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Silent Victim
Emma’s darkest secrets are buried in the past. But the truth can’t stay hidden for long.
Emma is a loving wife, a devoted mother…and an involuntary killer. For years she’s been hiding the dead body of the teacher who seduced her as a teen.
It’s a secret that might have stayed buried if only her life had been less perfect. A promotion for Emma’s husband, Alex, means they can finally move to a bigger home with their young son. But with a buyer lined up for their old house, Emma can’t leave without destroying every last trace of her final revenge…
Returning to the shallow grave in the garden, she finds it empty. The body is gone.
Panicked, Emma confesses to her husband. But this is only the beginning. Soon, Alex will discover things about her he’ll wish he’d learned sooner. And others he’ll long to forget.
Emma is a loving wife, a devoted mother…and an involuntary killer. For years she’s been hiding the dead body of the teacher who seduced her as a teen.
It’s a secret that might have stayed buried if only her life had been less perfect. A promotion for Emma’s husband, Alex, means they can finally move to a bigger home with their young son. But with a buyer lined up for their old house, Emma can’t leave without destroying every last trace of her final revenge…
Returning to the shallow grave in the garden, she finds it empty. The body is gone.
Panicked, Emma confesses to her husband. But this is only the beginning. Soon, Alex will discover things about her he’ll wish he’d learned sooner. And others he’ll long to forget.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2018
9720 people are currently reading
14942 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Mitchell
41 books2,165 followersNew York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and International #1 Bestselling Author. Shortlisted by the International Thriller Awards for best ebook 2017 and the Killer Nashville Best Police Procedural 2018.
** See all my books in order here: https://caroline-writes.com/books **
**Join my writing course here: https://www.caroline-mitchell.com **
Now available:
Amy Winter thriller series: https://geni.us/AmySeries
Slayton thriller series: https://geni.us/Slaytonseries
Jennifer Knight thriller series: https://geni.us/JKSeries
The Islanders psych thriller: https://geni.us/TheIslandersCM
The Village psych thriller: https://geni.us/thevillage
** See all my books in order here: https://caroline-writes.com/books **
**Join my writing course here: https://www.caroline-mitchell.com **
Now available:
Amy Winter thriller series: https://geni.us/AmySeries
Slayton thriller series: https://geni.us/Slaytonseries
Jennifer Knight thriller series: https://geni.us/JKSeries
The Islanders psych thriller: https://geni.us/TheIslandersCM
The Village psych thriller: https://geni.us/thevillage
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,899 reviews
October 21, 2017
This stand alone novel by Caroline Mitchell is a great read. I started the book very shortly after receiving it and due to the suspense built up by the author was unable to put it down.
Emma loves her husband Alex and together with her son they are moving to a new home in Leeds. But Emma has a dark secret, for a number of years she’s been hiding the dead body of Luke, the teacher who seduced her as a teen.
The book is written from the perspective of Emma, then and now, her husband Alex and Luke at the time when he was Emma's teacher. I don't want to give too much away but this psychological novel is top drawer and is a must for all suspense readers. Very good characters and a plot that is excellently paced. Even though the story is told from different characters and time frames the story was easy to follow and was a great read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Emma loves her husband Alex and together with her son they are moving to a new home in Leeds. But Emma has a dark secret, for a number of years she’s been hiding the dead body of Luke, the teacher who seduced her as a teen.
The book is written from the perspective of Emma, then and now, her husband Alex and Luke at the time when he was Emma's teacher. I don't want to give too much away but this psychological novel is top drawer and is a must for all suspense readers. Very good characters and a plot that is excellently paced. Even though the story is told from different characters and time frames the story was easy to follow and was a great read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2018
I became a fan of Caroline Mitchell through her Ruby Preston series. This book is a stand alone.
The story is told from multiple perspectives across a wide time frame. Emma is a young mother with a dark secret. She and her husband have been living in her family house in Mersea Island but her husband’s recent promotion means they will be moving. And that means she finally needs to dispose of the body of the teacher whom she killed four years previous. She’s got issues galore. As the book goes on, you have no idea whether she’s a reliable narrator or not.
Hearing from both Emma and Luke works well. While we have the benefit of hearing from Luke in 2002, poor Alex has no clue who is telling the truth.
This didn’t grab me immediately. It took a while to work it’s way into my brain. But then, the whole concept of how little we can really know our spouse and how quickly things can change in a relationship made it so I couldn’t put the book down.
I give Caroline Mitchell credit. Even knowing Luke’s back history didn’t give me a clue as to how this was going to come down. Another solid entry by Mitchell and I will be anxiously waiting whatever she chooses to dish out next.
July 25, 2018
Silent Victim is my first book by Caroline Mitchell, but it won't be my last. For some reason, I had low expectations going into this book, however I am happy to report I was very wrong! It is a twisty, clever story with an engaging plot and well-developed characters. Recommended!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
August 14, 2018
2.5 Stars— I noticed that “Silent Victim” has consistently averaged over 4 Stars on Amazon.com. So, I thought I was up to giving an unknown British author a chance ( since this approach worked well in me ‘discovering ‘ John Marrs). First, I can conclusively state that Caroline Mitchell is no Marrs. Her writing is uneven, and the plot bogs down at times with unnecessary details about Emma’s (the main character’s) business and consistently drags out scenes in the book. The author also lacks consistency in her writing — making both Emma and her sister, Theresa— so different from one scene to the next it makes it hard to relate or root for the characters. If this is the author’s attempt to build suspense then try something different because it is annoying. “Silent Victim” did have its moments — especially when told through the eyes of sociopathic predator, ex-boyfriend Luke. But just when I thought the book turned the corner it self- destructed with a main character calling a person he believes is going to harm a family member to let the villain know he is coming. Also, I beg the author to research how a building soaked in gasoline catches fire— lets just say I have seen fires catch faster with a magnifying glass on a sunny day than the gasoline fueled inferno in this book. Don’t believe the hype—Skip this one.
February 5, 2018
OMG!!! Talk about a book being addictive! Once I started Silent Victim it became physically impossible to put it down! It has shot straight onto the list of my favourite books of the year so far and is definitely my favourite book by this author…….ever! I have always enjoyed her police procedural novels but this standalone is something very special indeed. The twisty plot, the unreliable narrative told by some rather unlikable characters and the unrelenting tension meant the build up here was immense! My heart was practically beating out of my chest as the final few pages brought the storyline to its dramatic climax but I just didn’t want it to end!!
Emma was an amazing character creation. When we first meet her she is burying the body of a man called Luke that she has just murdered. Fast forward 4 years and this happily married mum of one is a very different Emma! She has a successful business, an attentive husband and an adorable little boy. But when Alex gets a promotion and puts their house on the market before their move from their island home to the city of Leeds, Emma goes into meltdown as she knows her crime will now be uncovered. But why is there no longer a body in that shallow grave and does Alex really know Emma as well as he thought he did? In this sick game of cat and mouse we are never quite sure who is lying and who is the real victim.
I love it when an author can keep me holding on, guessing at the outcome until the very end. Caroline Mitchell pitched her plot perfectly, the threads coming together with a shocking denouement that left me rejoicing with the sheer scale of her deception! It was like she had taken everything that I love in my psychological thrillers and combined them effortlessly to make my own special “build-a-thriller”!!! Silent Victim ticked every box for me and I relished every single page! It was believable, manipulative and completely engrossing. Caroline Mitchell keeps going from strength to strength with her writing and Silent Victim was an outstanding example of her work. I wanted everyone to know how brilliant it was as soon as I finished it and I have been recommending it ever since!
Silent Victim is a skilfully written standalone that has me desperate for more…..RIGHT NOW! Just make sure you have the whole day to yourself as you won’t want anything or anyone to interrupt you whilst you’re reading this fabulous book. You have been warned!
Emma was an amazing character creation. When we first meet her she is burying the body of a man called Luke that she has just murdered. Fast forward 4 years and this happily married mum of one is a very different Emma! She has a successful business, an attentive husband and an adorable little boy. But when Alex gets a promotion and puts their house on the market before their move from their island home to the city of Leeds, Emma goes into meltdown as she knows her crime will now be uncovered. But why is there no longer a body in that shallow grave and does Alex really know Emma as well as he thought he did? In this sick game of cat and mouse we are never quite sure who is lying and who is the real victim.
I love it when an author can keep me holding on, guessing at the outcome until the very end. Caroline Mitchell pitched her plot perfectly, the threads coming together with a shocking denouement that left me rejoicing with the sheer scale of her deception! It was like she had taken everything that I love in my psychological thrillers and combined them effortlessly to make my own special “build-a-thriller”!!! Silent Victim ticked every box for me and I relished every single page! It was believable, manipulative and completely engrossing. Caroline Mitchell keeps going from strength to strength with her writing and Silent Victim was an outstanding example of her work. I wanted everyone to know how brilliant it was as soon as I finished it and I have been recommending it ever since!
Silent Victim is a skilfully written standalone that has me desperate for more…..RIGHT NOW! Just make sure you have the whole day to yourself as you won’t want anything or anyone to interrupt you whilst you’re reading this fabulous book. You have been warned!
February 27, 2018
Atmospheric, menacing, and incredibly riveting!
Silent Victim is a character-driven, thrill ride that reminds us that skeletons often find their way out of the closet no matter how well they are hidden or buried and highlights just how easily someone's behaviour can be manipulated, misinterpreted, questioned, and used against them.
The writing is taut and complex. The characterization is spot on with a cast of characters that are distressed, raw and consumed, and a setting, Mersea Island, that is a character itself with its remoteness and isolation. And the plot, told from multiple perspectives, uses a past/present, back-and-forth style to create suspense and tension as it unravels all the histories, personalities, relationships, and motivations within it.
Silent Victim is a without a doubt a clever, masterfully plotted, twisty page-turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very first page and leaves you shocked, surprised, and thoroughly entertained. It's one of the best psychological thrillers I've read in a long time and is definitely a must read!
Thank you to Caroline Mitchell for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
Silent Victim is a character-driven, thrill ride that reminds us that skeletons often find their way out of the closet no matter how well they are hidden or buried and highlights just how easily someone's behaviour can be manipulated, misinterpreted, questioned, and used against them.
The writing is taut and complex. The characterization is spot on with a cast of characters that are distressed, raw and consumed, and a setting, Mersea Island, that is a character itself with its remoteness and isolation. And the plot, told from multiple perspectives, uses a past/present, back-and-forth style to create suspense and tension as it unravels all the histories, personalities, relationships, and motivations within it.
Silent Victim is a without a doubt a clever, masterfully plotted, twisty page-turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very first page and leaves you shocked, surprised, and thoroughly entertained. It's one of the best psychological thrillers I've read in a long time and is definitely a must read!
Thank you to Caroline Mitchell for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
January 1, 2019
"She brushed an errant lock from her cheek, panting from the exertion of rushing to be on time. I regarded her with a look of amused curiosity. Inside I was thrilled that a gorgeous young creature would be subservient to me for the forthcoming year."
Was very interested in the plot, but hoo boy was the writing terrible. Overwraught, immature and awkward. Little to no character development. Lots of long internal monologues that sound like nothing a real person would ever think.
Was very interested in the plot, but hoo boy was the writing terrible. Overwraught, immature and awkward. Little to no character development. Lots of long internal monologues that sound like nothing a real person would ever think.
March 17, 2018
I was hovering either to give book a 3.5 or 4* rating,gave a four as did enjoy this book a stalker or is it all in her mind.but found it abit slow in parts it's me I'm used to faster paced books.it all comes together.good read.
February 26, 2019
Audio - 4.5 stars
Story 3.5 stars
The story alternates between the past and the present and three povs: Emma's, her husband, Alex, and her high school teacher, Luke. I wish the story had been more suspenseful and fast paced, but the mystery was pretty decent. I was left wondering who was lying and who was telling the truth for most of the story so I'm rounding up in my rating.
Story 3.5 stars
The story alternates between the past and the present and three povs: Emma's, her husband, Alex, and her high school teacher, Luke. I wish the story had been more suspenseful and fast paced, but the mystery was pretty decent. I was left wondering who was lying and who was telling the truth for most of the story so I'm rounding up in my rating.
March 2, 2018
Holy flipping moly Caroline Mitchell has only gone and written another fabulous psychological thriller that’s worthy of all the stars, it’s a MUST read. Darkly deceptive, chilling and thrilling Silent Victim has gone straight on my top reads of 2018 list. I’m a huge fan of this author I love her style of writing and her attention to detail. Whether it be crime or psychological thriller Caroline Mitchell knows how to grab the readers attention and this book is no different, from the “OMG” prologue to its nail biting conclusion I was well and truly hooked.
I do love an unreliable narrator and the author gives you two for the price of one, the story is told mostly from Luke the teachers POV and Emma a loving wife, and devoted mother, it’s shared between the past and the present. I found myself constantly looking for inconsistencies in their stories, wondering who was the more reliable of the two, which heightened the sense of unease that radiated from the pages. Reading the chapters from teacher Luke’s POV made my blood run cold, not because they were graphic, but because they give an insight into the mind of a deviant predator. As for Emma she’s one mixed up lady as the plot gains momentum Emma’s life seems to spiral out of control. Either Luke or Emma is lying and Caroline Mitchell weaves one hell of a tangled web you really don’t know who to trust.
I’m not going to go into plot details as all you need to know is in the book description, it’s really one of those books where the less you know the more thrilling the ride. I must mention I was tempted to read the last chapter at one point as I was desperate to see where the plot was leading, I never ever do this but the more I read the more anxious I became to find out the truth. Caroline Mitchell takes familiar themes such as betrayal, infatuation, and manipulation, but like any good author she works her magic to provide the reader with a highly original and gripping psychological thriller that will literally keep you on the edge of your seat. Would I recommend this book? Yes without a shadow of doubt especially if you enjoy a psychological thriller that’s very twisted.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
I do love an unreliable narrator and the author gives you two for the price of one, the story is told mostly from Luke the teachers POV and Emma a loving wife, and devoted mother, it’s shared between the past and the present. I found myself constantly looking for inconsistencies in their stories, wondering who was the more reliable of the two, which heightened the sense of unease that radiated from the pages. Reading the chapters from teacher Luke’s POV made my blood run cold, not because they were graphic, but because they give an insight into the mind of a deviant predator. As for Emma she’s one mixed up lady as the plot gains momentum Emma’s life seems to spiral out of control. Either Luke or Emma is lying and Caroline Mitchell weaves one hell of a tangled web you really don’t know who to trust.
I’m not going to go into plot details as all you need to know is in the book description, it’s really one of those books where the less you know the more thrilling the ride. I must mention I was tempted to read the last chapter at one point as I was desperate to see where the plot was leading, I never ever do this but the more I read the more anxious I became to find out the truth. Caroline Mitchell takes familiar themes such as betrayal, infatuation, and manipulation, but like any good author she works her magic to provide the reader with a highly original and gripping psychological thriller that will literally keep you on the edge of your seat. Would I recommend this book? Yes without a shadow of doubt especially if you enjoy a psychological thriller that’s very twisted.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
February 28, 2018
Do you like books that keep you up late at night because there is just NO way you can put it down until you find out the truth? What about books that are relentlessly paced with short chapters that end on mini cliffhangers leaving you reading chapter after chapter until you realize you’re finished? Or what about books that are full of thrills and excitement but also have a domestic suspense vibe chock full of secrets and lies? If you answered yes to these questions then please allow me to introduce you to the work of the fabulous Caroline Mitchell! Over the past two years she’s become one of my favorite authors, I can always count on her for an original storyline and some serious heart pounding moments and Silent Victim may be her best book yet.
This is told from several viewpoints and flips between 2017, 2013 and 2002 but everything is laid out clearly, there is no confusion but just loads of intrigue. The premise of this hooked me instantly, Emma killed her teacher years ago, but she didn’t mean to and she’s been living in fear ever since. When she digs up his grave and finds it empty things start to go downhill, fast. That’s as far as I’ll be discussing the plot because this went in SO many unexpected directions that I don’t want to reveal much. The tension is insane and the guessing game was endless, I was doubtful and distrusting of everyone at some point and the ending left me gasping for breath. Another hit from one of my auto buy authors, if you haven’t read her books yet they’re all highly recommended by me.
Silent Victim in three words: Nerve wracking, exciting and Menacing.
This is told from several viewpoints and flips between 2017, 2013 and 2002 but everything is laid out clearly, there is no confusion but just loads of intrigue. The premise of this hooked me instantly, Emma killed her teacher years ago, but she didn’t mean to and she’s been living in fear ever since. When she digs up his grave and finds it empty things start to go downhill, fast. That’s as far as I’ll be discussing the plot because this went in SO many unexpected directions that I don’t want to reveal much. The tension is insane and the guessing game was endless, I was doubtful and distrusting of everyone at some point and the ending left me gasping for breath. Another hit from one of my auto buy authors, if you haven’t read her books yet they’re all highly recommended by me.
Silent Victim in three words: Nerve wracking, exciting and Menacing.
March 14, 2021
1.5|5
Silent Victim has done nothing for me. It’s not a mystery, since we know from the beginning pretty much everything that’ll happen and the surprise elements weren’t such a big surprise. It’s barely a thriller, the characters are awkwardly written and the story is so unbelievable, I’ve rolled my eyes dozens of times while listening to this.
But what I disliked the most was the main character. She is so desperate, so weak and needy, plain stupid a handful of times, it really made me angry. I’ll never understand why we have so many female characters that are written this way? It’s simply not realistic and is not doing any advantages to anyone.
Writing this I’m even reconsidering those 2 starts, it might go down to 1. Such a waste of my time.
Silent Victim has done nothing for me. It’s not a mystery, since we know from the beginning pretty much everything that’ll happen and the surprise elements weren’t such a big surprise. It’s barely a thriller, the characters are awkwardly written and the story is so unbelievable, I’ve rolled my eyes dozens of times while listening to this.
But what I disliked the most was the main character. She is so desperate, so weak and needy, plain stupid a handful of times, it really made me angry. I’ll never understand why we have so many female characters that are written this way? It’s simply not realistic and is not doing any advantages to anyone.
Writing this I’m even reconsidering those 2 starts, it might go down to 1. Such a waste of my time.
March 17, 2018
So much was wrong with this book, in my humble opinion. Luke is a high school teacher who grooms young women. Emma is his prey. When he is finished with her, she manages to somehow move past this distasteful experience without much support from family, (not really explored) to marry a man who loves her, (again, how they meet and marry, not really explored, either)
When Luke shows up years later, (apparently alive, though she thought she had accidentally killed him) bent on “revenge” for her ruining his career, (barely explained) she decides not to fight him when he starts to force himself on her again, because she is ovulating and might finally be able to become pregnant, and give her husband the baby he so badly wants, (which they have been unable to conceive together...)
NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
One star is too many!!
When Luke shows up years later, (apparently alive, though she thought she had accidentally killed him) bent on “revenge” for her ruining his career, (barely explained) she decides not to fight him when he starts to force himself on her again, because she is ovulating and might finally be able to become pregnant, and give her husband the baby he so badly wants, (which they have been unable to conceive together...)
NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
One star is too many!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2018
Amazing thriller.
So glad I picked this Amazon First Read selection of February books. Story is told as first person by three characters and jumps from 2003 to 2017. Author's writing style keeps your interest, keeps you in suspense. Thrilling, mysterious and suspenseful all the way to the breathtaking ending. Books written by British authors always takes me longer to read, because I have to stop and Google the places and read the news, look at the pictures. Hope to visit Mersea one day.
So glad I picked this Amazon First Read selection of February books. Story is told as first person by three characters and jumps from 2003 to 2017. Author's writing style keeps your interest, keeps you in suspense. Thrilling, mysterious and suspenseful all the way to the breathtaking ending. Books written by British authors always takes me longer to read, because I have to stop and Google the places and read the news, look at the pictures. Hope to visit Mersea one day.
June 26, 2019
I enjoyed this mystery/suspense novel, which is told from various characters at different times in history. There is teacher Luke and student Emma in 2002, and now Emma with her husband Alex in 2017. I particularly liked how Caroline Mitchell chose to wrap up this story—I did not see it coming and the tension is great.
January 14, 2020
Can I give this no stars?
Goodreads, you really need to figure out a way for reviewers to do this.
** Hilarious and gross spoilers ahead **
I don't even know how to begin to review the hot mess that is Silent Victim.
1. Do I start with the clunky writing? No, because terrible writing is a dime a dozen.
2. How about the contrived and phony plot?
Emma has a secret. She killed the teacher who seduced her when she was a teen and buried him in the backyard.
But when she returns to retrieve his body a few years later, since she and her husband are planning to relocate for his promotion, she discovers the body is gone.
At the same time, Emma is still struggling with the loss of her mother years ago, who walked out on her, her sister and dad.
Emma eventually confesses to her husband about the predator she stashed in the backyard and he is shocked to realize that he never knew her. Dun dun dun.
But surprise, surprise, the teacher isn't dead, he woke up after Emma clunked him on the head and he walked away and went on with his life. WTF?
Why would Lucas show up four years later? Why wait that long to come back to wreak havoc?
Nothing makes sense, people!
3. There's also the matter of the POV narratives from Emma, Alex, her husband and Lucas, the perv teacher.
I have no idea why any author in their right mind would think a perspective from a pedophile is a good idea.
Or is it just a matter of logistics, filling up the pages of the book?
Then there's the perspective from Alex, who automatically sides with the perv Lucas, rather than his wife, because he's so charming and polite and he can't imagine him as a predator.
Yeah, right. Dicks before chicks. What a surprise.
4. There are a lot of typos. For example:
What is a wizz?
How can you click your fingers?
What is a Mohican? Do you mean a Mohawk?
Were all the editors on vacation when this manuscript went to print?
5. What are the odds that Emma's mom and Lucas were both buried in the backyard? I thought skeletons only hung out in closets.
6. Unrealistic and soppy dialogue like when Lucas keeps calling Emma puppy dog. I call barf.
7. Adultering as a literary device is already a pet peeve of mine but adultering with a predator to procreate so you can have a child because your husband is sterile is a HUGE RESOUNDING NOOOO!!!
It is offensive, degrading and derogatory to women, not to mention survivors of sexual violence and exploitation.
What kind of person is Emma?
Is she so desperate for a child she would stoop to such a disgusting and despicable act?
I can't even call her stupid. Insane? Yes, perhaps. Was she dropped on her head when as a child?
I'm so sick of these lame attempts to shock and titillate the reader. It is not a SHOCKING TWIST.
It is RUDE and INSULTING and I will never read another book by this author ever again.
Goodreads, you really need to figure out a way for reviewers to do this.
** Hilarious and gross spoilers ahead **
I don't even know how to begin to review the hot mess that is Silent Victim.
1. Do I start with the clunky writing? No, because terrible writing is a dime a dozen.
2. How about the contrived and phony plot?
Emma has a secret. She killed the teacher who seduced her when she was a teen and buried him in the backyard.
But when she returns to retrieve his body a few years later, since she and her husband are planning to relocate for his promotion, she discovers the body is gone.
At the same time, Emma is still struggling with the loss of her mother years ago, who walked out on her, her sister and dad.
Emma eventually confesses to her husband about the predator she stashed in the backyard and he is shocked to realize that he never knew her. Dun dun dun.
But surprise, surprise, the teacher isn't dead, he woke up after Emma clunked him on the head and he walked away and went on with his life. WTF?
Why would Lucas show up four years later? Why wait that long to come back to wreak havoc?
Nothing makes sense, people!
3. There's also the matter of the POV narratives from Emma, Alex, her husband and Lucas, the perv teacher.
I have no idea why any author in their right mind would think a perspective from a pedophile is a good idea.
Or is it just a matter of logistics, filling up the pages of the book?
Then there's the perspective from Alex, who automatically sides with the perv Lucas, rather than his wife, because he's so charming and polite and he can't imagine him as a predator.
Yeah, right. Dicks before chicks. What a surprise.
4. There are a lot of typos. For example:
What is a wizz?
How can you click your fingers?
What is a Mohican? Do you mean a Mohawk?
Were all the editors on vacation when this manuscript went to print?
5. What are the odds that Emma's mom and Lucas were both buried in the backyard? I thought skeletons only hung out in closets.
6. Unrealistic and soppy dialogue like when Lucas keeps calling Emma puppy dog. I call barf.
7. Adultering as a literary device is already a pet peeve of mine but adultering with a predator to procreate so you can have a child because your husband is sterile is a HUGE RESOUNDING NOOOO!!!
It is offensive, degrading and derogatory to women, not to mention survivors of sexual violence and exploitation.
What kind of person is Emma?
Is she so desperate for a child she would stoop to such a disgusting and despicable act?
I can't even call her stupid. Insane? Yes, perhaps. Was she dropped on her head when as a child?
I'm so sick of these lame attempts to shock and titillate the reader. It is not a SHOCKING TWIST.
It is RUDE and INSULTING and I will never read another book by this author ever again.
March 24, 2018
I have read this author's books from the very beginning and have followed her career with interest and I have to say that with each new journey she shows me something fresh. I always claim that the last was my favourite and this is no exception with Silent Victim. My favourite books in the whole world are the ones that waste nothing. In this book every scene either serves to move the plot forward or characterise. I loved that it was straight in to find our main character, Emma, burying a body and I was hooked right there and then.
As we saw events from different viewpoints throughout the novel I had no clue who was lying and who was not. I changed my opinion of what was going on maybe a half dozen times and still got it completely wrong.
Caroline Mitchell doesn't shy away from raising sensitive issues in her work and here she explored Grooming both sensitively and knowledgeably.
This book held my attention from the get go and demonstrated once again that this lady writes compelling, atmospheric, unputdownable psychological thrillers and I am excited to see what comes next.
As we saw events from different viewpoints throughout the novel I had no clue who was lying and who was not. I changed my opinion of what was going on maybe a half dozen times and still got it completely wrong.
Caroline Mitchell doesn't shy away from raising sensitive issues in her work and here she explored Grooming both sensitively and knowledgeably.
This book held my attention from the get go and demonstrated once again that this lady writes compelling, atmospheric, unputdownable psychological thrillers and I am excited to see what comes next.
April 30, 2020
Rating: Good
Genre:
Mystery Thriller
I loved the synopsis a lot and thought this would be an extremely good thriller with lots of twists and surprises. Emma has killed her teacher and buried his dead body in the garden of the house she lives with her husband Alex and their child Jamie. The husband wants to move and sell the house and here is where Emma feels the terror that her crime will be out soon.
The narration is done from three perspectives (Emma, Alex, and Luke) and in different time frames, so there will be a lot of jumps between the present and the past. I am giving this book a good rating (3 stars) only because of its entertainment value. I decided to keep the logic out of the door and get into it only for enjoyment purposes (Logic was busy with other books 😜). If I am going to criticize this book logically I know I would call it a trite and I would not give it more than an OK rating (2 stars).
The good thing about the story is that it was a fast pace thriller. Things moved quickly even though there was some repetitiveness here and there with Emma's narration. The plot started strong and then it started to dip and dip and getting absurd with many holes. I did not like Emma's family (The sister, mother angle). Her sister's role (Theresa) seemed very forced in the story and unrealistic to me. The main character was quite dumb herself even for a 17-year-old girl then. The pregnancy thing was just too much!
If you are reading this Thriller keep your brains somewhere else and you might enjoy it as it lasts as I did. Unfortunately, the good things about this novel will be forgotten after some time but some absurd events will remain in my memory!
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Genre:
Mystery Thriller
I loved the synopsis a lot and thought this would be an extremely good thriller with lots of twists and surprises. Emma has killed her teacher and buried his dead body in the garden of the house she lives with her husband Alex and their child Jamie. The husband wants to move and sell the house and here is where Emma feels the terror that her crime will be out soon.
The narration is done from three perspectives (Emma, Alex, and Luke) and in different time frames, so there will be a lot of jumps between the present and the past. I am giving this book a good rating (3 stars) only because of its entertainment value. I decided to keep the logic out of the door and get into it only for enjoyment purposes (Logic was busy with other books 😜). If I am going to criticize this book logically I know I would call it a trite and I would not give it more than an OK rating (2 stars).
The good thing about the story is that it was a fast pace thriller. Things moved quickly even though there was some repetitiveness here and there with Emma's narration. The plot started strong and then it started to dip and dip and getting absurd with many holes. I did not like Emma's family (The sister, mother angle). Her sister's role (Theresa) seemed very forced in the story and unrealistic to me. The main character was quite dumb herself even for a 17-year-old girl then. The pregnancy thing was just too much!
If you are reading this Thriller keep your brains somewhere else and you might enjoy it as it lasts as I did. Unfortunately, the good things about this novel will be forgotten after some time but some absurd events will remain in my memory!
Available on Kindle Unlimited
April 20, 2023
a relatable protagonist
with a creepy secret in
her family land: a very
dark storyline, albeit
a little predictable.
with a creepy secret in
her family land: a very
dark storyline, albeit
a little predictable.
February 25, 2018
4 stars
"A gentleman is simply a patient wolf."
Emma is a loving mother, a devoted wife, a successful business owner and an accidental killer. The story opens up with Emma attempting to bury the body of a man named Luke, her former teacher who had seduced her, who she has just murdered. Fast forward 4 years and everything is going great in Emma's life. She and her husband, Alex, have an adorable son and a great relationship. Her business, a gently used wedding gown boutique, is thriving.
Then Alex is offered a promotion, meaning they would be moving to Leeds. He even has prospective buyers lined up already, which given how remote their house can be is great... it's on an island of sorts and is even cut off by the tide during certain times of the day.
But with Luke's body buried on their property unbeknownst to Alex, Emma knows they can't leave until she destroys every last bit of evidence of her final revenge on Luke. But when she returns to the shallow grave in the back of their property, she finds it empty. But how can Luke's body be gone? Panicked, she confesses to Alex once it becomes too obvious that something is going on with her. But all that is just the beginning.
I don't want to go into much more detail and spoil any of the story, especially as publication is still a week or so away, but I will say that this was a really well done psychological thriller. The story shifts between different peoples perspectives from 2002 up until present day 2017. The authors background knowledge (she is a former police detective) really shines through and makes this story fairly realistic as opposed to some thrillers I've read in the past. Some parts of this book can be a little difficult to get through, they're so realistic. This book had me guessing throughout... I didn't know who to believe, who to trust. I did ultimately have issues with the ending of the book, but it was still an entertaining read and I would be interested to read some more books by Caroline Mitchell in the future. This was my Amazon first read selection for the month of February and I'm pretty happy with my choice.
"A gentleman is simply a patient wolf."
Emma is a loving mother, a devoted wife, a successful business owner and an accidental killer. The story opens up with Emma attempting to bury the body of a man named Luke, her former teacher who had seduced her, who she has just murdered. Fast forward 4 years and everything is going great in Emma's life. She and her husband, Alex, have an adorable son and a great relationship. Her business, a gently used wedding gown boutique, is thriving.
Then Alex is offered a promotion, meaning they would be moving to Leeds. He even has prospective buyers lined up already, which given how remote their house can be is great... it's on an island of sorts and is even cut off by the tide during certain times of the day.
But with Luke's body buried on their property unbeknownst to Alex, Emma knows they can't leave until she destroys every last bit of evidence of her final revenge on Luke. But when she returns to the shallow grave in the back of their property, she finds it empty. But how can Luke's body be gone? Panicked, she confesses to Alex once it becomes too obvious that something is going on with her. But all that is just the beginning.
I don't want to go into much more detail and spoil any of the story, especially as publication is still a week or so away, but I will say that this was a really well done psychological thriller. The story shifts between different peoples perspectives from 2002 up until present day 2017. The authors background knowledge (she is a former police detective) really shines through and makes this story fairly realistic as opposed to some thrillers I've read in the past. Some parts of this book can be a little difficult to get through, they're so realistic. This book had me guessing throughout... I didn't know who to believe, who to trust. I did ultimately have issues with the ending of the book, but it was still an entertaining read and I would be interested to read some more books by Caroline Mitchell in the future. This was my Amazon first read selection for the month of February and I'm pretty happy with my choice.
February 26, 2018
I’ve never been on a rollercoaster ride but I imagine coming off it, feels a little something like I felt when I finished reading Silent Victim : a little dizzy, maybe a tad nauseous and with legs like jelly.
Emma hasn’t had an easy time but now she has a loving husband and a wonderful son. Things are looking up until her husband gets a job opportunity in Leeds and is set on moving and selling their house. Because the field at the back of their house hides a secret. It’s where Emma buried the body of a teacher who seduced her when she was a teenager. Desperate to hide the traces of what she’s done, Emma returns to the grave only to find the body is gone.
This brilliant plot had me guessing until the very end, scratching my head in confusion. Full of secret and lies, I found it hard to figure out who could be trusted or not, or even if Emma was a reliable narrator. I enjoyed the alternating chapters between her and her husband, Alex, as it showed quite clearly what it would have felt like to have been in his shoes.
I was gripped from the very beginning. At times, I felt quite uncomfortable. Any story involving grooming is tough to read but I feel the author tackled it brilliantly. It’s frightening, haunting and heartbreaking but also incredibly engrossing. Silent Victim is a truly compelling read with some twists and turns and a red herring here and there. It held my attention throughout.
As a huge fan of the Ruby Preston series, I was somewhat sad to see that coming to an end but if it means Caroline Mitchell is coming up with stories like this one, I really can’t complain. This is a psychological thriller with all the right ingredients. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I highly recommend you pick up a copy as soon as you possibly can.
Emma hasn’t had an easy time but now she has a loving husband and a wonderful son. Things are looking up until her husband gets a job opportunity in Leeds and is set on moving and selling their house. Because the field at the back of their house hides a secret. It’s where Emma buried the body of a teacher who seduced her when she was a teenager. Desperate to hide the traces of what she’s done, Emma returns to the grave only to find the body is gone.
This brilliant plot had me guessing until the very end, scratching my head in confusion. Full of secret and lies, I found it hard to figure out who could be trusted or not, or even if Emma was a reliable narrator. I enjoyed the alternating chapters between her and her husband, Alex, as it showed quite clearly what it would have felt like to have been in his shoes.
I was gripped from the very beginning. At times, I felt quite uncomfortable. Any story involving grooming is tough to read but I feel the author tackled it brilliantly. It’s frightening, haunting and heartbreaking but also incredibly engrossing. Silent Victim is a truly compelling read with some twists and turns and a red herring here and there. It held my attention throughout.
As a huge fan of the Ruby Preston series, I was somewhat sad to see that coming to an end but if it means Caroline Mitchell is coming up with stories like this one, I really can’t complain. This is a psychological thriller with all the right ingredients. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I highly recommend you pick up a copy as soon as you possibly can.
June 20, 2019
2.5 Stars
2.5 Eye-Rolling Stars
Poor Emma is married to the dumbest, most easily manipulated man in the world! Sadly, she thinks he's wonderful!
SUMMARY
I'm not giving away any spoilers here when I say Emma finally confessed to her husband that she literally had a body buried in the backyard. They were about to move and she needed to come clean before they sold the house. When Emma was sixteen years old, her teacher, Luke Priestwood, coerced her into having an inappropriate relationship with him. Things happened, feelings were hurt, drama ensured, yada, yada, yada - his body was buried under a tree in the backyard. As poor, wishy-washy Alex is trying to digest this information, he's approached by a total stranger claiming to be this teacher, Luke, or "Mr. Priestwood" to his students who aren't sleeping with him. How can this be when Emma buried him in the backyard four years ago?
WHAT I LOVED
This part will be short. It did keep me reading and it was hard not to feel sympathy for teenage Emma.
WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
I really couldn't stand Alex. He let Emma down all the time and changed his mind with each new person he spoke with. I was most irritated with him when he met Luke and allowed Luke to color his opinion of his own wife! Luke does admit to having an inappropriate relationship with Emma, so right off the bat, Alex should know he's slimy and untrustworthy BUT Luke is a smooth talker and Alex is DUMB and gullible and DUMB so Alex believes Slimy Luke the Predator and starts to doubt his wife's sanity and finds himself charmed by Luke. God forbid he verify that this guy is actually the guy who his wife thinks she buried in the backyard, maybe find an old yearbook picture or look online. Oh, and would you maybe mention this meeting to your wife, particularly if she keeps thinking she sees his face in the window peaking in on her and it freaks her out since she knows she buried him in the backyard? Weird, right? I do not understand his line of thinking!! Grow a pair Alex, use your analytical skills, do anything other than change your mind every time the wind blows.
Then more things begin to happen, the more I realize that Emma is also kind of dumb. Wouldn't you think it may be wise to go check on a body that you buried in a very shallow grave? In fact, one so shallow that the shoes had to be covered with leaves and twigs? Oh, also if you live on a very rainy island? And it seems when Luke went missing four years ago, there was never anyone looking for him? No police investigation? His family wasn't looking for him?
OVERALL
There was just so much about this book that was based on a faulty premise or actions or thought processes that were not believable. I really disliked all the characters and not in a 'love to hate' kind of way, more like a 'you're stupid and annoying' kind of way. I wasn't even crazy about their little boy. Personally, not for me, but many others have liked it, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
2.5 Eye-Rolling Stars
Poor Emma is married to the dumbest, most easily manipulated man in the world! Sadly, she thinks he's wonderful!
SUMMARY
I'm not giving away any spoilers here when I say Emma finally confessed to her husband that she literally had a body buried in the backyard. They were about to move and she needed to come clean before they sold the house. When Emma was sixteen years old, her teacher, Luke Priestwood, coerced her into having an inappropriate relationship with him. Things happened, feelings were hurt, drama ensured, yada, yada, yada - his body was buried under a tree in the backyard. As poor, wishy-washy Alex is trying to digest this information, he's approached by a total stranger claiming to be this teacher, Luke, or "Mr. Priestwood" to his students who aren't sleeping with him. How can this be when Emma buried him in the backyard four years ago?
WHAT I LOVED
This part will be short. It did keep me reading and it was hard not to feel sympathy for teenage Emma.
WHAT I DIDN'T LOVE
I really couldn't stand Alex. He let Emma down all the time and changed his mind with each new person he spoke with. I was most irritated with him when he met Luke and allowed Luke to color his opinion of his own wife! Luke does admit to having an inappropriate relationship with Emma, so right off the bat, Alex should know he's slimy and untrustworthy BUT Luke is a smooth talker and Alex is DUMB and gullible and DUMB so Alex believes Slimy Luke the Predator and starts to doubt his wife's sanity and finds himself charmed by Luke. God forbid he verify that this guy is actually the guy who his wife thinks she buried in the backyard, maybe find an old yearbook picture or look online. Oh, and would you maybe mention this meeting to your wife, particularly if she keeps thinking she sees his face in the window peaking in on her and it freaks her out since she knows she buried him in the backyard? Weird, right? I do not understand his line of thinking!! Grow a pair Alex, use your analytical skills, do anything other than change your mind every time the wind blows.
Then more things begin to happen, the more I realize that Emma is also kind of dumb. Wouldn't you think it may be wise to go check on a body that you buried in a very shallow grave? In fact, one so shallow that the shoes had to be covered with leaves and twigs? Oh, also if you live on a very rainy island? And it seems when Luke went missing four years ago, there was never anyone looking for him? No police investigation? His family wasn't looking for him?
OVERALL
There was just so much about this book that was based on a faulty premise or actions or thought processes that were not believable. I really disliked all the characters and not in a 'love to hate' kind of way, more like a 'you're stupid and annoying' kind of way. I wasn't even crazy about their little boy. Personally, not for me, but many others have liked it, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
February 9, 2018
I’m a big fan of this authors books so couldn’t wait to read her new stand alone novel, Silent Victim.
The story flicks mainly between husband and wife, Emma and Alex. Emma’s chapters feature past and present so we can see the build up of events with her teacher and present, where her life seems to be spiralling out of control.
Moving house and a brand new start is something that most of us would love and look forward to. Emma though is someone who has something that is eating away at her. She loves her husband and son very much and she doesn’t want anything to ruin that. Mentally she isn’t very stable. This is due to a lot of what went on with her upbringing.
Alex I really liked and was someone I felt quite sorry for. He loves his wife and his son and he just wants them to be the perfect happy family. Since talk of the move, Emma is acting irrational and he doesn’t know what to make of it all or what to do for the best.
The author does a very good job of messing with your head. Like Alex, I just didn’t know what to believe. Emma is quite mentally unstable and I didn’t dare let my guard drop where she was concerned.
This is one story where you just know there is something brewing and when it hits, it is going to be big. The chapters are relatively short making me pound through the pages as I had to get closer to unraveling the truth. The tension that builds throughout had me holding my breath and having to gasp for air as I kept forgetting to take a breath.
Silent Victim is an enthralling read that I just couldn’t get enough of. Gripped from the very first page, this is one book that you will seriously struggle to put down. An absolute must read for fans of psychological thrillers.
The story flicks mainly between husband and wife, Emma and Alex. Emma’s chapters feature past and present so we can see the build up of events with her teacher and present, where her life seems to be spiralling out of control.
Moving house and a brand new start is something that most of us would love and look forward to. Emma though is someone who has something that is eating away at her. She loves her husband and son very much and she doesn’t want anything to ruin that. Mentally she isn’t very stable. This is due to a lot of what went on with her upbringing.
Alex I really liked and was someone I felt quite sorry for. He loves his wife and his son and he just wants them to be the perfect happy family. Since talk of the move, Emma is acting irrational and he doesn’t know what to make of it all or what to do for the best.
The author does a very good job of messing with your head. Like Alex, I just didn’t know what to believe. Emma is quite mentally unstable and I didn’t dare let my guard drop where she was concerned.
This is one story where you just know there is something brewing and when it hits, it is going to be big. The chapters are relatively short making me pound through the pages as I had to get closer to unraveling the truth. The tension that builds throughout had me holding my breath and having to gasp for air as I kept forgetting to take a breath.
Silent Victim is an enthralling read that I just couldn’t get enough of. Gripped from the very first page, this is one book that you will seriously struggle to put down. An absolute must read for fans of psychological thrillers.
February 3, 2018
DNF, skimmed through to figure out what happened.
I’m in the minority; most readers enjoyed the story.
SILENT VICTIM is told from the points of view of Emma, her husband Alex and Luke, the man Emma “murdered” from time periods of 2002, 2003, 2013 and 2017. I was often confused whose first person POV I was reading and from what time period. I didn’t like or feel connected to any of the characters, didn’t know who was a reliable narrator or not and didn’t care.
I’ve got to choose my Kindle First to Read better.
I’m in the minority; most readers enjoyed the story.
SILENT VICTIM is told from the points of view of Emma, her husband Alex and Luke, the man Emma “murdered” from time periods of 2002, 2003, 2013 and 2017. I was often confused whose first person POV I was reading and from what time period. I didn’t like or feel connected to any of the characters, didn’t know who was a reliable narrator or not and didn’t care.
I’ve got to choose my Kindle First to Read better.
March 5, 2018
OMFG Caroline mitchell is back on form with this corker of a book! Seriously I loved it that much I actually don't know where to begin with this review. So i will start off by saying that I am a massive fan of Caroline's writing and this is her best book yet….it has totally blown me away.
I have to say that I sucked in hook, line and sinker from the very first page and from that moment I knew it was going to be the bollocks…. And it certainly was! Yes you never see me swear in my reviews but this is just one of those books that I need to shout out from the rooftops about. It is absolutely awesome.
The story starts off with one hell of a prologue which sets the story and OMG what a prologue it is.I knew straight away I was in for a treat. The story is told in alternating chapters between Loving wife and mother Emma and husband Alex which flicks back to what happened and to the present day telling the story of how Emma was seduced has a teen by her teacher and hiding his dead body. Alex gets a promotion and wants to sell up and move to a bigger home, Which starts a whirlwind of events that will take your breath away.
This one very well crafted and atmospheric with descriptions that will have you biting your nails off.. Just when I thought I knew where this was going BOOM the author throws in a twist it is full of tension mystery and suspense it will keep you guessing until the very end
With only a handful of characters we really get to know them I have to say I really liked Alex he is a strong male and has a lot thrown his way throughout the story. But with his actions it really shines though that he loves Emma and their son.
Emma is one of those characters that at times I wanted to slap her and say get a grip woman but the more I read the more I understood she was the way she is. And then I began to feel sorry for her.
All in all I loved everything about it….there is nothing not to like
This is a must read for Psychological thriller fans and I honestly think it is going to be a smash hit read for 2018. I cannot recommend enough giving it 5 massive gold stars.
I have to say that I sucked in hook, line and sinker from the very first page and from that moment I knew it was going to be the bollocks…. And it certainly was! Yes you never see me swear in my reviews but this is just one of those books that I need to shout out from the rooftops about. It is absolutely awesome.
The story starts off with one hell of a prologue which sets the story and OMG what a prologue it is.I knew straight away I was in for a treat. The story is told in alternating chapters between Loving wife and mother Emma and husband Alex which flicks back to what happened and to the present day telling the story of how Emma was seduced has a teen by her teacher and hiding his dead body. Alex gets a promotion and wants to sell up and move to a bigger home, Which starts a whirlwind of events that will take your breath away.
This one very well crafted and atmospheric with descriptions that will have you biting your nails off.. Just when I thought I knew where this was going BOOM the author throws in a twist it is full of tension mystery and suspense it will keep you guessing until the very end
With only a handful of characters we really get to know them I have to say I really liked Alex he is a strong male and has a lot thrown his way throughout the story. But with his actions it really shines though that he loves Emma and their son.
Emma is one of those characters that at times I wanted to slap her and say get a grip woman but the more I read the more I understood she was the way she is. And then I began to feel sorry for her.
All in all I loved everything about it….there is nothing not to like
This is a must read for Psychological thriller fans and I honestly think it is going to be a smash hit read for 2018. I cannot recommend enough giving it 5 massive gold stars.
March 14, 2018
“You can’t walk away from your demons… They’ll catch up with you in the end.”
I feel like this could’ve been a good book if the first half wasn’t dragging as much and the second half wasn’t so rushed. It wasn’t the most original book and I wasn’t impressed with the ending either.
I wasn’t happy with the characters either, they were two dimensional with no personality whatsoever, the multiple POVs had the same voice, even the bad guy wasn’t evil enough.
So I guess in the end I didn’t much care for this as I only had complaints.. and I’m sure I’ll forget about this book completely in a couple of weeks.
March 25, 2021
Two stars rounded up.
A body murdered and buried by the protagonist four years ago mysteriously disappears. And, lo and behold, the protagonist learns that the man she thought that she had murdered and buried is still alive.
HUH? HUH? HUH??? The protagonist buried the victim in her backyard. Didn't the murderer check to see if the man was REALLY dead before she buried him? Didn't she walk by the burial location to make sure that nothing was amiss? (Remember, it was in her backyard!) And why didn't anyone investigate the disappearance of a man who had been "missing" for four years?
SO MANY PLOT HOLES, SO LITTLE TIME! To the author's credit, she did a fine job of relating the conflicting "stories" of the protagonist and the teacher who allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with the protagonist. At times, I did not know who to believe.
I listened to the book's audio version and the narrator was excellent.
A body murdered and buried by the protagonist four years ago mysteriously disappears. And, lo and behold, the protagonist learns that the man she thought that she had murdered and buried is still alive.
HUH? HUH? HUH??? The protagonist buried the victim in her backyard. Didn't the murderer check to see if the man was REALLY dead before she buried him? Didn't she walk by the burial location to make sure that nothing was amiss? (Remember, it was in her backyard!) And why didn't anyone investigate the disappearance of a man who had been "missing" for four years?
SO MANY PLOT HOLES, SO LITTLE TIME! To the author's credit, she did a fine job of relating the conflicting "stories" of the protagonist and the teacher who allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with the protagonist. At times, I did not know who to believe.
I listened to the book's audio version and the narrator was excellent.
March 3, 2018
My thanks to the author, Caroline Mitchell for an ARC of this book – below you will find my honest opinion/thoughts on this novel.
Set on Mersea Island/Colchester the reader is immersed in a world where a fear of discovery, abuse of trust, lack of self- control, manipulation, secrets, guilt, shame, vulnerability and mistrust wraps itself around us as we follow the story to uncover the truth but… Sometimes the truth hurts more than a lie. 😱
Wooooo- weeee! What an intense prologue – my mind was racing with questions, I was definitely hooked! 🙌🏻 Moving from the past to the present and through three different POV’s we get a feel of each person’s perspective but ultimately are none the wiser. Who should we believe? I love an unreliable narrator and I was not disappointed in this novel. I feel they give psychological thrillers an authenticity, so *high five* to the author for nailing it! 👌🏻 The plot was relatively fast-paced in my opinion and the suspense unnerving. In terms of being unputdownable, this book definitely had me! #BOOM! 👊🏻
Well what a messed up cast of characters – Perfect!! Emma was well written and in the main, believable …though at times, I did scratch my head and wonder about her. 🤔 The eating disorder and deterioration of her mental well being was very relatable and really made me feel sorry for her. With trying to hide the murder of her leacherous teacher whilst be a loving wife and mother, this poor woman had a lot on her plate – but is what she is telling everyone…including the reader true?
Alex is Emma’s husband and takes his wife’s secret reasonably well, then flips out and then calms down again. I wasn’t sure what I made of him. I liked the way he works out things before confronting people, and I understood why he behaved the way he did – I just didn’t like him 🤣 And that is not a criticism at all, something about him niggled at me and that is what I love about characters – if they stay with me – get under my skin, the author has mastered that characters voice …and she did!
OMFG 😮 Luke or the lech, a more apt name for this vile man – so well written, I still cringe just thinking about him! In fact, he just makes me feel dirty and I want to scrub away every thought of him from my mind. 🤢 The authors previous experience in the police shines through with this character. Totally-Friggin-Nailed -It! Master manipulator of vulnerable young girls, he was clever, cunning and absolutely awful as a person. I hated everything about him and wished every time I saw his name that Emma had killed him when she thought she had!
As an author, Caroline really knows how to create characters that get under our skin, whether we love them or loathe them, they stay with us. I thought the ending was wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking but that works sometimes…maybe it’s because I just wanted more!
Would I recommend this book? That would be an absolute Hell to the Yeah! The suspense took over and although I figured out some things, I was still surprised I was right. If you like page turning, intense, enthralling storylines that will have you questioning everything – this book will definitely mess with your mind!
Set on Mersea Island/Colchester the reader is immersed in a world where a fear of discovery, abuse of trust, lack of self- control, manipulation, secrets, guilt, shame, vulnerability and mistrust wraps itself around us as we follow the story to uncover the truth but… Sometimes the truth hurts more than a lie. 😱
Wooooo- weeee! What an intense prologue – my mind was racing with questions, I was definitely hooked! 🙌🏻 Moving from the past to the present and through three different POV’s we get a feel of each person’s perspective but ultimately are none the wiser. Who should we believe? I love an unreliable narrator and I was not disappointed in this novel. I feel they give psychological thrillers an authenticity, so *high five* to the author for nailing it! 👌🏻 The plot was relatively fast-paced in my opinion and the suspense unnerving. In terms of being unputdownable, this book definitely had me! #BOOM! 👊🏻
Well what a messed up cast of characters – Perfect!! Emma was well written and in the main, believable …though at times, I did scratch my head and wonder about her. 🤔 The eating disorder and deterioration of her mental well being was very relatable and really made me feel sorry for her. With trying to hide the murder of her leacherous teacher whilst be a loving wife and mother, this poor woman had a lot on her plate – but is what she is telling everyone…including the reader true?
Alex is Emma’s husband and takes his wife’s secret reasonably well, then flips out and then calms down again. I wasn’t sure what I made of him. I liked the way he works out things before confronting people, and I understood why he behaved the way he did – I just didn’t like him 🤣 And that is not a criticism at all, something about him niggled at me and that is what I love about characters – if they stay with me – get under my skin, the author has mastered that characters voice …and she did!
OMFG 😮 Luke or the lech, a more apt name for this vile man – so well written, I still cringe just thinking about him! In fact, he just makes me feel dirty and I want to scrub away every thought of him from my mind. 🤢 The authors previous experience in the police shines through with this character. Totally-Friggin-Nailed -It! Master manipulator of vulnerable young girls, he was clever, cunning and absolutely awful as a person. I hated everything about him and wished every time I saw his name that Emma had killed him when she thought she had!
As an author, Caroline really knows how to create characters that get under our skin, whether we love them or loathe them, they stay with us. I thought the ending was wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking but that works sometimes…maybe it’s because I just wanted more!
Would I recommend this book? That would be an absolute Hell to the Yeah! The suspense took over and although I figured out some things, I was still surprised I was right. If you like page turning, intense, enthralling storylines that will have you questioning everything – this book will definitely mess with your mind!
October 20, 2017
SILENT VICTIM by CAROLINE MITCHELL
Well, what can I say!! I think Caroline has become one of the best crime writers for suspense I’ve ever read. It doesn't matter whether she's writing about murders or psychological thrillers, she excels at both. I’m an avid crime reader, and read through books like a knife through butter, but her writing even leaves me bewildered and bemused. Just as you think that you’ve got it straight in your head, and who’s done what, everything takes a twist and nothing is how it seems. This book is no exception. This really is a page turner. It is 04:30 in the morning and I’m just finishing it off. Can’t wait to find out.
It starts off with a young couple and their little boy and Alex gets a job promotion meaning they have to sell up and move away to Leeds. There’s one drawback in that Emma had a stalker many years ago and she murdered him and buried him on the land, which makes it slightly difficult for prospective buyers. This in itself is very plausible as they live on an island more or less, at least where they are there are hardly any inhabitants and the whole place is cut off with the incoming tide.
However, as the story unfolds I really couldn’t make my mind up who was telling the truth.
I'll leave it up to the other readers to decide. I can't really say anymore without spoiling the story.
My thanks to Caroline and netgalley for letting me have an advanced copy of this book.
Well, what can I say!! I think Caroline has become one of the best crime writers for suspense I’ve ever read. It doesn't matter whether she's writing about murders or psychological thrillers, she excels at both. I’m an avid crime reader, and read through books like a knife through butter, but her writing even leaves me bewildered and bemused. Just as you think that you’ve got it straight in your head, and who’s done what, everything takes a twist and nothing is how it seems. This book is no exception. This really is a page turner. It is 04:30 in the morning and I’m just finishing it off. Can’t wait to find out.
It starts off with a young couple and their little boy and Alex gets a job promotion meaning they have to sell up and move away to Leeds. There’s one drawback in that Emma had a stalker many years ago and she murdered him and buried him on the land, which makes it slightly difficult for prospective buyers. This in itself is very plausible as they live on an island more or less, at least where they are there are hardly any inhabitants and the whole place is cut off with the incoming tide.
However, as the story unfolds I really couldn’t make my mind up who was telling the truth.
I'll leave it up to the other readers to decide. I can't really say anymore without spoiling the story.
My thanks to Caroline and netgalley for letting me have an advanced copy of this book.
April 8, 2019
Emma and her husband are preparing to move. Before they go, Emma needs to destroy evidence from a crime she committed. She digs in the yard, but the body she buried there a few years earlier is gone. Emma panics and confesses her crime to her husband. As strange events start to occur, Emma starts to doubt herself more and more.
Told from alternating points of view and timelines. This one took me a little while to get into, but I ended up enjoying it. A fast-paced and suspenseful read.
Told from alternating points of view and timelines. This one took me a little while to get into, but I ended up enjoying it. A fast-paced and suspenseful read.
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