This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

First, I have to say that I loved Steiner's previous Manon Russell books--Missing, Presumed and Persons Unknown.--that's why I requested an advance copy of Remain Silent.    Bradshaw, a  Cambridgeshire England police force officer, discovers the body of a young man hanging from a tree in a park.  Is  it murder or suicide?  During the ongoing investigation, other bodies turn up in sad circumstances.  The grim story, told in flashbacks, of what leads to the tragic Lithuanian migrant worker deaths meanders way too slowly.  The dark humor that so attracted me to the first two books is mostly missing.   Manon Bradshaw is a fabulous character, but she doesn't really shine until the last part of the book.  This one wasn't for me, but it won't stop me from recommending this solid crime series to readers!  .

This book was already archived before I could download it and read it, but thank you for the opportunity.

For some unknown reason, this book had been languishing in my to-be-read queue.  I'm sorry that I waited so long to dive it,  because I was hooked immediately.  Manon Bradshaw is a grouchy and impulsive, but also loyal and dogged, characteristics that make her a good detective.  Above all, Manon is human, and watching her deal with work, her partner, her kids, and life in general make for a compelling read.  Above all, I hope that Susie Steiner recovers from her cancer!

Thanks to Random House Publishing for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.

Manon Bradshaw is a character that I really loved in the first two books in the series. While there were still glimpses of her personality I love so much (“I put the no in innovation”) - this story fell flat. I was disappointed by the resolution of the main case. From the ending, it sounded like this may be the final Manon Bradshaw book - and while I would have been sad, now it seems like maybe this is time for the series to end. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy.

Manon Bradshaw is mother to a teenager and a toddler, relatively newly married, and an active member, part time, of the Cambridgeshire Police Force. Her life is hectic and she is rethinking her place in the world when suddenly she is taken away from her niche in cold cases and dropped into a new, developing case involving the death of an immigrant found hanging in a tree. Was he a suicide or was he murdered, that is the major question. Second to that, what is the situation with the Lithuanian migrants all over the district who seem to be increasing in number and inciting the anti-immigrant part of the local population to demonstrations.

This is the third of Steiner’s series about Manon and continues her development as mother and policewoman. She is a fully human woman, something I respect and enjoy. She lives an occasionally messy life, as most of us do, questioning herself and others. As she approaches middle age, she finds herself asking harder questions.

The case goes in several directions and reflects current social situations in the world. Manon and erstwhile partner Davey follow. Home life both intrudes and suffers. It is real life being portrayed.

I recommend all three books in this series but I found this book, Remain Silent, especially good and rewarding. It is not only a procedural, it is a portrait of a cop whose emotions are raw and brain is always working.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I was looking forward to this one and a cold case investigation, but it was a little bit of a let down as it went a different direction.  The storyline was dark and sad and I had a lot of difficulty getting into this one.

When I received the ARC for this book from Netgalley, I didn’t know it was the third in a series. That did not detract from how much I enjoyed the story. I have definitely got to play catch up. 

Detective Manon has a nice cushy job in cold cases where she only works three days a week and gets time off to be with her young son. In the park with her little boy, she finds a body hangin in a tree. 

Her boss (the many nicknames for whom are hilarious in their own right) makes her the SIO of the investigation because they are short a lead detective at the moment.  Although this will mess up her schedule, she is intrigued and happy to be in the investigation. 

The victim is an Eastern European. This leads them to a group from Lithuania living under appalling conditions as forced labor for a sadistic handler.  Manon and Davy are shocked to see filth when they enter the house. 

The story grimly deals with the local xenophobia as well as the desperate conditions of the immigrants.  It is not light reading at all. 

However, Manon is so quick, snarky, and relatable you have to love her. Her character will definitely bring me back to this series. The bollocking she gives to a man cheating on his wife made me laugh out loud (and scared the hell out of him). 

Thank you for the chance to review this book and for introducing me to a new favorite character.

I loved this book. Loved the plot and the characters. Figuring out who did it is my favorite part of the book and the author told it so well that I couldn't figure out who did it until the end. Well done. Pick it up and check it out. Doesn't disappoint. Happy reading!

Manon Bradshaw is an interesting detective. A mom with  preschooler  and  an adopted teenager finds herself back working fulltime when she discovers an immigrant who has been hanged.  She appears to be a super worman. Great story and I'm saddened to hear that Susie Steiner has been diagnosed with advanced brain cancer.  She created a great protagonist for the series.

When requested, I had no idea this was part of a series already. Since there's different storylines I didn't find that it was hard to follow but maybe there is less character background? I enjoyed this and thought it was very dark and unsettling. This is a take on modern day racism that is still continuing today. Thank you netgalley and to the publisher!

I scooped this up right away when I saw that Manon Bradshaw was back. I read a lot of detective fiction, and Susie Steiner is one of my favorites. Remain Silent finds Manon overwhelmed with a demanding toddler, her older son Fly who is breaking her heart with the simple act of growing up, and her husband who is suddenly diagnosed with cancer. Manon is facing her midlife with decidedly mixed feelings. She can look at her relationship with her husband and appreciate it as one would a 'scratchy old towel' - dependable and absorbent of her faults. The crime her team is investigating is horrific and timely. An immigrant is found hanging from a tree, meant to look like a suicide, but the note in his hand suggests otherwise. He is one of many victims of an exploitative agricultural crime ring. Steiner's writing is so frank and hilarious. Writing about Manon's ambitious boss, "...McBain would go to the opening of an envelope if she thought it would 'raise her profile'." She expertly handles her best friend's cheating husband, convincing him to stick with his own scratchy old towel before throwing it in (ha) for a fluffier one. Even small children are not immune from her dry wit. A child who doesn't receive the toy he wants at a party is told that "...this is a Join in the Fun Party. It is not a Gross Sense of Entitlement Party." Who among us hasn't wanted to say that?

I am grateful to NetGalley and Random House for the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. That Susie Steiner was able to complete this book despite her illness is extraordinary, and I'm glad she has recovered from her illness.

It has been my absolute JOY this week to read the third novel in the Manon Bradshaw series. And, no surprise, it was just as wonderful – if not more so!
“Remain Silent” will, without a doubt, be included in my favorites list for 2020. And Manon Bradshaw? Well, she may very well be my favourite character, EVER!

Manon Bradshaw, a Detective Inspector with the Cambridgeshire Police, is now forty-six years old. She shares a house with her adopted son, Fly, her common-law husband Mark Talbot, and her their four year-old son, Teddy.

Manon is content working on cold cases three days a week since she came off maternity leave.

Davy Walker, once Manon’s sergeant, now equals her in rank. Davy is engaged to be married – a status he is not sure he is completely comfortable with.

Manon and Davy have a wonderful rapport and mutual respect.

When Manon and Teddy discover an immigrant hanging from a tree in a local park, the apparent suicide leads Manon down a path that sheds light on the unethical treatment of Lithuanian migrant workers, men who came to the UK for a better life, but are instead treated abominably, with disgusting living conditions, debt bonding, and emotional and physical abuse of all kinds.

The author creates a personal story around these workers which makes their plight all the more impactful.

“Most nightmares end if you only give them time.
This too will pass was a good enough motto to live by.”

The police case involves migrant workers.  Although the case was compelling, for me it was by far overshadowed by the wonderful characters in this novel.  Manon is a brilliant policewoman trying to attain the always illusive home/work balance. She loves her children like a fierce ‘Mamma Bear’.  Fly is a wonderful boy who at age sixteen is facing his GCSEs and is an excellent big brother for Teddy.

What I love about Steiner’s novels is that she creates the perfect balance between the case in hand and Manon’s personal life.  The case this time highlights the abhorrent treatment of Lithuanian migrant workers in the United Kingdom.  A very real problem that ‘Operation Pheasant‘ is trying to address.

On the personal side, Manon is struggling with parenting, middle age, police budget cuts and most importantly a cancer diagnosis for her partner Mark. She adores the people in her life and her humour filled relationship with her best friend Bri is a joy to read.

This novel is about normal people just trying to get by in a world that often feels adversarial.   It is about parenting, and the love of family in all its permutations. A skillfully written novel that contains empathy, pathos, and humour. In short, I loved this book. I’m already yearning for another glimpse into Manon’s world.

I wish everyone could read this fantastic series. Highly, highly recommended!

The spark has faded a bit for me with the third installment of the Manon Bradshaw series. It's been a while since I've read the first two, but I recall gobbling them up, chuckling at the witticisms, and feeling really immersed in Manon's world. This time, I had a hard time sinking in, and while I plowed through, it was lacking a certain something. I can't quite name it, but looking back I gave the other two novels five stars and this didn't feel quite up to that level. The grimness of the various plots didn't help much either (modern-day slave trade, cancer, cheating spouses, mid-life doldrums). Judging by the author's endnote this may well be the last Manon novel, in which case you should still read it and say your goodbyes. Here's hoping that Steiner had many more stories left in her.

“Bigots have feelings too.”

Remain Silent is a timely and depressing police procedural about the murder of an immigrant and the growing racial and xenophobic tensions in post-Brexit England. 

This is book #3 in the Manon Bradshaw series. While this book can be read as a standalone, I think the reader won’t fully appreciate Manon’s character if they skip the first two books in this series.

When a Lithuanian immigrant is found hanging from a tree, suicide is believed to be the cause of death, but when a closer look is taken, it appears that the victim might have been murdered. DS Manon Bradshaw and her partner are pulled into the investigation, bringing them into contact with a group of desperate and displaced people struggling to survive: 
“People searching for a better life are despised for wanting it when native strivers are admired. What’s the name for this?”

At the same time, Manon’s personal life is a bit of a mess. But isn’t it always? Struggling to balance her career with motherhood, with aging and relationship problems with her partner, Mark, Manon is in a shambles. 

Split between Manon, Davy, and one of the Lithuanian immigrants, Steiner explores growing tensions and divides over immigration.

This book is not easy to read. The topics of xenophobia and racism were only too real and timely. There are no happy endings in this story. On top of it all, Steiner’s Author’s note brought me to tears. 

However, Mannon’s witticisms made this book bearable to read! I love her snarky brain and the way she thinks. 

Below are just a few of my favorite gems from Manon (and one from Mark):

“I hate positive thinking. Just a way of bullying people, making them feel bad stuff is their fault.”

“Still, it’s nice to be on the road with you, visiting some racists.”

“Ignorance is the new black. All you need right now is some knee-jerk reactions and a Twitter feed. All you need is to ‘feel you’re right.’”

“Truly stupid people are too stupid to realize they are stupid.” 

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

White supremacists live everywhere—not just the US—as an immigrant exploitation ring is embroiled in a murder case in northeast England. How can Officer Manon Bradshaw deal with all that while also fighting the middle-age doldrums? Remain Silent tells the story of Lithuanian refugees that are used as cheap labor in a chicken farm.

This book deals with important issues. However, I just never got into it and had to force myself to read to the end. It may have been because I hadn’t read the two previous books in the series. I wasn’t connected to the characters. The whole plot both with the case and with Manon and her partner Davy’s home life seemed a bit too depressing to me. Despite those complaints, I liked the twists at the end. 3 stars for Remain Silent.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

The torture and brutality by the characters in this book made it hard for me to read.  The writing was ok - but didn't capture me as much as Steiner's earlier books.  There seemed to be a lot of repetition, especially with the continual 'thoughts' of the main character.  It was just an 'ok' book for me.

In the third book in Steiner's Manon Bradshaw series, we find Manon at work part-time in cold cases, leaving her "time" to raise her toddler, Teddy, and teenage son, Fly. She's adjusting to domestic living with Mark and all the bliss that comes with it: who will take out the garbage, pick up the kids, cook dinner, and more. Then Teddy and Manon take a walk to the park and discover a body: a Lithuanian immigrant named Lukas hanging from a tree, a note attached to his body. Manon's annoying and perhaps clueless boss assigns her to lead the case--with her faithful partner Davy Walker--and Manon is back, attempting to juggle work, motherhood, and what could be a very dangerous murder case.

I love Manon and this was yet another well-written mystery from Steiner. The introduction to this book features one of the most amazing, realistic, and yes, depressing, ruminations on marriage, life, and death that I may have ever read. In fact, Steiner so perfectly captures real life, especially juggling being a working mom. I love that she doesn't shy away from how hard Manon finds parenting, or gloss over the difficulties of marriage. Once or twice I might have found these tirades a bit tiresome (back to the case, I say!), but overall, it's refreshing to find a book that tells it like it is.

Speaking of, this is such a timely read, focusing on immigration, racism, and the overall hatred of "otherness" that seems to permeate the world right now. The central plot focuses on the infusion of immigrants, particularly Eastern Europeans, into England. The story told is a heartbreaking one of anger and loss. Steiner deftly weaves a tale from multiple points of view and time periods--we hear not only from Manon and Davy, but Lukas' friend Matis, who spearheads the pair's immigration from Lithuania, only for them to find themselves basically prisoners. They are indebted to the man who brought them over, trapped in a smelly workhouse, and forced to do menial labor to pay off their "debt." With Lukas dead, the story leading up to his death unfolds, and it's absolutely riveting and heartbreaking. Steiner handles the sensitive issues surrounding immigration and racism wonderfully, crafting a well-done mystery that still gives this topic its due.

"'Why do they hate us so much?'"

Overall, I cannot recommend this book (4.5 stars) or this series enough. I have followed Steiner on social media for years and was devastated to learn she was diagnosed with a brain tumor after submitting this book. My heart goes out to her and her recovery.

Susie Steiner's third Manon Bradshaw novel, "Remain Silent," focuses on Lithuanian migrants who travel to England, hoping for a better life. Instead, they become the slaves of a sadistic taskmaster who treats them abominably.  They do menial and exhausting work, go to sleep on filthy mattresses, and receive little compensation for their efforts. One of them is Matis, who talked his good-hearted friend, Lukas Balsys, into answering an ad that promised them economic opportunities far from their native Klaipeda.  When the pair reach their destination, they realize that they have been duped.  Along with their fellow Eastern Europeans, Matis and Lukas find themselves in a revolting hovel, doomed to horrific weeks and months of soul-destroying labor.

Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Manon Bradshaw has mixed feelings about her domestic situation. She and her partner, Mark Talbot, are raising an adorable toddler, Teddy, and an adolescent named Fly, whom Manon adopted years earlier and loves dearly.  Forty-six-year-old Manon is profane, comically self-deprecating (she cannot help but notice that she is getting paunchy), critical of others (she loves Mark, but he sometimes gets on her nerves), and can be prickly towards her co-workers.  She has little respect for her officious boss, Glenda McBain, although Manon is fond of DS Davy Walker, a hard-working and dedicated detective who puts up with Manon's prickly personality.  Manon and Davy have the challenging task of investigating a series of suspicious deaths and, in addition, they are keeping an eye on a band of right-wing thugs who despise refugees and disseminate hate-filled rhetoric on social media and in street demonstrations.

The author’s frequent use of flashbacks and constantly changing viewpoints are confusing and disrupt the story's flow.  On the other hand, Steiner makes the most of her ripped-from-the-headlines themes.  Tragically, when disreputable opportunists exploit foreign-born men and women, the victims are usually too frightened to turn to the authorities for help. In addition to tracking down felons, Manon and Davy face challenging and stressful personal problems that force them to take a hard look at what they really want out of life.  "Remain Silent" is an engrossing, timely, and dark police procedural in which Steiner demonstrates that deep-seated resentment, intolerance, and selfishness can undermine relationships, tear apart communities, and precipitate acts of horrific violence.

"Remain Silent" by Susie Steiner, Random House, 320 pages, June 2, 2020.

Detective Inspector Manon Bradshaw is happy to be working part-time in the cold case department of the Cambridgeshire police force as she now has a 2-year-old and an adopted teenager.

Manon, 46, is late to motherhood. She is stressed because her husband, Mark Talbot, isn't doing his share of the housework. Manon is going to counseling alone because Mark refuses to go.

On one of her days off, she is on a walk with her toddler, Teddy, in a suburban neighborhood. She discovers the body of a Lithuanian immigrant hanging from a tree with a note attached. Her partner, Davy Walker, is sent to the scene. 

When he learns that the dead man is an immigrant, Davy goes to the police Fenland Exploitation Team for advice. The deceased is Lukas Balsys, a Lithuanian migrant worker, whose gang master Edikas is brutal. Two other people were earlier found hanging in the woods, but both deaths were considered suicides.

The new Detective Superintendent in charge is Glenda McBain. She orders Manon to help in the investigation. Meanwhile, Mark is ill, their son, Fly, is having problems in school, and Manson's best friend is getting divorced.

"Remain Silent" is the third in the series. The plot of this one isn't as interesting as the first two, which I really enjoyed. Manon is dealing with so many domestic crises that the story line is muddled. 

The sad news is that the author, who went blind from retinitis pigmentosa when her first book was published, discloses in the afterword that she has been diagnosed with advanced brain cancer. 

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.