I started off really liking this book. I love family secrets and betrayals. The first half or so I would give 4 stars, the last 40% I would give 2 stars. The one good thing about the second half of the book is I didn’t guess the perpetrator until it was revealed. There are two main reasons why I didn’t like the second half as much as the first. The first reason being I didn’t expect it to be so religious. The second reason is the fate of one of the characters was too convenient and too unrealistic. I also felt like it was a happily ever after book and it wasn’t a fairytale. I am not a fan of everything being great in the end.
I am rating it 3 stars as it is between the 4 stars for the beginning and 2 stars for the end.

Relative Silence is not a book one can soon forget. A book that will certainly hold your interest until the very end and keep you guessing. The story takes place mostly on Curlew Island a privately owned island off the coast of South Carolina. Because there have been so many tragedies over the years on this island, it is believed to be cursed. Piper Boone suffered a great loss fifteen years ago when her only child, two year old Dove, was killed in a boating accident, on the island. She still grieves the loss of her child and now it seems someone is after her, to take her life. After the shooting that took the lives of three women, Tucker Landry, forensic artist who also survived the shooting, questions Piper and together they draw a picture of the shooter. Thus begins one of the most interesting and exciting suspense stories to be read. You will be holding your breath at time as facts begin to unfold. A great book that has it all, suspense and romance plus enlightening forensic information……I was fortunate to receive an early ebook version of the book from Thomas Nelson and I am happy to leave my review.

This is my first time reading this author but it most certainly will not be my last. I absolutely loved this book. It grabbed me from the first page and I had a hard time putting it down. There were so many twists and turns. Everyone could be a suspect but you never know who is could actually be! By the end, you are completely overwhelmed by the list of suspects so when the killer is revealed, I was still astonished! I felt so sorry for Piper! Her world had crumbled all around her for most of her life and yet she just keeps hanging in there. Just when she has somewhat pulled herself together into a quiet routine, although a recluse for certain, she is involved in a mass shooting and her world spirals out of control once again! Thankfully, Tucker Landry, is there to pull her to safety. When Piper goes to the hospital to thank him, they connect and want to try to figure out what's going on. Tucker has a lot of secrets himself but he digs into Piper's world with her and together they try to find out what happened. Nothing is at it seems. There is so much danger and intrigue in this story. I loved it! I would definitely recommend it!

Wow, this book has the action and heart pounding suspense that keeps the pages flipping long into the night. From the first chapter to the satisfying end, the questions pile up and answers are fleeting and hard to nail down until the truth flys to the surface no longer to be buried. Piper has lost the most important thing in her life. And life has never recovered since that fateful day. She spends her time donating to animal shelters, watching movies, and hiding from life on her family's island. Piper is friendly but removed from those around her so when an old friend asks her to lunch, she decides to accept. That starts Piper down a dangerous path towards a truth she has hidden from for 15 years. Sitting next to Piper at the cafe is Tucker, a stranger that has quick reflexes and a drive to help others. Saving a stranger takes Tucker down a path that lets him use his God given talents at solving mysteries and gives him healing of his own. Piper and Tucker need to look past the lies, dangers, and misdirections to find the truth. And they will have to risk their lives to find the culprit and save the lives of not only themselves but people who have quickly become as close as family.
Carrie Stuart Parks brings her characters to life with a depth of emotions and relationships that make them feel like close friends. You want to warn them of the shadow around the corner and the danger in trusting even those who appear to be close as family. Sometimes the closer the person the higher the danger they represent. This heart pounding, suspense driven, mystery laced story is almost impossible to put down. You do not want to miss this story. Carrie Stuart Parks has upped her writing game even more with this book, and I can't wait for her next masterpiece. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Relative Silence is a roller coaster ride of twists and turns and perfect for lovers of suspense novels. This newest novel from Carrie Stuart Parks centers around the Boone family and takes place on Curlew Island, a private island off the coast of South Carolina. Because there have been so many tragedies over the years on this island, it is believed to be cursed.

Death is no stranger to the Boone family as Piper, the main character, has lost her father, sister, and toddler aged daughter to tragic accidents on the island over the years. Now it appears someone is after Piper. She meets Tucker Landry, a forensic artist, after he saved Piper when a shooter opened fire at the restaurant where Piper and a friend were eating. They team up and it's a race against the clock to figure out who wants Piper dead and why.

This is a story full of family secrets, suspects, and motives so I found myself changing my guess all the way throughout the book. I was totally surprised at the end when everything was finally explained.

This is my second novel by Carrie Stuart Parks and I really appreciate how she works her own background in forensic art into her stories. I think the combining of forensic art to help solve crimes adds a unique aspect to her stories because of her experience.

I received an e-book of this story through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Relative Silence is another really enjoyable mystery that has come across my TBR recently. The main story starts with Piper being thrown to the ground by a man who shields her from flying bullets. Locals think the attempt on her life is the latest in the curse of her family's island. As I said, I really enjoyed this one. There were so many twists that I devoured the book in order to find out what was really going on. This is the kind of mystery that I like the most, one that keeps me guessing until the big reveal.

I really liked Piper and Tucker. Both of them are putting their lives back together after experiencing tragedy. One thing I loved about Piper was the way she quoted movie scenes to help her get through situations that made her anxious. That was really unique. It is a stand alone and in a way I am disappointed. I would love to read more about them in another story. They were great at solving this mystery. There was a hint at romance and I would have loved to have that explored a bit further as well. I highly recommend this one!

There were aspects that I liked and some that I was like...what?

This calls for a pro and con list

Pro:

very Agatha Christie-like

virtually no romance (finally)

Con:

pacing dragged right before the climax for about 20-30 pages

didn't really connect with the characters

this was told in duel perspectives, one from third and the other first. Please don't. That is all I am going to say about that.

So maybe I didn't like this one as much as I liked Carrie's other books but it was still an engaging read (for the most part).



Rating: 3/5

Language: n/a

Romance: a kiss

Spiritual: MC comes back to God

Violence: deaths, murders, more murders, and more murders (none described graphically)



*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

Review coming to Insta @adventurous.bookworm on July 29, 2020.

This book has suspense with lots of twists and turns, a perfect family (if you mean perfectly dysfunctional), a hurricane targeting a private island, and a budding romance. I read it in two days because I literally walked around from task to task with the book in my hands. This is a book that really needs to be made into a movie with a screenplay that remains as close as possible to the original story. I will certainly be looking for more books by this talented author. I am grateful to have received a copy of Relative Silence from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

In Carrie Stuart Parks’ latest release, readers will be engaged and absorbed into this story until they finish it. I have read Ms. Parks other books and enjoyed them, but this one was really probably my favorite of all of her books. Her books provide the reader will such detail and specifics regarding forensics in her books which I like. The science behind everything in her books is interesting and gives the reader more knowledge on these topics. This book also has romantic elements to it which is a great addition to the story. This book focuses on Piper who has had to endure tragedy in her life and just wants to live simply. Additionally, readers meet Tucker who helps save Piper from an active shooter. Together, they work to discover what is going on in their town. I highly recommend this book! I do not believe you will be disappointed! It was amazing and very engaging! I loved how the faith elements were interwoven throughout the book as well.
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.

I've always enjoyed Stuart Parks' stories. She leads with strong characters and uses her forensic skills to bring engrossing stories to her readers. Oh, and big dogs always feature which I love. Relative Silence is no exception.

Piper Boone has returned to the family estate on Curlew Island having received a call from Joyce, the neighbour, who is the only other occupant on the island. The Boone's are a wealthy powerful family, the eldest son Tern, running for senate and it's not long before it's apparent this family has its fair share of mysterious secrets. The press even wonder if there is a curse over the family due to the long history of unexplained and unusual deaths plaguing the occupants of this small island.

Piper meets Tucker Landry who is down on his luck and grappling with his own heartache that draws the two of them together. Piper invites Tucker to the island and on arrival it's not long before the action and suspense hots up. Another mysterious death of one of the hired hands kicks off a sequence of events including questions over the whereabouts of one of Piper's sisters (Raven) and sets Piper and Tucker off as amateur sleuths trying to get to the bottom of it all.

There's a whodunnit feel about the story as we gain an observers perspective on each family member and employee as to the likelihood of their involvement in some of the shenanigans that have occurred. Lots of questions and very few apparent answers and everyone could be a suspect.

A huge hurricane is threatening the island which adds to the intensity and also serves to create some confusion. The whodunnit aspect becomes very complicated and I struggled to connect all the dots which added to my confusion. The fact that Piper sums it all up near the end is both enlightening but also confirms that the plot was a little convoluted. I guess it is typical of the Agatha Christie types of mysteries but in this story it grated a little. I was a little surprised with the instigator but it all seemed a little forced in the end rather than have it occur seamlessly through the story. In the great whodunnits, once the killer is revealed the reader will have their 'aha' moments of realisation but this didn't occur for me.

I did enjoy the story and loved the visual aspect of the island setting. And Nana, the Newfoundland dog, was an heroic standout.

I was fortunate to receive an early ebook version of the book from Thomas Nelson First Editions program via NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review.

In the words of Corrie Ten Boom,
“Never be afraid
to trust an unknown future
to a known God.”
[Carrie Stuart Parks]

Carrie Parks' latest book started off slow, feeling like I was reading a high schooler’s stilted initial attempts at storytelling rather than a work coming from an experienced and accomplished writer. The book ended on a different note - I could not put it down as Piper Boone and her group of close friends managed to survive the night living through a Cat-4 or -5 hurricane. The author came through with a winning romantic, faith-based, suspense, thriller.

The prologue opens with Piper sending her three-year-old daughter off with her father to spend the day boating and visiting the South Carolina mainland; by the end of the day, her daughter was missing; and by the end of the week, she was declared dead. Chapter one opens 15 years later with a serial killer shooting the patrons of a small South Carolina café, killing Piper’s high school friend and two other lunch diners. From there the story introduces the reader to other participants in Piper’s life and history. We are introduced to a dysfunctional family that can only begin to recover with the unmerited grace of God. Forgiveness will need to be asked and to be given if healing is to be part of this family’s future.

The book has a great deal to teach about those themes of grace and forgiveness - both human and divine. It was well worth my time, and I was glad to be able to read it.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Piper Boone's family has lived on their private island with only one other inhabitant for years. A series of misfortunes has plagued the family leading people to believe that the island is cursed. When Piper returns home after the latest tragedy, she soon finds out that it might not be a coincidence that these things keep happening and someone she knows may actually be causing them. While one big revelation is made fairly early on (although it is not confirmed until later in the book), there is enough left to be revealed that the story still remains intriguing throughout the rest of the book. The early revelation is one that most readers of similar books would probably be able to guess anyway and only adds to the interest of the book and the desire to continue reading and find out more. All in all, the story is compelling and although in the end so much new information is thrown in that is a lot to take in all at once, the conclusion of the book feels mostly satisfactory.

Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks kept my interest all the way through the book! The prologue of the book is a very emotional opener. Years later Piper Boone is having lunch outdoors at a cafe when a shooter opens fire! A stranger pushes Piper to the ground as her friend Ami is killed along with two others. Piper's family just wants to keep their names out of the news as a journalist writes about the Boone family curse. It would seem there is a curse over this family or island because Piper's father, her sister, and her daughter all met violent deaths on the island. Now the neighbor and family friend Joyce Mueller is missing from her home on the island.

As Piper is questioned about the shooting, she decides she wants to meet the man who saved her life. Tucker Landry is still in the hospital healing from the wounds he suffered while saving Piper. When he is released from the hospital Piper offers to let him stay at the family mansion on Curlew Island. He accepts and soon discovers this family has problems and secrets which he soon becomes involved in solving. What about the secrets in his past, how much should he tell Piper?
The levels of secrecy among the family members are worrying piper as she begins to think her precious Dove may not be dead. Is this a delusion because of the age progression drawing Tucker made for Piper? During all the confusion Piper is experiencing, there is also a hurricane bearing down on the Island. Time is running out to uncover long-buried secrets!
Publication Date: July 14, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

ISLAND OF SECRETS!

A haunting story of a powerful family filled with dark secrets. A personal family island retreat holds the key to the myriad of unexplained horrible mysteries. A family made up of strong, intense personalities that will do anything to protect those they love. A story of greed, lust and duplicity pitting sisters against each other. A forensic artist desperately trying to escape his tragic past. An artist’s desire to provide answers to long forgotten questions. A close friend suddenly disappears. And, a hurricane is headed straight for this Island of Secrets! Will all the answers be washed away in the storm before the TRUTH is revealed?

I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

I enjoyed much of this suspenseful novel even though I felt it had some structural issues. I liked the setting. I liked the small bit there was about age progression artistic work. There was lots of intense suspense near the end although a looming storm is an all too common way to create that suspense. I appreciated the characters involved but I did have trouble finding them engaging. The frequent movie quotes were interesting.

One of the aspects of the novel I did not like was the change in point of view. Much of the novel is from Piper's viewpoint while other sections were from the universal viewpoint, generally when Tucker was involved. It was disconcerting when the point of view would change within a chapter and sometimes from paragraph to paragraph. (An example is at Loc 1046/3180) And then there were the odd scenes from the universal point of view with Piper acting in the scene, referring to her as “she.” Going from Piper as “she” in one paragraph and “I” in the next was disconcerting.

I thought the plot was way too complex. A sure sign of an overly complex plot is a denouement that is long. Here we have a long passage near the end where Piper reveals all the complex aspects of what has happened. She reveals relationships in the family, some we could have figured out, but many out of the blue. People are not who they seem and family secrets have been hidden for decades. I am just not sure the plot was plausible.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Parks' Gwen Marcey series but was a bit disappointed in this novel. I will be looking for the next novel from Parks as I trust it will be up to her usual high standards.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Terrific mystery. It kept me guessing and intrigued. Some things seemed obvious while others did not. Several surprises. Exciting experiencing a hurricane from the safety of my chair. Enjoyed all the movie references.

Carrie Stuart Parks' characters in Relative Silence are believable. Piper, as. a reclusive mother whose only child died after being kidnapped, is nearly killed by a gunman. It appears her brother's life also had an attempt made on it. The family owns a company that has had ups and downs in prosperity. There is a long list of possible suspects. The setting is an island and seaside town. There are many clues and loose ends that come together nicely at the end.

I enjoyed the story. There were several possible culprits, and I didn't narrow down who it was by the time I found out. I like not being able to completely tell "who done it" at the end of a mystery. The story kept my interest throughout, and I looked forward to getting back to reading when I had to put it down.

I have found a new author to love in Carrie Stuart Parks. Mysteries were my favorite genre growing up and even though I do not read as many now, it is nice to sink into a great whodunit once in awhile.

Piper Boone suffered the loss of a child 15 years ago and has withdrawn into her own private world. However, she finds herself a witness to a mass shooting at a local cafe and finds that the past that has haunted her family has returned with a vengeance. As unexplained disappearances and deaths seem to multiply around her, she begins to question who she can trust and if these events are linked to past family secrets.

I found the plot pacing to be superb, building up to a wonderful climax. Add the dangers of a hurricane to the story and I found this hard to put down. I highly recommend this book for those who love a good suspenseful page-turner.

Carrie Stuart Parks has once again written a masterpiece! Her masterful storytelling captures you from the opening pages and does not let go even once the book is closed. This story is full of suspense that leaves you on the edge of your seat and continually guessing what is around the next corner.

We are introduced to the colorful Boone family through Piper, the eldest daughter. It is a family who presents a unified front even though they are wrought with tragedies. We are first introduced to Piper when she was a young mother in her early twenties. We quickly learn of an unforeseen tragedy that strikes the young mother before being transported to present day where she is once again thrust into an unforeseen tragedy that will once again cause her world to tilt.

Through this tragedy, Piper meets Tucker Landry. They work together to identify a shooter and learn they both must confront their pasts to forge a path to the future. Tucker is not completely honest with Piper regarding his past leaving the door open for suspicion from Piper and her family. He must prove to Piper she can trust him as she digs into her families past revealing secrets she is not sure she has the strength to face.

We watch both Piper and Tucker each have to discover if they can trust God with not only their lives, but also their futures. Ms. Stuart does an incredible job displaying God’s grace and mercy throughout the story without being overbearing. She truly captures what I feel God is like- always there, always a gentleman, never pushy.

This is by far my favorite novel of hers to date. I find myself thinking about the characters long after I have finished the book. It is a must read!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

** “In the words of Corrie Ten Boom, ‘Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.’ ” **

Carrie Stuart Parks delivers another action-packed, heart-thumping thriller with “Relative Silence,” a story of deceit, suffering, to-be-solved mysteries and second chances.

Piper Boone, still coping with the loss of her daughter 15 years ago, finds herself in the midst of a mass shooting. When a stranger, Tucker Landry, a man with his own past demons, saves her life, Piper finds herself working closely with him to solve the “curse” of the Boone family and figure out why tragedy keeps following her family.

As more and more horrific incidents occur, Piper and Tucker find themselves having to trust each other as they don’t know who else they can trust, all while developing feelings for each other.

The author does an incredible job of building a plot that keeps building and building in suspense, all while leaving the reader guessing as to the resolution. She also develops some great characters, including Mandy, a plucky marine patrol officer; Hannah, the disfigured granddaughter of the family’s neighbor Joyce; and a couple of quirky canines.

Besides being an incredible suspense thriller, “Relative Silence” addresses some amazing themes, like the age old question of why does a loving God allow suffering; “revenge is a caustic companion”; trust the future to God; and it’s OK to give God a second chance.

Fans of authors like Lynette Eason and Terri Blackstock will love this book.

Five stars out of five.

Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.