Buried Silence: Under the Big Sky

by Susan Hemphill

Who blew up my friend’s house with her inside?



The Yellowstone River runs deep in the Big Sky country of Montana, but so does deception.



When the bustle of city life inevitably bored the most powerful captains of industry, the self-proclaimed Big Men of the Big Sky swapped their suits for cowboy boots and drug their trophy wives along with them. Nestled in a gated community at the base of mountains larger than the egos of their husbands, the transplanted women kept themselves busy with over-the-top parties, scandalous rendezvous and not-so-secret affairs.



The picturesque paradise of the Antelope Club quickly turns into a crime scene when an explosion levels the home of one of the Club’s key executives. Nothing is as it seems, and it becomes evident this was no random hit; with connections to Wall Street and beyond, a complicated algorithm of lies, secret societies, and catastrophic consequences arises out of the rubble.



A mystery thriller, Buried Silence proves money can buy a dream life, but it can’t buy the truth.

426 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2023

Reviews

[Brett Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buried Silence is GOLDEN!

Buried Silence is a worthy read. Susan has packed this book with lots of details and often, you feel as though you are standing in the same room or looking at the same setting as the characters in the book. This being said, there are times when the details seemed unnecessary in the weaving of a suspenseful mystery. The story reads like a soap opera with every character suspiciously tied to someone else’s spouse in a secret tryst or more openly sharing romantic interlude stories with their rich, elitist, friends.

The main character, Katherine, is believable as an ex-financial woman who fosters some worthwhile relationships within the snotty circles of the Antelope Club. Being able to relate to a character helps pull the story elements into place. Katherine was that character for me. Although not above reproach, her flaws played well with the characters who seemed lost in their rich, affair-filled world.

The first half of Hemphill’s story is devoted to character building and exposing the dark sides of the elite, alcohol-riddled, and often shallow people who are living amongst the backdrop of Montana. The true Montana resident is conservative, independent, and friendly to a fault. Katherine and her friends do not always fit this cultural model and thus helps create some of the conflict within the story.

The second half of the story moves at a fast clip and I really found this part of the book to be quite entertaining. The action is good and the unraveling of all the mysteries really kept me glued to the pages. By the time I reached the end, I was sure I had figured out some of the plot twists, but, to my surprise, there were several that I had not figured out!

I definitely recommend this book. Susan has written a solid thriller which includes a solid taste of Montana’s culture, woven in and among her Antelope Club characters. Good job, Susan Hemphill.

I received an advanced review copy of “Buried Silence” for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily!

[Jackie Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

As readers discover in Susan Hemphill’s compelling debut novel, all is not what it seems in the Wild West. Buried Silence lays bare the underbelly of Big Sky country, where ultra-wealthy denizens living in mansions mingle with multi-generation native Montanans who dwell in log cabins and wear cowboy boots for purpose, not fashion. Many of the key players, high in social rank (often literally high, too) strive to one-up each other in glitz, glamor, and elaborate parties, while their local counterparts observe with a mixture of envy, disdain, and amusement. This page-turning mystery features a colorful cast of characters, tales of corruption and greed, secret and not-so-secret affairs, scandal-worthy sex, humor, and social commentary. The book grips readers from start to finish, with plenty of surprises along the way.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Paradise Valley, Montana, an enclave of multi million dollar homes forms a community, comprised of uber wealthy residents. The husbands are all financial wizards, and the wives, AKA “The Dolls”, gather together for fancy social events, and commiserate about their charmed lives.
At the same time, the women have affairs with the other husbands, local cowboys and any other new men around!
Then, one of the Dolls is killed in a house explosion.
Thus, the book becomes a murder mystery, peppered with salacious sex, and complex computer stock market fraud.

I found the setting to be enjoyable, having lived in Montana for several years. However, the characters were intentionally shallow and annoying, and the stock market/computer algorithms were confusing and boring to me.
Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC, in return for my honest review.
3 stars is the best I can give this book.

[Lori Feldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read of Hemphill's and it did not disappoint. I found myself quickly engulfed and enamored in a world of wealth, sex, betrayal, lies, mystery and murder.

Her writing style is easy to read, yet rich with detail and painted a believable picture of a surreal world set in the middle of beautiful Montana country.

I somehow found myself enjoying characters that were quite unlikable and steadily read to find out how the mystery all played out.

I did not see the twist coming at the very end, which is a rare but enjoyable occurrence.

Very solid 4 for me and I'll definitely check out more of Hemphill's work.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and it did keep me up late reading. Twists and turns and surprises throughout. The author did an amazing amount of research- I know the equestrian references are spot on. A glimpse into the super rich and how the women keep themselves entertained- steamy scenes, parties and horseback riding. I learned things I didn't know about insider trading and finance. Character list on Susan Hemphill.com was a great reference to remember who is who doing what to whom. Hope this is the first in a series.

[Denzel Struchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted rich people with their own enclave in Montana. Greed and sex are thier pleasures. But when one gets too greedy and wants to crash the world financial markets he crosses the line. His wife is his undoing along with a couple of Antelope Cluub members and a super hacker. Great mystery and really makes you wonder about the stories of people like Epstien.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mojo Hand · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim. I've spent some time in Montana and liked the idea that this mystery was set somewhere out of the usual places - and somewhere I'm familiar with. It has interesting, believable characters, a few whackos, a bit of naughty sex and a good mystery. Thumbs up.

[Haley Mitgang · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s even more wild than the plot of this story is that a lot of it is based on true events and amalgamations of the people the author knew in MT. If you’re a fan of Real Housewives drama and are looking for an escape, Buried Silence is for you.

[Alison McLaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the pace of the story it had interesting twists and turns.

[Greg dobie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Great book. It would be a great movie. It kept me guessing what’s next. Keep it coming Susan really good work.

[Lupe Cope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun ride through Yellowstone, meeting the housewives. With a bit of fight club mixed in for a plot twist.