Silent Came the Monster is a fictionalized telling of the July 1916 shark attacks off the Jersey Shore. I was not aware of the historical event so this added to my enjoyment of the story. Our main protagonist is Dr. Edwin Halsey, who is a fictional character dropped into the historical events of that summer. He believes immediately that the cause of the attacks is a shark, but is doubted by many other people. Conspiracy theories related to WWI and lack of knowledge about sharks lead people in charge to not act quickly to close the beaches. WWI and the polio epidemic also add conflict for the characters. I really liked the emotional resolution of the book after the "shark issue" was solved.

This is historical fiction about the shark attacks off of the Jersey Shore in 1916. Most of the story is told from the perspective of Edwin, a doctor who tries to help the injured and inform the residents of the danger.

What I liked:
- The main character, Edwin, is likable and interesting. He has a past tied to this shark and he is determined to keep people safe if he can. I enjoyed this "man against beast" theme.
- The plot itself is interesting. There is a lot of true information included and I can tell this author did a lot of research into the details of each attack.
- The setting was enjoyable and I liked the references and descriptions of clothing and activities and the general "atmosphere" of this time in history.

What I didn't like:
- The writing was not enjoyable for me. I found it to be somewhat elementary. Edwin's daughter, Julia, addresses him with the word "Father" multiple times every time she speaks to him, over and over and over throughout the book and this was annoying to me and took me out of the story. I think there was a lot of potential in this plot and the research was there but the telling of the story just didn't work for me.

3 Stars

Silent Came the Monster is a scary good novel about the shark attacks at the Jersey Shore during the summer of 1916. Over the course of twelve days in July of that year, four people were killed and a fifth was seriously injured. At the time, the attacks were attributed to a sea monster. But later, it would be discovered that the attacks were from a massive shark measuring thirteen feet, three inches. Weighing in at one thousand, four hundred pounds.

Author Hearth has done an excellent job at crafting a novel full of drama and emotion. From the descriptions of the victims’ injuries and shark behavior, it is evident that a lot of background research was conducted.

There are a number of intense action scenes and they are probably not for the faint at heart. But, that’s what made the story come to life.

I thoroughly enjoyed Silent Came the Monster and author Hearth is now one of my favorite historical fiction authors out there. Five outstanding stars.

I received a digital ARC from Blackstone Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

I loved this book !

Silent Came the Monster is a novel about the 5 shark attacks that took place at the Jersey Shore over a harrowing twelve days in 1916. Though some of the characters and relationships are fictional, the main plot points are historically accurate.

We follow Dr. Edwin Halsey, an esteemed surgeon called in to analyze the wounds of the first victim. He believes that the culprit is a man-eating shark, though the majority of people, government officials and animal experts included, scoff at the outrageous suggestion. Over the next 12 days, his attempts to warn the public become more and more desperate, as he faces naysayers, skeptics, and all sorts of conspiracy theories. All the while, the shark continues to move up the coast, leaving a slew of victims in its wake.

As someone who recently moved to the Jersey Shore, I had no idea that these shark attacks even took place, let alone how close to home they were! Reading about towns, streets, and beaches that I’m on everyday made this story both really enjoyable and really unnerving.

The historical accuracy of this book, combined with the rich relationship building and rising tensions, kept me fully engaged the entire time. This is a great reminder that sometimes stepping out of our reading comfort zones can lead to surprising new favorites!

Just when you thought it was safe to pick up a book, Silent Came the Monster has surfaced! My interest in sharks began in 1975 when I saw Jaws in the theater. I was a young girl who up until that point, had been weaned on innocuous Disney films. Seeing Jaws was akin to riding a roller coaster, it terrified and thrilled me at the same time. After viewing Jaws, I had terrible nightmares that night. By the next morning, I was ready to see it again and again.

A few years ago, I discovered that Jaws was inspired by true events that occurred along the New Jersey Shore in 1916. Thus began my quest to watch every documentary that discussed the strange and horrifying attacks that resulted in four people getting killed, along with a child who was seriously injured. When I heard that there was a historical novel focusing on these events, I knew it was a must read for me.

Being somewhat knowledgeable about the main facts and victims of the 1916 shark attacks, I already knew the fate of many of the characters in this novel. I was worried that knowing the outcome of these characters might lessen some of the thrilling aspects of the story. It did to a minor degree but it also added another element: a sense of dread. As the author described each attack, I felt myself cringe and had to brace myself to read about the gruesome and terrifying details. This book is definitely not for the squeamish or people with a delicate nature!

Besides the historical characters (victims, their loved ones, President Woodrow Wilson), the author has created others who were inspired by real people. I felt that the characters were compelling and true to life. Overall, I felt that the author merged the historical facts with dramatic aspects quite well. The very beginning of the novel had too much of a documentary feel to it. But once the story got to the Matawan events, the author really hit her stride. This was when the factual and fictional elements really melded perfectly together, and I became totally enraptured into the author’s world. That the shark swam into a small creek and attacked several people is totally mind boggling, making the Matawan part of the book the most intriguing.

Along with these bizarre shark attacks, the story also includes some of the other events that were taking place in 1916. The author relates how the First World War, the 1916 polio epidemic in the NYC metropolitan area, and a terrible heat wave all contributed to the origins of the shark attacks, and the attitudes of the populace. Due to the unbearably high temperatures, more people than ever flocked to beaches, especially to the Jersey Shore. With war raging overseas, conspiracy theorists believed that Germany was behind the shark attacks!

The author mentions in her epilogue that the 1916 shark attacks generated America’s obsession with sharks, creating a legacy that continued with Jaws and Shark Week. Even after one has finished reading Silent Came the Monster, and the thrills and chills are over, one is left with a strange feeling, a sort of melancholy. My thoughts keep returning to that rogue shark and how it terrified an entire nation. I keep thinking about how those poor innocent people assumed they were safe enjoying a pleasant swim, a perfect way to escape the blistering heat. Instead, they suffered through such gruesomely tragic deaths. After reading Amy Hill Hearth’s book, my fascination with sharks has been amplified and will probably stay like that for a long time to come.

I was amazed that the story in Silent Came The Monster is based on actual events. In 1916, over a twelve day period, a great white shark attacked and killed four people in several areas around the New Jersey coast. Amy Hill Hearth brings the harrowing days to vivid life through her cast of characters.
Dr. Edwin Wesley has survived a shark attack in his youth. He knows the shark is real, not a giant sea turtle or German U-boat like the hysterical public thinks. Wesley tries to convince everyone of the danger while his debutante daughter would rather be lavished by her idiot boyfriend and president Woodrow Wilson's family.
As the attacks increase, hysteria grows along the Jersey coastline.
Hearth expertly captures the innocence of the period combined with the the growing epidemic of infantile paralysis and threat of war. Dr. Wesley wages a one man war on the shark the has the east coast in its jaws.
Silent Came The Monster is the perfect beach read. But read it at low tide. You really want to keep your legs intact.
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I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Silent Came the Monster by Amy Hill Hearth. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to N\etGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC.

This was a well-done fiction book about actual dramatic events. The combination of the New Jersey shark attacks, the polio pandemic, and World War I highlighted Americans' tragic trials in the early 1900s. I especially enjoyed the POV of the doctor that tried to let the public know the dangers of Sharks. After the supposed shark was caught, the story lost a bit of steam. It finished on a quiet note, but overall I really enjoyed the story. I give this book 4/5 stars.

I was delighted when I saw this title on Netgalley.

I've long been obsessed with sharks, going back to reading Peter Benchley's Jaws in 1974. It forever changed the way I look at the ocean.

This is well researched historical fiction about the same series of shark attacks in 2016 at the Jersey shore at a time when we had very little knowledge of the dangers of the sea. It's thoughtful and well written.

Thank you to to the publisher and Negalley for allowing me to read this digital ARC.

Thoroughly enjoyed this fictionalized telling of the 1916 Jersey Shore shark attacks. Having spent many days in my youth at “the shore” this was an amazing story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book!

Oh boy! This is the true story of JAWS, what's not to love?

I think I should have read this at the beach to be more immersive. I think it's a good story, and there's clearly the struggle between humans and nature, the monster that could really exist. A good read that makes very real the frustration of trying to convince people in power to care about others' well-being before it's too late.

This is a good historical fiction for shark lovers. It was interesting learning about these attacks, however the story was a bit slow for me. I did enjoy it however and would recommend.

As a person who looks forward to shark week every summer this was an intersting read. Ive always found sharks fascinating, as long as I'm very far away from the water, and enjoyed learning more about them and why we find them scary. The first time I saw a large (dangerous) shark in person I was 30 and at the georgia aquarium and it was one of the most exhilarting experiences of my life.

Silent Came the Monster is a tale based on a true story that looks at why we find sharks terrifying and the nature of society, I found it to be an interesting read full of things that were equal parts fascinating and terrifying. Amy's characters are full of all types of people from all wlaks of life in the early 20th century.

Synopsis:
During the summer of 1916, a surgeon fights denial, conspiracy theories, defiance, and confusion as he tries to convince a skeptical public that a man-eating shark, not a German U-boat or giant sea turtle, is the culprit behind a series of ongoing, fatal attacks at the Jersey Shore. Inspired by true events known as “the real JAWS.”

“Sharks are as timid as rabbits.” So says a superintendent of the Coast Guard, dismissing the possibility that a shark could be the culprit in an unprecedented fatal attack on a swimmer at the Jersey Shore.

It’s July 1916, a time when little is known about ocean creatures, and swimming in the sea is a relatively new pastime. Americans up and down the East Coast are shocked and mystified by the swimmer’s death. Little do they know that this is only the beginning.

A prominent surgeon at the shore, Dr. Halsey, after examining the wounds of the first victim, is the only person who believes that the creature is a shark and that it will strike again. But the public as well as the authorities—and even those who witnessed the attacks—don’t believe him. Dr. Halsey finds himself fighting widespread confusion, conspiracy theories, defiance, and outright denial of the shark.

Seeking the input of commercial fishermen, Dr. Halsey learns that they have long been concerned about a creature they call the beast. The local Native Americans, the Lenape, have their own beliefs as well.

The shark attacks occur in an already fraught time. A brutal war rages in Europe, and Americans are divided about becoming involved. Meanwhile, an unprecedented outbreak of “infantile paralysis” (polio) creates widespread panic. Into this scenario, the sea monster arrives. But what is it? Theories range from a huge mackerel to a giant sea turtle, or even a German submarine.

The story of the 1916 Jersey Shore shark, believed to be a great white, changed the way Americans think of the seashore, reminding us once again that nature plays by its own rules.

If you like historical novels, this book is for you. Everything is accurate and well written. It’s just lacking suspense for me. Others will love itt. I’m glad I read it though. Recommend for historical fiction fans.

This is a well crafted fictional telling of the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916. I was very impressed with all of the research and evidence based components in this retelling of the shark attacks that inspired Jaws. I thought the build in the first half of the book could be. a bit slow at times. I believe the author went too much in to having us invest in Stanley as a person, after we already decided we liked him.

Sharks have been a huge part of our family, despite the fact we live in Indiana. My 7 year old daughter has loved them since she was a baby. We used to sit her in front of aquarium shark cams as the only way to calm her down. Since then she has continued to tell everyone that Sharks are her favorite animal and encouraged our family to do things to help the oceans. For example, she stopped eating anything I sent in her lunch that was in a single use plastic.

It amazes me how far our knowledge of sharks has come in the last hundred years, and how much more we have to learn!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

"Sharks are as timid as rabbits." So says a superintendent of the Coast Guard, dismissing the possibility that a shark could be the culprit in an unprecedented fatal attack on a swimmer at the Jersey Shore.

It's July 1916, a time when little is known about ocean creatures, and swimming in the sea is a relatively new pastime. Americans up and down the East Coast are shocked and mystified by the swimmer's death. Little do they know that this is only the beginning."

Having been born by the sea and spending my first thirty years living by it, I have always been fascinated by what lies beneath that often glassy surface. Add to that watching the eponymous film Jaws at a very young age, and you can imagine, my eyes lit up when I saw that there was a possibility of reading an ARC of Amy Hill Hearth's first-ever historical thriller, Silent Came the Monster, on NetGalley. After submitting my request, I checked my emails constantly in the hope I would be selected, and then the confirmation came through, and my life was made!

I flew through this book at a rate of knots as I could not put it down. In the opening chapter, it's 1880, and the captain of a 19ft catboat (named so by fishermen having to shoo cats from the boat that were after the dead fish) and his greenhorn deckhand are being stalked by something in the water...

"The deckhand saw it first. Sweet Jesus, what is that? he asked himself. Before he could get a good look, the creature dove beneath the surface." 

From this opening chapter, the story jumps forward to the first of July 1916 and the start of Independence Day celebrations, which means only one thing for the small beachside community of Beach Haven...tourists. And for the shark...potential luncheon. It is at this early point in the story we meet the main protagonist Dr. Edwin Halsey, a surgeon called out on an emergency visit to the Engleside Hotel in Beach Haven. His patient? The victim of what appears to be a shark attack.

 With the war ongoing in Europe, an outbreak of Polio, and more victims of this mysterious monster piling up, Dr. Halsey must fight to convince the locals that this is not a monster, a German submarine, or "The Beast" that the local fisherman have come to call it, but a living and very real thing. A thing that has the power to remind them all that no matter how in control they think they are, nature inevitably plays by its own rules...

This is not just a story about the horrific attacks that took the lives of four people in the twelve days that the shark roamed the shores; it is a story of courage, hope, grief, and resilience in the face of adversity. The characters are all beautifully written and have a tremendous depth that adds so much emotion to the story. And also, this book is peppered with beautiful snippets of local history, which, for any history buff, makes this book all the more difficult to put down! Reading this book has opened my eyes to so much more than just the shark attacks of 1916; I will also be looking to learn more about the Lenape people who inhabited that area for thousands of years before the colonists arrived as well as other facts that arose.

A huge thank you to Amy for putting your heart and soul into this book. Your knowledge of history shines through your writing, and it was a privilege to get to read it. And to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sending me an ARC and making this bookworm's life. Thank you.

Silent Came the Monster is an interesting novel about the 1916 shark attacks on the Jersey Shore. I've always been a shark lover, having grown up watching Shark Week since I was a little kid, and I've always been interested in this particular little blip in history. The novel is very well researched, and I enjoyed finding out that the author is from the area, so her interest in writing the novel had to do with her personal experiences with the area's history. Sometimes the book reads like it's a middle grade novel, so I was a little surprised to find that it's apparently being marketed as a book for adults. Overall, though, I enjoyed it and was glad to see such a fascinating moment in history be given a tribute of its own in historical fiction!

I have read several accounts of the New Jersey shark attacks of 1916, but this fictionalized version based on true events is by far the most enjoyable. The author uses points of view of people involved (some real, some not) to give first person accounts. It is a mostly true story that reads like a thriller.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

I love sharks so I immediately requested this book. I found it to be very similar to Jaws. However, it is based on true events and I do believe Jaws was also loosely based off these same shark attacks. I don’t know how much of the story was true and how much was fiction, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless.