After loving The Secret Voices and newcomer to the crime solving genre, Dr Cora Lael, I was counting down the days for the next instalment to be released. When Rachel’s Random Resources invited me to the tour for The Silent Child by MJ White, I jumped at the chance to be involved.
Scroll down to see if this was all I wanted it to be.
Book Review: The Silent Child by M J White
Title: The Silent Child
Author: M J White
Publisher: Hera
Genre: Crime, psychological thriller
Release Date: 3rd November 2022
Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3yiWXZT
Blurb
When a body is discovered at an abandoned Suffolk farm, DS Rob Minshull and the squad believes it’s the latest casualty of the drugs war terrorising rural communities. But when the victim is identified as a well-respected local teacher, the case is thrown wide open.
While they hunt the murderer, the South Suffolk CID team face a new threat. A brutal vigilante group dispensing their own twisted justice puts the investigation in grave danger, as well as the detectives.
Educational psychologist, Dr Cora Lael, is called in to work with Lottie Arundel, a troubled teen who stopped speaking a year ago.
As Cora enters Lottie’s world, it seems that the teen’s silence might hold the key to the case. But as Cora and Rob work together to find a vicious killer, it’s clear that uncovering Lottie’s secrets will take Cora and Rob into the most dangerous of places – where the price to pay for the truth might be death…
My Thoughts
The Secret Voices was one of those books which not only gave me a book hangover, but the voice of Hannah and Cora remained with me. I desperately wanted to read The Silent Child but after such a strong beginning would this one live up to my high expectations? I needn’t have worried, MJ White’s writing and strength of characterisation shone. Her style lends itself to a series because the extended time frame allows the relationships between the CID team and Cora seen in The Secret Voices to slowly evolve. The strong connections I already felt for them were built on and cemented, engaging me in not only the case but there personal lives. These added layers give a fuller and deeper experience so while this book can be read as a standalone, I’d recommend reading The Secret Voices first. You won’t be disappointed.
Meeting the CID team again was like switching on the tv series, Vera and seeing how her life and the others had developed. This may only be book 2 but already I felt an attachment for them especially Anderson and Ellis. Like good detective series, there is much story potential in each member and it will be fun witnessing them develop in the future.
.
The story jumped into the action with the discovery of a dead body and I was hooked. A year had passed since Cora was involved in a police case and she was now working as an educational psychologist. Her talent for hearing voices from objects were being used in different ways. It was lovely to catch up with her and DS Rob Minshull as their cases collide and see how their relationship has deepened. The ‘maybe more than good friends’ chemistry between them along with the gallows banter in the team gave some welcome relief against the traumatic case.
Told in several points of view, the reader sees an overview of the case adding to the fear and tension as the story unfolded. This book delved deep into the dark places of society so it’s not for the faint hearted but it is told with care and sensitivity despite being a tense, gripping read. With unexpected twists and revelations, I couldn’t put this down leading to another sleepless night but it was so worth it.
Would I recommend?
Oh yes. The cases of Dr Cora Lael and the Suffolk CID under DS Minshull are ones to follow and read. It’s perfect for these darker nights and for fans of crime procedural books and tv shows like Vera. Once you’ve met Cora and Rob Minshull you’ll never forget them and like me will be counting down the days until the next case.
Author Biography
MJ White is the pseudonym of bestselling author Miranda Dickinson, author of twelve books, including six Sunday Times bestsellers. Her books have been translated into ten languages, selling over a million copies worldwide. A long time lover of crime fiction, The Secret Voices is her debut crime series. She is a singer-songwriter, host of weekly Facebook Live show, Fab Night In Chatty Thing..
Social Media Links
https://www.instagram.com/wurdsmyth/
Thank you Random Thing Tours for inviting me to this tour and providing an advanced copy for me to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion.
Love
Kate Kenzie Writes 