The SILO

by Greg Heist

When Jacob Weaver is arrested, he is placed in a damp jail cell waiting for the other shoe to drop. Frank Braun, a retiring detective, is ordered to interview Jacob. A deep-rooted, yet painful, connection between the two men is exposed, creating a palpable tension. Jacob soon learns he may face life in prison under a law he never knew existed. The three strikes law.

Detective Braun's questioning awakens long buried memories from his days in Vietnam. What follows is a gradual unraveling of the Weaver family's dark and deadly secrets. When the evidence leads Braun to the Weaver family farm, he finds Aunt Rose sitting high atop the silo. She reluctantly speaks to Braun from the refuge of her familiar perch. What unspeakable crimes will she reveal? The Silo is a psychological autopsy of every character.

“One of the best police procedural novels we’ve read all year.” — While You Were Reading podcast

Genres: Mystery, Procedural

164 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2024

About the author

Greg Heist is a retired police captain, who spent most of his career in the criminal investigation division. He was a crime scene investigator and graduate of the FBI National Academy. He has written fiction for many years, but published his debut novella, The SILO, in August 2024.

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (on indefinite hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: One old man, a graying cattle farmer in his eighties, taking his usual evening drive into town in his 1962 pickup truck, down Old Johnson Road, noticed something, or someone, high upon the silo. Something unusual caught his eye, perhaps nothing but his old mind playing tricks; not anything to cause him to take his eyes off the dusty gravel road for more than a second or two. He knew the Weaver's farm, which the silo belonged. He paid little attention. He was too old for the rumor mill, but the rumors persisted. The old man could not know what he saw. His mind protected his soul's fragility. Whatever he saw, it changed nothing.
Life would go on.

ABOUT 'THE SILO': When Jacob Weaver is arrested, he is placed in a damp jail cell waiting for the other shoe to drop. Frank Braun, a retiring detective, is ordered to interview Jacob. A deep-rooted, yet painful, connection between the two men is exposed, creating a palpable tension. Jacob soon learns he may face life in prison under a law he never knew existed. The three strikes law.

MY THOUGHTS: The premise for The SILO is great, but the format in which it is written doesn't fully realise the story's potential.

Jacob may be facing life in prison under the Three Strikes law. But he holds information that may set him free.

This could have been a very tense and suspenseful story, but written the way it has been, mainly in interview format between Frank Braun and Jacob, and then his Aunt Rose, doesn't allow the development of tension and suspense. Flashbacks or dual timelines would have worked far better in this instance.

I liked the way that Frank was determined to get the best outcome possible for Jacob and didn't just leave him to his fate. We also find out a few truths about Franks past as Jocob's own past and family history is revealed.

The SILO is a novella that could have been far better than it was.

⭐⭐.5

#TheSILO #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Greg Heist is a retired police captain, who spent most of his career in the criminal investigation division. He was a crime scene investigator and graduate of the FBI National Academy. He has written fiction for many years, but The SILO is his debut novella.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Books Go Social via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The SILO by Greg Heist for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC

Thank you Netgalley and Books Go Social for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Release date : 16 August 2025

[What-Rian-Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a psychological thriller that leans on past traumas, the need for just at least one consistent figure in your life and sacrifice.

On his last day as a Detective, Braun is requested by a suspect to be his interviewing officer. As Frank Braun tries to work out why Jacob has asked for him by name, he starts to find a sense of duty that he must do what he can to save Jacob from a long prison stint due to the third strike rule.

This is a police procedural that unlike most is focused on the interview of a suspect come victim. How relationships grow and develop during an interview, a masterpiece in how empathy and asking the right questions can produce a desired outcome.

As the trauma of Jacob’s past is unveiled during the interview, Braun works to encourage to feel safe to share the deep seated trauma impacting his life. The worries that occurred at the weavers farm continue to unravel and so do events which Braun had forgotten.

Braun knows what needs to happen to save Jacob, resulting in further mastery of questions to identify the truth. What started off as a quiet last day packing up belongings turns into both a horror filled yet freeing day. A satisfying ending to both the book and the fictional character of Detective Braun with horrors being revealed right up to the last few pages of the book.

This is unlike any other Police Procedural i have read but found it a really thrilling read.

[Victoria Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greg Heist’s debut novel The Silo is a taut psychological thriller that draws heavily on his background in law enforcement to deliver a story that feels both authentic and unsettling. Set over the course of a single day, the book follows Detective Frank Braun on the eve of his retirement as he interrogates Jacob Weaver, a young man arrested for DUI and drug possession. What begins as a routine interview quickly spirals into a harrowing exploration of trauma, abuse, and buried family secrets.

Heist’s strength lies in his dialogue-driven narrative: the interrogation scenes are fast-paced and gripping, pulling the reader into the claustrophobic tension of the police station. The characters are vividly drawn, with Braun’s weary pragmatism contrasting sharply against Jacob’s fragile vulnerability. While the subject matter is heavy—touching on themes of torture, manipulation, and psychological scars—the novel maintains a relentless momentum that makes it difficult to put down.

Reception has been favorable, with readers praising the realism and suspense while noting that the intensity of the themes may not be for everyone. Still, The Silo succeeds as a debut that is both thought-provoking and emotionally charged, marking Greg Heist as a promising new voice in crime fiction.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A debut novella, The Silo (2025) by Greg Heist is a powerful psychological tale of a police interview and uncovering past crimes and their impact years later. Detective Frank Braun is tiding his desk on his last day on the job, before retiring. He is asked to speak with a young man facing a potential third strike sentencing felony. Frank is surprised to learn he met this man when he was twelve years old and becomes fascinated as to what led to this situation, with its potentially lengthy jail sentence. As Frank interviews the vulnerable young man, he becomes determined to find the truth, in order to get the best outcome for him. As the long-drawn-out conversation continues, Frank is drawn deeper into the family history and secrets of what happened in the silo. The increasingly dark revelations of numerous crimes and traumatic events, makes for an illuminative, insightful psychological crime mystery tale, that is a brilliant five star do not miss read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Bookfunnel and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unusually crafted mystery. The entire book takes place in one day. There is really no action as most of the narrative covers the interrogation of an individual. Through continuing questions, Detective Braun uncovers secrets from decades ago. Emotions come to the surface as long ago decisions are revealed and we come to see the ramifications of choices. All of the talking leads to the final scenes of high drama.

Reading of an interrogation may seem boring but the way Heist created the plot made it really quite interesting. There is something almost compelling in getting to know the young man's story as Braun pulls the truth from him. This is a different police procedural. Rather than chasing down leads, Braun discovers the truth in one agonizing day. This is a good book for readers who would like insight into the methods a detective would use to draw out truth from a reluctant individual.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Swell Media. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jacob has been arrested for drugs and a DUI. Braun, a detective set to retire, has been assigned to interrogate him. That is literally what almost the entire book focuses on. Braun questions Jacob, Jacob answers, Braun asks another question. Almost an ENTIRE book focused on an interrogation that occurs in one single day. As the interrogation progresses, old family secrets are revealed. It just seemed so odd to me that family secrets were revealed during an interrogation that should have revolved around drinking and driving and possessing drugs.

This book had so much potential, but it definitely fell short. If the author had written the book alternating between past and present, I feel it would have been so much more developed. Just writing dialogue about incidents that occurred in the past didn't do any justice to the storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

[Winter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella features a retiring police officer interviewing a young man arrested for a petty drug charge. At risk of life in prison because of a preposterous three strikes law, Jacob decides to bare his soul to Braun.

I was really intrigued with the premise of the book. I was prepared for a slow-paced one-on-one interrogation. Unfortunately, this part did not deliver for me. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic at times. There wasn't enough of a distinction between the voices of Braun and Jacob. The reveals managed to be anticlimactic and absurd at the same time.

Overall, an interesting premise with lackluster execution.

Thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for a review copy.

[Peggy Huey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lisa from Swell Media gave me access to an ARC of this 164-page story. On a cop's last day before retirement, a young man is brought in for murder who requests to speak with him because of a previous encounter they had when the boy was much younger. The cop reluctantly takes the meeting and ends up intrigued by this guy who never should have gotten into the position he is in. In the course of their conversation, the cop realizes that the real culprit is out at the boy's home--a nearby farm with a silo that has been used over the years as a punishment place for the boy. As written, the conclusion sort of leaves the boy's fate hanging, but it opens up potential lines of discussion for book clubs.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Frank Braun is packing up his desk, ready to retire when he is drawn back into the Job by a prisoner, Jacob Weaver, asking for him by name. Jacob is facing the tr=hree strikes law and could end up in prison for a long time over a little bit of drugs and a DUI. But then he starts taking to Detective Braun, bringing out his life story and how it interacts with Braun. His lifestory is dark, twisted, and believable. This is a tale of desire, family, and consequences that rings true. Makes for an attention grabbing tale that keeps it up until it all plays out in final confrontation at the Weaver farm.

Thanks Swell Media for the chance to read this tale.

[Rudrashree Makwana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slow burn mystery with family secrets and insightful psychological interview sessions. The man had an unsettling childhood and he is carrying the trauma of his past. Jacob has been arrested for the crime. When a retiring detective interviews him, childhood trauma unlocks with Weaver family secrets. Author has captured the psychological depth of each character. The police procedural was insightful. Revelations at the end were shocking. With each interview, more shocking truth and secrets unfolded making the book more intriguing. Author has done such a brilliant job.

Thanks to the Author and Publisher

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Silo is a well woven story of cruelty, regrets, child exploitation, how PTSD may hurt others, crime and lies. Braun has his mind set on retiring and on his last day on the job he has to face his past on personal and professional terms as he listens to Jacob's story and analyses the boy's possible incarceration for a long time. Will Braun be able to atone for his past and help Jacob? The Silo is a beautifully written story full of recollections and mystery and it's like the main characters are giving a confession of past mistakes.
I thank the author for the free copy of this book.

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacob Weaver is on his third strike. He is brought into the police station, and Detective Frank Braun is chosen to interview him. The DA wants to make an example out of Jacob. So Frank is set out to help Jacob, and here starts the story of Jacob and Frank. It is mostly set up in interview form, and we find out all the pain, suffering, abuse, and trauma that Jacob and sometimes Frank share. This is a psychological thriller about family, abuse, suffering, and consequences.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4 Stars*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

The Weaver family were one screwed up family. I had to feel for Jacob and Rose with the way that things turned out for them. It made Detective Braun think what he could have done years ago. I found this to be an interesting read along with interesting characters.

[Eclectic Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review coming soon!