Elise Carmichael, a court sign language interpreter, intercepts a threat against a United States Senator. Not only is the woman a senator, but she is Elise’s mother-in-law. Elise read the lips of a security guard, but before she can report the threat, her son is injured and taken to the hospital. This is where, for me, the story began to falter. Due to her son’s injury, Elise had forgotten about the threat...this was no stranger, this was her mother-in-law. A woman is dead because she forgot and she didn’t seem that upset. When she reports the threat to the FBI, they don’t understand why she did not report the threat earlier. When someone else becomes aware of her report, she receives threats. Where was her protection? I was looking forward to this story, but it just wasn’t believable and a disappointing read. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

While not typically the sub-genre I read, the novel's storyline seemed worth exploring. The inability to trust law enforcement seemed stretched a bit, but it added conflict to the story. I liked the Three Amigas of crime-solving included in the narrative and I was so thankful the book did not possess a romantic subplot that has become clichéd because it feels forced.

The only chief concerns are structural ones. First, toward the end of act one, the author leaves an obvious clue as to the identity of the antagonist, but it takes our trio until act three to figure it out. It would have been nice to have that clue much later in the story as the red herring suspect feels contrived. Also toward the end, the trio explains in detail how they are going to surprise the evildoers. Personally, I tend to like it when that information is concealed so we get to experience it in real time with the characters.

Other than those concerns, Carroll creates a great deal of tension and a really clever twist at the end that should satisfy her readers.

I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to see how the characters figured out who was behind the murder of the senator.

This was a Christian suspense novel with strong female characters. This book grabbed my attention from page one and kept my interest til the end. I enjoyed the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

If I was to sum up this book into one word it would be WOW! It was an adrenaline rush from the very opening line. I mean the very first line is a death threat that Elise lip reads.
From there it is one crazy turn for another. I must say that I suspected a few different characters before I figured out who was the bad person was!
I liked and understood Elise from the beginning. She is just a beautifully written and well rounded character. I loved her spunk and that she was bullheaded (her words). The fact that she did all to make her son have a normal life even though he was deaf was amazing. She learned to sign and become an intrepperator.
I liked Sawyer, he had such an adorable personality and I am a sucker for curly hair. One thing that has always amazed me is that children can learn sign language but just like anyone learning to talk it works the same way!
Noland and Mary Ellen were so kind and thoughtful. I really thought Noland was just the best, he had such a kind heart and plenty of orneriness.
This book was so much fun to read. It kept me reading all the way to the end! I loved how much God was woven into the story! The detail was just perfect and I could see everything play out in my mind.
I highly recommend this book to all my book friends!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Dead Silence by Robin was very impressed with this book. Christian Suspense murder mysteries are not my normal genres. But this book was suggested to me and I thought I would give it a try. It’s one of those stories that grabs you right at the beginning and won’t let go, until you know what really happened. You can read the books description to get the storyline, but I would definitely recommend giving it a shot. The characters were strong and well defined. The plot was intriguing, with many twists and turns, perhaps a little too realistic. Although the subject matter was intense, it was handled in a clean and wholesome manor. There was also some Christian references, dealing with prayer, faith in God and scriptural messages. This is the first book I’ve read from this author, but I would be happy to give her other books a try. I received this book from Net galley and the publisher for my honest review.

Robin Carroll's Dead Silence was a contemporary story about a woman who read someone's lips as they threatened the life of a political figure. Due to a family emergency she did not report the threat and the politician was murdered. Original story-line and I like the characters. Would definitely recommend to those readers that enjoy murder mysteries.

This was my first novel by Robin Caroll and it will not be my last, I’m pleased to see she has several other books I can go read since I enjoyed this so much. This was a quick read, a fast paced story and a storyline that hasn’t been overdone. The description tells you what you need to know about the story itself. This story is billed a Christian mystery and I guess that can mean different things to different people. That aspect is a bit lame in my estimation… for 60% of the book I forgot it was “Christian” until all of a sudden there is lots of talk about prayer and trusting that God will make things work out the way they want because they have faith. Well… that’s not how authentic Christian faith works… you can have faith and God still says “No, it will work out differently.” The fact that there is no explicit sec or violence is a bonus and might be considered Christian. Admittedly, writing a true Christian story isn’t easy so I don’t want to ding this book … five stars from me.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC copy.

#DeadSilence #NetGalley

Elise Carmichael was very blessed to have such a wonderful husband, Judson. They were looking forward to the birth to their son. They prayed over him and continued to have faith that everything would be fine with the birth. However, when Sawyer was born he was deaf and mute. Life threw Elise another curve, when Judson was killed in the line of duty, as a Marine. Elise felt as if God had abandoned her. She had to support her son, so she used her skills for sign language in the court system, during court trials. While in the Courthouse, she was able to lip read a Guard, who said Senator Lilliana York will be dead tonight. Who was the Guard talking to? Why would they want the Senator dead? Then she received a call from her sitter that Sawyer had fallen off the gym at the park, and they were at the hospital. At that time, everything else took the back seat, as she fled to the hospital. Sawyer had broken his arm and would be in a cast, which made it difficult for him to sign. She was so concerned about Sawyer, that she didn’t have time to report what she had seen to law enforcement. The next morning, it was all over the news, her mother-in-law, Senator York, had been murdered in her home. She immediately reported what she had seen to the FBI. Since she hadn’t reported thIs earlier to save Lilliana’s life, she felt as if the FBI considered her a suspect. Once she reported what she had seen, Elise started receiving threats delivered to her home in boxes, basically telling her to be quiet. Again, she reported this to the FBI. Elise had only reported the lip reading of the guard to the FBI. Is it possible that there is a leak in the FBI? Who would be leaking this information, and why? Later she finds that Lilliana had sent two files to Sawyers IPad. Why were these files sent to Sawyer? What are these files about? Is it possible that these very files were the reason she was murdered? Eventually Sawyer is kidnapped, to keep Elise quiet. Apparently, they kidnappers think she knows more than she does. Will the FBI be able to find Sawyer and to bring the killer of Lilliana to justice? The plot was very well thought out to keep the reader mystified throughout the book. The flow of the writing was excellent, as well as the character development. The protagonist is weaved throughout the plot, fighting the system as well as the kidnappers. The reader immediately develops profound empathy for her. The antagonists character immediately causes the reader to dislike him. If you like politics, and fighting the system, for the good, this book is definitely one you should read.

2.5 ⭐️‘s

Elise is a court sign interpreter. When she reads someone’s lips about a crime that is going to be committed she is soon embroiled in the aftermath. Unfortunately, she wasn’t quick enough to stop the crime (total disbelief). When the FBI proves to be totally inept, Elise, her sister in law and a cub reporter put there heads together to solve the crime. There were some aspects I liked in this book and many I did not. I liked the relationship between Elise and her deaf son, Sawyer, and the Christian aspect of the book, but the storyline was just too implausible for me. It was extremely easy to figure out the mystery early on. The first half of the book was better than the second, it just got more ludicrous the further into the story we got. It did end well, which is always a plus.

All things happen for good to them that love God

This is a fairly well-crafted Christian suspense thriller. It wasn't that difficult to figure out who, but the how & why, circumstances & complications kept me engaged till the end.

The premise is interesting. Elise has a deaf son & so has mastered lip reading well. She reads a man's lips who's telling someone that he's going to take care of the Senator who also just so happens to be her mother-in-law. However, while she's still processing, she receives an emergency call that her son has been in an accident & has to rush to the ER.

I think it would have worked better if she had gotten home, remembered & tried to call someone. It wouldn't have stopped the murder (altered the plot), but then Elise wouldn't have seemed as careless of the possible harm to her mother-in-law.

The FBI team on the case, thru carelessness of their own, manages to put Elise & her son in danger. Elise decides she must do something before the killer gets them, too.

Despite a few points that stretch believability, it's an intriguing & exciting story. The emphasis on family is always a favorite of mine, and her son's deafness working to his advantage is a cool twist.

*No content issues

Dead Silence by Robin Caroll was a great story of suspense and mystery.

Elise Carmichael "overhears" (via lip reading) a conversation that someone is about to kill her mother in law. She gets some news that throws that conversation out of her mind until she turns on the news the next morning and learns that her mother in law has been murdered.

I admit I figure out "who done it" pretty early in the story, but I was kept enthralled with the story of how it would be solved and what the outcome would be.

Dead Silence is by Robin Caroll. Elise Carmichael, who works at the Arkansas Federal Courthouse, lost her husband, Judson, a Marine, in the line of duty. Their deaf son, Sawyer, a seven year old, is her life. The book opens as Elise is leaving the Courthouse. She freezes as she reads a security guard’s lips saying that Lilliana York, her mother-in-law and Arkansas United States Senator, would be taken care of tonight. Before she can report this, she gets a phone call saying that Sawyer has fallen and is on the way to the emergency room. Upon arrival at the hospital she finds that her son has a broken wrist which is put in a cast for six weeks. This hinders his ability to do sign language, which hampers his communication.

Lilliana is murdered and Elise’s step-father-in-law, Noland, and her sister-in-law, Mary Ellen, become very involved in investigating her murder, along with Wesson Kelly, a reporter. In the meantime, both Elise and Sawyer become targets. The author includes mysterious deliveries, stalking, threats, and kidnapping. She kept my attention from page one until the very end.

I really enjoyed the book and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. I was not familiar with this author, but really enjoyed her writing. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through Netgalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

As an audiologist, I wanted to love this story, but I just didn't. Elise lipreads an upcoming threat to her mother-in-law but is too distracted to report it. That just sets the stage for the rest of the book, a story lacking in the realistic intensity that such a situation warrants. Her hearing impaired son is kidnapped, but Elise seems perfectly clear-headed in her investigation of the murder and kidnapping - there is just no way that a mother could set aside her emotions in the way Elise was able to. The climax of the book involves using loud sounds to drive the kidnappers out of the house they are holding Elise's son in. That would not happen, for reasons not called for in this book review.

Thanks, anyway, Netgalley, for allowing me to read and review Dead Silence.

Thank you to Net Galley and Shiloh Run Press for the chance to read and review this book.
Elise Carmichael has a job as a court sign language interpreter. She has this job because she has a deaf son. One day when she is in court she interprets someone planning to kill the senator, who is her mother-in-law. So begins this somewhat predictable mystery. I enjoyed it and it was well written. Highly recommend if you like a good mystery!

This was an enjoyable suspense novel. I really liked Elise and her family members, and the story kept moving at a good pace.

I found it interesting how American Sign Language (ASL) and the ability to read lips was used throughout the story. I took an ASL class when I was in middle school, but since I didn’t have anyone to practice with, I’ve forgotten most of what I learned. I still think it’s fascinating though! I don’t think I’ve read another book with a deaf character, and I thought Sawyer’s character was really well written!

There is no romance in the book, but I didn’t mind because it is really about a mother’s love for her child. As the mother of two, I could relate to Elise and how she wanted to protect her son from everything going on around them.

I always enjoy books by Robin Caroll, and I look forward to reading her future publications.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What Would You do to Protect Your Family?
Elise, a widow, just read the lips of a man saying her mother-in-law, a senator, would be murdered! But before she can act on that, she is swept away by the news her deaf son, Sawyer, has been injured and is in the hospital. After the trauma of dealing with his injury and getting him home, she falls asleep before remembering to report the threat to her mother-in-law.
She is horrified the next morning to find that her mother-in-law has been killed. Elise tells all the details to FBI agents, only to find she and Sawyer’s lives are now being threatened. As more and more attempts are made to hurt them, Elise decides to take things in her own hands and try to solve the murder herself.
After that, her life really changes as she gets in even more dangerous situations. Should she have tried to investigate herself? What else can she do?
This tale is exciting and some of the characters rely on God to help them cope with threatening things while others express their doubt of His care. Including a deaf child in the story brings some understanding of a few of the special issues that would be present in real life. You will enjoy this 5-star book, and I recommend it to those who like thrillers or whodunits.
NetGalley has provided bookreadingtic with a complimentary copy of, Dead Silence, for the purpose of review.

Dead Silence had me hooked from the first few pages when single mom Elise was able to read lips of men plotting to "take care" of the senator. Elise works in the court system as a sign language interpretor. She is good at her job since she son is totally deaf. She is distracted from telling what she witnessed to the police when she gets a call that her son has broken his arm and is in the hospital. Before she is able to tell what she knows the unthinkable happens to the senator. A series of events happens that put her and her son't life in danger. It doesn't help that the FBI is not helpful to her, one of them a female FBI agents that is always making snide remarks. I loved the dedication that Elise went through to protect her family. Loved that she had the support of her sister-in-law.
I read another reviewer who said she guess who the murderer was by the middle of the book. I did not guess and only knew when it was revealed to the reader.

Thanks to Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for providing me a digital copy of this book to read and review.

Dead Silence is a fast-paced suspense novel that puts readers into the action right from the start. Elise Carmichael is able to read lips due to her hearing impaired son. She “overhears” a conversation about a murder plot. Things intensify when mysterious packages show up at her house, threatening her and her family.

Robin Caroll’s novels are always full of mystery and intrigue. Elise had many struggles before being threatened, as she suddenly found herself as a single mother and a widow. Her plight to protect her son and find herself again makes her a likable character. Lots of plot twists will readers engaged throughout the story. But I did find a few situations in the novel not entirely believable. While Elise is a strong and fierce character, she does act unrealistic when she decides to solve crimes with the help of a news reporter. Elise at times seems oblivious to the danger around her. She withholds a lot of information from the FBI, which would have helped their investigation. It seemed like the FBI bumbled through the investigation while the “rookies” of the story were able to find out more than the agents. I wished the FBI story line had more substance. FBI Agent Rodriguez had the potential to be a strong character, but he didn’t take charge and seemed pretty passive for an FBI agent. However, this didn’t stop me from enjoying the story.

Definitely add Dead Silence to your TBR list– despite my comments above, the story is full of action and suspense and is an enjoyable novel.

Overall Rating: 4 stars (I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend)
Suspense Rating: 4 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Elise, mother of a deaf child, lipreads a plot to kill a senator (her mother-in-law). Before she could report this, her son broke his arm and she forgot to report it. I'm an excellent lipreader, and I doubt I could have lipread that person as far away as he was.
The story alternates between fast-paced and slow-paced. Some of the scenes seemed to be fillers.
I was able to guess who the killer was. The deafness plays a part, it saves her son's life.