I did enjoy this mystery. I also enjoyed all the characters in this book. The only part I found weird was that it was sent in early 2000s. I wished it was set newer. I kept thinking about that time and thinking some of the stuff that was mentioned seemed too new. Overall it was a good book and a series that would be good to continue. I did listen to this on audiobook and did enjoy the narrator.

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this title in exchange for my review.

I don't read many books in this genre, but I did find this plot line interesting. It was a bit difficult to fully follow in audio form. Having a print or ebook version could have helped it to be easier to follow. Didn't keep me on the edge of my seat, but was an enjoyable mystery, and the friendship between Jayne and Steelie would be an enjoyable one to follow in future books.

Narration was hit and miss. The narrator attempted to give different voices for different characters, but it wasn't well done.

3-3.5 stars.

Clea Koff's Silent Evidence is a gripping forensic thriller that combines chilling suspense with an intricate mystery. The novel introduces Jayne and Steelie, two specialists with expert forensic skills who founded Agency 32/1 to assist law enforcement in solving crimes. When a bundle of frozen body parts unexpectedly falls from a van on a Los Angeles freeway, FBI agent Scott Houston knows exactly who to call for an off-the-record post-mortem. What starts as a routine investigation quickly spirals into a horrifying discovery: the body parts don't belong to one victim but several, indicating the presence of a serial killer.

As Jayne and Steelie begin to piece together the evidence, they find themselves not only unraveling a chilling crime but also uncovering dangerous secrets that put their own lives at risk. With each step closer to the truth, the killer becomes more desperate, and Jayne and Steelie must navigate the delicate balance between their forensic expertise and the very real threats they face.

Koff's writing is sharp and vivid, drawing readers into a dark world of forensic science and investigative tension. The novel is packed with suspenseful twists and turns that keep the reader on edge, particularly as Jayne and Steelie’s unique skills make them both invaluable to the investigation and targets for the killer. Their dynamic, both as partners in crime-solving and in their personal relationship, adds a rich layer of depth to the story.

For fans of forensic thrillers, Silent Evidence delivers a compelling and fast-paced plot that blends scientific expertise with high-stakes danger. The combination of chilling mystery, emotional tension, and the relentless pursuit of justice makes this novel a page-turner from start to finish.

This is the start of a series and my first read by this author. I listened to the audiobook.
Jayne and Steelie are forensic specialists, and they are working to help Scott (FBI) solve a mystery involving body parts strewn in various parts of the country. After the first part, which was slow, the story picks up and really became increasingly intricate, since the body parts are from multiple people and solving that riddle can then lead them to the next step. I loved the reasoning that took place to get them to that point.

The author’s extensive knowledge and ability to explain the situations were the highlight! I don’t post spoilers, but I learned so much, and can you imagine trying to put the whole picture together? What a feat!

I look forward to reading about their escapades and especially hearing more from these characters. This is an excellent start. The narration could improve, hopefully.

3.5 stars rounded up!

Silent Evidence is the first book in the Jayne and Steelie series by Clea Koff.

I thought this was an interesting book, but I had trouble connecting with the characters. I'm hoping that in future books I'll be able to connect better.

I thought the story was great and unraveling the mystery was fascinating. I thought this had an interesting take on solving crimes with Agency 32/1.

I enjoyed the narration by Rachel Handshaw.

I look forward to reading the future books. I'm curious where this will go!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Silent Evidence (Jayne and Steelie #1) by Clea Koff
Narrated by Rachel Handshaw
Publisher: HarperAudio Adult; Avon
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Published: August 29, 2024

Rounding up from 3.75

A twist on the typical serial killer trope, offering a perspective from a private agency specializing in forensic expertise to assist with police investigations.

The beginning starts off as a slow burn, giving readers time to grasp the lingo and nuances of forensic pathology. After that, the pace picks up quickly. You travel from Los Angeles to Atlanta and back again all while getting to know Jayne and Steelie, founders of Agency 32/1 (cheers to women who lead!)

A strong plot with relatable characters and great character development that has me eager to dive into Book 2 once it is released!

Great audiobook narration!

I liked the characters and the interaction between them but the book dragged a bit in the middle. Still a good read though.

This was a decent mystery with a solid plot and characters I really enjoyed reading from. I did guess the perpetrator really early on but that's not really a point against this book. It was fun and kept me engaged from start to finish. The ending was a touch anti-climactic, but overall, this book was a fun police procedural mystery, and I would continue on with the series.

Thanks to HarperAudio Adult | Avon and NetGalley for my audio arc!

I received an ARC of the audiobook and I really enjoyed this story! It started off right away and had my attention the entire time! I’m normally not big into “crime” forward mysteries or thrillers, which is what I would categorize this as, but this honestly was soooo good I didn’t mind it be crime, detective, FBI forward! This audiobook felt like it flew by soo quickly because the story was so good and I honestly started to forget I was just listening to it, it felt like I was watching a movie!!

This is my first book by this author and I look forward to reading other books by them now because this had me addicted and wanting to know what was going to happen next!

If you’re wanting a fast paced, twisty mystery or crime mystery this is the book for you! I would also highly recommend the audiobook, the narrator was fantastic and like I said it felt like I was watching a movie!!!

The FBI are searching for a serial killer and Jayne & Steelie are forensic specialists who founded an agency to help find missing people. A plot I enjoy. This is a good FBI serial killer book. I thought the dynamics between all the characters were great. As the first book in the series I cannot wait to see more of these characters and see how their stories continue. The little romantic side story definitely adds to the story and I also hope that continues to grow throughout the book series. It is a quick read or listen and a good stepping into the genre for any newbies.

Silent Evidence is a really good thrill. The overall story arc is slow going but interesting. I really enjoyed it. The narration is good and the tempo flows well. Despite the slow pace the story ends with big surprises after all how well do we really know someone. Pretty chilling and satisfying.

A slow burn thriller. I liked the characters and the story line although I was bored in parts. It would make a good tv series. Didn't care for the ending but worth the read.

I didn’t finish this one, so I won’t be giving it a rating on socials. Netgalley requires a star rating, and here I will say 2, because I think maybe it just wants good match for me.

I struggled with this. There’s potential here for sure, but I agree with other readers that this didn’t feel like the first book in a series. Lots of characters and POVs that were difficult to follow. The writing wasn’t complicated per se, just not clear enough for me. It was especially difficult on audio, where I couldn’t flip back easily to remember who’s POV I was in or who we were talking about because characters are somewhat introduced as if we already know them. By about 45% of the way in it still wasn’t grabbing my attention, so I unfortunately won’t be finishing, but may come back to it in the future.

Publication date: January 21, 2025

Thank you to Net Galley and HarperAudio Adult for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley for the opportunity listen to and review this audiobook. Did not finish. This is a classic crime who dunnit but was very slow to develop. I may not have given it the proper time but was uninterested in boredom.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a great read! really what i was in the mood for when i picked it out lol would recommend and read more from this series in the future for sure!

I enjoyed the plot of this book, the writing was also well done. This is one of those very rare instances where I believe I would have enjoyed it more had I done it as a physical copy. The narrator in this book unfortunately just didn't do it for me. I didn't feel enthralled nor did I feel like I was in the story which is how I usually feel with a good audiobook. The fact that she was doing multiple voices also didn't help. That being said I do believe this was a good cozy mystery with enjoyable character development and I would recommend to read this one instead!

*Thank you Netgalley & Harper Audio for allowing me to listen*

Jane and Steelie left the FBI behind but not crime. As they run their private forensic's unit, the FBI seeks them out to help track down a serial killer.

This was a good FBI/procedural thriller! I really loved the relationship between Jane and Steelie. They were both strong women and their bond was one of sisters. This really pushed the book forward for me. Beyond them, I liked the other characters as well. Scott and his partner were not your typical FBI agents. I also really liked the romance between Scott and Jane. It was well-developed and I wanted to see them get together. The crime itself was interesting, and I felt myself pulled into the story. I did want it to move a little bit faster.
This one is perfect for fans of Michael Connelly or James Patterson!
All in all, a good and solid procedural thriller.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

I really enjoyed this book! I wouldn't call it a nail-biting thriller, but it did have moments of suspense throughout it. To me it felt more like a cozy mystery / suspenseful thriller. Enjoyable, but didn’t really keep me on the edge of my seat.

This is potentially the first in a series, but it did feel more like a book from the middle of a series & not the beginning of one. I wish we could've gotten to know the characters more, & especially their backgrounds, because I really did like what I saw of them & their dynamics with each other. I suppose we'll see what happens in Book 2! The one thing I hope that they bring into future books is a little bit more suspense & thrill.

Overall, there are some nice friendships, a growing romance, & a twist at the end that I definitely didn't see coming! I'd recommend this to all the crime thriller enthusiasts out there, especially ones who like forensic mystery.

Jayne and Steelie have their own agency working to identify bodies through forensic anthropology. They want to help identify victims and give families closure.

The silent evidence in the title refers to the evidence they find from the bodies, the serial numbers on medical devices, and implants, dental records and dna that all help identify someone. Now their case is crossing with an FBI investigation into body parts found scattered on a highway.

There is some romance, a lot of mystery and a great start to a series. The narration by Rachel Handshaw could have been help by the addition of another narrator maybe for the male voices. While she did try to give them their own voice it was sometimes confusing as to who was talking. Some narrators can get away with this, and others struggle. This was definitely a struggle and I found myself wandering in places and having to go back and listen again to parts.

Overall a great start to the series and I'm interested to see where it goes. If you like forensics this is worth your time.