I am very excited to join the blog tour for Keep Her Silent as I loved the first Oonagh O’Neil thriller and have been dying to see what Theresa Talbot had in store for us this time.

Housekeeping: Oonagh first appeared in The Lost Children which was originally entitled Penance. You can order a copy of The Lost Children by clicking on the title and I highly recommend that purchase. Reading the first novel is not essential to reading and enjoying Keep Her Silent but there are one or two references early in the book to past events so just remember that Oonagh had a life before the events in Keep Her Silent began.

Oonagh is an investigative reporter and as such there are a number of interesting and upsetting cases brought to her attention. Readers get some background detail on the two cases which will dominate the story – Theresa Talbot makes good use of flashback sequences to show crimes being committed then spins back to Oonagh and the investigations she is conducting. A very efficient and satisfying way of keeping events ticking along at a high pace.

Blood contamination and the impact upon innocent hospital patients is very much in the spotlight in Keep Her Silent. Oonagh is made aware of the corrupt nature in which blood was aquired and the lack of regard paid towards the risk of contamination. It makes for chilling reading and the lengths which officials and governments went to in covering up the practice will have your alarm bells ringing.

Closer to home and Oonagh is also looking into the conviction of a Glasgow wife and mother who was institutionalised years earlier for killing her husband and young son. The Glasgow police are also reviewing this double killing as it connects to a cold case which the Powers At Be want closed.

The underlying reasons and practices behind both these investigations are complex. As a reader I felt my perceptions of many incidents being challenged and Theresa Talbot does a fantastic job of showing how unfortunate victims continue to be undermined by those in positions of power or authority. Those they should have been able to trust or to rely upon for help.

Keep Her Silent is a brilliant read. Oonagh is a great lead character who really could do with cutting a break – her personal life also makes for tricky reading and you just want her to do well and confront some of her inner demons.

I have no hesitation in recommending Keep Her Silent – it is a five star read.

First time reading Theresa Talbot and it won't be the last she had me hooked in very quickly and kept me entertained.
Oonagh O'Neil is a television presenter who researches current or historical issues and brings the facts to the public's attention through her. Tv series
She is a feisty character who is relentless in her quest for the truth much to the chagrin of her close friend Alex, who is a detective in the Strathclyde police.
Storyline is interesting although chilling as it's based on true events, the twists and turns just keep on coming culminating in a thrilling ending.
I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to others.

My first thought is I dislike the character Oonagh with a passion. She seems to evokenone of the darker emotions in me. Not to say that she isn't well written I just couldn't find her likeable and wanted to see if something would change her for the better.

The book itself was very good but not what I expected having not read anything about this author before or the characters


Even though the character I didn't find redeeming it was a strong character who evoked such emotions which is the sign of a good book in my opinion.

The story was interesting and far more entertaining then I never imagined it would be. The time jumping caused some confusion as it did this frequently. It was handled fairly well just I get confused easier when I see this as it makes tracking the story slightly more difficult.

This is also a second book and I wanted to really try this author but without reading the first book you don't get the proper buildup that would make the character easier.

A well thought out book that really pushes you and makes you work to find out what is happening.

Oonagh O'Neil burrowed her way under my skin first time round, so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read and review next book in series - and I was not disappointed!

Still rocked from her previous experiences, Oonagh dons a brave face and gets on with life. It's going to take more that some nutter to stop her doing the job she loves and she willingly meets a woman who assures her she has information on a cold case. Little did Oonagh know that this was going to be such a huge, complicated issue and one which would cross over with DI Alec Davies' latest investigation.

The main thrust of this is based in truth; readers not local to the west of Scotland may not be aware that there are several other details which are more realistic than they seem on paper! This author weaves a wonderful tale - both gritty, thrilling and more than a bit scary with some heart-wrenching moments along with the laugh-out loud ones which regularly lighten the mood. I really didn't think her previous novel, The Lost Child, could be bettered but she's gone and done it. This is one to really make your brain work overtime, get your heart rate up and wonder what the hell's happening at times! What a read!!

Oonagh McNeil is a tenacious investigative reporter who doesn't give up - a bit like a dog with a bone. Skilfully crafted, twisting both past and present into a stunning and striking read, this is both gripping and riveting with the ending coming as a total shock! I'm sure the clues were there, but with so much going on I was completely unaware of them. This is one series at the top of my must read list, and I can barely wait for the next one. I can't help but think this would make a cracking tv series ... a full five flashing and dancing stars - at least!

My grateful thanks to publisher Aria for providing my copy via NetGalley and the invitation to participate in the blog tour. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.75 Hearts I didn’t realize that this was the second in the series when I requested it so I feel like I missed a little bit of understanding the lead character. Oonagh is an interesting character with an even more interesting name. I am sure my brain was not pronouncing it correctly as I read this story.

I thought the story was good and well written for the most part. There was a few times that I felt there was too much to take in. A lot of characters were thrown in for what seems like no reason. The story dragged a bit and the story jumped a bit. But with that being said it was interesting.

I am not sure but I think when my TBR pile dwindles I will pick up the first one and maybe understand a bit more.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Theresa Talbot is back with Keep Her Silent, the second nail-biting chiller featuring investigative journalist Oonagh O’Neil. Dark, twisted and terrifying, if you like your crime thrillers packed with shocking twists and turns and heart-pounding suspense, then you are going to devour Theresa’s books!

The murder of three women in Glasgow by the so-called Raphael killer has sent shock-waves rippling through the Scottish city – especially as the vicious killer is still at large and has not yet been caught. The Raphael killer’s calling card – a note stating ‘Do that which is good and no evil shall touch you’ – was left on each one of the bodies. With the killer still stalking the streets, nobody knows whether he is merely biding his time until he can claim a fourth victim and continue this bloodthirsty reign of terror. When the police investigation into the Raphael killings reopens, determined journalist Oonagh O’Neill realises that she might need to do her own digging into this case. Despite the dangers, Oonagh wants to see the killer behind bars and punished for the shocking crimes that having been perpetuated against the women of Glasgow. But does Oonagh know what she is letting herself in for? Or has she stumbled upon an investigation where she will end up paying the ultimate price?

Oonagh has never been one to shirk from a challenge and when she gets a tip-off that leads her straight to the heart of a complex and deadly cover up, Oonagh realises that there is more to this mystery than meets the eye. Giving up now and leaving it all to the police is something she is certainly not prepared to do – especially as history has started to repeat itself! Oonagh is closer than ever to uncovering the truth about the Raphael killer – unless the enemies she is making along the way get to her first! Will Oonagh end up being the next target?

Somebody wants to keep Oonagh silent and they are prepared to do whatever it takes to shut her up – even murder…

A page-turning and pulse-racing crime thriller that will leave you breathless, Keep Her Silent is a book crime fiction aficionados are going to lap up! The action comes thick and fast, the pace and the shocks are relentless, the tension is palpable and the writing is so exquisite, that you feel as if you are living the story and not just reading it! Oonagh O’Neill is a fantastic detective and a wonderful creation: tenacious, determined and intelligent, she is definitely a sleuth who is well on her way to becoming a favourite with readers of the genre.

Theresa Talbot is a writer to watch out for and I hope there are more Oonagh O’Neill books to look out for in the not too distant future!

Book blurb...
Ooonagh O’Neil is back with another dark and chilling investigation
'Do that which is good and no evil shall touch you.’
That was the note the so-called Raphael killer left on each of his victims. Everyone in Glasgow - investigative journalist Oonagh O'Neil included - remember the murder of three women in Glasgow which sent a wave of terror through the city. They also remember that he is still at large... When the police investigation into the Raphael killings reopens, Oonagh is given a tip off that leads her straight to the heart of a complex and deadly cover-up. When history starts to repeat itself, it seems the killer is closer than she thinks. Could Oonagh be the next target…?
My Thoughts…
I have not read any previous titles by this author, so I’m meeting Ooonagh O’Neil for the first time. I was mainly drawn to this title by the book blurb, intrigued to discover more about the Raphael killer.
The cover-up was quite complex and Ooonagh certainly had to work hard to discover the truth. I can’t say too much without giving away the plot, but I did enjoy the story, after a slow start. Towards the end, the pace increased and things moved quickly as Ooonagh got closer to uncovering the story behind the Raphael killings.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great novel--very suspenseful with an unexpected twist at the end. I loved the flawed characters--it makes them so much more believable. I highly recommend this novel.

This was the first book I have read by Theresa Talbot and I can honestly say that I am now a huge fan. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her other books in future. This book was so well written in a way that keeps you hooked and invested in the story, as you find yourself flipping through the pages wanting to know more. From the very first chapter, to the chilling and shocking twists and revelations at the end, this book has plenty of lies, twists, deceptions and betrayals to keep you hooked! I found myself unable to put this book down, as I needed to know what secret would be uncovered next. I had a few guesses of who was responsible and what was going one, only to find out that I was completely wrong. I love a good book that keeps you guessing until the end and this book does exactly that!

I loved the personality of the main character Oonagh O'Neil. She seems like a hard nosed, hard working character that is determined to get to the bottom of things once she has her mind set on something, and I loved her character in this book. I look forward to reading more books featuring this character.

I was shocked at the end of this book to learn that some of these things actually happened in the 70s, wow, I had no idea. To know that so many haemophiliacs in the world were actually given contaminated blood -  a blood clotting product that was contaminated with HIV, Hepatitis C or both! What!? Wow that floored me. It was interesting for sure to read about something that has occurred in the past that is so monumental in world history. I am still shocked by this fact.

Without giving too much away about the book and the storyline, I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be fast paced and very enjoyable. And who doesn't love a good crime, scandal type book?

Well done Theresa Talbot, I'll be keeping an eye out for your other books.

I am probably going to sound completely uneducated here, but until I had read ‘Keep Her Silent’, I had absolutely no idea about the blood scandal that went on in the seventies. Seeing as it literally was a world-wide scandal, I am rather shocked with myself for not knowing (okay, I wasn’t born then but still!). ‘Keep Her Silent’ may be predominantly fiction, but the author has used a real life, historical event in her storyline, which means that those parts of the book are based on true event that happened to real people. To be perfectly honest, that alone is shocking enough. I mean, I was absolutely gobsmacked by what the author was teaching me – how on Earth did it manage to stay under the radar for so long, and why hasn’t anyone got justice?
Aside from the blood element, ‘Keep Her Silent’ has a lot of things to keep readers interested! I won’t give anything away but Oonagh O’Neil is certainly a memorable and larger than life character, that’s for sure!
I adored the opening to ‘Keep Her Silent’! The seed was planted, the hook had done its job, and the seatbelt was secured ready to keep me safe on a ride of a lifetime. I’ll even go as far as saying that that opening was my favourite part of the book!
However (sorry!), I couldn’t help but feel as though the pace of the storyline dropped dramatically as the storyline progressed, before reaching its peak again towards the end. I thought that Theresa Talbot wrote about the scandal very well, being very clear and concise with all of the facts, whilst also keeping to the timeline of events. Very impressive. I also thought that the storyline contained such colourful characters who made the storyline weirdly entertaining. Whilst I enjoyed the overall premise of ‘Keep Her Silent’, I couldn’t help but feel as though there were too many pregnant pauses which were being padded out, even though the author was very clever at keeping her readers eyes glued to the page.
Overall, I found ‘Keep Her Silent’ to be an incredibly promising, interesting, and shocking read and, despite getting teased with little snippets of high intensity, I have everything crossed that Theresa Talbot goes even darker and full of more twists with her next novel – I’m looking forward to it!

This was my first Theresa Talbot novel and it won't be my last. It was very well written and kept me on the edge of my seat. It keeps you guessing until the very end. There are a lot of twists and turns.. Fast paced and extremely gripping, and well written a top read.

This is what a psychological/crime thriller should be: fast paced with lots of twists. I am definitely going to read the other book with this character in it because this one was so enjoyable!

Talbot’s excellent new novel ‘Keeping Her Silent’ is one of those books that winds itself very real topics and sets her fictional characters in a mystery that increases as you read. This is a truly outstanding accomplishment that really lifts itself from the page.

The book starts out as a mystery about the death of a father and son through the hands of their mother. Using a plot device that jumps back and forth through time that in lesser capable hands would be used as a novelty but works all its magic in this very talent writers repertoire.

The characters are very well define and there is a lot of surprises that fit very well within the story without showing an untrue voice for each of the strong characterisations. The emotional lead story fulfils the plot and reveals the truth behind the drive which lifts this above the par.

The plot is very deep and after reading the book, I had done plenty of research about the Blood Taint scandal that seems to be buried deep within our media but is slowly emerging as one of the most irreputable government cover ups that goes way beyond conspiracy angles that are currently on the market. This is based on a real life situation that is being ignored and my heart shudders on the cover up that emerges within the pages. This is one of those books that gives more than what you would anticipate from a novel of this ilk.

This is certainly a must read and one that should be read by all readers. The characters are interesting and the plot is one that is one of the best that I have read in the past year. This is a definite winner and I urge everyone to give this book a read and I urge all readers to get involved with the issues that do emerge from this interesting thought provoking crime mystery that ticks all the boxes and more.

'Keep Her Silent' is the second book in the Oonagh O'Neil series featuring the wonderful Glaswegian investigative journalist herself. I have come to thoroughly enjoy this series, looking out for when the next book is to be released making it a worthy addition to my favourite series' list.

It was fantastic to catch up with Oonagh, she is a fascinating character - brave, tenacious and afflicted with the same customary flaws as many investigators in the crime fiction sphere. This time Oonagh receives a tip-off about a medical scandal that was covered up in the 1970s and 80s. Despite having no idea of its importance or the truth of the information, she resolves to pursue the matter anyway. Whilst Oonagh investigates the tip she received, DI Alec Davies has one of his own, albeit about a different crime. Back in 1975, the so-called Raphael killer murdered three women, leaving ominous biblical messages with each of the bodies and then swiftly disappears. They need to investigate the claim a woman has recently made - the killer was her late father.

Unfortunately, I found that a proportion of the book was rather confusing and convoluted as it switches not only between points-of-view but timeline too - between 1975 and 2002 specifically. We are also introduced to many different characters which are hard to keep track of, for the most part, and when I did get my head around it all I feel the novel had progressed far beyond the cut-off point for a reader slowly easing into it. It's easy to infer that the story being told here could be based in fact, although we are not told this definitively either way. It definitely bears a resemblance to other medical conspiracies from the past, so it certainly could be credible. All in all, this is a well told story with a few minor issues that did have an affect on my overall enjoyment.

Many thanks to Aria for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book moves back and forth between the years 1975 and 2002. A true story about a tainted blood scandal that's too horrific to even contemplate. The greed displayed by the big pharmaceutical companies… A time when no one worried about the chances of HIV and other blood borne diseases being transferred to the patients that were treated with those blood products.

The main character is Oonagh O'Neil an investigative journalist from Glasgow. Police have reopened the investigation into the Raphael killings - the murder of 3 women from Glasgow. Oonagh receives a tip that brings her straight into a complicated and very deadly cover-up. Oonagh is an interesting character because she isn't perfect, she has her flaws.

Keep Her Silent by Theresa Talbot
Oonagh O’Neil #2

Flipping back and forth between 1975 and 2002 this book presents a type of evil that I hate to think was perpetrated by men against men. That said, men always are most inhumane to their fellow species. This book is based on fact and deals with evil that I have heard a bit about but not in the depth that it is presented in this book. If you have not heard of the tainted blood scandal then it may be time to google it…or to read this book…then google it. It seems there is a LOT of money to made from blood by pharmaceutical companies…

Horrific Murder
Wife & mother accused then put away
Whistle blowers – often dying
Plots within plots
Evil men keeping secrets and making money
What will some do to further scientific studies?
What will men do to keep others from knowing what they have done?
Reporter following a lead
Inspector searching for clues to an old murder - a cold case
Reporter and inspector are friends – their cases overlap
Can old wrongs be righted?

This was a well-researched and excellently written story of corruption, greed and cover-ups. I remember the AIDS fears of the 80s and the fact that a neighbor’s mother was given a transfusion that transferred death through AIDS. Reading this book made it come home again. I had trouble putting this one down as in addition to the tainted blood scandal there was an issue with drugs and another that mentioned postpartum depression. All the strings of the story were gathered together one by one and wrapped up in a tidy ball but I do wonder what Oonagh will be up to next and whether or not she will find a partner that will give her peace and support as she moves forward in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

This was an interesting story involving the panic and fear that the contaminated blood scandal produced throughout the early 80s when HIV and AIDS first became such high profile diseases. The characters were believable and the plot flowed reasonably well, although, I did struggle a bit towards the middle. There were a couple of twists I failed to see coming and enough suspense to keep me reading long after I should have turned off the light.

This is an excellent, intelligent, interesting, well-written crime novel. It is Theresa Talbot’s second book featuring Oonagh O’Neil, an investigative journalist living in Glasgow. The author is a journalist herself and clearly researches her subject matter rigorously.

In this sequel to Penance, Oonagh stumbles across the infamous tainted blood scandal that rocked the UK, and elsewhere, in the 1970s and 1980s. Haemophiliacs were given a new blood-clotting product taken from high risk individuals such as prisoners and sex workers, even from Russian cadavers, infected with HIV and/or hepatitis. Other than in France, no one has ever been prosecuted, although our current PM, Theresa May,has promised a public enquiry. People are still suffering and dying following this ‘treatment’ which resulted ultimately from the greed of pharmaceutical companies and the misplaced, uninformed enthusiasm of scientists and clinicians.

Other important issues investigated include post partum psychosis, the dangers of buying medication on the internet, sexual abuse on mental health wards, and that old West of Scotland cliche, alcohol addiction. All are incorporated into an exciting and thrilling whodunnit. It is set in Glasgow in 2002 which makes me think that the author is planning a long series and needed to start early enough that she wouldn’t catch herself up.

Gaun yersel’, Theresa! More of the same please - and soon!

A totally gripping thriller with a twist you won't see coming. A spine chilling investigation that follows even more excruciating evidences forcing a dangerous yet inevitable ending.

I thought this was an excellent book! This is the second Theresa Talbot novel featuring investigative journalist Oonagh O'Neill and policeman Alec Davies, I haven't read the first yet, but I definitely intend to now!
I loved the Glasgow setting, I really enjoy reading a book set in my hometown when you can recognise the places where the action is set and can identify with the dialect. I think there might just be a wee bit of the author in Oonagh too?!
The story features an unsolved suspected serial killing of three young women during the 1970s, the murder of a pathologist and his son, the tainted blood scandal where blood was purchased from donors suffering from HIV and hepatitis to treat haemophiliacs, and the abuse of psychiatric patients. The scenes of abuse of psychiatric patients was truly shocking and my heart just breaks for people who had to endure this treatment.
There are some really shocking twists in the story, I really thought I had it all figured out but I was nowhere near it! I read a lot of these type of books, but I would say this one really stands out as it has plenty of heart and just feels authentic.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would certainly recommend it.