This was the first book I’ve read by Mari Hannah, and it was quite a detective thriller! Matthew Ryan is a sergeant detective, under suspicion of helping his boss (under arrest for illegal weapons possession) escape from his prison van. It soon becomes clear, however, that Jack has been taken hostage. Ryan vows to find his boss (and friend) at all costs, despite the obstacles the police force throws his way. He soon teams up with Grace, a retired detective with legendary police skills. And ... things quickly escalate from there.

This novel was hard to put down, and I liked that it took us in unexpected places. My initial guess of what was going on was very, very wrong! I understood the ties that bond Ryan, Jack, and Grace, which gave the plot a very balanced emotional center.

My only hesitation was Hannah’s writing style, which sometimes took me out of the story. This is just a personal preference, of course. I like a little more poetry in my prose (yes, even in detective novels), and here the writing was very cut and dry.

Thank you to Macmillan and Netgalley for an ARC.

Special Branch officer DI Jack Fenwick is being transported to Prison on weapons charges when his transport is ambushed and he is taken. The police believe that Jack planned the highjack to aide in his escape but Detective Sergeant Matthew Ryan is certain that this was a kidnapping instead. When Ryan is suspended, based on his relationship to Jack and potential involvement in the crimes, he must quickly find Jack and prove his innocents before it’s too late.

Set in Northumberland in England, The Silent Room was an action packed suspense right from the start. I really enjoyed this as a stand-alone novel but I could easily see these characters returning in a series. The novel tracks Matthew Ryan as he investigates Jack's charges and kidnapping which involves an international cover-up. The other POV is from DI Eloise O’Neill isn't so sure Jack or Ryan are innocent but keeps tabs on Ryan in hopes of making an arrest. This was definitely a page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Well plotted. I really enjoyed reading this book as I do all of them by this author. Looking forward to her next one.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I did enjoy it. The first couple of chapters was slow but it got better

I liked this mystery about detective Matthew Ryan and his attempt to find his former boss, Jack Fenwick who was imprisoned and then escaped or kidnapped during transport. Complicating matters is the fact that Ryan has been suspended himself and cannot rely on police help to investigate the matter so he must rely on others to help him. Flawed characters, a good mystery, creepy villains, and a protagonist with a good heart and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get answers all make this a fast-paced read with a plot and an ending you won't see coming!

A prison van is hijacked and the prisoner, a disgraced cop convicted of corruption escapes. Former cop and good friend, Matthew Ryan, who never believed his boss was guilty, is suspected in aiding in the daring escape plan. Ryan is relieved of duty, but rather than give up, he joins forces with a retired colleague and her friend, a former spy, to prove Jack Fenwick is not guilty of the charge of corruption and to clear Ryan’s own name. Ryan’s character really sold this story to me, his faith and determination to prove his friend’s innocence was dogged. And I liked the fact that all the characters in this book were flawed, some severely. Hannah knows her stuff, making the book not only a good read, but a believable one