What do you think?
Rate this book
Silent
Down-on-his-luck movie actor Rick Mason meets Betsy Bellamy, a young actress struggling to make it in Hollywood. She is accompanied by her older brother Davey, a sullen, insular man fiercely protective of his sister. But Betsy and Davey share a dark past which they’re hoping to escape by making a new life in California. A past that will have tragic, murderous consequences.
But for now Rick Mason’s life is about to change beyond his wildest imaginings. He lands a lucrative contract with Metropolitan Studios, who want to cast him as the lead in their new horror movie. And out of the blue a Hungarian lawyer lands the bombshell that Rick Mason isn’t who he thinks he is.
Mason discovers he’s inherited an estate and huge fortune from his late father Baron Jozsef Dragutin and has to travel to Slavonia in Europe to sort out legalities. Here he is told the disturbing truth about his murdered mother and feared father – a corrupt and vile sadist hiding his horribly deformed face behind a white porcelain mask. A man, legend has it, who sold his soul to the devil. A man and a family line cursed by Satan for all eternity.
Back in Hollywood, reviving his father’s evil character for Metropolitan Studios, Rick Mason finally gets the movie success he desires and the fame and fortune that go with it. But when elements of his on-screen monster persona begins to affect his real life, Mason begins to fear that the role he was ‘born to play’ is slowly taking over him. That the curse of Baron Dragutin lives on in him.
Rick Mason is drawn inexorably into a world of corrupt desires, superstition, corporate greed, unbridled ambition and murder, where the past refuses to die. It’s a world where monsters and horror don’t only appear on the big screen.
But for now Rick Mason’s life is about to change beyond his wildest imaginings. He lands a lucrative contract with Metropolitan Studios, who want to cast him as the lead in their new horror movie. And out of the blue a Hungarian lawyer lands the bombshell that Rick Mason isn’t who he thinks he is.
Mason discovers he’s inherited an estate and huge fortune from his late father Baron Jozsef Dragutin and has to travel to Slavonia in Europe to sort out legalities. Here he is told the disturbing truth about his murdered mother and feared father – a corrupt and vile sadist hiding his horribly deformed face behind a white porcelain mask. A man, legend has it, who sold his soul to the devil. A man and a family line cursed by Satan for all eternity.
Back in Hollywood, reviving his father’s evil character for Metropolitan Studios, Rick Mason finally gets the movie success he desires and the fame and fortune that go with it. But when elements of his on-screen monster persona begins to affect his real life, Mason begins to fear that the role he was ‘born to play’ is slowly taking over him. That the curse of Baron Dragutin lives on in him.
Rick Mason is drawn inexorably into a world of corrupt desires, superstition, corporate greed, unbridled ambition and murder, where the past refuses to die. It’s a world where monsters and horror don’t only appear on the big screen.
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
111 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
D.M. Mitchell
23 books52 followersD. M. Mitchell has been compared to Ruth Rendell, Martina Cole, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Linwood Barclay, Dickens and even the Bronte sisters! This wide array of writing styles is appropriate - though Mitchell is known for his psychological thrillers, he is determined that each of them will be different, so they might be set in different eras, may be straightforward thrillers or have a supernatural or horror twist, and he avoids like the plague the standard and unimaginative serial killer format! You'll find he uses different styles of writing to suit different types of books - it also keeps him from getting bored...
D. M. Mitchell was born into a small mining community in Yorkshire, England. His career advisor said he had two options - go down the mines or become a policeman. Being scared of the dark and never having much meat on his bones, he declined both and in his early years bounced like a pinball from job to job - warehouses, cinema projectionist, market trader, salesman - you get the picture. He sort of made a success of himself and now lives in a money-pit of a cottage in a tiny village in the cream tea heart of the South West of England.
His first remembered attempt at pushing the boundaries of creative writing was during a school lesson at the age of nine. Titled simply 'Rain' his proud masterpiece began with 'It started to rain' then there followed eight pages of nothing but the words 'pitter-patter', concluding with 'and then it stopped'. It was handed over and duly reviewed by his brick wall of a teacher, whose eyebrows flickered up and down ominously, his cheeks flushing bright red, before declaring it total rubbish. He tore it up into ribbons, showered him with his first, and no doubt only tickertape ceremony, and gave him a meaty slap around the head (they could do that sort of thing in 1967). He made him write 'I will not write stupid things for eight pages' for eight pages. Thus he learnt a number of valuable early lessons - the meaning of irony, writing is very subjective, everyone's a critic, and no-one likes a smart-arse.
He persevered, his first novel appearing in 1986 and disappearing into the attic the same year. It's still up there. Many manuscripts later he used to save the piles of rejection slips to paper his bare walls. So the adage is, keep at it, in these times of economic depression you'll soon have the house fully redecorated. Nowadays, writing is the one thing he feels totally comfortable with, except perhaps for a cup of Horlicks on a cold winter's night when the rain goes pitter-patter against the window panes (there it is again...).
Characterisation is an important and noticeable aspect of all Mitchell's novels. It allows him to be whoever he wants to be when he gets fed up of being himself, which is quite often. So too is a sense of mystery and the exploration of the darker side to humanity. There are always strong elements of a complex puzzle to be solved in a D M Mitchell novel, many disparate parts ultimately coming together, tragedy and comedy sitting side by side. As in life, nothing is as it first seems. He takes a keen interest in history, a thread which runs through his writing, whether it's the 1960s or 1970s, as in 'Max' and 'Pressure Cooker', or the Victorian 1880s, as in 'The House of the Wicked'.
His favourite novelists include Barry Unsworth, Thomas Hardy, John Steinbeck and Graham Swift. Top two favourite historical books: Culloden, by John Prebble and The Face of Battle by John Keegan. He also collects first edition novels and takes a keen interest in anything old, tatty and in need of love and restoration. His wife says he needs to get out more.
He has three grown children and also enjoys photography, painting and walking the Blackdown Hills with his wife and an overly excitable Border Terrier - or is that an overly-excitable wife and a Border Terrier... One of the two.
He'd like to thank his growing legion of fans for allowing him to practice being
D. M. Mitchell was born into a small mining community in Yorkshire, England. His career advisor said he had two options - go down the mines or become a policeman. Being scared of the dark and never having much meat on his bones, he declined both and in his early years bounced like a pinball from job to job - warehouses, cinema projectionist, market trader, salesman - you get the picture. He sort of made a success of himself and now lives in a money-pit of a cottage in a tiny village in the cream tea heart of the South West of England.
His first remembered attempt at pushing the boundaries of creative writing was during a school lesson at the age of nine. Titled simply 'Rain' his proud masterpiece began with 'It started to rain' then there followed eight pages of nothing but the words 'pitter-patter', concluding with 'and then it stopped'. It was handed over and duly reviewed by his brick wall of a teacher, whose eyebrows flickered up and down ominously, his cheeks flushing bright red, before declaring it total rubbish. He tore it up into ribbons, showered him with his first, and no doubt only tickertape ceremony, and gave him a meaty slap around the head (they could do that sort of thing in 1967). He made him write 'I will not write stupid things for eight pages' for eight pages. Thus he learnt a number of valuable early lessons - the meaning of irony, writing is very subjective, everyone's a critic, and no-one likes a smart-arse.
He persevered, his first novel appearing in 1986 and disappearing into the attic the same year. It's still up there. Many manuscripts later he used to save the piles of rejection slips to paper his bare walls. So the adage is, keep at it, in these times of economic depression you'll soon have the house fully redecorated. Nowadays, writing is the one thing he feels totally comfortable with, except perhaps for a cup of Horlicks on a cold winter's night when the rain goes pitter-patter against the window panes (there it is again...).
Characterisation is an important and noticeable aspect of all Mitchell's novels. It allows him to be whoever he wants to be when he gets fed up of being himself, which is quite often. So too is a sense of mystery and the exploration of the darker side to humanity. There are always strong elements of a complex puzzle to be solved in a D M Mitchell novel, many disparate parts ultimately coming together, tragedy and comedy sitting side by side. As in life, nothing is as it first seems. He takes a keen interest in history, a thread which runs through his writing, whether it's the 1960s or 1970s, as in 'Max' and 'Pressure Cooker', or the Victorian 1880s, as in 'The House of the Wicked'.
His favourite novelists include Barry Unsworth, Thomas Hardy, John Steinbeck and Graham Swift. Top two favourite historical books: Culloden, by John Prebble and The Face of Battle by John Keegan. He also collects first edition novels and takes a keen interest in anything old, tatty and in need of love and restoration. His wife says he needs to get out more.
He has three grown children and also enjoys photography, painting and walking the Blackdown Hills with his wife and an overly excitable Border Terrier - or is that an overly-excitable wife and a Border Terrier... One of the two.
He'd like to thank his growing legion of fans for allowing him to practice being
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 17, 2019
Seem less storyline
It's been a while since I've had a good wow face slap by such an engrossing story. I did not expect any of what happened and it kept me engrossed from page 1, right till the end.
It's been a while since I've had a good wow face slap by such an engrossing story. I did not expect any of what happened and it kept me engrossed from page 1, right till the end.
June 20, 2013
THIS BOOK SUCKED! I tried giving it the benefit of the doubt. This was a mystery/thriller that was recommended according to previous books I have read. It started off slow, then when Rick proclaims his love for Betsy after knowing her a few days, I realized CHEESEY! It was torture reading the book but I was determined to make it to the end, perhaps hoping that it would get better. It was agony and I finally had to skim through the last chapter to spare myself any more torture. Do not read, even if it is the last book you had on a deserted island, burn it instead!
May 11, 2016
Great Story!
I thought the plot had some interesting twists and turns, and who the bad guy at the end turned out to be was a real surprise! My only disappointment was the abrupt ending.
I thought the plot had some interesting twists and turns, and who the bad guy at the end turned out to be was a real surprise! My only disappointment was the abrupt ending.
March 21, 2013
Reads like a soap opera, the ending had an unexpected twist but it was below average at best. Most likely I'll not read another D.M. Mitchell novel.
January 26, 2020
Silent
Keeps you wondering all through the book.But the end leaves you with no end.you have to buy the sequel to really be able to finish it.Not my cup of tea
Keeps you wondering all through the book.But the end leaves you with no end.you have to buy the sequel to really be able to finish it.Not my cup of tea
September 12, 2020
A good thriller
The storyline is around the time motion pictures were taking to the screen. Two budding actors met and fell in love. The main and women were penniless until he was approached by an attorney. Apparently he was the lost son of a rich Hungarian Baron, a ruthless man who terrorized Slovenians. He had to go to his father's creepy castle to legitimate the will. He took his new girlfriend and her brother with him. Many twists and turns in this medical thriller. A page turner for sure. The two marry make a film but troubles developed and you will never guess the ending.
The storyline is around the time motion pictures were taking to the screen. Two budding actors met and fell in love. The main and women were penniless until he was approached by an attorney. Apparently he was the lost son of a rich Hungarian Baron, a ruthless man who terrorized Slovenians. He had to go to his father's creepy castle to legitimate the will. He took his new girlfriend and her brother with him. Many twists and turns in this medical thriller. A page turner for sure. The two marry make a film but troubles developed and you will never guess the ending.
September 29, 2025
After reading Mouse, I wasn’t sure what to expect out of Silent, because D.M. Mitchell seems to be full of surprises. But this was such a fun and entertaining story that I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it. It has a gothic horror flavor that helps to create an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue. The novel is set in 1927’s Hollywood, with a slight detour when the protagonist, Rick Mason, inherits a mysterious Slavonian castle, and a curse, not long after the story begins, expertly piquing the reader’s curiosity and setting the mysterious gothic tone for the rest of the book.
Read my full review on my blog: https://writingtoberead.com/2025/06/2...
Read my full review on my blog: https://writingtoberead.com/2025/06/2...
October 11, 2023
characters and plot captivating.
I really enjoyed how the characters were portrayed. The storyline was in the beginning was interesting however the ending was unexpected and to me it seemed rushed in order to end the story.
I really enjoyed how the characters were portrayed. The storyline was in the beginning was interesting however the ending was unexpected and to me it seemed rushed in order to end the story.
April 27, 2022
Basic read
It was a nice book to read. It was not special in how it was written. Not good, but not bad.
It was a nice book to read. It was not special in how it was written. Not good, but not bad.
Read
March 11, 2017Excellent book. Creepy.
December 6, 2014
This is the first novel by D. M. Mitchell that I have read. When looking for new authors we sometimes find more bad than good, but with this one I found a winner. The plot was great, with many twists and turns. I did not see the end coming and I usually do. What a shock it was and it was done well. I am surprised to see that other reviewers have not given away the end. To me that is a testament to a book well written, as everyone else wants a new reader to be as surprised as they were. There were a few typos and grammatical errors but not enough to be too distracting. Quite a few reviewers complained about the overuse of "whilst" but to me it wasn't a major issue.
I almost didn't read this one but I'm so glad I did, the characters, the plot and the time period all work very well together. I am hoping for the suggested sequel soon.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great mystery/psychological thriller. You won't be disappointed. I have already looked at different books by this author.
I almost didn't read this one but I'm so glad I did, the characters, the plot and the time period all work very well together. I am hoping for the suggested sequel soon.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a great mystery/psychological thriller. You won't be disappointed. I have already looked at different books by this author.
June 11, 2014
A somewhat unusual but very enjoyable story. had the feel of early twentieth century Hollywood about it. In that way it felt very familiar. All the main characters were interesting and for most of the novel behaved how they should do. the twin settings of 'Holywood' and Hungary were similarly very familiar. Much of the plot was seemed predictable and yet managed to shock and surprise when needed. The ending was a little hurried but other than that can not be faulted. Did what a thriller should comfortably and skilfully, I shall be reading more by D. M. Mitchell
November 27, 2014
Great!!
I have read several of Mr. Mitchell's novels! I enjoyed them all ! This one ,I absolutely loved! I was mesmerized by the characters and the curse! Have always prided myself in being able to figure things out, but not this time! I was so caught up by the curse and it's development that I never suspected what was coming! Couldn't put it down! A must read! Can't wait for the promised sequel! Think I will busy myself with more DM Mitchell's works until the sequel is finished! Bravo and keep up the great works!
I have read several of Mr. Mitchell's novels! I enjoyed them all ! This one ,I absolutely loved! I was mesmerized by the characters and the curse! Have always prided myself in being able to figure things out, but not this time! I was so caught up by the curse and it's development that I never suspected what was coming! Couldn't put it down! A must read! Can't wait for the promised sequel! Think I will busy myself with more DM Mitchell's works until the sequel is finished! Bravo and keep up the great works!
July 16, 2016
What a worse way to start your day. Actor Rick Mason receives a letter telling him that the studio is firing him and later on, when he arrived home he found his things on the street. He had been evicted. Sitting on his doorstep a woman approaches him, Betsy, who takes pity on him and invites him to sleep on her couch, where she lives with her brother. Some days later, a lawyer finds him urging him to go to a Slovania to get an inheritance. He finds out that his real father was Baron Dragutin, a cruel and hated man and he was his only son. Obviously, his life would change forever.
December 11, 2014
Not bad...
Story for the most part kept me wanting more. Some parts were slow and pondering, but again kept me interested. Gave only three stars as there were many typos/errors and because I do not appreciate an ending that REQUIRES me to purchase the sequel. The author should trust not only me, but his own ability as a story teller knowing I will WANT to move on to the sequel. Frustrating.
Story for the most part kept me wanting more. Some parts were slow and pondering, but again kept me interested. Gave only three stars as there were many typos/errors and because I do not appreciate an ending that REQUIRES me to purchase the sequel. The author should trust not only me, but his own ability as a story teller knowing I will WANT to move on to the sequel. Frustrating.
July 15, 2015
Thriller indeed, but I don't like open endings.
This could have been a five star book. All the makings were there for an intriguing and suspenseful thriller, and then it happened. Right on the last page those words that let you know you have been duped. The ones that suggest you buy the sequel to continue the story. Man how I hate that. If it's going to be a series then just say so, grrrrr.
This could have been a five star book. All the makings were there for an intriguing and suspenseful thriller, and then it happened. Right on the last page those words that let you know you have been duped. The ones that suggest you buy the sequel to continue the story. Man how I hate that. If it's going to be a series then just say so, grrrrr.
August 8, 2014
Great twists and characters.
Great twists and characters.
I wasn't certain I would really enjoy this book but first the characters grabbed me. The story built quickly with twists and turns. The ending twisted again and left the perfect opening for The Devil Rises. I look forward to reading that.
Great twists and characters.
I wasn't certain I would really enjoy this book but first the characters grabbed me. The story built quickly with twists and turns. The ending twisted again and left the perfect opening for The Devil Rises. I look forward to reading that.
March 29, 2018
A very suspenseful novel. I wasn't sure if I would finish the book but not knowing the unexpected ending kept me going. I really didn't like the book ending in a sequel.
I really didn't like the book ending in a sequel. I found the story exciting and it kept my interest. I usually do not like novels mischievous. Can't wait for the sequel.
I really didn't like the book ending in a sequel. I found the story exciting and it kept my interest. I usually do not like novels mischievous. Can't wait for the sequel.
December 9, 2015
At first I wasn't sure i would even finish this book. But thanks to a few twists in the story as I got deeper into the book, I couldn't put it down. I had to find out what was really happening. Although the ending was not as predictable as I'd thought it would be, I was severely disappointed when it ended in series fashion. Arrgh!!!!
December 16, 2013
I enjoyed this book very much. It rivals anything Stephen King has ever written. The thing I liked most about the novel was the totally unexpected ending. I would have never predicted it at all. if you like Stephen kIng, then try this author.
June 16, 2014
Twist ending
Twist ending
I liked this book because it wasn't predictable. I was not able top tell how the story would go before reading it like some other books. good read.
Twist ending
I liked this book because it wasn't predictable. I was not able top tell how the story would go before reading it like some other books. good read.
March 29, 2015
It was really............good.
It had everything in a good psychological thriller, mystery..etc.,book. It hooked me right from the beginning.
I hated to put it down. So it took me 2 days to finish.
I know I will read it again.
It had everything in a good psychological thriller, mystery..etc.,book. It hooked me right from the beginning.
I hated to put it down. So it took me 2 days to finish.
I know I will read it again.
May 1, 2015
An enjoyable Hammer House inspired Gothic thriller with a 30s noir climax.
Admittedly it was a mishmash of many a Bela Lugosi and James Cagney cliche but somehow it all pulls together to provide a few hours of uncomplicated entertainment.
Admittedly it was a mishmash of many a Bela Lugosi and James Cagney cliche but somehow it all pulls together to provide a few hours of uncomplicated entertainment.
July 30, 2015
Didn't see it coming!
Great psychological thriller!! Twists and turns all the way and still got surprised by the end! Will definitely read the sequel! Great read. Needs a little help in the proof-reading department though.
Great psychological thriller!! Twists and turns all the way and still got surprised by the end! Will definitely read the sequel! Great read. Needs a little help in the proof-reading department though.
May 1, 2013
fun read. wasn't sure where it was going
February 9, 2016
This book did not keep me wanting to read on. But I did eventually like it in the end.
June 23, 2013
Interesting premise. Some parts tough to slog through.
September 8, 2013
ending was abrupt....interesting period setting though.
March 8, 2014
I enjoyed this book because it was so unusual but it was still something of a disappointment based on the description of the story and number of stars already given.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews