TW: Language, child sexual abuse, alcoholism, death of child, cheating, divorce, depression, anxiety, homophobia, drunk driving, abortion, miscarriage, grieving, grooming, gaslighting, toxic relationships

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:There was the moment eight-year-old Ruth Corrigan ran away from playing in the woods with her best friend, and then the moment after, when Ceely was gone. Murdered. Now the silence of that day lives within Ruth. Lives in the judgment she sees in the faces of so many in the small town she still calls home. Ruth may be older now, tougher, a cop by trade, but her life has been unraveling ever since that tragic day in the woods. Alcohol, sex, broken marriages—nothing can lighten the truth she knows inside.

Until the child-killer returns, free and unencumbered, having already paid for his crime. A predator who will act again unless Ruth can prove him guilty. Only no one will listen to a police officer on suspended duty, a woman whose life has been one personal disaster after the next, not even Maddie Pardeau Klein, her dead playmate’s older sister. It’s up to Ruth alone to trap the vicious criminal before he strikes once more. No matter what it takes. Or who gets hurt.
Release Date: September 19th, 2023
Genre: Psychological thriller
Pages: 301
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. I liked the writing
2. Loved the characters
3. Loved the tone

What I Didn't Like:
1. Repetitive at times
2. Confusing at times

Overall Thoughts:
I hate that there is real cops in the world that will pin a murder or something on and innocent person just because they are at the outcast. It's so weird to me because it's like not the person who committed the crime but just someone to fill the image of someone who would commit the crime. But you're still letting the real killer go so it's frustrating to me. Outcasts are the ones who are usually blamed.

Oh Philip was sexually abused too.

I love how everybody wants her to let go of what happened to Sealy but when she tries to figure out the past they all get annoyed with her. It's so weird. I don't think it's so odd that a police officer would want to figure out about who killed her friend when she was a child, but the whole town seems to think this is so weird.

It does get a bit annoying that everyone doesn't want to talk to her over and over.

Absolutely frustrating how no one believes that this preist could even possibly abuse the kids. Even as Maddie admits it to her parents as an adult they side with the priest and call her a liar. I just wanted to scream. I felt for Maddie having to hide that secret of being molested and her sister being abused too.

Oh they aren't hiring Ruth back. That sucks.

So the ending felt rushed and almost unfinished.

Final Thoughts:
I found this book confusing at times with the different timelines and countless characters. Sometimes there would be a clear definition of what timeline we were in and then we would just randomly be dropped into one. Same with characters. One minute we would have a chapter dedicated to those characters and out of the blue get a random character talking.

The back and force of the town not talking to Ruth started to feel so repetitive and drawn out. I feel like at times this book could have been at least 100 pages shorter had the author trimmed the meat off of a lot of things that didn't matter to the case or characters.

All that said I absolutely positively loved this book. I was so drawn in on the case and the characters, and everything going on that I just had to keep reading. There are some utterly heartbreaking moments in this book that dealt with sexual assault of children in the priesthood. I could see if you were a very religious person this would be bothersome to you, but to me it speaks volumes about how religion can cover up crimes in the name of God.

Ruth can come off very annoying with her persistent pursuit of finding out what happened with her friends and trying to come to terms with what was still going on in the town. Some moments felt very unbelievable in how she was able to continue despite not having her badge at the moment, but I found Ruth's actions very endearing. She is definitely a character who is flawed and has a lot of problems, but who wouldn't have issues after dealing with something like that. She blamed herself for her friend's death. Also no wanted to talk to her and she was blamed for it (her therapist telling her she came back and hurt her).

Thanks to Netgalley and Highbridge Audio for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I liked the premise of this book, as it possessed a plot that was different than the normal thriller. With that being said, there were long periods where nothing really happened. I found myself bored during certain points. There was a lot of time wasted where things were repetitive with no one believing the main character and her being frustrated with no one listening to her.

The characters were very hard to connect to. There was not much character development, so I struggled to get to know any of the characters or to truly care about what happened in the end. When the ending came, it was in an abrupt manner. I was also hoping for a twist that would blow me away, but that didn't happen.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

In The Silence, Mary McGary Morris paints a sad and vivid picture of the ramifications of a horrific crime. Ruth is a self-hating and self-destructive woman who cannot come to terms with what happened to her childhood friend when they were out exploring. No one believes Ruth’s interpretation of what happened on that tragic day, which is not surprising as Ruth’s demeanor is erratic, manic, and frantic as she attempts to force her version of the truth on whoever will listen. The audiobook's narrator does a great job voicing the various characters, but I was irked by the voice she used for Ruth. However, about mid-way through the book, I began to question whether it was the narrator’s voice I did not like or if I was reacting negatively to the voice because Ruth is not a sympathetic character. The final resolution reminded me that as a society we often disregard the stories told to us by vulnerable victims in exchange for blindly following and believing those in power-- and that alone makes this book a worthwhile read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Cassandra Campbell, the author.

Eight year old Ruth Corrigan and her best friend, Ceely, were playing in the woods when Ruth left Ceely, who then vanished. She was later found in the river near the woods. Fast-forward 25 years and Ruth, who never recovered from Ceely's death, finds herself as an alcoholic cop with a string of divorces and currently suspended from the force. That does not stop her from investigating the death of her childhood friend. Ruth is convinced the perpetrator is still on the loose despite several having gone to jail for the crime.

Told from the past and present, this is a gritty, psychological mystery. I loved the secrets and Ruth's tenacity despite many close to her not believing her claims of innocence. I gave this a 3 star as it drug quite a bit for me from the start and I had to really rally to keep reading. I was glad I did and think this is worth the read if the above ticks the boxes for you.

The Silence is a slow-burn psychological thriller about a woman unable to put her unresolved past behind her. Ruth's best childhood friend was murdered and she believes the wrong person was convicted for the crime. Suspended from the police force for drunk driving, she struggles to find anyone who will believe her story and put the right man behind bars.

I typically enjoy a crime drama like this, though I found it quite slow at times. The primary tension happened because no one in this small town would believe Ruth, which became tedious after a while. I was hoping for a nice twist at the end, which is typical for a mystery suspense novel, but unfortunately, there wasn't one.

Please review content warnings before reading.

I received a copy of the audiobook to provide an honest review.
The narrator, Cassandra Campbell, did a great job narrating the cast of this audiobook. She kept the story flowing & engaging.

Ruth, as an adult, has never gotten over the death of her childhood friend. She is determined to seek justice on her behalf. She tends to spiral on and off for most of the book.

The story feels stagnant for a good portion of it. The characters aren’t particularly likable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Highbridge Audio for the arc of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a long and slower moving book but I really enjoyed it.
It has some darker themes and subjects but was very well written. I enjoyed listening to it and the narrator was very good.
There were definitely some surprises along the way as well.
Great thriller.

I received this audio book ARC. It wasn’t my favorite. I felt like it was drawn out a ton. Like this book could have been half as long. I wish I could say it was worth the time, but I’m not quite sure yet.
Also, if you have child molestation triggers, trigger warning. Thankful it wasn’t crazy tragic, but it was traffic enough.
3 stars because it was interesting enough of a story but not my fave.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced listen copy.

this is a great book for those getting into thrillers/mystery but please check trigger warnings for this book. it was very descriptive at times and i was not prepared for it. its a story that will def haunt you and keep you wanting to know what was going to happen next. very engaging.

Master storyteller Mary McGarry Morris' THE SILENCE is a dark and twisty psychological suspense/literary fiction about a young woman, Ruth, now a cop, who has been tormented, traumatized, and guilt-ridden by the death of her childhood friend, Ceely, at age eight.

AUDIOBOOK: Cassandra Campbell is one of my long-time favorite authors, and I was delighted to see she was narrating THE SILENCE! A perfect voice for Ruth, and the cast, she gave a stellar performance and brought the characters to life. I highly recommend the audiobook. I was glued to my AirPods from beginning to end.

Ruth Corrigan and her friend Ceely (her best friend) were playing in the woods at age eight, and then a moment later, Ceely was gone. She was murdered and left in the river near the woods. However, her friend had told her a secret. Could this have something to do with the murder?

Now, twenty-five years later, the silence of that day still haunts Ruth as an adult. People in the town always blamed her since she was with her before her death. Ruth has spiraled out of control from alcohol and broken marriages. Now, she has been suspended from the police force due to drunk driving and drinking. However, this will not keep her from investigating and sleuthing to find the real killer.

Years ago, they arrested a drunk who happened to be near the woods and coerced him into confessing to close the case. However, the person stating they saw the drunk that was sent to jail was a priest. Ruth believes the real killer is still doing damage and hiding in plain sight.

The priest has a suspicious past. Ruth suspects he might be the abuser and murderer. However, how will she prove it? Is he a predator? Has he done evil things to other little girls who kept silent, and does the parents know, or are they being blackmailed? Will Ruth be able to get them to talk and confess?

Ruth begins digging, and some people in town do not like her bringing up things, causing trouble because of things they have put behind them. But she will stop at nothing until she has justice for her friend, all the victims, and their families. Her family even suspected she may have done something to her friend, an argument, or an accident that she had forgotten. Ruth knows this is not true.

She must go back years to find witnesses willing to speak up before they are silenced. However, no one believes a suspended cop with no credentials they think has gone mad compared to a priest. There is a predator still out there, and she thinks an innocent man was sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. Who is the real murderer?

Even her former friend's family does not believe her. As she gets closer to the truth, she is in danger, and some (his family) will do anything to keep their dark secrets hidden.

THE SILENCE is a dark, twisty, and psychologically rich crime suspense thriller with a tenacious protagonist you will root for to the end. When the past collides with the present, it is a deadly game of obsession and murder—from trauma, abuse, murder, evil, and highly charged topics. A fitting title.

My cons: Almost every other line/word throughout the book was the F* bomb—it was too much, over the top, and unnecessary. Also, the book is a slow burn and drags while everyone thinks Ruth has gone mad. Then, when all the action occurs near the end—when all the puzzle pieces come together—it is rushed, abrupt, and over quickly. I would have liked to have spent more time with the ending wrap-up and the conclusion. There were also no likable characters, and the book is sad and moody with TW: SA of children, murder, foul language, priests, drugs, drunk driving, and alcohol.

Otherwise, I highly recommend the audiobook. I am looking forward to reading some of the author's impressive backlist. For fans of Aime Austin's Without Consent.

Thanks to Highbridge Audio and NetGalley for a gifted ALC for review purposes and the intro into this talented author's work. This is why I love NetGalley!

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Mar 12, 2024
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I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was amazing! I enjoyed the storyline and it held my interest throughout. The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. The book was going on smoothly and then it just ended. I would read more by this author.

Ruth has been traumatized and filled with guilt ever since as a kid, she walked away from her friend and she subsequently went missing. She is sure she knows who did it, and it’s not who took the fall. Now, as an adult, she is intent on proving he’s the one who murdered her friend.

I thought that the writing was really well done. It didn’t feel rushed together and felt well edited. I enjoyed the premise of the story and thought the narrator did a great job.

One thing I wasn’t the biggest fan of was how rushed the ending felt in comparison to the rest of the book. The rest of the book’s pacing was steady, and then at the end it just resolves… most of the characters believe her by the end, but there are a few hold outs.

Overall I enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it! It’s an interesting and engaging read that is medium paced.

I really enjoyed this book. It has a great storyline, flowed well, and was well written. That said please read the trigger warnings I listed below because this book may not be for everyone. I 100% recommend reading if your not bothered by the TWs!!

I have never read books this author before but she is definitely on my radar now! LMK which of her books you recommend for me to read next! I did listen to the audiobook version and again another first as I have never listened to narration by Cassandra Campbell but she was superb!. I am looking forward to hearing more audiobooks she narrated in the future!

Trigger warnings: SA of children, murder, language, priests, drugs, drunk driving, cat death, house fire

#MaryMcGarryMorris, #TheSilence, #NetGalley, #Goodreads, #CassandraCampbell, #booktok

This book sounded really interesting but the story didn't live up to expectations. It felt like it took forever to reach an ending that I didn't find particularly satisfying.
The story follows someone traumatized by the death of her friend when they were children. Ruth is basically an out of control alcoholic because of it but they're letting her work as a police officer -- honestly, I didn't buy it. Then she's the only one who can trap the killer.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook. The narrator did a good job of telling the story in a way that held my attention

Thanks to Netgalley for this arc. Right from the beginning this was so interesting. We follow two little girls Ruth and Ceely, they have a complicated "friendship" but it was so interesting to learn about how the act around each other and how they felt about certain things. Later that one day when they went into the woods Ceely ends up dead and we follow Ruth in her older years after becoming a cop herself and solving this murder that happened 25 years ago but she's determined to find put the slimy person behind bars and get justice for Ceely even though Ruth is reliving the memories she blocked away and living with survival's guilt as everyone around her believe it's her fault that Ceely died although she thinks she did nothing wrong at all. I loved the progression of this story and we get to see how Ruth deals with her life and job day by day and dealing with unravelling the mysteries behind Ceely's death. This audiobook was awesome and I highly recommend listening to it if you can, I wasn't expecting this at all, it really is worth the read.

Ruth has never gotten over the tragic death of her childhood friend when she was eight. She has long since blamed herself for leaving. Her life is a mess- she is an alcoholic, behaves erratically, multiple divorces. She is barely hanging on to her job as a cop. And then a person from her childhood comes back to town. She begins to question everything. She desperately searches for answers. The more she learns, the more she is certain that she knows the truth. But as her behavior escalates, she begins alienating everyone in her circle. No one believes her. How can she get them to listen before another tragedy occurs?

While I enjoyed the plot in a general sense, there were some elements to the book that made it less enjoyable. For one, it stretches on without any progress for a while. You are stuck in the cycle of Ruth being erratic, no one listening, Ruth spiraling. She really gets no where for a while. It dragged for me during those times.

Also, everyone is pretty deplorable. Normally you are at least sympathetic to the victim or their family- not here. Even they suck(ed) as humans. It made me care about justice a bit less.

Then, there was the end. It was kind of abrupt. And the last few chapters were not satisfying in terms of a conclusion.

Overall, I'd say that I enjoyed it. I didn't love it for the aforementioned reasons.

Cassandra Campbell narrates the audiobook. No complaints.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.