The Other Side of Silence

by Jamie Klinger-Krebs

*Newly updated second edition*

When she felt the cold, hard metal barrel against her head, Grace closed her eyes tight and heard a fast ‘click’. She wasn’t surprised when the sharp, hot wind rushed across her face. She felt herself float above the street and saw the children. But they were too far away and hadn’t heard the shot. Alfred was below, shaking as he stood over her lifeless body with a gun in one hand and a bottle in the other. His thin, sickly frame was trembling and hot, angry tears streamed down his leathered face. No one would understand what brought him to this …

Was it a family curse that led to the murder of Grace Harper at the hands of her husband in 1975? This is the question her great-granddaughter, Ellie, seeks to answer in The Other Side of Silence. Though Ellie has never met her great-grandmother in life, following a car accident, she awakes to find herself face-to-face with the woman who lived a lifetime before she was born. Through Grace, Ellie learns the family’s torrid past of witchcraft, infidelity, and a spell that has haunted them for generations. But, can she solve the family mystery? Or is it too late to learn from past mistakes and save herself?

Genres: Fiction, Paranormal

435 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 2012

About the author

Jamie Klinger-Krebs is an author, designer and marketing professional. Her nearly 20-year writing career includes trade publications, magazines, newspapers, two novels and one very snarky blog. As a self-described nerd, you can usually find Jamie with her nose in a book or tapping away on a computer. But, when she’s not feeding her brain, you just might find her out on the water paddle boarding with her daughter (and the dog) or photographing trees.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Won this book on Goodreads Giveaway*

First let me say that this book was written by an excellent author. She has a gift for drawing you into the story. However, I'm not usually a big fan of the paranormal genre (though I try to read a variety of books). Her writing style is so captivating though, that I'd like to see her write something in a different genre. I'd definitely give that a try.

The story line was interesting with a surprise ending. It was a little disturbing for me however.

But one reason I only gave it 3 stars was because of the numerous errors in the book...sometimes just typos...words skipped in sentences, etc. But the grammatical errors and misuse of words were more annoying. Examples: undue for undo, too for to, site for sight, lead for led. The book badly needed proofing/editing before being published.

[Valentina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy paranormal themes. I liked the two main female characters. Starting the story off with a bang, so to speak, did certainly keep me interested and I believe that was mainly what kept me reading. Why on earth would someone who seemed so kind be driven to such an extreme? I just didn't buy that character's development. The changes that culminated in such extreme behavior were glossed over. The ending was a terrific twist but again it wasn't completely satisfying. A bit more fleshing out was needed. I do see great potential for this new author.

[Consetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads First Reads, I thought it was a pretty good story. It kept me entertained. The ending surprised me, not how I was expecting the book to end. I liked the characters, for the most part. My only complaint are the grammar errors, I'm a stickler for grammar and I get distracted anytime there are grammar errors in a book.

[Mary Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

there were so many twists and surprises. the story is told through the memories of a multi generation of woman all related. sometimes the relationships got very confusing. the story involved some mystical elements and witchcraft which was often unclear.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It has a very surprising ending.

[Wendy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best

A family with hidden secrets that affect generations; a ring supposedly cursed; and finding your way home from tragedies, what's not to love!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moved VERY slowly.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisting Creativity

Started a bit slow an a new author fir me so I didnt buy in at first. Glad I stuck it out and git wrapped up in the stiry- very enjoyable!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the idea of the other side of silence (a roar where you can hear grass grow, to paraphrase the quote from George Eliot). And, I loved the metaphor of the activity that happens on the other side when you die, as the book suggests.

What I haven't loved is the character development or the plot. I think the author wanted the novel to be deeper than it was.

** Spoiler alert***

I love a good supernatural tale, but I was disappointed by the lack of character development, and the absence of depth of feeling. There's a lot of action and thought without a lot of emotional development. Phrases like, "she laughed sarcastically" are used which don't fit with the historical context or with the personality of the character.

The author gave away an essential detail in the beginning, which I wished she would have saved for later (who the young woman and older woman are to each other).

I also didn't understand why the great-grandmother felt responsible for her husband marrying her. She tells her great-granddaughter that she ruined her husband's life because he left the seminary to marry her after she got pregnant from consensual sex. Her father and Aunt insisted to the great-grandmother she contact him, and the father of the child insisted they get married, and yet, moralistically, she feels she responsible, that she ruined his life. Huh?

In short, this book could have received some help with character development, description of feelings, and could have been told much faster. I was really disappointed as I thought (from the title and quote) that it was going to be both deep and interesting.

[Viv Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I won my copy of this book via a giveaway hosted by Goodreads.

Poignant, heart-wrenching, and yet so very happy in a bittersweet kind of way. People would surely be surprised at just how often things come full-circle. Most never actually realize this, except those who get a chance to see The Other Side of Silence...

My only issue with this book was with some editing errors. They happen even to the best of the best, but before a book is released to the general public they should always be fixed.

[Linda Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Read. This is a really good read. Love the unique manner in which the story takes the reader through the sequence of events to reveal so many secrets and facts about what really happened to Ellie's great-grandmother. This is one I will keep on the shelf.

[D.S. Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, but I disliked the ending, which wasn't to my own personal taste. The book was reasonably well written, but I felt like the pacing was a little bit off and it seemed to dot backwards and forwards a lot, which I found a little distracting.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of multiple generations of family history told through a type of ghost story and a type of witch story.

[Toni L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do I say about this book? TOTALLY AWESOME. The story
was great and the ending was, well read the book and see.
Will definitely recommend this book to my friends.

[Meghan]

Got on amazon (Kindle edition) too!

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beach read...a cheap Kindle quickie.