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Code of Silence #1
Code of Silence
Telling the Truth Could Get Them Killed. Remaining Silent Could Be Worse.When Cooper, Hiro, and Gordy witness a robbery that leaves a man in a coma, they find themselves tangled in a web of mystery and deceit that threatens their lives. After being seen by the criminals---who may also be cops---Cooper makes everyone promise never to reveal what they have seen. Telling the truth could kill them. But remaining silent means an innocent man takes the fall and a friend never receives justice. Is there ever a time to lie? And what happens when the truth is dangerous? The three friends, trapped in a code of silence, must face the consequences of choosing right or wrong when both options have their price.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
87 people are currently reading
1007 people want to read
About the author
Tim Shoemaker
35 books89 followersTim Shoemaker is a speaker and author of eight books, including Dangerous Devotions for Guys; Smashed Tomatoes, Bottle Rockets, and Other Outdoor Devotionals; and Mashed Potatoes, Paint Balls, and Other Indoor/Outdoor Devotionals. He has three grown sons and has been happily married for over 32 years. His debut into the juvenile fiction market draws from his experience with kids as a volunteer youth leader for more than sixteen years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
December 26, 2014
I'm going to try to review this without giving any spoilers. This is going to be hard.
So, the book starts out with Cooper, Hiro, and Gordy hanging out at Frank n' Stien's diner. Frank is like a grandfather to them. So, it's time to close up, but Frank lets the kids stay while he cleans up. Coop and Gordy are about to play another round of an arcade game when Hiro says they need to leave. NOW. She has a bad feeling and knows they need to get out of there, and fast. Gordy just kind of waves her off, but Coop sees the fear and urgency in her, and knows they need to get out. So he calls for Frank. No reply. He was taking the trash out. Suddenly the back door opens and Frank stumbles in. Like someone pushed him. Which is exactly what happened. Coop, Gordy, and Hiro hide, and then witness two men beat up Frank and make him give them the code to his safe. They then beat him repeatedly, until they think he's dead. And the men are dressed like cops. Then Mr. Lucky comes in. The three men take the money from the safe, and attempt to steal a computer hard drive from the security cameras. But Coop gets the hard drive and gets his friends out.
They now have no idea who they can trust. If those men are cops, they can't go to the police. So they make a Code of Silence, don't tell anyone what happened. And stay safe.
But will that really work?
I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint is we didn't hear enough about why they stole the money, so I was still a little confused at the end. But maybe that's just me. :)
So, I highly recommend this book, it's one of my new favorites.
So, the book starts out with Cooper, Hiro, and Gordy hanging out at Frank n' Stien's diner. Frank is like a grandfather to them. So, it's time to close up, but Frank lets the kids stay while he cleans up. Coop and Gordy are about to play another round of an arcade game when Hiro says they need to leave. NOW. She has a bad feeling and knows they need to get out of there, and fast. Gordy just kind of waves her off, but Coop sees the fear and urgency in her, and knows they need to get out. So he calls for Frank. No reply. He was taking the trash out. Suddenly the back door opens and Frank stumbles in. Like someone pushed him. Which is exactly what happened. Coop, Gordy, and Hiro hide, and then witness two men beat up Frank and make him give them the code to his safe. They then beat him repeatedly, until they think he's dead. And the men are dressed like cops. Then Mr. Lucky comes in. The three men take the money from the safe, and attempt to steal a computer hard drive from the security cameras. But Coop gets the hard drive and gets his friends out.
They now have no idea who they can trust. If those men are cops, they can't go to the police. So they make a Code of Silence, don't tell anyone what happened. And stay safe.
But will that really work?
I really enjoyed this book. My only complaint is we didn't hear enough about why they stole the money, so I was still a little confused at the end. But maybe that's just me. :)
So, I highly recommend this book, it's one of my new favorites.
November 3, 2024
5 stars!! I love this book! Just finished my reread, enjoyed this book just as much as the last time!
Oh my gosh, this was amazing. From the every first page, I was hooked. I started this on a plane and read for three hours straight. This book gave me so much to think about. The way Cooper responds to the robbery is how I would in the way that I would be hesitant to go to the police if the robbers were in police outfits. So I was wrestling with the questions along with him. And the plot twist in this book had my jaw on the floor. one of the best 'HOW did I not see that moments' I can remember having with any book.
I meet Tim Shoemaker at the Great Homeschool Convention this past March. His writing talk was one of the best I've ever heard. The internal conflict of these characters in incredible. I used this book as an example in a Hero's Journey essay I wrote. It's that good!
I highly recommend for 13+
Content: robbery leaves man in a coma. Some violence, like two paragraphs that are semi descriptive. Gun shots fired, but no know gets hurt. Lots of lies but that is portrayed as bad in the end.
Oh my gosh, this was amazing. From the every first page, I was hooked. I started this on a plane and read for three hours straight. This book gave me so much to think about. The way Cooper responds to the robbery is how I would in the way that I would be hesitant to go to the police if the robbers were in police outfits. So I was wrestling with the questions along with him. And the plot twist in this book had my jaw on the floor. one of the best 'HOW did I not see that moments' I can remember having with any book.
I meet Tim Shoemaker at the Great Homeschool Convention this past March. His writing talk was one of the best I've ever heard. The internal conflict of these characters in incredible. I used this book as an example in a Hero's Journey essay I wrote. It's that good!
I highly recommend for 13+
Content: robbery leaves man in a coma. Some violence, like two paragraphs that are semi descriptive. Gun shots fired, but no know gets hurt. Lots of lies but that is portrayed as bad in the end.
January 14, 2013
Truly a heart pounding adventure, Code of Silence, written by Tim Shoemaker had me on my toes night after night. The way Shoemaker finished off each chapter with an even stronger conflict than the last made it impossible to put the book down. Besides the overwhelming suspense set on by Shoemaker, the story follows the lives of three teenagers, Cooper, Hiro and Gordy. Another aspect of the story I enjoyed was being so similar in age to the characters which made relating to both them and the story that much easier. In the Book Code of Silence, the friends; Cooper, Hiro and Gordy witness the near murder and robbery of their friend Frank, owner of Frank n Steins restaurant. Leaving Frank in a coma, the three friends escaped, but, at a price. The robbers have Coopers house key and have seen his face and to make it worse, they were wearing cop pants. Facing an incredible load of stress, Cooper and his friends make a pact to stay silent while they do their best to expose the robbers while avoiding the police altogether. The way that Shoemaker pulls in the reader creates an amazing effect that leaves the reader too intrigued to set the book down. Here is a passage of how he does this so well. "Cooper turned the key, and the latch clunked open. He pulled open the door, and a burglar alarm pierced the silence. Shrill and pulsing, the siren screamed loud enough to wake the dead - or get them killed." Do Cooper and his friends risk their lives by telling the truth or help Frank receive justice?
February 1, 2021
I absolutely loved this middle-grade book. Cooper and his two friends witness a crime. Afraid that the perpetrators will track them down they make a pact—the Code of Silence. They believe by keeping silent, they will stay safe and protect those that are suddenly in danger. But as they continue this agreement, the lies they must tell, continue to grow ultimately threatening their friendships.
This book has so many amazing discussion topics. As a reader, you sympathize with Cooper and his decisions, but they bring up some fantastic moral dilemmas. Is it okay to lie? Is keeping silent different than being untruthful? What would we do in a similar situation when things aren’t always so black and white? What do we do when we aren’t sure who we can trust?
Throughout the difficult moments, Cooper and his friends continue to pray and try to do the right thing. This exciting, action-packed story is the first in a series.
This book has so many amazing discussion topics. As a reader, you sympathize with Cooper and his decisions, but they bring up some fantastic moral dilemmas. Is it okay to lie? Is keeping silent different than being untruthful? What would we do in a similar situation when things aren’t always so black and white? What do we do when we aren’t sure who we can trust?
Throughout the difficult moments, Cooper and his friends continue to pray and try to do the right thing. This exciting, action-packed story is the first in a series.
May 11, 2012
Review by Jill Williamson
Cooper, Gordy, and Hiro witness a robbery and an attack one night at their favorite milkshake restaurant that leaves the owner in a coma and them the only witnesses. They make a pact—a code of silence—not to tell anyone what they saw. But the lie weighs heavily on their minds. Cooper left his backpack at the restaurant, and the police are looking for him! But so are the bad guys and Cooper is afraid to talk to anyone.
Fabulous! I loved this book. It drew me in from the first page and I read it in a day. Cooper, Gordy, and Hiro are three unique characters, who each deal with the stress of what they saw in different ways. The mystery continues to the last page. This is a fun read for young and old readers. Check it out!
Cooper, Gordy, and Hiro witness a robbery and an attack one night at their favorite milkshake restaurant that leaves the owner in a coma and them the only witnesses. They make a pact—a code of silence—not to tell anyone what they saw. But the lie weighs heavily on their minds. Cooper left his backpack at the restaurant, and the police are looking for him! But so are the bad guys and Cooper is afraid to talk to anyone.
Fabulous! I loved this book. It drew me in from the first page and I read it in a day. Cooper, Gordy, and Hiro are three unique characters, who each deal with the stress of what they saw in different ways. The mystery continues to the last page. This is a fun read for young and old readers. Check it out!
July 30, 2018
4.5 stars.
This book was recommended to me by some friends, but I wasn't really sure what to expect from it. But right from the beginning, it hooked me and pulled me into the story and kept me engaged the entire time! The characters and their situation are actually realistic and it leaves you questioning what you would do in their situation. This was a really good book that was full of suspense and I'm excited to read the rest of the series. The only thing is, I had kinda figured out who the "bad guy" was before it told me, so it was a little predictable for me at the end personally. However, I did not expect everything ELSE that happened at the end... so this was a great read overall and not super challenging!
This book was recommended to me by some friends, but I wasn't really sure what to expect from it. But right from the beginning, it hooked me and pulled me into the story and kept me engaged the entire time! The characters and their situation are actually realistic and it leaves you questioning what you would do in their situation. This was a really good book that was full of suspense and I'm excited to read the rest of the series. The only thing is, I had kinda figured out who the "bad guy" was before it told me, so it was a little predictable for me at the end personally. However, I did not expect everything ELSE that happened at the end... so this was a great read overall and not super challenging!
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May 11, 2016I dont have my book right now but im almost done.
June 18, 2025
It was good. It definitely could have been better but I did keep reading it.
August 1, 2013
Cooper, Hiro and Gordy are best friends who like to spend afternoons after school at their favorite handout Frank-N-Stein’s Restaurant. One evening they decided to play one more arcade game while their friend, mentor and owner Frank locks up. What happens next is the beginning of a nightmare. The three friends are trapped in the restaurant and witness the robbery and beating of Frank. When one of the robbers pulls and leaves the video that would incriminate them in the robbery, Cooper takes the opportunity to snatch it and escape. The others get away and Cooper is caught and his house keys taken and he is left with a threat to his family. He and his friends get away. They make a pact to keep what they know silent. They don’t know who they can trust because the robbers were dressed in police uniforms. Unfortunately Cooper’s backpack left at the scene put the cops and the criminals on his trail. His lies upon lies begin to catch up with him. It strains his relationship with his parents, his friends and with his relationship with God. This was one of those books that once you start you can’t put it down. The messages about doing the right thing, friendship, loyalty, honesty, lies and telling the truth can be found all through the book. When I give my book talk about this book I’m going to ask my students up front if they believe it is ever okay to tell a lie and ask for examples. Then I will introduce this book because people need to realize that just because you think it is okay to lie, there are consequences for each lie you tell. This is a book I definitely recommend to my students and all adults who love to read a good mystery.
March 24, 2016
I've known Tim Shoemaker for several years. I've heard him deliver morning devotions at Christian writer's conferences. But writing mystery? For kids? That's a new Tim to me.
I started reading. The pace picked up. The more I read, the better it got.
Then I got to the potato gun. The Spud-zooka. Yeah. That's the Tim I know. I have personally witnessed Tim freeze a hotdog. And a pickle. On the spot. Instantly. With dry ice. And make a devotion out of it.
Oh yeah. Uh-huh. That's the Tim I know.
I enjoyed this story!
Can I play detective? My understanding is this is the first of three books. This one starred Cooper, who has two friends: Hiro and Gordy. Do you think for the next two books will star Hiro in one and Gordy in the other? That's my guess.
So let's get it on, Zonderkids. Move it along. When's the next one due? I can't wait.
Get this book for your kids. They'll love it. I did. Mashed potatoes and all.
From March 18, 2012:
I just received this book in the mail from the publisher. It's by a friend of mine, Tim Shoemaker. I will see him in May at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference (www.WriteHisAnswer.com/Colorado), where he will be a key note speaker as well as teaching workshops.
I can't wait to dive into his book!
(I already have a few books going. Do I make myself finish them first? Or set them aside so I can read this now? Oh, such hard decisions...)
I started reading. The pace picked up. The more I read, the better it got.
Then I got to the potato gun. The Spud-zooka. Yeah. That's the Tim I know. I have personally witnessed Tim freeze a hotdog. And a pickle. On the spot. Instantly. With dry ice. And make a devotion out of it.
Oh yeah. Uh-huh. That's the Tim I know.
I enjoyed this story!
Can I play detective? My understanding is this is the first of three books. This one starred Cooper, who has two friends: Hiro and Gordy. Do you think for the next two books will star Hiro in one and Gordy in the other? That's my guess.
So let's get it on, Zonderkids. Move it along. When's the next one due? I can't wait.
Get this book for your kids. They'll love it. I did. Mashed potatoes and all.
From March 18, 2012:
I just received this book in the mail from the publisher. It's by a friend of mine, Tim Shoemaker. I will see him in May at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference (www.WriteHisAnswer.com/Colorado), where he will be a key note speaker as well as teaching workshops.
I can't wait to dive into his book!
(I already have a few books going. Do I make myself finish them first? Or set them aside so I can read this now? Oh, such hard decisions...)
April 29, 2012
4.5 Stars
When Cooper and his friends Hiro and Gordy witness a robbery and an attack on a close friend, they take on a Code of Silence to keep themselves safe. But, with holding the only evidence, the robbers having seen one of them, and the police searching for them, keeping this secret is more than they thought it would be. Unsure if they can trust the police, they try to deal with things themselves, which just digs them deeper into lies and danger. Will they be able to figure out who the robbers are or will they fall into a trap?
What a great mystery. I believed the fear and strugles of the characters from the very beginning and it lasted all the way through. The mystery was in depth and had me wondering who to trust and believe, who was the really criminal, and what should the three protagonists do next. It was wonderful and I can't wait to share this book with someone else. A high recommondation for middle graders who want a good mystery, they wont be able to put it down.
In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free through the publisher through the Z Street Team.
When Cooper and his friends Hiro and Gordy witness a robbery and an attack on a close friend, they take on a Code of Silence to keep themselves safe. But, with holding the only evidence, the robbers having seen one of them, and the police searching for them, keeping this secret is more than they thought it would be. Unsure if they can trust the police, they try to deal with things themselves, which just digs them deeper into lies and danger. Will they be able to figure out who the robbers are or will they fall into a trap?
What a great mystery. I believed the fear and strugles of the characters from the very beginning and it lasted all the way through. The mystery was in depth and had me wondering who to trust and believe, who was the really criminal, and what should the three protagonists do next. It was wonderful and I can't wait to share this book with someone else. A high recommondation for middle graders who want a good mystery, they wont be able to put it down.
In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free through the publisher through the Z Street Team.
April 19, 2016
Would you tell a lie if it meant saving the people you care about?
Thirteen-year-old Cooper and his two best friends, Gordy and Hiro, witness a robbery and near-murder at their favorite diner. Cooper later has a run-in with one of the crooks, who gives him a warning: keep quiet about what he saw or his family will be harmed. Cooper forces Hiro and Gordy to agree to a "Code of Silence", where they all promise to never reveal what they saw, even if it means they have to lie.
I really, really enjoyed Code of Silence . This is an edge-of-your-seat, read-in-one-sitting kind of book. Author Tim Shoemaker had me guessing all the way to the end as to who the bad guys were. But he also knows how to break up the tension with a little bit of humor. Of the three kids, Gordy was my favorite. He serves as the book's comic relief, and Shoemaker did his character well. Although the primary theme is that of honesty, I also liked the themes of loyalty, courage, and friendship.
If you like mysteries, then I highly recommend Code of Silence !
Thirteen-year-old Cooper and his two best friends, Gordy and Hiro, witness a robbery and near-murder at their favorite diner. Cooper later has a run-in with one of the crooks, who gives him a warning: keep quiet about what he saw or his family will be harmed. Cooper forces Hiro and Gordy to agree to a "Code of Silence", where they all promise to never reveal what they saw, even if it means they have to lie.
I really, really enjoyed Code of Silence . This is an edge-of-your-seat, read-in-one-sitting kind of book. Author Tim Shoemaker had me guessing all the way to the end as to who the bad guys were. But he also knows how to break up the tension with a little bit of humor. Of the three kids, Gordy was my favorite. He serves as the book's comic relief, and Shoemaker did his character well. Although the primary theme is that of honesty, I also liked the themes of loyalty, courage, and friendship.
If you like mysteries, then I highly recommend Code of Silence !
January 9, 2015
This book was an outstanding book. This book was basically about three middle schoolers who attend Plum Grove. They ate at a local burger and shake place called Frank'nSteins, where they encounter and witness a robbery that goes on with three guys and ultimately leaves the owner Frank who the kids love, unconscious. The rest of the book was about how one of the robbers the Elvis guy threatens to go in the main characters house, Cooper and kill his family. He then decides to make a Code of Silence which he then tells his friends about and the novel is about how they can survive the Code with all the lies it has with. I would recommend this book for kids middle school and up, or anyone who likes a good suspense novel.
November 5, 2014
Overall, a great read! Enjoyed reading during class, but couldn't quite find time outside of school to read it. When it was in my hands, I enjoyed reading about the trials and tribulations of the fearful and loving eighth grade boy. (Plus it was quite a perk that the entire book was set in my old school, and in the town right next to mine. I could relate to all of the references, and was especially excited when they mentioned the FREMD VIKINGS. Great read, can't wait to read more by Tim. I recommend this book to anyone who shares my love in an easy read with a tense topic. Also anyone who lives in my town or the neighboring Rolling Meadows.
December 17, 2013
This book is about four kids who have average lives going through life normally, but they then witness a brutal crime. Should they tell or should they keep the secret for the rest of their loves. the truth could be deadly.
I think this book had some good parts but it also had some annoying parts. I can't say that i enjoyed this book. It has an ok story the wording is good but i jut didn't enjoy it. I would not recommend it to anyone.
I think this book had some good parts but it also had some annoying parts. I can't say that i enjoyed this book. It has an ok story the wording is good but i jut didn't enjoy it. I would not recommend it to anyone.
May 18, 2023
Heart-pounding action, suspense, a murky pool or right and wrong, unsure who to trust… this book is non-stop from beginning to end.
Truth and lies is the main theme of the book but there is also some side themes of suspicion and judging someone based on circumstances.
I suspected a certain someone but for no good reason other than a “feeling.”
This book is perfect for boys 12-16 but anyone who likes suspense will enjoy it.
Truth and lies is the main theme of the book but there is also some side themes of suspicion and judging someone based on circumstances.
I suspected a certain someone but for no good reason other than a “feeling.”
This book is perfect for boys 12-16 but anyone who likes suspense will enjoy it.
June 15, 2018
Shoemaker's suspenseful story will engage young readers and adults alike. When three seventh-grade best friends witness a savage robbery at a friend's restaurant, they agree to a code of silence to protect themselves from the attackers who know witnesses escaped. But keeping the code means telling lies, which spiral out of control and threaten to destroy their friendship. The book addresses the gray area of what doing the right thing looks like in a sticky situation. I highly recommend this book. The strong male protagonist voice will resonate well with boys, and the strong female supporting role also makes this book one girls will enjoy as well.
May 5, 2020
This is produced for middle-grade schoolers however even adults can enjoy it. There is no swearing, but lying is practiced and the troubles brought about lying and the results that lies often lead to. Lying is so common by middle-grade kids that a book like this could show to that child the problems that can come about.
July 20, 2024
My youngest son loves thrilling action/adventure books but we, as his parents, prefer they be from a Christian worldview. I read this along with him to see what we thought and it’s definitely intense for a youth book but it was good! Held my attention for sure. My son is 9 and it’s taking him awhile to finish it but he really likes all the action.
January 4, 2025
SO GOOD.
I bought this book at the Focus on the Family visitors' center (where I fulfilled my lifelong dream of getting a WodFamChocSod at Whit's end) while on a ski trip, so I'm kinda biased and I think this book will always have a special place in my heart because of that.
But, objectively, it *was* really good.
I bought this book at the Focus on the Family visitors' center (where I fulfilled my lifelong dream of getting a WodFamChocSod at Whit's end) while on a ski trip, so I'm kinda biased and I think this book will always have a special place in my heart because of that.
But, objectively, it *was* really good.
April 25, 2022
3.5 stars (I rounded up)
Great Christian thriller.
I just wish the author had spent a little longer on editing... there were too many grammatical mistakes for me to give this 4 stars.
Great Christian thriller.
I just wish the author had spent a little longer on editing... there were too many grammatical mistakes for me to give this 4 stars.
December 19, 2024
wow! This book really was awesome! Every chapter had mystery or suspence. 👏🏼
April 6, 2019
Full of suspense and I was surprised several times!
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Cooper, Gordy and Hiro are enjoying an ordinary afternoon hanging out at Frank 'n Stein's Diner for an after-school snack and a few rounds of arcade games. The setting is so familiar, it’s almost like being home. Frank Mustacci is far more than simply the co-owner and cook; he is their friend --- a friend who gave Hiro’s mother a job after her father was killed in the line of duty, and who lets them hang around even after the diner is closed. And on this very ordinary evening, that is just what he does. But when Frank leaves to throw out the trash and comes tumbling into the store with masked men behind him, the three friends know evil has entered their safe haven.
"CODE OF SILENCE overflows with conflict and suspense, friendship, loyalty, lies, chases, and enough twists to keep it from getting predictable.... More books like this need to fill the shelves of bookstores and libraries."
Hiding under a counter, they watch the horrific scene unfold in the reflective storefront glass. The masked men, armed with a gun, beat Frank until he gives them the combination to his safe. When Frank tries to defend himself, they beat him again. This time, bloody and lifeless, he thuds to the floor. As Cooper, Gordy and Hiro execute their escape plan, Cooper grabs the hard drive holding video footage of the murder and robbery. They escape, but Cooper gets caught by one of the bad guys who takes his house key and threatens to kill his family if he goes to the police. Worse, the man is wearing cop pants. Thus begins the Code of Silence, a promise borne of fear that tumbles out of control, until all that’s left is a web of lies and consequences worse than they ever imagined.
In the days that follow, the friends have to dodge police questions, deceive their parents, and try to figure out what happened. Good news comes to them in a news report when they learn that Frank is in a coma, but not dead. However, that doesn’t keep them from falling further and further into their lies, which have only served to make their situation scarier. On Cooper’s insistence, they do not speak a word of the robbery/murder to the police or anyone else. Meanwhile, suspects abound. Could it be Lunk, the school troublemaker who works at Frank 'n Stein's? Or his drifter father? And surely at least one of the men was a cop, giving them another reason not to cooperate with the police.
Hiro pleads with Cooper to break the Code of Silence. Certain they are traveling a dangerous path, she prays for Cooper to make the right decision, but Cooper is convinced that revealing what they know will place them, along with his family, in grave danger. As she watches him make one bad choice after another, Hiro stops trusting her longtime friend. Caught in the middle, Gordy tries to keep the peace between them, but like Hiro, he eventually loses confidence in Cooper.
When the weight of lies finally begin to suffocate Cooper, he sees that Hiro is right. Every choice he made was the opposite of what God would have wanted him to do. Realizing it’s time to right the wrongs, Cooper heads out to tell someone he trusts, only to end up captured by the very people who robbed Frank.
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Cooper, Gordy and Hiro are enjoying an ordinary afternoon hanging out at Frank 'n Stein's Diner for an after-school snack and a few rounds of arcade games. The setting is so familiar, it’s almost like being home. Frank Mustacci is far more than simply the co-owner and cook; he is their friend --- a friend who gave Hiro’s mother a job after her father was killed in the line of duty, and who lets them hang around even after the diner is closed. And on this very ordinary evening, that is just what he does. But when Frank leaves to throw out the trash and comes tumbling into the store with masked men behind him, the three friends know evil has entered their safe haven.
"CODE OF SILENCE overflows with conflict and suspense, friendship, loyalty, lies, chases, and enough twists to keep it from getting predictable.... More books like this need to fill the shelves of bookstores and libraries."
Hiding under a counter, they watch the horrific scene unfold in the reflective storefront glass. The masked men, armed with a gun, beat Frank until he gives them the combination to his safe. When Frank tries to defend himself, they beat him again. This time, bloody and lifeless, he thuds to the floor. As Cooper, Gordy and Hiro execute their escape plan, Cooper grabs the hard drive holding video footage of the murder and robbery. They escape, but Cooper gets caught by one of the bad guys who takes his house key and threatens to kill his family if he goes to the police. Worse, the man is wearing cop pants. Thus begins the Code of Silence, a promise borne of fear that tumbles out of control, until all that’s left is a web of lies and consequences worse than they ever imagined.
In the days that follow, the friends have to dodge police questions, deceive their parents, and try to figure out what happened. Good news comes to them in a news report when they learn that Frank is in a coma, but not dead. However, that doesn’t keep them from falling further and further into their lies, which have only served to make their situation scarier. On Cooper’s insistence, they do not speak a word of the robbery/murder to the police or anyone else. Meanwhile, suspects abound. Could it be Lunk, the school troublemaker who works at Frank 'n Stein's? Or his drifter father? And surely at least one of the men was a cop, giving them another reason not to cooperate with the police.
Hiro pleads with Cooper to break the Code of Silence. Certain they are traveling a dangerous path, she prays for Cooper to make the right decision, but Cooper is convinced that revealing what they know will place them, along with his family, in grave danger. As she watches him make one bad choice after another, Hiro stops trusting her longtime friend. Caught in the middle, Gordy tries to keep the peace between them, but like Hiro, he eventually loses confidence in Cooper.
When the weight of lies finally begin to suffocate Cooper, he sees that Hiro is right. Every choice he made was the opposite of what God would have wanted him to do. Realizing it’s time to right the wrongs, Cooper heads out to tell someone he trusts, only to end up captured by the very people who robbed Frank.
May 5, 2018
Code of silence by Tim shoemaker is a story centered on three main characters: Gordy, Cooper, and Hiro. After witnessing a live robbery Cooper wants everyone to never reveal what they have seen. Telling the truth could kill them. But remaining silent means an innocent man takes the fall, and a friend never receives justice. In the book these three realize one thing, living a lie comes at a price. Code of silence is the first of a three-part series and falls under the genre of mystery.
I absolutely loved reading Code of Silence. This is an edge-of-your-seat, read-in-one-sitting kind of book. While the book had tons of action through its mostly suspenseful plot, the book is also littered with well-timed humor. The book mostly utilizes a descriptive style of writing and an example is “Gordy hid behind the kitchen counter and through a small hole in the wall he could see the shining gleam of the front door keys in Franks pocket, after getting within a foot, his foot got caught on a footstool and he crashed with a large BANG”. Although the book is easy to follow along with, it contains a lot of advanced vocabulary and the book is around 312 pages, thus I would recommend this type of book to kids in grades seven and higher. My final opinion is that Tim Shoemaker did a fantastic job showing the three main character’s emotions and beliefs in relation to the situation. Because all three have different motives, they each cannot come to a solution that not only satisfies everyone, but is beneficial to the investigation. This is shown at page 194 where Hiro, who has a strong connection to God, goes back to the place of the crime scene and ponders telling the police the truth. Additionally, on page 253 a huge fight breaks out between Cooper and Gordy when instead of telling the police what happened that night, Cooper tells them about losing a house key that he believes was picked up by the robbers. Showing these examples was critical to the story, not only did it help with adding tension, but it connected the two most important aspects of the story, the main characters and the crime.
I absolutely loved reading Code of Silence. This is an edge-of-your-seat, read-in-one-sitting kind of book. While the book had tons of action through its mostly suspenseful plot, the book is also littered with well-timed humor. The book mostly utilizes a descriptive style of writing and an example is “Gordy hid behind the kitchen counter and through a small hole in the wall he could see the shining gleam of the front door keys in Franks pocket, after getting within a foot, his foot got caught on a footstool and he crashed with a large BANG”. Although the book is easy to follow along with, it contains a lot of advanced vocabulary and the book is around 312 pages, thus I would recommend this type of book to kids in grades seven and higher. My final opinion is that Tim Shoemaker did a fantastic job showing the three main character’s emotions and beliefs in relation to the situation. Because all three have different motives, they each cannot come to a solution that not only satisfies everyone, but is beneficial to the investigation. This is shown at page 194 where Hiro, who has a strong connection to God, goes back to the place of the crime scene and ponders telling the police the truth. Additionally, on page 253 a huge fight breaks out between Cooper and Gordy when instead of telling the police what happened that night, Cooper tells them about losing a house key that he believes was picked up by the robbers. Showing these examples was critical to the story, not only did it help with adding tension, but it connected the two most important aspects of the story, the main characters and the crime.
November 19, 2019
"If a fish could learn to keep its mouth shut, it would never get caught."
Meet Gordy, Cooper and Hiro, eighth grade friends. They're at Frank 'n Stein's, a local fast food joint. It's closing time. Hiro wants to go. Not for the first time her intuition kicks in and she has a bad feeling but the boys want to play more of the old arcade game. However, upon listening to Hiro, Cooper is ready to go with her. Where's Frank to let him know? Uh oh! Robbers! Clown and Elvis masks?! Murderers?
Can the kids stay out of sight? Two of the perpetrators are wearing cop pants! Desperate to get out of there, Cooper ends up being the only one of the three seen. What about the hard drive? Is Cooper's idea of the Code of Silence a good one? Horror of horrors, where is Cooper's backpack? Who can they trust?
Cooper seems to be content with telling lies to stay hidden. He thinks of a clever way to get the cops off his back but will it work or put him in even more danger? Hiro is the one with the smarts. Her dad, a cop, died in the line of duty and she still misses him dreadfully. She aspires to be a cop one day like her dad and big brother. She is very scared for all their lives and wants to break the code of silence. She is also very hurt by Cooper's actions. Will their friendship survive this?
This book will keep you in suspense from the beginning. Yes, as an adult I enjoyed it even though I figured out the missing perpetrator before the end. The story truly teaches kids (and adults) a great moral and the way NOT to do things. I would warn parents though that there is quite a bit of violence, especially at the beginning. If your child is on the sensitive side, it may not be for them. I wouldn't let our younger ones read it but will pass it on to our older teenager. Whilst in the Christian genre it is NOT preachy. It is VERY clean with no bad language or sex. There are a few editing errors but nothing major. This is the first book in a trilogy. I would definitely recommend this to older kids. Great start to the set. I purchased the trilogy for my Kindle. I was not required to write a review but chose to do so. Thanks, Liz
Meet Gordy, Cooper and Hiro, eighth grade friends. They're at Frank 'n Stein's, a local fast food joint. It's closing time. Hiro wants to go. Not for the first time her intuition kicks in and she has a bad feeling but the boys want to play more of the old arcade game. However, upon listening to Hiro, Cooper is ready to go with her. Where's Frank to let him know? Uh oh! Robbers! Clown and Elvis masks?! Murderers?
Can the kids stay out of sight? Two of the perpetrators are wearing cop pants! Desperate to get out of there, Cooper ends up being the only one of the three seen. What about the hard drive? Is Cooper's idea of the Code of Silence a good one? Horror of horrors, where is Cooper's backpack? Who can they trust?
Cooper seems to be content with telling lies to stay hidden. He thinks of a clever way to get the cops off his back but will it work or put him in even more danger? Hiro is the one with the smarts. Her dad, a cop, died in the line of duty and she still misses him dreadfully. She aspires to be a cop one day like her dad and big brother. She is very scared for all their lives and wants to break the code of silence. She is also very hurt by Cooper's actions. Will their friendship survive this?
This book will keep you in suspense from the beginning. Yes, as an adult I enjoyed it even though I figured out the missing perpetrator before the end. The story truly teaches kids (and adults) a great moral and the way NOT to do things. I would warn parents though that there is quite a bit of violence, especially at the beginning. If your child is on the sensitive side, it may not be for them. I wouldn't let our younger ones read it but will pass it on to our older teenager. Whilst in the Christian genre it is NOT preachy. It is VERY clean with no bad language or sex. There are a few editing errors but nothing major. This is the first book in a trilogy. I would definitely recommend this to older kids. Great start to the set. I purchased the trilogy for my Kindle. I was not required to write a review but chose to do so. Thanks, Liz
October 16, 2023
Read my review here: https://redeemedreader.com/2023/10/co...
May 5, 2019
The book the I read was "Code of Silence." I really enjoyed reading this book. Although it was really good, there were parts where I did not find a chapter interesting and or boring. There were times where I forgot what I was reading because I felt like it was not important to the book. On the other hand, there were times where I wanted to read forever. It was so easy to relate to the characters since we had many things in common. I would recommend this book to teenagers because I feel like it would affect them the most.
The most interesting part in the book for me when was the whole robbery scene happened. It really got me engaged and thinking. It was cool how the author explained the scene of the masked men that were robbing Frank. I felt like this was a movie scene that I have seen. It is always good when you can imagine a scene with just writing. It shows how good of an author Tim is.
Something that I liked that the author did was his use of words, figurative language, and slang. The author uses words that can explain so many things. He can use a word like "unexpected" and can mean 100 words. Also, the author uses slang that teenagers would use now and days which the readers probably enjoy seeing a different type of writing. Lastly, the author is really good at knowing when to use examples of metaphors and imagery.
Something that was really good in the book were the conflicts that were shown. The author expressed man vs. man, man vs. self, and man vs. nature. In my opinion, a book with all three conflicts, makes the book a lot better and more interesting. It gives you a variety of conflicts for you to analyze and make you start thinking.
Overall, I would say that this book is a good book. This is a book that would come up in my head if I were asked to list some of my favorite books. I am a very picker reader and only like certain books. This book being one of my favorite books means a lot. Hope you enjoy reading!
The most interesting part in the book for me when was the whole robbery scene happened. It really got me engaged and thinking. It was cool how the author explained the scene of the masked men that were robbing Frank. I felt like this was a movie scene that I have seen. It is always good when you can imagine a scene with just writing. It shows how good of an author Tim is.
Something that I liked that the author did was his use of words, figurative language, and slang. The author uses words that can explain so many things. He can use a word like "unexpected" and can mean 100 words. Also, the author uses slang that teenagers would use now and days which the readers probably enjoy seeing a different type of writing. Lastly, the author is really good at knowing when to use examples of metaphors and imagery.
Something that was really good in the book were the conflicts that were shown. The author expressed man vs. man, man vs. self, and man vs. nature. In my opinion, a book with all three conflicts, makes the book a lot better and more interesting. It gives you a variety of conflicts for you to analyze and make you start thinking.
Overall, I would say that this book is a good book. This is a book that would come up in my head if I were asked to list some of my favorite books. I am a very picker reader and only like certain books. This book being one of my favorite books means a lot. Hope you enjoy reading!
January 12, 2020
Wow, if you like to read Mafia stories this is one to read. I couldn’t put this book down at it.
It kept you on your toes from beginning to end. You never saw anything coming. I don’t know if I could deal with everything that Haven dealt with. All the secrets, and lies. She has known Luca all of her life and they dated in college till Luca left her. He broke her heart and thing just was never the same for her. Then he comes back into her life the same way he left, out of left field. Her life changed the moment he came back into her life. Her world was turned upside down and she was trying to make sense of it. Luca’s life was all fun and games, he was groomed to be in the mafia by his father at a young age and that is all he has known. All I know is I had whiplash of the brain trying to keep up with everything that was going on, lol. I can’t wait to read the next book. Thank you United Indie Book Blog for allowing me to read this book.
Review by Maribel
It kept you on your toes from beginning to end. You never saw anything coming. I don’t know if I could deal with everything that Haven dealt with. All the secrets, and lies. She has known Luca all of her life and they dated in college till Luca left her. He broke her heart and thing just was never the same for her. Then he comes back into her life the same way he left, out of left field. Her life changed the moment he came back into her life. Her world was turned upside down and she was trying to make sense of it. Luca’s life was all fun and games, he was groomed to be in the mafia by his father at a young age and that is all he has known. All I know is I had whiplash of the brain trying to keep up with everything that was going on, lol. I can’t wait to read the next book. Thank you United Indie Book Blog for allowing me to read this book.
Review by Maribel
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