I grabbed this book on a whim at the library. I knew nothing about it or the author. I wasn't even sure what the genre was. The description was pretty spare: a couple narrowly escapes being killed in an avalanche on a ski vacation. When they make their way back to the village they are staying in, everyone is gone. The prose if beautifully written and the story unfolds in a menacing, spooky way. I am definitely going to be checking out some of his other books.

This was a really fascinating mystery with a light sprinkling of the supernatural. Sort of a thriller character portrait.

The tone was really interesting, because at first I felt like the writing was a little bit simplistic, but as it went there were some truly beautiful turns of phrase. By the end I was really enjoying the writing as well as the story.

The characters were the focus of the plot, and they really shone. They felt very real, with three-dimensional flaws and strengths.

The end was satisfying, it wrapped up nicely, and it left me thinking a little about where it had gone. Overall, I enjoyed it!

Much to like about this spare, short novel, much about which to grimace. It's an easily consumed confection- you need only a spare Sunday afternoon, lounging in the backyard with an iced tea or an IPA, to knock off most of its pages.

The premise is simply boffo. Jake and Zoe, an English couple celebrating their 10th anniversary at a ski resort in the French Pyrenees, survive an avalanche. They return to the resort, shaken, but unharmed. The resort is deserted, as is the nearby village. Jake and Zoe assume all guests and residents have been evacuated in case of further avalanche activity. After a couple of days on their own, they realize that candles aren't burning down, raw food left on kitchen counters isn't spoiling, and every attempt to leave the area, whether on foot, ski, or auto, leads them right back to where they started. What strange forces are at work? I shall not reveal more.

The grimace part has to do with Jake and Zoe. Two-dimensional, insipid, boring creatures. This is a bit of a problem, as they are the only human characters in the story. Jake is particularly superficial. Joyce takes us deeper into Zoe's psyche and we feel more of the couple's isolation, wonder, and fear through her experiences.

Joyce's writing ranges from flat to admirably restrained. There is no excess in his phrases, but at times the cadence comes off as stilted. There are pages of pointless detail about Jake's and Zoe's families, perhaps meant to give us insight into their characters, but which have nothing to do with their predicament. Ditto on their sexual encounters, which are silly and contradictory. Time and effort would have been much better spent solidifying a mushy, puddle-y ending.

I must say the avalanche scene, as Zoe fights to free herself from her snowy tomb, was one of the most agonizing this claustrophobe has ever read. I felt the crush in my lungs and the panic in my bowels and I had to look away several times to catch my breath and clear my head.

My imagination was tickled. I wondered what it would be like for my husband and me to discover that we were all alone in the world, in a place of peace, and seemingly with no worries. But trapped. With no one to tell us why.

I would recommend this - don't expect great writing, but do look forward to an effortless page-turner that feels deliciously like an episode of the classic "Twilight Zone."

Graham Joyce has a wonderful way of putting real people in fantastic settings.

Absolutely fascinating and at least somewhat thought-provoking - but definitely not for everyone. There's part of me that's inclined to recommend this to folks who liked THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE (one of my favorites), but I concede it's not nearly as ambitious. At various points, the book is extremely tense and dramatic, while at others it is immensely sad (nay, heart-breaking). But, throughout, I found it compelling, engaging, and, ultimately, entertaining. It's a short book - a quick read - that's well worth the limited investment.

On a ski holiday, Jake and Zoe are caught in an avalanche. When they make their way back down the mountain to their hotel, they find everyone gone. No people. No animals. And time is acting very strangely.

Bought this book on my Nook this morning, and had it finished by the afternoon. Another Stephen King recommendation, and another great read! It's a short book, and it reads like a twilight zone episode. There is much beauty and heart break in this book. Although I figured out what was going on fairly early on, it didn't take away from the unfolding of the story.

This book was very emotionally intense. It's like a snowball, building and building until the finish. I don't think that everyone would enjoy this book. It's kind of odd, but thoughtful and beautiful all the same. I wish more readers' choice books were like this.

I'm a huge fan of Graham Joyce so I avoided all the negative reviews about TSL and thoroughly enjoyed it. Not as good as Tooth Fairy or Dark Sister but still a good 4 star read!

Joyce is a craftsman, and while the structure may not be unique, the author layers on more than enough style to make the story his own. The Silent Land was recently nominated for the Shirley Jackson award, and it’s easy to understand why; Joyce shares with Jackson her marked economy of words and marvellous dexterity with mood. The Silent Land does not re-invent the wheel; the ultimate ending can be seen a mile away, being a staple of many similar entertainments, and this obviousness contributes to the slightly less-than-enthralling finale. It is a letdown to have the cards revealed, the magicians showing the trick, and having figured it out so easily.

Nevertheless, The Silent Land is a superior spook machine. Joyce has a canny grasp of characters and dialogue which raises the storyline from the merely weird to one that is greatly, enjoyably creepy. Read this one with the lights low, and a cat curled on your lap for company. As Zoe and Jake’s predicament unravels, you may find you’ll need the companionship as you check over your shoulder at every noise.

Read the rest of the review here.