Correa wrote this book in secret, a departure from his normal style, he wasn’t given much encouragement. When the pandemic hit, he found the time to finish and his editor loved it. His cross over book for me was slow, too slow. Leah has akinetopsia, or motion blindness. She can see more than others think, but she can’t see movement. With her blindness her mind captures images like photographs and her sense of smell is heightened so much that she can see them. She can also hear what others say from quite a distance and when a new neighbor moves in next door, she’s immediately worried for her safety. Sure that she needs her help, Leah makes a quick decision to help Alice, a decision that tests her strength courage and sanity. From the start the reader isn’t quite sure if Leah is an unreliable narrator or if she’s a victim of her own circumstances. There are some nice twists, but the pace and choppiness of the short chapters takes away from the overall story. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

3.5/5!

I love a shorter thriller and The Silence In Her Eyes hits this mark by coming in at under 300 pages.

Within the pages of this book we meet our main character, Leah, who has just lost her mother and is learning to navigate a solo life while living with motion blindness. I didn’t know much about akinetopsia before picking this book up, but it felt like Correa was able to create a realistic representation of what life with this condition would be like. I really enjoyed how this played into Leah’s investigation of the strange series of events that start happening to and around her throughout this story.

The twists throughout this story were great and some were completely unexpected. What was lost on me was the repetitive feel that the story would take on at times. I felt like I was reading in a loop at certain points or there were exaggerated repetitions of facts we already knew. This could be a result of the translation for this story.

Overall, if you’re looking for a quick and interesting read, I definitely recommend giving this one a try!

A huge thank you to Atria for my gifted copy!

I wasn’t a huge fan of this book due to the slow build-up and lack of a really good climax/twist. I was intrigued by the possibilities this book had based off her eye condition.the author did a great job of describing how she sees things and the world around her, but in the end it was just too slow for my liking.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and author Armando Lucas Correa for this gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A thriller with a bookstagrammer?! Yes please!

This book was so interesting with the MC’s diagnosis and how it effects her interactions with the world as she can’t see items in movement but can see them when still based on her head injury from years prior.

The way her diagnosis and symptoms were weaved throughout the book to add to the story telling and created unreliable narrative vibes was so well done!

If you are looking for a different kind of thriller, I would definitely recommend this one! Thank you so much Atria for my ARC in exchange for my review!

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. Leah has akinetopsia and she can see objects and people as long as they aren’t moving, and her other senses are really keen. Recently, Alice moved in next door and she seems to be having issues with her marriage and Leah hears what’s going on through the walls in her apartment. Leah befriends Alice and she winds ups telling Leah what’s going on with her. Leah wants to help and she does and all of these bad things start happening. The ending was crazy and unexpected!

Intriguing premise and filled with suspense.

I was hooked from the beginning of this book! Correa’s voice was strong throughout, keeping me turning the pages until the very end. The protagonist, Leah, lives with a form of visual impairment called akinetopsia, or motion blindness. Something I’d never heard of before but which created an intriguing premise. A clever detail which heightened her other senses, and an interesting angle to use in order to when describing her altered perceptions of her environment and people around her. However it also confused me, and I felt disoriented at times (which may have been the point). I love reading stories set in NYC, and this one was of personal interest to me since it took place in an apartment building a few blocks from where I used to live. The short chapters quickened the pace up and the characters felt very real. Leah’s motion blindness left me feeling suspicious of everyone around her, since it was difficult to pick up on their reactions, making Leah the perfect unreliable narrator.

After the midpoint, I found the story confusing at times, unable to tell what was real due to Leah’s state of panic. The reasoning behind the murder felt odd, as did the relationship between Alice and Mark, and their reasons for befriending Leah. Leah was an intriguing protagonist but the reveal of her true nature at the end came as a shock considering the lack of references to suggest otherwise (apart from the midpoint). I would have liked to read a different POV from someone who observed Leah, instead of it all coming directly from her. Her impaired perceptions definitely created suspense, but it also left a lot of the side characters feeling flat.

3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️

For readers who enjoy complex female characters, psychological suspense, and twisty reveals.

2.5 stars rounded to 3. While THE SILENCE IN HER EYES has a unique and original plot, the story itself suffers from plot holes and repetitive descriptions and dialogue that feels unnecessary and makes the book difficult to get through. I almost DNFed this book several times but decided to keep going. The plot felt all over the place.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a pleasant departure from Correa's previous books. It's a gripping, leisurely unfolding mystery around a condition you don't read about in fiction. The reader is watching the world through the eyes of a woman who cannot see movement. It's the perfect novel setup, right?

There were a few hiccups, such as Leah making photographer friends that vanish from the storyline. Their inclusion in the story felt a bit like filler and didn't move the story forward. I found a few parts within the novel that felt that way.

However, I enjoyed the premise of this novel and the directions Correa takes the reader.

Armando Lucas Correa crafts a gripping narrative around Leah, a woman living with akinetopsia, a condition that renders her unable to see movement. Despite her unique challenge, Leah's heightened senses of smell and hearing grant her a perceptiveness that extends beyond the visual realm. Her quiet life takes a tumultuous turn when a new neighbor, Alice, moves in next door, bringing with her the palpable scent of anxiety.

The story cleverly weaves together themes of sensory perception, courage, and the impact of trauma. Leah's ability to sense her surroundings becomes a powerful tool as she navigates the complexities of her own life and the troubles unfolding in Alice's world. The author skillfully captures the tension and fear in Leah's experiences, especially when she becomes an unwitting witness to a violent altercation in Alice's apartment.

Leah's decision to befriend Alice, despite the risks, showcases her resilience and empathy. As the narrative unfolds, the boundaries between reality and Leah's perception blur, adding an intriguing layer of psychological suspense. The scent of an intruder lingers, and when Leah hears Alice's plea for help, she embarks on a journey that tests not only her courage and strength but also her grip on sanity.

The novel delves into the complexities of human connection and the lengths one is willing to go to help another. It also explores the fragility of mental well-being and the impact of trauma on individuals. As Leah grapples with the consequences of her decisions, the story builds to a crescendo of suspense, leaving us on the edge of our seats.

I just reviewed The Silence in Her Eyes by Armando Lucas Correa. #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for a review. I thought the pacing was fast and kept me engaged. The twist at the end though!!!

The Silence in Her Eyes is a propulsive thriller with a unique protagonist and is one of the most unique characters I have experienced. Leah is a 28 year old New Yorker who after a traumatic childhood event developed akinetopsis or motion blindness. She uses a white cane to walk since once movement occurs everything she sees becomes distorted and disappears. She often questions her reality and wonders what she sees is in fact real or a hallucination. I loved this character and was fascinated by how she navigated the world with her choppy, fragmented world view along with her extraordinary sense of hearing and smell. Her world is small, with a close circle of family and friends which is growing smaller everyday. When a beautiful and mysterious new neighbour moves in Leah befriends her and her quiet life is suddenly faced with new threats and danger.

I gave this book a resounding 5 stars because I couldn’t put it down, it grabbed my attention right away and didn’t stop until the jaw dropping ending. I loved the posh NYC prewar apartment setting, the unreliable narration that was disjointed at times just as a person with akinetopsis would experience things, the multiple twists and turns, and the WOW ending.

Trigger warning- Gaslighting
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this eARC which will be published Jan 16 2024.

While I very much appreciate the free ARC in exchange for an honest review, I have to say that this just wasn’t for me. I had a difficult time getting into the story and can’t pinpoint exactly why. DNF at 50%.

I really enjoy reading books by Armando Lucas Correa. "The Silence in Her Eyes" is a fascinating murder mystery, where the star character, Leah, suffers from motion blindness/akinetopsia. Set in Manhattan, with lots of guesses and "obscured vision" for the reader, as we follow this great, surprising, twisted tale. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

THE SILENCE IN HER EYES
Armando Lucas Correa

Shhh, be still. If you blink your eyes, you'll miss it.

In THE SILENCE IN HER EYES, we are following Leah. Leah suffers from akinetopsia, a rare condition that expresses itself as motion blindness. This condition began when Leah was young. She has had it most of her life and has adapted as much as she can.

We meet up with her just before a new neighbor, Alice, moves into the building. Leah becomes interested in her. Leah's interest soon begins to verge on obsession and the line between voyeur and friend becomes blurred.

Then one day Leah thinks she hears Alice in an altercation with a man Leah has known to visit Alice from time to time. A man who smells of Bergamot. Leah makes an irreversible decision that will change her and Alice’s life forever.

THE SILENCE IN HER EYES is very delicate. If your mood shifts, if you get interrupted, if your second cup of coffee is too hot, if it’s too noisy in the background you will lose the quality of stillness it has. If you set it down for too long you will wonder where the plot is.

To catch this vibe, you must be very, very quiet. If I sat with the horrifying reality of this condition, it was effective. And I can see it being shot for the big screen in shadows, movements in the blink of an eye, and so forth.

THE SILENCE IN HER EYES is an anxiety-inducing, slow-rolling boil. A simmer pot that I recommend for those quiet times by yourself in the morning or in the minutes you steal before sleep takes you.

I gave THE SILENCE IN HER EYES three stars and although I enjoyed most of my time reading, it was just a bit too slow for me to truly dive in.

THE SILENCE IN HER EYES comes out next Tuesday, January 16, 2024!

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy of the book!

THE SILENCE IN HER EYES…⭐️⭐️⭐️

This novel explores the world of Leah, who is a woman living with a rare condition that renders her unable to see movement. She leads a quiet and orderly life, which soon changes when she becomes involved with her neighbor's nasty divorce.

There was good story building with tension and suspense, particularly when Leah tries to intervene with the neighbor's troubled situation. We get to see her character develop with courage and strength in the face of adversity.

I feel like the execution of the plot kind of fell flat. The pacing felt sluggish and moments of suspense felt like they never really reached the 'climax' of the situation. A lot of the characters also felt very underdeveloped, which just felt lacking to me.

3/5 stars

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

THE SILENCE IN HER EYES, had an interesting plot line. I had never heard of akinetopsia or motion blindness, so I was eager to read it and learn more. Once Leah became involved with helping her new neighbor, Alice, I knew something wasn't right. I'd say the last 30% percent of the story was the best and I had a hard time putting it down. I surely did not expect that ending and it definitely surprised me. Overall, this was a clever book, that I can recommend. I also want to note, this was the author's first thriller and he is mainly known for writing historical fiction. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next in the thriller genre.

Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) within the next week.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a readers copy of this book. My reviews never contain spoilers and are freely given.
The story centers around Leah, who suffers from a form of blindness that cannot see movement. She sees the world as snapshots and only of things that remain perfectly still. She lives alone and has a housekeeper who visits and assists her. As a result of blindness, her other senses are heightened. When a woman moves in next door, strange smells and voices begin to torment Leah. Her efforts to understand the strange occurrences lead her down a sinister path. Who can she trust? Can she trust herself?
I enjoyed the story and the character. Some of my instincts as to what was truly happening were close to correct, nevertheless the story, plot, and characters make it a very compelling read.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feedback are my own.

I was excited to read this book because the premise seemed very compelling and I've heard that Correa's historical fiction has been very well received. I am so sad that this was such a miss for me.
The story was okay until about the halfway point, probably a three-star read, but the time jump and plot left-turn was a real struggle to get through.

Normally I try to make these reviews have some depth to them, but I'm going to keep this to a bulleted list to keep myself from getting too deep into the weeds on any one point.

- The crux of this book - that the protagonist has akinetopsia - is compelling but ends up not being essential to the plot at all.
- Despite the fact that our protagonist, Leah, can still very much see (all she is lacking is the ability to see movement), she has developed Daredevil-like abilities of hearing and smell that it's too unbelievable for me to ascribe to.
- Similar to the previous point, I simply cannot suspend my disbelief to the point where I'm okay with the fact that Leah can simply stop using her sense of smell on command.
- Our protagonist leaps to conclusions like she's a professional hurdler and yet she is somehow always right.
- I actually called the reveal of this book about 20% of the way in, so I'm glad that it went the direction that it did, but the big twist seemed anticlimactic and poorly executed.
- There is backstory with a specific character that is alluded to have meaning to the mystery/plot Leah is trying to solve, but the point is ultimately meaningless and has no real reason to be included except as an unbelievable red herring.
- In fact, a lot of the subplots in this story (see: the reason for the title of the book) end up not contributing to the plot in any meaningful way, leaving me wondering why they were included in the first place.
I didn't know what akinetopsia was going into this book, but I only needed one explanation to get the idea, and yet Leah uses the same explanations and description for her condition at least five times (probably more) throughout the book. I felt like I was being patronized or like the author thought I'd forgotten.
- The writing was almost painful at points. From a very "tell-not-show" style to laughable scenes (like the one where Leah takes a photo of bergamot, captions it "bergamot" and posts it to Instagram to her 100k+ follower photography page), a thriller that is supposed to be taken seriously shouldn't have points where I'm snorting out loud.

I'll end this by saying that I believe Correa is a talented historical fiction writer, and the premise here could have been promising. This just wasn't the hit it could have been. I could see some people enjoying this book for the mystery and the thrill of the reveal, but overall I don't think I'll be recommending this one.

Thank you to NetGallery for giving me an early release copy of The Silence In Her Eyes by Armando Lucas Correa, this book will come out on January sixteenth of 2024.

Spoiler Free Review:
The Silence In Her Eyes premise is intriguing, I wasn’t even aware motion blindness was a thing, it was an interesting topic to read about. I liked how the author used that when another sense is lost others senses are heightened kind of troupe. Another thing I liked about this book has to be the writing format, it reads smoothly and it looks good.

However my thoughts on The Silence In Her Eyes are that it was just okay. The book really focuses on Leah’s motion blindness as well as some struggles for independence. I thought that Leah got attached to other characters too easily even if she hardly knew them, her motion blindness got brought up so many times that it became repetitive. The thriller/horror element felt more like a subplot that left me some unanswered questions and confusion. Towards the end, it felt like the thriller/horror element was left out until the last chapter. The ending was decent I think it will shock a lot of readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book.

The premise of this book immediately drew me in. For one, I am a huge sucker for 1. a good mystery and 2. a book with a main character who has a disability. I am a moderate-severe special education teacher and I am always going to grab anything to help me understand my students more, or understand a less mentioned type of disability.

Akinetopsia or motion blindness, was not a disability which I had previously heard about, so I immediately wanted to learn more. In this type of blindness, the brain struggles to compute motion, and instead gives a person freeze frame images of motion- almost like a slow gif where placement of objects or people change when the individual blinks. From what I was able to understand from a little extra research, it looks like an individual can be born with it or develop it from brain trauma, like our main character Leah. I found it fascinating that Leah can actually see very well in fact, but only stationary images.

Leah was quite a fascinating character, and I kind of wanted to be her friend. She is somewhat reclusive, but also really wants to have positive relationships and good friends. When her new neighbor Alice moved in, the readers get to know some of Leah's real strengths. She not only has excellent hearing, but also has an innate ability to sense other's feelings and emotions (almost aura like). Alice, her new friend, is in trouble, but how? and why?

Not only is Leah worried about her friend, and what trouble she is in, but Leah also has a stalker who leaves behind the peculiar scent of bergamot. Leah knows this person has been into her apartment, as his scent lingers where he's been. But why has he come into her apartment, and why can she smell this scent in Alice's apartment too? Is the person behind smell of earl gray tea to blame for Alice's bruises and anxiousness?

The twists that this book takes are insane. As soon as I though I had figured out what was going on, I obviously had not. I did not put the full picture together until the last page, and wow.

This book was a quick read, as I wanted to figure out what the heck was going on and who this dangerous scented man was. Not only that, but I was worried for both Leah and Alice throughout the book.

If you want a book that will keep you guessing until the end- pick this one up. You won't regret it.