3.5 stars

Good writing! Solid plot with good and likable characters. I love how much dept the characters had. I usually don't read a lot of books like these but I did really enjoy it. I do think the plot could get confusing at times since it jumped from POV to POV with only one narrator. I will say the audiobook does give away the mystery a bit. I will continue on with the series!

Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC. I think the story line / plot was good and interesting. I wish I would have had a hard copy or kindle to follow along with.

The narration was not the best. It had one narrator trying to portray different people/ voices and it did not work. It made the book confusing on who was talking and made me not as interested to listen to it. I think if I would have had the book to follow along, I would have liked it more as the story was interesting.

Didn’t care for the audio. I just don’t feel as if the narrator did a good job delivering the story..

Steely and Jane are a great pair and portrayal of women. The banter between Huston and Jane was awesome and paid off in the end. There were twists that were unexpected and had world wide implications. I am definitely here for the next book.

Really kinda enjoyed this book. I like that it’s a series and a new series so looking forward to more.

Love Jayne and Steelie and their chemistry and also their take on forensics. Never really thought of anthropologists as a way to solve crimes.

Liked that it was a very clean story. Some romantic connections but nothing to descriptive. Also doesn’t have a lot of gore, which is good. It’s very informative and details their findings and process.

Will definitely look forward to book 2

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen

I’m always on the lookout for a new crime series to jump into and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author. I love the female leads along with female narration- it’s usually the thing I look for first when finding a new book (especially in audio). The story line was interesting, easy to follow and kept me listening. The narration wasn’t as engaging as I’d like, but I’d definitely listen to future titles in the series.

Silent Evidence is a solid thriller. I think that I would have enjoyed the book more if I read it rather than listened to it. At times I had to play back some sequences because I felt confused. The narrator did a wonderful job.

I enjoyed this mystery. I wouldn't call it a nail-biting thriller, but it had moments of suspense.

I would classify this book as something a cozy mystery and a suspenseful thriller. Something to be enjoyed, but nothing that I felt that really kept me on the edge of my seat. I did enjoy the writing, the plot, and the character development. And I enjoyed the friendship between Jayne and Steelie. I think that is probably what will keep me reading this series, if it becomes an ongoing series. The one thing I hope that they bring into future books is a little bit more suspense and thrill.

I think this is a great book if you're looking for something that isn't quite an intense dark thriller, but you're not exactly looking for a cozy mystery either. I often like things that are a good in the middle.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

"Silent Evidence" by Clea Koff, narrated by Rachel Handshaw, is a well written and captivating thriller.

In this story FBI agent Scott Houston turns to the forensic expert when body parts are discovered that prove to be from multiple victims.

Rachel Handshaw's narration of this audiobook brings an added layer of intensity and emotion to the story, making the chilling moments even more palpable. Her voice perfectly captures the tension and urgency of the investigation, keeping listeners enthralled.

Koff's background in forensic anthropology adds authenticity to this story, and the plot is well-crafted, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing.

"Silent Evidence" is a must-listen for fans of crime thrillers and anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a touch of real-world science. Clea Koff's expertise and Rachel Handshaw's compelling narration make this audiobook a standout in the genre.

I listened to this audiobook, narrated by Rachel Handshaw, who delivered an engaging performance, skillfully differentiating between characters and maintaining a well-paced delivery throughout. In Silent Evidence, forensic specialists Jayne and Steelie face off against a serial killer following the gruesome discovery of frozen body parts. The novel promises a tense, thrilling race against time, and fans of forensic mysteries will appreciate the detailed scientific and procedural elements that ground the story.

However, while the premise is compelling and the narrative starts strong, its predictability undermines the suspense. Readers like me, who enjoy being kept guessing, may find the early revelation of the killer’s identity disappointing. This diminishes the tension and leaves the climax less impactful than expected. Nonetheless, the chemistry between Jayne and Steelie and their sharp investigative skills provide engaging moments that hint at the potential for a stronger sequel.

Silent Evidence is an enjoyable thriller that will likely resonate most with readers who prioritize forensic detail over unpredictable storytelling.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced reader copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished the audiobook version of this story. It felt extremely short of my expectations. The description of this story provided made me so exciting but I feel it was missing a lot of important details & kinda tried to just fly through the story line.

The story starts out right away with body parts landing on the freeway however it reads like the middle of the story. I have no idea who Jayne and Steelie are with a vague description of their characters and relationship or how and why their company was founded. Jayne also has a background relationship with the FBI agent but we don't know how or why.
So I listened to the audiobook. The narrator is awful. She has no inflection in her voice nor does she change her voice very well. The reading was so monotonous I could barely tell when she changed characters. I would definitely go back and read this with my eyes to see if the book is any better as it is now I am giving 2 stars just because it could be better if I read it instead of listening.

Silent Evidence is a thriller that you finish and immediately think about rereading to catch all the things you missed the first time. I fell in love with the characters and the dynamics between them. How can you not root for Jayne and Scott??? I was definitely not able to guess who was behind the frozen bodies. I was along for the ride and really enjoyed it! I can’t wait to continue the series and keep falling in love with these characters.

Clea Koff’s new book is Silent Evidence, the first book in a planned series. There are two leads - Jayne and Steelie. The two women both have a set of unique forensic skills based on their time in Rwanda. They’re ready to share their knowledge with law enforcement.

A bundle of human parts falls out of the back of a van on a Los Angeles highway. Agent Scott Houston knows that Jayne and Steelie are who he needs to help crack this awful case.

Koff rapidly introduces us to the two leads, as well as a number of supporting characters. There’s a lot of banter back-and-forth between the various characters. Much of it is case based but some it is personal as well. I was concerned that the book would be too romantic based for me. I was happily wrong. Instead it added to plot. Although, I admit I'm not a fan of the name Steelie.

The plot is excellent and really well written, and after looking the author up I can see why. She is taking pieces from her own life and giving it to her characters. The authenticity of the book benefits greatly with this knowledge.

I chose to listen to Silent Evidence. The reader was Rachel Handshaw and she did a fantastic job. She has an interesting, gravelly tone to her voice that is perfect for this book. She portrays the characters with distinct voices, including males. The emotions and actions are captured. She enunciates well and is easy to understand. 8 hours 49 minutes. I would happily listen to the second book in this series.

I really wantedto like "Silent Evidence" but it just didn't quite do it for me--while the narrator was fine, there were too many characters at the beginning and their stories/relationships a little too complicated for me to keep straight. For the first book in a series, I had hoped for a little more clear insight into each character's backstory.

I do see potential, though, in Jayne and Steelie and their style of investigating--it's a nice change from the usual detective fiction.

I was so intrigued with the description, but felt this book fell flat. I listened to the audiobook version of it. Parts of it kept my interest while other parts I had to go back and listen again. I think this is the type of book I needed to be able to sit with for longer periods of time rather then listening on my short commute to work. It made it hard to remember who was who. Overall, I would rate it between a 2.5 and 3, but I'll round it up to 3. It might have pulled me in enough to be interested in future books in the series.

I received a digital ARC of the audiobook thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

I don’t really know what I was expecting out of this one… the synopsis gave me high hopes that this was going to be a fast paced and suspenseful thriller, but instead is a crime/police procedural story with really cheesy banter and jokes…

This book is the first in a series, but it didn’t read like a first book. I felt that there was no real character development or any back story. Jayne and Steelie founded Agency 32/1, but we only get the meaning behind the name at the very end of the book. This one read as a second or third book, in which the relationships between the characters felt as if it was something to be suspected by the reader, instead of information provided.

Another drawback for me was the narration. A single narrator trying to do multiple voices isn’t always bad, but this one was very unconvincing. One of the characters who we really don’t know much about or has much interaction or dialogue, save for one chapter early on (until the very end) was almost cringey in my opinion… now, how a book is narrated is not something I like to put a ton of emphasis on, because it’s really a reflection of the person narrating as opposed to the author and how the story is written, BUT it does definitely hinder the overall reading experience.

There were moments of this one that had me on my toes and really looking forward to what was next. But that part of the book came too late… and I probably would have DNF’d it if it weren’t an ALC… Overall I felt that this story was a bit underwhelming…

Thank you @netgalley and HarperAudio Adult for the gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed Silent Evidence by Clea Koff. This novel is a fast paced and I couldn’t put it down. It’s got a serial killer, forensic specialits, the FBI and past experiences impacting present day lives. What more could you ask for.

It’s the first book in a series and I cannot wait for the next one in the Jayne and Steelie Series. I’m a fan and will be reading it.

Rachel Handshaw did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & HarperAudio Adult/Avon for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first audiobook through NetGalley. The quality was good though the voices did not always match the gender or the linguistic nuances. It was not enough to be distracting.

Now for the book itself, the storyline was good, not great. This sounds like it will be a detective series. What was a miss for me is that I need latched onto either of the main characters. There was little character development to make me invested in their story. I am not sure I will look for book #2.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Silent Evidence promised an intriguing premise but ultimately fell short of expectations. While the book's core concept seemed promising, the execution left much to be desired.

One of the most significant drawbacks was the lack of character development. As the first book in a series, I expected more substantial backstory and depth for the main characters. The delayed revelation of the agency's name—which doesn't occur until near the end of the book—only compounded this issue, making it difficult to fully engage with the narrative.

The audiobook experience was especially underwhelming. The narrator's tone and delivery didn’t align well with the book's genre and characters. Her attempts at different voices for the characters felt forced and unconvincing, with accents that were particularly out of place. Her voice seemed better suited to a lighthearted, comedic narrative rather than the more serious or intense story I had expected.
Despite receiving an ARC and appreciating the opportunity, I do not plan to continue with this series. While Koff may have potential, this first installment failed to capture my interest or convince me to invest in future books.
Thanks again to NetGalley for this ARC