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Let Her Be Silent: Book Two of The House of Prey: Origins Duology | A Haunting Psychological Horror
Let Her Be Silent is a slow-burn psychological horror and cult thriller with gothic atmosphere, religious trauma, and a thread of quiet romance and found family. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell’s cold-case suspense, Catriona Ward’s unsettling horror, and Simone St. James’s ghostly mysteries.
Rachel Bagwell’s ghost has found justice.
Bishop Biddle is dead.
But for Emily Lyles, the night of his death is only the beginning. When the shock fades, she’s left with a truth she can’t unsee—she was raised in a cult, and its rot runs deeper in her family than she ever imagined.
With Wanda’s fierce loyalty and Kade’s quiet strength at her side, Emily begins to investigate the decades-old disappearance of Rachel Bagwell, a teenage girl from her church. What starts as a search through rumors and forgotten letters soon stirs something restless in the shadows… something watching her.
The closer she gets to the truth, the more the past presses in—through half-remembered nightmares, whispered warnings, and the ghost of a lingering presence too warm against her skin. The trail leads to a small blue house, a retired schoolteacher with a steel-trap memory, and a truth so dangerous it’s been buried for thirty years.
Now Emily must decide how much she’s willing to lose to uncover what happened to Rachel—
…and whether she can survive knowing the answer.
The House’s Daughter is Book One of the Origins Duology in the haunting House of Prey series. Let Her Be Silent continues this story as we see Emily struggle to escape—and uncover—the cult’s darkest secrets.
A House of Prey Novel
Don’t miss the continuation of Emily’s journey in Book Three, Waiting at the Well—coming soon.
Rachel Bagwell’s ghost has found justice.
Bishop Biddle is dead.
But for Emily Lyles, the night of his death is only the beginning. When the shock fades, she’s left with a truth she can’t unsee—she was raised in a cult, and its rot runs deeper in her family than she ever imagined.
With Wanda’s fierce loyalty and Kade’s quiet strength at her side, Emily begins to investigate the decades-old disappearance of Rachel Bagwell, a teenage girl from her church. What starts as a search through rumors and forgotten letters soon stirs something restless in the shadows… something watching her.
The closer she gets to the truth, the more the past presses in—through half-remembered nightmares, whispered warnings, and the ghost of a lingering presence too warm against her skin. The trail leads to a small blue house, a retired schoolteacher with a steel-trap memory, and a truth so dangerous it’s been buried for thirty years.
Now Emily must decide how much she’s willing to lose to uncover what happened to Rachel—
…and whether she can survive knowing the answer.
The House’s Daughter is Book One of the Origins Duology in the haunting House of Prey series. Let Her Be Silent continues this story as we see Emily struggle to escape—and uncover—the cult’s darkest secrets.
A House of Prey Novel
Don’t miss the continuation of Emily’s journey in Book Three, Waiting at the Well—coming soon.
- GenresHorror
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2025
34 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
April Boulware
15 books80 followers April Boulware writes haunting psychological horror with a heartbeat.
She blends gothic atmosphere, slow-burn suspense, and raw emotional depth to explore what it means to survive the unimaginable – and still hope. Her work often centers on women reclaiming their stories after spiritual abuse, trauma, and isolation, with threads of found family and quiet romance woven through the dark.
April draws inspiration from her own past in a cult-like, abusive environment, and the long road of healing that followed. When she’s not writing or reading something ghostly, she’s probably reorganizing her planner, sipping strong coffee, or chasing a story idea down a rabbit hole.
She lives in rural South Carolina with her husband, three children, and a bunch of chickens, where she homeschools by day and writes by night.
She blends gothic atmosphere, slow-burn suspense, and raw emotional depth to explore what it means to survive the unimaginable – and still hope. Her work often centers on women reclaiming their stories after spiritual abuse, trauma, and isolation, with threads of found family and quiet romance woven through the dark.
April draws inspiration from her own past in a cult-like, abusive environment, and the long road of healing that followed. When she’s not writing or reading something ghostly, she’s probably reorganizing her planner, sipping strong coffee, or chasing a story idea down a rabbit hole.
She lives in rural South Carolina with her husband, three children, and a bunch of chickens, where she homeschools by day and writes by night.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 27, 2025
Screaming, crying, she did it again!!! Absolutely devoured this book, second in the series and now I need more of Kade and Emily’s story!!!!
Emily has faced a lifetime of lies, coercion, brainwashing, the list goes on. Let Her Be Silent captures the essence of this book….keep her silent, keep her quiet, don’t let the secrets out. Emily wanted, needed answers of who she was and why was her house speaking to her and it all unraveled in this book with partial justice of what her “father” had done in his life.
April continues to amaze me with her writing. Especially with this series glimpsing into a life she grew up in and how cults can go under the radar claiming they are something greater. Thank you for another great read!!!
Emily has faced a lifetime of lies, coercion, brainwashing, the list goes on. Let Her Be Silent captures the essence of this book….keep her silent, keep her quiet, don’t let the secrets out. Emily wanted, needed answers of who she was and why was her house speaking to her and it all unraveled in this book with partial justice of what her “father” had done in his life.
April continues to amaze me with her writing. Especially with this series glimpsing into a life she grew up in and how cults can go under the radar claiming they are something greater. Thank you for another great read!!!
October 21, 2025
Let Her Be Silent, the second book in the House of Prey Origins Duology by April Boulware, picks up where The House’s Daughter left off. But it does so much more than continue the story. Emily’s determination to discover the truth is wrapped with layers of suspense and chilling realism.
Emily and Kade come face-to-face with the manifestation of her cult-leader-father’s murky past. Things he’s tried to hide come to light while he blusters and demands to be left alone because “The church already handled the issue!”
Witnessing Emily’s growth as she recognizes the toxic nature of the family that uses spiritual abuse as a way to control every aspect of her life is eye-opening and life-affirming. The reader pulls with her on every page, anxious to see her escape their clutches even as they cheer her thirst for the truth.
April Boulware was a new-to-me author when I picked up The House’s Daughter. Now that I’ve read her first two insightful and unputdownable books, I’ll be sure to read everything she publishes from now on.
*Contains strong language.*
Emily and Kade come face-to-face with the manifestation of her cult-leader-father’s murky past. Things he’s tried to hide come to light while he blusters and demands to be left alone because “The church already handled the issue!”
Witnessing Emily’s growth as she recognizes the toxic nature of the family that uses spiritual abuse as a way to control every aspect of her life is eye-opening and life-affirming. The reader pulls with her on every page, anxious to see her escape their clutches even as they cheer her thirst for the truth.
April Boulware was a new-to-me author when I picked up The House’s Daughter. Now that I’ve read her first two insightful and unputdownable books, I’ll be sure to read everything she publishes from now on.
*Contains strong language.*
September 10, 2025
I like this second book even more than the first! I read it in one day...unstoppable. April seems to be a natural writer all around. She's excellent with dialogue, foreshadowing, and suspense in nearly every page, which I love. You grow to really know and love her characters, the good ones, and the bad ones. She shines a light on the internal struggle someone can face if they have been "imprisoned" in life, abused. The fear, dependency and even guilt. She shares her protagonist's internal struggle so all can understand, sympathize and not judge. I'm usually not a fan of supernatural themes being woven into novels (except of course for Harry Potter!), however, after reading J.D. Barker and April Boulware, I really am enjoying it and looking at it through a new lens.
September 3, 2025
Page turner for sure!
The way the author weaves together the fiction gives a small window into the inner world of mental health after trauma. The story is gripping, full of suspense and flows well. Addition of a sweet forbidden romance makes it even better.
The way the author weaves together the fiction gives a small window into the inner world of mental health after trauma. The story is gripping, full of suspense and flows well. Addition of a sweet forbidden romance makes it even better.
September 30, 2025
wow.
What a series. I found many things weirdly relatable to my life and yet was curious about what happened next. The author kept my attention. I read both books in less than 24 hours.
Intriguing read. Lots to think about.
Looking forward to book 3.
What a series. I found many things weirdly relatable to my life and yet was curious about what happened next. The author kept my attention. I read both books in less than 24 hours.
Intriguing read. Lots to think about.
Looking forward to book 3.
October 5, 2025
Tidily tied up
The mystery was convoluted, but did get wrapped up nicely by the end. Have two different characters who disassociate AND two different entities caused me some confusion.
The mystery was convoluted, but did get wrapped up nicely by the end. Have two different characters who disassociate AND two different entities caused me some confusion.
November 28, 2025
great suspense
I read both of these books in 24 hours so quick reads if you have nothing else to do I really enjoyed them and didn’t want to put it down. Recommend both of them. This is not my normal genre, but I decided to read both of them and I’m glad I did
I read both of these books in 24 hours so quick reads if you have nothing else to do I really enjoyed them and didn’t want to put it down. Recommend both of them. This is not my normal genre, but I decided to read both of them and I’m glad I did
December 11, 2025
Great read
Minor typos here and there, but wonderful story in combination with the first. Gave me a considerable amount of self reflection and a fairly secure sense of companionship- like I wasn't alone in my own past. Thank you, April. I didn't know I needed that.
Minor typos here and there, but wonderful story in combination with the first. Gave me a considerable amount of self reflection and a fairly secure sense of companionship- like I wasn't alone in my own past. Thank you, April. I didn't know I needed that.
December 29, 2025
Continued to toe the line between supernatural and real life horror to perfection. Not sure how I wound up on this series over Christmas because it really deserved a crisp fall day, but it was fantastic.
August 27, 2025
great conclusion to the first half of the story! could not put it down! can't wait to see where the rest of the series takes us
August 29, 2025
Scary and exciting
What an awesome book. Both The House’s Daughter and Let Her Be Silent were both scary and exciting. I can’t wait to read the next book when it comes out.
What an awesome book. Both The House’s Daughter and Let Her Be Silent were both scary and exciting. I can’t wait to read the next book when it comes out.
September 15, 2025
Had to follow up with the 2nd book. Devoured it in 1 sitting! Go read this series if you like psychological horror! Ok April, when is Book 3 coming out...Im waiting!
November 25, 2025
love love!
Seriously, it was so good. Great 2nd part to one of the best horror stories I have read in a very long time.
Seriously, it was so good. Great 2nd part to one of the best horror stories I have read in a very long time.
November 4, 2025
Emily’s former “Bishop” is dead, but she is still trying to bring Rachel justice.
This book was a bit shorter than the first, and I felt like we knew the “answer” to the mystery in the first book. But I still enjoyed reading more of Emily’s story (especially the romance!)
Seeing Emily start a life outside the cult was eye-opening. The things she struggled with made me think of all the people living that life right now. The mental aspect of confronting such a traumatic childhood cannot be understated.
The ending felt somewhat realistic, yet satisfying after seeing Emily and Kade’s hard work to bring justice to Rachel for so long. Can’t wait for book 3!
This book was a bit shorter than the first, and I felt like we knew the “answer” to the mystery in the first book. But I still enjoyed reading more of Emily’s story (especially the romance!)
Seeing Emily start a life outside the cult was eye-opening. The things she struggled with made me think of all the people living that life right now. The mental aspect of confronting such a traumatic childhood cannot be understated.
The ending felt somewhat realistic, yet satisfying after seeing Emily and Kade’s hard work to bring justice to Rachel for so long. Can’t wait for book 3!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews