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Wall of Silence
Her children have a deadly secret. Can she uncover it before the police do?
Melissa Byatt’s life in Forest Grove seems as perfect as can be: a doting husband, three loving children and a beautiful house in a close-knit community. But appearances can be deceiving.
One evening, Melissa arrives home to the unimaginable: her husband lies stabbed on the kitchen floor, their children standing calmly around him…With horror, she realises that one of them is to blame. But which one? And why would they attack their own father?
Her loyalties torn, in a split second she decides to protect her children at all costs—even if that means lying to the police. But when someone in the neighbourhood claims to know more than they should, Melissa discovers that some secrets are beyond her control…
Can she find out the truth of what happened before the rumours spread? And can the family unite to escape the spotlight of scandal—or are none of them as innocent as Melissa insists?
Melissa Byatt’s life in Forest Grove seems as perfect as can be: a doting husband, three loving children and a beautiful house in a close-knit community. But appearances can be deceiving.
One evening, Melissa arrives home to the unimaginable: her husband lies stabbed on the kitchen floor, their children standing calmly around him…With horror, she realises that one of them is to blame. But which one? And why would they attack their own father?
Her loyalties torn, in a split second she decides to protect her children at all costs—even if that means lying to the police. But when someone in the neighbourhood claims to know more than they should, Melissa discovers that some secrets are beyond her control…
Can she find out the truth of what happened before the rumours spread? And can the family unite to escape the spotlight of scandal—or are none of them as innocent as Melissa insists?
383 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2020
13161 people are currently reading
11158 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Buchanan
22 books597 followersHello! Fab to see you here. I live in Buckinghamshire, UK with my husband, my little girl and our (very naughty) puppy, Bronte.
I travelled extensively while working as a travel magazine editor, and have always been drawn to the sea after spending my childhood holidays on the south coast visiting family – a fascination that inspires my writing.
I now dedicate my time to writing and procrastinating on Facebook.
I'd love to hear from you so please come say hi on one of the following platforms... plus if you join The Reading Snug I've set up with fellow authors, Kelly Rimmer and Kerry Fisher, you might even bag yourself some freebies including an early copy of my latest novel, The Lost Sister!
https://www.facebook.com/TracyBuchana...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheRe...
https://www.instagram.com/TracyBuchan...
https://twitter.com/TracyBuchanan
https://www.tracy-buchanan.com
I travelled extensively while working as a travel magazine editor, and have always been drawn to the sea after spending my childhood holidays on the south coast visiting family – a fascination that inspires my writing.
I now dedicate my time to writing and procrastinating on Facebook.
I'd love to hear from you so please come say hi on one of the following platforms... plus if you join The Reading Snug I've set up with fellow authors, Kelly Rimmer and Kerry Fisher, you might even bag yourself some freebies including an early copy of my latest novel, The Lost Sister!
https://www.facebook.com/TracyBuchana...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheRe...
https://www.instagram.com/TracyBuchan...
https://twitter.com/TracyBuchanan
https://www.tracy-buchanan.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,502 reviews
April 4, 2020
Patrick Byatt is found by his wife Melissa severely injured on their kitchen floor, with his three children looking on. Patrick has been stabbed. The story is told by Melissa, interspersed with the killers thoughts and Facebook entries from the unpleasant Forest Grove community where they live. I appreciate that others really liked this so I’m out of step with them. However, this is such a thin storyline which is hidden beneath irrelevance and the messages that I quickly grew very bored. Sorry, not for me. 😴
March 3, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It had all the elements I love except too many characters which confused me at times. I loved the way this book kept me guessing at who did the murder and the ending surprised me.
March 4, 2020
Absolutely not the right author for me. Backstories with endless details; then backstories for the backstories. Long Facebook "chats" of the nastiest sorts. A thin story buried under heaps of detail and every detail beaten to death, expanded upon and explained multiple times. Perhaps a book for people with nothing to do. Reading level appropriate for young teens, but the story content s not appropriate for teens at all.
March 2, 2020
Wall of Silence opens with the inner thoughts of the person who has stabbed Patrick Byatt, the husband and father of the family. It is automatically clear that one of the three children is responsible for it and there is a cover-up being formed, not to mention overall panic. Soon, Melissa comes home from a bike-ride to find her husband bleeding on the kitchen floor. The children provide some responses to her questions on what happened, but being their mother it doesn’t take her too long to realize the answers aren’t completely truthful.
As you read, the author gives you a very well-rounded view of what a gossipy small town neighborhood might be like. The Byatt’s live in a village called Forest Grove labeled “Utopia of the Woods,” where everything is seemingly perfect and serene. That is except for the Byatt’s, who have had their share of tragedies due to the death of one of their sons several years prior – Joel – and one involving Melissa’s mother.
The neighbors and the village play a decent-sized role within the story as well. Sprinkled through-out the book are “Forest Grove Facebook Chit Chat Group” chapters, where we read the messages being sent in real-time by their neighbors and what they are relaying to each other in regards to the events and what they think about them. In these text/chat messages we get a more accurate sense of their inner feelings and prejudices that social media tends to bring out of some. Sniping, conjectures, rumor-starting….
One of the main factors that will most likely determine whether or not you fully invest into this story is whether you can related to the style of the narrative and overall storytelling. It has a different type of presentation than other thrillers especially with the ‘chit-chat’ group chapters. It wasn’t quite my style, but that is just me and I feel confident this will work for others.
Rating: 3.5 stars
As you read, the author gives you a very well-rounded view of what a gossipy small town neighborhood might be like. The Byatt’s live in a village called Forest Grove labeled “Utopia of the Woods,” where everything is seemingly perfect and serene. That is except for the Byatt’s, who have had their share of tragedies due to the death of one of their sons several years prior – Joel – and one involving Melissa’s mother.
The neighbors and the village play a decent-sized role within the story as well. Sprinkled through-out the book are “Forest Grove Facebook Chit Chat Group” chapters, where we read the messages being sent in real-time by their neighbors and what they are relaying to each other in regards to the events and what they think about them. In these text/chat messages we get a more accurate sense of their inner feelings and prejudices that social media tends to bring out of some. Sniping, conjectures, rumor-starting….
One of the main factors that will most likely determine whether or not you fully invest into this story is whether you can related to the style of the narrative and overall storytelling. It has a different type of presentation than other thrillers especially with the ‘chit-chat’ group chapters. It wasn’t quite my style, but that is just me and I feel confident this will work for others.
Rating: 3.5 stars
March 27, 2020
Wow, am I the only person who really didn't like this book? In fact, I was surprised I even finished it, given that I put it down time and again after becoming frustrated with the lead character.
Here's the deal, when you live in a tiny insular Peyton Place, where everyone knows everyone else's business, how in the world can you remain ignorant to practically everything that goes on around you -- especially when it pertains to your own family? I mean, there's even a Facebook "chit chat" page where all the trolls convene to judge others and pass along misleading gossip. How do you allow yourself to be strong-armed and bullied by your in-laws, see them do things you don't agree with, hurt people you know/love and then forgive them instantly because "they're just trying to help?" Help who? Themselves?
The character of Melissa left me frustrated enough to scream. She was naive, obtuse, complicit, insecure, unstable, indecisive, and chaotic. It was a mess to be inside her head. While she wiled away much of the book mired in her own memories, imaginings, and indecision, she blithely allowed her family to do whatever the hell they wanted.
And by the way, most of the sh*t that went down in this book would land a person in jail so please tell me the logic in many of the characters' decision-making? And in the end, it was all for what?? The moral to this and any story, the truth will always come out.
Here's the deal, when you live in a tiny insular Peyton Place, where everyone knows everyone else's business, how in the world can you remain ignorant to practically everything that goes on around you -- especially when it pertains to your own family? I mean, there's even a Facebook "chit chat" page where all the trolls convene to judge others and pass along misleading gossip. How do you allow yourself to be strong-armed and bullied by your in-laws, see them do things you don't agree with, hurt people you know/love and then forgive them instantly because "they're just trying to help?" Help who? Themselves?
The character of Melissa left me frustrated enough to scream. She was naive, obtuse, complicit, insecure, unstable, indecisive, and chaotic. It was a mess to be inside her head. While she wiled away much of the book mired in her own memories, imaginings, and indecision, she blithely allowed her family to do whatever the hell they wanted.
And by the way, most of the sh*t that went down in this book would land a person in jail so please tell me the logic in many of the characters' decision-making? And in the end, it was all for what?? The moral to this and any story, the truth will always come out.
March 8, 2020
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
Does a perfect family exist? Well, that’s the image that the residents of Forest Grove have of the Byatt family. Yet, after a tragic event, cracks rapidly start appearing, proving that nothing is what it seems in this very close-knit community.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
Does a perfect family exist? Well, that’s the image that the residents of Forest Grove have of the Byatt family. Yet, after a tragic event, cracks rapidly start appearing, proving that nothing is what it seems in this very close-knit community.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
March 2, 2020
Melissa comes home to find her husband stabbed, all signs point to one of her children being responsible, and she decides to protect them. Understandable, but she took such a passive approach that it seemed unbelievable. She confronts the kids (who are 15 year old boy/girl twins and their 10 year old sister) and basically they tell her they just can't talk about it. So Melissa's response is basically, "OK, I guess they need some space." WHO REACTS THAT WAY?!?! Melissa was happy in her marriage, in love with her husband, so why would she not be a little more inclined to put some pressure on her kids? I was so frustrated with her through almost the entire book. Especially after more was revealed, is anyone really that clueless? If you live in a small town where there are orgies going on at the local pub, wouldn't everyone have at least heard some rumors?
Spread throughout the book are chapters where locals take to Facebook to gossip about what's going on. I've never had a Facebook account, but it seems about as toxic as I imagined.
Near the end, when Melissa finally located her spine, a lot happened all at once. I'm still left with questions. Was that really the whole story of what happened with Melissa's mother? What about what happened to Caitlin? Shouldn't there have been some consequences for that (or at least some intensive therapy)?
Spread throughout the book are chapters where locals take to Facebook to gossip about what's going on. I've never had a Facebook account, but it seems about as toxic as I imagined.
Near the end, when Melissa finally located her spine, a lot happened all at once. I'm still left with questions. Was that really the whole story of what happened with Melissa's mother? What about what happened to Caitlin? Shouldn't there have been some consequences for that (or at least some intensive therapy)?
March 22, 2020
This book was awful
In what world is it ok that kids stab their dad? The book was poorly written. What mother would cover up for her kids without knowing anything? She didn’t want to push them, they had been through so much. What?
It felt like a 12 year old wrote the book. I was ready to put it down early on but i just sped read it to the end so i could find out what possibly could be written to explain this. The ending didn’t make it any better. Trust me - it’s not worth finishing.
In what world is it ok that kids stab their dad? The book was poorly written. What mother would cover up for her kids without knowing anything? She didn’t want to push them, they had been through so much. What?
It felt like a 12 year old wrote the book. I was ready to put it down early on but i just sped read it to the end so i could find out what possibly could be written to explain this. The ending didn’t make it any better. Trust me - it’s not worth finishing.
April 5, 2020
This book starts with a prologue, and in it we the readers seem to learn who the alleged attacker is, but that can't be right. But there has to be more to the plot than that. This is definitely thriller. The plot thickens with more twists. I really loved this thriller, and learning slowly and gradually more about the main characters, especially the three children- Lilly and Lewis who are fifteen year old twins, and their younger sister Grace. This is one of my favorite passages referring to Melissa who recalls: "She’d overheard her mum once describing tough times as like trying to walk up a muddy hill, doing your best to make progress, but you just kept slipping down, grabbing clumps of mud as you did and making it even harder until, in the end, you just slid down, down, down." The only part I did not like was in the ending. Something that happens in it, seemed highly unbelievable. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book, that I would classify as a mystery/thriller. Check it out for an entertaining read! I plan to read more of Tracy Buchanan's books.
April 14, 2020
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review.***
The story begins with a flashback from the killer and you move on to the present when Melissa discovers her husband is murdered, probably by one of her children.
The whole concept sounded very interesting from the start.
A small town, a murder mystery, with the wild nature in the background.
The premise of the story already made me very excited to read it.
And it was an interesting read. The characters were well-developed and you really get to know the setting, the town and our protagonist.
Melissa, our protagonist, knows that one of her children has killed her husband, but the why is lacking and her mother instincts make her react in a different way. She wants to protect her children as well as finding out why they did what they did. This gives us a clear insight in the family secrets and all the family drama that unravels.
What bothered me during this story was the length of it. It was too descriptive and a lot of information could have been skipped. For example the Facebook reactions from some unimportant people. The writing style was more literature than thriller. When I read thrillers, I like them fast and engaging. The slowness kept me from reading it and switching to other books.
In conclusion, an interesting thriller with good character development but a tad too slow for my liking.
3 stars.
The story begins with a flashback from the killer and you move on to the present when Melissa discovers her husband is murdered, probably by one of her children.
The whole concept sounded very interesting from the start.
A small town, a murder mystery, with the wild nature in the background.
The premise of the story already made me very excited to read it.
And it was an interesting read. The characters were well-developed and you really get to know the setting, the town and our protagonist.
Melissa, our protagonist, knows that one of her children has killed her husband, but the why is lacking and her mother instincts make her react in a different way. She wants to protect her children as well as finding out why they did what they did. This gives us a clear insight in the family secrets and all the family drama that unravels.
What bothered me during this story was the length of it. It was too descriptive and a lot of information could have been skipped. For example the Facebook reactions from some unimportant people. The writing style was more literature than thriller. When I read thrillers, I like them fast and engaging. The slowness kept me from reading it and switching to other books.
In conclusion, an interesting thriller with good character development but a tad too slow for my liking.
3 stars.
July 14, 2020
A good, well written and suspenseful story.
I could only award it 3.5 stars as I felt it lacked a little gusto to deserve 4, but it’s definitely worth a read.
3.5 stars 🌟
I could only award it 3.5 stars as I felt it lacked a little gusto to deserve 4, but it’s definitely worth a read.
3.5 stars 🌟
March 31, 2020
As a whodunnit this ticks plenty of boxes, but I found myself wondering if I’d wandered into the world of ‘Hot Fuzz’ and the inhabitants who wander round reciting about ‘The greater good!’
So much was unbelievable:the small community but Patricks huge number of affairs going undiscovered,; the twins knowing their father killed their brother but still being close to him; and the family friend who allowed her daughter to go out with Lewis despite knowing they were half siblings. I appreciate this is a portrayal of a twisted community but even so these characters are not acting consistently with the way that otherwise they are at odds with this clannish community.
A miss for me.
So much was unbelievable:the small community but Patricks huge number of affairs going undiscovered,; the twins knowing their father killed their brother but still being close to him; and the family friend who allowed her daughter to go out with Lewis despite knowing they were half siblings. I appreciate this is a portrayal of a twisted community but even so these characters are not acting consistently with the way that otherwise they are at odds with this clannish community.
A miss for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2020
Melissa returns home one evening to find her husband stabbed and her three children standing around him. She soon realizes her kids have something to do with the stabbing, but none of them are telling her what happened. Melissa's instincts are to protect her children, but she needs to know what happened to her husband.
A gripping domestic suspense novel. Melissa wants to protect her three kids - 15-year-old twins Lewis and Lilly and 10-year-old Grace. She also wants to know what happened between them and her husband. The kids won't tell her and her husband can't. As the mystery of what happened unravels, a lot of family drama plays out. The appearance of a perfect family was all a facade, and everyone was keeping secrets. My main fault with this novel was Melissa. While I appreciate her wanting to protect her family, she was incredibly dense and naive. Still, I was entertained by this psychological thriller.
A gripping domestic suspense novel. Melissa wants to protect her three kids - 15-year-old twins Lewis and Lilly and 10-year-old Grace. She also wants to know what happened between them and her husband. The kids won't tell her and her husband can't. As the mystery of what happened unravels, a lot of family drama plays out. The appearance of a perfect family was all a facade, and everyone was keeping secrets. My main fault with this novel was Melissa. While I appreciate her wanting to protect her family, she was incredibly dense and naive. Still, I was entertained by this psychological thriller.
November 4, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. It's not my favorite, by far, but I did enjoy it, and while it's not a thriller or filled with suspense, there's nothing in it that dragged, either.
Before reading the book, I was under the impression that it was going to be told almost entirely from diary entries and Facebook conversations. I certainly wouldn't have liked that! To my surprise, however, the bulk of the book is told in a straightforward manner. The diary entries and Facebook conversations that are interspersed throughout the narrative are few and short.
I love mysteries, and I love mysteries set in England since I used to live there and am a bit of an Anglophile myself. This book seemed so American to me. I just didn't feel I was in England at all when I was reading it. I'm assuming it takes place in the New Forest, which I've visited. I don't expect the New Forest to be like London or Yorkshire or the West Country, but I do expect it to be a little more "English" than I found this book. That, however, could be all my fault and not the book's.
I also felt that every loose end was tied up a little too neatly in the end. Ambiguity can be maddening at times, but at other times, it can be a writer's best friend.
If you like mysteries, and especially family centered mysteries, you'll probably like this book. It's a fast read, and, like I said above, for the most part, it's quite enjoyable, even if it's not undying literature.
Before reading the book, I was under the impression that it was going to be told almost entirely from diary entries and Facebook conversations. I certainly wouldn't have liked that! To my surprise, however, the bulk of the book is told in a straightforward manner. The diary entries and Facebook conversations that are interspersed throughout the narrative are few and short.
I love mysteries, and I love mysteries set in England since I used to live there and am a bit of an Anglophile myself. This book seemed so American to me. I just didn't feel I was in England at all when I was reading it. I'm assuming it takes place in the New Forest, which I've visited. I don't expect the New Forest to be like London or Yorkshire or the West Country, but I do expect it to be a little more "English" than I found this book. That, however, could be all my fault and not the book's.
I also felt that every loose end was tied up a little too neatly in the end. Ambiguity can be maddening at times, but at other times, it can be a writer's best friend.
If you like mysteries, and especially family centered mysteries, you'll probably like this book. It's a fast read, and, like I said above, for the most part, it's quite enjoyable, even if it's not undying literature.
March 8, 2020
WALL OF SILENCE is wild, a “who-dun-it” rollercoaster. The story launches with a bang with one of the most original openings I’ve read. Tracy Buchanan has crafted a novel where the plot literally thickens with every page turned and new secrets simmer as the reader is pulled deeper into her cast of character’s web of lies and silence. I was captivated from page one, entertained throughout, and shocked over the final reveal. Loved it!
August 1, 2021
This book had everything that a mystery and suspense fan would ever want. It was an incredible, page turner with a perfect amount of background story to make the reader feel emerged into the character’s lives but also keeping you on your toes and guessing. The author managed to put a new take on the twists and turns of complicated family relationships and the bonds that hold families together. Don’t be fooled. You think that the whole thing is going to be explained in just a few chapters...but guess again. I can almost guarantee you will have trouble putting it down and closing the cover and you will not in your wildest imagination guess the ending.
May 6, 2020
4.5 rounded up! What a pleasant surprise! I don’t understand why this book hasn’t gotten more attention- I loved it! I enjoyed the characters & the plot was original. The tension was thick & completely believable (& understandable!)- it kept me on the edge of my seat. & I couldn’t help wondering what I’d do in similar situations.. Really good! & i’d definitely recommend the audiobook! The narrators did an excellent job!
April 17, 2020
3.5 stars
October 31, 2021
5 stars audio and story!
January 4, 2023
An amazing, heart-bounding thriller where a father was found stabbed on the kitchen floor with the bloody knife by the side and his three children around him.
Then the mother walked in and realized the horror of her life. One of her kids was responsible for this. But what was the motive? And who was it?
The story then led to the can opening and worms crawling out, one by one. Each secret was bigger than the other until it led to an explosive ending.
The intricacies of the plotline lay in the main story where the children kept quiet even on repeated interrogation. And Melissa trying to help them as well trying to run her own interrogation about what had gone down on that day
Then there were the various subplots which involved secrets and deceptions being played all around her.
Her own past too was embroiled in pain and abuse and the death of her first son. That gave the book an additional layer of family drama.
This book was well written where something kept happening every few chapters, so technically, the author knew what depths she wanted to give this story and her characters.
Oh, there were a couple of niggles. Melissa was growing stronger by the page until the author pulled the rug from under my feet and made Melissa revert back to the clingy teenager who looked to her in-laws to save her.
I couldn't believe my eyes and wanted to hit someone for doing that to the character. I was cringing when I read those sections.
Also, how could Melissa not know the various secrets surrounding her life, whereas those of the other characters' were laid wide open? The villagers didn't like her so much that they would try to protect her by keeping quiet. From the lot that was so b*tchy, I thought they would have taken pleasure in revealing all those dark secrets. And to think, she was kept in the dark for the past twenty years was unbelievable.
Overall, an edge-of-the-seat thriller was this book, with dramatic, emotional sections, that kept me completely hooked. The last few chapters blew the secrets open, causing to me keep flicking those pages every few seconds. I craved to know the truth.
Quite a rocking read.
Then the mother walked in and realized the horror of her life. One of her kids was responsible for this. But what was the motive? And who was it?
The story then led to the can opening and worms crawling out, one by one. Each secret was bigger than the other until it led to an explosive ending.
The intricacies of the plotline lay in the main story where the children kept quiet even on repeated interrogation. And Melissa trying to help them as well trying to run her own interrogation about what had gone down on that day
Then there were the various subplots which involved secrets and deceptions being played all around her.
Her own past too was embroiled in pain and abuse and the death of her first son. That gave the book an additional layer of family drama.
This book was well written where something kept happening every few chapters, so technically, the author knew what depths she wanted to give this story and her characters.
Oh, there were a couple of niggles. Melissa was growing stronger by the page until the author pulled the rug from under my feet and made Melissa revert back to the clingy teenager who looked to her in-laws to save her.
I couldn't believe my eyes and wanted to hit someone for doing that to the character. I was cringing when I read those sections.
Also, how could Melissa not know the various secrets surrounding her life, whereas those of the other characters' were laid wide open? The villagers didn't like her so much that they would try to protect her by keeping quiet. From the lot that was so b*tchy, I thought they would have taken pleasure in revealing all those dark secrets. And to think, she was kept in the dark for the past twenty years was unbelievable.
Overall, an edge-of-the-seat thriller was this book, with dramatic, emotional sections, that kept me completely hooked. The last few chapters blew the secrets open, causing to me keep flicking those pages every few seconds. I craved to know the truth.
Quite a rocking read.
July 25, 2020
Does the perfect family actually exist? Well, that's the image the residents of Forest Grove have of the Byatt family. That and the fact that the residents of Forest Grove also live in the perfect village, perfectly carved out at the edge of a thick forest, that had never existed up until a couple of decades ago. But when a tragic incident occurs and as the cracks start to appear, it soon becomes clear that nothing is what it seems in this close-knit community.
Melissa Byatt returns home one evening to a scene which could only be described as a nightmare. Her husband Patrick is lying unconscious on the kitchen floor, having been stabbed with the knife still at his side, and her three children standing wordlessly around him. They claim to have found him like that but after Melissa rings the ambulance she sees the knife has disappeared. The only people in that kitchen were her three children. Did one of them remove it? Or was she imagining things?
The police ask the usual questions and without a second thought, Melissa jumps in to back up her children. There was no knife at the scene; the attacker must have taken it with him. All the while asking herself just exactly what did her children do and how much did they know about the attack?
As the minutes pass into hours and the hours into days, Melissa begins to suspect her children know a lot more than they are letting on but each time she tries to question them, a wall of silence goes up between them and they refuse to tell her what they know. Going out of her mind with worry, Melissa is certain one of her children did it as who else could it have been? But how can she help them if they won't tell her?
Patrick's parents, Bill and Rosemary, are on hand immediately to take Melissa and the children in whilst their home remains a crime scene, all the while offering tea and platitudes. Rosemary insists on being by Patrick's side whilst Melissa is determined to get to the truth of what really happened. Her in-laws fail to understand who could do this to Patrick as he is loved by everyone...nor do they understand why Melissa spends most of her time traipsing through the forest when she should be at her husband's side.
Then the rumours start. Melissa has been having an affair with long time friend and forest ranger, Ryan Day. And the perfect village begins ripping the perfect family to shreds.
But this village has its own share of secrets. Secrets, deceit and lies that will rip this family apart at the seams as wild accusations abound causing Melissa to question everything she ever thought she knew about the man she has loved since she was 15 years old.
And then after nine days, Patrick wakes from his coma and everyone waits with baited breath as to who he will identify as his attacker.
WALL OF SILENCE is one wild ride. There are so many red herrings, twists and secrets that will make your head spin. Who is lying? Who is telling the truth? And what really happened to Patrick Byatt? And what are the residents of Forest Grove really hiding?
The story cleverly unfolds through the diary excerpts of one of the children whose identity remains unknown, a third person narrative from Melissa's perspective as she endeavours to uncover the truth and pretentious Facebook group chats that become vicious taunts between villagers as they turn on each other.
There are so many layers to this story that goes back several years. Throughout the unfolding narrative the reader learns about Melissa's childhood, her parents and how she came to meet Patrick. Her friendship with Ryan is also ruminated on growing up in the forest and how the village once referred to Melissa as "that feral child".
In the midst of the many characters within WALL OF SILENCE, I love how the forest is a character all of its own. I was reminded of the Scandanavian noir thriller "Jordskott" some years back where the forest played an important part in that story, just as it does here. It has an element of creepiness about it as if the answers somehow lay at the foot of the great oak tree at its heart, where Melissa often sought and found refuge. But will the great oak tree give her the answers she seeks now? Who stabbed Patrick? And how to get the truth from her children?
While I guessed the "who" in the whodunit fairly early, I was still left questioning my belief throughout as the author weaved a web of deceit that became a tangled mess of secrets and lies. As I was to discover, and you will too, that it's not the "who" so much as the "why" that is important.
I really cannot convey just what WALL OF SILENCE does within a few paragraphs. One has to read it to experience it themselves. And I do recommend doing so. It is a different thriller, but it is a twisty journey filled with secrets and lies that will leave you breathless.
A domestic thriller with a touch of noir for something different!
I would like to thank #TracyBuchanan, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #WallOfSilence in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Melissa Byatt returns home one evening to a scene which could only be described as a nightmare. Her husband Patrick is lying unconscious on the kitchen floor, having been stabbed with the knife still at his side, and her three children standing wordlessly around him. They claim to have found him like that but after Melissa rings the ambulance she sees the knife has disappeared. The only people in that kitchen were her three children. Did one of them remove it? Or was she imagining things?
The police ask the usual questions and without a second thought, Melissa jumps in to back up her children. There was no knife at the scene; the attacker must have taken it with him. All the while asking herself just exactly what did her children do and how much did they know about the attack?
As the minutes pass into hours and the hours into days, Melissa begins to suspect her children know a lot more than they are letting on but each time she tries to question them, a wall of silence goes up between them and they refuse to tell her what they know. Going out of her mind with worry, Melissa is certain one of her children did it as who else could it have been? But how can she help them if they won't tell her?
Patrick's parents, Bill and Rosemary, are on hand immediately to take Melissa and the children in whilst their home remains a crime scene, all the while offering tea and platitudes. Rosemary insists on being by Patrick's side whilst Melissa is determined to get to the truth of what really happened. Her in-laws fail to understand who could do this to Patrick as he is loved by everyone...nor do they understand why Melissa spends most of her time traipsing through the forest when she should be at her husband's side.
Then the rumours start. Melissa has been having an affair with long time friend and forest ranger, Ryan Day. And the perfect village begins ripping the perfect family to shreds.
But this village has its own share of secrets. Secrets, deceit and lies that will rip this family apart at the seams as wild accusations abound causing Melissa to question everything she ever thought she knew about the man she has loved since she was 15 years old.
And then after nine days, Patrick wakes from his coma and everyone waits with baited breath as to who he will identify as his attacker.
WALL OF SILENCE is one wild ride. There are so many red herrings, twists and secrets that will make your head spin. Who is lying? Who is telling the truth? And what really happened to Patrick Byatt? And what are the residents of Forest Grove really hiding?
The story cleverly unfolds through the diary excerpts of one of the children whose identity remains unknown, a third person narrative from Melissa's perspective as she endeavours to uncover the truth and pretentious Facebook group chats that become vicious taunts between villagers as they turn on each other.
There are so many layers to this story that goes back several years. Throughout the unfolding narrative the reader learns about Melissa's childhood, her parents and how she came to meet Patrick. Her friendship with Ryan is also ruminated on growing up in the forest and how the village once referred to Melissa as "that feral child".
In the midst of the many characters within WALL OF SILENCE, I love how the forest is a character all of its own. I was reminded of the Scandanavian noir thriller "Jordskott" some years back where the forest played an important part in that story, just as it does here. It has an element of creepiness about it as if the answers somehow lay at the foot of the great oak tree at its heart, where Melissa often sought and found refuge. But will the great oak tree give her the answers she seeks now? Who stabbed Patrick? And how to get the truth from her children?
While I guessed the "who" in the whodunit fairly early, I was still left questioning my belief throughout as the author weaved a web of deceit that became a tangled mess of secrets and lies. As I was to discover, and you will too, that it's not the "who" so much as the "why" that is important.
I really cannot convey just what WALL OF SILENCE does within a few paragraphs. One has to read it to experience it themselves. And I do recommend doing so. It is a different thriller, but it is a twisty journey filled with secrets and lies that will leave you breathless.
A domestic thriller with a touch of noir for something different!
I would like to thank #TracyBuchanan, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #WallOfSilence in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 16, 2020
Melissa comes home to her husband being stabbed to death. The shocking part about what she witnessing is that her children are around the deceased body and one is holding a knife. Can her children be so heartless or is there something that she is missing?
It took me only a few minutes to read this. I skimmed the majority of this but there was a few major highlights such as the dialogue between the social media posts about what happened to Melissa’s husband. It was interesting to read through all the assumptions and the juicy gossip that they had.
This read like a thriller so I am glad about that, usually thrillers are not read as one.
I’m not as patient with books as I was in the past or maybe it is my picky nature.
I wouldn’t recommend this book despite my high rating of the book. It was sloppy with some parts and had many loopholes but thrillers are my favorite genre so I’m extra picky with the recs.
It took me only a few minutes to read this. I skimmed the majority of this but there was a few major highlights such as the dialogue between the social media posts about what happened to Melissa’s husband. It was interesting to read through all the assumptions and the juicy gossip that they had.
This read like a thriller so I am glad about that, usually thrillers are not read as one.
I’m not as patient with books as I was in the past or maybe it is my picky nature.
I wouldn’t recommend this book despite my high rating of the book. It was sloppy with some parts and had many loopholes but thrillers are my favorite genre so I’m extra picky with the recs.
March 19, 2020
A nasty dispiriting read.
This is only the second time that I have only given a 1 star rating as I try to see something good in all books that I choose to read and strangely enough, this book is just like "What You Did" by Claire McGowan which had my first 1 star rating! The storylines are so similar that it makes me wonder....hmm.
Yet again the premise of the book features a happily married woman with children married to a man with the morals of a tomcat, who has a 'best friend' who really isn't and is living amongst a mostly amoral community. The husband ends up in a coma too. By the time I was way less than half way through I could see how it was all going turn out but I persevered in the vain hope that it would differ........I eventually gave up reading such uninspiring drivel which is first for me!!
I'm sure that the ending will be that mother and children live happily ever after with old love and the half sister, I could be wrong but I really don't care.
I know that the real world isn't perfect but I find it strange that a decent person can find enjoyment in such a disturbing storyline. Yet, according to the reviews some people really enjoyed it 🤔 I wonder why?
I got this book free via prime in advance of publication, I would have been gutted to have paid good money for it.
My recommendation is to avoid this and look at the myriad of good reads available of all genres on Amazon.
This is only the second time that I have only given a 1 star rating as I try to see something good in all books that I choose to read and strangely enough, this book is just like "What You Did" by Claire McGowan which had my first 1 star rating! The storylines are so similar that it makes me wonder....hmm.
Yet again the premise of the book features a happily married woman with children married to a man with the morals of a tomcat, who has a 'best friend' who really isn't and is living amongst a mostly amoral community. The husband ends up in a coma too. By the time I was way less than half way through I could see how it was all going turn out but I persevered in the vain hope that it would differ........I eventually gave up reading such uninspiring drivel which is first for me!!
I'm sure that the ending will be that mother and children live happily ever after with old love and the half sister, I could be wrong but I really don't care.
I know that the real world isn't perfect but I find it strange that a decent person can find enjoyment in such a disturbing storyline. Yet, according to the reviews some people really enjoyed it 🤔 I wonder why?
I got this book free via prime in advance of publication, I would have been gutted to have paid good money for it.
My recommendation is to avoid this and look at the myriad of good reads available of all genres on Amazon.
March 9, 2020
Holy crap. No, let me rephrase that: Holy shit. Stop whatever you’re doing and read this novel. Immediately. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, just buy this and read it. It’s amazing.
I don’t give many 5 star reviews. But this one grabbed me from the blurb and didn’t let me go. It’s character driven (a must for me) and all the characters are incredibly well developed. At the end of it, I was a little tearful because I now know these people. I’m a part of them. I thought the author’s use of Facebook posts was really cleverly done as well. I liked how it broke up some of the drama but still moved the plot forward. And I loved that I didn’t quite know who did it until a few pages before the reveal. I went back and forth between several different suspects and every time I was convinced I knew, I was proven wrong or rendered uncertain again within a few pages. I’m so excited to have stumbled across an author who clearly knows her craft well. I’ll be reading more of her work for sure.
Highly recommend this one.
I don’t give many 5 star reviews. But this one grabbed me from the blurb and didn’t let me go. It’s character driven (a must for me) and all the characters are incredibly well developed. At the end of it, I was a little tearful because I now know these people. I’m a part of them. I thought the author’s use of Facebook posts was really cleverly done as well. I liked how it broke up some of the drama but still moved the plot forward. And I loved that I didn’t quite know who did it until a few pages before the reveal. I went back and forth between several different suspects and every time I was convinced I knew, I was proven wrong or rendered uncertain again within a few pages. I’m so excited to have stumbled across an author who clearly knows her craft well. I’ll be reading more of her work for sure.
Highly recommend this one.
April 21, 2020
Such a great writer!
"...because that’s what we do, don’t we, risk our lives for those we love?"
This was SO GOOD! The story had twists and turns from page one that had me hooked until the final sentence!
Also, this was my first book by this author and it won't be my last.
Loved it!
"...because that’s what we do, don’t we, risk our lives for those we love?"
This was SO GOOD! The story had twists and turns from page one that had me hooked until the final sentence!
Also, this was my first book by this author and it won't be my last.
Loved it!
April 12, 2020
3.5 stars. difficult childhood, kids stab dad, husband and in-laws are loaded with secrets plus small town gossip make for a great little story
June 8, 2020
This was a disappointing read and I’m not entirely sure why. I loved the original idea, what a mystery that is and there were a few other secrets unearthed along the way, although they failed to get me really excited they did keep me going.
So the basic premise is full of intrigue: a woman comes home to find her husband has been stabbed and is lying in a pool of his own blood, surrounded by his three children. The mother is sure one of them did it, who else could it have been, but they are refusing to talk.
My god that made for a frustrating read (kids eh!). It was a good mystery, it’s just too slow for me, mystery books are supposed to be like that though aren’t that? Gradually unravelling to find the truth. I just don’t have the patience. By the end I just wanted to get it over with, it felt like it was dragging on.
However having said that I thought the book was well written, nicely descriptive but not over the top in detail, the characters were reasonably well developed and it all had a decent level of realism albeit with a few cliches along the way. The problem with the characters is that I’m not a massive fan of Melissa, the protagonist, so that doesn’t help, to be honest I didn’t really like any of the characters, which makes it hard to get into the book.
I don’t want to be too harsh on the author here, I think it’s just not for me, there’s nothing really wrong with the book. I am sure others would love it, I thought it was ok.
I’m giving this 3.5/5 but I’m rounding down, it’s a bit harsh but couldn’t quite bring myself to give it 4.
So the basic premise is full of intrigue: a woman comes home to find her husband has been stabbed and is lying in a pool of his own blood, surrounded by his three children. The mother is sure one of them did it, who else could it have been, but they are refusing to talk.
My god that made for a frustrating read (kids eh!). It was a good mystery, it’s just too slow for me, mystery books are supposed to be like that though aren’t that? Gradually unravelling to find the truth. I just don’t have the patience. By the end I just wanted to get it over with, it felt like it was dragging on.
However having said that I thought the book was well written, nicely descriptive but not over the top in detail, the characters were reasonably well developed and it all had a decent level of realism albeit with a few cliches along the way. The problem with the characters is that I’m not a massive fan of Melissa, the protagonist, so that doesn’t help, to be honest I didn’t really like any of the characters, which makes it hard to get into the book.
I don’t want to be too harsh on the author here, I think it’s just not for me, there’s nothing really wrong with the book. I am sure others would love it, I thought it was ok.
I’m giving this 3.5/5 but I’m rounding down, it’s a bit harsh but couldn’t quite bring myself to give it 4.
April 26, 2020
2 STARS
Her children have a deadly secret. Can she uncover it before the police do?
Melissa Byatt’s life in Forest Grove seems as perfect as can be: a doting husband, three loving children and a beautiful house in a close-knit community. But appearances can be deceiving. One evening, Melissa arrives home to the unimaginable: her husband lies stabbed on the kitchen floor, their children standing calmly around him…With horror, she realizes that one of them is to blame. But which one? And why would they attack their own father?
.
.
.
Okay, this book (unfortunately) did absolutely nothing for me. I'm actually surprised that I managed to finish this one, to be honest (which is why this is a 2 star instead of a one.) Sorry, not sorry?
WALL OF SILENCE is a slow burn mystery told through multiple view points. It is revealed fairly early on (like...in the description) that the culprit of this mystery is one of Melissa's children. We do experience some of the story through the eyes of the attacker, but the identity of the child isn't exposed until near the end. I figured out the vast majority of the twists beforehand and the ones that I didn't weren't shocking or mind blowing. I also didn't really like or connect to any of the characters and many of them had ulterior motives (revealed throughout the novel) that made me dislike them even more.
The current Goodreads rating for this book is fairly high, so maybe this is just an "unpopular opinion" review. Who knows. Regardless, I recommend skipping this one if you're looking for a fast paced, shocking thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my ARC. Publish date: April 15/2020.
Her children have a deadly secret. Can she uncover it before the police do?
Melissa Byatt’s life in Forest Grove seems as perfect as can be: a doting husband, three loving children and a beautiful house in a close-knit community. But appearances can be deceiving. One evening, Melissa arrives home to the unimaginable: her husband lies stabbed on the kitchen floor, their children standing calmly around him…With horror, she realizes that one of them is to blame. But which one? And why would they attack their own father?
.
.
.
Okay, this book (unfortunately) did absolutely nothing for me. I'm actually surprised that I managed to finish this one, to be honest (which is why this is a 2 star instead of a one.) Sorry, not sorry?
WALL OF SILENCE is a slow burn mystery told through multiple view points. It is revealed fairly early on (like...in the description) that the culprit of this mystery is one of Melissa's children. We do experience some of the story through the eyes of the attacker, but the identity of the child isn't exposed until near the end. I figured out the vast majority of the twists beforehand and the ones that I didn't weren't shocking or mind blowing. I also didn't really like or connect to any of the characters and many of them had ulterior motives (revealed throughout the novel) that made me dislike them even more.
The current Goodreads rating for this book is fairly high, so maybe this is just an "unpopular opinion" review. Who knows. Regardless, I recommend skipping this one if you're looking for a fast paced, shocking thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my ARC. Publish date: April 15/2020.
May 23, 2021
When Melissa’s husband Patrick is stabbed, she knows one of her three children is to blame. Was the culprit one of her fifteen-year-old twins Lilly or Lewis? Could their younger sister Grace be responsible? On the outside, the family seems so perfect. But is any family? Patrick’s parents are oh so supportive. Oppressively so. Neighbors gossip online with theories and innuendo while Patrick lays in a coma. One child confesses in a diary. Which child?
WALL OF SILENCE is a wild ride. Red herrings galore. Everyone had secrets. Everyone in the family and in the village. And everyone lied. Some lies to save face can’t really hurt, unless those lies cause someone to do something potentially deadly.
I guessed the Who in the whodunnit incorrectly, although the Why was much more important.
WALL OF SILENCE is a twisty, turny journey from stabbing to what the heck, oh that makes perfect sense.
ETA: I didn’t enjoy the audiobook narration.
WALL OF SILENCE is a wild ride. Red herrings galore. Everyone had secrets. Everyone in the family and in the village. And everyone lied. Some lies to save face can’t really hurt, unless those lies cause someone to do something potentially deadly.
I guessed the Who in the whodunnit incorrectly, although the Why was much more important.
WALL OF SILENCE is a twisty, turny journey from stabbing to what the heck, oh that makes perfect sense.
ETA: I didn’t enjoy the audiobook narration.
March 29, 2020
A Struggle to Finish
The book seemed to drag and repeat itself after about a quarter of the way in. There was little depth to the characters, and their behavior was not always consistent with their descriptions. Finally, Melissa, the mom and major character, was so weak and wishy-washy that I wanted to slap some sense into her. I finished the book, but it was a frustrating read.
The book seemed to drag and repeat itself after about a quarter of the way in. There was little depth to the characters, and their behavior was not always consistent with their descriptions. Finally, Melissa, the mom and major character, was so weak and wishy-washy that I wanted to slap some sense into her. I finished the book, but it was a frustrating read.
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