As I say at pretty much the start of every new series, I love the start a new series and meeting a new main character and The Silent Girls (or Come Out to Play as it was called when I downloaded it) sounded fantastic. Unfortunately it took me a while to get into, the writing was clunky and the story was a little all over the place until things settled down a little bit. I also don’t like long chapters and felt that they could have been broken up better. Also, what’s with the title change? It just means yet another book with ‘girl’ in the title cluttering up the chart. We really need some more imaginative and different titles if publishers don’t want their books to be criticised simply for a title and Come Out to Play was much better. There’s so many books like this with girl(s) in the title that it’s something that really annoys me.

The opening of the book where a father discovers his daughter has been kidnapped (we will just put to one side why the hell he and his wife let two young girls sleep alone in a barn...) I felt was strong and did set the scene for the book. I enjoyed the task force that Anna Gwynne was a part of and I became endeared to her character quite quickly and that of her boss who falls ill, leaving Anna to head up the case. She’s an intriguing character and I felt she coped well with a lot of the adversity that she faced throughout. Especially with a neighbouring police force who carried out their investigation with some extremely questionable tactics and which were quite shocking. Oftentimes in crime fiction we see characters who just want a result, not really caring if the person is actually guilty or not and there’s a few of those characters here.

Unfortunately when we first meet one of the characters connected with a case from the past, one that has similarities to one in the present, I immediately had them down as the killer and I turned out to be right. I kind of lost interest from that point onwards. There’s little to no tension in this book throughout, the mystery element falls flat on its face and there’s just not enough done to make all of the characters people who could be viable suspects. Even when it turned out this character couldn’t possibly be the killer (in the eyes of an incredibly dim and naive police force that is), I still knew that it would turn out to be this person. I don’t mind working out who the killer is before it’s revealed, but only when that reveal is good. Here it wasn’t at all. Also why does every single detective novel recently seem to find the main detective fighting for their life in the closing chapters only to be heroically saved at the last minute? It all just becomes so predictable and boring when it’s happening with almost every other detective book that’s written.

The saving grace here comes from the plot line with Hector Shaw who is in prison and is visited by Anna because he may have information about the case, and about a body that he buried many years ago. The scenes with this character were quite chilling and he was a hugely intriguing character who creeped me out and became one of the standout characters in the book. That said, there was so much more that could have been explored with this character and everything was just a little tame. I guess I found myself thinking back to the likes of Chris Carter’s An Evil Mind or similar books where an officer is taunted by somebody behind bars but in a more effective and chilling way than it was done here.

For me The Silent Girls is a book of missed opportunities. Characterisation is strong in terms of Anna and Hector and they are two characters I would love to read about again, but the storyline for me just fell flat and left me disappointed overall.

The Silent Girls (now with a name change to 'Come out to play' started off really well and opened with a scene that hooked you right away. Unfortunately after that it kind of fell a little flat. I mean, the story had a lot in it, corruption, wrongfully accused, murder and prison situations but something about it just did not keep my interest. That and you can kind of guess who did it very early on. I was intrigued by the serial killer in prison taking such a liking to our hero detective so I daresay I may continue with this series to see that brought to a head.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this one, the writing style didn't grip me enough for me to maintain interest.

The Silent Girls
Detective Anna Gwynne Crime Series Book 1
by Dylan Young
Bookouture


General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 19 Jan 2018

I am reviewing a copy of Silent Girls through Bookouture and Netgalley:


A young girl disappears from the edge of the local forest, the Gloucestershire police are convinced she's been taken by the same killer who murdered Emily Rodman by stabbing her to death eighteen years prior, they are desperately fighting to put this monster away before another girl becomes a victim.


Detective Anna Gwynn doesn't believe the man that was blamed for killing Emily Risman is the real killer.

When Anna can't find proof in time she realizes she needs to get in the mind of a twisted killer. And she knows just the man Hector Shaw who is in prison for killing six men, who were responsible or his daughters death?

Can Anna find out what she needs from Hector before more girls become victims?

Find out in Silent Girls

Five out of five stars!

This book started with real promise, a father goes out to check on his daughter who is sleeping in the barn with her friend (I know! I know!) only to find her missing. It really did start with promise and suspense and I liked the key police character, Anna and her older colleague. However, I soon lost interest as the story seemed to wander, with long rambling chapters that just didn't hold my interest.
The relationships with her family as well as those with the creepy prisoner, held promise. Also, if her older colleague was part of the future stories, I could see that having real depth.
Overall though I found it to be a disappointing read.

I enjoyed this as I really took to the central character .It was well written and descriptive as well as being a very good story from start to finish

I was too late to read this book but I will read it in the future.

The Silent Girls by Dylan Young

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first book in the Anna Gwynne series, The Silent Girls was an enticing mystery full of twists and turns. After 18 years spent in prison, new information surfaces that exonerates accused killer Neville Cooper, dubbed “The Woodsman,” for the assault and murder of Emily Risman. Shortly after Cooper’s release, a young girls goes missing, and the police fear The Woodsman has struck again. Anna Gwynne, acting Detective Inspector of the cold case unit, and her team are asked to re-examine the case of Emily Risman in the hopes that The Woodsman’s newest victim can be found.

The relationship between the members of the cold case unit and the unit investigating the newest disappearance was an interesting addition to the story. It had the reader questioning the appropriateness of police investigation tactics, and delved into the world of police corruption.

The Silent Girls had me guessing up until the very last second. Dylan Young does a fantastic job of providing enough information to keep the reader hungry for more, while at the same time keeping the reader on their toes. There is also an element of mystery that the author provides the reader at the conclusion of the story, leaving the reader itching for more. As this is the first in a series of books set to feature Anna Gwynne, I will be keeping my eyes open for the release of Young’s second book.

-This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review-

A rollercoaster ride. Anna is tasked with reopening an old case which will put her in conflict with her police colleagues where she believes the officers may have been less than truthful. Additionally an interview with a convicted killer becomes a pact with the devil. Will the truth out? A geat twist and a shocking discovery await you

I really enjoyed this book. It is a fast paced thriller. I read this book in one sitting. I was totally gripped from the start. There are good characters with background stories, more than one suspect and bad policing all thrown in. Anna is a good honest police woman determined to do her job honestly and responsibly. I enjoyed reading her back story and finding out about her allies. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author and I hope that there are more books about Anna.

#TheSilentGirls by Dylan Young
19 January 2018
#NetGalley

This is the first book I have ever read from this author. I received this book from #NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion. I really enjoyed this book which like so many books have a female protagonist, DS Anna Gwynne who by default becomes the one in charge of the small team because her superior has a heart attack. Even though this is a cold case unit Anna quickly becomes part of ongoing rapes and murders as the guy who was found guilty of the old rape and murder is released. There is a lot of action in the book with several district police interactions (or lack of). I loved the characters but wish that someone (spoiler) would have stayed in the hopefully continuing Anna Gwynne series. The only thing I had a problem with is Anna going out for a run in not only early morning fog but through the woods that have been at the very center of most of the book. She seemed too smart to do something stupid like that. Anyway, a great book and I will definitely recommend it for anyone who loves British mysteries and truly hope there will be more to come.

A teenage girl disappears from a sleepover in her barn and her body is later discovered. Detective Anna Gwynne and her team have to solve the case which they think is linked to The Woodman who murdered a girl years ago. The alleged murderer has been cleared but then he is implicated in the recent death of the teenage girl. Anna visits Hector Shaw, a serial killer in prison, to gather information re these cases. He takes a liking to her and starts giving her information.
This is a fantastic read which you cannot put down and will keep you guessing until the end. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review another brilliant book.

This is a very dark, enthralling first novel in a series. There's nothing I like better than cold cases and this novel has the benefit of linking cold cases with on-going cases. The writer has an enviable command of vocabulary and I loved the dry humour. The story flows so perfectly with good imagery and you are locked into the story immediately. It's about a psychopathic serial killer and its packed with some well defined characters. DS Anna Gwynne described as, "The good looking one with ice in her eyes." She's quite a formidable woman and certainly she'd terrify me as a co-colleague. Mainly, she keeps people at a distance and her thoughts to herself. Nonetheless, she's got the detective nose. Worse still is the corrupt Harris - the colleague from Hades. I found it hard to trust him and his retired colleague. Hector Shaw was an interesting character. He was chilling but an intelligent, perceptive killer in prison. I got the impression that if you peeled off the layers it could be even more interesting. I learnt a lot from reading this novel for instance on electrostatic imaging for indented writing. Oh my word - that gripping ending!!! I look forward to the next one. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

When I read the blurb I thought I was in for a good read. Although I can't say it was a bad book, there was something disturbing me.
I thought the story was confusing at times and I did not really like the writing style. The story was sometimes all over the place. The book started really well. I liked the fact there was a team working on cold cases and I think Anna's team was a well oiled machine. Some parts of the story were a bit boring and I would not call it a page turner. But, in all honesty, I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the twists the author had up his sleeve. I did not see them coming and that makes the time spend reading the book worthwhile.
Thank you, Netgalley and bookouture.

ALL THE OMFG's! This book was superb! I loved the characters, narrative and captivating plot - read this in a matter of hours! I could actually see this as a tv series! Can't wait for the next in the series!

Ooooooh Eeeeeee, I just love me a serial killer thriller and The Silent Girls did not disappoint!

We are with the Avon & Somerset Police in this story where loss, wrongful conviction, anger, manipulation, mind games, righting past wrongs and justice are just a few of the themes we come across in this novel.
Hells bells! What a fantastic opening! This book delivers the ever important #killerhook and some awesome description that had me sucked in from the get go! For me, this was a fast-paced read and I absolutely LOVED the attention to detail and authenticity that jumped out from the pages. From the setting, to the characters and the storyline, this book just ticked ALL the boxes for what I love in a good serial killer thriller! I definitely got the Silence of the Lambs vibe from this story but not in the sense that this book was trying to duplicate that – rather in the psychology behind the story – and that TOTALLY worked for me. I also LOVED the fact that this was a cold-case police team. The reality is, a lot of murders go unsolved and teams like this are rarely written about – so YAY!! Quid Pro Quo, Mr Young….how the hell did you manage to capture the essence of one of my favourite books without making it feel like a copycat! Absolutely brilliant!
If you follow my reviews, you will know that characters are what draw me to a story. They need to be believable, get me invested in them and drive the story. Check, check and CHECK! DS Anna Gwynne (who later becomes Acting DI in the story) describes herself as cool and calculating – interesting description and definitely spot on! She is thought of as the Ice Queen by others (this happens to be my nickname ..hmmmm…), an introvert, confident, very independent, objective and good at analysing situations. OH MY GOD I LOVE HER! There is definitely so much more to this character and I can’t wait to find out all about her in the next book.
Hector Shaw – eeeeeeeek! A Hannibal Lector type character who is creepy as hell from the moment the reader meets him. For me, when a baddie can repel you but leave you wanting to know more – you have struck gold and that is EXACTLY what this character does. I certainly hope we have not seen the last of Shaw either! He feeds off Anna Gwynne and this is so bloody fascinating – as this experience is not uncommon in the criminal justice system – I know, I worked in it for 17 years! Manipulative, cunning, with spine-chilling qualities that oddly had me hoping that there was more from this guy…yes, I am a weirdo!
DC Jason Holder – awww…a bit wet behind the ears, but there was something very likeable about this guy and he is another character who I hope to see more from in the coming series. I felt we just got a wee teaser/taster of what he is all about. I suspect he will teach Anna just as much as she will teach him!
Enter the #baddie – The Woodsman….ooooooh…..another sinister and blood-curling character. Here come the nightmares! I had a list of suspects, (I like to play detective as I read) and although I did eventually work it out – I still had not had the motive pinned down and thought this was ingeniously conveyed as the pieces of the puzzle were put together.
Would I recommend this book? Does a bear sh*t in the woods?! HELL YEAH, I would! If you enjoy books that combine psychology, menacing baddies, perplexing plot-lines and a great narrative – definitely pick up The Silent Girls as it won’t disappoint!

I enjoyed this. Bug different from the usual detective novels. Liked it being a cold case and a current case. Harris is a horrid person. I did wonder most of the way through who did it but never felt it was cooper ever . Well done looking forward to another one

An interesting story however I found something was missing for me. While I did like the characters I didn't feel as invested in them as much as with some books. It was still a great book I just wanted to feel the link to me morè.

When Neville Cooper's conviction is overturned for the rape & murder of Amy Risman, Detective Anna Gwynne, member of a cold case task force, sets out investigate the murder. When another young girl is abducted & found buried in the same way as Amy the local force is convinced that Neville Cooper is to blame. Amy thinks that seems a tad too convenient!

Through another investigation Anna comes in contact with prison inmate Hector Shaw. He takes a liking to Anna (not something she finds flattering!) However he does provide useful insight into the case.

The case leads up many unexpected paths before it is all resolved.

Anna is an interesting character, introverted, fiercely intelligent and dedicated to doing the right things. I look forward to meeting her again.

This was a good start to a series. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this gripping book.

I liked Detective Gwynne. The story passed the time just fine.

Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Great start to a new series. What is not to like about a Detective chasing a serial killer. Liked the female lead Anna and loved the suspense. Look forward to next in this series!