The Silence in Her Eyes is a solid thriller. It is not told at breakneck speed, as others have noted, but is well worth the time.

I had such high hopes for this one, it really intrigued me but it just fell flat. I kept waiting for the climax but it never seemed to come.. I wasn't expecting what happened by any means but it also didn't suprise me? I think it was just slightly too surface level and left some unanswered questions. Loved the idea of the book though!

Oh my! I’m stunned. The character and plot development had me, but the twists and turns kept me. My so has a neurological condition that causes vision issues, so I must say it was a personally invested read. The ending was so unexpected that I will need time yo process how I really feel about it. But I take that as a sign of a great book.

Armando Lucas Correa writes a great psychological thriller, I enjoyed the concept and thought it worked with the description. The characters had a great feel to them and worked in the setting. I was engaged from the first page and glad I got to read this. I liked that this had a unique main character and how it was used in this novel.

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did and there were moments when I thought "this is the moment it turns a corner" but, that moment never actually came.

The premise behind this story -- we follow a woman with motion blindness, which means she can't see movement and goes through life essentially taking personal snapshots of the world around her -- is so cool. it is definitely the most interesting part of the story and Correa does a very good job of explaining to the reader what Leah is seeing and how she navigates the world and how her other senses are so heightened it can be both helpful and overwhelming.

But the execution of the rest of the story -- that she gets involved with a new neighbor who is having a domestic dispute with her husband who is an abusive alcoholic -- falls flat. The character of Alice never seems fully baked and her purpose in the story is confusing at best and completely unnecessary at worst. On top of that, some other situations involving a maybe/maybe not break in of Leah's apartment by the husband (for reasons unknown) may or may not even be real OR may or may not have anything to do with Alice's situation.

Its never clear what is real and what is perhaps made up in Leah's mind, which is often a great device, but in this story, especially as it moves towards its conclusion, feels more frustrating than interesting.

There is a time jump midway through the book that is oddly never actually demarcated until a character mentions its offhand. The reasons for the jump are doled out slowly which is interesting but again frustrating because so much is left unsaid. All in all, the structure of this story is a little disjointed and some of the writing feels very stilted. Leah as a character could be fascinating, but at times she just feels like a spoiled child. She makes up situations in her head, particularly about men, that feel awkward and weird. She is a differnet person because of her disability and because she was extremely sheltered growing up, but this just feels odd.

There is an interesting reveal at the end that, when you look back you can see the foreshadowing, but I'm not sure it did anything to service the plot. Especially because <spoiler>it comes at the very end when Leah is witnessing Mark and Alice together and learning about their plots together (which really make no sense). All of the reveals that Leah is some sort of angel of death would have made far more sense if she had an actual, physical hand in their deaths, but she simply startles alice?</spoiler>

While this had such an interesting premise, I found it extremely hard to get into and stay concentrated the first half of the book. I liked the writing style and how it almost replicated the stop motion visual of what the protagonist experiences. While the visualization was perfected, the dialogue wasn't, and it just did not flow. The second half was a bit better and there were a few things that took me by surprise but overall this is one I won't exactly think of down the road. Overall, this was okay and I will give this three Stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Atria Books for an advanced copy of this new thriller which deals with what our eyes try to tell us, our senses can pick up and the evil that exists all around us that uses our blindness to prey on us.

There is a famous French short film entitled La Jetée, that came out in the 1960's and deals with time travel, extinction and well French things. The movie is fascinating even with its short running time and the later movie and television show 12 Monkeys was based on it. I mention La Jetée as the movie is told in still photos, almost like a film stip for those old enough to remember them, or slide show, with narration telling us what is happening. Every moment is frozen on the screen, no motion at all. A wonderful work of art, and a great thrilling movie. However imagine living one's life like that. Nothing moving in the eyes. The world like a photograph, with objects that are moving no present to the eye. Watching a race with no participants. A game of tag with no one to touch, a person moving closer, but the image of the room one knows so well, only the sound of the breathing getting closer, the smell of the person overwhelming one's senses. The Silence in the Eyes by Armando Lucas Correa is a story about not being able to see the threat that is coming for yourself, and your friends, but sensing it and having to find the strength to do something about it.

When Leah was a child, Leah suffered a blow to the head, a head trauma that left her with a very rare condition known as akinetopsia or motion blindness. Leah can literally not see motion, everything is like a still photo, if a person is sitting, that person is clear, motion, and they are gone. Leah has been told that this condition might not be permanent, but twenty years later and with the death of her Mom, Leah has pretty much given up. She roams her neighborhood, going to a local bookstore, talking to neighbors and her housekeeper. A new person moves next door to Leah, and as her senses are slightly heightened because of her blindness Leah gets the feeling that things are not right with Alice, who she becomes friendly with. Noises come through the walls, a smell of something seems to permeate Leah's area, and one night she is sure that someone was in her apartment, though she could see nothing. Leah must dig deep to find the strength that has always been there to find out what is going on, and who might be invading her world.

A very different kind of narrator, an unreliable narrator who can't see certain things, and can never be sure of what is going on. Combined with a tight thriller, and interesting characters this makes for a fascinating book. There is a little learner's curve getting into the story. The chapters might seem choppy, until on realizes this is how Leah sees the world, choppy, frozen moments. And the characters really make one interested. I enjoyed the approach to Leah's problems, and how she really lives a rich life, one that she enjoys, though others might want more from here. Leah could have been a whiny character who finds herself, but Leah is a lot more than that. A lot of good ideas, with a clever hook that keeps readers intrigued to the end.

Recommended for Ruth Ware and Rachel Hawkins fans. Also for readers of Ruth Rendell and who enjoy books that start with a different kind of psychological hook, and that keep readers on the edge. This is the first book by Armando Lucas Correa but I am looking forward to reading more.

I devoured this book. I actually really liked the shorter ‘choppy’ chapters (as other reviewers have called it.) I think it was a quick read and sucked you in. I felt like the main story line ended in the middle of the book but continued somehow without intertwining everything until the very end. The twist at the end was unexpected and overall an enjoyable story about a lesser known topic.

Leah lives in a world most of us can't fathom. She has had motion blindness since she was a child. Most people who see her with her white stick tapping front of her assume she's blind, but she not, at least not in the way people assume. Plus, her other senses are heightened and work better than most people's.

When Alice moves into the apartment next door, Leah can smell the anxiety from her. Worried, she befriends the woman, finding out that she's in the middle of a messy divorce. Then one night, Leah blacks out, and in the morning wonders if she dreamt that someone else was in her apartment.

This was a fun read for me. I love the unique premise, the weird juxtaposition of lost and heightened senses, and the bizarre relationship between Leah and Alice. There were lots of twists and turns I didn't expect. The writing felt a bit 'off' to me sometimes, but I don't know if that was deliberate for the tone of the story. If so, it kind of worked. 🙂 Overall, great quick read if you are looking for a fast, unique page-turner!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

This was a good story! I didn’t love the flow of the writing, I felt like it was a bit choppy and disconnected. I really liked the main character in the beginning but towards the end she kind of annoyed me.
That being said, I would still read more from this author because I think they have potential for a great book!

Thank you NetGalley and Atriapublicity for providing the arc in exchange for my honest review!

In the vein of Paula Hawkins and Ruth Ware, a bold and suspenseful psychological thriller about a young woman with a rare neurological condition who is convinced her neighbor is going to be murdered.

A great spin on the "Rear Window" trope. Well written and well realized.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

It was definitely terrifying to step into her shoes and imagine what it would be like to experience the events of the story with her condition. I did appreciate the commentary on individuals with disabilities. It’s twisty and definitely gets a little wild. I love the unreliable narrator trope. I always enjoy trying to puzzle out what is really happening. The writing style is a highlight of the story. The author’s experience with typically writing historical fiction carries over into this story and shines through in the tone. It did give this story a unique feel in the thriller genre. I wanted the plot and pacing to be a little tighter, particularly in the first half. But overall, this was a great read and I do recommend it! I can see this book being very popular upon its release. If you are looking for something dark, suspenseful, with a unique POV, this is the thriller for you!

Leah can’t see movement, a condition called akinetopsia, after a head injury sustained when she was eight years old. People see her with a walking stick and think she’s totally blind, but she can see things like snapshots when she blinks her eyes, and if people and objects are still, she can see them just fine. What a unique thing to put into a book!

Leah’s parents are both gone, and her primary friends are two elderly women who live in her building, a bookstore employee who she has a crush on, and a woman who has taken care of her for years, Antonia. She has a Bookstagram account, @blindgirlwhoreads (great name!) as books are stationary and easy for her to see, and she’s ironically interested in photography. She also has VERY heightened other senses…

Alice is Leah’s neighbor, though they hadn’t met until Leah hears arguing one night and wants to make sure Alice is okay. She’s working on divorcing her alcoholic and abusive husband, but the wealthy and volatile lawyer isn’t making anything easy. Leah is also worried that the man has been breaking into her apartment, as she can smell a strong smell of bergamot at unusual times. The two women form a strange friendship, which is severed by an unthinkable act.

This started off pretty straightforward, then got a bit trippy towards the end (in a good way!). This has a lot of elements: thriller, horror, mystery, crime - but it ends with a suspenseful shock. Actually, a few shocks. This was a completely quirky and unexpectedly good read, and I’m so glad the author was able to get it published outside of their regular genre. 4.5 stars, rounded up.

(Thank you to Atria Books, Armando Lucas Correa, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on January 16, 2024.)

#theartofseeing

Admittedly not my favorite read, which is a shame, because the premise sounded nice. I didn't like the writing and the characters were rather weak. Some aspects of the story were cliched and predictable. I'd give this author another chance in the future, though.

Leah has a strange affliction- akinetopsia, or motion blindness, since she was a child. Because she cannot determine movement Leah has heightened smell and hearing. She gets around with her white walking stick for the blind and has plenty of friend assisting her.

When Leah hears her new neighbor move in she is hopeful, of a new friend but those hopes are dashed as she realizes that her new neighbor has an abusive marriage. What is going on next door? Leah can't help to think it has something to do with her as she awakens to a particular smell. Is Leah in danger? #Atria @THesilenceinhereyes #ArmandolucasCorrea

I did not finish the book. The writing was too choppy, scenes were all over the place, and the author never let anything marinate. Something would happen and BOOM, next scene. You can claim Leah is an “unreliable narrator,” but the book is repetitive and not cohesive.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A captivating psychological thriller that I can just about guarantee is unlike ANYTHING you have ever previously read!

A short synopsis of this novel: A woman with motion-blindness is lied to, misunderstood, and/or taken advantage of by almost everyone who she has attempted to connect with (or who have attempted to connect with her) and those who mistreated her lived to regret viewing this particular individual as "helpless" or handicapped. Loved it, some stories just cry out for vengeance.

Refreshingly new and starkly.. ummmm....startling.

This is a very interesting read! I was not sure how the story would go, but I was intrigued by it and even though it was a bit confusing at times, I really enjoyed it. And I was definitely not expecting the ending!

Leah has a rare condition in which she can't see movement, in order to cope her other senses are heightened. The story is like a surrealist painting, painted with great imagery. Little by little we learn who Leah really is and how everything becomes clearer. Amazing ending. Bergamot will conjure up this story forever more in my mind.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and introducing me to this author's writing.