Silent Rain
Macy Greeley Mysteries #4
Karin Salvalaggio
Minotaur Books, May 2017
ISBN 978-1-250-07893-3
Hardcover

From the publisher—

Grace Adams has spent three years trying to move on―mentally, physically, emotionally―from the traumatizing events of her past. But it’s not easy when the world is morbidly curious about the crimes that shaped her childhood, when despite her changed name, people still track her down for the sensational details. Now in college in Bolton, Montana, the one person Grace has trusted with the truth about her past has betrayed her. The bestselling novelist Peter Granger wants to use Grace’s story in his next book, regardless of how desperate Grace is to keep the details to herself. And then, on Halloween night, Peter Granger’s house burns to the ground and his and his wife’s bodies are found inside.

Montana state detective Macy Greeley is sent to Bolton to handle the investigation into the fire and deaths…which soon appear to be arson and murder. It doesn’t take Macy long to realize that Grace isn’t the only one whom Peter Granger has betrayed, and there are no shortage of others in town who took issue with him and his wife. What at first looked like a straightforward investigation is poised to expose some of Bolton’s darkest secrets, and the fallout may put more than one life in danger.

I had never read any of the Macy Greeley books before this one but, when a review copy was offered to me by the publisher, I pounced on it. Police procedurals are among my favorite mystery subgenres and, in looking at the earlier books, it was very apparent that the series is well-regarded. Now that I’ve been introduced to Macy and her world, I have to agree and, even as a standalone, Silent Rain is indeed well worth the time.

When Macy is sent to investigate a house fire and resulting deaths, she’s unaware that she already knows one of the potential suspects. Grace, who played a critical role in one of Macy’s earlier cases, was betrayed by Peter Granger who wanted to tell the world the story she’s been running from. How far would Grace have gone to stop him? And who else hated Peter Granger enough to do this?

Macy is a single mother to a young boy and the scenes with him add a great deal to the reader’s understanding of this detective and her compassion for others, even in little ways, while she pursues truth. In this case, numerous threads come together but slowly enough to give the reader time to ponder the various leads…and, for me, come to the wrong conclusion more than once.

Silent Rain is an engrossing mystery and features vivid characters, both good and bad. I’m happy to have “discovered” another police procedural series I can get into with a good deal of anticipation.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, May 2017.

I read the first in the series, which I thought was wonderfully written, and now the fourth. I will need to go back and fill in the middle. The fact that I could pick this up and enjoy it without the middle of the story bodes well for those who want to jump into the series with the latest. "Silent Rain" stands alone as a great book.

In a Montana college town, there's been a Halloween night fire that killed a man and woman, presumed to be a writing and art teacher, respectively. Also in the town, and connected with both of the teachers, is a young woman who had a notoriously horrendous upbringing and so has changed her name in an attempt at anonymity. Not for the first time, however, she is being stalked. Who died, who caused their deaths and why, and how do women survive the predatory men they encounter? Macy Greeley, the state investigator who is called to the remains of the fire is deeply involved with all of these questions.

The depth of the characterization and the underlying questions about the relationships between men and women make this a highly compelling read.

Silent Rain by Karin Salvalaggio is the fourth book in a Macy Greeley Mystery series. Grace Larson (aka Grace Adams) is going to Bolton College in Bolton, Montana. She is trying to move on from her horrific past. On Halloween night, Grace went to K-Bar with her friend, Lara and had too much to drink. Grace notices her latest stalker, Jordan, in the bar and, despite her drunken state, also following her on the way home. As she makes her way home (after a few missteps), she finds Peter and Hannah Granger’s home on fire. Grace had thought Peter to be a friend and confidant until he betrayed her trust. Peter, a novelist, just wanted her story for his latest book (I couldn’t believe she actually trusted him). When firefighters enter the house, they find two bodies inside. Detective Macy Greeley is a special investigator with the Montana Department of Justice. Her latest assignment is the fire at the Granger’s home. It is determined that the Granger fire was arson. Now, Macy needs to positively identify the remains found inside the home. Grace is worried about her friend, Taylor Moore. She is missing and no one has heard from her. In addition, Grace must deal with her latest stalker, Jordan. One of the victims is Peter Granger and Macy finds herself with a long suspect list. It turns out that Grace was not the only person Peter betrayed. Macy discovers that Peter had a dark side. Macy needs to zero in on the killer before he strikes again.

Silent Rain has a complex mystery with good clues. Mystery readers will be able to correctly identify the culprit if they pay close attention. I did, though, find the pace of the novel to be very sluggish (it really needed a faster pace). The POV switched back and forth between Grace and Macy. It would take a beat to figure out which character was now speaking. A few details are repeated over and over throughout the book (did the author think we would forget). I give Silent Rain 3 out of 5 stars. Silent Rain could have benefited from some editing and rewriting. It was have made a big difference. I have not read any of the previous books in the Macy Greeley Mystery series, but I found that it did not matter. What happened to Grace in Bone Dust White (first book in series) is told in Silent Rain and the author provides the necessary background details on Macy. Do I want to read the other three books in the series? After reading Silent Rain, the answer is no. I was not taken with the characters or the writing style.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a review copy of this book.

I have not read the entire Macy Greeley series, but now plan to go back and check the other books out. This is a great page turning stand alone mystery. The characters are well developed with strong female characters who move the action along.

Salvalaggio keeps you guessing right up til the end!

I was so glad to have another Macy Greeley book to read! This one was a great addition to the series. I love Macy and enjoy seeing her solving mysteries or spending time with her little son. She is a great character, and she is back again to solve another mystery that involves Grace Adams from the first book, and the murder of an author and his wife. The case soon becomes very complicated as Macy finds out that the victims had a number of potential enemies. She is soon treading on dangerous ground as secrets are uncovered.

Loved the characters in this one, and the storyline kept me engaged and anxious to find out what would happen next. Another winner in the series for me!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Silent Rain is part of a series about an intrepid Montana Police Detective Macy Greeley. In this particular novel we meet again Grace Adams, a character from her first novel (Bone Dust White). Macy Greeley balances single motherhood with Luke, a boyfriend, Aiden and her work. Each case that takes her away from her family is a concern, but she is dogged in solving her cases.

Grace is trying to restart her life away from her past, although right now she has a stalker, who is scaring her. She is going to college and has a small circle of friends. There was a huge fire in a local professor’s home with two bodies found. While Macy starts to investigate, she realizes that somehow Grace is tied in with the mystery. There are so many links.

Silent Rain by Karin Salvalaggio brings you on a twisting and turning journey. I found myself changing my perception of who did what several times during the novel as the clues are slowly revealed. Macy’s ability to weave facts and uncover important facets of the case intrigued me.

Silent Rain by Karin Salvalaggio is a mystery to uncover.

Silent Rain by Karen Salvalaggio is book 4 in the Macy Greeley Mystery series.

Grace Adams, changed her name to Grace Larson and relocated from Collier to Bolton to give college a try and escape the ghosts of her past. However, thanks to Peter Granger her past soon catches up with her and she finds herself smack dab in the middle of another murder investigation. Lara, her overbearing, overindulging and somewhat unpredictable, roommate who is a struggling writer is also connected to the murder victim.

Macy Greeley, a police detective who lives with her son Luke and mother Ellen, is sent to Bolton to investigate the fire, which turns out to be a double homicide. She soon uncovers that one of the murder victims, Peter Granger, has crossed several people in the community and his marriage is a farce. What she discovers leaves the town roiling.

This is the first novel I've read by this author and I quite enjoyed it; it had me intrigued from the get-go. It's a typical whodunnit mystery, but had enough appeal to keep me interested and wasn't overly predictable. This novel is part of a series but can stand alone - that is - you didn't have to have read the previous three in the series to enjoy this book. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review. https://moesbookblog.wordpress.com/

Reviewed: April 22, 2017. Novel Publish Date: May 9, 2017.

I've loved every one of the Macy Greely books, so it was an absolute pleasure to join her again with this fabulous book. It has it all: twisty plot, authentic atmosphere, fighting academics, stalkers, creepy Elvis impersonators... I might just need to go back to the beginning of the series and start over again! Thanks for the opportunity to read, long live Macy!

I'm afraid I just wasn't interested enough to keep going. I wasn't going to continue reading a book that bored me out of my mind just for the sake of it. The writing was flat, the characters were flat, and I absolutely do not care who set fire to Mr and Mrs Granger's house. (Is that their surname? I can't even remember.)

God, it was just so exceedingly dull. Maybe it's my fault, because this is book 4 in a series and I was under the impression it could be read as a standalone, but maybe I was wrong about that? Oh well. C'est la vie.

The drama that unfolded captured my attention from the beginning and never let up, not even at the conclusion. There was more to this story and the author did a great job in disseminating all that transpired with this superb cast of characters that featured strong women in every possible form. The narrative was enticing with a tightly woven storyline that put me in the middle of all the action. The dialogue, the staging, and the story’s tempo, kept this tome moving at a pace that I dare not miss a moment for every little detail had me intrigued in the possibilities that the author put forth.

The author did a fantastic job in divvying up the roles that the characters played which were pivotal to how this was all going to end. They were a few strategically-placed twists that gave me pause but when it was all said it done, it added to how well this story was told. Macy is my kind of heroine, and it was nice seeing a stronger Grace who appeared in a previous book. With great plot twists, complex characters and an all-around great read, this was one of the best book in the series and I look forward to more investigations with Macy and her colleagues.

Grace Adams wants to forget about her nightmarish childhood. She’s changed her name and moved, but somehow, people, ghouls really, keep tracking her down. Now, she’s hoping for a fresh start at a college in Montana, but her secret is out. Novelist Peter Granger, the man she trusted with her past, plans to use it in his next book. When Granger and his wife are killed in a fire that destroys their home, state police detective Macy Greeley is dispatched to the college town to determine what happened. The fire, deemed arson turns the case from suspicious to homicide. Grace would be the obvious suspect, but she’s not the only person Granger screwed over. it turns out there were a lot of people who wanted the novelist dead, Macy just has to figure out who was angry enough to actually follow through with it. A well crafted, edge of your seat thriller