The Second Silence

by Eileen Goudge

When her only child is stolen from her by her estranged husband, a powerful real-estate developer, Noelle Van Doren and her long-estranged parents struggle to unravel the secrets of Robert's past, revealing their own inner fears and transforming each of their lives in the process.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Adult Fiction, Adult, Suspense, Drama, Chick Lit

464 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2000

About the author

I began writing at the age of eight and wrote my way through the lean years before I found success as New York Times' bestselling author with my first novel GARDEN OF LIES. To date I have published 19 novels and a cookbook. Every life experience I've weathered has found its way into my novels in one form or another: bad exes, births, deaths, divorces, romances, and even true crime. My heroines are like me: tough cookies who don't crumble.

My latest novel, Book One of my Gold Creek series, ALL THEY NEED TO KNOW, is the story of a woman fleeing her abusive ex who finds refuge in a small California mountain town, where she's befriended by a group of women who call themselves The Tattooed Ladies and reinvents herself as a police sketch artist. Kyra "draws lines to stop crimes," as they say in the biz, never imagining she'll one day be forced to confront the biggest criminal of all: her ex.

I'm married to former entertainment reporter Sandy Kenyon and the mother of two grown children. We live in Sacramento, California, where we remodeled a 1940's house for which I was the on-site project manager. Fortunately, multi-tasking is my superpower, so I was able to write a book and supervise a home remodel at the same time. The latter is sure to find its way into a future book. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see pics of my home remodel and other adventures.

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A recovering alcoholic informs cruel developer husband after 8 yrs of marriage that their relationship is over. He concocts a plan to make Noelle look like a drunken loser, then abducts their daughter. Noelle's divorced parents return to help her and find they are still with feelings for each other. It switches back and forth between these two couples lives...currently and into the past.

I found this book thought provoking.

[Meriem Youssra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The second silence" is among the rare novels I could enjoy reading. I loved how the writer deals with two periods of time all together. in every single chapter, she brings back the past and she compares how the protagonist changes and how does she develop throughout the story ending up with a great personality that she could get through the mistakes of her previous self.

[Zlatina Georgieva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book, I read from her. The book was easy to read and I enjoyed spending my time on it. I will definitely read more from Eileen Goudge, because to me she seems to find the right way to show how great and strong the real love can be over the years. I like the book, because there was a lot more to it than love between man and a woman. She showed the relationship mother-child in two different generations. And all the sacrifices a mother is ready to do to protect her kid. The mix of romance and mystery added different flavor to the predictable end of a love story. 5/5

[Darian Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read with some surprises in store.

[Karla Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a pretty good book. Could have done without the last 20 pages.

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Second Silence by Eileen Goudge. A book about family life and how they help each other in time of crisis each in their own way. In the end they all want the same thing and that is to be able to be who they are and also be a part of a loving family even when they haven't always been there for each other everyday. Good reading and keeps your interest.

[Shannon Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. A little mystery mixed in with some romance in a contemporary fiction book. Pretty much just the way I like them. :)

[Kerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I need to be better at abandoning books. I thought about quitting this one after the first chapter - because you just knew what was going to happen. But, being me, I wanted to see if I was right, and I also wanted to "color in the outline" and see how it would play out. It just got more and more ridiculous. I used to like Eileen Goudge - I don't know if this is a reflection on how I have changed as a reader, or if this just wasn't up to what I had come to expect from her books.

[Carol Maciej-Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story, so much going on with the mother/daughter dynamic. The various love stories, the mixed family, the horror of a mother losing custody of her 5 year old child; and finally the attempted murder which finally exposed the father as the crazy, power hungry person he was. So much going on with this family, the book was very good.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Hit

This author is new to me this year. This is the third book I've read. This woman can tell a story. The pages fly by and first thing I know, the book is over.
My only complaint is that there are a lot of typos.
I can't wait to read more by this author.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eileen Goudge paced this novel like current TV melodramas. Her characters were stilted and yet carried gravitas. This mother-daughter saga covers several generations succinctly. I found the climax the most powerful element of this tale.

[Cinda Cheshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page Turner

I really enjoyed this book. I felt connected to the characters. The book stayed with me long after reading it. I felt every emotion while reading it. You can always count on a great book with Eileen Goudge.

[Jo Ann Rhodehouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping and Romantically Frustrating

It always starts frustrating in the beginning and goes that same road to r
the very last page. Ugh! Please !

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off slowly, turned thrilling towards the end with the final chapters that were a bit drawn out. It was a love story mystery - worth the time.

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

easy read, somewhat predictable, easy book to read while stuck inside with a cold

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It Was Okay. Could've Been Written Better. Would Not Recommend It.

[Lynn Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read most of Goudge's books and I'd say this is my least favourite. Did not have me turning pages at my usual speed to find out how the story ends.

[Sandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Taking a couple points off for lack of proofreading and how difficult that made reading this pretty good story.

[Jenny Herndon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good story but Kindle edition was full of errors missed by spell check. Was also disappointed that the ending left the reader hanging instead of finishing the story as it could have been.

[Christianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read with family drama and enough of a mystery to keep you interested.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Generation Mothers

This book told of three mothers who had difficult relationships with their daughters. The daughters in return resented their mothers for abandoning them.

[carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This very descriptive author's book was enjoyable. I would read another of her stories.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging, fast-paced, and a nice combination/balance of mystery and romance.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the middle dragged a bit and then the end was so fast.

Nobody actually found out how horrible the husband was until he was already dead.

[Karen]

Good book something to pass the time, very descriptive author.

[Evaramni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lectura fácil, ágil y amena. La historia bastante interesante, aunque ya desde la mitad de la novela se adivina el desenlace.

[Kathie Price · Rating 2 out of 5]

Saccharine.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star all the way, as she is one of my favorite authors. Only one problem, I wish she'd write more.

[Cindy Neanen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes one just needs a fairy tale.. good and evil, love and betrayal, and an ending that brings "happily ever after" or at least the image of that. 🙂

[Lisa Seidel · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh

Predictable, not bad. Wouldn’t read again. I enjoyed the references to upstate New York and Schoharie county though. Nice touches.