Great Characters! Great Action!
Set on the family island in South Carolina this was an excellent story!
The story opens with Piper Boone have a nice lunch with an old friend. Then shots happen, her friend is dead and she's saved by a handsome stranger who took a bullet for her.
Tucker Landry is an unlikely hero, but his instincts kick in to protect the beautiful woman who only moments earlier caught his attention.

And the story gets better from there. I like the realness of Piper. She had lost a child saw her marriage implode and she tried to continue on by helping others. But her struggle was always there. The author did a great job of showing the turmoil that haunted Piper for many years.

Tucker had his own baggage and it was great to watch the interaction and the development of the relationship between Piper and Tucker. Not to give away too much, but we all know that's where the book will end up from the beginning. The HOW they get to the end is an extremely well writing engaging story.

The author did a great job of "hiding" the villain. I didn't see it coming, which doesn't happen often.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Carrie Stuart Parks and to those who like action packed suspense with some romance.

Disclaimer: I did receive this book from the publisher through Netgalley

This was my first Carrie Parks novel. I have been wanting to try her for awhile since I enjoy Christian suspense and this story line sounded very good. It was an interesting read. I didn't love it for a couple of reasons. One the style was a little different then what I am used to, secondly the story was a little over the top for me. It just didn't click for me. I will read some of her other books and see if it was just this book that missed the mark for me.

Piper Boone comes from a very wealthy family. She, tragically, lost her young daughter years earlier and has never gotten over it. Her marriage fell apart afterwards, and she has no desire to love another man. She is very dependent on her family for finances, for most everything.

There's strange dynamics in her family. There are things that aren't talked about. Obvious secrets being kept from Piper. Maybe even secrets surrounding her daughter.

With a hurricane and a man (single, of course) added to the mix, how can it not be a great read?

I was given a free ecopy by the publisher, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

I've always enjoyed Carrie Stuart Parks books, and Relative Silence was a pleasure to read. It's the kind of book you aren't able to put down. Parks is wonderful at keeping the reader guessing while also writing endearing characters that you care about. You will enjoy this new book.

Money, privilege, and a picture perfect life isn’t what it seems.

Piper lost her daughter Dove in a tragic accident 15 years ago. Now in the present she is still putting together the pieces of her life, living on her family’s island. Attempts on her life send her looking for answers, with the help of a forensic detective, Tucker, who helps her ask the right questions.

A family drama based thriller, filled with secrets, and deadly ambitions. There was a lot going on and a lot to unpack as secrets are revealed, and tensions are high. I liked how Tucker is a friend to Piper giving her a safe space and person to bounce ideas off of, as well as a voice of faith and reason. This was a difficult read for me, because I didn’t like Piper’s family and how their dynamics play out throughout the course of the book.

I thought that Piper’s love for classic movies was a fun addition, as she compares things to scenarios on film or quotes her favorite movies. And I loved her passion for animals.

In the end, while this book had an engaging plot and a lot of good things going for it, I personally found it to be unsatisfying, plus it was hard to relate their lavish lifestyle. And by the time I had turned the last page down I felt like I still had some questions. So in conclusion this book just wasn’t a good fit for my tastes, I have read other books by this author that I enjoyed, and I will definitely read others by her in the future, but this one just wasn’t for me.


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a book that kept my eyes glued to the page. Piper suffered the worst kind of personal tragedy years ago and she has lived a more solitary life since. When Piper's life is put into jeopardy, Tucker saves her life. When Piper brings him home to her family's island compound, he starts to help her look at her past and her future. As Tucker starts to unravel her family's secrets, Tucker is kicked off the island and his secrets are revealed. As a hurricane approaches, Piper and Tucker work together, but their lives are in danger. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I love a good mystery, including this one. I did guess at one of the twists, but i didn't realize who the real villain was until the end. I like how Piper with Tucker's help was able to look at her past and her family, and her faith. I also like how Tucker still was struggling with his own personal problems. This book had plenty of suspense and would make a good movie thriller. This is the first book that I have read by the author, but it won't be my last. I really liked this book.

#RelativeSilence #NetGalley

A family that has plenty of secrets. Piper lost her daughter fifteen years ago, and not long after divorced her husband. A shooter targets Piper and her friend, while eating at an outdoor cafe. As Piper tries to figure why she was the target, she meets Tucker Landry, a forensic artist, who wants to help her discover who is trying to kill her. A book filled with suspense and lots of action. I couldn't put it down and read it in one day.

Relative Silence
Carrie Stuart Parks
Thomas Nelson, July 2020
ISBN 9780785226185
Trade Paperback

From the publisher—

A powerful family with lots of secrets. A forensic artist with his own tragedies. And a hurricane drawing bearing down on their private island.

Fifteen years ago Piper Boone’s only child died in a boating accident, and Piper’s almost perfect life came to an end too. After living through a divorce and losing her job, she retreats to Curlew Island and her childhood home—a secluded mansion for the politically powerful Boone family, who are practically American royalty.

But Piper’s desire to become a recluse is shattered when a mass shooter opens fire and kills three women at a café where Piper is having lunch. The crisis puts her family in the spotlight by dredging up rumors of the so-called Curlew Island Curse, which whispers say has taken the lives of several members of the Boone family, including Piper’s father and sister.

Forensic artist Tucker Landry also survives the shooting and is tasked with the job of sketching a portrait of the shooter with Piper. They forge a bond over their shared love of movies and tragic pasts. But when police discover a connection between the shooting and two more murders on Curlew Island, they face a more terrible lineup of suspects than they could have imagined: Piper’s family.

Unraveling the family’s true history will be the key to Piper’s survival—or her certain death.

There are certain families that, over time, become what we peons call American Royalty and not necessarily in an admiring way. Some, like the Kennedys and the Bushes, are based in politics, while others like the Hearst and Rockefeller families are rooted in such trades as business or media. However they achieve their lofty status, they all share two traits, huge amounts of money and access to power. This is the world that Sandpiper Boone lives in and, like so many of those other powerful people, it gives her no shelter from tragedy.

Piper has never been able to move on since her three-year-old daughter died fifteen years ago and now she’s been suddenly thrust into a more public devastation, being in the crosshairs of a mass shooter that she can identify. The man who saved her life, Tucker Landry, is a forensic artist and agrees to work with her to develop a sketch of the killer and, before long, leads start to point towards Piper’s own family.

To say that the Boone family is riddled with terrible secrets is putting it mildly and Ms. Parks has crafted a story that is high on tension and fear, one that kept me up reading till deep into the night. “Betrayal” becomes the watchword and Piper and Tucker are a great couple, not so much because of their growing attraction to each other but because of the trust that develops between them. When Piper learns something that’s enough to send lesser beings around the bend, Tucker is there to help her stand against enormous manipulation but they’re also in the path of physical destruction in the form of a hurricane heading right for Curlew Island. Let the nailbiting begin!

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, August 2020.

In Relative Silence, author Carrie Stuart Parks transports the reader to the sultry lowcountry setting of Marion Inlet and Curlew Island, SC, for an intriguing Southern suspense tale that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.

The story centers around the wealthy Boone family, and takes place on Curlew Island, their private island. The Boones have had many tragedies occur on the island, in fact the townsfolk on the mainland town of Marion Inlet believe that the island is cursed. Fifteen years ago, Piper Boone Yates' three year old daughter Dove was killed in a boating accident. While living a reclusive life on the island after the tragedy of her daughter's death, Piper has a lunch date with a friend, and she is the target of a sniper, and is saved by forensic artist Tucker Landry. Over a shared love of movie quotes and tragic pasts, Piper forms a bond with Tucker, and they team up with marine patrol officer Mandy Chou, to find out who tried to kill Piper, and what really happened to Dove fifteen years ago.

Author Carrie Stuart Parks weaves a fast-paced and suspenseful tale written in alternating first (Piper's) and third person narrative that follows Piper, Tucker, and Mandy as their search reveals a connection that involves Piper's powerful Boone family members!

The reader is easily drawn into this well written story with its richly descriptive plot and setting. It is filled with enough family drama and secrets, motives, possible suspects, action, a touch of unexpected romance, and intriguing twists and turns that definitely keeps the reader guessing until the surprising conclusion.

This was a really fun story to read! The author does a wonderful job of providing enough clues to engage the reader, and I found myself so caught up on trying to figure out the Curlew curse involving the Boone family tragedies, especially Dove's death, that I was absolutely stunned by the conclusion!

Southern suspense fans will appreciate reading Relative Silence, as it takes them on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2020/08/relative-silence-by-carrie-stuart-parks.html

RELATIVE SILENCE by Carrie Stuart Parks is a mystery/Christian romantic suspense mash-up that pulls you in from the first page and is extremely difficult to put down. A powerful family that has known several tragic events over the years with the heroine from that family who finally decides to investigate those tragedies after she becomes a target.

Sandpiper “Piper” Boone has been told all her life she comes from the perfect family and tries to live up to that standard. When her young daughter is found dead, her marriage falls apart and she becomes a recluse on the family island compound.

Fifteen years later, forensic artist Tucker Landry is having lunch while waiting to begin his new assignment. A shooter opens fire and Tucker grabs the woman behind him and hits the patio floor. While Piper only receives a small injury, Tucker is shot protecting her as three other women are also killed. When the detective learns of Tucker’s skills, he asks Tucker and Piper to get together to produce a sketch of the shooter.

The authorities believe there is a connection between the shooting and two other murders that occur soon after. Piper and Tucker are in a race to find out who wants to kill Piper to hide long buried family secrets and a hurricane that threatens everyone.

This is a story that ticks off everything I am looking for in these genres; a mystery that keeps me guessing, action, unexpected twists, edge-of-your-seat suspense and a hero and heroine that are realistic and make me cheer for their relationship to have a HEA. Piper and Tucker are wonderful characters that have had terrible pasts that must be overcome as they struggle with the current race to reveal a murderer. I like that the injuries they received throughout the story were believable and they could overcome them or work around them without becoming fantastical super humans. Even with the small number of suspects, I was kept guessing and I always like when that happens. The religious beliefs and faith of the characters was not gratuitous or in your face.

This book is a compelling generational family mystery with a believable romantic suspense. I can highly recommend this story!

Will truth set them free...or kill them instead?

I'm stunned. Reeling. Shocked, I tell you. Over the last few years I've read most of Carrie Stuart Parks's novels and I've come to expect nothing but exceptional work from her. And I got it in spades with Relative Silence. Her characters are flawed, messed up people that you can't help but fall in love with. Her writing style is superb. Her skill at weaving each individual thread of the story, slowly building up the tension until the characters and readers are nearly at their breaking, and then....BAM! Your every preconceived notion is shattered as the final revelations are laid bare.

When I tell you that I couldn't put Relative Silence down, I mean it. Usually I would read a book like this over about a 24 hour period. Not this one. I finished in scarcely more time than what my e-reader predicted, and that's counting mealtimes etc. Carrie Stuart Parks had me at the explosive page one and she didn't turn me loose until I'd turned the last one.

Up until recently I would have said that Formula Of Deception was my favorite Carrie Stuart Parks novel but after reading this one I would say that Relative Silence is giving it a good run for its money and it could easily tie for that number one position. It's just THAT good! It's definitely going on my favorites list for this year.

After reading this book you'll never look at family quite the same again...especially when they seem to be perfect...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

4.5 Stars! Admittedly, thriller is not my number 1 genre because I’m a bit of a scaredy cat and granted, I actually expected this to be more romantic suspense than actual thriller which it wasn’t really, but I’m pretty excited by this Christian thriller by a new to me author... so much so that I’ve gone back to get her backlist because this was such an exciting read.

The premise of this book is that Piper, who comes from a wealthy family, and is rebuilding her life after a devastating tragedy 15 years prior, realizes that all is not as it seems with her family when there is an attempt on her life. What follows is an exciting whodunnit where Piper has to decide if she really wants to discover the dangerous secrets of the past and moreover, who she can trust to help her do so.

I thought this was an incredibly well-written story, not so many twists and turns that it is in any way a demanding le creepy psychological thriller, but enough mystery and suspense to keep you guessing and engaged. I feel like the religious messages in this are pretty light but the themes of forgiveness and faith are dealt with well enough to satisfy a person of (Christian) faith, but not so much so that a non-Christian person wouldn’t feel the messages were accessible. I think the message was balanced really well with the plot and you could tell the author made a mostly successful attempt to make it a seamless blend between message and plot. I feel like the secondary characters like Mandy could have been developed a little farther but it wasn’t irksome and it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the story.

This book as I expected does have romantic overtones even though this is by no means a romance as that is not the central element of the plot. My romance-loving heart would have loved to see a little more relationship development between Piper and Tucker but that would have changed the genre of this and I think for this genre of thriller, the romantic aspect was fine and I was willing to suspend disbelief and go with it. It felt quite well-done and was enjoyable to read. This book is violent although not gratuitously so but it doesn’t have adult language in it or sexual situations if that’s something you’re avoiding as a reader. No one has ever accused me of being a Nancy Drew but I didn’t really expect the ending and I was at the edge of my seat right until the epilogue. I really liked everything about this one and I’m totally sold on checking out the author’s other work. I recommend this if you like thrillers and/or are Christian or if you just want to check out the diversity of great Christian fiction out there.I enjoyed this perfectly-balanced Christian thriller and found the blend of family betrayal, loss, internal strength, faith and overcoming in this whodunnit, very much to my taste.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a mesmerizing book that was filled with suspense and all of the twists and turns that I love in this genre. Carrie Stuart Parks includes her signature forensic artist in the book in the form of Tucker Landry. Tucker was enjoying lunch at a local cafe in SC when he notices a shooter aiming at the young women at the table next to him. Launching himself from his seat, he tackles Piper Boone and saves her life, taking the bullet for her. The mystery and suspense began with that event and continues to build throughout the book. This is the story of Piper, her determination to survive after the death of her young daughter, and her quest to find out her family’s secrets so that she can be safe in her chosen home of Curlew Island. This family is complicated and all of them seem to have secrets that threaten the safety of the family on the island. There is a hurricane headed their way, also making the sense of urgency even more apparent. I loved the tense atmosphere of the book, along with the characters who were uppity (like the mother), kind and loving (like Mildred, the housekeeper and Piper’s substitute mother), and focused (like Tern, Piper’s brother who wants to rise in politics). Of course, my favorite character was Piper but I also liked seeing the development of Tucker as a hero who had his own secrets. The neighbor is missing. A body is found in the pool. So much happens so quickly in this novel that it didn’t just entertain; it totally captured me in the action. The author did a masterful job of revealing secrets slowly and building suspense all along, with each revelation. The ending was not predictable at all and it totally wrapped everything up. I loved this book and highly recommend it to those who enjoy suspense and mysteries that are completely clean reads!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Thomas Nelson Publishers via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Another powerful read from Parks! Action packed, filled with secrets and intrigue, "Relative Silence" was a great escape. Piper Boone has lived a life of luxury, but it hasn't protected her from pain. After losing her daughter fifteen years earlier in a terrible boating accident, Piper tries to invest as little of herself in the outside world as possible. She'd much rather stay to herself, watching the movies she's memorized and can quote at will for any situation. Born into the wealthy Boone family, Piper has seen the benefit of her upbringing and the disadvantages that come with status. Life on Curlew Island is at once opulent as it is isolating.

Piper survives an attempt on her life and begins to connect with the dashing man who came to her rescue, Tucker Landry. Although she doesn't know much about Tucker, she recognizes a kindred spirit when she sees one. Upon discovering that he can help the police find the man who shot at her
by using his skills as a forensic artist, Piper also asks Tucker to craft an age progressed drawing of her lost daughter, Dove.

As Tucker and Piper begin to unravel who could be behind the shooting and questions surrounding her family, tragedies begin to pile up--and so do the bodies. Adding to the mix are a missing family friend, a rabid reporter and a young woman who seems eerily familiar to Piper.

Family secrets, money woes and an approaching hurricane dial up the atmosphere as Piper unravels a tangled web of lies that she's held on to for most of her life. Is there anyone in her family she can believe? Or should she trust Tucker, a man she barely knows? Will they find out who is behind the murders before Piper's number is up?

Parks never fails to entertain and, as usual, features two new canines for readers to fall in love with. The artistry and detail that I've come to expect, coupled with a plot that ratchets up the suspense at every turn reminds me why I love to read Parks' work. Very well done!

I was an early reader thanks to Thomas Nelson First Editions and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This may be Carrie Stuart Parks' best thriller yet! What a wild ride full of twists, secrets, and unpredictability which is just one thing I love about her stories. Throw all that in with a hurricane and you have to hang on tight while turning pages to find out how it all ends. I highly recommend this fast-paced, high-impact novel.

4.5 stars

Relative Silence is the fourth book I've read by Parks and another fantastic mystery. I found myself completely captured by the story and trying to figure out what was really going on.

I thought the characters were written well and the setting was great. The suspense kept building and, towards the end, I didn't want to stop reading because I HAD to know what was going to happen next.

All in all, Relative Silence was worth the read and I loved it. I recommend this book if you enjoy this genre. The ending was amazing and wrapped things up nicely.


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Oh my! What a story! Carrie Stuart Parks does it again!
This is the story of Piper. She loses her daughter in a tragic happening. Fifteen years later, she’s almost a victim of a sniper. People keep dying. Finally she catches on that she might be the target.
I enjoyed getting to know Piper. Her story is revealed oh so slowly. Lots of suspense. Inner turmoil. Family difficulties. And more.
I had no idea how or which way this story would turn. Lots of suspense. Incredible adventures, set on a beautiful island.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of Christian suspense.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Relative Silence
By Carrie Stuart Parks

Piper Boone has withdrawn from the world and her family following a tragic loss. The Boone family calls Curlew Island home - an island that is almost exclusively theirs. But the island is cursed and so is the Boone family, at least that is how the locals explain all the tragedies that have befallen the family.

When Piper is at the scene of another tragedy the only thing that keeps her from being a victim is the quick reactions of Tucker Landry. Tucker is dealing with his own personal tragedy and his guilt. But there is something about Piper that draws him to her and if he isn't careful he might fall to the Boone family curse too.

Someone seems to be targeting the Boone family. Is it random due to their high profile and wealth? Or is it personal? Or is it just nothing more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Piper is starting to come out of the fog she's been living in over the last fifteen years and she is determined to get answers and reconnect with what she has lost. Is she really part of "The perfect home on the perfect island for the perfect family"? Or is it just a fantasy her mother is determined to portray to the public while secrets abound?

Relative Silence is full of unexpected twists that will keep the reader in suspense. Who can be trusted? That is the question and anyone who may know something - well, let's just say they will be keeping their silence. This is one suspense-filled book you won't be putting down anytime soon. But be warned this is no cozy mystery.

I received a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own

Caroline Boone, the matriarch of the Boone family, was fond of saying that her husband had built the perfect home for the perfect family on the perfect island. Caroline and her son, Senator Tern Boone, do their best to preserve this public image. However, behind the façade, things are far from perfect. With the annual shareholder meeting for the family business, Boone Industries, set to begin shortly on their private island, Curlew Island, the youngest daughter, Sandpiper (Piper) Boone, is injured in a shooting a local café that results in the death of her best friend and others; she survives due to the intervention of a stranger. A local reporter, seeking to make a name for herself, writes an article about the Curlew Island curse striking again. The Boone family has experienced quite a few tragedies, including fifteen years ago when Piper's then husband was attacked and the family yacht stolen with their young daughter, Dove, on board, whose body later washed ashore. The investigation into the shooting raises the possibility that Piper was the target. The shooting, along with other disturbing events, causes Piper to look closer at family history and past events, and question what she had always thought was true. She is aided by the guy who saved her, Tucker Landry, and by a Marine Patrol Officer, Mandy Chou.

The author has crafted an interesting, and at times amusing, plot with some pretty good twists. I had my suspicions as to the identity of one villain, but did not anticipate the true motivation of the individual for the evil acts. The author does a good job of portraying how we don't necessarily really know our loved ones; the lengths people will go to protect their secrets; and how we allow ourselves to ignore or overlook signs that things are not the what they seem in our relationships with others or among our family and friends because we want things to be a certain way. I enjoyed that Piper's coping mechanism is to recite movie lines and then identify the title and year of production. Some of the best dialogue is the conversations between Piper and Tucker and between Piper and Mandy. The most endearing character in the book is Hannah; for whom events are life-changing. "Relative Silence" was an enjoyable book that I would gladly recommend to others.

I received a copy of the e-book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Relative Silence was well-written. I did figure out most of the 'surprises' very early on, but that's a gift ... and a curse. I did struggle to read Mandy's accent. For some reason, it was painful on my eyes, but I'm sure that's just me and shouldn't hinder a person from reading at all.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, but this review is all my own.