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bookswithalondra's review against another edition
5.0
I’m genuinely surprised I enjoyed this book, I definitely felt like a dumb stupid bitch for not figuring out the ending but other than feeling stupider than rock I enjoyed it.
Came back to say…. Was Miller apart of the plan or not? I’ll assume he was…
Came back to say…. Was Miller apart of the plan or not? I’ll assume he was…
mkburgess's review against another edition
3.0
Debbie Howells’ book Part of the Silence is a great, easy read. The story line flows nicely and your questions are answered in true thriller fashion….right at the last few pages. My only criticism for the book is I wanted more. I wanted a bit more depth to the story line, and more drama and darkness. But overall a great read and I would still recommend this book!
kiramai's review against another edition
2.0
I found this book slow moving with many repetitive scenes, unlikeable characters, jarring diary entries that took me out of the story, switching perspectives that were mostly third person except for one in first person, scenes that were never addressed again, and a fast paced ending that left questions about other characters' involvement with the protagonist. I loved the initial idea of the story, but it became drawn out to the point I just wanted it to be over.
nickieandremus's review against another edition
4.0
*** I received an advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review
A woman is discovered, beaten and left for dead in a maize field. When she awakes in the hospital, she only remembers two things: her name, and the name of her three year old daughter. However, as the police start investigating, they can find no evidence that Evie even has a child. This dark & twisty tale will have you second-guessing everything to the very end.
A woman is discovered, beaten and left for dead in a maize field. When she awakes in the hospital, she only remembers two things: her name, and the name of her three year old daughter. However, as the police start investigating, they can find no evidence that Evie even has a child. This dark & twisty tale will have you second-guessing everything to the very end.
jessicamap's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first novel by Debbie Howells and I really enjoyed her writing style. PART OF THE SILENCE was described as, "haunting and heartbreaking new psychological thriller about the distorted nature of reality, the unreliability of memory, and the enduring power of a mother's love."
When Evie Sherman was found in a field, battered and left for dead, authorities soon discover that she has absolutely no memory of who she is. The only thing she does remember? Her daughter, Angel, and that she believes she is in grave danger. To her horror, the police can find no evidence of her daughter's existence.
A local woman, Charlotte, hears of Evie's attack and thinks that she recognizes her from her childhood but not as Evie, as Jen. By no means were they close friends, but Charlotte remembered Jen being involved in a high profile kidnapping. One night, the child under Jen's care had disappeared and was never found again. Charlotte decides to contact the police and becomes a link to Jen's past to try to regain her memories.
Even though early on in the book I was able to figure out the who/why, but that doesn't mean I didn't thoroughly enjoy the entire read. Howells does an incredible job weaving the story and bringing the reader on a journey. Is Evie losing her mind? Why is she constantly hearing "Trust no one" going through her head daily? Who is she warning herself about?
While I figured it out early, there were still great twists and it kept me tense the whole time reading! If you want a well-written, twisty, and suspenseful domestic thriller, then this is the one you'll want to pick up!
I give this a solid 4/5 stars!
A big thanks to Kensington Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
When Evie Sherman was found in a field, battered and left for dead, authorities soon discover that she has absolutely no memory of who she is. The only thing she does remember? Her daughter, Angel, and that she believes she is in grave danger. To her horror, the police can find no evidence of her daughter's existence.
A local woman, Charlotte, hears of Evie's attack and thinks that she recognizes her from her childhood but not as Evie, as Jen. By no means were they close friends, but Charlotte remembered Jen being involved in a high profile kidnapping. One night, the child under Jen's care had disappeared and was never found again. Charlotte decides to contact the police and becomes a link to Jen's past to try to regain her memories.
Even though early on in the book I was able to figure out the who/why, but that doesn't mean I didn't thoroughly enjoy the entire read. Howells does an incredible job weaving the story and bringing the reader on a journey. Is Evie losing her mind? Why is she constantly hearing "Trust no one" going through her head daily? Who is she warning herself about?
While I figured it out early, there were still great twists and it kept me tense the whole time reading! If you want a well-written, twisty, and suspenseful domestic thriller, then this is the one you'll want to pick up!
I give this a solid 4/5 stars!
A big thanks to Kensington Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
suspensethrill's review
3.0
I’m a massive fan of [a:Debbie Howells|7073071|Debbie Howells|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1428499586p2/7073071.jpg]; her previous two novels [b:The Bones of You|32331785|The Bones of You|Debbie Howells|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475433411s/32331785.jpg|42427694] and [b:The Beauty of the End|32034811|The Beauty of the End|Debbie Howells|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494450428s/32034811.jpg|47452665] really gripped me from beginning to end. These stories had a compulsive mystery with emotional connections to further the plot simultaneously; the author’s ability to invest my attention in every aspect is what has caused me to keep coming back for more and flail my grabby hands all about when she has a new book set to publish. While I had a few issues with [b:Part of the Silence|35070655|Part of the Silence|Debbie Howells|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494013696s/35070655.jpg|53164722], I felt overall the quality of language and writing style was still on par with her previous works which greatly pleased me as a reader.
This was quite a twisty book, and if you’re wanting to go in blind as to not risk spotting any clues or mild spoilers, I’d recommend stopping right here and coming back after you’ve finished the book. Sometimes when I pick up a psychological thriller I can tell immediately where it is going, which was the case here. I knew from the first chapter that information was deliberately being left out to form the readers’ opinions early on, and while the formatting was intoxicating, it did make it difficult to keep the whodunnit a surprise. I have read hundreds upon hundreds of thrillers of all kinds, a good number of them domestic, psychological thrillers, so I take full responsibility that I may have just read so many of them that it’s difficult to find a set up that I haven’t come across yet. This book was clearly excellent in many ways, and for the reader who may not be as seasoned or experienced in the genre, this will be wholly exciting and enjoyable.
I want to emphasize how, even though I had the who and why(ish) figured out within the first 50 pages, this was STILL a gripping and encompassing read for me. I feel like this says a lot about the writing and the author; if you can take what is typically the draw factor to reading books in the mystery genre out of the equation and still grip your reader, you know that writer has talent. Also, that gorgeous red cover will be one I remember on throughout 2017. Googly eyes and cover love yall. This book was all-around tempting and delicious; if you can look past the potential of early deduction due to lack of red herrings and maybe a few obvious clues, I think this will please a great number of readers. It was a fairly short read and one that is perfect for your summer travels. I’ll be interested to compare notes with other readers once reviews start pouring in on their thoughts as well; I’m excited to see what Howells decides to produce for us next and will be eagerly anticipating what direction she decides to point us in!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy; it was a pleasure to provide my honest thoughts here.
This was quite a twisty book, and if you’re wanting to go in blind as to not risk spotting any clues or mild spoilers, I’d recommend stopping right here and coming back after you’ve finished the book. Sometimes when I pick up a psychological thriller I can tell immediately where it is going, which was the case here. I knew from the first chapter that information was deliberately being left out to form the readers’ opinions early on, and while the formatting was intoxicating, it did make it difficult to keep the whodunnit a surprise. I have read hundreds upon hundreds of thrillers of all kinds, a good number of them domestic, psychological thrillers, so I take full responsibility that I may have just read so many of them that it’s difficult to find a set up that I haven’t come across yet. This book was clearly excellent in many ways, and for the reader who may not be as seasoned or experienced in the genre, this will be wholly exciting and enjoyable.
I want to emphasize how, even though I had the who and why(ish) figured out within the first 50 pages, this was STILL a gripping and encompassing read for me. I feel like this says a lot about the writing and the author; if you can take what is typically the draw factor to reading books in the mystery genre out of the equation and still grip your reader, you know that writer has talent. Also, that gorgeous red cover will be one I remember on throughout 2017. Googly eyes and cover love yall. This book was all-around tempting and delicious; if you can look past the potential of early deduction due to lack of red herrings and maybe a few obvious clues, I think this will please a great number of readers. It was a fairly short read and one that is perfect for your summer travels. I’ll be interested to compare notes with other readers once reviews start pouring in on their thoughts as well; I’m excited to see what Howells decides to produce for us next and will be eagerly anticipating what direction she decides to point us in!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy; it was a pleasure to provide my honest thoughts here.
justacatandabook's review
3.0
Charlotte Harrison is shocked when a woman in her local town of Cornwall is found badly beaten. Things like that don't typically happen in this quiet town. The beating has left the woman with little memory of who she is or her life: she insists her name is Evie and that her three-year-old daughter, Angel, is missing. But as the investigation continues, the police can find no evidence that Angel even exists. Charlotte recognizes Evie as Jen Russell, a former classmate. She goes to the police and finds herself sucked into the case, as it seems as if Evie has no friends or family able to help. Charlotte and the police know that, as a teen, Jen Russell was babysitting a local girl, three-year-old Leah, when she disappeared and was never found again. Is Jen/Evie simply transposing these memories into that of "Angel"? Or is her daughter really missing? And, if so, is Evie still in danger?
This novel was a page-turner for me, despite a cast of fairly odd and unsympathetic characters, led by Charlotte. She comes across as callous from the beginning--unfeeling, harsh toward her boyfriend, Rick, and getting involved in helping Evie only to show Rick she has a heart. While you feel sorry for Evie, you don't get to know her very well, thanks to her memory loss. The POV also shifts to Jack, who is a police officer, and flashbacks from Leah's older sister, Casey, who hated her perfect little sister and the ruin her disappearance wrought on her family.
The novel is captivating early on as details unfurl slowly about Evie's past. As it continues, the book certainly kept me confused about Evie/Jen's state of mind. Is she simply confused, or did someone truly steal her daughter? It grabs you, for sure, but after a while, you get a little tired of the "poor Jen trapped in her house, wondering what happened to her daughter." Things do move along eventually, though there's never any frantic action. Just a slow, suspenseful buildup to the final reveal.
Some things are a tad frustrating. For instance, Jack doesn't always seem to act like a police officer, and I'm never quite sure of his role or why Howells decided to insert him partway through, though I liked him as a character. And, personally, I'm not sure I would want the police force in Cornwall to assist in any crime related to me -- they seemed a bit inept. Small town police, perhaps?
Still, overall, I enjoyed this one. I was able to figure out bits and pieces, but it kept me guessing and engaged throughout. If you've never read any of Debbie Howells books before (which would be a shame), I'd point you to [b:The Bones of You|22859802|The Bones of You|Debbie Howells|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412529894s/22859802.jpg|42427694] first. This is still a solid thriller and rates 3.5 - 3.75 stars. I will definitely continue to be eager to read anything Howells writes.
You can read my reviews of two of Howells' previous novels here: THE BONES OF YOU and THE BEAUTY OF THE END.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review; it is available (in the U.S.) everywhere as of 06/27/2017.
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This novel was a page-turner for me, despite a cast of fairly odd and unsympathetic characters, led by Charlotte. She comes across as callous from the beginning--unfeeling, harsh toward her boyfriend, Rick, and getting involved in helping Evie only to show Rick she has a heart. While you feel sorry for Evie, you don't get to know her very well, thanks to her memory loss. The POV also shifts to Jack, who is a police officer, and flashbacks from Leah's older sister, Casey, who hated her perfect little sister and the ruin her disappearance wrought on her family.
The novel is captivating early on as details unfurl slowly about Evie's past. As it continues, the book certainly kept me confused about Evie/Jen's state of mind. Is she simply confused, or did someone truly steal her daughter? It grabs you, for sure, but after a while, you get a little tired of the "poor Jen trapped in her house, wondering what happened to her daughter." Things do move along eventually, though there's never any frantic action. Just a slow, suspenseful buildup to the final reveal.
Some things are a tad frustrating. For instance, Jack doesn't always seem to act like a police officer, and I'm never quite sure of his role or why Howells decided to insert him partway through, though I liked him as a character. And, personally, I'm not sure I would want the police force in Cornwall to assist in any crime related to me -- they seemed a bit inept. Small town police, perhaps?
Still, overall, I enjoyed this one. I was able to figure out bits and pieces, but it kept me guessing and engaged throughout. If you've never read any of Debbie Howells books before (which would be a shame), I'd point you to [b:The Bones of You|22859802|The Bones of You|Debbie Howells|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1412529894s/22859802.jpg|42427694] first. This is still a solid thriller and rates 3.5 - 3.75 stars. I will definitely continue to be eager to read anything Howells writes.
You can read my reviews of two of Howells' previous novels here: THE BONES OF YOU and THE BEAUTY OF THE END.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!) in return for an unbiased review; it is available (in the U.S.) everywhere as of 06/27/2017.