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The Measure of Silence
Two sisters fulfilling their grandfather’s dying wish uncover decades of secrets in a powerful novel about family, truth, and forgiveness.
Dallas, Dealey Plaza, 1963. Nineteen-year-old Mariah Byrne is following her dream of a career in photography. One moment she’s filled with joy and hope watching the president and Mrs. Kennedy drive past. In the next, the world—and Mariah’s life—is split into before and after. What follows, and the unconventional decisions Mariah makes, will affect her and her family forever.
Sixty years later, sisters Raine and Jessica grieve the death of their grandfather. For both his beloved grand girls, Papa leaves behind a last wish and an unexpected the key to their grandmother Mariah’s hope chest. Explore its contents, he writes, and follow where they lead. But what secrets can their family history possibly hold?
Raine and Jessica unite to piece together the mystery of a past they never knew existed. But facts can’t reveal the whole story. With Mariah’s memories fading, the sisters struggle to understand her choices before the truth disappears forever.
Dallas, Dealey Plaza, 1963. Nineteen-year-old Mariah Byrne is following her dream of a career in photography. One moment she’s filled with joy and hope watching the president and Mrs. Kennedy drive past. In the next, the world—and Mariah’s life—is split into before and after. What follows, and the unconventional decisions Mariah makes, will affect her and her family forever.
Sixty years later, sisters Raine and Jessica grieve the death of their grandfather. For both his beloved grand girls, Papa leaves behind a last wish and an unexpected the key to their grandmother Mariah’s hope chest. Explore its contents, he writes, and follow where they lead. But what secrets can their family history possibly hold?
Raine and Jessica unite to piece together the mystery of a past they never knew existed. But facts can’t reveal the whole story. With Mariah’s memories fading, the sisters struggle to understand her choices before the truth disappears forever.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2023
580 people are currently reading
9023 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Langston
16 books198 followersElizabeth Langston lives in North Carolina, midway between the beach and the mountains. When she's not writing stories, she likes to stream mysteries, travel to faraway places, or curl up with a good book and a cup of coffee.
Elizabeth writes historical/ women's fiction and YA magical realism. As Julia Day, she has also written contemporary romance.
Elizabeth writes historical/ women's fiction and YA magical realism. As Julia Day, she has also written contemporary romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
April 15, 2023
Elizabeth Langston’s The Measure of Silence is a gripping story of family, hidden truths, and the after effects of a tragedy that changed not only the course of Mariah Byrne’s life, but that of an entire nation. Tautly paced and brilliantly crafted, this is a must-read for fans of family drama and JFK-centric fiction. Simply riveting from start to finish.
July 21, 2023
• BOOKSTAGRAM •
Raine (the closed off, curt sister) and Jessica (married to her job) discover a chest filled with secrets after the passing of their grand father. Their grand father left a note to dig into the chest and find out truths even if it may surprise or hurt them in the process.
The process of this book was extremely satisfying. You see two polar opposite sisters come together to figure out family secrets but not knowing in the process they help grow their relationship with each other and also with their close family.
This novel flashes from present time to the early 1960s which compliments the novel so well. When you’re starting to wonder about what happened back when Mariah was younger the next page sends you back to the 1960s. It’s a truly heartbreaking story. Starting with the assassination of JFK and the PTSD that followed which was undiagnosed
This book felt raw, it felt real, it felt like I was listening to a story that a friend was telling me versus a non fiction novel. This book was unlike anything I’ve read in how the feeling it gave me. I was sure this was a solid 4 star from me until the ending came close and the tears started to shed. This is an overall great novel. An amazing 5 star read that I encourage everyone to read.
Thank you so much to @elizabethlangstonauthor and @uplitreads for sending me this book to review!
If you liked this—read this:
🟣 The spectacular by Fiona Davis
🟣 All you have to do is call by Kerri Maher
🟣 The wishing game by Meg Shaffer
🟣 A shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay
Read if you like:
🔸 complex family issues
🔸 strong sense of closure
🔸 a feeling of real life stories
🔸 JFK history
Some content warnings:
🔺 PTSD and PPD
🔺 Disabilities
Raine (the closed off, curt sister) and Jessica (married to her job) discover a chest filled with secrets after the passing of their grand father. Their grand father left a note to dig into the chest and find out truths even if it may surprise or hurt them in the process.
The process of this book was extremely satisfying. You see two polar opposite sisters come together to figure out family secrets but not knowing in the process they help grow their relationship with each other and also with their close family.
This novel flashes from present time to the early 1960s which compliments the novel so well. When you’re starting to wonder about what happened back when Mariah was younger the next page sends you back to the 1960s. It’s a truly heartbreaking story. Starting with the assassination of JFK and the PTSD that followed which was undiagnosed
This book felt raw, it felt real, it felt like I was listening to a story that a friend was telling me versus a non fiction novel. This book was unlike anything I’ve read in how the feeling it gave me. I was sure this was a solid 4 star from me until the ending came close and the tears started to shed. This is an overall great novel. An amazing 5 star read that I encourage everyone to read.
Thank you so much to @elizabethlangstonauthor and @uplitreads for sending me this book to review!
If you liked this—read this:
🟣 The spectacular by Fiona Davis
🟣 All you have to do is call by Kerri Maher
🟣 The wishing game by Meg Shaffer
🟣 A shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay
Read if you like:
🔸 complex family issues
🔸 strong sense of closure
🔸 a feeling of real life stories
🔸 JFK history
Some content warnings:
🔺 PTSD and PPD
🔺 Disabilities
April 14, 2023
A riveting and emotional read! Langston takes us on a generational journey of discovery, uncovering secrets that threaten to tear a family apart. Fast paced and heartwarming, The Measure of Silence illustrates the struggles of motherhood, and power of love and forgiveness with endearing characters.
September 7, 2023
2.5 stars rounded to 3
Two sisters are challenged by their father to discover the family's deep, dark secret. When they do, their outrage is a bit over-the-top for me. How many times can you say, "how dare she" and "how dare he" ??? And the part about being in Dallas on 11/22/63 seemed silly.
Thanks, Goodreads, for the ARC.
Two sisters are challenged by their father to discover the family's deep, dark secret. When they do, their outrage is a bit over-the-top for me. How many times can you say, "how dare she" and "how dare he" ??? And the part about being in Dallas on 11/22/63 seemed silly.
Thanks, Goodreads, for the ARC.
July 25, 2023
This book is phenomenal and is now in contention for top five books I have read so far this year. It swept me up from the moment I started, and I am still reeling as I read the final sentence. The plot is superbly written and makes you want to keep reading. The characters are pure perfection. All detailed with a backstory that builds into the type of person they are. The details and descriptions placed me at the events and made me a part of the story. This is the story of the unburying of a deeply guarded secret one family kept for decades. How this secret shaped each person in the story and affected their lives is astonishing. The slow unveiling of what happened in the past will leave you unable to put the book down.
Jessica and Raine are dealing with the death of their beloved grandfather. He meant the world to them and pretty much anyone who met him. He was just one of those people that created joy wherever he went. He left a letter and three boxes for Jessica and Raine to look through and uncover the truth about their families' past. Excited to begin researching the girls dive in. To find that their lives, their parents' lives, and their grandparents have all been altered by a secret. But why was this even a secret to begin with? There is so much to unwrap, uncover, and discover the why. Why was there "a conspiracy of silence," in this family?
I do not want to go into too many details and give the book away. You need to read it. It is told in a dual timeline, between Raine, Jessica, and their grandmother Mariah. It starts off with the event that changed everything, the assassination of JFK. I was absolutely fascinated with JFK when I was in high school. I devoured everything I could about him and Jackie. I loved how this event played such a major role in this book. There are so many important topics this book touched upon as well. Thank you to Elizabeth Langston, for my gorgeous, signed copy! I also want to thank Lake Union and UpLit Reads for putting this stunning book into my hands.
Jessica and Raine are dealing with the death of their beloved grandfather. He meant the world to them and pretty much anyone who met him. He was just one of those people that created joy wherever he went. He left a letter and three boxes for Jessica and Raine to look through and uncover the truth about their families' past. Excited to begin researching the girls dive in. To find that their lives, their parents' lives, and their grandparents have all been altered by a secret. But why was this even a secret to begin with? There is so much to unwrap, uncover, and discover the why. Why was there "a conspiracy of silence," in this family?
I do not want to go into too many details and give the book away. You need to read it. It is told in a dual timeline, between Raine, Jessica, and their grandmother Mariah. It starts off with the event that changed everything, the assassination of JFK. I was absolutely fascinated with JFK when I was in high school. I devoured everything I could about him and Jackie. I loved how this event played such a major role in this book. There are so many important topics this book touched upon as well. Thank you to Elizabeth Langston, for my gorgeous, signed copy! I also want to thank Lake Union and UpLit Reads for putting this stunning book into my hands.
June 1, 2023
Thank you to Lake Union publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
It seems I am in the minority here, but this book just did not work for me.
The premise is just bad: Raine and Jessica - sisters who receive a letter after their grandfather's death that reveals clues to the family secret that they must figure out.
Seriously. Could their Grandfather not have just sat them down anytime in the last oh, 5 years to clue them in? Why make such a production about everything? Mariah can't provide her story as she suffers from Alzheimer's. Their mother refused to tell them for reasons I still can't understand.
Also, it seemed that each character had their ONE feature and that was pushed to the max. Raine and Jessica - one was a type A workaholic news producer, the other suffers from ADHD/OCD. Each written completely stereotypically. The same for the other characters who had their own quirks; postpartum depression, the jealous girlfriend turned wife; the country hick boy from the wrong side of town, the supportive lawyer husband/father who barely has time for his kids, etc., etc.
And the biggest piece of all is WHY did they even bother keeping the film from 22 November? If it was that traumatic, why wouldn't it have been destroyed, thrown out or even left behind somewhere?
Just too many issues for me to have enjoyed this book.
It seems I am in the minority here, but this book just did not work for me.
The premise is just bad: Raine and Jessica - sisters who receive a letter after their grandfather's death that reveals clues to the family secret that they must figure out.
Seriously. Could their Grandfather not have just sat them down anytime in the last oh, 5 years to clue them in? Why make such a production about everything? Mariah can't provide her story as she suffers from Alzheimer's. Their mother refused to tell them for reasons I still can't understand.
Also, it seemed that each character had their ONE feature and that was pushed to the max. Raine and Jessica - one was a type A workaholic news producer, the other suffers from ADHD/OCD. Each written completely stereotypically. The same for the other characters who had their own quirks; postpartum depression, the jealous girlfriend turned wife; the country hick boy from the wrong side of town, the supportive lawyer husband/father who barely has time for his kids, etc., etc.
And the biggest piece of all is WHY did they even bother keeping the film from 22 November? If it was that traumatic, why wouldn't it have been destroyed, thrown out or even left behind somewhere?
Just too many issues for me to have enjoyed this book.
September 18, 2023
November 22, 1963. A day that changed our nation, and Mariah Byrne’s life, forever. Mariah was a hopeful young photographer when she witnessed JFK’s tragic assassination unfold in Dealey Plaza. Sixty years later, Mariah’s two granddaughters are discovering long-buried family secrets to honor their grandfather’s dying wish. As their grandmother fades into dementia, the sisters have precious little time to understand the choices Mariah made so many years ago and why she hid them for so long.
This is a heartbreaking and beautiful historical fiction novel! I love anything (fiction or nonfiction!) about the Kennedys, so I knew I had to read this book! The historical aspect feels very authentic, and I was equally riveted by Mariah’s story in the past and Raine and Jessica’s story in the present. The author deftly takes on motherhood, postpartum depression, sister relationships, memory care, and grief, giving these themes dimension and nuance. Keep your Kleenex handy, because this emotional story hits right in the feels!
This is a heartbreaking and beautiful historical fiction novel! I love anything (fiction or nonfiction!) about the Kennedys, so I knew I had to read this book! The historical aspect feels very authentic, and I was equally riveted by Mariah’s story in the past and Raine and Jessica’s story in the present. The author deftly takes on motherhood, postpartum depression, sister relationships, memory care, and grief, giving these themes dimension and nuance. Keep your Kleenex handy, because this emotional story hits right in the feels!
July 25, 2023
heart wrenching read
This was a very heart wrenching read on so many levels!
The Times, the happenings, the family secrets, ugh! I cried so often reading this book, I needed tissues everywhere I was! I didn’t know when it would hit me again! But these were People, and I Needed to see what was going to happen.
This was a very heart wrenching read on so many levels!
The Times, the happenings, the family secrets, ugh! I cried so often reading this book, I needed tissues everywhere I was! I didn’t know when it would hit me again! But these were People, and I Needed to see what was going to happen.
July 10, 2025
Whew. This one snuck up on me like a whisper through an old keyhole and hit like a cannonball to the chest. Elizabeth Langston’s The Measure of Silence is a beautifully layered novel that unfolds like a photograph in a darkroom—slow, intentional, and totally worth it.
We start with sisters Raine and Jessica, reeling from their grandfather’s death and his final request: open Grandma Mariah’s hope chest and follow the secrets inside. Easy? Not even close. What they uncover is a breadcrumb trail of emotion and decades-old truths that had me gasping into my coffee like I was standing in Dealey Plaza myself.
Speaking of—hello, 1963! Langston drops us right into the moment with vivid, cinematic detail. You can smell the camera film, feel the Texas sun, hear the hum of history in the air. Young Mariah, camera in hand, watches the president pass by—and in an instant, her life splinters. What follows is raw, bold, and heartbreakingly unforgettable.
Langston’s writing is smooth as velvet with just the right edge. She weaves past and present like a scarf made of secrets—soft, intricate, and powerful. And the bond between the sisters? Messy, relatable, and full of heart.
With rich imagery, emotional depth, and a twist of mystery, The Measure of Silence is a story of family, forgiveness, and the ties that quietly shape our lives.
Let this one linger. It deserves it.
We start with sisters Raine and Jessica, reeling from their grandfather’s death and his final request: open Grandma Mariah’s hope chest and follow the secrets inside. Easy? Not even close. What they uncover is a breadcrumb trail of emotion and decades-old truths that had me gasping into my coffee like I was standing in Dealey Plaza myself.
Speaking of—hello, 1963! Langston drops us right into the moment with vivid, cinematic detail. You can smell the camera film, feel the Texas sun, hear the hum of history in the air. Young Mariah, camera in hand, watches the president pass by—and in an instant, her life splinters. What follows is raw, bold, and heartbreakingly unforgettable.
Langston’s writing is smooth as velvet with just the right edge. She weaves past and present like a scarf made of secrets—soft, intricate, and powerful. And the bond between the sisters? Messy, relatable, and full of heart.
With rich imagery, emotional depth, and a twist of mystery, The Measure of Silence is a story of family, forgiveness, and the ties that quietly shape our lives.
Let this one linger. It deserves it.
July 14, 2023
Thank you so much UpLit for my gifted copy of this wonderful book. Definitely one of my favorites this year!
If you are looking for a dynamic historical fiction with family drama, this is the book for you. I adored the characters, especially Raine. Mariah’s story was so heartbreaking and portrayed in a way that was realistic to how women were treated and misunderstood in the 1960s
November 22, 1963 is the day that JFK was as assassinated. Those who witnessed the tragic events in person that day were forever changed, and that includes Mariah
Sixty years later, we meet Raine and Jessica. Their grandfather has just passed and left them hints to their family’s history. As the granddaughters start diving into the clues, they learn many secrets that have been kept for several generations
Looking to tie everything together, they are also running against time as their grandmother, Mariah, is forgetting more and more every single day. Will the granddaughters understand why everything happened? Or will they feel deceived to have been left out of such a monumental discovery?
Told in alternating pov and timeline, this book will give you all the feels. I smiled and cried several times in this book. I loved the dynamics of the characters and the storytelling is beautiful. Highly recommend you add this to your tbr!
If you are looking for a dynamic historical fiction with family drama, this is the book for you. I adored the characters, especially Raine. Mariah’s story was so heartbreaking and portrayed in a way that was realistic to how women were treated and misunderstood in the 1960s
November 22, 1963 is the day that JFK was as assassinated. Those who witnessed the tragic events in person that day were forever changed, and that includes Mariah
Sixty years later, we meet Raine and Jessica. Their grandfather has just passed and left them hints to their family’s history. As the granddaughters start diving into the clues, they learn many secrets that have been kept for several generations
Looking to tie everything together, they are also running against time as their grandmother, Mariah, is forgetting more and more every single day. Will the granddaughters understand why everything happened? Or will they feel deceived to have been left out of such a monumental discovery?
Told in alternating pov and timeline, this book will give you all the feels. I smiled and cried several times in this book. I loved the dynamics of the characters and the storytelling is beautiful. Highly recommend you add this to your tbr!
August 4, 2023
My honest review is freely provided in return for the kindness by NetGalley and the author/publisher in providing me with this book to review.
This is a novel that book clubs will love. There’s so much to talk about from the relationships between the characters, to the choices made, and the eventual outfall of it all. The attitudes of the 1960’s was well executed because I remember that marry your own kind meant within the Catholic or Christian faiths and not mixing between the two.
Between the parallel storylines, I will admit that Mariah’s story from the 1960’s was the more interesting one. I recall when JFK was assassinated, and how very sad the event was. Seeing the casket on the streets of DC is one vivid memory from the television coverage so her story resonated with me. I can understand the trauma of being there to observe it. For people who remember the event, this will definitely touch off a flood of memories about how this event touch your life.
The investigating the granddaughters are left to do presents the examination of decisions and motivations which was a nice touch to the story. Some in depth thinking leads them on their path toward the answers they seek. I really enjoyed this book.
This is a novel that book clubs will love. There’s so much to talk about from the relationships between the characters, to the choices made, and the eventual outfall of it all. The attitudes of the 1960’s was well executed because I remember that marry your own kind meant within the Catholic or Christian faiths and not mixing between the two.
Between the parallel storylines, I will admit that Mariah’s story from the 1960’s was the more interesting one. I recall when JFK was assassinated, and how very sad the event was. Seeing the casket on the streets of DC is one vivid memory from the television coverage so her story resonated with me. I can understand the trauma of being there to observe it. For people who remember the event, this will definitely touch off a flood of memories about how this event touch your life.
The investigating the granddaughters are left to do presents the examination of decisions and motivations which was a nice touch to the story. Some in depth thinking leads them on their path toward the answers they seek. I really enjoyed this book.
November 17, 2024
This book was filled with angst. However, any book that is filled with secrets, especially family secrets, tends to be.
Families can be difficult, secrets and grudges held create dysfunctional family interactions. This book describes the consequences of this situation very well and anyone who has experienced family grudges/secrets will be able to see some aspect of their situation in this book.
Families can be difficult, secrets and grudges held create dysfunctional family interactions. This book describes the consequences of this situation very well and anyone who has experienced family grudges/secrets will be able to see some aspect of their situation in this book.
September 5, 2023
4.5 stars
February 25, 2024
One of the best books I’ve read this year!
March 11, 2024
DNF at 20%. Just too slow for me. They dragged out the family secret for 100 pages with no progress and minor clues.
June 26, 2023
Elizabeth Langston’s ‘The Measure of Silence’ pulled me in immediately. Coming along for the ride while two sisters, Raine and Jessica, unravel a past as well as unraveling their own trajectories for their futures. The story is heartwarming as well as gripping as they come to realize that a person’s story can have many layers - what at first seems incomprehensible can be explained if you take the time to dig deeper to the truth. Many thanks to the author for providing an ARC of this book.
July 21, 2025
Thank you @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for sending me this book for review. Opinions are my own.
“Two sisters fulfilling their grandfather’s dying wish uncover decades of secrets in a novel about family, truth, and forgiveness.”
I love historical fiction book with a dual timeline that includes family secrets. I was especially interested because this book starts on the day JFK was shot in Dallas (which I did a paper on in high school) and I’ve never read a book from the perspective of someone that was actually in the crowd that day and the ramifications of being a witness to that tragic event. The timing of this book is also significant given that this November will mark the 60th anniversary of JFK’s death.
I love that the idea of PTSD and mental health in 1963 was explored. It’s very clearly different from what would have happened today, although you obviously have to factor in the fact that Mariah didn’t have any resources or support system.
In the present day, it’s hard to tell what the relationship is actually like between Jessica and Raine. They seem surprised to be working well together but there’s not really any indication that this wouldn’t be the case. Raine is clearly neurodivergent, which the author mentions in her acknowledgements, but this isn’t discussed and I found that frustrating.
On that note, many of the relationships and characters seemed to be kind of surface-level and one-dimensional. I wish these had been explored further. I didn’t really get the relationship between Jessica and Luke, but I did love Mariah and Gregor.
Speaking of Gregor, I’m not sure why he left a such a specific and secretive process for Jessica and Raine to follow to figure out the family secret. I guess they discovered other things along the way but it seemed a bit dramatic.
Overall, this book had flaws but it was an interesting story that kept me reading.
“Two sisters fulfilling their grandfather’s dying wish uncover decades of secrets in a novel about family, truth, and forgiveness.”
I love historical fiction book with a dual timeline that includes family secrets. I was especially interested because this book starts on the day JFK was shot in Dallas (which I did a paper on in high school) and I’ve never read a book from the perspective of someone that was actually in the crowd that day and the ramifications of being a witness to that tragic event. The timing of this book is also significant given that this November will mark the 60th anniversary of JFK’s death.
I love that the idea of PTSD and mental health in 1963 was explored. It’s very clearly different from what would have happened today, although you obviously have to factor in the fact that Mariah didn’t have any resources or support system.
In the present day, it’s hard to tell what the relationship is actually like between Jessica and Raine. They seem surprised to be working well together but there’s not really any indication that this wouldn’t be the case. Raine is clearly neurodivergent, which the author mentions in her acknowledgements, but this isn’t discussed and I found that frustrating.
On that note, many of the relationships and characters seemed to be kind of surface-level and one-dimensional. I wish these had been explored further. I didn’t really get the relationship between Jessica and Luke, but I did love Mariah and Gregor.
Speaking of Gregor, I’m not sure why he left a such a specific and secretive process for Jessica and Raine to follow to figure out the family secret. I guess they discovered other things along the way but it seemed a bit dramatic.
Overall, this book had flaws but it was an interesting story that kept me reading.
January 21, 2024
“The Measure of Silence”, is without doubt and amazing historical book. A grandfather’s final wish delves into the past and secrets are revealed spanning generations, they are hidden no more. The results of surfacing secrets are emotional and explosive results, so deep rooted they could shred relationships beyond repair if that’s the path you chose to take. Motherhood can be a very bumpy ride.
I adored Mariah’s character in this multigenerational saga, she is a true heroine. The author writes in such a way that you can literally feel Mariah’s pain and the struggles she faced, along with the choices she made, a woman thrust into mental anguish at a time when the world was not truly aware about the true effects trauma had on the mind, it was relatively easy to label someone crazy or plain different, off the wall so to speak.
Langston entwines the assassination of JFK along with a pot full of boiling secrets in this storyline to depict the maximum impact of a traumatic event. The granddaughters Jessica and Raine, who are sisters that are not very close, go full steam ahead in fulfilling their grandfather's dying wish, but what they uncover are decades of secrets in a powerful novel about family, truth, and forgiveness. They both get to do a little soul searching in the process while simultaneously making decisions that could alter their lives for the better while reaping enjoyment of a much more closer interaction with one another. Sisterhood can be a wonderful thing. It’s a journey of discovery on many different levels.
This was a touching, compelling novel with relatable characters and where the truth will set you free. This book is medicine for the soul.
I adored Mariah’s character in this multigenerational saga, she is a true heroine. The author writes in such a way that you can literally feel Mariah’s pain and the struggles she faced, along with the choices she made, a woman thrust into mental anguish at a time when the world was not truly aware about the true effects trauma had on the mind, it was relatively easy to label someone crazy or plain different, off the wall so to speak.
Langston entwines the assassination of JFK along with a pot full of boiling secrets in this storyline to depict the maximum impact of a traumatic event. The granddaughters Jessica and Raine, who are sisters that are not very close, go full steam ahead in fulfilling their grandfather's dying wish, but what they uncover are decades of secrets in a powerful novel about family, truth, and forgiveness. They both get to do a little soul searching in the process while simultaneously making decisions that could alter their lives for the better while reaping enjoyment of a much more closer interaction with one another. Sisterhood can be a wonderful thing. It’s a journey of discovery on many different levels.
This was a touching, compelling novel with relatable characters and where the truth will set you free. This book is medicine for the soul.
May 29, 2023
I’m very excited to have this free ARC from fellow author, Elizabeth Langston. This novel is a deep and thoughtful story triggered by a nation-shattering event that millions of us lived through and have strong memories of. It begins with the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963. I was thirteen years old and in my math class when we were sent home to learn the details of the tragedy. To this day, the mention of it floods me with the memory of our math teacher telling us what happened and dismissing us, the classroom erupting in tears and exclamations, and the rush to our buses to return to the safety of our families. Elizabeth uses that historical event to launch a beautifully-written and touching story of a family decades after Kennedy’s death, but harboring secrets and heartbreaks of their own. Elizabeth’s deeply touching narration of two sisters reuniting to process the death of their beloved grandfather and coming across a mystery in their own family and their paths to solve it together is a fully compelling novel. She has an empathic touch all her own. It’s a great story, and I highly recommend it.
April 3, 2025
I loved how this book started out. I was so excited to learn more about how and Mariah‘s relationship and their life and what would happen next after such a huge beginning. I really liked the character characters for the most part in the book. Probably the biggest thing that pulled it down to a three instead of a four for me was I just felt like Jessica and Luke’s relationship was whiny. Definitely gives you pause for what to keep secret in life and what secrets can destroy life. I thought the narration on this book was flawless. I absolutely love this narrator.
November 25, 2024
This book I read back in September but I can’t let go of it .
It’s a masterpiece of family history and never letting go of the past.
It’s a masterpiece of family history and never letting go of the past.
September 12, 2023
Elizabeth Langston has written an engaging, gripping story of family, devotion and history in her exception novel “A Measure of Silence.” The summer release is so timely as we approach the 60th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination in November.
In 1963, Mariah Byrne witnesses the assassination of President John F. Kennedy at Dealey Plaza in Dallas. The excitement to see Mrs. Kennedy up close gives way to horror for Mariah, an aspiring photographer, and her fiancé Hal. Circumstances cause their baby to be born a month early on a day that will never be forgotten.
Fast forward 60 years as Mariah’s two granddaughters Raine and Jessica face the loss of their beloved Papa. He has left them with a last wish to discover the truth about their family and its history. The truth can be found in three boxes of memorabilia stored in Mariah’s hope chest.
It's a story that the young women have never heard. It’s a past that’s disappearing as Mariah’s dementia erases memories of what her life once was.
Langston tells the family’s story through past and present perspectives that weave together a family that’s breaking apart from long-kept secrets. The sisters are polar opposites with their own memories of a loving grandfather, a once-powerful grandmother and divorced parents who are hiding their own stories.
Raine struggles with emotional overload while Jessica hides her feelings through work. Both know that there’s more to know about their lives, and they’ll only find the answers if they work together. As their grandfather requested, they have to put judgment aside and not settle for partial answers. They must come to grips that women have not always had the freedom to make their own decisions or find their true paths.
The story is raw and sad. As one reviewer said, “The Measure of Silence” feels like something that could have happened to a friend. It’s that “real” in its substance. One minute you’re angered by the past, then you’re saddened but finally you’re glad that the pieces have finally come together.
This is a novel that tugs at the heart on so many levels. It’s an excellent choice for a book club selection because all those family and generational dynamics are begging to be discussed! Luckily for readers, there’s a reader guide to help you understand all the emotions that surface from reading this work of historical fiction. And don’t forget the tissues!
A huge "thank you" goes out to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinion.
In 1963, Mariah Byrne witnesses the assassination of President John F. Kennedy at Dealey Plaza in Dallas. The excitement to see Mrs. Kennedy up close gives way to horror for Mariah, an aspiring photographer, and her fiancé Hal. Circumstances cause their baby to be born a month early on a day that will never be forgotten.
Fast forward 60 years as Mariah’s two granddaughters Raine and Jessica face the loss of their beloved Papa. He has left them with a last wish to discover the truth about their family and its history. The truth can be found in three boxes of memorabilia stored in Mariah’s hope chest.
It's a story that the young women have never heard. It’s a past that’s disappearing as Mariah’s dementia erases memories of what her life once was.
Langston tells the family’s story through past and present perspectives that weave together a family that’s breaking apart from long-kept secrets. The sisters are polar opposites with their own memories of a loving grandfather, a once-powerful grandmother and divorced parents who are hiding their own stories.
Raine struggles with emotional overload while Jessica hides her feelings through work. Both know that there’s more to know about their lives, and they’ll only find the answers if they work together. As their grandfather requested, they have to put judgment aside and not settle for partial answers. They must come to grips that women have not always had the freedom to make their own decisions or find their true paths.
The story is raw and sad. As one reviewer said, “The Measure of Silence” feels like something that could have happened to a friend. It’s that “real” in its substance. One minute you’re angered by the past, then you’re saddened but finally you’re glad that the pieces have finally come together.
This is a novel that tugs at the heart on so many levels. It’s an excellent choice for a book club selection because all those family and generational dynamics are begging to be discussed! Luckily for readers, there’s a reader guide to help you understand all the emotions that surface from reading this work of historical fiction. And don’t forget the tissues!
A huge "thank you" goes out to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinion.
July 19, 2023
I knew from the first line of the synopsis that I was going to want to read this book! Dallas, Dealey Plaza, 1963.
Anything Kennedy related is like catnip for me so when I received a copy of The Measure of Silence by Elizabeth Langston from @uplitreads, I started reading it right away! Young Mariah and Hal are totally in love and they are on their way to their wedding when they decide to stop and watch President and Mrs. Kennedy’s motorcade pass by. And their lives are changed forever. Sixty years later, sisters Raine and Jessica grieve the death of their grandfather. For both his beloved grand girls, Papa leaves behind a last wish and an unexpected keepsake: the key to their grandmother Mariah’s hope chest. Explore its contents, he writes, and follow where they lead.
I really liked this book! It’s pretty much a study of how keeping secrets can affect a family. Even though the reasons come from protection and love, it’s just not going to end well because the truth is always going to come out. We definitely deal with some tough topics in this novel including: sister relationship, postpartum depression, PTSD, women managing career and family, elderly dementia and grief. All these topics are handled with care and nuance and I’d definitely consider this one a clean read.
The main characters in this novel are all women of different generations in the same family and as you read it you will find yourself relating to a certain character more. I can definitely relate to struggles of the middle aged mom dealing with her elderly mother and her very independent grown daughters. This would be a fantastic book club selection because these family and generational dynamics are begging to be discussed!
Highly recommend The Measure of Silence by Elizabeth Langston!
Anything Kennedy related is like catnip for me so when I received a copy of The Measure of Silence by Elizabeth Langston from @uplitreads, I started reading it right away! Young Mariah and Hal are totally in love and they are on their way to their wedding when they decide to stop and watch President and Mrs. Kennedy’s motorcade pass by. And their lives are changed forever. Sixty years later, sisters Raine and Jessica grieve the death of their grandfather. For both his beloved grand girls, Papa leaves behind a last wish and an unexpected keepsake: the key to their grandmother Mariah’s hope chest. Explore its contents, he writes, and follow where they lead.
I really liked this book! It’s pretty much a study of how keeping secrets can affect a family. Even though the reasons come from protection and love, it’s just not going to end well because the truth is always going to come out. We definitely deal with some tough topics in this novel including: sister relationship, postpartum depression, PTSD, women managing career and family, elderly dementia and grief. All these topics are handled with care and nuance and I’d definitely consider this one a clean read.
The main characters in this novel are all women of different generations in the same family and as you read it you will find yourself relating to a certain character more. I can definitely relate to struggles of the middle aged mom dealing with her elderly mother and her very independent grown daughters. This would be a fantastic book club selection because these family and generational dynamics are begging to be discussed!
Highly recommend The Measure of Silence by Elizabeth Langston!
April 22, 2023
Synopsis (It's a fiction book, so it helps…from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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Two sisters fulfilling their grandfather’s dying wish uncover decades of secrets in a powerful novel about family, truth, and forgiveness.
Dallas, Dealey Plaza, 1963. Nineteen-year-old Mariah Byrne is following her dream of a career in photography. One moment she’s filled with joy and hope. In the next, the world―and Mariah’s life―is split into before and after. What follows, and the unconventional decisions Mariah makes, will affect her and her family forever.
Sixty years later, sisters Raine and Jessica grieve the death of their grandfather. For both his beloved grandgirls, Papa leaves behind a last wish and an unexpected key to their grandmother Mariah’s hope chest. Explore its contents, he writes, and follow where they lead. But what secrets can their family history possibly hold?
Raine and Jessica unite to piece together the mystery of a past they never knew existed. But facts can’t reveal the whole story. With Mariah’s memories fading, the sisters struggle to understand her choices before the truth disappears forever.
A wonderful novel combining history, family, and memories and how they can all affect our lives. We are slowly losing people who remember where they were when Kennedy was shot and this book is a way to live through someone who (fictionally) lived through it and how it affected their lives. (I cannot imagine having been there and seen it!)
Highly recommended for history buffs and lovers of family-based fiction.
#shortbutsweetreviews
******************************************************************************
Two sisters fulfilling their grandfather’s dying wish uncover decades of secrets in a powerful novel about family, truth, and forgiveness.
Dallas, Dealey Plaza, 1963. Nineteen-year-old Mariah Byrne is following her dream of a career in photography. One moment she’s filled with joy and hope. In the next, the world―and Mariah’s life―is split into before and after. What follows, and the unconventional decisions Mariah makes, will affect her and her family forever.
Sixty years later, sisters Raine and Jessica grieve the death of their grandfather. For both his beloved grandgirls, Papa leaves behind a last wish and an unexpected key to their grandmother Mariah’s hope chest. Explore its contents, he writes, and follow where they lead. But what secrets can their family history possibly hold?
Raine and Jessica unite to piece together the mystery of a past they never knew existed. But facts can’t reveal the whole story. With Mariah’s memories fading, the sisters struggle to understand her choices before the truth disappears forever.
A wonderful novel combining history, family, and memories and how they can all affect our lives. We are slowly losing people who remember where they were when Kennedy was shot and this book is a way to live through someone who (fictionally) lived through it and how it affected their lives. (I cannot imagine having been there and seen it!)
Highly recommended for history buffs and lovers of family-based fiction.
#shortbutsweetreviews
May 26, 2023
A novel about family, truth, decisions, and forgiveness.
Mariah was a witness of Dallas, 1963 tragedy. A tragedy that split her life into before and after, which started their long family history. Now, sixty years later, Mariah's memories already fading. Her granddaughters, Jessica and Raine still grieving from their grandfather's passed, told about his dying wish to uncover decades of their family's secrets. The sisters unite to find out what secrets are hidden from them and struggle to understand decisions and choices taken that affect their family, and threatened to ruin them apart.
A powerful and heartwarming story about family, decisions, understanding, and forgiveness. Also touched the subject of motherhood, and women's struggle. The characters careful develop, and the story flow naturally.
My main problem with this book, is the relationship's between the protagonists. As a fan of sibling's journey, I barely feel connection between Jessica and Raine, I understand that at first it was on purpose, because it was the picture of their relationship, hence the wish for them to work together, to bring them closer. Unfortunately, even after the end, I don't particularly feels the change. And not to mention, their mother, it would be more impactful if we get the glimpse of their relationship. The sister barely mention their mother and I don't feel connection between them at all.
It was a nice reading. And suited for people who enjoy family drama, and journey to discovery and uncovering secrets and trauma.
I would like to thank Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for providing me a digital copy of this book.
Mariah was a witness of Dallas, 1963 tragedy. A tragedy that split her life into before and after, which started their long family history. Now, sixty years later, Mariah's memories already fading. Her granddaughters, Jessica and Raine still grieving from their grandfather's passed, told about his dying wish to uncover decades of their family's secrets. The sisters unite to find out what secrets are hidden from them and struggle to understand decisions and choices taken that affect their family, and threatened to ruin them apart.
A powerful and heartwarming story about family, decisions, understanding, and forgiveness. Also touched the subject of motherhood, and women's struggle. The characters careful develop, and the story flow naturally.
My main problem with this book, is the relationship's between the protagonists. As a fan of sibling's journey, I barely feel connection between Jessica and Raine, I understand that at first it was on purpose, because it was the picture of their relationship, hence the wish for them to work together, to bring them closer. Unfortunately, even after the end, I don't particularly feels the change. And not to mention, their mother, it would be more impactful if we get the glimpse of their relationship. The sister barely mention their mother and I don't feel connection between them at all.
It was a nice reading. And suited for people who enjoy family drama, and journey to discovery and uncovering secrets and trauma.
I would like to thank Netgalley, the publishers, and the author for providing me a digital copy of this book.
August 8, 2023
(3.75 rounded to 4.0)
Mariah Byrne is planning to be married as soon as the Presidential motorcade has passed by. She was on a hill in front of the parade route with her camera when shots ring out and the President is killed. Her fiancé takes her home. Her life is broken into two parts—before and after. Sixty years later, her daughters, Raine and Jessica have become almost strangers. When their grandfather dies, he leaves a letter for his grandchildren to go through their grandmother’s things together. Mariah has forgotten as much as possible after the day of the assassination and has never told her daughter and granddaughters she was there. Raine and Jessica have differences that have kept them away from their mother and each other. One secret leads to another and the sisters find more about how their grandmother lived that day over and over than they expected.
This book uses a dual timeline to tell Mariah’s story and the effects of the trauma on her life and on her daughter’s and granddaughters. The shadow of Dallas on an ordinary person is interesting as a trigger but I would have liked it to be better connected to Mariah’s life. After this introductory scene, the focus shifts to the adult sisters and how their mother and grandmother dealt with the trauma. The book is a good read. Recommend to readers of historical adult fiction.
Mariah Byrne is planning to be married as soon as the Presidential motorcade has passed by. She was on a hill in front of the parade route with her camera when shots ring out and the President is killed. Her fiancé takes her home. Her life is broken into two parts—before and after. Sixty years later, her daughters, Raine and Jessica have become almost strangers. When their grandfather dies, he leaves a letter for his grandchildren to go through their grandmother’s things together. Mariah has forgotten as much as possible after the day of the assassination and has never told her daughter and granddaughters she was there. Raine and Jessica have differences that have kept them away from their mother and each other. One secret leads to another and the sisters find more about how their grandmother lived that day over and over than they expected.
This book uses a dual timeline to tell Mariah’s story and the effects of the trauma on her life and on her daughter’s and granddaughters. The shadow of Dallas on an ordinary person is interesting as a trigger but I would have liked it to be better connected to Mariah’s life. After this introductory scene, the focus shifts to the adult sisters and how their mother and grandmother dealt with the trauma. The book is a good read. Recommend to readers of historical adult fiction.
August 19, 2023
Thank you to my partner, UpLit Reads, and the author. I appreciate the gifted and signed paperback, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
1. 𝑱𝑭𝑲 - This is the first historical fiction book that I’ve read that is centered around the JFK assassination. It is an exquisitely written novel that encompasses three generations of a seemingly close-knit family and the secrets that they hold.
2. 𝑨 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 - If only the nurses had listened to Mariah, life would definitely have turned out differently. However, hind sight is always 20/20, and if one thing in the past changes, everything in the present would also be much different. Would you give up what you have now to right a wrong of the past?
3. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 - I do question the intensity of the secret and the reasons behind why they kept the girls in the dark. And if it was terrible enough to cause the strife between Donovan and Stephanie? With that being said, secrets never turn out for the better so let’s just stop keeping them!
4. 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 - This story triumphs the importance and love of grandparents. Raine and Jessica hold both Gregor and Mariah in such high regard that it is extremely evident with how hard the losses are on them when they occur. There is nothing like the love of grandparents.
5. 𝑨 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆 - While I don’t agree with the secrets that were kept, I did love Gregor’s way of getting the girls to discover the truth on their own.
1. 𝑱𝑭𝑲 - This is the first historical fiction book that I’ve read that is centered around the JFK assassination. It is an exquisitely written novel that encompasses three generations of a seemingly close-knit family and the secrets that they hold.
2. 𝑨 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 - If only the nurses had listened to Mariah, life would definitely have turned out differently. However, hind sight is always 20/20, and if one thing in the past changes, everything in the present would also be much different. Would you give up what you have now to right a wrong of the past?
3. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 - I do question the intensity of the secret and the reasons behind why they kept the girls in the dark. And if it was terrible enough to cause the strife between Donovan and Stephanie? With that being said, secrets never turn out for the better so let’s just stop keeping them!
4. 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 - This story triumphs the importance and love of grandparents. Raine and Jessica hold both Gregor and Mariah in such high regard that it is extremely evident with how hard the losses are on them when they occur. There is nothing like the love of grandparents.
5. 𝑨 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆 - While I don’t agree with the secrets that were kept, I did love Gregor’s way of getting the girls to discover the truth on their own.
December 27, 2023
The Measure of Silence is a story of loss, grief, family, secrets, and finding a way to build your life again. At the core, this book is about second chances and relationships.
Set in two time periods, Raine and Jessica are given a task of unearthing a family secret by their deceased beloved grandfather. Mariah is their grandmother, and she has dementia. The story is of Mariah and her life. Mariah has gone through a lot, and will the granddaughters understand and find in themselves to forgive their family members for keeping these secrets?
This story just broke my heart, and it will take some time for me to recover from the grief. Mariah's struggle to come out of terrible situations is endearing, and her struggle in the 60s as a woman is heartbreaking. To witness a horrible strategy, your own life affected by it like a domino effect and see it tumbling without any support is devastating on so many levels. I wanted more, to be honest. I wanted Kenny's viewpoint. I didn't want this book to end. Be prepared to cry because you will.
Content Warnings: PTSD, grief, postpartum depression, child abandonment, description of physical assault, a historic tragedy, family secrets, loss
Set in two time periods, Raine and Jessica are given a task of unearthing a family secret by their deceased beloved grandfather. Mariah is their grandmother, and she has dementia. The story is of Mariah and her life. Mariah has gone through a lot, and will the granddaughters understand and find in themselves to forgive their family members for keeping these secrets?
This story just broke my heart, and it will take some time for me to recover from the grief. Mariah's struggle to come out of terrible situations is endearing, and her struggle in the 60s as a woman is heartbreaking. To witness a horrible strategy, your own life affected by it like a domino effect and see it tumbling without any support is devastating on so many levels. I wanted more, to be honest. I wanted Kenny's viewpoint. I didn't want this book to end. Be prepared to cry because you will.
Content Warnings: PTSD, grief, postpartum depression, child abandonment, description of physical assault, a historic tragedy, family secrets, loss
July 22, 2023
Title: The Measure of Silence
By: Elizabeth Langston
Genre:
Historical fiction, Women’s fiction,
Red Flags:
Infidelity, Depression, PTSD, Characters with Disabilities, Dementia, Loss,
Summary:
1963- Mariah and Hal are young and in love. On their way to the wedding, Mariah and Hal make a quick stop as President and Mrs. Kennedy’s motorcade stops…and the rest is history. Mariah and Hal embark on a lifetime filled with trauma. Sixty years later, Raine and Jessica are mourning the loss of their grandfather when they receive an unexpected gift, a key to a hope chest filled with family secrets.
Review:
Elizabeth Langston creates a storyline from two different time periods and multiple points of view. This novel is easy to follow, and handles very heavy topics (listed above) in a careful and understanding manner. The overall themes of loss, love, forgiveness and healing are my favorite highlights of Elizabeth Langston’s writing. The story left me wishing for a more personal connection between the main characters and the Kennedy’s, but overall still a great clean historical fiction read. I look forward to the next novel by Langston!
Thank you to Elizabeth Langston, Lake Union Publishing, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#reluctantreaderreads
#themeasureofsilence
#elizabethlangston
#lakeunionpublishing
#netgalley
#advancedreadereditions
By: Elizabeth Langston
Genre:
Historical fiction, Women’s fiction,
Red Flags:
Infidelity, Depression, PTSD, Characters with Disabilities, Dementia, Loss,
Summary:
1963- Mariah and Hal are young and in love. On their way to the wedding, Mariah and Hal make a quick stop as President and Mrs. Kennedy’s motorcade stops…and the rest is history. Mariah and Hal embark on a lifetime filled with trauma. Sixty years later, Raine and Jessica are mourning the loss of their grandfather when they receive an unexpected gift, a key to a hope chest filled with family secrets.
Review:
Elizabeth Langston creates a storyline from two different time periods and multiple points of view. This novel is easy to follow, and handles very heavy topics (listed above) in a careful and understanding manner. The overall themes of loss, love, forgiveness and healing are my favorite highlights of Elizabeth Langston’s writing. The story left me wishing for a more personal connection between the main characters and the Kennedy’s, but overall still a great clean historical fiction read. I look forward to the next novel by Langston!
Thank you to Elizabeth Langston, Lake Union Publishing, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
#reluctantreaderreads
#themeasureofsilence
#elizabethlangston
#lakeunionpublishing
#netgalley
#advancedreadereditions
July 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this novel. For me, the author’s narrative style is engaging and easy to read. The subject matter gets a bit heavy, but what else do you expect from a book centering around trauma and how it affects the choices we make?
At first, I did not understand the significance of the two narratives and why the author decided to present the book that way, but as the book progressed the author did a great job using both perspectives to fill in blanks. The author also kept it simple enough to keep track of the intertwining narratives, so I did not feel like I was assembling a puzzle or ever confused.
The other aspect that stood out to me was the depth of characterization. Each character has their own consistent personality and flaws, causing them to react to new information in very different ways. They seem more “everyday believable” rather than “Hollywood single-trait caricatures.”
I read the book as an Audible audio book and found the narrator to be very good and entertaining to listen to. I highly recommend this method.
At first, I did not understand the significance of the two narratives and why the author decided to present the book that way, but as the book progressed the author did a great job using both perspectives to fill in blanks. The author also kept it simple enough to keep track of the intertwining narratives, so I did not feel like I was assembling a puzzle or ever confused.
The other aspect that stood out to me was the depth of characterization. Each character has their own consistent personality and flaws, causing them to react to new information in very different ways. They seem more “everyday believable” rather than “Hollywood single-trait caricatures.”
I read the book as an Audible audio book and found the narrator to be very good and entertaining to listen to. I highly recommend this method.
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