It seemed to begin when Joey McCarthy was stabbed to death in a pub car park. He'd arrived in his posh (if not quite new) car and lost his life in a random attack of violence. Charlotte Stone's mother died not long afterwards. There wasn't really anything suspicious about this (although her children thought that their father hadn't really done enough to help) and soon after two teenage friends committed suicide. Then DC Gary Goodhew found the body of another suicide victim and it brought to mind another investigation which had a profound effect on him - and a connection was made between him and Charlotte Stone.
| The Silence by Alison Bruce | |
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| Category: Crime | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: I struggle to believe in DC Goodhew but this is a damned good story which keeps you guessing right to the end. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 320 | Date: July 2012 |
| Publisher: Constable | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-1849012034 | |
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What if this wasn't a 'cluster' of teen suicides? What if there was something - something sinister - linking these deaths? Worst of all - what if this was not the last death? It's a great plot - I really couldn't see where it was going and what the answer would be, but when I got to the end it really seemed as though it should have been obvious to me all along, but I was on completely the wrong track. There's a real sense of location too - you'll feel as though you're in the city from the very start of the book.
I should have really enjoyed this book. I should be raving about it but DC Gary Goodhew annoys the hell out of me. Let's forget that his strongest relationship appears to be with his grandmother. I suppose that that does happen with some men in their late twenties. He must also be a nightmare to work with as he's constantly going his own way. Orders are taken as suggestions that he might like to try something different and he never falls flat on his face. In other words, I simply can't believe in him. Which is a pity, because it's a damned good story.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
This is the fourth DC Gary Goodhew story. They all read well as standalones but if you want to start at the beginning with Cambridge Blue.
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Silence by Alison Bruce at Amazon.com.
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