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Her Silence
From bestselling author S. T. Ashman comes a thriller about a mother who refuses to let her daughter take the fall for a crime that doesn't make sense... even if the truth is worse than prison.
She survived the night. The truth didn't.
Nicole gets the call at 4 a.m. Her daughter Lacey was found in the woods beside her friend's dead husband. He was stabbed forty-four times. Lacey is barely alive. Covered in his blood. And completely mute.
She hasn't said a word since. Not to the police. Not to her husband. Not even to Nicole.
Nicole had Lacey at seventeen and swore her daughter would have a good life. Now Lacey is sitting in a cell, and Nicole's three grandchildren are left behind with a father who is losing it.
But Nicole knows her daughter. She isn't a cold-blooded murderer. Guilt didn't silence her. Fear did. Whatever happened in those woods scared Lacey more than prison.
So Nicole starts digging. But some secrets don't save people. They destroy them.
She survived the night. The truth didn't.
Nicole gets the call at 4 a.m. Her daughter Lacey was found in the woods beside her friend's dead husband. He was stabbed forty-four times. Lacey is barely alive. Covered in his blood. And completely mute.
She hasn't said a word since. Not to the police. Not to her husband. Not even to Nicole.
Nicole had Lacey at seventeen and swore her daughter would have a good life. Now Lacey is sitting in a cell, and Nicole's three grandchildren are left behind with a father who is losing it.
But Nicole knows her daughter. She isn't a cold-blooded murderer. Guilt didn't silence her. Fear did. Whatever happened in those woods scared Lacey more than prison.
So Nicole starts digging. But some secrets don't save people. They destroy them.
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
S.T. Ashman
8 books902 followersS. T. Ashman is an American-German author who calls the beautiful U.S. Seacoast home. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she spent years working as a psychotherapist in the criminal justice system. The work gave her a rare window into the human mind, both the beautiful and the deeply shadowed. It's no wonder readers often say her characters feel real enough to step off the page.
When she's not crafting her next twisty tale, you'll find her chasing after her kids, nose-deep in a book, or curled up late at night with a horror movie and a husband who always falls asleep on the couch before the scary parts.
When she's not crafting her next twisty tale, you'll find her chasing after her kids, nose-deep in a book, or curled up late at night with a horror movie and a husband who always falls asleep on the couch before the scary parts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 947 reviews
August 8, 2026
4.5⭐️ Wow, this book was incredible! I honestly don’t know how S. T. Ashman thought up some of these twists. I was constantly second-guessing everything, and the story kept me guessing throughout.
This is a gripping psychological thriller about Nicole, who receives a phone call telling her that her daughter, Lacey, has been found in the woods next to the body of her best friend’s dead husband. Naturally, everyone believes Lacey is responsible, especially when she leaves the hospital completely mute and unable to explain what happened.
But things become even more complicated when Lacey is taken into custody and doctors discover that she has cancer. Nicole is determined to prove her daughter’s innocence and will do everything she can to get her out of jail so she can receive the treatment she desperately needs. If she can’t, Lacey could end up dying in prison.
I really felt for Nicole. Her determination to fight for her daughter, even when everything seems to be against them, really came through. Lacey was also such an intriguing character because her silence leaves you wondering what she knows and what she is hiding.
What stood out most for me was the plot and all the twists. I loved how the author kept giving us little pieces of information without making it obvious where the story was going. There were so many moments that had me questioning what was really happening and who could be trusted.
S. T. Ashman’s writing is clever and kept me completely hooked. The story had me wanting to keep reading because I needed to know what had really happened and whether Nicole could prove Lacey’s innocence.
An absolutely brilliant psychological thriller that kept me guessing right to the end.
Publishing date: July 21st, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and S. T. Ashman for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is a gripping psychological thriller about Nicole, who receives a phone call telling her that her daughter, Lacey, has been found in the woods next to the body of her best friend’s dead husband. Naturally, everyone believes Lacey is responsible, especially when she leaves the hospital completely mute and unable to explain what happened.
But things become even more complicated when Lacey is taken into custody and doctors discover that she has cancer. Nicole is determined to prove her daughter’s innocence and will do everything she can to get her out of jail so she can receive the treatment she desperately needs. If she can’t, Lacey could end up dying in prison.
I really felt for Nicole. Her determination to fight for her daughter, even when everything seems to be against them, really came through. Lacey was also such an intriguing character because her silence leaves you wondering what she knows and what she is hiding.
What stood out most for me was the plot and all the twists. I loved how the author kept giving us little pieces of information without making it obvious where the story was going. There were so many moments that had me questioning what was really happening and who could be trusted.
S. T. Ashman’s writing is clever and kept me completely hooked. The story had me wanting to keep reading because I needed to know what had really happened and whether Nicole could prove Lacey’s innocence.
An absolutely brilliant psychological thriller that kept me guessing right to the end.
Publishing date: July 21st, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and S. T. Ashman for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 29, 2026
3.5 ⭐
⋆⭒˚｡⋆ TL;DR: Although it wasn’t perfect, I still had fun, especially whenever Dylan showed up. Poor kid. 😢
⋆⭒˚｡⋆ This was an interesting ride. Nicole wakes up to a phone call no one ever wants to hear. Her daughter, Lacey, was found in the woods, covered in blood and next to the body of her best friend’s husband. It seems like Lacey had something to do with the murder, but Nicole knows her daughter and wants to get to the bottom of what really happened that night, no matter the cost, because that’s what mothers do for their children. Fight for them, even when everyone else has given up.
What I appreciated most about the book was the short chapters. Granted, they did get longer towards the end, but the short and snappy chapters helped the story stay engaging. The writing was good, the story was pretty mysterious, and the characters were well-fleshed out, imo.
But, good lord, I hated Brian. Was I wishing that the sorry sob was also found in the woods? Maybe. I was just so disgusted and annoyed by him. Unfortunately, I know men like him and how pathetic they can be, so I did not care at all how he was feeling during the investigation. But he was worse at the end. Like, hold me back, y’all. I will be throwing hands with no mercy because that “man” does not deserve what he was given.
And what also upset me was how much Dylan was constantly compared to his “handsome” father. His eyes. His build. His charisma that can bewitch every woman they come across. Yeah, no, please stop. The kid does not need that in his life. I know what it’s like to be constantly compared to someone who isn’t the greatest human being in the world, so do not do that to poor Dylan. He is nothing like his dad, and I will not hear anymore nonsense about him being otherwise. Dylan was more of a man as a teenager than his dad was as a grown-ass adult.
Ooh, and don’t even get me started on the Attorney General. I won’t say anything about him because I don’t want to even think about that petty and horrible…thing. He sucked so much, and I could not believe the things that came out of his mouth. Unbelievable.
But what I did love was Nicole and how adamant she was in wanting to help her family and prove that Lacey was innocent. Do I think the ending did her dirty? Hell yes. I literally wanted to cry at how things turned out because it just didn’t seem fair at all. But that’s life, isn’t it? My family hates how pessimistic I am, but, I mean, it’s true. Life sucks, it’s unfair, and it’s unjust. And anyone who tells you otherwise is most definitely selling you something. But, again, that’s why I love Dylan. If you want to know why, you’re going to have to read the book. 😉
I’ve read reviews that say that the first half is better than the second half, especially Dylan’s POV at the end, and while I do agree, I really liked Dylan’s POV. Although it did slow down the pacing of the story, it was just so damn satisfying. It was exactly what I needed to feed the little vengeful and petty monster inside me that wanted true justice to be served. Did part of the ending disappoint me? Yeah, because even though I get it, it’s not what I expected and not in a good way, really. I’m not mad about it, but I’m not exactly happy about it either. I was like maybe 50% or 44% right, if that’s even possible. 😂
Oh, and I also liked Detective Nolan. He was cool. ☺ And Ginny the Doberman was amazing. Absolutely beautiful. I loved her, even though she showed up like two or three times. 🥰
Overall, this was an entertaining story, and I enjoyed it. It made me go through all the feels, so that definitely gets a recommendation from me. 💙
꩜ Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ꩜
《 Content Warnings 》
Death, murder, blood, and mentions of trauma.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Open door/steamy. (🌶🌶🌶/5)
⋆⭒˚｡⋆ TL;DR: Although it wasn’t perfect, I still had fun, especially whenever Dylan showed up. Poor kid. 😢
⋆⭒˚｡⋆ This was an interesting ride. Nicole wakes up to a phone call no one ever wants to hear. Her daughter, Lacey, was found in the woods, covered in blood and next to the body of her best friend’s husband. It seems like Lacey had something to do with the murder, but Nicole knows her daughter and wants to get to the bottom of what really happened that night, no matter the cost, because that’s what mothers do for their children. Fight for them, even when everyone else has given up.
What I appreciated most about the book was the short chapters. Granted, they did get longer towards the end, but the short and snappy chapters helped the story stay engaging. The writing was good, the story was pretty mysterious, and the characters were well-fleshed out, imo.
But, good lord, I hated Brian. Was I wishing that the sorry sob was also found in the woods? Maybe. I was just so disgusted and annoyed by him. Unfortunately, I know men like him and how pathetic they can be, so I did not care at all how he was feeling during the investigation. But he was worse at the end. Like, hold me back, y’all. I will be throwing hands with no mercy because that “man” does not deserve what he was given.
And what also upset me was how much Dylan was constantly compared to his “handsome” father. His eyes. His build. His charisma that can bewitch every woman they come across. Yeah, no, please stop. The kid does not need that in his life. I know what it’s like to be constantly compared to someone who isn’t the greatest human being in the world, so do not do that to poor Dylan. He is nothing like his dad, and I will not hear anymore nonsense about him being otherwise. Dylan was more of a man as a teenager than his dad was as a grown-ass adult.
Ooh, and don’t even get me started on the Attorney General. I won’t say anything about him because I don’t want to even think about that petty and horrible…thing. He sucked so much, and I could not believe the things that came out of his mouth. Unbelievable.
But what I did love was Nicole and how adamant she was in wanting to help her family and prove that Lacey was innocent. Do I think the ending did her dirty? Hell yes. I literally wanted to cry at how things turned out because it just didn’t seem fair at all. But that’s life, isn’t it? My family hates how pessimistic I am, but, I mean, it’s true. Life sucks, it’s unfair, and it’s unjust. And anyone who tells you otherwise is most definitely selling you something. But, again, that’s why I love Dylan. If you want to know why, you’re going to have to read the book. 😉
I’ve read reviews that say that the first half is better than the second half, especially Dylan’s POV at the end, and while I do agree, I really liked Dylan’s POV. Although it did slow down the pacing of the story, it was just so damn satisfying. It was exactly what I needed to feed the little vengeful and petty monster inside me that wanted true justice to be served. Did part of the ending disappoint me? Yeah, because even though I get it, it’s not what I expected and not in a good way, really. I’m not mad about it, but I’m not exactly happy about it either. I was like maybe 50% or 44% right, if that’s even possible. 😂
Oh, and I also liked Detective Nolan. He was cool. ☺ And Ginny the Doberman was amazing. Absolutely beautiful. I loved her, even though she showed up like two or three times. 🥰
Overall, this was an entertaining story, and I enjoyed it. It made me go through all the feels, so that definitely gets a recommendation from me. 💙
꩜ Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ꩜
《 Content Warnings 》
Death, murder, blood, and mentions of trauma.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Open door/steamy. (🌶🌶🌶/5)
July 28, 2026
How could I ever do this justice ? It is so good that words fail me, and they would never be able to capture the amazement I felt while reading. It was such an interesting combination of an emotional draining journey with a plot unlike anything, with some crazy and mindboggling twists. It was also beautifully written, but what really made it memorable were the characters. They were so wonderful, with their loyal love that just oozed from their pores, transferring to me as well. I felt so heartbroken, angry for how they were treated, and amazed by their strength. I liked how they were complex as well, and that the author wrote about how the world and people aren’t black or white either. We do bad things, and sometimes for very good reasons. I could continue, but that will take time away from you actually getting this book and reading it.
July 31, 2026
"She survived the night. The truth didn't."
"Nicole gets the call at 4 a.m. Her daughter Lacey was found in the woods beside her friend's dead husband. He was stabbed forty-four times. Lacey is barely alive. Covered in his blood. And completely mute. She hasn't said a word since. Not to the police. Not to her husband. Not even to Nicole."
Move this psychological thriller up to the front of your list. I never saw this ending and still can't wrap my head around it. With several POV's, you are going to be thankful each one has an important story. I loved the characters, but the one that stood out the most is Nicole, Lacey's mother. While Lacey sits in jail, Nicole fights for her. Her emotional journey is what makes the book, but the ending you will never forget. Although the family has flaws, there are characters that will stand out you will be cheering for. Then there are gray areas that will have you questioning your own morals. How far do we go to protect our loved ones? It is fast-paced with so many broken and shocking motives. Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing & NetGalley Co-op and Fishman Books for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
"Nicole gets the call at 4 a.m. Her daughter Lacey was found in the woods beside her friend's dead husband. He was stabbed forty-four times. Lacey is barely alive. Covered in his blood. And completely mute. She hasn't said a word since. Not to the police. Not to her husband. Not even to Nicole."
Move this psychological thriller up to the front of your list. I never saw this ending and still can't wrap my head around it. With several POV's, you are going to be thankful each one has an important story. I loved the characters, but the one that stood out the most is Nicole, Lacey's mother. While Lacey sits in jail, Nicole fights for her. Her emotional journey is what makes the book, but the ending you will never forget. Although the family has flaws, there are characters that will stand out you will be cheering for. Then there are gray areas that will have you questioning your own morals. How far do we go to protect our loved ones? It is fast-paced with so many broken and shocking motives. Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing & NetGalley Co-op and Fishman Books for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 26, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up purely for Jenny the Doberman! That dog was the real mvp here😅 Honorable mention to Nicole the grandma🥺 She was my personal fav🥺
Very gripping and addictive! You'll have to suspend some disbelief here and there and the whole plot was a little bit soapy, but it packed some serious emotion in there! The ending really brought it home for me and I had my suspicions in the beginning, so I was glad they panned out!
Rot in hell Bryan🤮
___________________________________________________________
pre-read:
Soooo excited for another book from this author!
Very gripping and addictive! You'll have to suspend some disbelief here and there and the whole plot was a little bit soapy, but it packed some serious emotion in there! The ending really brought it home for me and I had my suspicions in the beginning, so I was glad they panned out!
Rot in hell Bryan🤮
___________________________________________________________
pre-read:
Soooo excited for another book from this author!
July 29, 2026
4.5 ⭐
This book grabbed me from the first chapter, and the pacing was perfect because there was always something happening. I also loved how the chapters switched between different characters. It helped build the mystery and kept me guessing the whole time. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, another surprise changed everything. The ending twist was absolutely crazy, and I never saw it coming.
The characters made this story even better. I loved Nicole and Dylan, and I was hoping they would finally get the answers they deserved. There were also a few characters I couldn't stand, but that just made the story feel more real. With all the suspense, there were some really emotional moments about family, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to for the ones they love. This was such a fast and exciting thriller, and I finished it so quickly. I definitely recommend this one!
This book grabbed me from the first chapter, and the pacing was perfect because there was always something happening. I also loved how the chapters switched between different characters. It helped build the mystery and kept me guessing the whole time. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, another surprise changed everything. The ending twist was absolutely crazy, and I never saw it coming.
The characters made this story even better. I loved Nicole and Dylan, and I was hoping they would finally get the answers they deserved. There were also a few characters I couldn't stand, but that just made the story feel more real. With all the suspense, there were some really emotional moments about family, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to for the ones they love. This was such a fast and exciting thriller, and I finished it so quickly. I definitely recommend this one!
May 23, 2026
This thriller novel was extremely addictive, mysterious, and terrifying. I love that this story and the characters were both very multilayered. It is emotional and incredibly deep. It’s more than just a thriller novel; there are layers to it. What initially attracted me to this book was the cover and the story’s description. I was curious whether it would live up to my expectations, and it really did! I can tell the author really put a lot of effort and time into creating this! It is very well written, easy to read, and full of twists!
This novel is written from different points of view and across different timelines. This really gave me a good perspective on the main characters and what they were thinking and going through. I felt every emotion while reading this. It’s about not giving up on family, complex characters, and trauma. My favorite character in the story was, of course, Lacey’s Mom, Nicole. The love she has for her daughter is so precious. Nicole is a fighter, and she does everything it takes to protect her daughter and the family. She even risks putting her own life in danger. This is more of a fast-paced novel with strong character development! In my opinion, this one will definitely be getting a movie adaptation! It is powerful in so many ways! I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author S. T. Ashman, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be released on July 21, 2026!
This novel is written from different points of view and across different timelines. This really gave me a good perspective on the main characters and what they were thinking and going through. I felt every emotion while reading this. It’s about not giving up on family, complex characters, and trauma. My favorite character in the story was, of course, Lacey’s Mom, Nicole. The love she has for her daughter is so precious. Nicole is a fighter, and she does everything it takes to protect her daughter and the family. She even risks putting her own life in danger. This is more of a fast-paced novel with strong character development! In my opinion, this one will definitely be getting a movie adaptation! It is powerful in so many ways! I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author S. T. Ashman, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be released on July 21, 2026!
June 18, 2026
I was drawn to Her Silence due to this description: She survived the night. The truth didn't. I was rewarded with a gripping, emotional, dark, chilling, tense, and mysterious plot. S.T. Ashman has written another captivating page turner which kept me turning the pages and reading into the night!
Nicole received a call that her daughter, Lacey, had been found covered in blood next to her friend's dead husband. Since that night, Lacey has not said a single word. The police and almost everyone else believe that Lacey killed the man. But her mother, Nicole, believes someone else is to blame and vows to learn what happened the night the man died and her daughter was left for dead!
This book is brimming with tension, secrets, and dread. I loved how Nicole never gave up on her daughter and always sought to find the truth. I also enjoyed the multiple POV's which kept me engaged and fully invested in this book. Another plus is that there is more to this book than meets the eye. There is a lot going on, and I was there for every second of it. I love how this book looks at relationships, trauma, and family. The characters are fully fleshed out and flawed. There are the characters who I rooted for and those that disgusted me. This book had me feel all kinds of emotions while I was reading.
Wonderfully written, well thought out, gripping and hard to put down!
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Ashman Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Nicole received a call that her daughter, Lacey, had been found covered in blood next to her friend's dead husband. Since that night, Lacey has not said a single word. The police and almost everyone else believe that Lacey killed the man. But her mother, Nicole, believes someone else is to blame and vows to learn what happened the night the man died and her daughter was left for dead!
This book is brimming with tension, secrets, and dread. I loved how Nicole never gave up on her daughter and always sought to find the truth. I also enjoyed the multiple POV's which kept me engaged and fully invested in this book. Another plus is that there is more to this book than meets the eye. There is a lot going on, and I was there for every second of it. I love how this book looks at relationships, trauma, and family. The characters are fully fleshed out and flawed. There are the characters who I rooted for and those that disgusted me. This book had me feel all kinds of emotions while I was reading.
Wonderfully written, well thought out, gripping and hard to put down!
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Ashman Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
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July 21, 2026Her Silence started off promising, and the mystery pulled me in pretty quickly, but that interest slowly faded as the story went on.
The constant POV switches made it hard for me to feel grounded in any one character, and because of that, I never really connected with anyone. Eventually, I stopped caring as much about the mystery or where the story was going.
The ending was okay, but it did not bring back the curiosity I had at the beginning. This was not a bad read, just one that never became as interesting as it first seemed like it would.
I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy slower mysteries, multiple POVs, and stories that focus more on gradually uncovering the truth than on fast pacing or strong character connection.
The constant POV switches made it hard for me to feel grounded in any one character, and because of that, I never really connected with anyone. Eventually, I stopped caring as much about the mystery or where the story was going.
The ending was okay, but it did not bring back the curiosity I had at the beginning. This was not a bad read, just one that never became as interesting as it first seemed like it would.
I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy slower mysteries, multiple POVs, and stories that focus more on gradually uncovering the truth than on fast pacing or strong character connection.
May 25, 2026
This was the perfect rainy-day-at-the-cabin read. I flew through Her Silence in just over a day because I couldn’t put it down. The story kept me engaged from the beginning, with unexpected twists woven throughout that had me constantly second-guessing what would happen next. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another surprise pulled me back in. I also found myself genuinely invested in the characters and eager to see how everything would unfold. If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers with plenty of twists and turns, this is one to add to your list.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 11, 2026
the setup…
Lacey Alderwyn is a married to Brian and they’re the harried parents of three children. Both are looking forward to getting away with their best friend Amanda and her wealthy husband Zach Nabb to their luxurious lake house. Her mother Nicole Kolter is taking care of her kids while they’re gone. Lacey picks up Zach since his office is near her job and they’ll ride together to the lake. However, Nicole gets a call at 4:00 am from the police to come to the station. Lacey was found unconscious in the woods covered in blood and with a head injury. Zach was nearby in his car, stabbed forty-four times. She’s completely traumatized…and mute. Lacey is unable to talk or do much more than stare ahead lifelessly but it doesn’t deter the police from charging her with murder. Nicole knows her daughter is innocent and begins the fight of her life to save her.
the heart of the story…
Nicole is a warrior and she’ll not let anything get in her way to get Lacey released. Meanwhile, Lacey still is silent, not uttering a word or doing anything other than existing. Nicole is up against relentless forces but never gives up and is just as formidable in her own way.
the bottom line…
This is that story that has extreme highs, lows and everything in between and I felt it all. Nicole is also that mother who fights with everything within her to protect her child no matter the odds and she was incredible. I’m so glad I listened to friends and got my hands on this book. I I went where it led without a clue how it would land, completely unprepared for that ending and emotional spent. A mother’s love has no boundaries.
(Thanks to Hambright PR and the author for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Lacey Alderwyn is a married to Brian and they’re the harried parents of three children. Both are looking forward to getting away with their best friend Amanda and her wealthy husband Zach Nabb to their luxurious lake house. Her mother Nicole Kolter is taking care of her kids while they’re gone. Lacey picks up Zach since his office is near her job and they’ll ride together to the lake. However, Nicole gets a call at 4:00 am from the police to come to the station. Lacey was found unconscious in the woods covered in blood and with a head injury. Zach was nearby in his car, stabbed forty-four times. She’s completely traumatized…and mute. Lacey is unable to talk or do much more than stare ahead lifelessly but it doesn’t deter the police from charging her with murder. Nicole knows her daughter is innocent and begins the fight of her life to save her.
the heart of the story…
Nicole is a warrior and she’ll not let anything get in her way to get Lacey released. Meanwhile, Lacey still is silent, not uttering a word or doing anything other than existing. Nicole is up against relentless forces but never gives up and is just as formidable in her own way.
the bottom line…
This is that story that has extreme highs, lows and everything in between and I felt it all. Nicole is also that mother who fights with everything within her to protect her child no matter the odds and she was incredible. I’m so glad I listened to friends and got my hands on this book. I I went where it led without a clue how it would land, completely unprepared for that ending and emotional spent. A mother’s love has no boundaries.
(Thanks to Hambright PR and the author for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
July 21, 2026
This is exactly what I am wanting when I am craving a thriller!! Unputdownable, twisty and a story that kept me guessing till the very end. 5 ⭐️!!!!
☺️ Thank you to S.T. Ashman & HambrightPR for this ALC. As always this is my honest review.
What to expect:
🧵Multiple POVs- the main character seemed to switch as the story progressed
🪡 a murder mystery but the only survivor is mute
🧵 dark family secrets
🪡 morally gray/complicated decisions
🧵smart- characters thinking 2 steps ahead, but you don’t realize it till the perfect moment
🪡 true family, found family, emotional moments, grief
🧵check triggers (hard to list without spoilers)
🌶️ 0.5/5 - one open door scene but didn’t go into too much detail
☎️ [The Blurb]:
Nicole gets a phone call in the middle of the night that her daughter Lacey was found injured in the woods near her friend’s husband dead body. He was stabbed 44 times. She is covered in blood and will survive but she is completely catatonic. She won’t talk or look at anyone- won’t show any emotion at all and definitely isn’t answering any questions about what happened.
Nicole can’t get the police to help her (there’s a backstory there) so she takes it upon herself to prove her daughter’s innocence.
💬[My Thoughts]:
Did I stay up WAYYYY TOO LATE multiple times because I could not stop reading? Yes I did!
The short chapters and the fast pace of this book was so addictive. I had to know what was going to happen!
I’ve never read a book that switched main characters, other than The Last Mrs Parrish and the Housemaid. But this one switched between three generations and felt totally unique - Lacey (the suspect and daughter), Nicole (the grandmother and matriarch) and Dylan (the grandson). There was also unexpected time jumps that left my jaw on the floor.
If you are wanting a totally bingeable thriller, that will make you want to ignore your responsibilities, snatch this one up!
📆 [Pub Date]: July 21, 2026
☺️ Thank you to S.T. Ashman & HambrightPR for this ALC. As always this is my honest review.
What to expect:
🧵Multiple POVs- the main character seemed to switch as the story progressed
🪡 a murder mystery but the only survivor is mute
🧵 dark family secrets
🪡 morally gray/complicated decisions
🧵smart- characters thinking 2 steps ahead, but you don’t realize it till the perfect moment
🪡 true family, found family, emotional moments, grief
🧵check triggers (hard to list without spoilers)
🌶️ 0.5/5 - one open door scene but didn’t go into too much detail
☎️ [The Blurb]:
Nicole gets a phone call in the middle of the night that her daughter Lacey was found injured in the woods near her friend’s husband dead body. He was stabbed 44 times. She is covered in blood and will survive but she is completely catatonic. She won’t talk or look at anyone- won’t show any emotion at all and definitely isn’t answering any questions about what happened.
Nicole can’t get the police to help her (there’s a backstory there) so she takes it upon herself to prove her daughter’s innocence.
💬[My Thoughts]:
Did I stay up WAYYYY TOO LATE multiple times because I could not stop reading? Yes I did!
The short chapters and the fast pace of this book was so addictive. I had to know what was going to happen!
I’ve never read a book that switched main characters, other than The Last Mrs Parrish and the Housemaid. But this one switched between three generations and felt totally unique - Lacey (the suspect and daughter), Nicole (the grandmother and matriarch) and Dylan (the grandson). There was also unexpected time jumps that left my jaw on the floor.
If you are wanting a totally bingeable thriller, that will make you want to ignore your responsibilities, snatch this one up!
📆 [Pub Date]: July 21, 2026
May 29, 2026
This book has so much packed into it, but I don’t want to reveal too much! Just as the synopsis says, Lacey and Brian are having marriage troubles, and decide to go away to their best friend’s lake house. They leave their three kids with Lacey’s mom, Nicole. Brian drove up alone and Lacey carpooled with Amanda’s husband, Zach.
Early the next morning, Nicole gets a call from the police. Lacey and Zach never made it to the lake house. They were found on a country road with Zach dead and Lacey with a head injury and covered in blood. They race to the hospital and soon realize there’s something wrong with Lacey. The blood isn’t hers, and she’s practically catatonic. She won’t/can’t speak, and she just stares at people with nothing in her eyes.
Eventually, she becomes the main suspect in Zach’s death. The blood covering her is his, there is no evidence of anyone else being at the scene, and the police eventually arrest her. As she sits in jail, mute, her family, friends and lawyer are all working hard to figure out what happened. So are the police, and with politics at play, Nicole is worried her daughter may never talk again, and may never step foot outside prison again.
The ending of the book was fantastic, and there is a lot more to the story than the synopsis reveals. There are a lot of characters, which normally I find tedious, but I didn’t in this story. They are all quite interesting, and necessary for that perfect ending. This covers a lot of subjects, but the main story of Lacey is very compelling and heartbreaking. I think it’s much deeper than the average mute murder mystery novel, and I really enjoyed this quick read. 4.5 stars!
(Thank you to NetGalley and S.T. Ashman for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on July 21, 2026.)
Early the next morning, Nicole gets a call from the police. Lacey and Zach never made it to the lake house. They were found on a country road with Zach dead and Lacey with a head injury and covered in blood. They race to the hospital and soon realize there’s something wrong with Lacey. The blood isn’t hers, and she’s practically catatonic. She won’t/can’t speak, and she just stares at people with nothing in her eyes.
Eventually, she becomes the main suspect in Zach’s death. The blood covering her is his, there is no evidence of anyone else being at the scene, and the police eventually arrest her. As she sits in jail, mute, her family, friends and lawyer are all working hard to figure out what happened. So are the police, and with politics at play, Nicole is worried her daughter may never talk again, and may never step foot outside prison again.
The ending of the book was fantastic, and there is a lot more to the story than the synopsis reveals. There are a lot of characters, which normally I find tedious, but I didn’t in this story. They are all quite interesting, and necessary for that perfect ending. This covers a lot of subjects, but the main story of Lacey is very compelling and heartbreaking. I think it’s much deeper than the average mute murder mystery novel, and I really enjoyed this quick read. 4.5 stars!
(Thank you to NetGalley and S.T. Ashman for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on July 21, 2026.)
July 23, 2026
SIMPLY INCREDIBLE!!!
Wow! I absolutely love thrillers, usually as audiobooks, but when I tell you this physical book captivated every inch of my attention, i finished it in 2 sittings, I couldn't put it down!
There was so much planning that went into these plot twists, the reveals. It was truely a 1 of a kind thriller.
I am definitely going to need to check out more of S.T. Ashland books, b3cause I haven't loved a thriller this much since Fredia McFadden.
The multiple timeliness and way the story played out were just masterfal!
Wow! I absolutely love thrillers, usually as audiobooks, but when I tell you this physical book captivated every inch of my attention, i finished it in 2 sittings, I couldn't put it down!
There was so much planning that went into these plot twists, the reveals. It was truely a 1 of a kind thriller.
I am definitely going to need to check out more of S.T. Ashland books, b3cause I haven't loved a thriller this much since Fredia McFadden.
The multiple timeliness and way the story played out were just masterfal!
May 28, 2026
HER SILENCE ABSOLUTELY RUINED MY SLEEP SCHEDULE (AND I LOVED EVERY SECOND) 🌲📖
Her Silence by S. T. Ashman 🔪🖤
First things first — thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and S. T. Ashman for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🖤
NOW LISTEN. This book had me acting completely feral. 😭🔪
When S. T. Ashman personally asked me to join her street team, my response was basically:
💅 say less, babe
Because after reading Her Silence??? I would rep this book from the rooftops. She immediately approved my NetGalley request, and we’ve been chatting on Instagram ever since. She is genuinely such a gem AND an absolute thriller queen 👑🖤
This was one of those “just one more chapter” situations that turns into you staring at the clock at 2 a.m. questioning all your life choices because there was NO WAY you were sleeping without answers. I finished this in three sittings because putting it down felt illegal.
And this premise??? HELLO???? 🔥
She survived the night. The truth didn’t.
Nicole gets a call at 4 a.m. Her daughter Lacey has been found in the woods beside her friend’s dead husband — stabbed forty-four times. Lacey is barely alive, covered in blood, and completely mute.
She won’t speak to police.
She won’t speak to her husband.
She won’t even speak to her mother.
Yeah. inject this directly into my veins 🫠
What made this hit so hard was the emotional layer under the chaos. Nicole isn’t just solving a murder — she’s trying to protect her daughter while unraveling secrets that get darker and darker with every chapter. The family dynamics, fear, and tension made this completely addictive.
The pacing? Insane.
No filler. No lull. Just constant escalation and paranoia. Every time I thought I had something figured out, the book basically went absolutely not and ripped the rug out anyway 💀
And the twists??? rude. disrespectful. iconic. 😭👏
If you love:
🔪 psychological thrillers
🌲 dark secrets + family drama
😳 morally messy characters
📖 bingeable fast reads
🩸 staying up way too late because you need answers
…you need this on your radar.
S. T. Ashman officially has my full attention now because WHAT do you mean I need her entire backlist immediately??? 🖤
📅 Her Silence releases July 21, 2026 — but if you’re on NetGalley, go request this ASAP. And go follow the author because she deserves ALL the hype 👏🔥
Her Silence by S. T. Ashman 🔪🖤
First things first — thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and S. T. Ashman for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🖤
NOW LISTEN. This book had me acting completely feral. 😭🔪
When S. T. Ashman personally asked me to join her street team, my response was basically:
💅 say less, babe
Because after reading Her Silence??? I would rep this book from the rooftops. She immediately approved my NetGalley request, and we’ve been chatting on Instagram ever since. She is genuinely such a gem AND an absolute thriller queen 👑🖤
This was one of those “just one more chapter” situations that turns into you staring at the clock at 2 a.m. questioning all your life choices because there was NO WAY you were sleeping without answers. I finished this in three sittings because putting it down felt illegal.
And this premise??? HELLO???? 🔥
She survived the night. The truth didn’t.
Nicole gets a call at 4 a.m. Her daughter Lacey has been found in the woods beside her friend’s dead husband — stabbed forty-four times. Lacey is barely alive, covered in blood, and completely mute.
She won’t speak to police.
She won’t speak to her husband.
She won’t even speak to her mother.
Yeah. inject this directly into my veins 🫠
What made this hit so hard was the emotional layer under the chaos. Nicole isn’t just solving a murder — she’s trying to protect her daughter while unraveling secrets that get darker and darker with every chapter. The family dynamics, fear, and tension made this completely addictive.
The pacing? Insane.
No filler. No lull. Just constant escalation and paranoia. Every time I thought I had something figured out, the book basically went absolutely not and ripped the rug out anyway 💀
And the twists??? rude. disrespectful. iconic. 😭👏
If you love:
🔪 psychological thrillers
🌲 dark secrets + family drama
😳 morally messy characters
📖 bingeable fast reads
🩸 staying up way too late because you need answers
…you need this on your radar.
S. T. Ashman officially has my full attention now because WHAT do you mean I need her entire backlist immediately??? 🖤
📅 Her Silence releases July 21, 2026 — but if you’re on NetGalley, go request this ASAP. And go follow the author because she deserves ALL the hype 👏🔥
July 21, 2026
Dear god. I have no words. I can’t even form a coherent thought. I have never felt so many emotions in a book in my life. Her Silence tore my goddamn heart out and twisted my guts in such a visceral way. With being a mother to two amazing kids, this book affected me in a way I didn’t even think possible. I sobbed, I laughed, I seethed, I felt every single emotion that Nicole felt when fighting to save her daughter. And the absolute RAGE I felt for all these awful men in this book was so immense I was literally shaking. This book.. this book PERFECTLY encapsulates the love a mother has for her child, and the love a CHILD has for their mother. I’m sorry this review is such a mess… but holy shit. Absolutely well done. Wow. I just… I loved this so fucking much. I’m not kidding when I say I’ve never felt emotions this strong after a book. S.T. Ashman, I don’t know what you did, but whatever it is, keep doing it and don’t ever stop.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for my arc of Her Silence. I will be thinking about this one for a VERY long time.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for my arc of Her Silence. I will be thinking about this one for a VERY long time.
July 24, 2026
4.5⭐️
The hype is real with this one! It’s so good! I finished it in less than 24 hours because I just could not put it down and I just needed to know all of the answers. The plot was so engrossing and addictive it instantly hooked me from page 1. I had a couple of theories but overall I wasn’t completely correct which you all know I love being proved wrong when I’m reading a thriller. The characters were awesome I absolutely loved Nicole’s character she was a BA mom and grandma. Dylan melted my heart with his love for his mother. I’ll be thinking about these characters for a minute!
This one will definitely keep you on your toes, guessing, and your head spinning! There’s nothing better than a thriller that gives you whiplash and goes 100 mph. I cannot wait to read this authors other work now! Ashman is a solid voice in the thriller genre and delivered a thriller book lovers dream with this one!
The hype is real with this one! It’s so good! I finished it in less than 24 hours because I just could not put it down and I just needed to know all of the answers. The plot was so engrossing and addictive it instantly hooked me from page 1. I had a couple of theories but overall I wasn’t completely correct which you all know I love being proved wrong when I’m reading a thriller. The characters were awesome I absolutely loved Nicole’s character she was a BA mom and grandma. Dylan melted my heart with his love for his mother. I’ll be thinking about these characters for a minute!
This one will definitely keep you on your toes, guessing, and your head spinning! There’s nothing better than a thriller that gives you whiplash and goes 100 mph. I cannot wait to read this authors other work now! Ashman is a solid voice in the thriller genre and delivered a thriller book lovers dream with this one!
July 29, 2026
Nicole gets a call early in the morning and finds out her daughter Lacey was discovered in the woods, covered in blood, next to her best friend's husband, who had been stabbed over 40 times. Lacey is so traumatized she can't speak, but the police are sure she is responsible for the attack. With Lacey in jail and the District Attorney determined to keep her there, Nicole has to find out who the real killer is.
This book is a wild thriller. I enjoyed how the story is told from different points of view and shifts between timelines. Nicole stands out as a strong main character. Even though she is surrounded by unlikeable characters, Nicole never stops fighting for her daughter’s freedom. The story made me emotional as Nicole sacrifices everything to keep her family together and find the real killer. This book had so many twists and turns that I was hooked the whole time, and it is so unique that I’m still thinking about it days later. If you like fast-paced thrillers with lots of surprises, I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to S.T. Ashman for the opportunity to review Her Silence. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is a wild thriller. I enjoyed how the story is told from different points of view and shifts between timelines. Nicole stands out as a strong main character. Even though she is surrounded by unlikeable characters, Nicole never stops fighting for her daughter’s freedom. The story made me emotional as Nicole sacrifices everything to keep her family together and find the real killer. This book had so many twists and turns that I was hooked the whole time, and it is so unique that I’m still thinking about it days later. If you like fast-paced thrillers with lots of surprises, I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to S.T. Ashman for the opportunity to review Her Silence. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 6, 2026
(Edited this review with additional thoughts once I had processed fully the last quarter of the book)
When Lacy goes away for the night with her husband, best friend and her partner tragedy strikes and Lacy is left so traumatised she is unable to speak. Nicole Lacys devoted mother is determined to find out just what happened to render her daughter mute.
This pulled me in right from the start, short chapters, fast paced it had me gripped. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what had happened to Lacy to leave her so silent and traumatised. I can totally see why it’s getting all the hype it is. I especially loved Nicole and the way she thought for her daughter.
My only gripe probably would be that the last third of the book went on a little to long and we heard from POVs that I wasn’t necessarily invested in, I feel like if the story stayed on the present day and the two main characters (Lacy and Nicole) it would of been better.
When Lacy goes away for the night with her husband, best friend and her partner tragedy strikes and Lacy is left so traumatised she is unable to speak. Nicole Lacys devoted mother is determined to find out just what happened to render her daughter mute.
This pulled me in right from the start, short chapters, fast paced it had me gripped. I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what had happened to Lacy to leave her so silent and traumatised. I can totally see why it’s getting all the hype it is. I especially loved Nicole and the way she thought for her daughter.
My only gripe probably would be that the last third of the book went on a little to long and we heard from POVs that I wasn’t necessarily invested in, I feel like if the story stayed on the present day and the two main characters (Lacy and Nicole) it would of been better.
July 10, 2026
There were lots of great moments in this book. The author did a beautiful job of capturing a mother’s love for her daughter, as well as grief. I truly felt for what this family was going through. I cannot imagine the trauma of the event, and appreciated that therapy was highlighted.
However, this family was dys.func.tio.nal. I mean, absolute whack. Whilst I understood their thought of the reasoning behind their decisions that created this family, I was left head-scratching. Ok, ok, I get that people cheat, fall in love, have affairs, yada, yada, yada, but everyone seemed relatively fine (?) with the mistress practically living in the house and all was hush hush about the affair even though everyone knew about it. Ans I just had a hard time believing that wouldn’t blow up as well as that the father’s drinking trumped this? Ok, now Dylan. I thought Dylan was a good kid overall (especially considering what he went through!), and I liked getting a glimpse into his young adulthood. However, there were some decisions he made late in the book that I really didn’t feel like he would make?
I adored Ginnny. God bless Ginny. What a faithful companion. She should get an award. I also loved the character of Nolan. A little rough around the edges, but overall a great portrait of someone just wanting to do good and what’s right.
I really, very much enjoyed the first half and especially the drama in the courtroom. I feel like we don’t see that a lot in thrillers today, and I really enjoyed that. I could have almost been happy with the book with just the first half (other than not finding out the WHO and WHY!). Overall, I enjoyed this read, but wasn’t quite what I expected.
However, this family was dys.func.tio.nal. I mean, absolute whack. Whilst I understood their thought of the reasoning behind their decisions that created this family, I was left head-scratching. Ok, ok, I get that people cheat, fall in love, have affairs, yada, yada, yada, but everyone seemed relatively fine (?) with the mistress practically living in the house and all was hush hush about the affair even though everyone knew about it. Ans I just had a hard time believing that wouldn’t blow up as well as that the father’s drinking trumped this? Ok, now Dylan. I thought Dylan was a good kid overall (especially considering what he went through!), and I liked getting a glimpse into his young adulthood. However, there were some decisions he made late in the book that I really didn’t feel like he would make?
I adored Ginnny. God bless Ginny. What a faithful companion. She should get an award. I also loved the character of Nolan. A little rough around the edges, but overall a great portrait of someone just wanting to do good and what’s right.
I really, very much enjoyed the first half and especially the drama in the courtroom. I feel like we don’t see that a lot in thrillers today, and I really enjoyed that. I could have almost been happy with the book with just the first half (other than not finding out the WHO and WHY!). Overall, I enjoyed this read, but wasn’t quite what I expected.
August 11, 2026
This book had me really hooked from the jump!! I will say the part two could have honestly been a 2nd book . I don’t feel it was technically necessary and would have left us all wondering after the part one
It was a bit weird as my name and my sisters were the names of two of the main characters lol
Overall it kept me guessing and needing to know what happened
It was a bit weird as my name and my sisters were the names of two of the main characters lol
Overall it kept me guessing and needing to know what happened
July 31, 2026
This book is a gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very first chapter !! What begins as a compelling murder mystery quickly unfolds into a deeply emotional story about family, resilience, trauma, and the lengths a mother will go to protect the people she loves. This was my first S.T. Ashman novel, and I’m already looking forward to reading more! 🤐🔪🌲🩸🖤
July 29, 2026
Her Silence is a book that you will start reading and think you have an idea where it's going. Trust me, you do not. This book is so good I finished it in half a day and the rest of the world went away until I was done. Nicole is staying with her grandkids while her daughter, Lacey and her husband, take a weekend away with friends. When Nicole's phone rings at 4 in the morning it can't be good news. Lacey has been taken to the hospital as she was found in the woods next to the dead body of her friend's husband. She was covered in blood, barely alive, and not able to speak. Her friend's husband had 44 stab wounds! Who would do that? Why was Lacey covered in blood that was his blood? The doctor tells Nicole that eventually Lacey will speak again, but the trauma of what happened is causing her not to.
The police seem to understand Lacey's trauma at first, but as time goes by there is pressure to find the killer. When they start to think Lacey was involved things take a turn. Nicole knows that Lacey would never kill someone and yet her daughter is arrested. Lacey is so traumatized that she's still not talking. Will Nicole be able to figure out what happened and get the kids their mother back? Brian, Lacey's husband, is falling apart and is no help at all. Will he be able to get it together to help Nicole with proving Lacey's innocence? The twists in this book will blow your mind and I mean that in the best possible way! Everyone should be talking about Her Silence as it's one of the best thrillers this year! I thoroughly enjoyed Her Silence and rate it 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. If you love a good thriller that is hard to solve, this is the book for you! Her Silence is out now and should not be missed! I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Her Silence in exchange for a fair review.
The police seem to understand Lacey's trauma at first, but as time goes by there is pressure to find the killer. When they start to think Lacey was involved things take a turn. Nicole knows that Lacey would never kill someone and yet her daughter is arrested. Lacey is so traumatized that she's still not talking. Will Nicole be able to figure out what happened and get the kids their mother back? Brian, Lacey's husband, is falling apart and is no help at all. Will he be able to get it together to help Nicole with proving Lacey's innocence? The twists in this book will blow your mind and I mean that in the best possible way! Everyone should be talking about Her Silence as it's one of the best thrillers this year! I thoroughly enjoyed Her Silence and rate it 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. If you love a good thriller that is hard to solve, this is the book for you! Her Silence is out now and should not be missed! I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Her Silence in exchange for a fair review.
May 19, 2026
Lacey was found in the woods beside a man stabbed forty-four times. Covered in blood. Barely alive. And since then she hasn't spoken a single word.
Everyone thinks she's a killer. But her mother knows better. Whatever happened that night didn’t just leave bodies behind… it left terror buried in the silence.
This book absolutely wrecked me. I couldn't put it down for a second. The tension, the heartbreak, the rage. Perfect.
And speaking of rage… Brian has officially joined my list of most hated book characters of all time. I can’t even explain why without spoilers, but just know that man had me SEETHING. Meanwhile, my favourite character was Ginny the doberman. Again, can't say why without spoilers, but just know she is a QUEEN.
The writing was incredible and I flew through this so fast. My heart broke for Lacey and her family (minus Brian, obviously). But Part One? DEVASTATING. I was already emotional over Ginny, then the ending of Part One came along and absolutely destroyed me. I genuinely had no idea where the story could go after that, but Part Two from Dylan’s POV still packed one hell of an emotional punch. I was a mess by the end.
Easily my favourite book by this author so far. Zero notes. Okay, one note: Brian should’ve been killed off...
Everyone thinks she's a killer. But her mother knows better. Whatever happened that night didn’t just leave bodies behind… it left terror buried in the silence.
This book absolutely wrecked me. I couldn't put it down for a second. The tension, the heartbreak, the rage. Perfect.
And speaking of rage… Brian has officially joined my list of most hated book characters of all time. I can’t even explain why without spoilers, but just know that man had me SEETHING. Meanwhile, my favourite character was Ginny the doberman. Again, can't say why without spoilers, but just know she is a QUEEN.
The writing was incredible and I flew through this so fast. My heart broke for Lacey and her family (minus Brian, obviously). But Part One? DEVASTATING. I was already emotional over Ginny, then the ending of Part One came along and absolutely destroyed me. I genuinely had no idea where the story could go after that, but Part Two from Dylan’s POV still packed one hell of an emotional punch. I was a mess by the end.
Easily my favourite book by this author so far. Zero notes. Okay, one note: Brian should’ve been killed off...
July 23, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Twists I did not see coming! Loved the multiple POVs and the suspense. It keeps you guessing and kept me reading!
Thanks to Hambright PR for this ARC.
Twists I did not see coming! Loved the multiple POVs and the suspense. It keeps you guessing and kept me reading!
Thanks to Hambright PR for this ARC.
August 13, 2026
At four am, Nicole gets the call every mother dreads. Her daughter Lacey has been found in the woods beside the body of her friend's husband. He was brutally murdered. Lacey is alive, covered in his blood and refusing to speak. Not to the police. Not to her husband. Not even to Nicole. Now Lacey is behind bars, accused of a murder Nicole knows she couldn't have committed. But if Lacey is innocent, why won't she tell anyone what happened? Nicole is determined to uncover the truth, even as her daughter's children are left behind with a father who is barely holding himself together. She knows Lacey isn't a killer. But she also knows her daughter is terrified. As Nicole begins investigating what really happened, she soon realizes some secrets aren't meant to be uncovered.
This book you guys... there is definitely a reason why you're seeing it everywhere! It's that good! From the first chapter I was hooked! A woman is found covered in blood next to a murder victim, then refuses to speak a single word?! Catnip to this thriller reader! The mystery kept me flipping pages because every new reveal made me question what I thought I knew. It's the characters and emotional depth that will absolutely wreck you! I was not prepared 😭 What really stood out to me was the way Ashman explores a mother's love. Nicole's determination to prove Lacey's innocence was heart wrenching. There truly wasn't a single thing that woman wouldn't endure for her daughter. This is so much more than a thriller. It's a heartbreaking and suspenseful read about family, unconditional love, secrets and impossible choices. If you love fast-paced psychological thrillers with plenty of tension, family secrets and an absolute emotional gut punch, Her Silence is one that you should definitely bump up on your TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley, and S.T Ashman for the eARC and thank you so much for my physical copy!
This book you guys... there is definitely a reason why you're seeing it everywhere! It's that good! From the first chapter I was hooked! A woman is found covered in blood next to a murder victim, then refuses to speak a single word?! Catnip to this thriller reader! The mystery kept me flipping pages because every new reveal made me question what I thought I knew. It's the characters and emotional depth that will absolutely wreck you! I was not prepared 😭 What really stood out to me was the way Ashman explores a mother's love. Nicole's determination to prove Lacey's innocence was heart wrenching. There truly wasn't a single thing that woman wouldn't endure for her daughter. This is so much more than a thriller. It's a heartbreaking and suspenseful read about family, unconditional love, secrets and impossible choices. If you love fast-paced psychological thrillers with plenty of tension, family secrets and an absolute emotional gut punch, Her Silence is one that you should definitely bump up on your TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley, and S.T Ashman for the eARC and thank you so much for my physical copy!
May 27, 2026
Holy cow, this book! I am officially running to read everything else this author has ever written.
This was my first read from S.T. Ashman, and I absolutely loved it! It is a gripping , fast-paced thriller that kept the tension high throughout, but it also made me feel a HUGE range of emotions, which is so rare for this genre.
Nicole receives a call in the middle of the night that her daughter Lacey is in the hospital with a head injury. She was found in the woods near a murdered man and is totally drenched in his blood. The trauma has left her unable to speak. When she’s arrested for the murder, Nicole has to fight with everything in her to get justice for Lacey before it’s too late.
The mystery goes DEEP, and I completely lost myself in it. You will be constantly guessing because everyone has a secret, and the one person who knows what happened that night isn't talking.
A huge thank you to the author for reaching out to me with the opportunity to read Her Silence, because this was such an amazing book and right up my alley. Additional thanks goes to Victory Editing via NetGalley for providing the ARC.
Trust me: do NOT sleep on this thriller!
This was my first read from S.T. Ashman, and I absolutely loved it! It is a gripping , fast-paced thriller that kept the tension high throughout, but it also made me feel a HUGE range of emotions, which is so rare for this genre.
Nicole receives a call in the middle of the night that her daughter Lacey is in the hospital with a head injury. She was found in the woods near a murdered man and is totally drenched in his blood. The trauma has left her unable to speak. When she’s arrested for the murder, Nicole has to fight with everything in her to get justice for Lacey before it’s too late.
The mystery goes DEEP, and I completely lost myself in it. You will be constantly guessing because everyone has a secret, and the one person who knows what happened that night isn't talking.
A huge thank you to the author for reaching out to me with the opportunity to read Her Silence, because this was such an amazing book and right up my alley. Additional thanks goes to Victory Editing via NetGalley for providing the ARC.
Trust me: do NOT sleep on this thriller!
July 8, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I genuinely could not put this book down.
I stayed up half the night reading, told myself I would continue the next day, and then proceeded to absolutely devour the rest of it. The kind of book where you keep saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly there are no chapters left.
There is one character in this book that I feel such a strong, visceral hatred for that I almost need to send the author my therapy bill. And for a while there… this story genuinely hurt to read. I was upset. I was stressed. I hated it. Complimentarily, of course.
At the same time, some of the other characters completely found their way into my heart, which only made the emotional damage worse.
I do have a few questions about the ending. Or perhaps I should say… about her silence. But no spoilers here 🤫
4.5 ⭐️
I genuinely could not put this book down.
I stayed up half the night reading, told myself I would continue the next day, and then proceeded to absolutely devour the rest of it. The kind of book where you keep saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly there are no chapters left.
There is one character in this book that I feel such a strong, visceral hatred for that I almost need to send the author my therapy bill. And for a while there… this story genuinely hurt to read. I was upset. I was stressed. I hated it. Complimentarily, of course.
At the same time, some of the other characters completely found their way into my heart, which only made the emotional damage worse.
I do have a few questions about the ending. Or perhaps I should say… about her silence. But no spoilers here 🤫
4.5 ⭐️
August 7, 2026
Thank you to Hambright PR for the ARC!
Nicole gets a terrifying call in the middle of the night when her daughter Lacey is found barely alive in the woods beside her friend's husband, who has been brutally murdered. Lacey is covered in his blood, but she isn't saying a word about what happened! As Lacey sits in jail and her three children are left behind, Nicole knows her daughter isn't capable of murder and becomes determined to figure out what really happened that night.
This one grabbed me from the very beginning! I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and the focus on the mother/daughter and mother/son relationships. I truly had NO idea what was going on, and I mean that in the best way🤣 I was constantly trying to figure out why Lacey wasn't talking and what exactly happened that night. Every time I thought I had an idea, something else came up and made me question everything again. This had me hanging onto every single page, and at some points, almost brought a tear to my eye too.
This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
❓Do you love a thriller that keeps you guessing?
.
.
.
#HerSilence #STAshman #ThrillerBooks #PsychologicalThriller #Bookstagram
psychological thriller, thriller book review, twisty thriller, suspense thriller, family secrets, mother daughter relationship, mystery books, must read thriller
Nicole gets a terrifying call in the middle of the night when her daughter Lacey is found barely alive in the woods beside her friend's husband, who has been brutally murdered. Lacey is covered in his blood, but she isn't saying a word about what happened! As Lacey sits in jail and her three children are left behind, Nicole knows her daughter isn't capable of murder and becomes determined to figure out what really happened that night.
This one grabbed me from the very beginning! I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and the focus on the mother/daughter and mother/son relationships. I truly had NO idea what was going on, and I mean that in the best way🤣 I was constantly trying to figure out why Lacey wasn't talking and what exactly happened that night. Every time I thought I had an idea, something else came up and made me question everything again. This had me hanging onto every single page, and at some points, almost brought a tear to my eye too.
This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
❓Do you love a thriller that keeps you guessing?
.
.
.
#HerSilence #STAshman #ThrillerBooks #PsychologicalThriller #Bookstagram
psychological thriller, thriller book review, twisty thriller, suspense thriller, family secrets, mother daughter relationship, mystery books, must read thriller
June 2, 2026
Fast-paced, easy read, with good writing. I think this book shows a lot of potential. The cast of characters was good. Some a lot more interesting than others, though. I really think Part 1 is the best part of the book. Lots of movement; each chapter is more dramatic; it was great. I like the narrative switches; it didn’t pull me out and let the story continue to develop with different faces.
Now the cons. The story really fell apart in Part 2. I think Nicole was the strongest POV by far, and it wasn’t really close. The convoluted ending was lame. I liked what we were going for; I just don’t think it landed. Part 1 was so good I could’ve just left it there even with no real ending.
I normally do not post reviews this in depth or even care to. But I think this author has a bright future, and this book is a great place to start. Please do not take 3 stars as a sign to not read this book. READ THIS BOOK. Especially if you love thrillers. 5/10
Now the cons. The story really fell apart in Part 2. I think Nicole was the strongest POV by far, and it wasn’t really close. The convoluted ending was lame. I liked what we were going for; I just don’t think it landed. Part 1 was so good I could’ve just left it there even with no real ending.
I normally do not post reviews this in depth or even care to. But I think this author has a bright future, and this book is a great place to start. Please do not take 3 stars as a sign to not read this book. READ THIS BOOK. Especially if you love thrillers. 5/10
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