It is no secret that I am a huge fan of Robert Bryndza and so any new book by him is a 'must read' for me, and this, his first stand alone thriller did not disappoint The story begins with Maggie, an trauma surgeon on duty when a gunshot victim is brought into A&E where, to her horror, she realises it is her husband Will. The police believe that he has attempted to take his own life (Sadly Will does not survive).
From this shocking start the story takes the reader to the island of Tisina in Croatia. Maggie and Will own a holiday home there and it is to this home that Maggie retreats after Wills funeral. She hope to be able to recover from the shock of his death but instead finds a letter from Will which contains clues as to what may have led to his death.
The underlying atmosphere of this tale is one of mystery and unease and as the story unfolds it becomes clear that Maggie's gut instinct that Will was murdered seem to be not so far fetched and as the list of likely suspects grows longer the tension in the story racks up several notches leaving the reader unsure who can be trusted, as Maggie tries to follow the snippets of clues left by Will in his letter.
Once again Roberts writing does not disappoint and had me hooked from the start and throughout as the tension and questions never let up in this tale until the final pages.
Another great read from Robert. ( )

Happy Publication Day!

Stunning



Oh, my goodness! What an incredibly fast-paced and thrilling opening! "Fear The Silence" by Robert Bryndza is a masterfully crafted book that hooks you right from the first page. The level of research and attention to detail is outstanding, making me feel completely immersed in the story and confident in the author's hands. From the moment I picked it up, I was electrified, unable to put it down until the very end.

The story revolves around Maggie Kendall, a leading trauma surgeon, and her husband Will, who has transitioned from a forensic pathologist to a property developer. They seem to be a professional couple living an idyllic life in their terraced house in Bermondsey. However, the tranquility is shattered when Maggie arrives at work and is confronted with a young man suffering from a gunshot wound and stabbing. As if that isn't distressing enough, another patient is brought in with a gunshot wound to the head—none other than her own husband. Devastated by the police's claim that it was suicide, Maggie refuses to believe it for a second.

As Maggie delves deeper into the mystery, things become increasingly chilling when she arrives at Tisina. She finds herself faced with life-threatening accidents and uncanny coincidences, making it clear that she is being followed or manipulated by an unknown force. The pace remains relentless, matched by the menacing atmosphere that pervades the house and the surrounding island. According to Will's letter, a key holds the answers to her future. However, when a friend arrives on a blue catamaran, a glimmer of hope emerges. Could this person be her savior? As far as I was concerned, she needed to escape from that island as quickly as possible.

With nowhere to turn and desperate for answers, Maggie finds herself caught in the midst of the most devastating storm of her life. The book expertly captures the creeping suspense of a locked-room mystery, where the house itself becomes a character amidst the swirling mists and storms. Many characters initially appear menacing but may later reveal unexpected benevolence, keeping readers on their toes. The ending is incredibly satisfying, flawlessly tying up all the loose ends. Even after finishing the book, I found myself continually contemplating the characters and the intricacies of the plot.

The breakneck speed of the narrative leaves no time to catch your breath, resulting in a thrilling and immersive reading experience. I was completely absorbed, devouring the book in a single afternoon.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to Raven Street Publishing, Robert Bryndza, and Netgalley for granting me the privilege of reading this ARC. Now, I eagerly await "Lethal Vengeance," where I can once again make friends with Erika Foster. In anticipation, I may even reread book 7 to fully immerse myself in the world of these captivating characters. ( )

Fear The Silence by Robert Bryndza

This book was more difficult for me to get into, and I am not sure why. I had trouble relating to Maggie’s character and the way she behaved before and after her husband died. As I was not sure I wanted to continue after she reached Croatia, I read the ending, some from the middle, and decided that though well written, this book was not for me – or – not for me at this time. I have had that happen before with books and have gone back to read them later and found them riveting. That said, I did have to suspend belief as I read a fewl of the scenes. Secrets hidden and how they were found, the idea that one person would have so much power and be able to get away with so many evil and illegal things, that if this evil person could get away with so much…that person could be brought down so easily later. And…that is just a hint without giving away secrets the author put great effort into writing.

I have loved other books in series I have read by this author and am hoping that future books I read by him, and I will read his work again, will not only grab me as this one did in the beginning, but also hold me in gripping thrall till I finish.

Did I enjoy this book? Not as much as other books by this author
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2 Stars for me + 4 Stars at least for those who will love this book then split the difference and
3 Stars ( )

This standalone mystery thriller never quite hooked me.

Dr. Margaret (Maggie) Kendall, age 47, is a trauma surgeon at Guy's Hospital in London. When her husband, Will, is found shot dead in their fashionable home, Maggie can't believe the verdict is suicide. In her grief, she travels to Tisina, a small Croatian island, to stay in their vacation home while she sorts through things and comes to grips with her new situation. The main thing she needs to deal with is a mysterious letter written 6 years prior delivered to her by a solicitor engaged by Will -- that she knew nothing about. Apparently Will was keeping a huge secret and it's connected to a very powerful person in the UK government.

I wish I could say this was exciting and suspenseful, but I can't. It all started out well and was, at least, fast-paced, but I could not believe how quickly the story turned into melodrama with Maggie in constant peril. Her escapades in Tisina and afterwards bordered on fantastical. The character, being a doctor, seemed quite clueless and dumb most of the time. Very one-dimensional other characters populated the narrative and much of the story was spent in Maggie's head. The "delusion" sequence put me off completely. In any event, this was definitely not my favorite. I've read all of Bryndza's other books and I hope he writes more of those.

Thank you to NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review. My recommendation is to skip it. ( )

Fear The Silence by Robert Bryndza is one of those books where I bounced between a three and a four rating. I can’t state a specific reason for it. Was it the book or was it me?

I have read two other books by Robert Bryndza and enjoyed them, so whenever I see the opportunity to read another, I am all over it. Soooo, let’s begin.

Maggie’s husband, Will, committed suicide…or did he?

He blew me a kiss and made Luna wave her paw. He looked so content. Deliriously content is how I’ll always remember that last view of him.

And the mystery begins. She travels to their island home in Croatia. Oh yeah, I think an isolated island is where she should be…alone. She discovers why he changed careers six years ago. The past never stays buried and now it has put her life in extreme danger.

I can’t imagine the terror…huddled, cowering, in the dark as someone rifles through your home…hoping, praying, not to be seen. It was…maybe…my favorite part of the book. I felt I was there with her, just waiting to be discovered. What do you think happens?

We have a hellacious storm rolling through, so it is impossible for her to leave the island. So many times, when a read a book, I try to think of what I would do. Would it be the same as the character? It’s one of those things where you have to be there to know. I think we all wish we would do something better than what gets the characters in such deep trouble.

They live in a smart home and I love when I learn something. Had me doing some surfing to see if it was true. A book that can make me do that, adds a little something extra…for me.

I kept trying to think of who it could possibly be that would want her husband dead. There weren’t that many suspects and until I found the reason, I couldn’t decide. Once the person was in my sights, it all began to come together and it read a bit like a spy novel.

As I said earlier, I went between a three and four rating. Whenever that happens, I take it up a notch. As I thought about it while writing the review and going through the highlights on my ereader, I still can’t think of what was wrong, me or the book. I guess you will have to read it for yourself. Robert Bryndza’s writing is easy to read and flows smoothly, so give him a try.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Fear O Silence by Robert Bryndza.

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