, old secrets, suspicions and grudges come to light, and many are not who they seem at first glance.
There were times I was thoroughly aggravated by Melissa’s behavior, and the behavior of her children, much of which contributed to the slow build of the story. This is not a book that moves at a fast clip but a mystery that falls into place bits and pieces at a time. The tension is constant and there is always some new nugget of information to keep the reader flipping pages. I found this an intriguing mystery and would definitely read more by this author in the future.
Wall of Silence is wild, a ‘who-dun-it’ rollercoaster. The story launches with a bang with one of the most original openings I’ve read. Tracy Buchanan has crafted a novel where the plot literally thickens with every page turned and new secrets simmer as the reader is pulled deeper into her cast of characters’ web of lies and silence. I was captivated from page one, entertained throughout, and shocked over the final reveal. Loved it!
Talk about a Roller Coaster ride . . . Tons of second guessing. Between quite the assortment of characters in a small, upscale, close-knit (meaning minds everyone’s business but their own) snobbish community with secrets, prejudices and speculation … this book holds your interest until the very end.
“Warning Spoilers” My friend recommended this book to me. This is the 1st book I read by Tracy Buchanan. I’m sorry I stopped reading this story at chapter 11 because I wish this story stayed more focused on the stabbing then back stories.
This is one of the best books I have read since the start of the pandemic. Unexpected twists and turns make the reader keep reading.
Perfect Husband and Dad … on the kitchen floor close to death as his 3 children refuse to tell their mother what happened. But why is the real question in this story with secrets from the past that challenge the view of Dad. When he comes out of an induced coma and accuses his youngest daughter of stabbing him, we wonder why he’s so adamant. Why he seems to have no hesitation in throwing her to the wolves? Her mother’s allowing the police and later child welfare to take her into custody lacks credibility, IMO, mainly b/c the mother fails to get her a solicitor or to go into lioness-protecting-her-cub mode. The scene with the mother and her best friend lacks the drama I’d expect when this kind of revelation is made. But the why behind the dad’s stabbing holds up nicely. Recommended for bottom of the TBR vs the top.
What a great book! The story was unpredictable with moments of emotional intensity. This was the first Tracy Buchanan book I have read and I was quite impressed.
I loved this book. A great mystery with lots of intrigue. I loved the family dynamics as well. Highly recommend this book!
An Engaging Read!!!
There’s a reason this book tops the charts in Psych Fiction. It’s startles the reader from the first paragraph. What would you do if your one of your children gruesomely murdered their father? A suburban mom, worried more about recycling and the environment, is forced to face the realities of a life unchosen. Check this one out for a cozy read.
What an ending? My bestie friend let me borrow this book, and so glad she did! If you love mysteries, you need to read this one. You want believe the ending. I never saw it coming. If you read one book this year, make it this one.
Wall of Silence by Tracy Buchanan keeps the reader guessing, “What did the children do, and why?” The story is written from Melissa’s perspective with another character adding her narrative about what she has done. From the beginning you know one of the girls has stabbed her dad, and while falling he sustains a severe head injury. Melissa comes home from work and finds her husband Patrick on the floor bleeding and unconscious. Her three children are acting strange and she withholds information from the police in order to protect them. Even when Melissa demands the children tell her what has happened, they refuse to tell her the truth of what happened and why.
Most of the story is Melissa remembering scenes from her past and dealing with the children. There are also transcripts of conversations from the village on social media. I don’t want to post spoilers, but all will be revealed at the ending of the book. Fear can be a great manipulator for the actions of children.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Genius writing from Buchanan. A devastating opening with a father stabbed, and his children refusing to say what happened. One of those – read with your eyes half shut, secrets and lies books that reveals masterful suspense building. Love crime, domestic noir, thriller or suspense? This book is a genre defying rollercoaster that will appeal across the board. Can’t recommend it highly enough.
Intriguing interesting plot with good characters development. Ending is different than what you figure it will be.
Very well written with a sad but good ending. Should have let the villain suffer more.
Great distraction!
Remember the Soap, All My Children? Yeah, only with a crapbook group to rip each other apart on! I couldn’t help but snicker over some of the bickering.
I have enjoyed Tracy Buchanan’s books in the past. I think she is a great author, so when I saw she had a new book, I definitely wanted to read it.
I will not write a summary of the story. I started reading the book not knowing what it was about, and I actually am so happy that was the case. I think not knowing anything was great. I had no preconceived ideas about what would happen. I was blown away by this story! From what I accepted at the beginning, to what I came to know as the story enfolded was constantly keeping me on edge.
I think this is a fantastic book!
I want to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy of this book. My review is my own opinion not influenced by receiving the ARC.
I just finished it. It was good. I would recommend it during the current stay in place situation
Secrets and lies abound in this complex and chilling mystery. I was totally shocked by the ending!