What do you think?
Rate this book
A Silent Death
A SILENT VOW
Spain, 2020. When ex-pat fugitive Jack Cleland watches his girlfriend die, gunned down in a pursuit involving officer Cristina Sanchez Pradell, he promises to exact his revenge by destroying the policewoman.
A SILENT LIFE
Cristina's aunt Ana has been deaf-blind for the entirety of her adult life: the victim of a rare condition named Usher Syndrome. Ana is the centre of Cristina's world - and of Cleland's cruel plan.
A SILENT DEATH
John Mackenzie - an ingenious yet irascible Glaswegian investigator - is seconded to aid the Spanish authorities in their manhunt. He alone can silence Cleland before the fugitive has the last, bloody, word.
Peter May's latest bestseller unites a strong, independent Spaniard with a socially inept Scotsman; a senseless vendetta with a sense-deprived victim, and a red-hot Costa Del Sol with an ice-cold killer.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2020
694 people are currently reading
2028 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews
April 9, 2020
When the hapless investigator, John Mackenzie, was told to fly to Spain to escort one of the most sought-after criminals back to British soil, he had no idea what the following days would bring. He did know one thing though – once again he would miss his beloved daughter, Sophia’s school concert.
When Mackenzie arrived in Spain, he was met by police officer Cristina Sanchez Pradell, who immediately took him to headquarters. It appeared the fugitive, Jack Cleland, had escaped the armed guards who were escorting him to the airport. Now, after killing Spanish police, the manhunt was huge. Mackenzie was to be involved, with Cristina as his partner. She was not impressed. Her life was complicated enough, with a husband and young son, plus a sister who was going through cancer treatment and an aunt who Cristina adored. Ana had been diagnosed with Usher Syndrome when only a teenager – she was both blind and deaf, locked in her world. Her ability to communicate through technology and braille was impressive.
But it was the threat from Cleland that concerned Mackenzie the most. Why weren’t the police taking the threat seriously enough? Without a weapon – he wasn’t licensed to carry on Spanish soil – but with a determination to succeed, Mackenzie almost caught the fugitive twice. As danger came closer, and events escalated, Cleland grew desperate. What would he do in his mad fight for revenge?
A Silent Death! Another fast-paced thriller from the pen of Peter May and I loved it. I found the characters particularly good. Cleland was as he was made out to be and his malevolence fairly jumped off the page. Mackenzie was so well written – he was an intelligent, well educated man, but said it as he saw it and put a lot of people off-side. All in all, an excellent thriller which I highly recommend.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Mackenzie arrived in Spain, he was met by police officer Cristina Sanchez Pradell, who immediately took him to headquarters. It appeared the fugitive, Jack Cleland, had escaped the armed guards who were escorting him to the airport. Now, after killing Spanish police, the manhunt was huge. Mackenzie was to be involved, with Cristina as his partner. She was not impressed. Her life was complicated enough, with a husband and young son, plus a sister who was going through cancer treatment and an aunt who Cristina adored. Ana had been diagnosed with Usher Syndrome when only a teenager – she was both blind and deaf, locked in her world. Her ability to communicate through technology and braille was impressive.
But it was the threat from Cleland that concerned Mackenzie the most. Why weren’t the police taking the threat seriously enough? Without a weapon – he wasn’t licensed to carry on Spanish soil – but with a determination to succeed, Mackenzie almost caught the fugitive twice. As danger came closer, and events escalated, Cleland grew desperate. What would he do in his mad fight for revenge?
A Silent Death! Another fast-paced thriller from the pen of Peter May and I loved it. I found the characters particularly good. Cleland was as he was made out to be and his malevolence fairly jumped off the page. Mackenzie was so well written – he was an intelligent, well educated man, but said it as he saw it and put a lot of people off-side. All in all, an excellent thriller which I highly recommend.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2020
Step One is getting out of your own way.
Spanish policewoman Cristina Sanchez Pradell never knew until now that minutes matter. She and her partner have been called to the scene of a possible home burglary in an upscale part of the city. Her male partner trips in the darkness and Cristina comes face-to-face with shots fired from a man inside the building.
As the scene settles and backup arrives, there is hell to pay. This was no burglary. Underworld leader, Jack Cleland, stands before Cristina screaming in rage and sorrow. The bullet aimed at Cristina killed his pregnant girlfriend instead as she came out of their master bedroom. Cleland blames Cristina and seeks revenge on both her and her family even though Cristina's service revolver was never fired. Fate brought her here this night and fate seems to have blackballed her into a dark alley with no exit.
The scene changes as Investigator John Mackenzie is called upon to fly to Spain in order to return Jack Cleland to London for trial for his long list of international crimes. Mackenzie speaks five languages and possesses degrees in physics and mathematics. While enormously intelligent, we'll experience the human side of Mackenzie who never engages a filter in his responses. This extreme flaw has cost him his marriage and his relationship with his daughter. We'll also get a looky looky into Mackenzie's background in Scotland and the reason for some of his actions.
This was my first experience with a Peter May novel. The man writes like a word wizard. I was instantly engaged in this story from page one. Needless to say, I'll be back for more. Not only is May gifted in rolling out his storyline, but his character development is deeply satisfying. I was so taken with Cristina's Aunt Ana who is totally blind and deaf. Peter May crafted her well with filling in her backstory and inserting her as a crucial, well placed hinge that pivots this story. Bravo, Peter May. I'm on the lookout for more and more.
Spanish policewoman Cristina Sanchez Pradell never knew until now that minutes matter. She and her partner have been called to the scene of a possible home burglary in an upscale part of the city. Her male partner trips in the darkness and Cristina comes face-to-face with shots fired from a man inside the building.
As the scene settles and backup arrives, there is hell to pay. This was no burglary. Underworld leader, Jack Cleland, stands before Cristina screaming in rage and sorrow. The bullet aimed at Cristina killed his pregnant girlfriend instead as she came out of their master bedroom. Cleland blames Cristina and seeks revenge on both her and her family even though Cristina's service revolver was never fired. Fate brought her here this night and fate seems to have blackballed her into a dark alley with no exit.
The scene changes as Investigator John Mackenzie is called upon to fly to Spain in order to return Jack Cleland to London for trial for his long list of international crimes. Mackenzie speaks five languages and possesses degrees in physics and mathematics. While enormously intelligent, we'll experience the human side of Mackenzie who never engages a filter in his responses. This extreme flaw has cost him his marriage and his relationship with his daughter. We'll also get a looky looky into Mackenzie's background in Scotland and the reason for some of his actions.
This was my first experience with a Peter May novel. The man writes like a word wizard. I was instantly engaged in this story from page one. Needless to say, I'll be back for more. Not only is May gifted in rolling out his storyline, but his character development is deeply satisfying. I was so taken with Cristina's Aunt Ana who is totally blind and deaf. Peter May crafted her well with filling in her backstory and inserting her as a crucial, well placed hinge that pivots this story. Bravo, Peter May. I'm on the lookout for more and more.
February 22, 2020
This is author Peter May at his very best, excellent characters, great descriptive that set the scene perfectly and a decent plot.
This book introduces an excellent character, John Mackenzie, a Glaswegian policeman who tells it straight with not an hint of subtlety. When you start reading the book you think you are not going to like him but he quickly grew on me and would love to read further books with him in. On starting his new role in London he is quickly sent to Southern Spain to bring back fugitive John McCelland who killed his girlfriend when he mistakenly shot her while in a pursuit involving officer Cristina Sanchez Pradell. McCelland blames the policewoman for his girlfriends death and promises to exact his revenge on her.
There are some other excellent characters in this book such as Cristina's aunt Ana who has been deaf-blind for the entirety of her adult life, the victim of a rare condition named Usher Syndrome. Ana is very important in Cristina's life and an obvious target for the evil McCelland.
My only small criticism was I thought the plot could have been a little better but that is a little bit harsh given how much I enjoyed it.
First rate novel by a top author.
This book introduces an excellent character, John Mackenzie, a Glaswegian policeman who tells it straight with not an hint of subtlety. When you start reading the book you think you are not going to like him but he quickly grew on me and would love to read further books with him in. On starting his new role in London he is quickly sent to Southern Spain to bring back fugitive John McCelland who killed his girlfriend when he mistakenly shot her while in a pursuit involving officer Cristina Sanchez Pradell. McCelland blames the policewoman for his girlfriends death and promises to exact his revenge on her.
There are some other excellent characters in this book such as Cristina's aunt Ana who has been deaf-blind for the entirety of her adult life, the victim of a rare condition named Usher Syndrome. Ana is very important in Cristina's life and an obvious target for the evil McCelland.
My only small criticism was I thought the plot could have been a little better but that is a little bit harsh given how much I enjoyed it.
First rate novel by a top author.
November 1, 2021
I bought this book on the strength of the previous books of mr. May, this one lacked a lot for me. The story felt unpolished and was generally kinda boring and predictable.
An English gangster living in Spain shoots by accident his own woman expecting a child. He blames this on a Spanish policewoman and promises revenge.
Then there is a maladjusted policeman of Scottish decent who gets send to Spain to take care of the extradition of the gangster.
The gangster escapes and the English policeman starts the chase while the gangster Goes psychotic.
This book feels like it needs a good polish and the characters all kinda feel unfinished and going through the motions. A thriller of thirteen in a dozen.
An English gangster living in Spain shoots by accident his own woman expecting a child. He blames this on a Spanish policewoman and promises revenge.
Then there is a maladjusted policeman of Scottish decent who gets send to Spain to take care of the extradition of the gangster.
The gangster escapes and the English policeman starts the chase while the gangster Goes psychotic.
This book feels like it needs a good polish and the characters all kinda feel unfinished and going through the motions. A thriller of thirteen in a dozen.
February 8, 2020
4.5*
A phone call from a concerned neighbour sets in motion a chain of events that results in bloodshed and ruined lives.
Officer Cristina Sanchez Pradell is one of the two officers sent to check out a suspected break in at the villa belonging to an Ian Templeton, whose real identity is Jack Cleland, an ex-pat fugitive who is wanted for drug offences and murder. Things quickly go from bad to worse when Cleland shoots his partner, mistaking her for one of the police officers. It’s only recently his personal life has had some meaning and he blames Christina for taking it all away, unwilling or unable to admit the fault lies with him alone.
Ex Met Police Officer John Mackenzie, newly attached to the National Crime Agency, is tasked with travelling to Spain to escort Cleland back to England to answer the charges against him. Simple. Well, actually no. Cleland escapes and Mackenzie’s trip to Spain is extended indefinitely in order to join the Spanish police in the hunt for Cleland.
s always with Peter May’s books, the characters and the location are exceptionally well devised and described. The two stand out characters for me in A Silent Death are Mackenzie and Cristina’s aunt Ana. Mackenzie, although on the surface a troubled man with marital problems, there’s so much more depth to his personality. It didn’t take long to warm to him, he has a good heart, is highly intelligent and principled although short on people skills which had much to do with his upbringing, his awkwardness and forthrightness both endearing and amusing in turns.
Ana is a very engaging and sympathetic character suffering from Usher’s Syndrome, a condition I hadn’t been aware of previously, causing combined hearing and vision loss as she grew into adulthood. I can’t even imagine living in such a closed off world, but Peter May brought Ana to life with feeling and compassion.
Another ‘character’ in this author’s books is the setting, which is always described in vivid detail, giving the stories a real sense of place and in this case takes in Southern Spain between the Costa del Sol and Gibraltar. Much more than just a police procedural, we learn about the characters lives making them three dimensional and realistic. The well written and worked through plot twists and turns, with red herrings, surprises and a horrifying climax. I did question Cleland’s motives sometimes but nevertheless A Silent Death is a compelling story, only made more so by Peter Forbes’ excellent narration.
A phone call from a concerned neighbour sets in motion a chain of events that results in bloodshed and ruined lives.
Officer Cristina Sanchez Pradell is one of the two officers sent to check out a suspected break in at the villa belonging to an Ian Templeton, whose real identity is Jack Cleland, an ex-pat fugitive who is wanted for drug offences and murder. Things quickly go from bad to worse when Cleland shoots his partner, mistaking her for one of the police officers. It’s only recently his personal life has had some meaning and he blames Christina for taking it all away, unwilling or unable to admit the fault lies with him alone.
Ex Met Police Officer John Mackenzie, newly attached to the National Crime Agency, is tasked with travelling to Spain to escort Cleland back to England to answer the charges against him. Simple. Well, actually no. Cleland escapes and Mackenzie’s trip to Spain is extended indefinitely in order to join the Spanish police in the hunt for Cleland.
s always with Peter May’s books, the characters and the location are exceptionally well devised and described. The two stand out characters for me in A Silent Death are Mackenzie and Cristina’s aunt Ana. Mackenzie, although on the surface a troubled man with marital problems, there’s so much more depth to his personality. It didn’t take long to warm to him, he has a good heart, is highly intelligent and principled although short on people skills which had much to do with his upbringing, his awkwardness and forthrightness both endearing and amusing in turns.
Ana is a very engaging and sympathetic character suffering from Usher’s Syndrome, a condition I hadn’t been aware of previously, causing combined hearing and vision loss as she grew into adulthood. I can’t even imagine living in such a closed off world, but Peter May brought Ana to life with feeling and compassion.
Another ‘character’ in this author’s books is the setting, which is always described in vivid detail, giving the stories a real sense of place and in this case takes in Southern Spain between the Costa del Sol and Gibraltar. Much more than just a police procedural, we learn about the characters lives making them three dimensional and realistic. The well written and worked through plot twists and turns, with red herrings, surprises and a horrifying climax. I did question Cleland’s motives sometimes but nevertheless A Silent Death is a compelling story, only made more so by Peter Forbes’ excellent narration.
April 11, 2023
Ако тръгнем да дирим кусури в структурата на сюжета, безспорно ще ги намерим - особено в ония моменти, когато героите ясно осъзнавайки, че им гласят капан, най-абдалски решават да влязат в него... Но пък иначе как щеше да се нагнети съспенсът, а и аз никога не съм бил особено взискателен в това отношение. Важни за мен са преди всичко забавлението и релаксът и Питър Мей напълно покрива критериите ми - изключително сладкодумен е, винаги успява да вкара щипка мелодрама/романтика в крими историите си, та с леко завишаване нагоре - 5 *.
March 14, 2020
I’m a big Peter May fan and am always eager to dive into the author’s latest release. With A Silent Death, we have another book I devoured in no time. Once I started, I found it extremely difficult to put down, unable to get enough.
From the start, this one had me hooked. People are either going to love or hate the lead in this one, but I loved him. He was such an entertaining character, and I was wearing a stupid smile on my face from the start. The more we saw of him, the more I came to love him.
Of course, our leading character was only one thing I loved about this one. The story was also incredibly addictive. I confess, I worked out a lot of things quite early in the book. However, this was not enough to lessen my enjoyment. I was curious to see how things would come together, and happily devoured the book to see how the pieces would fall into place. The end felt a bit rushed to me, I would have liked to see a bit more of certain things, but it was still a great read.
All in all, another addictive Peter May read.
From the start, this one had me hooked. People are either going to love or hate the lead in this one, but I loved him. He was such an entertaining character, and I was wearing a stupid smile on my face from the start. The more we saw of him, the more I came to love him.
Of course, our leading character was only one thing I loved about this one. The story was also incredibly addictive. I confess, I worked out a lot of things quite early in the book. However, this was not enough to lessen my enjoyment. I was curious to see how things would come together, and happily devoured the book to see how the pieces would fall into place. The end felt a bit rushed to me, I would have liked to see a bit more of certain things, but it was still a great read.
All in all, another addictive Peter May read.
June 23, 2024
A psychopathic drug dealer, Jack Cleland, has escaped custody on Spain’s Costa Del Sol. Meanwhile, a British police officer is travelling to Spain with instructions to return with Cleland in cuffs. In between times, there’s been a fatal shooting which leaves a female Spanish police officer fearing for not only her own life but that of her close family too.
So an action packed start and an intriguing set-up. This one can’t fail… can it? Well, the story is certainly attention grabbing and the pace is pretty good too. But perhaps there's a little too much going on here. Cleland is baddie who is maybe a little too bad, too larger than life for my tastes: he’d apparently lived a quiet life, hidden away in semi-retirement in this popular tourist area, well liked by neighbours, fellow members of his golf club and serving staff too. And yet he quickly turns into a wild animal of a creature, hell bent on murder and mayhem. The cop sent to collect him is a socially inept man who seems unable to have a single conversation without upsetting someone, including his wife (from whom he's estranged) and his daughter who's unfriended him from her social media accounts. And a significant member of theSpanish officer’s family is just so unlucky, so incrementally impacted by life changing disability that she's probably deserving of a story all of her own.
I know this sounds like I have a bit of a downer on this tale, but that’s not strictly true. There are elements I really liked and I did eventually warm to most of the featured characters. But a secondary issue for me is that there is no normality, and certainly no joy here. Each relationship seems to be fraught with issues - ok, that might just be considered normal but not quite at the dysfunctional level displayed here. And as a final moan, I found the flow of the story to be highly predictable from very early on.
If you’ve enjoyed (loved even) the books comprising May’s Lewis Trilogy, then you know the author can do so much better. This is average fare at best and it’s worth no more than three stars, I’m afraid (and that’s with me being a little generous).
So an action packed start and an intriguing set-up. This one can’t fail… can it? Well, the story is certainly attention grabbing and the pace is pretty good too. But perhaps there's a little too much going on here. Cleland is baddie who is maybe a little too bad, too larger than life for my tastes: he’d apparently lived a quiet life, hidden away in semi-retirement in this popular tourist area, well liked by neighbours, fellow members of his golf club and serving staff too. And yet he quickly turns into a wild animal of a creature, hell bent on murder and mayhem. The cop sent to collect him is a socially inept man who seems unable to have a single conversation without upsetting someone, including his wife (from whom he's estranged) and his daughter who's unfriended him from her social media accounts. And a significant member of theSpanish officer’s family is just so unlucky, so incrementally impacted by life changing disability that she's probably deserving of a story all of her own.
I know this sounds like I have a bit of a downer on this tale, but that’s not strictly true. There are elements I really liked and I did eventually warm to most of the featured characters. But a secondary issue for me is that there is no normality, and certainly no joy here. Each relationship seems to be fraught with issues - ok, that might just be considered normal but not quite at the dysfunctional level displayed here. And as a final moan, I found the flow of the story to be highly predictable from very early on.
If you’ve enjoyed (loved even) the books comprising May’s Lewis Trilogy, then you know the author can do so much better. This is average fare at best and it’s worth no more than three stars, I’m afraid (and that’s with me being a little generous).
March 25, 2020
I'm going against the majority here. It was meh. It's my first Peter May book. I love crime books. Not this one. I felt detached from all the characters....I didn't really care. I wanted to care! I wanted to enjoy it (in time of social isolation I NEED a good book). Whenever I went to pick up this book I just sighed and thought 'no'. It's classic 'type' - an imperfect 'hero' cop, a sidekick (here a (token?) woman), a character to feel for and worry about and a bad baddie. They didn't FEEL real. I borrowed it because I was going to Spain, but that trip got cancelled. Did I get the feel of the place? A little. More touristy towns though. Meh. Soulless places in themselves. I suspended my disbelief as much as I could, but even that wouldn't help. Soz Mr May....it's a no from me.
January 17, 2020
I do like May’s writing and this is no exception: i just fail to see the point of this book. The descriptions and detail are great but the story is just too contrived and I think May is secretly hoping this is made into a film. This would be a great shame as his Lewis, Chinese, Enzo and other standalone books are far superior story-wise.
October 15, 2023
This standalone from Peter May is set on the south coast of Spain near Gibraltar; an area often dubbed the Costa Del Crime, as it’s where various druglords and their ilk have bought luxury villas and yachts with their ill-gotten gains.
Scottish gangster Jack Cleland, who has been living in Spain under an assumed name, accidentally shoots and kills his girlfriend during a police raid. Cleland vows to extract revenge on the officer leading the raid, Christina Sanchez Pradell. His sadistic plan involves tricking Christina’s beloved aunt Ana, who suffers from Usher’s Syndrome and has been deaf and blind all her adult life.
Pitted against Cleland is another Scot, John MacKenzie. Despite having the same nationality, the contrast between the two couldn’t be more stark. John is highly intelligent, having degrees in quantum physics and mathematics and being fluent in French, Spanish and Arabic. However, he doesn’t suffer fools gladly, particularly fools in positions of authority.
This is a well constructed and fast paced novel which describes the locality and local way of life in clear detail. It builds up to a breathtaking climax on the rock of Gibraltar.
Scottish gangster Jack Cleland, who has been living in Spain under an assumed name, accidentally shoots and kills his girlfriend during a police raid. Cleland vows to extract revenge on the officer leading the raid, Christina Sanchez Pradell. His sadistic plan involves tricking Christina’s beloved aunt Ana, who suffers from Usher’s Syndrome and has been deaf and blind all her adult life.
Pitted against Cleland is another Scot, John MacKenzie. Despite having the same nationality, the contrast between the two couldn’t be more stark. John is highly intelligent, having degrees in quantum physics and mathematics and being fluent in French, Spanish and Arabic. However, he doesn’t suffer fools gladly, particularly fools in positions of authority.
This is a well constructed and fast paced novel which describes the locality and local way of life in clear detail. It builds up to a breathtaking climax on the rock of Gibraltar.
January 26, 2020
Thriller set in SOUTHERN SPAIN
Peter May is an author who researches his locations extremely well – be they the Hebrides (The Lewis Trilogy and Coffin Road), China (The China Thrillers) or, in the case of A Silent Death, the Costa del Sol and Southern Spain. Each location rings really true – music to TripFiction’s ears! He also writes extremely good books.
A Silent Death is a more than competent thriller. The protagonist is detective Mackenzie, a troubled Scot, sent over to Spain to escort Cleland, a notorious fugitive gangster, back to face justice in the UK. But Cleland escapes from the Spanish police and Mackenzie is asked to stay on to help track him down. He works alongside Christina from the Spanish police force. Mackenzie is in some ways the typical flawed detective, but he is more than this – he has an impressive intelligence and takes no prisoners from those who do not understand his thought processes. He rubs many up the wrong way with his outspoken – some would say unthinking – comments.
Christina is married to Antonio, a local car dealer, and has a young son, Lucas. They all feature heavily in the story. She also has an aunt, Ana, who is involved in the plot. She suffers from Usher Syndrome, which means she is both deaf and blind. She arouses sympathy in some pretty unexpected quarters (no more for fear of a spoiler…).
The books progresses through some very violent scenes to an eventful climax on the rock of Gibraltar where Cleland is organising a major drug deal with Mackenzie and Christina in hot pursuit.
A Silent Death is a very well-worked thriller. It exposes a side of the Costa del Sol which is (I hope) not that familiar to holiday makers. The story moves up and down the coast from Marbella to Estepona and back again, and the landscape and towns are well described as background to the plot as it unfolds.
Peter May is an author who researches his locations extremely well – be they the Hebrides (The Lewis Trilogy and Coffin Road), China (The China Thrillers) or, in the case of A Silent Death, the Costa del Sol and Southern Spain. Each location rings really true – music to TripFiction’s ears! He also writes extremely good books.
A Silent Death is a more than competent thriller. The protagonist is detective Mackenzie, a troubled Scot, sent over to Spain to escort Cleland, a notorious fugitive gangster, back to face justice in the UK. But Cleland escapes from the Spanish police and Mackenzie is asked to stay on to help track him down. He works alongside Christina from the Spanish police force. Mackenzie is in some ways the typical flawed detective, but he is more than this – he has an impressive intelligence and takes no prisoners from those who do not understand his thought processes. He rubs many up the wrong way with his outspoken – some would say unthinking – comments.
Christina is married to Antonio, a local car dealer, and has a young son, Lucas. They all feature heavily in the story. She also has an aunt, Ana, who is involved in the plot. She suffers from Usher Syndrome, which means she is both deaf and blind. She arouses sympathy in some pretty unexpected quarters (no more for fear of a spoiler…).
The books progresses through some very violent scenes to an eventful climax on the rock of Gibraltar where Cleland is organising a major drug deal with Mackenzie and Christina in hot pursuit.
A Silent Death is a very well-worked thriller. It exposes a side of the Costa del Sol which is (I hope) not that familiar to holiday makers. The story moves up and down the coast from Marbella to Estepona and back again, and the landscape and towns are well described as background to the plot as it unfolds.
October 26, 2020
A disappointment. I so loved Peter May's Lewis trilogy, as well as a couple of his stand-alone novels like _Runaway_ and _Entry Island_, but this is nothing like those.
Compared to those, this book just felt flat. It was too much like an American TV crime show; sketched-in 2-dimensional characters, gun-play, and a villain with a not particularly believable motivation.
I'm not off Peter May altogether, I'll still try some of his other works that I haven't read yet - but the only thing memorable about _A Silent Death_ is how unmemorable it is compared to the other books by him that I've read and loved.
Compared to those, this book just felt flat. It was too much like an American TV crime show; sketched-in 2-dimensional characters, gun-play, and a villain with a not particularly believable motivation.
I'm not off Peter May altogether, I'll still try some of his other works that I haven't read yet - but the only thing memorable about _A Silent Death_ is how unmemorable it is compared to the other books by him that I've read and loved.
January 11, 2020
Peter May is just an unbeatable author for his worldwide location settings, his diverse characters that I love and hate with a passion and originality with every book of his that I have picked up. It is like reading a new author every time but while still wearing my metaphorical comfortable slippers too. The book is completed but I don’t want these characters to go away, I still want more. I do with every book of his that I have read.
Set in Spain, the characters that are to play centre stage in the story are introduced in the prologue. A random event, a million to one mistake and the downfall of a powerful British criminal. I was left with a promise that things were going to get very ugly from a man that I felt always gets his way.
Back in Britain, I met Mackenzie who works for the National Crime Agency and is requested to travel to Spain and return with a wanted criminal who is in custody there. I can’t even say this man’s name without smiling. He isn’t really a people person, mainly because he gets their backs up. There is no grey area, it is purely black and white and no arguing about it. He has principles that he doesn’t budge on and he is just super intelligent. Thing is he isn’t afraid to admit it all. He is a character that would drive you crazy if you worked with him or lived with him, but as someone else’s problem, he is total entertainment.
When things go belly up Mackenzie is assigned to work with officer Cristina Sanchez Pradell and to be honest this pair made me giggle. Mackenzie has brilliant investigating skills and Pradell is eager to learn from the best. The pace is fast throughout and the tension unbearable. Just loved the background stories of the characters, especially Cristina’s aunty, Ana.
A brilliant total entertainment package that I highly recommend. Superb!
Set in Spain, the characters that are to play centre stage in the story are introduced in the prologue. A random event, a million to one mistake and the downfall of a powerful British criminal. I was left with a promise that things were going to get very ugly from a man that I felt always gets his way.
Back in Britain, I met Mackenzie who works for the National Crime Agency and is requested to travel to Spain and return with a wanted criminal who is in custody there. I can’t even say this man’s name without smiling. He isn’t really a people person, mainly because he gets their backs up. There is no grey area, it is purely black and white and no arguing about it. He has principles that he doesn’t budge on and he is just super intelligent. Thing is he isn’t afraid to admit it all. He is a character that would drive you crazy if you worked with him or lived with him, but as someone else’s problem, he is total entertainment.
When things go belly up Mackenzie is assigned to work with officer Cristina Sanchez Pradell and to be honest this pair made me giggle. Mackenzie has brilliant investigating skills and Pradell is eager to learn from the best. The pace is fast throughout and the tension unbearable. Just loved the background stories of the characters, especially Cristina’s aunty, Ana.
A brilliant total entertainment package that I highly recommend. Superb!
June 16, 2021
This is pretty much the best 99 cents I've ever spent! Lovers of Peter May's writing and/or police international thrillers - ring it up! This testimony is coming from a gal who abhors thrillers. I get physically tense and so very upset when I read events that put life on the line as the tension builds, etc. and I want to crawl under the bed and hide. So...it is a rare thing for me to like a book that has these elements. Battles of good vs evil over and over again but all set against amazing scenery ending ---whoops! I won't ruin it for you.
Thanks, Herb, for telling me about this one.
99 cent Steal from Amazon
Thanks, Herb, for telling me about this one.
99 cent Steal from Amazon
January 12, 2020
3,5 stars
Despite the heavy presence of the police in this novel, British and Spanish, I can’t categorise it as a full Police versus bad guys race sort of book. Oh, don’t misunderstand me, you will find bad guys here, and police officers of all kinds. And so much more! Call is a psychological crime. Not just crime fiction, not too much on the psychological thriller side... just in the middle. A perfect mix!
Spain, where the remaining cast of this intense chase is waiting for the reader!
A Silent Death is my third book by Peter May. Once again, he managed to grab my attention. This time, he put me at the centre of a tragedy under the Spanish sun.
Despite the heavy presence of the police in this novel, British and Spanish, I can’t categorise it as a full Police versus bad guys race sort of book. Oh, don’t misunderstand me, you will find bad guys here, and police officers of all kinds. And so much more! Call is a psychological crime. Not just crime fiction, not too much on the psychological thriller side... just in the middle. A perfect mix!
You can always count on Peter May for a top-notch characterisation. John Mackenzie, a good police officer who was born without the gene of tact, is easy to warm to. He may appear arrogant at first, but there’s a real heart beating inside his chest and the burden of an ideal world that will never be, no matter what he does. The poor chap is assigned to escort a British criminal arrested in Spain. Easy task, right?
Spain, where the remaining cast of this intense chase is waiting for the reader!
Cristina Sanchez Pradell is a model of resilience. One of the few women on the force, she has to make room among her colleagues to exist. Wife, mother, sister, and niece, she struggles to juggle everything, in a very simple, realistic, and moving way. Cristina is one of us, just doing her best. I liked her fierce desire to be taken seriously.
Ana… I had never heard of the Usher syndrome, and I must say this is one of the worst things I can think of. My sight is bad, and I have always feared of losing it. Thinking about it makes me panicky. Add to this the inability to hear, and you have the most powerful prison that ever existed. Her chapters were heart-breaking yet fascinating. I was entranced by her life story, and felt privileged to be inside her head, to experience the world as she did. The author worked incredibly hard on descriptions and it shows in the way each word carries an image, a feeling, a sound, even in silence. I can only applaud the way Peter May opened the door to us readers, into her life.
What brings John Mackenzie and Cristina Sanchez Pradell together is a mistake. A split-second reaction that should never have been. Lethal shots which will prove to be fatal to more than one person.
I hated Jack Cleland right away. I remember thinking ‘You pretend to be a bad guy, a big muscle in the area, but you can’t even take responsibility for events you’ve triggered!’ Oh, I can’t stand those guys. This provoked a strong need in me to see justice happen. Only I didn’t know there would be such a heavy cost attached to it! See how involved I became in all this??
If Ana was an obvious choice for Cleland to get revenge on Cristina, I was not expecting the lengths he went to to make sure his plans would hurt the woman he believed to be responsible for his pain. My heart broke for Ana’s dog, lost in the pages, never to be mentioned again. I had to point this detail as I am one of those mad people who can’t stand anything happening to animals. Yes, I can handle people dying but a dog will upset me for days. I am not saying the dog died and I do hope he finds his way back… Enough about this detail!
The plot! Winding like those old battered roads suffering from scorching days. Gripping like those tales of faraway adventures filled with danger. Loud like the fireworks that make you jump in the dark. Full of twists, turns, and knots that wrap themselves around the characters’ neck to force the life out of them. Revenge is bloody. Vendettas leave bodies in their trail. A Silent Death draw its originality in the author’s amazing talent at building tension while relentlessly surprising us with an acute and almost scary dissection of what drive us to the edge.
February 28, 2020
Another good read by Peter May if a little slow in places. This one is set in Spain. Well researched although the author lives there so not too difficult. An insight into the world of the deaf-blind community.
February 26, 2020
Πρώτα απ' όλα, βρήκα εξαιρετικά ενδιαφέρουσα την τοποθέτηση της ιστορίας στη Νότια Ισπανία. Ξεφεύγει πολύ από τις συνηθισμένες τοπογραφικές επιλογές των συγγραφέων του είδους, μας συστήνει έναν εναλλακτικό τόπο δράσης, πολύ πιο κοντά στη δική μας κουλτούρα κι αισθητική πράγμα που από μόνο του έχει ένα ενδιαφέρον -κι αγγίζει τις μεσογειακές χο��δές μας-, ενώ σου επιφυλάσσει το στοιχείο της έκπληξης αφού, καλώς ή κακώς, το σκηνικό δράσης πάντα παίζει τον ρόλο του και την καθορίζει, άρα δεν είμαστε απόλυτα σίγουροι τι να περιμένουμε.
Ένα από τα πλέον χαρακτηριστικά στοιχεία του May, ως συγγραφέα, είναι η ικανότητά του να δημιουργεί πολυδιάστατους χαρακτήρες και να εμβαθύνει στην ψυχοσύνθεση, στον συναισθηματικό και εσωτερικό κόσμο αυτών, μέχρι εκεί που δεν πάει άλλο. Στην προκειμένη, έχουμε τέσσερις χαρακτήρες -ενώ δίνεται λίγη περισσότερη βαρύτητα στους τρεις εξ αυτών, αφού είναι αυτοί ��ε τη μεγαλύτερη αλληλεπίδραση-, με τον καθέναν τους να έχει μια εντελώς διαφορετική προσωπικότητα, αλλά και βιώματα, από τον άλλον, ένα εντελώς διαφορετικό κοινωνικό status, και όμως, την ίδια ακριβώς στιγμή, υπάρχουν στοιχεία που τους συνδέουν τα οποία δεν μπορούν ούτε καν να τα φανταστούν. Και μαζί με αυτούς, ούτε κι εμείς.
Ο άξονας του βιβλίου έχω να κάνει με μια υπόθεση εκδίκησης, θεωρητικά, τίποτα το ιδιαίτερο ή το πρωτότυπο. Παρ' όλα ταύτα, και παρά που ο πυρήνας στερείται πρωτοτυπίας, τα “παρακλάδια” αυτού και το πως αυτή εξελίσσεται συνολικά, εμπεριέχει περισσότερα στοιχεία έκπληξης κι ανατροπών απ' όσα θα περίμενε κανείς. Κυρίως, γιατί υπάρχει μεγάλη σύγκρουση, όχι μόνο ανάμεσα στους χαρακτήρες, αλλά και μέσα στην ψυχή των ίδιων, κάτι που ποτέ δεν διασφαλίζει την κατάληξη μιας κατάστασης.
Η ροή της αφήγησης είναι αρκετά καλή, η δράση είναι καλά χτισμένη και έχει ένταση που όλο και κορυφώνεται, ενώ επεκτείνεται και θίγει αρκετά ζητήματα -προσωπικά, κοινωνικά, ηθικά κλπ.-, αλλά δε γίνεται να μην αναφέρουμε πως υπάρχουν κάποιες μικρές, απειροελάχιστες στιγμές που κάνουν την εμφάνισή τους κάποιες μικρές “κοιλίτσες”. Βέβαια, αυτές δεν επηρεάζουν ιδιαίτερα την ατμόσφαιρα της αφήγησης, ούτε μειώνουν το ενδιαφέρον μας για την εξέλιξη της πλοκής, απλά, την αποδυναμώνουν στιγμές στιγμές.
Περισσότερο από ένα αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα, το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο είναι ένα ψυχογράφημα. Είναι άκρως ανθρωποκεντρικό κι εστιάζει την προσοχή του στο πως μπορούν να εξελιχθούν συγκεκριμένες καταστάσεις υπό συγκεκριμένες συνθήκες, μα και κατά πόσο θα μπορούσαν αυτές να είναι διαφορετικές αν αλλάζαμε πολύ μικρά πράγματα. Ουσιαστικά, η μοίρα, το πεπρωμένο και το τυχαίο συγκρούονται με την επιλογή, και όταν αυτά μπαίνουν στο ζύγι καλούμαστε να προβληματιστούμε σχετικά με το κατά πόσο εύκολο είναι τελικά να κατατάξουμε ένα συμβάν σε μια συγκεκριμένη συνθήκη.
Πολύ καλή ατμόσφαιρα, εξαιρετικά καλογραμμένο, με τον συγγραφέα να φαίνεται πως έχει μια ξεκάθαρη άποψη και τοποθέτηση πάνω στην ιστορία του και στην εξέλιξη των χαρακτήρων του. Υπάρχει δομή, σωστή ανάπτυξη, έξυπνες προεκτάσεις του βασικού άξονα και ένα τέλος αρκετά ανατρπετικό.
(Αναλυτικό review όταν κυκλοφορήσει στα ελληνικά...)
Ένα από τα πλέον χαρακτηριστικά στοιχεία του May, ως συγγραφέα, είναι η ικανότητά του να δημιουργεί πολυδιάστατους χαρακτήρες και να εμβαθύνει στην ψυχοσύνθεση, στον συναισθηματικό και εσωτερικό κόσμο αυτών, μέχρι εκεί που δεν πάει άλλο. Στην προκειμένη, έχουμε τέσσερις χαρακτήρες -ενώ δίνεται λίγη περισσότερη βαρύτητα στους τρεις εξ αυτών, αφού είναι αυτοί ��ε τη μεγαλύτερη αλληλεπίδραση-, με τον καθέναν τους να έχει μια εντελώς διαφορετική προσωπικότητα, αλλά και βιώματα, από τον άλλον, ένα εντελώς διαφορετικό κοινωνικό status, και όμως, την ίδια ακριβώς στιγμή, υπάρχουν στοιχεία που τους συνδέουν τα οποία δεν μπορούν ούτε καν να τα φανταστούν. Και μαζί με αυτούς, ούτε κι εμείς.
Ο άξονας του βιβλίου έχω να κάνει με μια υπόθεση εκδίκησης, θεωρητικά, τίποτα το ιδιαίτερο ή το πρωτότυπο. Παρ' όλα ταύτα, και παρά που ο πυρήνας στερείται πρωτοτυπίας, τα “παρακλάδια” αυτού και το πως αυτή εξελίσσεται συνολικά, εμπεριέχει περισσότερα στοιχεία έκπληξης κι ανατροπών απ' όσα θα περίμενε κανείς. Κυρίως, γιατί υπάρχει μεγάλη σύγκρουση, όχι μόνο ανάμεσα στους χαρακτήρες, αλλά και μέσα στην ψυχή των ίδιων, κάτι που ποτέ δεν διασφαλίζει την κατάληξη μιας κατάστασης.
Η ροή της αφήγησης είναι αρκετά καλή, η δράση είναι καλά χτισμένη και έχει ένταση που όλο και κορυφώνεται, ενώ επεκτείνεται και θίγει αρκετά ζητήματα -προσωπικά, κοινωνικά, ηθικά κλπ.-, αλλά δε γίνεται να μην αναφέρουμε πως υπάρχουν κάποιες μικρές, απειροελάχιστες στιγμές που κάνουν την εμφάνισή τους κάποιες μικρές “κοιλίτσες”. Βέβαια, αυτές δεν επηρεάζουν ιδιαίτερα την ατμόσφαιρα της αφήγησης, ούτε μειώνουν το ενδιαφέρον μας για την εξέλιξη της πλοκής, απλά, την αποδυναμώνουν στιγμές στιγμές.
Περισσότερο από ένα αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα, το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο είναι ένα ψυχογράφημα. Είναι άκρως ανθρωποκεντρικό κι εστιάζει την προσοχή του στο πως μπορούν να εξελιχθούν συγκεκριμένες καταστάσεις υπό συγκεκριμένες συνθήκες, μα και κατά πόσο θα μπορούσαν αυτές να είναι διαφορετικές αν αλλάζαμε πολύ μικρά πράγματα. Ουσιαστικά, η μοίρα, το πεπρωμένο και το τυχαίο συγκρούονται με την επιλογή, και όταν αυτά μπαίνουν στο ζύγι καλούμαστε να προβληματιστούμε σχετικά με το κατά πόσο εύκολο είναι τελικά να κατατάξουμε ένα συμβάν σε μια συγκεκριμένη συνθήκη.
Πολύ καλή ατμόσφαιρα, εξαιρετικά καλογραμμένο, με τον συγγραφέα να φαίνεται πως έχει μια ξεκάθαρη άποψη και τοποθέτηση πάνω στην ιστορία του και στην εξέλιξη των χαρακτήρων του. Υπάρχει δομή, σωστή ανάπτυξη, έξυπνες προεκτάσεις του βασικού άξονα και ένα τέλος αρκετά ανατρπετικό.
(Αναλυτικό review όταν κυκλοφορήσει στα ελληνικά...)
February 19, 2021
Nothing will ever compare to the Lewis Trilogy, by this author, but I always enjoy his writing.
This book is a stand alone that takes place in Spain, when a Glaswegian investigator turns up to solve a manhunt for a drug lord. Well paced but predictable.
I seem to appreciate his books that are in a series more so.....
3.5 stars
This book is a stand alone that takes place in Spain, when a Glaswegian investigator turns up to solve a manhunt for a drug lord. Well paced but predictable.
I seem to appreciate his books that are in a series more so.....
3.5 stars
January 29, 2024
4 STARS - A good introduction this author for me!
Great crime, I’m sure this positive first reading experience will make me read many more crime novels by this author. My first audiobook with Magnus Roosmann as narrator (in Swedish) as well.
Cross my fingers for a sequel with this Scottish police investigator. Kind of like him 😉
Read January 27, 2024
Great crime, I’m sure this positive first reading experience will make me read many more crime novels by this author. My first audiobook with Magnus Roosmann as narrator (in Swedish) as well.
Cross my fingers for a sequel with this Scottish police investigator. Kind of like him 😉
Read January 27, 2024
January 17, 2020
So baad
I had read a couple of Peter mays books previously so gave this one a try. It is dreadful! I think he must have been somnolent when he was writing it. None of the characters are the least bit compelling or even human. Maybe this was an experiment of letting his computer pick pieces of his writing & paste them together then call it a book. I finally stopped torturing myself at about 80%... I didn’t care if anybody survived. Again - dreadful!
I had read a couple of Peter mays books previously so gave this one a try. It is dreadful! I think he must have been somnolent when he was writing it. None of the characters are the least bit compelling or even human. Maybe this was an experiment of letting his computer pick pieces of his writing & paste them together then call it a book. I finally stopped torturing myself at about 80%... I didn’t care if anybody survived. Again - dreadful!
February 13, 2020
Not one of the author's better ones.
The back story of Ana and her beau seemed to drag on for ever.
Why didn't they interview the driver of the van taking Cleland to the airport? It would have cut out a lot of the detective work if he told who had made him take the diversion.
And I thought that Cleland's motive for his crimes was spurious and unbelievable
The back story of Ana and her beau seemed to drag on for ever.
Why didn't they interview the driver of the van taking Cleland to the airport? It would have cut out a lot of the detective work if he told who had made him take the diversion.
And I thought that Cleland's motive for his crimes was spurious and unbelievable
August 10, 2023
Här har vi en riktigt spännande deckare. Har läst flera böcker av Peter May men den här slår alla rekord av spänning. Spänning hela boken igenom. Jag märkte inte tid och rum vid läsandet. Trots hemskheter så log jag ibland för vissa dråpligheter av John Mackenzie. Den här deckaren rekommenderar jag stark. Denna får du inte missa.
May 23, 2020
Another disappointment
I started reading Peter May after devouring the Lewis Trilogy which I thought was truly exceptional. I have tried the Enzo series,his stand alone novels but I am afraid that everything is downhill. This is yet another piece of junk literature that I should have abandoned after the first few chapters. Superficial characters and a ridiculous far fetched plot.
I started reading Peter May after devouring the Lewis Trilogy which I thought was truly exceptional. I have tried the Enzo series,his stand alone novels but I am afraid that everything is downhill. This is yet another piece of junk literature that I should have abandoned after the first few chapters. Superficial characters and a ridiculous far fetched plot.
July 7, 2022
Ideální summer read :) Na Costa del Sol bych teda v létě dobrovolně nejela. Stačí číst a je mi vedro.
Byly tam asi jen 3 španělská slova, doufala jsem v trochu víc, abych obohatila svou espaňol. Nicméně, moje bídné zeměpisné znalosti BYLY obohaceny o fakt, že jižní cíp Španělska - Gibraltar patří mým největším kámošům Britům. Jop, to jsem nevěděla.
Byly tam asi jen 3 španělská slova, doufala jsem v trochu víc, abych obohatila svou espaňol. Nicméně, moje bídné zeměpisné znalosti BYLY obohaceny o fakt, že jižní cíp Španělska - Gibraltar patří mým největším kámošům Britům. Jop, to jsem nevěděla.
July 31, 2021
Sadly, I was utterly disappointed by this book. Couldn't pinpoint why per se, but it was overall more of a thriller than of a mystery. The descriptions of the places and the environment, although quite helpful when it came to imagining the decor, were very tedious to get through, since they mostly occurred in the beginnings of different chapters (considering that the chapter before that ended in a cliffhanger). That took away both the excitement and the shock factor. There was also a problem with me empathizing with the characters. To be completely honest, I only enjoyed the story of Ana's past (if you know, you know), and that went for like 20 pages out of a 400-page book, so that says enough.
March 19, 2020
3.5 stars bumped up to 4. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed almost all of Mr May's books and this was no exception. However, I wasn't quite as enthralled as usual, although I can't put my finger on the reason. The last chapters high up on the Rock of Gibraltar felt like a James Bond film.
August 4, 2020
What a spellbinding thriller!
Riveting story peppered with wonderfully realized characters. Couldn’t put it down.
Peter May is a favourite author and this stand-alone book is right up there with anything else he has ever written.
Riveting story peppered with wonderfully realized characters. Couldn’t put it down.
Peter May is a favourite author and this stand-alone book is right up there with anything else he has ever written.
April 11, 2023
Really well put together. Peter May remains a favorite author!
June 21, 2020
4.5*. A solid Peter May book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews