Carrie Stuart Parks has once again written a masterpiece! Her masterful storytelling captures you from the opening pages and does not let go even once the book is closed. This story is full of suspense that leaves you on the edge of your seat and continually guessing what is around the next corner.

We are introduced to the colorful Boone family through Piper, the eldest daughter. It is a family who presents a unified front even though they are wrought with tragedies. We are first introduced to Piper when she was a young mother in her early twenties. We quickly learn of an unforeseen tragedy that strikes the young mother before being transported to present day where she is once again thrust into an unforeseen tragedy that will once again cause her world to tilt.

Through this tragedy, Piper meets Tucker Landry. They work together to identify a shooter and learn they both must confront their pasts to forge a path to the future. Tucker is not completely honest with Piper regarding his past leaving the door open for suspicion from Piper and her family. He must prove to Piper she can trust him as she digs into her families past revealing secrets she is not sure she has the strength to face.

We watch both Piper and Tucker each have to discover if they can trust God with not only their lives, but also their futures. Ms. Stuart does an incredible job displaying God’s grace and mercy throughout the story without being overbearing. She truly captures what I feel God is like- always there, always a gentleman, never pushy.

This is by far my favorite novel of hers to date. I find myself thinking about the characters long after I have finished the book. It is a must read!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

** “In the words of Corrie Ten Boom, ‘Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.’ ” **

Carrie Stuart Parks delivers another action-packed, heart-thumping thriller with “Relative Silence,” a story of deceit, suffering, to-be-solved mysteries and second chances.

Piper Boone, still coping with the loss of her daughter 15 years ago, finds herself in the midst of a mass shooting. When a stranger, Tucker Landry, a man with his own past demons, saves her life, Piper finds herself working closely with him to solve the “curse” of the Boone family and figure out why tragedy keeps following her family.

As more and more horrific incidents occur, Piper and Tucker find themselves having to trust each other as they don’t know who else they can trust, all while developing feelings for each other.

The author does an incredible job of building a plot that keeps building and building in suspense, all while leaving the reader guessing as to the resolution. She also develops some great characters, including Mandy, a plucky marine patrol officer; Hannah, the disfigured granddaughter of the family’s neighbor Joyce; and a couple of quirky canines.

Besides being an incredible suspense thriller, “Relative Silence” addresses some amazing themes, like the age old question of why does a loving God allow suffering; “revenge is a caustic companion”; trust the future to God; and it’s OK to give God a second chance.

Fans of authors like Lynette Eason and Terri Blackstock will love this book.

Five stars out of five.

Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Relative Silence
by Carrie Stuart Parks


Thomas Nelson--FICTION
Thomas Nelson
Christian | Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 14 Jul 2020





I am reviewing a copy of Relative Silence through Thomas Nelson-Fiction and Netgalley:



They are a powerful family with more than there share of secrets, He is a Forensic Artist with his own tragedies. And now must face a hurricane drawing bearing down on their private island.





Piper Boone lost her only child fifteen years ago in a boating accident. She had nearly lost her own life as well. Piper retreats to Curlew Island and her childhood home a secluded mansion for the politically powerful Boone family, they are practically American Royalty.







Pipers desire to become a recluse ends when a mass shooter opens fire and kills three women at a café where Piper is having lunch. The crisis has her family in the spotlight by bringing back rumors of the so called Curlew Island Curse, a curse that is said to have taken several members of the Boone family, including Piper’s father and sister.



Tucker Landry, a Forensic Artist survives the shooting along with Piper and is given the task of sketching a portrait of the shooter with Piper. The two forge a bond over their shared love of movies as well as their tragic past. When the police discover that the shooting and two more murders on Curlew Island, it is Piper’s family that becomes suspects.



I give Relative Silence five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

The pages flew as I devoured this read, what an amazing job this author did with this book.
We are given a woman who has suffered the loss of her precious child, and although fifteen years has past, her grief has never gone away. She comes from an affluent family and uses most of her money to help helpless animals.
So now why did someone try to kill her? Well the event at the beginning of the book ends up with her friend dead and a man wounded. Random? Keep reading!
My mind was trying to figure out what was going on here, but I never got it right. You think you know what is going to happen and whom is involved, maybe you will be right, but I doubt it.
I loved the epilogue, maybe not what your expecting, but surprises abound!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

Parks is a master of suspense and has a signature style that I enjoy. She reminds you that people are not always what they seem and that the danger is often closer than you think. The secluded nature of the island added to the eery feel of this story.

Piper is just trying to get through life after multiple tragedies when she is thrown to the ground by a man who saves her from being shot at a cafe. She later wants to thank him for saving her life and finds out that he's a forensic artist. She asks him to help her do an age progression of her daughter who died 15 years ago. They soon find themselves embroiled in a mystery as family secrets are revealed. The danger increases and there's a terrific sense of urgency as they figure things out right as a hurricane threatens the island.

There are a few twists along the way and it's a hard book to put down. I'd highly recommend it. Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A powerful family with lots of secrets. A forensic artist with his own tragedies. And a hurricane drawing bearing down on their private island. Fifteen years ago Piper Boone’s only child died in a boating accident, and Piper’s almost perfect life came to an end too. After living through a divorce and losing her job, she retreats to Curlew Island and her childhood home—a secluded mansion for the politically powerful Boone family, who are practically American royalty. But Piper’s desire to become a recluse is shattered when a mass shooter opens fire and kills three women at a café where Piper is having lunch. The crisis puts her family in the spotlight by dredging up rumors of the so-called Curlew Island Curse, which whispers say has taken the lives of several members of the Boone family, including Piper’s father and sister. Forensic artist Tucker Landry also survives the shooting and is tasked with the job of sketching a portrait of the shooter with Piper. They forge a bond over their shared love of movies and tragic pasts. But when police discover a connection between the shooting and two more murders on Curlew Island, they face a more terrible lineup of suspects than they could have imagined: Piper’s family. Unraveling the family’s true history will be the key to Piper’s survival—or her certain death.

This is the story of the "Perfect" family. Or so everyone believes. Except for the curse. Pipers sister, father, and daughter have all died. After the death of Pipers daughter her marriage fell apart. Fifteen years later she is still grieving. While she is having lunch with a friend someone opens fire and kills three people. Nathan Tucker knocks Piper out of the way or she would have been killed also. Nathan and Piper work together to find the shooter. As they do, things begin to happen that ties to the death of Dove, Pipers daughter. As a hurricane approaches they are running out of time to find the killer.

This book kept me reading when I should have been doing other things. I recommend this book to all who enjoy a good mystery.

I was given this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

This book started with a horrific tragedy that definitely grabs the reader’s interest, then goes straight to a mass shooting that made me think this book would be one exciting moment after another. It wasn’t. What followed was the introduction of “is someone trying to the main character” or is something else going on?

I enjoyed the book but felt like it was very far-fetched. This was almost like a gothic romance. There were some unexplained parts, like why the police didn’t investigate a certain death.

There were also things that happened that seemed to have no point. For example, There was emphasis on the main character always needing to write lists, yet that served no purpose in the book.

Still, despite the issues, I found it so compelling that I read it in one setting and stayed up until 1 in the morning to finish it.

Relative Silence, by Carrie Stewart Parks, is a fast paced who done it story. It is full of action and suspense. This is a modern day story set in South Carolina on Curlew Island,which has been owned by the Boone family for four generations. The story opens with the death of Piper's young daughter and fast forwards 15 years. Piper is visiting a friend when a shooter attacks where they are eating. Piper is saved by a stranger from out of town,whom she takes in until he heals. Tucker is forensic artist and Piper asks him to draw what her daughter would look like now. This leads her to the granddaughter of a missing neighbor. Just when they seem to be making progress, a storm comes in and the family has to flee and evil surrounds them.
The Boone family has similarities to the Kennedy family. The families are both well know, influential families with their own private estates. Each family has had more than their share of strange deaths. Piper's younger sister dies in a freak accident, her other sister has not been seen for years, and her brother is running for office.
This is a great story that focuses on family, grief, lost and secrets. The story is well written and very detailed. The characters are well introduced and easy to follow. I totally enjoyed this story and was disappointed when it ended. The story has many twists and turns and I was not expecting it to end the way it did. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys who done it type stories.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Relative Silence is an edge of your seat mystery with a lovely setting in the South Carolina low country near Charleston. Living a life of privilege doesn't mean a great life. In this story, Piper Boone is from a well to do family but tragedy has struck many times with the deaths of several family members, including her three year old daughter fifteen years ago. When she is almost shot at an outdoor restaurant, a man at a nearby table pushes her down and gets shot himself with a minor injury. Tucker Landry has had his own history of tragedy but his faith has helped him recover. Other incidents continue and the two work together along with the help of a marine patrol agent to find out who is trying to get rid of Piper. Could it be one of her self centered family members, her ex-husband who still works with the family business, a family employee, or someone else? When a hurricane hits, things get very scary between the weather and the killer. With lots of twists and turns, this complicated story kept me guessing and more than a little surprised at the villain. This is a great read to keep you turning the pages.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Carrie Steuart Parks has definitely earned a spot as one of the top Christian fiction writers today. Her books are difficult to put down, and keep me reading past the time at night when it should be lights out for me.

I loved the characters she put together for this book. First off is the main character, Piper, whose daughter died 15 years before; she has withdrawn from life —and yet, I would think the tragic circumstances would be enough to stall anyone’s life, especially with some guilt that added to the mix. Along the same line, in a sense, is the male lead, who is a recovering alcoholic because of the accident that took the lives of his wife and unborn child and was largely his own fault. These are two different people with two different ways of coping.

The story is an intriguing, well-written mystery that is neatly wrapped up by the end. There were several suspects, and even after trying to follow the clues, the guilty party was in my opinion only a possibility, but I never definitely settled on the right one I liked how the author kept my interest throughout the book, and as always, I appreciate a good, clean story.

This was a thriller! Every single page had me on edge waiting for the next clue or piece to the puzzle. If you like mysteries, this book will satisfy your need.
I never expected the actual killer and the climax was filled with surprises. This book will have you reading until the very last page.
It is suitable for all ages and I did receive a copy of this book for free in exchange for this review.

Relative Silence is a contemporary suspense novel written by Carrie Stuart Parks.

Summary: Piper Boone grew up in a powerful and well-respected family. But ever since her daughter disappeared 15 years ago, Piper has lived in a fog of grief-surviving just one day at a time.

But when a new tragedy strikes, Piper is forced to examine her family’s true intentions. What really happened 15 years ago? And how is it connected to the present? Can Piper discover the truth before it’s too late?

My Thoughts: This book is fantastic. There are interesting characters, plenty of subplots, and the suspense and action are superb. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would definitely buy it-which is the highest praise I can give to any book. In fact, I think I could read it again right now, which I never say.

This is the second book I have read by Carrie Stuart Parks, and neither have disappointed-so, SO good!!!

Check this one out-if you enjoy mystery and suspense-this one’s definitely for you.

As always, I would like to thank Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

This was such a unique storyline. I loved the characters and drama in it. The action and suspense snagged me from the beginning and kept my attention to the end. The author did such a good job with her writing that I felt like I was there in the midst of everything. Excellent choice for your next read!

I was privileged to read this through a NetGalley copy but all views are my own.

The Boone’s are often compared to the Kennedy’s. They even have a family curse! Their story takes place on the family compound of Curlew Island. The Boone’s are beyond wealthy and gather each year in October on the Island for a shareholders meeting. Many tragic accidents have plagued the family throughout the years, most aren’t talked about. Could it be more than accidents, and, if so, are they connected. As a hurricane thunders towards Curlew Island the pieces finally fall together, but will it be too late for some of them? A book of non stop action with characters you can’t help rooting for, this Christian novel was a very pleasurable read.

Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks is a fast-paced thriller set in South Carolina on Curlew Island. Curlew Island belongs to the Boone Family and has for generations. The story opens fifteen years ago on Piper Boone who is waiting for the rest of her family to arrive for the annual shareholders meeting. She sends her 3 year old daughter, Dove, off with her husband to the mainland. Dove is killed in a horrible accident, her tiny body washed up on the island days later. Fast forward to the present, as Piper is lunching with a friend at the local cafe. A shooter opens fire and a random stranger dives on Piper, protecting her while taking a bullet in his own leg. Her savior, Tucker is a forensic artist working on sunken remains of the Hunley, clarifying the faces of the soldiers who sunk with the sub during the Civil War. The police enlist Tucker's help to work with Piper to reconstruct the shooter's face and they soon become friends and confidantes.. In the midst of this Piper's island neighbor has disappeared, leaving a worried granddaughter no one knew about. As Piper and Tucker work to discover the identy of the shooter, find the neighbor and meet Hannah, the granddaughter, they discover there are as many family secrets buried on the island as there are shells on the beach. More people are missing and the plot thickens as they get closer to the truth and each other.

I read Relative Silence non-stop until I finished. Each chapter uncovered more secrets and the end was a satisfying reveal. The book is action-packed, very well-plotted, and full of interesting historical facts. I researched the author who is a forensic artist herself, which explains the descriptive detail in the book. Nana, a Newfoundland dog, played a major role in the story and on the island, was very well-written. Obviously Parks has her own Newfies and its plain that she's a dog-lover.

I was pleased to read an ARC and was hooked from the moment I started reading. This is a great book for book clubs, mystery lovers and anyone who enjoys a captivating read. I look forward to reading Parks' other books. Enjoy!!

I had not read any of Carrie Stuart Parks’s work prior to Relative Silence. Based off this particular novel, I will be searching for more that she has written. I read Relative Silence in a day. It was easy to read, and I enjoyed the snippets of humor Parks scattered throughout the book. Centering on a woman named Piper Boone, the novel unlocks the mysteries surrounding the deaths of her relatives on Curlew Island. Her family—headed by a birdwatching mother who named all her children after birds—reunites at their property on the island at least once a year. Piper, however, now lives on the island permanently after she loses her job as an editor and publisher. She is just trying to pick up the pieces after her daughter’s drowning fifteen years ago.

Her world explodes—almost literally—when a mass shooting occurs at a restaurant. A man bodily shoves her out of the line of fire, saving her life and injuring himself in the process. She is determined to thank Tucker Landry, who she later learns is a forensic artist. Piper requests his assistance in learning the truth behind her daughter’s death, and Tucker cannot say no. He cannot deny the attraction he has to her. He only expects to draw a picture of what her daughter might look like as a teenager. It does not take long, however, for mysteries to reveal themselves. Every answer leads to five hundred more questions…like what happened to Dr. Joyce Mueller. Why has she suddenly disappeared? Is she hiding something? Or did someone dispose of her to stop her from sharing whatever she knew?

The characters in Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks have so many layers, especially Piper and Tucker. While I liked Piper, Tucker Landry pulled at my heartstrings. Parks introduced her readers to a character who hides his demons behind a strong exterior. As he learns more about Piper, though, he opens up to her. Parks artfully wrote his struggles, and I found myself cheering for him on every page. He had a very flawed past—just like Piper—but he did not let it define him. He moved forward. Parks masterfully concocted the character development in both him and Piper.

They were not the only characters, though. Indeed, there were quite a few. Sometimes, in books with this many characters, I lose track of who is who. I did not have that problem with Relative Silence, though. Each person in the story served a unique purpose, including the ones who were not even actively in the book. Phrases described the people “off-scene,” so to speak, to the point that I did not need to meet them to know them. Can you tell I am a sucker for good characters yet?

The plot kept me guessing. I figured a few things out early on, but the big reveal of the “bad guy” threw me for a loop. The amount of action was perfect. Every time I started growing bored, Parks dropped another bomb. The mystery itself in the novel was like a maze full of dead ends, yet somehow, Parks concluded it all. She deserves a medal for that one!

Relative Silence was entertaining, compelling, and resulted in a flood of different emotions from me. I left Curlew Island satisfied, and I have no doubt you will, too!

Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks will have your mind racing. Early in the book you realize that something is definitely wrong with this family. The family reminds you of something from the Stepford Wives where they have no emotions as they are more worried about how they look to the outside world.

Piper’s daughter is killed when she’s three years old and Piper has lived in a fog ever since. When she’s almost killed at a restaurant it seems to wake her up.

Tucker was at the restaurant and tried to protect Piper. They develop a friendship and he helps her try to figure out what is going on when strange things start happening. Tucker had his own issues that I didn’t see coming. Even though Piper was a hot mess I liked her character. At first I was a little put off by all the movie references. But you realize it becomes part of her personality and her coping mechanism.

As Piper was trying to figure out what happened to her daughter and what was going on in her family you’re right there with her trying to put the pieces together.

I would recommend the book. It truly has you trying to figure out what’s going on, who’s involved in what, and how it’s all related. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It’s one of those books you also keep thinking about after it’s over.

Violence – shootings, deaths, and the memories of her daughter’s death

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

This is my first book by Carrie Stuart Parks. I enjoyed it. There was a lot of suspense and the story moved along at a good pace. I liked all the characters and did not figure out "whodunnit". The story focuses on two main characters, Piper, who is from a wealthy family and Tucker, who saves her life when there's a shooting at an outdoor restaurant. Both characters have had a lot of heartache and tragedy in their pasts. This is a good read, definitely if you like mystery and suspense! The only thing I didn't like was that is was "out there" as far as believability.

Family, secrets, loss, grief and evil fill these pages. It is multilayered and very well written. I was captivated from page one.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I liked the idea of this book: a young girl disappears and 15 years later, the parents have separated, and mom, Piper, finds herself in the middle of several tragedies. Although the story included suspense and mystery, I found it hard to follow. The point of view switched between two characters and it was sometimes hard to tell who was speaking. There were also too many places of inconsistencies for my liking. I found that the story line moved slowly in some places and I skimmed the last half of the book.