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Silencio
Mercedes returns home empty: with empty arms, empty womb, and empty of emotion. There is nothing left. The tears are spent.
The midwife carries 16 year-old Mercedes’ son from a delivery room and that is the last time that she sees him alive. His first cries haunt her but her family refuse to acknowledge the possibility that her child still lives. Their silence represses her young spirit.
Ten years later, a woman named Carmen contacts Mercedes, now a journalist, with stories of newborns who have disappeared in mysterious circumstances similar to her own. When Mercedes embarks on an investigation into baby trafficking, she must fight powerful enemies to reveal the truth – so powerful, in fact, that her own life is at risk.
Using her expertise, she unmasks a baby-trafficking network that has spanned decades and moved thousands of children out of Spain. She antagonises key figures when she unearths conspiracies arising from the bloody periods of Spain’s modern history, exposing a criminal underworld hiding in the government, health services and church.
Mercedes becomes their target as they seek to silence her exposé – and her life, and the lives of her loved ones, come under perilous threat...
The midwife carries 16 year-old Mercedes’ son from a delivery room and that is the last time that she sees him alive. His first cries haunt her but her family refuse to acknowledge the possibility that her child still lives. Their silence represses her young spirit.
Ten years later, a woman named Carmen contacts Mercedes, now a journalist, with stories of newborns who have disappeared in mysterious circumstances similar to her own. When Mercedes embarks on an investigation into baby trafficking, she must fight powerful enemies to reveal the truth – so powerful, in fact, that her own life is at risk.
Using her expertise, she unmasks a baby-trafficking network that has spanned decades and moved thousands of children out of Spain. She antagonises key figures when she unearths conspiracies arising from the bloody periods of Spain’s modern history, exposing a criminal underworld hiding in the government, health services and church.
Mercedes becomes their target as they seek to silence her exposé – and her life, and the lives of her loved ones, come under perilous threat...
300 pages, Paperback
Published July 28, 2016
69 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Berry
1 book14 followersSilencio is L A Berry's first novel. Her second novel, currently titled 'A Life on the Line' should be ready for publication late 2016.
She is an alumna of the Faber Academy and writes short stories, flash fiction, and poetry for pleasure. Character development and human relationships particularly interest her.
Her career as a nurse/midwife in the NHS ended in the late 1990's when she joined the ARC transatlantic sailing rally for cruising yachts. After 2 years on the boat, she returned to live in England and now has a home in Spain. Her hobbies include travelling (particularly throughout Spain), dancing, zumba, writing and reading.
She is an alumna of the Faber Academy and writes short stories, flash fiction, and poetry for pleasure. Character development and human relationships particularly interest her.
Her career as a nurse/midwife in the NHS ended in the late 1990's when she joined the ARC transatlantic sailing rally for cruising yachts. After 2 years on the boat, she returned to live in England and now has a home in Spain. Her hobbies include travelling (particularly throughout Spain), dancing, zumba, writing and reading.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 19, 2016
I really enjoyed "Silencio", so well crafted for a debut novel . The author has successfully plotted her tale around the historical facts surrounding baby trafficking in Spain. It has left me wanting to find out more about this horrendous trade not only in Spain but world wide.
LA Berry's new novel will confront an entirely different scenario and I look forward to its publication.
LA Berry's new novel will confront an entirely different scenario and I look forward to its publication.
March 18, 2016
I received a free advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Netgalley!
This was fundamentally a fascinating book. I had no idea that there really was a stolen baby epidemic in Spain, but from what I know about Franco's regime, it doesn't surprise me. I liked a lot of things about this book, but I wanted to to be much longer. It moved so quickly and had so many jumps in time that I had a little trouble following it at first. I'd also like to know the plausibility of part of the story in that people tried to harm Mercedes and her loved ones. In my limited research I haven't found evidence that things like this happened, but they may have and I just don't know. If things like this didn't happen, I raise my eyebrows a little because it sensationalizes an already sensational story and I don't think that's really needed. Overall I thought it was a really promising debut and I enjoyed it, but I wanted more.
This was fundamentally a fascinating book. I had no idea that there really was a stolen baby epidemic in Spain, but from what I know about Franco's regime, it doesn't surprise me. I liked a lot of things about this book, but I wanted to to be much longer. It moved so quickly and had so many jumps in time that I had a little trouble following it at first. I'd also like to know the plausibility of part of the story in that people tried to harm Mercedes and her loved ones. In my limited research I haven't found evidence that things like this happened, but they may have and I just don't know. If things like this didn't happen, I raise my eyebrows a little because it sensationalizes an already sensational story and I don't think that's really needed. Overall I thought it was a really promising debut and I enjoyed it, but I wanted more.
March 22, 2016
I received this from NetGally, I typically have low expectations from NetGally but this book impressed me. A very good story which obviously had Lot of research done to make it accurate. I would have liked to see more character development and less murder mystery but overall I thought this was a very well done story
March 13, 2016
Silencio has to be one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is a gripping thriller which I could not put down! It is well-researched and L.A Berry manages to depict the horrific events surrounding Spain's 'stolen babies' through the characters and plot of the story.
Silencio is a must-read and highly recommended. 5 stars!
Silencio is a must-read and highly recommended. 5 stars!
April 2, 2016
I normally find novels based on fact enthralling. Silencio is no exception, and is a cleverly written story.
I live in Spain and am aware the abduction of babies both during (and since) the Civil War is currently a debate here, just as historic child abuse has been a live issue in Britain in the last few years. This adds to the appeal of this excellent novel and makes it deserving the attention of a wide audience.
Atrocities against children in the UK have been covered up by the Establishment, the Church, the Police, and sometimes the Media. What happened to Mercedes sounds very like what has been revealed in the UK in recent years, which meant she was fighting powerful and ruthless adversaries.
Despite setbacks, Mercedes perseveres in her quest, which makes this novel an emotional and moving read. A couple of times I thought it lacked pace, but this minor criticism was more than compensated by the quality of the writing and the depth and development of the storyline.
An absorbing first novel and I look forward to a second book by this talented author.
I live in Spain and am aware the abduction of babies both during (and since) the Civil War is currently a debate here, just as historic child abuse has been a live issue in Britain in the last few years. This adds to the appeal of this excellent novel and makes it deserving the attention of a wide audience.
Atrocities against children in the UK have been covered up by the Establishment, the Church, the Police, and sometimes the Media. What happened to Mercedes sounds very like what has been revealed in the UK in recent years, which meant she was fighting powerful and ruthless adversaries.
Despite setbacks, Mercedes perseveres in her quest, which makes this novel an emotional and moving read. A couple of times I thought it lacked pace, but this minor criticism was more than compensated by the quality of the writing and the depth and development of the storyline.
An absorbing first novel and I look forward to a second book by this talented author.
April 29, 2016
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the suspenseful way the author crafted this story. I could tell that much thought and research was put into this book. My only gripe is the passing of time was a little confusing at times. It took a few paragraphs to get an idea of how much time had passed. I thought the pacing was okay and complimented the writing style and storyline. I think this book is worth the read, though the topic is heartbreaking.
I liked the suspenseful way the author crafted this story. I could tell that much thought and research was put into this book. My only gripe is the passing of time was a little confusing at times. It took a few paragraphs to get an idea of how much time had passed. I thought the pacing was okay and complimented the writing style and storyline. I think this book is worth the read, though the topic is heartbreaking.
March 20, 2016
Excellent read - very moving story
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews