Was reviewing my to be read and was surprised that I hadn't read this as its a domestic political thriller that sounded right up my street.

Turned out according to my kindle I had read it but for some reason I hadn't reviewed. As I read it 6 years ago I cant recall the full details but it is an excellent domestic thriller centred upon how far you would go to defend your son when he denies he is involved in a murder.

I'm ashamed to say that I've had this book, my first read by Colette McBeth on my Netgalley TBR list for a long time now and all these naughty other books kept getting in the way, preventing me from starting it. After finally getting round to experiencing the author's style, I'm delighted to report that she writes precisely the sort of books I want to be reading. I was instantly pulled into the world of our lead female character, her son and her past and the story moved at such a steady pace (with some very clever reveals) that even when I wasn't reading it, I was THINKING about reading it, a sure sign that I'm invested.

An Act Of Silence is McBeth's third novel, following Precious Thing and A Life I Left Behind and although I can't make any comparisons as yet with her previous work, it reads like an established and very confident thriller writer with oceans of expertise under their belt. We follow our female protagonist, Linda Moscow in an utterly compelling opening where she is tasked with the ultimate quandary - her only son is accused of murder and she must decide first of all, whether she believes his protestations at his innocence. Secondly, as a can of worms from the past is well and truly opened up, she must protect herself and her family in the safest way possible whilst ensuring any villains have the potential to be finally unmasked.

I have to admit when I read initial reviews of this novel and I saw it marketed as a "political thriller," I was slightly wary. I'm not the biggest fan of politics, in or out of literature and novels that I've read in the past that tend to follow this particular narrative have more often than not, sadly fallen flat for me. However, I had no need to worry. The politics does play an important part in the narrative, specifically concerning Linda's past and a horrific scandal that she found herself embroiled in but, interestingly enough, the novel focuses much more on characters, the relationships between them and how events from the past have influenced their individual actions and reactions in the present.

From the very first early moments of this story, I was captivated by the relationship between Linda and her son Gabriel. If I had to describe it in three words I would say: complicated, fractured and uneasy. As a reader, I became desperate to know what precipitating events had led to the point where every word and movement they make around each other becomes so tentative and weary. There's so much more bubbling under the surface of An Act Of Silence than that which is initially suggested and the joy of reading this is discovering all those surprises for yourself. The author visits some very murky places and incredibly dark subject matters but this only results in an even more fascinating plot which unravels slowly, deliberately and quite brilliantly as all begins to be revealed.

I struggled with An Act of Silence and although I tried to keep going by about 20% of the way through I gave up, I just wasn’t hooked and was bored. Just not for me.

Another fantastic bible from this talented author . A sometimes disturbing and heartbreaking psychological thrilller read this book deals with child abuse and how it can be covered up .. utterly compelling ! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my chance to read

I’m a huge fan of Colette McBeth so when I heard about An Act of Silence I knew it was a book that I had to read and I’m really pleased to say that it more than lived up to my expectations.

An Act of Silence is told from the viewpoint of quite a few characters, which I found really interesting: the way their stories go back and forth in time and are layered on top of each other made the unravelling of the story utterly fascinating and near impossible to put down. Linda is a former MP who resigned in disgrace a few years previously and is now writing a book. Her son Gabriel is a famous comedian who has been accused of murder and just wants his mother to believe that he’s innocent.

I’ll be honest and say that I thought this book was going to be about how a mother tried to cover up what her adult son had done but it is so much more more than I even expected. Seeing the story through both Linda and Gabriel’s eyes really gave such an insight into why they are the way they are with each other. I felt sorry for Gabriel at times for the way his mum just didn’t seem to show she cared but then we’d see her point of view and I could understand more. This novel goes on to be a wider look at child abuse and it makes for difficult reading at times; there are moments that really got to me but I never felt that I needed to stop reading and I put that down to how well written and how well researched this book is.

This is a book that explores what good and bad are, and whether both traits can exist in one person. It explores power and the people who abuse it. The real heart of the book though is in each act of silence. The perpetrators in this book kept quiet because it meant they got away with it, but the interest for me was in the victims and how they kept silent because they thought they wouldn’t be believed. Then later they just didn’t want to have to cope with the fall out of speaking out. Seeing the story from multiple perspectives really gives you pause for thought in this book, and it really made me think.

An Act of Silence is a tense, atmospheric thriller that will really get under your skin. It builds and builds and reaches a point where you feel like you can’t breathe, and you just simply have to know what the outcome is going to be. It’s a very powerful novel that will give you pause for thought, and it’s one that will really stay with me. I highly, highly recommend this book!

I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley.

An Act of Silence is out now in paperback and ebook!

This was a skillfully written, harrowing read and really worth the effort. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end and can highly recommend it.

An Act of Silence

This is the first book I’ve read by Colette McBeth and I absolutely loved it. I’ll definitely be popping her other on my TBR pile!

An Act of Silence cannot fail to grip you. It’s compelling and tense and will mess with your head like any good psychological thriller! This powerful read is not for the faint hearted, those who dare dive in will not be disappointed! Five stars from purplebookstand.

I was lucky to be provided with an advanced copy of this book and I voluntarily reviewed it.

I did enjoy this book ...have not read any by this author before however I will certainly be doing so.

I found myself having to really concentrate to get through this book - I wonder if it's just me that felt this way?

*I feel that potential readers should be warned in advance that there is an unexpected, detailed sub-plot centred around horrific historic child abuse*

It was a good book, but the effort it took to read it detracted from my enjoyment.

Thanks to Headline for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Although well written I didn't enjoy the novel. Obviously based on facts it wasn't for me.

4☆ Hard Hitting and Powerful

An Act of Silence sums it up really well.
Things are deeply covered up to such an extent people are willing to stop at nothing to make sure despicable acts stay covered up.

When Linda's estranged Son Gabriel turns up asking for he's mothers help... how far is she willing to go to protect her Son?

Gabriel is being charged for the murder of Mariela. She went home with Gabriel they had sex. The next day Mariela is found dead in one of the allotments backing onto Gabriel's house.
It doesn't look good. He was the last person to see her alive.

Did Gabriel kill Mariela?

I guess your just going to have to read it to find out!

You won't be disappointed.
This book is full of surprises, shocks, Full of twists, secrets, cover ups, lies, unsettling at times, heartbreaking, gripping.

There is so much more to this story than the murder of a young lady. It features some pretty shocking and unthinkable coverups! That threaten to be uncovered!

Would I recommend this book.... Yes I would. 
It's very different from what I expected. It's a little slow to begin with but stay with it! As the story moves on the more secrets are revealed!

This is the 3rd book I have read by this author and they keep getting better.

This is Colette McBeth's third book, out at the end of June, and it's a crime novel with some hidden undercurrents.  Linda Moscow is a fomer MP.  Her son Gabriel is a famous comic and he is under suspicion by the police for the death of a woman whose body has been found at an allotment that backs onto his London home.  He comes to his mother for understanding, and for reassurance from her that he had nothing to do with this incident.  Unfortunately this doesn't happen and Gabriel is forced to leave with the suspicions of his mother weighing heavily on his mind.

Linda doesn't know how to react.  Gabriel's news has stirred up a whole host of memories that she thought she had buried in the past.  However she has no time to concentrate on Gabriel, she is on a trip to Scotland to interview an important witness who might just bring down some people with very powerful connections.  However when she crosses the border she is soon to learn that not everything is as it seems and the people you thought you could trust might not be the people you first thought them to be.

I enjoyed this book but I did get a little muddled with so many characters, especially as some have different names throughout the book (but there is good reason for this).  Is Gabriel guilty or has he been set up, and if so, by whom?  Can Linda save her son, and herself before the powers that be close in around her?

An Act of Silence is a fascinating concept asking the question if your child is accused of a crime, how do you stand by his side? Do you believe him despite what the police are saying? The story will draw you in from the first page. The mother/son relationship is beautifully written. The lengths a mother is willing to go for her son is explored in these pages. Mcbeth writes an emotional, taut, psychological thriller in An Act of Silence. The premise is extremely thought-provoking. I dare you not to form a connection to the characters in these pages. It's clever, twisted, and entirely engaging throughout. Highly recommend readers of psychological thrillers check this one out!

Very enjoyable read with lots of twists and turns and interesting "what would you do" scenarios as you're reading. The tension and plot was well done and the pacing of the book kept me interested. Thumbs up!

Thank you net galley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Linda is a lonely shell of a woman, previously an esteemed mp but estranged from her famous comedian son. The unthinkable happens and he is framed for murder.

Weave into this this a long term abuse history of a girls school and this makes for a different reasoning behind Linda's pain.

It took me a while to get into then story but once I did I enjoyed this book. For a debut novel it's well thought out. Look forward to more from Colette.

An act of silence by colette mcbeth.
These are the facts I collect.
My son Gabriel met a woman called Mariela in a bar. She went home with him. They next morning she was found in an allotment.
Mariela is dead.
Gabriel has been asked to report to Camden Police station in six hours for questioning
Linda Moscow loves her son; it's her biological instinct to keep him safe. But if she's not sure of his innocence, how can she stand by him? Should she go against everything she believes in to protect him?
She's done it before, and the guilt nearly killed her.
Now, the past is catching up with them. As old secrets resurface, Lind is faced with another impossible choice. Only this time, it's her life on the line...
A lovely but emotional read. Fantastic read with brilliant characters. I really felt for Gabriel. 5*. Netgalley and headline.

https://mjletstalkbooks.wordpress.com/2017/06/29/an-act-of-silence-colette-mcbeth/
I was unsure of this book at first, this is very different to McBeth’s previous books which I enjoyed immensely. However this is a slow burn, I have to say that I found it very confusing at first and as a result dull, important events and so on were not revealed quick enough for me. Once the reveals started coming I was absorbed in this book and could not put it down and after about a hundred pages I was utterly gripped by this disturbing thriller. Yes, this is disturbing and McBeth writes about very hard hitting subjects, at times it made for almost uncomfortable reading but it is central to the plot and as McBeth states at the end, it is always important to raise awareness.
I did not feel an immediate connection with any of the characters but as we learn their backstory I became engrossed in their lives and the torment they were facing. This book is full of complex characters which I adored getting my head around and unearthing their many layers. I particularly enjoyed the many flashback aspects to this, as we slowly learn about their pasts and can piece together what is happening in the present. Although not the most exciting of books, there are still plot twists that kept my interest throughout the book. I did enjoy this book and the exploration of complex characters embroiled in a dark world.

I so wanted to enjoy this book,but I didn't like the characters neither Linda or Gabriel were very nice, having said that I am starting to get my head around the fact that lead characters like people in real life are not always people who we would take to.I actually think it takes a brave writer to do this and not sugar coat the main characters and it is probably much more realistic and true to life so maybe I need to examine my own mind set.I am therefore going to give it 4 stars I don't want to penalize my rating just because I wouldn't want to hang out with the main characters.there was a lot going on with this book, you do have to keep your wits about you as it skips around from one scenario to another and there are quite a few characters involved I think this is a clever writer who has taken on a difficult subject and I applaud her for doing so.Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC.

I wasn't sure about this book at first.I've never come across the author before.I was even less sure when it realised the subject matter (child abuse). However, it's a solid novel and the delicate issues are well handled. I honestly think there should be more indication of the nature of the content on the cover blurb though.