Sadly, although I am a big fan of the DI Imogen Gray series, i just didn't get on with this book and couldn't get into it.
It was disjointed and just didn't live up to expectations. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC.

I hate to admit this as I am a HUGE fan of the DI Imogen Gray series, BUT i just couldn't get into this book. to me, personally, it felt disjointed and a rather strange read.

i didn't overly enjoy the narrative, especially the talks in her head that the main character Gail was having with the protagonist,

Maybe I was expecting too much, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the heights I've come to expect from the autho' s other series.

thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC.

2.5 ⭐️

There was a big part of the narrative that I disliked with this one and it was the main character talking to the villain of the story in their own head. It was a little bit too much for me and it was often hard to distinguish when they were talking to the villain. It made for a weird disjointed read.
Overall not a bad book, just executed in an odd way.

I couldn’t wait to read Katerina Diamond’s latest book and I’ve loved all her books so far! This one was very dark and disturbing. Katerina does a great job of telling this disturbing story about rape and revenge. The characters are well written and I liked the different points of view. There were plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. I dont think I've ever been more excited to actually figure it out, I did yell out loud, "I knew it!" haha. I can’t wait for Katerina Diamond’s next book.

Katerina Diamond’s *The Silence* is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into dark and unsettling themes with a relentless pace. The story opens with Gail waking up to a nightmare: unable to move or speak, she finds herself at the mercy of a stranger who then disappears, leaving her to confront the trauma alone. When the police dismiss her case, Gail is left to deal with her haunting memories.

Two years later, Gail’s world is upended once more when she encounters a woman whose experience mirrors her own. This new victim’s attack occurred exactly a year after Gail’s, and with only a week left before the attacker strikes again, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Diamond’s novel expertly weaves tension and intrigue, creating a suspenseful narrative that keeps the reader guessing. The unfolding mystery of the attacker and the eerie similarities between the victims drive the story forward with a chilling sense of urgency.

The book’s exploration of sensitive topics, including sexual assault, is handled with care, though it may be triggering for some readers. The plot’s intensity and the emotional depth of Gail’s journey make for a compelling read, despite the heavy subject matter.

*The Silence* is a well-crafted thriller that delivers both suspense and a gripping storyline. It’s a compelling choice for fans of psychological thrillers who appreciate a story that doesn’t shy away from exploring dark themes.

A quick read book, with chapters interspersed between Gail (the victim), Shona (the police officer) and the criminal. I like chapters like this so we can better understand motivation and what each person is thinking. Regarding the story, I was curious to know how they would get to the criminal, but when he appeared in the story I already knew it could be him, so I wasn't surprised by the revelation.

This is the first book I've read by the author, so I don't know much about her writing, but I'm interested in following her work by reading other books.

Thanks to netgalley for the copy.

Couldn't stop reading this. It's a dark read for sure but so well handled and has some really good twists.

“The Silence” plunges readers into a chilling narrative where the protagonist, Gail, awakens to a living nightmare. Paralyzed and mute, she faces an ominous stranger before darkness consumes her. Despite her certainty of the event’s reality, the police dismiss her claims. Two years later, Gail encounters another victim with an eerily similar story, signaling the return of her assailant. With only a week before he strikes again, Gail must break her silence and confront the terror that awaits.

Katerina Diamond’s “The Silence” is a masterful blend of suspense and psychological depth, delivering a story that resonates with the fear of the unknown and the power of resilience. The novel’s strength lies in its well-developed characters, particularly Gail, whose journey from victim to empowered survivor is portrayed with raw honesty and complexity. The author delves into the psyche of her characters, revealing the scars left by trauma and the determination to overcome it.

Diamond’s writing style is fluid and engaging, with a pace that keeps the tension high and the pages turning. The plot is a labyrinth of twists and turns, each revelation more surprising than the last. The author’s skillful handling of such a sensitive subject matter is commendable, as she addresses it with empathy and insight, avoiding gratuitous details while still conveying the gravity of the situation.

The thematic exploration of silence—both imposed and self-inflicted—is a poignant commentary on the struggles faced by survivors of assault. Diamond challenges readers to consider the implications of silence and the courage required to speak out against injustice.

Overall, “The Silence” is a compelling thriller that not only entertains but also provokes thought on societal issues. It’s a testament to Diamond’s talent as a storyteller and her ability to weave a tale that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

I was looking forward to this one, and I was part of the original cover reveal. I downloaded it ages ago and forgot about it. Found it recently and read it. It wasn't bad, but it equally didn't live up to what I was expecting. An original premise that sadly didn't reach the heights I was after. Still interesting and I'm glad I read it and I think a lot of people would like it, but not the best thriller for me.

I really liked this book and how the author tackled the subject matter. I was hooked from the first page and had to keep reading to see how it ended. The only reason I gave this book a four star rating, was the ending. When I discovered who the murderer was, I was slightly disappointed. I won't spoil it by saying who it was, but I thought it should have been a more major character. All in all, I enjoyed this book and will read more by this author.

Well what a rollercoaster of a read! It is dark, brutal at times, compelling and certainly unsettling. Please note the trigger for rape.

Who could say they ‘enjoyed’ a book about rape? But what this thriller offers is a very effective insight into the brutality of rape from the victims’ point of view, clearly demonstrating the lasting impact on the victims’ lives.

Gail is portrayed very effectively, understandably and heavily carrying the weight of being violated, impacting her whole life. In fact all the characterisation in this is really well done, with despicable characters created who are convincingly nasty. Shona, the investigating police officer, drew my empathy right from the start.

The tension in this is raw, as Gail and Martha meet and compare stories. What happens next is the action speeds up, the tension heightens and the consequences are unpredictable. The Sanctuary website was totally unnerving and left me dwelling on the men involved. I had my suspicions about who the ‘unnamed’ character was and invested time looking for clues.

Katerina Diamond has written a belter of a book here!

This was a great book, I couldn't put it down it drew me in from the very beginning! I read it in 2 sittings!

Diamond delves into an important topic within this storyline. It’s told from the points of view of 3 of the characters Gail, Shona and a mystery person who we aren’t aware of their identity. The blurb really caught my interest and I think it was brave of the author for going down this route but at times it did feel like I was stuck in Gails head and her constant ramblings which was just to much at times. It felt like it really dragged the a#% out of the storyline. I really wanted to empathise with Gail but she was so bitter and entitled she ended up being very unlikeable. I did like Shona as a character but she didn’t feature as much. I found the storyline to be far fetched and unbelievable and I could see where it was going about a 1/4 way in. The outcome was very meh for such a drawn out build up. Where I get what the author was trying to do it just didn’t have the desired effect.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and review #TheSilence

I am sadly left wanting more! Love this book so much. It's fast paced and demanding. It was so easy to become invested in.

A tense and very dark revenge story about a serial rapist written mainly from the perspective of one of his victims, but also including the voice of the attacker and the investigator. This is a well plotted and compelling page turner with strong characters.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Not my favourite of Katerina's books, but then I adore her Series so the standalone's always miss the mark! The story is fab, there's a lot going on though and it made it a bit too much for me.

I enjoyed this book to begin with however i felt it went a bit round in circles.

I was also able to guess who the person was quite early on so felt i was reading just to prove myself correct.

If it wasnt for this I would have given it more stars as the writing style was good

I would probably say this one was a solid 3.5 book, after her series I feel a little let down by this one, not saying I wouldn’t recommend reading it as I definitely would and was still an enjoyable crime thriller but not as memorable as her other stuff. I think Shona annoyed me as being a bit gullible for a Police officer but I do think the topics were handled well and sensitively and was still a good book to read!

I've always loved Katerina Diamond's books and this did not disappoint. Brilliant plot and characters as always.

If you enjoy a tense thriller then these books are for you.

Another gripping and powerful read from Katerina Diamond, Gail suffered an horrendous attack in her own home. She wakes up in the middle of the night to find herself unable to move and being attacked and raped. She reports it to DI Shona White who believes her but her superiors refuse to follow it up as she had reported a previous rape and the person wasn’t convicted. Gail’s life since then has suffered but things change when she hears Martha tell her story at a support group meeting. Martha too was drugged and raped in exactly the same circumstances as Gail. Martha knows that the attack was filmed and put on a website. They decide to confront DI White with this new evidence. They know that their attacks occurred on the same date a few years apart. How many more victims has there been and this date is fast approaching. Can he be caught before then? DI Stone is desperate to help the women as she herself as raped by a senior police officer. She hadn’t reported it as she knew it would mean the end of her career. At times this book was difficult and upsetting to read but it was very sensitively written and a compelling read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book,