Dead Silence by Brenda Novak is the first book in the Stillwater Trilogy. Although each book features a different couple, they need to be read in order as the books are connected.
Dead Silence introduces Grace Montgomery and Kennedy Archer. Grace did not have an easy childhood. She lost her innocence from the age of thirteen and since then everything went spiralling out of control. Her break came when she got the opportunity to leave Stillwater. She turned her life around. Several years still haunted by the tragic events that occurred when she was only thirteen years old, she returned to Stillwater hoping to exorcise the ghosts of her past. Up on her return she realized the residents unfavorable opinion of her had not changed and that they still blamed her family for the disappearance of their beloved Reverend Lee Barker who was her stepfather.
Kennedy Archer was the popular boy in school whom Grace had a crush, but he never gave her the time of day. Now eighteen years later, a widower and father to two adorable little boys, he found himself drawn to Grace. She wanted nothing to do with him, despite her attraction to him, as he was a reminder of her horrible past. However, when his son Teddy kept visiting and hanging out with her, she found herself caught up in her attraction for Kennedy. But will she be able to let go of the past and cease the happiness that she deserves?
I enjoyed the interaction between Grace and Kennedy, and I loved the bond she developed with his sons. The relationship between the main characters developed too fast for my liking given the circumstances. I admired how he stood by her, especially when she revealed the truth of what happened in her past.
I found the mystery intriguing. Readers know what happened to the reverend and why, but the location of his remains was an enigma. Only one person knows and he ain’t talking. There were moments when I feared for Grace as there was one person determined to see her pay for the reverend’s disappearance.
The supporting characters enhanced the story, and I enjoyed getting to know them, although there was one I didn’t particularly like. I especially loved Grace’s brother Clay, whose story we will be getting in book two and I cannot wait to see how that one will play out.
I enjoyed the narration. This was my first time listening to Suzanne Toren, and I thought she did a wonderful job capturing the characters. I loved how she brought across the emotions of the characters. I would definitely listen to her again.
Conclusion/Recommendation
I found this to be a splendid start to the series and I am looking forward to the next book.
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About Brenda Novak
It was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s bestselling author career. “I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.” However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business. Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer. “When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….” Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres. Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren. When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she’s raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking–she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
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I don’t know if I read this or not it sounds good
I’ve been meaning to read a Brenda Novak book for a while.
I’ve been meaning to try this author. Thanks for sharing.
Me too, she has been languishing on my list!
I still have to try any of her books, but I have Her Darkest Nightmare on my shelf and I intend to give it a go at some point. I hope you have a great time with the next one!
Not sure if this book would be for me.
If suspense is not your jam, then it would definitely not be for you.
Great review. I do have the Stillwater series added to my wishlist.
I had to stop reading your post to rush over to I had to stop reading your post to rush over to Goodreads to put this on my TBR. I love Brenda Novak!