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The Silence
She’s broken. She’s vulnerable. She’s just what Marco was looking for.
Stella Wiseman was a child TV star, but there’s nothing glamorous about her life now. Alone in her thirties, she’s lost her parents and her friends and she’s stuck in a dead-end job. But just as she hits rock bottom she meets Marco, a charismatic older man who offers to get her back on her feet. He seems too good to be true.
Is he?
She appreciates the money he lavishes on her. And the pills. But are the pills just helping her sleep, or helping her avoid her problems?
With Stella’s life still in freefall, Marco whisks her away to a secluded cottage where she is isolated from everyone except him. But the closer he pulls her, the worse she gets. He tells her it’s all in her head, and she just needs time away from the world.
No longer sure what’s real and what’s not, Stella begins to question whether she was wrong to trust Marco. Was she wrong to trust herself? Is the one person she thought was fighting for her survival actually her biggest threat?
Stella Wiseman was a child TV star, but there’s nothing glamorous about her life now. Alone in her thirties, she’s lost her parents and her friends and she’s stuck in a dead-end job. But just as she hits rock bottom she meets Marco, a charismatic older man who offers to get her back on her feet. He seems too good to be true.
Is he?
She appreciates the money he lavishes on her. And the pills. But are the pills just helping her sleep, or helping her avoid her problems?
With Stella’s life still in freefall, Marco whisks her away to a secluded cottage where she is isolated from everyone except him. But the closer he pulls her, the worse she gets. He tells her it’s all in her head, and she just needs time away from the world.
No longer sure what’s real and what’s not, Stella begins to question whether she was wrong to trust Marco. Was she wrong to trust herself? Is the one person she thought was fighting for her survival actually her biggest threat?
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2020
4417 people are currently reading
5877 people want to read
About the author
Daisy Pearce
7 books599 followersDaisy Pearce was born in Cornwall and grew up on a smallholding surrounded by hippies. She read Stephen King’s 'Cujo' and The Hamlyn Book of Horror far too young and has been fascinated with the macabre ever since.
She began writing short stories as a teenager and after spells living in London and Brighton Daisy had her first short story ‘The Black Prince’ published in One Eye Grey magazine. Another short story, ‘The Brook Witch’, was performed on stage at the Small Story Cabaret in Lewes in 2016. She has also written articles about mental health online. In 2015, The Silence won a bursary with The Literary Consultancy, and later that year Daisy also won the Chindi Authors Competition with her short story ‘Worm Food’. Her second novel was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Award.
Daisy currently works in the library at the University of Sussex, where she shelves books and listens to podcasts on true crime and folklore.
She began writing short stories as a teenager and after spells living in London and Brighton Daisy had her first short story ‘The Black Prince’ published in One Eye Grey magazine. Another short story, ‘The Brook Witch’, was performed on stage at the Small Story Cabaret in Lewes in 2016. She has also written articles about mental health online. In 2015, The Silence won a bursary with The Literary Consultancy, and later that year Daisy also won the Chindi Authors Competition with her short story ‘Worm Food’. Her second novel was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Award.
Daisy currently works in the library at the University of Sussex, where she shelves books and listens to podcasts on true crime and folklore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 435 reviews
February 4, 2020
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
I have read books covering many fictional scenarios – rape, graphic murders, paedophiles – but this novel left me with a constant sickening feeling in my stomach. I predicted how the story would unfold but, despite feeling so horrid, continued reading in the hope that the mood would lift. If the topic of gas-lighting makes you feel uncomfortable and is an unpleasant topic, then I would recommend you think twice before reading this novel.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
I have read books covering many fictional scenarios – rape, graphic murders, paedophiles – but this novel left me with a constant sickening feeling in my stomach. I predicted how the story would unfold but, despite feeling so horrid, continued reading in the hope that the mood would lift. If the topic of gas-lighting makes you feel uncomfortable and is an unpleasant topic, then I would recommend you think twice before reading this novel.
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
February 1, 2020
Scattered, jumbled story
Sorry to say that I couldn't connect to this one at all. There's something about the writing style that made it difficult to get into the story, and though there are elements of the plot that had potential, the execution was lacking that special something to make it work.
The story follows Stella, a former child star, as she meets a guy and they begin a relationship that may or may not be healthy. Marco recognized Stella immediately upon meeting, and they shared one drunken night together that turned into more. Somehow Stella has found herself in a relationship, still not all that happy, and with a dependence on pills to get through the day.
It's told exclusively from Stella's perspective with a lot of internalization and I think that's partially to blame for the scattered feel. Essentially, the story jumps from one of Stella's thoughts to the next, moving forward at a strange pace and not letting the reader get to know Marco as much as we should. I think if we'd interacted with Marco more frequently, it would've added some tension and really allowed the reader to question his motivations. There's definitely some triggering content pertaining to addiction, mental health, etc. so keep that in mind when deciding if this is the book for you.
Sorry to say that I couldn't connect to this one at all. There's something about the writing style that made it difficult to get into the story, and though there are elements of the plot that had potential, the execution was lacking that special something to make it work.
The story follows Stella, a former child star, as she meets a guy and they begin a relationship that may or may not be healthy. Marco recognized Stella immediately upon meeting, and they shared one drunken night together that turned into more. Somehow Stella has found herself in a relationship, still not all that happy, and with a dependence on pills to get through the day.
It's told exclusively from Stella's perspective with a lot of internalization and I think that's partially to blame for the scattered feel. Essentially, the story jumps from one of Stella's thoughts to the next, moving forward at a strange pace and not letting the reader get to know Marco as much as we should. I think if we'd interacted with Marco more frequently, it would've added some tension and really allowed the reader to question his motivations. There's definitely some triggering content pertaining to addiction, mental health, etc. so keep that in mind when deciding if this is the book for you.
February 28, 2020
I don’t usually have such strong reactions to books I don’t care for but this book drove me insane. Not a single character was in any way like-able or relatable. The story was disconnected and confusing at times. The supernatural element, in my opinion, was completely unnecessary and did more harm than good. Also, I’m going to point out this is yet another story about an unreliable narrator, made unreliable by substance abuse. Which, frankly, I am sick of.
March 16, 2020
Without giving away the story, all I can say is that it's a predictable narrative. Gaslighting, narcotics, psychological abuse are the mainstays of this novel.
It's a decent read if you just go with the flow and avoid any critical thinking about the storyline. Three stars - I liked it.
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and Amazon for the opportunity to read this book. I look forward to reading more from this author, Daisy Pearce.
It's a decent read if you just go with the flow and avoid any critical thinking about the storyline. Three stars - I liked it.
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and Amazon for the opportunity to read this book. I look forward to reading more from this author, Daisy Pearce.
November 1, 2021
Another case of a bridge too far, this is a decent book that could have been great but for the heavy-handed prose. Pearce takes a straight forward story that builds suspense and turns it on its ear, drowning in self-indulgent writing that takes itself far too seriously. Characters spend too much time opining in paragraph after paragraph of over-written narrative.
“I study him. He has a day’s worth of stubble peppering his jaw, shocks of grey in his hair. We’ve been together just two months and are still at the stage of our relationship when we want to devour each other, sinking our teeth into each other’s names, the details, the rich smell of him in the crook of his neck. Perhaps that’s why I can’t tell him where the money went. Perhaps that’s why the lie slips from my mouth like ribbon being pulled from between my lips. ‘I don’t”
Beyond just the morose text that drips like thick, wet seaweed from the page (what can I tell you—it must be contagious), there is just no great mystery here as to what is simmering between the lines. The gathering suspense isn’t the result of some tremendous secret suddenly revealed, as even the least astute of readers will see through the gaslighting and wonder why Stella, the main character, is so ridiculously naive.
Clearly, Pearce is a talented author, able to create incredible tone that resonates and builds. She is just in desperate need of an editor to reel her in when she gets lost in melodrama that steals the spotlight and disengages the reader.
“I study him. He has a day’s worth of stubble peppering his jaw, shocks of grey in his hair. We’ve been together just two months and are still at the stage of our relationship when we want to devour each other, sinking our teeth into each other’s names, the details, the rich smell of him in the crook of his neck. Perhaps that’s why I can’t tell him where the money went. Perhaps that’s why the lie slips from my mouth like ribbon being pulled from between my lips. ‘I don’t”
Beyond just the morose text that drips like thick, wet seaweed from the page (what can I tell you—it must be contagious), there is just no great mystery here as to what is simmering between the lines. The gathering suspense isn’t the result of some tremendous secret suddenly revealed, as even the least astute of readers will see through the gaslighting and wonder why Stella, the main character, is so ridiculously naive.
Clearly, Pearce is a talented author, able to create incredible tone that resonates and builds. She is just in desperate need of an editor to reel her in when she gets lost in melodrama that steals the spotlight and disengages the reader.
February 12, 2020
This is a great psychological thriller.
Stella meets Marco and slowly starts to fall in love with him. He recognises her from being a child star in a sitcom and seems to have been a big fan.
Stella is encouraged by Marco to take a pill each day to calm her nerves but soon she’s soon spaced out, she keeps losing her memory.
Marco encourages her to see a Doctor he knows but things go from bad to worse.
Soon Stella has lost all her friends and is alone at a cottage while Marco works away.
Things are happening around her and she questions if she’s losing her mind.
The only light in her life is a neighbour, Frankie who tries to help her.
This book is quite dark in its portrayal of a controlling relationship and I was desperately hoping Stella would see through Marco’s manipulative ways.
Stella meets Marco and slowly starts to fall in love with him. He recognises her from being a child star in a sitcom and seems to have been a big fan.
Stella is encouraged by Marco to take a pill each day to calm her nerves but soon she’s soon spaced out, she keeps losing her memory.
Marco encourages her to see a Doctor he knows but things go from bad to worse.
Soon Stella has lost all her friends and is alone at a cottage while Marco works away.
Things are happening around her and she questions if she’s losing her mind.
The only light in her life is a neighbour, Frankie who tries to help her.
This book is quite dark in its portrayal of a controlling relationship and I was desperately hoping Stella would see through Marco’s manipulative ways.
June 2, 2020
If you like a story about gaslighting this is the book for you.
February 11, 2020
This was my Amazon First Reads pick for the month of February.
It's one thing to be a broken individual that someone could easily prey on. It's quite another to be that AND painfully stupid. That's the reason I could not finish this book. Not only was it glaringly obvious from chapter one as to what was going on but we had to deal with a protagonist who is mentally and emotionally blind. It was so frustrating that I had to put the book down several times for fear of chucking it across the room....which would have been bad since it was on my kindle. Stella IS broken. She most definitely has been through a lot, but come on! I don't want to give anything away, which is weird because the author pretty much does from the beginning, but even being as vulnerable as she was, this was absurd. Put that together with an array of unlikable characters and a writing style that is a bit choppy and I'm just done. The only reason it garnered two stars is because the plot was interesting. Sadly, it just wasn't executed very well.
It's one thing to be a broken individual that someone could easily prey on. It's quite another to be that AND painfully stupid. That's the reason I could not finish this book. Not only was it glaringly obvious from chapter one as to what was going on but we had to deal with a protagonist who is mentally and emotionally blind. It was so frustrating that I had to put the book down several times for fear of chucking it across the room....which would have been bad since it was on my kindle. Stella IS broken. She most definitely has been through a lot, but come on! I don't want to give anything away, which is weird because the author pretty much does from the beginning, but even being as vulnerable as she was, this was absurd. Put that together with an array of unlikable characters and a writing style that is a bit choppy and I'm just done. The only reason it garnered two stars is because the plot was interesting. Sadly, it just wasn't executed very well.
February 29, 2020
Stella, a former child star, falls for an older man. Stella is in her thirties and her life is in a downward spiral. She believes her new suitor will help save her, but he may be part of the problem.
A predictable psychological thriller with unlikable characters. I had zero sympathy for Stella, and could not get into this story.
A predictable psychological thriller with unlikable characters. I had zero sympathy for Stella, and could not get into this story.
January 7, 2024
It's been awhile since I've read a good psychological thriller and this one fit the bill! This author is fan of Stephen King and it shows! Read this in just a few days and would definitely read more by her.
February 9, 2020
It's taken me a bit of time to get to this review because I found the central relationship quite hard to stomach (due to past experience) - Daisy's depiction of gaslighting is spot on. But The Silence is what they call a 'total banger' and I read it in one sitting.
I'm awed by the author's turn of phrase which elevated the book and while some of the plot pieces have been done before within this genre (e.g. the isolated cottage setting), I feel Daisy was able to bring a freshness to it. I really appreciate the details of the small village in which Stella finds herself and the characters she encounters are very well rounded given we don't spend all that much time with them. I adore the chicken wrangling mother and daughter combo in particular.
I got a Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? flavour towards the end and that can only ever be a good thing. Daisy, I'm beyond proud of you and this wonderful achievement, I can't wait for your next.
I'm awed by the author's turn of phrase which elevated the book and while some of the plot pieces have been done before within this genre (e.g. the isolated cottage setting), I feel Daisy was able to bring a freshness to it. I really appreciate the details of the small village in which Stella finds herself and the characters she encounters are very well rounded given we don't spend all that much time with them. I adore the chicken wrangling mother and daughter combo in particular.
I got a Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? flavour towards the end and that can only ever be a good thing. Daisy, I'm beyond proud of you and this wonderful achievement, I can't wait for your next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2020
It was really difficult to get into this one and I honestly skimmed a lot in the beginning because it seemed pretty clear Marco was the bad guy. The story got a lot more interesting when they were at the cottage and I kept thinking there would be a twist because it couldn’t be so obvious, but there wasn’t. It happened pretty much how I generally thought it would.
March 25, 2020
It started ok and it could have had a great plot, but there was no back story in why Marco was the way that he was.
There were to many guessing games that were never discussed. It just came to a head and ended.
There were to many guessing games that were never discussed. It just came to a head and ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2020
Rating: 3.5
Author: Daisy Pearce
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (1 Mar. 2020)
Release: 1st March 2020
Synopsis:-
She’s broken. She’s vulnerable. She’s just what Marco was looking for.
Stella Wiseman was a child TV star, but there’s nothing glamorous about her life now. Alone in her thirties, she’s lost her parents and her friends and she’s stuck in a dead-end job. But just as she hits rock bottom she meets Marco, a charismatic older man who offers to get her back on her feet. He seems too good to be true.
Is he?
She appreciates the money he lavishes on her. And the pills. But are the pills just helping her sleep, or helping her avoid her problems?
With Stella’s life still in freefall, Marco whisks her away to a secluded cottage where she is isolated from everyone except him. But the closer he pulls her, the worse she gets. He tells her it’s all in her head, and she just needs time away from the world.
No longer sure what’s real and what’s not, Stella begins to question whether she was wrong to trust Marco. Was she wrong to trust herself? Is the one person she thought was fighting for her survival actually her biggest threat?
About the Author
Daisy Pearce was born in Cornwall and grew up on a smallholding surrounded by hippies. She read Stephen King’s Cujo and The Hamlyn Book of Horror far too young and has been fascinated with the macabre ever since.
She began writing short stories as a teenager and dropped out of a fashion journalism course at university when she realised it wasn’t anywhere near as fun as making stuff up. After spells living in London and Brighton, Daisy had her short story ‘The Black Prince’ published in One Eye Grey magazine. Another short story, ‘The Brook Witch’, was performed on stage at the Small Story Cabaret in Lewes in 2016. She has also written articles about mental health online. In 2015, The Silence won a bursary with The Literary Consultancy, and later that year Daisy also won the Chindi Authors Competition with her short story ‘Worm Food’. Her second novel was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Award.
Daisy currently works in the library at the University of Sussex, where she shelves books and listens to podcasts on true crime and folklore. She lives in Lewes with a one-eyed Siamese cat and a nine-year-old daughter who occasionally needs reminding that ghosts and monsters aren’t real.
Sometimes she almost believes it herself.
My Thoughts:-
My oh, my! Where to begin with this one? Well, I was offered an early copy of this book as part of my Amazon Prime subscription. They do a thing called 'Kindle First Reads' and you get to choose an early eBook a month before it's released and also get them cheaper or something to buy print. But anyway, this month I chose The Silence because the synopsis sounds twisty and gripping.
I have to say Daisy Pearce has seriously good talent. Throughout the book I felt like I was being led on a merry dance, being teased with potential plotlines and twists. After every chapter I thought I'd figured out what was going on, only to find those theories shattered or contradicted in the next chapter. It is gripping, on the edge of your seat reading at it's most annoying, to be honest. Not to say I didn't like the book, I really did, but there was SO MUCH going on that was shady and mysterious and it had me in the mind of "to many chefs spoil the stew", or in this case... "to many suspects spoil the book". There really was just too much going on and it left me completely unsure what way the book was even going. I loved the writing style, it seemed very personal and I felt a deep connection with the main character, which is always nice. The characters were well developed and I couldn't fault it in any way besides the tangle of events and suspects. I'm going to try and untangle my thoughts for you...
Basically, I feel that Pearce has excelled at writing a good psychological thriller. The way the story twists and turns and hints and confuses the readers seems to me intentional, like Pearce means for the reader to feel as confused and unsure of things as the main character, Stella does. If this is the case then it's a truly wonderful book and Pearce is going to be an author to keep an eye on, but if this wasn't the intention then that makes it much less so. As I felt that this was in fact the intention, I did enjoy the book a lot. While the confusion of events annoyed me at times I felt like I was supposed to feeling that way and it drew me in further, needing to know what was ACTUALLY going on. So, as I said, I did enjoy the book. I can't though say for certain that this was intentionally confusing, therefore I can't in good conscience praise it as so.
I think overall the book is going to prove a bit marmite, you'll either love it or you'll hate it. It certainly isn't a 5 star storyline, but it's enjoyable if you get past the confusion of the narrative. I'd say read it, see what you think if the synopsis grabs you, but be prepared for a very twisty and confusing ride because nothing becomes clear until the very end.
Read more book reviews at https://CosiedupwithCrime.movie.blog/
Author: Daisy Pearce
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (1 Mar. 2020)
Release: 1st March 2020
Synopsis:-
She’s broken. She’s vulnerable. She’s just what Marco was looking for.
Stella Wiseman was a child TV star, but there’s nothing glamorous about her life now. Alone in her thirties, she’s lost her parents and her friends and she’s stuck in a dead-end job. But just as she hits rock bottom she meets Marco, a charismatic older man who offers to get her back on her feet. He seems too good to be true.
Is he?
She appreciates the money he lavishes on her. And the pills. But are the pills just helping her sleep, or helping her avoid her problems?
With Stella’s life still in freefall, Marco whisks her away to a secluded cottage where she is isolated from everyone except him. But the closer he pulls her, the worse she gets. He tells her it’s all in her head, and she just needs time away from the world.
No longer sure what’s real and what’s not, Stella begins to question whether she was wrong to trust Marco. Was she wrong to trust herself? Is the one person she thought was fighting for her survival actually her biggest threat?
About the Author
Daisy Pearce was born in Cornwall and grew up on a smallholding surrounded by hippies. She read Stephen King’s Cujo and The Hamlyn Book of Horror far too young and has been fascinated with the macabre ever since.
She began writing short stories as a teenager and dropped out of a fashion journalism course at university when she realised it wasn’t anywhere near as fun as making stuff up. After spells living in London and Brighton, Daisy had her short story ‘The Black Prince’ published in One Eye Grey magazine. Another short story, ‘The Brook Witch’, was performed on stage at the Small Story Cabaret in Lewes in 2016. She has also written articles about mental health online. In 2015, The Silence won a bursary with The Literary Consultancy, and later that year Daisy also won the Chindi Authors Competition with her short story ‘Worm Food’. Her second novel was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Award.
Daisy currently works in the library at the University of Sussex, where she shelves books and listens to podcasts on true crime and folklore. She lives in Lewes with a one-eyed Siamese cat and a nine-year-old daughter who occasionally needs reminding that ghosts and monsters aren’t real.
Sometimes she almost believes it herself.
My Thoughts:-
My oh, my! Where to begin with this one? Well, I was offered an early copy of this book as part of my Amazon Prime subscription. They do a thing called 'Kindle First Reads' and you get to choose an early eBook a month before it's released and also get them cheaper or something to buy print. But anyway, this month I chose The Silence because the synopsis sounds twisty and gripping.
I have to say Daisy Pearce has seriously good talent. Throughout the book I felt like I was being led on a merry dance, being teased with potential plotlines and twists. After every chapter I thought I'd figured out what was going on, only to find those theories shattered or contradicted in the next chapter. It is gripping, on the edge of your seat reading at it's most annoying, to be honest. Not to say I didn't like the book, I really did, but there was SO MUCH going on that was shady and mysterious and it had me in the mind of "to many chefs spoil the stew", or in this case... "to many suspects spoil the book". There really was just too much going on and it left me completely unsure what way the book was even going. I loved the writing style, it seemed very personal and I felt a deep connection with the main character, which is always nice. The characters were well developed and I couldn't fault it in any way besides the tangle of events and suspects. I'm going to try and untangle my thoughts for you...
Basically, I feel that Pearce has excelled at writing a good psychological thriller. The way the story twists and turns and hints and confuses the readers seems to me intentional, like Pearce means for the reader to feel as confused and unsure of things as the main character, Stella does. If this is the case then it's a truly wonderful book and Pearce is going to be an author to keep an eye on, but if this wasn't the intention then that makes it much less so. As I felt that this was in fact the intention, I did enjoy the book a lot. While the confusion of events annoyed me at times I felt like I was supposed to feeling that way and it drew me in further, needing to know what was ACTUALLY going on. So, as I said, I did enjoy the book. I can't though say for certain that this was intentionally confusing, therefore I can't in good conscience praise it as so.
I think overall the book is going to prove a bit marmite, you'll either love it or you'll hate it. It certainly isn't a 5 star storyline, but it's enjoyable if you get past the confusion of the narrative. I'd say read it, see what you think if the synopsis grabs you, but be prepared for a very twisty and confusing ride because nothing becomes clear until the very end.
Read more book reviews at https://CosiedupwithCrime.movie.blog/
March 22, 2020
Boring and predictable.
March 7, 2020
Jeepers creepers!!!
February 17, 2020
This felt like a really heavy read, with gaslighting, stalking and abuse covered. Stella is a very unreliable narrator with a lot of her memories being unavailable or seen through a haze of medication. It did feel like she was struggling to see the obvious at times but it still had a dramatic ending that kept me interested.
3.5 - 4 Stars
3.5 - 4 Stars
February 17, 2020
Liked her writing style even though stream-of-consciousness in present tense usually makes me stop reading. She used very creative metaphors.
Problems were: hated the MC. She was so obtuse I wanted to strangle her. There's only so long a character can be in denial before it's just not believable anymore. I could have bought that the drugs were leaving her unable to think straight, or making her not care, but there really wasn't enough made of the drug's effects in that respect. Even after she's sober she absolutely refuses to look at what's right in front of her. It carried on far too long for a novel.
That whole "abused woman" conversation was intended to explain her obtuseness, but it didn't work for me. In my experience abused women aren't wilfully ignorant.
I've seen comparisons to Rebecca. Maybe that was due to the atmosphere of the book, but there really were no similarities in my view. Rebecca was active and the plot was well-developed. This was far too static and I think it's because it wasn't intended to be novel length.
It's meant to be suspenseful but just wasn't. The author pretty firmly establishes the culprit early on and whatever attempts are made at misdirection just do not land at all. Only kept reading to see when the hell Stella would come to her senses.
You know it's not a good sign when you reach chapter thirteen and feel the story ought to be wrapping up at that point.
I must have missed the connection but why "The Silence"? All I could think of was the Doctor Who monsters.
ETA: SPOILER (maybe)
One other thing that bothered me. There is one character who turns out to be bisexual. A single hint is given that this is the case, via a joke made early on. It can't possibly be inferred in the context it's delivered, and even the MC is surprised by the revelation when it finally happens...just before the character's demise. It absolutely feels as though this aspect of the character was dropped in as an afterthought. As though the author felt they needed to include a member of the LGBT community and realized, in finishing the story, she had forgotten.
It wouldn't have bothered me if it was left out, it was by no means an essential element. Really very minimal, in fact. Like one line. But if the author had wanted to include it she should have given it more of a mention. Reminded me of "the black character dies first" joke in horror movies.
Problems were: hated the MC. She was so obtuse I wanted to strangle her. There's only so long a character can be in denial before it's just not believable anymore. I could have bought that the drugs were leaving her unable to think straight, or making her not care, but there really wasn't enough made of the drug's effects in that respect. Even after she's sober she absolutely refuses to look at what's right in front of her. It carried on far too long for a novel.
That whole "abused woman" conversation was intended to explain her obtuseness, but it didn't work for me. In my experience abused women aren't wilfully ignorant.
I've seen comparisons to Rebecca. Maybe that was due to the atmosphere of the book, but there really were no similarities in my view. Rebecca was active and the plot was well-developed. This was far too static and I think it's because it wasn't intended to be novel length.
It's meant to be suspenseful but just wasn't. The author pretty firmly establishes the culprit early on and whatever attempts are made at misdirection just do not land at all. Only kept reading to see when the hell Stella would come to her senses.
You know it's not a good sign when you reach chapter thirteen and feel the story ought to be wrapping up at that point.
I must have missed the connection but why "The Silence"? All I could think of was the Doctor Who monsters.
ETA: SPOILER (maybe)
One other thing that bothered me. There is one character who turns out to be bisexual. A single hint is given that this is the case, via a joke made early on. It can't possibly be inferred in the context it's delivered, and even the MC is surprised by the revelation when it finally happens...just before the character's demise. It absolutely feels as though this aspect of the character was dropped in as an afterthought. As though the author felt they needed to include a member of the LGBT community and realized, in finishing the story, she had forgotten.
It wouldn't have bothered me if it was left out, it was by no means an essential element. Really very minimal, in fact. Like one line. But if the author had wanted to include it she should have given it more of a mention. Reminded me of "the black character dies first" joke in horror movies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2020
I wish I could say that this was a truly great psychological thriller, but unfortunately, this was a confusing. jumbled mess of a story. I did not think that any of the events were shocking or surprising, the book was confusing, and I think I could have written a more surprising and even interesting ending. This honestly does not make me want to read more by Daisy Pearce either.
May 16, 2020
At the start if this book we meet Steela Wiseman - in her 30's, job she doesn't like and pretty isolated having lost both her parents. Stella was a childhood star but her father gambled away everything she earned. Then she meets the charismatic and successful Marco. He seems perfect but his arrival on the scene starts a downfall in Stella's own life. As she starts a downward spiral we are left wondering what is going on with her - is she suffering a mental illness, is she a drug addict or she a victim of gaslighting.... or maybe all three!
Thus story is pretty predictable and yet, it really held my attention. I didnt really like Marco or Stella so I think this book had less of an impact than if I'd really invested in those characters. The idea of gas lighting is pretty terrifying - particularly as it's difficult to spot.
This is quite a difficult read emotionally- I think because it's quite predictable you need to go with it rather than question it to be able to enjoy it. Personally, I didn't like Stella so although I felt sorry for her I found it difficult to truly empathise. A terrifying idea nonetheless.
Thus story is pretty predictable and yet, it really held my attention. I didnt really like Marco or Stella so I think this book had less of an impact than if I'd really invested in those characters. The idea of gas lighting is pretty terrifying - particularly as it's difficult to spot.
This is quite a difficult read emotionally- I think because it's quite predictable you need to go with it rather than question it to be able to enjoy it. Personally, I didn't like Stella so although I felt sorry for her I found it difficult to truly empathise. A terrifying idea nonetheless.
March 2, 2020
I couldn't put this one down....really really good!
April 24, 2025
New favourite author alert! Did not see that coming, on to her next.....The Missing.
September 18, 2025
If you’re looking for a spooky thriller filled with gaslighting, look no further!
December 13, 2023
Slow starter
I almost gave up on this one. It takes about a third of the story before it really gets going. Must say I'm glad I stuck it out.
I almost gave up on this one. It takes about a third of the story before it really gets going. Must say I'm glad I stuck it out.
February 10, 2020
Well, like Marco Nilsen, I have a type. I felt like this was ripped off from "You." That said, it is my type and I loved it. I felt it was better than most Amazon First Reads books I've come across, but maybe I am biased. The writing was decent. Most of the twists were fairly obvious and Stella was just so oblivious.
I did really appreciate that the writing style captured Stella's blackouts. We missed tidbits that Stella missed, and we realized them too late along with her. Normally, I find that style lazy but it felt intentional here and really worked with the content and flow of the story!
I did really appreciate that the writing style captured Stella's blackouts. We missed tidbits that Stella missed, and we realized them too late along with her. Normally, I find that style lazy but it felt intentional here and really worked with the content and flow of the story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2020
This is a book that I found I fell into a rhythm with very quickly. From the very beginning you get a sense of Stella, of the kind of woman she is and the kind of friendships she has to support her. Following on from childhood success in a popular TV show, Stella has grown into a woman who has achieved little and done little with her life. In fact, it seems to be going nowhere other than through a series of disappointments. Until she meets Marco. That is the night that everything changes.
From the very ominous prologue, right through to the high stakes, high tension conclusion, this book takes readers on a real journey. To the outside eye, it is easy to work out what is happening here, to see the clue that suggest the true nature of the relationship between Stella, Marco and Stella's best friend and flatmate, Carmel, and yet the author still manages to sow those little seeds of doubt, the one that make both the reader, and Stella, wonder just who it is that she needs to be wary of. But then that's what makes the story feel authentic. That whole essence of coercive control that threads through the story, but just who is it pulling the strings and why?
Alongside the more obvious elements of threat within the book, there is a more ominous feeling that stems from something that happened to Stella in her childhood, while she was still a child star. This part of the story is creepy and the way the author has portrayed that element of being stalked adds to the tense atmosphere of the story. With the added isolation of the cottage that Stella moves to in Cornwall, the constant feeling of being watched and the threatening letters she starts to receive at home, you really do get that skin crawling and unsettling sensation as you read.
Now Stella is not an entirely sympathetic character - it would be too easy to make her a 'perfect' victim and Daisy Pearce has steered clear of this, making Stella a far more rounded and therefore authentic character, but also, ironically, the perfect person to become a victim. Her past has made her guarded and easier to isolate and separate from her small network of friends and this has played out perfectly in the story.
Now this is not a fast paced novel and it takes a good portion of the book for the whole scene to be set up. You can see the warning signs start to appear in the early chapters, but it is really from the point where Stella is moved to Cornwall for her own good, that the real darkness starts to descend and you can feel the tone of the novel change.
It is not all doom and gloom, and there are some moments of light within the ever more oppressive atmosphere, as Stella gets to know her handyman, Frankie. He is a great character, but also guarded so it is easy to see why Stella is not completely at ease with him. But then everything about the cottage, Chy an Mor, creams oppression, from the damp on the walls, the mist falling across the coastline and the deadly drops that are never more than a few steps away.
And there are the things that go bump in the night. Is Stella really seeing ghosts or is it a fragile and damaged mind playing tricks on her, her emotions heightened by the very isolation that is meant to cure her ..? Well you'll have to read to find out, won't you?
A great debut thriller and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the not too distant future.
From the very ominous prologue, right through to the high stakes, high tension conclusion, this book takes readers on a real journey. To the outside eye, it is easy to work out what is happening here, to see the clue that suggest the true nature of the relationship between Stella, Marco and Stella's best friend and flatmate, Carmel, and yet the author still manages to sow those little seeds of doubt, the one that make both the reader, and Stella, wonder just who it is that she needs to be wary of. But then that's what makes the story feel authentic. That whole essence of coercive control that threads through the story, but just who is it pulling the strings and why?
Alongside the more obvious elements of threat within the book, there is a more ominous feeling that stems from something that happened to Stella in her childhood, while she was still a child star. This part of the story is creepy and the way the author has portrayed that element of being stalked adds to the tense atmosphere of the story. With the added isolation of the cottage that Stella moves to in Cornwall, the constant feeling of being watched and the threatening letters she starts to receive at home, you really do get that skin crawling and unsettling sensation as you read.
Now Stella is not an entirely sympathetic character - it would be too easy to make her a 'perfect' victim and Daisy Pearce has steered clear of this, making Stella a far more rounded and therefore authentic character, but also, ironically, the perfect person to become a victim. Her past has made her guarded and easier to isolate and separate from her small network of friends and this has played out perfectly in the story.
Now this is not a fast paced novel and it takes a good portion of the book for the whole scene to be set up. You can see the warning signs start to appear in the early chapters, but it is really from the point where Stella is moved to Cornwall for her own good, that the real darkness starts to descend and you can feel the tone of the novel change.
It is not all doom and gloom, and there are some moments of light within the ever more oppressive atmosphere, as Stella gets to know her handyman, Frankie. He is a great character, but also guarded so it is easy to see why Stella is not completely at ease with him. But then everything about the cottage, Chy an Mor, creams oppression, from the damp on the walls, the mist falling across the coastline and the deadly drops that are never more than a few steps away.
And there are the things that go bump in the night. Is Stella really seeing ghosts or is it a fragile and damaged mind playing tricks on her, her emotions heightened by the very isolation that is meant to cure her ..? Well you'll have to read to find out, won't you?
A great debut thriller and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the not too distant future.
March 29, 2020
I listened to this as an audio book and found it to be slow. I start listening to audio books during my hour on the road going back and forth to work. Often, the books will be so good that I continue to listen when I get home. I could not really get into this one enough to do that. It was just too wordy and the descriptions were overly long and detailed about inconsequential things.
Stella, the main female character, was so clueless as to be unbelievable. Marko’s character was manipulative and obvious from almost the beginning.
Stella, the main female character, was so clueless as to be unbelievable. Marko’s character was manipulative and obvious from almost the beginning.
November 14, 2020
This book is simply not for me. It was obvious right from the start what was going to happen and frankly Stella’s gullibility was just too ridiculous to believe. I get that that’s the thing about being gas-lighted, that you are vulnerable and therefore much more open to suggestion and initial kindness and giving your gas-lighter the benefit of the doubt over and over and over again. But who just takes pills without even asking what they are? Over and over and over again! Knowing they make you feel unable to function!
I was so bored, I just skipped pages and was actually tempted just to skip to the end but I avoid doing that. Even the ending was just ridiculous.
I cannot remember ever giving just one star, but this is another of these books, recommended to me by email that I bought based on the rave reviews it had..........and once again I regret it.
I was so bored, I just skipped pages and was actually tempted just to skip to the end but I avoid doing that. Even the ending was just ridiculous.
I cannot remember ever giving just one star, but this is another of these books, recommended to me by email that I bought based on the rave reviews it had..........and once again I regret it.
April 21, 2020
3 stars
For some reason, this book was not what I expected. I was expecting more of a story about mental health instead it was a psychological thriller. Not bad, just not what I thought it would be based on the synopsis
For some reason, this book was not what I expected. I was expecting more of a story about mental health instead it was a psychological thriller. Not bad, just not what I thought it would be based on the synopsis
April 7, 2020
Found this book hard going to start with but turned out good in the end 😊
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