As anyone who follows my reviews knows that I read a lot of crime thrillers, and most of them are from the UK. I have mentioned how much I enjoy the structure of these, as it reminds me of the BBC shows we watch on Acorn TV. We’ve binge-watched several over the past few years. Deadly Silence ranks right up there with some of the better books I have read.
One thing I particularly liked about this book was that the main character was not the typical put-together, straight-arrow protagonist. Early on, there are references to previous events which have impacted Jane Phillips’ life. It would probably help to read that book first if only to understand all of those moments, and to gain some insight into Jane’s background. However, this book can be read as a standalone. The author does an excellent job of clearly stating where Jane’s mind is throughout this investigation.
I also liked the interaction between Jane and her team. It was evident that they were a tight-knit group who had worked together for a long time, and no asshole of a boss was going to change that. And speaking of asshole bosses, I have to say that DCI Fraser Brown really takes the cake. His Napoleon Complex was quite apparent.
The investigation itself was also interesting. I thought the author laid out the clues and plotted the investigation in a manner that was intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages. I did figure out who the culprit was, and the person’s motivation, reasonably early on, but that is only because I read a lot of crime thrillers and I have learned a lot about investigations and reading clues from my husband’s profession.
It was still a terrific novel, and I highly recommend it. Â
About OMJ Ryan
Hailing from Yorkshire, OMJ Ryan worked in radio and entertainment for over twenty years, collaborating with household names and accumulating a host of international writing and radio awards. In 2018 he followed his passion to become a full-time novelist, writing stories for people who devour exciting, fast-paced thrillers by the pool, on their commute – or those rare moments of downtime before bed. Owen’s mission is to entertain from the first page to the last.
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