Silent Evidence by Clea Koff is a suspense mystery thriller about two friends, Jayne and Steelie, who are skilled in forensics and founded an agency to help police solve crimes.

FBI agent Scott Houston has been assigned a new case in LA with body parts found on the freeway and knows who to call with the best forensic skills to help with an off-the-record post-mortem survey. Scott has a long personal history with Jayne and they have danced around each other for years. She and Steelie quickly determine that the parts are not from just one body and now the case becomes more concerning and leaning into a serial killer and not a single random murder.

Now that they have identified this case involves an active serial killer, Scott realizes that he put Jayne and Steelie’s lives in jeopardy, and the women both seem to be being watched. They hope their unique skills can find evidence to pinpoint the killer because the clock is ticking and everyone is scrambling to find the killer. The killer is meticulous with how they dismember the bodies and Jayne and Steelie don't want to be next.

With a bit of snarky banter between old friends, some serious discussions about the case, and a sticky situation the girls get into, this suspense thriller got nerve-wracking toward the end. If you like mystery thrillers, this certainly hit the spot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Avon for the advanced reader copy via Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Expected pub date - January 21, 2025 by Avon

The story of Jayne and Steelie seemed to dive right into the case rather than introducing us to the leading characters of the series. This caused some confusion at the beginning as to what was happening. This came across as a book set later in the series. The case itself seemed more focused on the FBI agents, leaving Jayne and Steelie as the support characters. The series has potential as it continues and I will follow the scientist into the next case.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio for an advance copy

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book when it started. The names were hard to follow and there are some random loose ends I don’t understand but seeing as it is book one out of a series, that’s okay. The narrator was good at changing voices for the most part and stayed consistent. Not annoying to listen to at all. You follow 2 main characters and a couple side characters you don’t hear for from too often. Very standard cop/forensic mystery. But has a love story going as well. Pleasant. I’ll follow up for book two.

I really enjoyed this book and can not wait for the next book to come out. It is always nice to find a new author from whom you would like to see more. The writing and characters seem believable and a little more interesting than those from other authors on this topic. I will be recommending this book to my patrons

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this audiobook! The narrator was great, she really brought life to all the different characters. I thought this was an interesting premise, but it could’ve been executed better. It was also quite predictable- I was hoping I was wrong about the villain but I was not. The romance took away from the plot a little bit, it kind of felt like that plot line went nowhere. I liked that it set up the next book- I look forward to reading it. <br /><br />Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for this ARC.

I recently listened to the audiobook of *Silent Evidence* by Clea Koff, and it was an enjoyable introduction to the Jayne and Steelie series. This first installment has me looking forward to diving into the next book. Audiobook enthusiasts will appreciate the high-quality production here, featuring a talented cast of voice actors who truly bring the characters to life. Poor narration or audio quality can quickly ruin a story for me, but that wasn’t an issue at all with this production—it was superbly done.

The story itself is well-crafted, with characters that feel fully developed and relatable. Although I pride myself on spotting twists early—and I did figure this one out pretty quickly—it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. The engaging narrative and compelling characters kept me hooked from start to finish.

Jayne is a fantastic character, but Steelie completely stole the show for me! Steelie’s charm and energy are magnetic, and I can’t wait to see more of them in future installments.

This was my first time reading Clea Koff’s work, and I’m already a fan of her writing. She has a strong, distinctive voice and a clear passion for her characters, which shines through in every scene.

If you’re a fan of crime novels featuring a spunky, dynamic duo, *Silent Evidence* is a must-read. I highly recommend it!

this is the first book in a series but it doesn’t read like it. the characters aren’t very fleshed out and there was a lack of background information. it reads more like a second book. the start was pretty strong but it ended up kinda getting a bit boring to me because the story got pretty predictable. bit of cringe dialogue between characters as well like aren’t these ppl supposed to be adults

Thanks NetGalley and Harper Audio for an advance copy for review purposes. This book is set in the early 2000’s. It is a bit off putting when the narrator says “she lay with a cassette tape next to her bed”. That being said Jane and Steelie have formed Department 32-1 their goal is to uses complied forensic information to help identify missing persons across the United States. Sgt Houston and Jane have been friends for 5 years and he reaches out to her for help since the back doors of a van fell open and human remains tumble off the free way. Both Jane and Houston have spent time in global conflicts and are still a bit shell shocked. No one in the book has social media, or cell phones. It is difficult to connect with other officers. There aren’t traffic cams. Those things make the book seem a bit antiquated even though it isn’t. I didn’t think this would be good for book club. I found myself drifting while listening and not really being into the story. The bad guy is fairly easy to spot. The publicity indicates that this is the first in the series. I am not sure that i will be reading any others. Skip this, you aren’t missing anything

I am a fan of Michael Connelly and Karin slaughter and have been looking for a new series to obsess over since reading all of theirs and I absolutely loved tbis! I’ll be not so patiently waiting for the next one to come out! Definitely recommend for fans of detective and crime genre.

This is a first read from this author. A good murder-mystery audiobook with a nice storyline. A bundle of body parts of several people were dropped from a van on a freeway in L.A. An FBI agent Scott Houston calls on an Agency with new high tech ways to research information that can possible help find a serial killer. In come Jayne & Steele. I enjoyed the storyline; however it feel just shy for me in the action area especially for this kind of genre. I enjoyed the characters and their relation to one another. This was a great start to a series I would like to follow to watch how these characters grow. I was a good read and I would recommend to anyone who like a good murder-mystery.

This was a different take on the police procedural type of story in regards to forensic pathology. The investigation focuses on reuniting family with the remains of dead family members. In the process of solving mysterious deaths, they sometimes run across a killer, a serial killer. They are called to the scene of an accident in Los Angeles to discover multiple body parts. The investigation leads them to discover multiple victims. They soon learn that they body parts could be tied to a series of murders in Atlanta. Jane and Steelie work closely with the FBI to track down the killer. Very fast paced, well constructed story.

Look forward to more from this series.

The narrator was great, She was able to deliver multiple characters superbly.

4 stars

Fast paced story, I got lost sometimes as there are many characters and differing storylines paralleling and then twisting together in place. It was well done. I think if I had read it rather than listen to it, I might’ve filed a little bit better, but that’s more about my difficulty, listening to multiple points of view and lots of characters. The story is great and the end this is good and it all ties together really really well

I listened to the audiobook version of this title. Rachel Handshaw narrated it. While Ms. Handshaw's voice was pleasant, the tempo of the narration was a bit slow for me, so I sped it up to 1.5 which was much better. I also didn't feel her voice varied enough between the different characters.
While the description and cover were intriguing, I had trouble staying engaged with the story until the last 3 chapters. There were a lot of words without much being said. I will not be continuing with this series.

Silent Evidence (The Jayne and Steelie Series, #1)
Clea Koff

www.facebook.com/bookreviewsbydebra Book Reviews By Debra
A bundle of frozen body parts falls out of van on a Los Angeles freeway. FBI agent Scott Houston is assigned the case. He turns to Agency 32/1 for assistance knowing they are discreet, and they are more than competent.
There seems to be a serial killer on the loose…the body parts were from more than one person. Jayne and Steelie created the agency to use their forensic skills to assist the police in solving cases. The call from Agent Houston places their lives on the line.
Silent Evidence is told from several perspectives: law enforcement offices, the forensic specialist and the killer.
This tale has possibilities but falls short in some areas. 1. I felt as if I were reading a book from the middle of a series and not the first of a series. There wasn’t enough background information to make me connect with the characters. 2. The characters felt flat…they just exist but we don’t see what’s special about them. 3. The cases need to be sensational with a hint of risk. 4. Much of the story was predictable.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

My thanks to Net Galley and Harper Audio.for allowing me to review this audio.

The premise of this was great with the body parts falling out of a truck all from different bodies. However it seemed like more focus was on the development. It just lost me.

Silent Evidence was an interesting mystery with some great characters. I feel like a lot of this book was setting up the series.

This story felt like it should have been #3 in a series because there was so much backstory and relationship information missing. Also, the protagonist and her love interest have been phone flirting for 5 years?!? That relationship is very obvious it will develop, but after that much time it feels like it shouldn't.
The actual crime part of the plot was interesting,but the distraction from the characters brought down the book. Also, I really did not enjoy the narrator for this audiobook. Overall I don't regret the read, but no not imagine I will continue the series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Harperaudio for my advance copy of this audiobook

I got some Dexter vibes when body parts were thrown out of a moving truck, which to me is a good thing! I would have liked to have more character backgrounds, which hopefully will come in the next book in the series. The mystery was good, and there were some good twists (some I saw coming, some I didn't). Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

- Silent evidence by Clean Off narrator: I wasn't impressed by the nawation in this book, especially Sean's ne over. Not a tan of this particular narrator. storyline: very hard to follow, had alt of police Jargon that some may not understand.
fact: never found it, only finished because I hate to leave books unread. Unfortunately, wont be reading the follow up books in the series.
ending: I gut to the end of the book and was still a bit confused. maybe I'll give it another go but I highly debt it unless they change the narrated. of maybe its a book that you have
to read vs audio.

Silent Evidence by Clea Koff is by far one of my favorite books in quite a while. This audio version narrated by Rachel Handshaw was done impeccablely. You were on the edge of your seat with the way Rachel told the story. The different characters were well-defined by voice changes. I didn't want this book to end! I wanted it to go on and on. I feel I got more out of the audio version than if I read the book since the narration was done so well to keep you focused. Usually, I find I'm bored with the endings and just want it to conclude - not this one!
The author was able to handle a complex group of likable characters without getting lost.
Jayne and Steele created a business called 32/1 to help solve crimes. Both are exceptional forensic specialists. Being called in on a case involving body parts scattered on a California freeway Jayne finds an old flame from the FBI Scott Houston is the one asking for 32/1.
Establishing that the body parts are not from one deceased but multiple victims they quickly determine a serial killer is traveling around and Jayne and Steele are good at what they do which puts them in the crosshairs of the killer. Can Scott keep them safe while he and his partner pursue clues?
Honestly, this author knows how to build a great story that has characters you can relate to, mystery, drama, and blend in a budding romance smoothly. I will definitely look for more books written by Clea Koff.
Thank you NetGalley and Publishers HarperAudio for this audio version of Silent Evidence, this is my honest opinion.