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Silent Pretty Things
A small town…a prominent family…a secret. Only two people know the truth, and their silence will have murderous consequences.
Anna Goddard has spent a lifetime being the Good Daughter. Polished and primped into sleek, blond perfection, Anna learned from an early age that being a Goddard meant presenting a flawless façade to the world. But all that changes when Anna stumbles upon a private correspondence that leaves her reeling. With the help of Michael Donovan, a shy but charming local historian, Anna embarks on a journey to find the one thing her family has always denied: The Truth.
Propelled by her mission to protect those she loves, the young woman experiences a tantalizing taste of freedom. But in the process of unearthing the past, Anna and her family will expose a new threat so dangerous it could ruin them all.
Anna Goddard has spent a lifetime being the Good Daughter. Polished and primped into sleek, blond perfection, Anna learned from an early age that being a Goddard meant presenting a flawless façade to the world. But all that changes when Anna stumbles upon a private correspondence that leaves her reeling. With the help of Michael Donovan, a shy but charming local historian, Anna embarks on a journey to find the one thing her family has always denied: The Truth.
Propelled by her mission to protect those she loves, the young woman experiences a tantalizing taste of freedom. But in the process of unearthing the past, Anna and her family will expose a new threat so dangerous it could ruin them all.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2021
About the author
O.J. Lovaz
4 books134 followersO.J. Lovaz writes psychological thrillers that explore guilt, obsession, and the darker corners of human behavior. He is the author of Silent Pretty Things and Prettier When Still. With a background in psychology, Lovaz draws on a deep fascination with the human psyche to create stories that linger long after the final page.
He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and daughter.
He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
October 14, 2021
I thank @ojlovaz for sending me free ebook of his novel that released in August 2021 in exchange for my review.
The prologue got me excited - Murder in a sleepy town and a beautiful girl turning up in a library where not a single soul pays a visit. Rest of the story went ahead and finally I could put two and two together.
While I felt the premise was good, the ending felt a bit disappointing to me. May be I was expecting some thriller moments and story was different. I would also say that writing style could have been better, and that author could’ve kept same pace throughout the book that he did in the prologue. Although I didn’t find the story strong enough, it has addressed some social issues that still concern in the society which need to be addressed.
The prologue got me excited - Murder in a sleepy town and a beautiful girl turning up in a library where not a single soul pays a visit. Rest of the story went ahead and finally I could put two and two together.
While I felt the premise was good, the ending felt a bit disappointing to me. May be I was expecting some thriller moments and story was different. I would also say that writing style could have been better, and that author could’ve kept same pace throughout the book that he did in the prologue. Although I didn’t find the story strong enough, it has addressed some social issues that still concern in the society which need to be addressed.
August 1, 2021
I think I might have mentioned this before, but modern day Mystery novels seem to follow a certain structure:
- A homicide in a hitherto peaceful place
- The police in over their head
- An investigator who is brilliant at solving crimes, but who sucks at live in general
Now where have I seen this combination of heroes before?
Anna is totally connecting everything.
You can find this review also on my Blog.
- A homicide in a hitherto peaceful place
- The police in over their head
- An investigator who is brilliant at solving crimes, but who sucks at live in general
Well, this book goes with a variation on the last part, it substitutes the brilliant investigator for two people who are no investigators, but found themselves drawn to a mystery and are pretty soon in the midst of it. And of course flirting with each other all along the way, with the guy being a tad older than the woman, and also a history nerd.
Now where have I seen this combination of heroes before?
It's pretty much clear from the start that there is mutual attraction between those two - so much as to make you think they could be hormone ridden teenagers. I'm sure there are readers who will love this romantic side dish - for me, it was a touch to much, bordering on overdoing it (but not quite).
To demonstrate my meaning, this is what Anna thinks when she sees Michael for the second time in her life:
He was clean-shaven with his hair brushed back, but a few strands were already beginning to defy orders, falling over his temples. She imagined him under a full moon with the wind blowing his hair and felt tempted to get her hands in there and mess it up.
About 5 % into the book
Gee, Anna, I don't know. What would you do to this poor man under a new moon? Straighten his hair up?
What's really getting me plot wise is the thin lines the plot is constructed upon. Apparently, Anna first visits Michael in the library because she wants to unearth a family secret. That might be plausible - but the event that triggered her is not grave enough to justify going looking on old baseball match pictures in the hope to find something. She does find something, but that must be contributed to sheer luck. Okay, spoiler ahead:
My aunt sends my dad a message that they are both to be blamed and will be condemned for it. End of message. I am then so highly disturbed by this message that I don't talk to anyone about it - certainly not my beloved brother whom I trust completely - and instead I go to the local archive to look at an 40 years old picture of a baseball match my dad used to brag about. Where I see him and my aunt kissing decades before my birth.
Anna is totally connecting everything.
Sure, that's just the start and we know there will be more coming. She also had a talk with her mother she describes as godawful - but when the content of that talk is laid bare, I again could not see what the fuss is about. One must be highly paranoid to draw the conclusions Anna drew - doesn't matter she is proved right later on, because that just means her character is acting on the faintest hints because the author needs a reason for her to do what she does.
So far the chain of events and the reactions are highly implausible. As someone watching for plot structures - unless the narrative is so compelling I find myself drawn in beyond the point of being on the watchout for this kind of thing - I'm mildly disgusted by such flaws. Too constructed to be plausible, and we're talking Mystery here, not Fantasy. I think I must have a very different opinion about what constitutes dreadful secrets than Anna.
And her brother, when she finally confides in him, is no better, going of at tangents. It's all so darn constructed! Michaels perspective could have saved this - he seemed more reasonable - but so far, he hasn't gotten much time with the audience.
In the end, I gave up. This book is certainly not for me.
Anna and Michael are sweet with each other, so if what you're looking for is a romance with a little bit of plot woven in-between, this book might be just fine for you.
But if you've got lured in by the description and awaited a mind boggling Mystery - like I did - you're probably in for a bad surprise.
I'll admit there might have been more to this book. I DNFed around 20 % out of sheer boredom and struggling with the constructedness of it all - but that's my limit. If a book hasn't hooked me in any way by then, I'll stop wasting my time. There is so much else to read, after all.
1.5 stars for the sweetness between Anne and Michael.
You can find this review also on my Blog.
October 4, 2021
⭐
There wasn't anything in this entire book that worked for me, unfortunately. The dialogue seemed stilted and awkward. None of the characters were likable or interesting. The mystery was obvious from the start. Just a complete miss for me on all levels. However, I am but one voice in a sea of many, so your millage may vary!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
There wasn't anything in this entire book that worked for me, unfortunately. The dialogue seemed stilted and awkward. None of the characters were likable or interesting. The mystery was obvious from the start. Just a complete miss for me on all levels. However, I am but one voice in a sea of many, so your millage may vary!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
April 15, 2022
I can't even finish it, I thought I could push through, but it's a drag. There's no urgency, the characters don't have the depth I was hoping for, and there's just something about the dialogue that seems off putting and bland.
August 27, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
i don't know about mystery but this book sure didn't feel like thriller until the last 10%. and even then it was just barely one.
the dialogue was flat and, quite frankly, utterly boring. no 2 separate humans would talk the way out characters interacted in this book. and the supposedly complex conversations felt like textbook informative and persuasive essays we have to read in middle school. there was no emotion, no body language, nothing. the conversations were just a script of back and forth talk without any description of how the characters were unconsciously reacting, which is what usually gives conversations in books a semblance of realism.
the characters all lacked any depth. ironically enough, the only one that was slightly bearable was Victor. his harsh rhetoric was the only briefly fun thing in this novel. anna - the school counselor- apparently has very limited compassion. she's willing to support schoolchildren come to term with their trauma and help them come out of the abusive households they're in, but is unwilling to show the slightest compassion to her own mother, the mother that has been in an abusive relationship for decades. that made me greatly dislike her. she also has a huge superiority complex.
the book was wrapped up so swiftly in a confusing manner and the one dimensionality of the characters made it lack any emotional effect.
i don't know about mystery but this book sure didn't feel like thriller until the last 10%. and even then it was just barely one.
the dialogue was flat and, quite frankly, utterly boring. no 2 separate humans would talk the way out characters interacted in this book. and the supposedly complex conversations felt like textbook informative and persuasive essays we have to read in middle school. there was no emotion, no body language, nothing. the conversations were just a script of back and forth talk without any description of how the characters were unconsciously reacting, which is what usually gives conversations in books a semblance of realism.
the characters all lacked any depth. ironically enough, the only one that was slightly bearable was Victor. his harsh rhetoric was the only briefly fun thing in this novel. anna - the school counselor- apparently has very limited compassion. she's willing to support schoolchildren come to term with their trauma and help them come out of the abusive households they're in, but is unwilling to show the slightest compassion to her own mother, the mother that has been in an abusive relationship for decades. that made me greatly dislike her. she also has a huge superiority complex.
the book was wrapped up so swiftly in a confusing manner and the one dimensionality of the characters made it lack any emotional effect.
May 6, 2024
An intriguing title and interesting cover but, sadly, a mystery that just didn't work for me. I never felt pulled into the story. I didn't find the mystery compelling, or pulling me in, and I found the romance off-putting. The conversations felt unnatural and I just never found myself enjoying this one. I wish I'd liked it more.
August 6, 2021
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Silent Pretty Things but I certainly didn't expect it to be as good as it was, I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and how well it read and flowed.
The writing style was excellent, it was eloquent and descriptive which made it feel immersive and surrounding in turn, I felt as though we were in the history museum, at the family dinner, with Frank, Anna and their mother, it was incredibly well written. There were a few times that I felt the writing hit a sticking point, but these were few and far between, and on the whole it was excellent.
My enjoyment of this book was further enhanced by the light atmosphere that had an undercurrent of mystery, it was the perfect combination and the two balanced each other out as I read through the book. The sense of foreboding was very much in the background until the book reached a point where it needed to come to the surface, and then it was as if a switch was flicked, there was a sudden change in the atmosphere, that fit perfectly with the story.
All of the characters in Silent Pretty Things were well worth their inclusion into the story, they all added so much value. Michael, Anna and Frank all bounced off each other so well, Dianne and Sarah were excellent additions to the book, and whilst I didn't particularly like their father, he was a necessary addition who was so well written that you couldn't help but hate him from the start.
I do have one small criticism of the book, which is that there were small sections where it felt a bit flat and as if the author was trying to fill time with lower quality writing, and it did feel like a let down in relation to the rest of the book.
That being said, the plot itself was brilliant! I was a bit worried at first that it would be really simple and easy to guess but it ended up tying me in knots, I had no idea what was going to happen!
I thought I'd guessed it, I like to have a go and guess these things, but I was completely wrong :(
And as we reached the end of the book it just went absolutely crazy, I felt as if we'd just dropped on a rollercoaster, I had no idea what was happening or what would happen, and the ending was just so unexpected I had to read it twice.
Overall, Silent Pretty Things was an incredibly well written book, with a cracking plot to boot! It had everything you could want from a mystery and a twisty ending that will leave you reeling and needing to re-read the pages you just read!
The writing style was excellent, it was eloquent and descriptive which made it feel immersive and surrounding in turn, I felt as though we were in the history museum, at the family dinner, with Frank, Anna and their mother, it was incredibly well written. There were a few times that I felt the writing hit a sticking point, but these were few and far between, and on the whole it was excellent.
My enjoyment of this book was further enhanced by the light atmosphere that had an undercurrent of mystery, it was the perfect combination and the two balanced each other out as I read through the book. The sense of foreboding was very much in the background until the book reached a point where it needed to come to the surface, and then it was as if a switch was flicked, there was a sudden change in the atmosphere, that fit perfectly with the story.
All of the characters in Silent Pretty Things were well worth their inclusion into the story, they all added so much value. Michael, Anna and Frank all bounced off each other so well, Dianne and Sarah were excellent additions to the book, and whilst I didn't particularly like their father, he was a necessary addition who was so well written that you couldn't help but hate him from the start.
I do have one small criticism of the book, which is that there were small sections where it felt a bit flat and as if the author was trying to fill time with lower quality writing, and it did feel like a let down in relation to the rest of the book.
That being said, the plot itself was brilliant! I was a bit worried at first that it would be really simple and easy to guess but it ended up tying me in knots, I had no idea what was going to happen!
I thought I'd guessed it, I like to have a go and guess these things, but I was completely wrong :(
And as we reached the end of the book it just went absolutely crazy, I felt as if we'd just dropped on a rollercoaster, I had no idea what was happening or what would happen, and the ending was just so unexpected I had to read it twice.
Overall, Silent Pretty Things was an incredibly well written book, with a cracking plot to boot! It had everything you could want from a mystery and a twisty ending that will leave you reeling and needing to re-read the pages you just read!
August 24, 2021
There is a theory out there that there are a limited number of basic high-level plots and every story fits one of those patterns. There is certainly some truth in that and what sets books apart is in the differences in how they execute the patterns in a unique way. Even when you get to that lower level though a lot of stories keep some of the same elements with many books of a certain genre whether romance, thriller, mystery, or whatever using some of the same “tropes” or conventions. I’m sure someone could point out instances of those in this story, but it felt much more unique and different in the tale it told than I generally see, which was a positive for keeping me engaged, on edge, and eager to see where things went.
At the highest level most novels have what they call three acts, the first establishing the story world, introducing the characters and ending with establishing what the goal or conflict to be overcome in the book will be. The characters work towards that goal or resolving the conflict in the second act with something happening about two thirds of the way at the end of the third act that shakes things up, then things wind down to the conclusion.
This story fit that basic three-part structure, but all through the second act I was wondering where it was going to go. I wasn’t sure what the characters were going to find out, how they might accomplish their goal, and how they’d react when it happened. That’s because the story in the details were much different from any story I remember reading. (I’m being vague about the details because I don’t think any specifics are going to sound nearly as entertaining as I found the book to be.) The shakeup at the end of the third act definitely shook things up and although it wasn’t outside the realm of where I thought things might go, how the characters reacted and how things wound down (although plenty exciting, edge-of-the-seat entertaining, and even a bit stressful) wasn’t at all something I’d have expected. The ultimate conclusion, while probably not one any of the characters or the reader would have been hoping for, was still a fitting and even satisfying end.
I know, kind of vague there. But if you like suspense, exploring the stresses of familial relationships, and stories that go places you probably haven’t gone before, this book is for you.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
At the highest level most novels have what they call three acts, the first establishing the story world, introducing the characters and ending with establishing what the goal or conflict to be overcome in the book will be. The characters work towards that goal or resolving the conflict in the second act with something happening about two thirds of the way at the end of the third act that shakes things up, then things wind down to the conclusion.
This story fit that basic three-part structure, but all through the second act I was wondering where it was going to go. I wasn’t sure what the characters were going to find out, how they might accomplish their goal, and how they’d react when it happened. That’s because the story in the details were much different from any story I remember reading. (I’m being vague about the details because I don’t think any specifics are going to sound nearly as entertaining as I found the book to be.) The shakeup at the end of the third act definitely shook things up and although it wasn’t outside the realm of where I thought things might go, how the characters reacted and how things wound down (although plenty exciting, edge-of-the-seat entertaining, and even a bit stressful) wasn’t at all something I’d have expected. The ultimate conclusion, while probably not one any of the characters or the reader would have been hoping for, was still a fitting and even satisfying end.
I know, kind of vague there. But if you like suspense, exploring the stresses of familial relationships, and stories that go places you probably haven’t gone before, this book is for you.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
August 8, 2021
Plot
Plot-wise, this book did not hold my attention. The secrets and drama that were seemingly promised in the synopsis fell short to me. I don't want to include spoilers but the twists were predictable to me, so the suspense aspect of the novel didn't hold up for me.
Writing Style
The writing felt very formal, especially during dialogue. An example of this is during this exchange between Anna and Michael:
"But, Mr. Donovan, I haven't even told you my age."
"And I'm not going to ask, but you look young."
"That's kind of you, and so very gracious, but I'm not too young"
"That's kind of you, and so very gracious." Is just...not how real people talk. The book is full of passages like this and it made so many scenes feel very stiff.
Romance
The romance between Anna and Michael was a bigger part of the story than I thought it would be, and that wouldn't bother me if it wasn't insta-love. Right after their first meeting, they already seemed weirdly attached to each other. At only 7% through the book, Anna has this thought about Michael:
"He was clean-shaven with his hair brushed back, but a few strands were already beginning to defy orders, falling over his temples. She imagined him under a full moon with the wind blowing his hair and felt tempted to get her hands in there and mess it up."
This was right after their second meeting, and only 17 pages into the book. I really wanted to like them together, since their relationship turned out to take up a lot more of the story than I expected, but I just couldn't. Their relationship progressed too quickly and because they never built any foundation for romantic feelings, I didn't feel any connection to their romance.
Conclusion
Overall this book was not for me. I was so drawn to the book from the synopsis, but I don't feel like what was alluded to was actually delivered.
Plot-wise, this book did not hold my attention. The secrets and drama that were seemingly promised in the synopsis fell short to me. I don't want to include spoilers but the twists were predictable to me, so the suspense aspect of the novel didn't hold up for me.
Writing Style
The writing felt very formal, especially during dialogue. An example of this is during this exchange between Anna and Michael:
"But, Mr. Donovan, I haven't even told you my age."
"And I'm not going to ask, but you look young."
"That's kind of you, and so very gracious, but I'm not too young"
"That's kind of you, and so very gracious." Is just...not how real people talk. The book is full of passages like this and it made so many scenes feel very stiff.
Romance
The romance between Anna and Michael was a bigger part of the story than I thought it would be, and that wouldn't bother me if it wasn't insta-love. Right after their first meeting, they already seemed weirdly attached to each other. At only 7% through the book, Anna has this thought about Michael:
"He was clean-shaven with his hair brushed back, but a few strands were already beginning to defy orders, falling over his temples. She imagined him under a full moon with the wind blowing his hair and felt tempted to get her hands in there and mess it up."
This was right after their second meeting, and only 17 pages into the book. I really wanted to like them together, since their relationship turned out to take up a lot more of the story than I expected, but I just couldn't. Their relationship progressed too quickly and because they never built any foundation for romantic feelings, I didn't feel any connection to their romance.
Conclusion
Overall this book was not for me. I was so drawn to the book from the synopsis, but I don't feel like what was alluded to was actually delivered.
September 30, 2021
Rating: 3 🌟
First and first, I'd like to express my gratitude to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.
“I just wanted to help kids learn to cope with the hard stuff life throws at them. I mean, a lot of kids have great childhoods, full of love and precious memories; but that, which seems like a human right to me, is denied to many children. Life is hard enough. A happy childhood should be a part of the deal. You get one guaranteed happy season. Good luck with the rest.”
The first half of the novel was extremely engaging, as the protagonist found some problems and set out to resolve them with her sibling and lover. However, the second half disappointed me because I had hoped for something more.
I thought the romance was rushed for me since it seemed artificial, but their relationship grew as the story progressed, and I liked how they embraced and supported each other.
One of the elements of this story that hooked me in was the author's depiction of childhood trauma for the verbally and physically abusive parent. I had the want to interrupt the story and hit the MC's father at one point. It just fueled my wrath and helped me realize that not every relationship appears to be as lovely and flawless as it appears on the surface.
August 11, 2021
"A small town…a prominent family…a secret. Only two people know the truth, and their silence will have murderous consequences."
When I came across Silent Pretty Things, I was instantly intrigued, the title and cover had pulled my attention away from scrolling past. When I read the description, I knew instantly that I had to get my hands on a copy! Boy, was I unaware for what a wild ride this book would take me on. The plot was filled with twists and turns but when I tell you that you will not see the ending coming, I am not even fibbing a little bit!
I started reading around 11pm (Yes, I know, bad idea) Needless to say, I had to call out of work this morning because I was up all night reading.
Silent Pretty Things will be an instant hit and have bookstagram reeling with praise. I am so honored I was able to read and review this book prior to its release date! This is without a doubt a five star read and will have me buzzing all day long.
When I came across Silent Pretty Things, I was instantly intrigued, the title and cover had pulled my attention away from scrolling past. When I read the description, I knew instantly that I had to get my hands on a copy! Boy, was I unaware for what a wild ride this book would take me on. The plot was filled with twists and turns but when I tell you that you will not see the ending coming, I am not even fibbing a little bit!
I started reading around 11pm (Yes, I know, bad idea) Needless to say, I had to call out of work this morning because I was up all night reading.
Silent Pretty Things will be an instant hit and have bookstagram reeling with praise. I am so honored I was able to read and review this book prior to its release date! This is without a doubt a five star read and will have me buzzing all day long.
August 17, 2021
Reading the synopsis of this one gave me high hopes....but that would have been too easy, not that this book is lacking in that department.
The way literally everything just fell into place had me so frustrated. There was truly no conflict that moved the plot forward. No twists that surprised me. It was more like listening to the dry eye guy tell me a story. The dialogue truly read like a child creating story. "You're so pretty be my girlfriend." "Okay!"
This reminded me a lot of Nancy Drew, in the way children scheme and try to uncover secrets the adults are keeping. Didn't feel like grown adults trying to uncover family secrets...so many aspects would have been addressed head on and not in the shadows to scheme for a public display.
Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read an e-arc.
The way literally everything just fell into place had me so frustrated. There was truly no conflict that moved the plot forward. No twists that surprised me. It was more like listening to the dry eye guy tell me a story. The dialogue truly read like a child creating story. "You're so pretty be my girlfriend." "Okay!"
This reminded me a lot of Nancy Drew, in the way children scheme and try to uncover secrets the adults are keeping. Didn't feel like grown adults trying to uncover family secrets...so many aspects would have been addressed head on and not in the shadows to scheme for a public display.
Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me to read an e-arc.
August 23, 2021
Uh....this book sucks.
The "mystery" is pretty tame in comparison to other books in the thriller category and the 'tragedy' happens in the last 15% of the book and then the end of rather rushed. Instead the first 80% of the book is spent on a budding romance written like a high school virgin and a mystery that is so obvious to anyone who has every read a Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew book.
The "mystery" is pretty tame in comparison to other books in the thriller category and the 'tragedy' happens in the last 15% of the book and then the end of rather rushed. Instead the first 80% of the book is spent on a budding romance written like a high school virgin and a mystery that is so obvious to anyone who has every read a Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew book.
September 19, 2021
I didn't like most of the things, the characters and the plot. They just didn't work for me. From the beginning I was bored because it seemed that the only thing was about discovering the big secret of Anna's dad.
Only at the end the book got interesting with a surprising ending.
Thank you NetGalley for the free e-book.
Only at the end the book got interesting with a surprising ending.
Thank you NetGalley for the free e-book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2021
Received an advance reader copy of Silent Pretty Things. What an amazing novel! The characters come out of the page, both the ones you love and the ones you love to hate. Kept me guessing, on the edge of my seat until the very end.
Impossible to put down!
Impossible to put down!
October 19, 2021
Blake County, PA. Officer Gary Mitchell. A murder in these parts was unheard of.
Blake County Historical Society. Anna Goddard (school psychologist) asked Michael Donovan (archives/library director) for some information on Grandfather Charles Goddard (real estate).
Michael took Anna out for lunch then back to the Blake County Historical Society to explore some more about her family.
Boston, MA. Nurse Diane Jennings (ER, nee Wilde, Anna’s cousin), Stacey, & Camila were having a girl’s night out.
Frank (older brother) could be proposing to Sarah right now.
Michael took Anna to the Fox’s Den. Hard rock played all night.
Anna took Michael to meet Anna Lydia Wilde (50+, anna’s mother) then Victor Goddard (husband/father, son, real estate) & Lydia.
Victor Goddard (husband/father) had been murdered.
Officer Gutierrez greeted Detective Andrew Wozniak at the crime-scene.
Dr. Gary Mitchell (ME) had arrived.
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written who-dunnit murder mystery book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini-TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an extremely easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; ARR PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Blake County Historical Society. Anna Goddard (school psychologist) asked Michael Donovan (archives/library director) for some information on Grandfather Charles Goddard (real estate).
Michael took Anna out for lunch then back to the Blake County Historical Society to explore some more about her family.
Boston, MA. Nurse Diane Jennings (ER, nee Wilde, Anna’s cousin), Stacey, & Camila were having a girl’s night out.
Frank (older brother) could be proposing to Sarah right now.
Michael took Anna to the Fox’s Den. Hard rock played all night.
Anna took Michael to meet Anna Lydia Wilde (50+, anna’s mother) then Victor Goddard (husband/father, son, real estate) & Lydia.
Victor Goddard (husband/father) had been murdered.
Officer Gutierrez greeted Detective Andrew Wozniak at the crime-scene.
Dr. Gary Mitchell (ME) had arrived.
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written who-dunnit murder mystery book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini-TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an extremely easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; ARR PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
September 15, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book!
I feel like such a hater looking over some of these reviews because I did NOT enjoy this AT ALL.
For starters, the characters did not feel or act like they were in their thirties, at least to me. I feel like they did this completely childish, elaborate ploy to discover a potential affair much like teens would do, rather than the grown adults they are. Next, I would not have considered this a mystery OR thriller since the story was honestly lacking any sort of action until WAY past the fifty percent, maybe even seventy-five percent, mark.
I also did not like ANY of the characters. Their conversations didn't feel or sound real AT ALL. It just sounded so forced and emotionless. Also, for being middle aged, spoiled, small town siblings, they certainly could figure out every single thing in a police investigation and how to get away with the perfect murder.
Also the ending didn't even make the time spent with this book worth it. Nothing was wrapped up nicely and it just felt like a quick escape after spending two hours invested in this story... The police just give up? And $11,000 is enough for someone to leave the country and create a brand new life? I personally don't buy any of it.
I feel like such a hater looking over some of these reviews because I did NOT enjoy this AT ALL.
For starters, the characters did not feel or act like they were in their thirties, at least to me. I feel like they did this completely childish, elaborate ploy to discover a potential affair much like teens would do, rather than the grown adults they are. Next, I would not have considered this a mystery OR thriller since the story was honestly lacking any sort of action until WAY past the fifty percent, maybe even seventy-five percent, mark.
I also did not like ANY of the characters. Their conversations didn't feel or sound real AT ALL. It just sounded so forced and emotionless. Also, for being middle aged, spoiled, small town siblings, they certainly could figure out every single thing in a police investigation and how to get away with the perfect murder.
Also the ending didn't even make the time spent with this book worth it. Nothing was wrapped up nicely and it just felt like a quick escape after spending two hours invested in this story... The police just give up? And $11,000 is enough for someone to leave the country and create a brand new life? I personally don't buy any of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2022
I can't say this was my favorite book. I loved the premise and for once, I even liked the cover but it felt a bit off but that might just be me personally. Overall the story was actually really engaging and I loved all the twists and turns. The synopsis definitely made me think it'd be a story that I loved but possibly just the writing style wasn't to my taste but that's just my personal preference. The story itsself is still worth a read though as it is a really good wee twisty thriller and you might find that you take to that style of writing more than I did. By no means would I say that it was in any was a bad story
October 27, 2021
Silent Pretty Things starts off sweet like a Hallmark movie but then takes a darker turn. Anna finds a love interest while investigating a family secret. As the storyline progresses we learn more about her family history and the characters within the story. Anna’s dad, Victor, is narcissistic and mean, while her mom is sweet and docile. Read Silent Pretty Things to see who Anna takes after.. I enjoyed a promotional copy from the author.
July 16, 2022
A small town…a prominent family…a secret. Only two people know the truth, and their silence will have murderous consequences.
This book came with a lot of promise! However, it was a bit too ambitious in its plot is what I felt. While it did have some potential to really go to the extreme that it did, there was no supporting plot line or character development to support it. As much as it did make a decent read, I felt that the way it ended was simply unnecessary and uncalled for.
This book came with a lot of promise! However, it was a bit too ambitious in its plot is what I felt. While it did have some potential to really go to the extreme that it did, there was no supporting plot line or character development to support it. As much as it did make a decent read, I felt that the way it ended was simply unnecessary and uncalled for.
November 3, 2025
Do you judge a book by the cover like I do? Then this one should catch your eye! It’s a stunning cover and let me tell you this story will keep you on your toes!!!
A prominent family, secrets and someone that didn’t want them discovered!
A prominent family, secrets and someone that didn’t want them discovered!
January 9, 2026
Like, but...this was AI, right? Like...it is literally impossible for a human being to have done this - with intent. I'm actually shocked I made it the whole way through, but, know your enemy: Am I right?
October 19, 2021
Who's the killer?
This was a interesting story full of suspense, and a surprising ending. The characters were very believable. Looking forward to next book.
This was a interesting story full of suspense, and a surprising ending. The characters were very believable. Looking forward to next book.
December 24, 2021
I only got 25% into this book. The writing was very juvenile and it was more of a romance than a mystery.
July 20, 2022
For me, the story seemed to drag quite a bit. Hated the ending.
August 9, 2022
Theme Facades Is Quality Aspect Of Book, But Only OK 3-Star Writing ✍️! Lord’s Prayer Concludes “Deliver Us From Evil.” Word “LIVE” Spelled Opposite Is “EVIL”!
May 11, 2024
Was OK but not what I thought based on what I read about it
September 17, 2021
Free ARC from NetGalley
1.5 stars rounded up
There’s not much mystery/thriller/suspense until the very end because what Anna thinks is pretty much what is believed. Until the epilogue.
Michael is the director of archives at the Blake County library. Anna Goddard, psychologist (this is so not believable) and daughter of millionaire Victor Goddard, needs Michael’s help locating some family pictures that her Grandfather Goddard has left to the historical society. She’s going off a hunch — she saw a mysterious text come across Victor’s phone from her aunt Marlene and thinks they’re having an affair (great leap of reasoning, but turns out, of course, to be somewhat true). She thinks pictures from the past might prove it. (This is the weirdest — she thinks her aunt Marlene might have been having an affair with her father so she goes to the LIBRARY to find FAMILY PICTURES that might prove this theory? What?! "Hmm. I need proof. I KNOW! I'll look at pictures that were donated to the archives from the 60s 80s to prove my theory!". And what do you know, Michael finds a picture of Anna’s mother and father together in high school, which is weird because she thought they met when her mom was in college (I still don’t get why her mom, Lydia, told her this). There’s also a picture of her aunt Marlene (Lydia’s sister) and her father. How very lucky for Anna!
SERIOUSLY. How convenient.
Anna tells her brother, Frank, about her hunch and they decide to find Marlene’s daughter, their cousin Diane, who is estranged from her mother. They find her and come up with a plan to have a family reunion. They can say Diane wants to reunite with Marlene, which she apparently kinda does, and then get everyone in the same place. Also, they need to get Marlene and Victor’s phone passwords so they can see the original text to figure out what’s going on.
Spoiler: Victor was involved with both Marlene and Lydia, ends up marrying Lydia, but keeps Marlene as a side. He blackmails her into keeping up the affair — otherwise he is going to tell Marlene. Oh, and Diane is actually VICTOR’S daughter. So the cousins are really half siblings.
At the contrived reunion, this all comes out. Lydia has enough, grabs a collector’s item baseball bat and whacks Victor, killing him. Michael and Anna burn the bat, but she keeps a splinter of it with Victor’s blood on it, and ends up sending it to the police with her fingerprint on it to take the blame for Lydia. Michael and Anna ride off into the sunset together. Yay. The end.
Samples of unbelievable dialogue btwn characters and internal:
"I do believe we have a most unpleasant matter to discuss" said Frank
"The only other evidence we could get is the text messages. We must find a way to retrieve the entire conversation, their whole exchange. In the messages that preceded the one Anna happened to see by mere chance must lie the answer we need."
"Oh Frank, I just don't think the moment is right anymore...It will upset you. Had I known you were planning to propose to Sarah tomorrow, I would have waited. Let's...Can I tell you later?" said Anna. Reallllll smooooooth Anna
Anna herself had had a light breakfast and was quick to endorse her brother's proposition.
1.5 stars rounded up
There’s not much mystery/thriller/suspense until the very end because what Anna thinks is pretty much what is believed. Until the epilogue.
Michael is the director of archives at the Blake County library. Anna Goddard, psychologist (this is so not believable) and daughter of millionaire Victor Goddard, needs Michael’s help locating some family pictures that her Grandfather Goddard has left to the historical society. She’s going off a hunch — she saw a mysterious text come across Victor’s phone from her aunt Marlene and thinks they’re having an affair (great leap of reasoning, but turns out, of course, to be somewhat true). She thinks pictures from the past might prove it. (This is the weirdest — she thinks her aunt Marlene might have been having an affair with her father so she goes to the LIBRARY to find FAMILY PICTURES that might prove this theory? What?! "Hmm. I need proof. I KNOW! I'll look at pictures that were donated to the archives from the 60s 80s to prove my theory!". And what do you know, Michael finds a picture of Anna’s mother and father together in high school, which is weird because she thought they met when her mom was in college (I still don’t get why her mom, Lydia, told her this). There’s also a picture of her aunt Marlene (Lydia’s sister) and her father. How very lucky for Anna!
SERIOUSLY. How convenient.
Anna tells her brother, Frank, about her hunch and they decide to find Marlene’s daughter, their cousin Diane, who is estranged from her mother. They find her and come up with a plan to have a family reunion. They can say Diane wants to reunite with Marlene, which she apparently kinda does, and then get everyone in the same place. Also, they need to get Marlene and Victor’s phone passwords so they can see the original text to figure out what’s going on.
Spoiler: Victor was involved with both Marlene and Lydia, ends up marrying Lydia, but keeps Marlene as a side. He blackmails her into keeping up the affair — otherwise he is going to tell Marlene. Oh, and Diane is actually VICTOR’S daughter. So the cousins are really half siblings.
At the contrived reunion, this all comes out. Lydia has enough, grabs a collector’s item baseball bat and whacks Victor, killing him. Michael and Anna burn the bat, but she keeps a splinter of it with Victor’s blood on it, and ends up sending it to the police with her fingerprint on it to take the blame for Lydia. Michael and Anna ride off into the sunset together. Yay. The end.
Samples of unbelievable dialogue btwn characters and internal:
"I do believe we have a most unpleasant matter to discuss" said Frank
"The only other evidence we could get is the text messages. We must find a way to retrieve the entire conversation, their whole exchange. In the messages that preceded the one Anna happened to see by mere chance must lie the answer we need."
"Oh Frank, I just don't think the moment is right anymore...It will upset you. Had I known you were planning to propose to Sarah tomorrow, I would have waited. Let's...Can I tell you later?" said Anna. Reallllll smooooooth Anna
Anna herself had had a light breakfast and was quick to endorse her brother's proposition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2021
This book had a lot of hype on Youtube and Bookstagram which is why I originally requested it from NetGalley. I must say, it did not quite live up to my expectations but I did end up enjoying the story regardless. Here are just a few of my thoughts.
Firstly, I really enjoyed the element of family and their secrets/drama in this book, finding it a good way to keep me, the reader, interested. There was a lot of twists and turns throughout the plot with many revelations occurring throughout. I found the story to be rather fast-paced and therefore was an easy read that kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought the plot overall was an interesting, suspenseful idea that was enjoyable to follow and kept me wanting more. However, I do think this book, and its plot, was slightly let down due to other aspects.
One issue I took with this book was the characters. I personally found it hard to connect with some of the characters because, to me, they didn't seem to have much personality and/or backstory. I noticed this the most with Michael and, although I did like the character, found it hard to route for him and Anna as a couple as I thought their relationship to have almost been rushed. We, as readers, were not given enough time or information in order to fully fall in love with the characters and I, therefore, found myself feeling almost distanced from the action. Saying this, I did think the author did a good job at portraying the father as the villain and only wish the same effort had been put into the other characters.
Another slight problem I had with this book was the inconsistency in the writing. There were several chapters/moments in this story, more towards the end, that I really enjoyed and found hard to put down. However, in contrast, there were a few points during the book when I thought the writing was of a less good quality and it felt, to me, that the writer was just trying to fill space between two key moments. In these moments, I had to force myself to continue reading and, once I did, I enjoyed it nevertheless but it simply did not feel as well thought out as the rest of the book. It was a real shame because in the good moments, the story was really enjoyable, suspenseful and captivating. I do think the latter part of this book was the best and the beginning let the rest down.
I'd quite like to know what happened after the end of this book but I am pretty sure this is a stand-alone novel. Although, if the author was to write a sequel, or another unrelated book for that matter, I would pick it up.
Overall I would rate this book a 2.75 out of 5 (3 out of 5 for the sakes of Goodreads).
Firstly, I really enjoyed the element of family and their secrets/drama in this book, finding it a good way to keep me, the reader, interested. There was a lot of twists and turns throughout the plot with many revelations occurring throughout. I found the story to be rather fast-paced and therefore was an easy read that kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought the plot overall was an interesting, suspenseful idea that was enjoyable to follow and kept me wanting more. However, I do think this book, and its plot, was slightly let down due to other aspects.
One issue I took with this book was the characters. I personally found it hard to connect with some of the characters because, to me, they didn't seem to have much personality and/or backstory. I noticed this the most with Michael and, although I did like the character, found it hard to route for him and Anna as a couple as I thought their relationship to have almost been rushed. We, as readers, were not given enough time or information in order to fully fall in love with the characters and I, therefore, found myself feeling almost distanced from the action. Saying this, I did think the author did a good job at portraying the father as the villain and only wish the same effort had been put into the other characters.
Another slight problem I had with this book was the inconsistency in the writing. There were several chapters/moments in this story, more towards the end, that I really enjoyed and found hard to put down. However, in contrast, there were a few points during the book when I thought the writing was of a less good quality and it felt, to me, that the writer was just trying to fill space between two key moments. In these moments, I had to force myself to continue reading and, once I did, I enjoyed it nevertheless but it simply did not feel as well thought out as the rest of the book. It was a real shame because in the good moments, the story was really enjoyable, suspenseful and captivating. I do think the latter part of this book was the best and the beginning let the rest down.
I'd quite like to know what happened after the end of this book but I am pretty sure this is a stand-alone novel. Although, if the author was to write a sequel, or another unrelated book for that matter, I would pick it up.
Overall I would rate this book a 2.75 out of 5 (3 out of 5 for the sakes of Goodreads).
August 6, 2021
The thing that attracted me to this book was its intriguing title, and the blurb (family secrets, mystery and murder, 100% my type of book). I'm quite disappointed to say that I just couldn't finish this book and gave it a 1.5 star, rounded to 1. I know most other reviews so far loved this book, but I read half of the book and decided to give up, sorry! I must say that this book wasn't completely horrible - hence why I still got through half of it (this is a 1.5 star). It wasn't "unreadable", but I just found myself skipping paragraphs and pages and decided I shouldn't keep wasting my time.
One of my main problems with this book is how nothing extremely interesting happens in it, even when I'm 50% through. I won't go into the plot because I don't want to spoil it for people who do choose to read this book, but all the "secrets" that have been revealed so far aren't exciting (to me anyway), and the way the story is moving along is just missing any suspense or thrill that I would normally get from a book that is labelled as a mystery/thriller. I think the reason why I kept reading until half way despite all this is because I WANT there to be something interesting, but it just never came. I feel like it will never come since I'm already half way through.
Another thing I disliked about this book is that there are SO many filler scenes and conversations that does not serve the story. Why do I need to know about what they ate, what they wore, what songs they listened to for pages on end that have absolutely serves no purpose to the plot or meaning? I just found myself skim reading and skipping sentences, paragraph, pages, almost entire chapters just so I can get to the points that actually matters.
Also the romance? Cute I guess, but there is way too much focus on that. If this book was labelled as a YA/teens romance, it would not have been a problem, but I was expecting to read a mystery thriller. I felt like I was read a romance/chick-flick/slice of life about some teenagers. The writing style also felt very immature, majority of the time I actually felt like I was reading a fanfic.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book. However, that's just my opinion because I can see that a lot of people actually gave it pretty high rating... so I think if you're someone who likes a romance with a side of simple mystery, you might enjoy this book.
(I received an ARC of the ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
One of my main problems with this book is how nothing extremely interesting happens in it, even when I'm 50% through. I won't go into the plot because I don't want to spoil it for people who do choose to read this book, but all the "secrets" that have been revealed so far aren't exciting (to me anyway), and the way the story is moving along is just missing any suspense or thrill that I would normally get from a book that is labelled as a mystery/thriller. I think the reason why I kept reading until half way despite all this is because I WANT there to be something interesting, but it just never came. I feel like it will never come since I'm already half way through.
Another thing I disliked about this book is that there are SO many filler scenes and conversations that does not serve the story. Why do I need to know about what they ate, what they wore, what songs they listened to for pages on end that have absolutely serves no purpose to the plot or meaning? I just found myself skim reading and skipping sentences, paragraph, pages, almost entire chapters just so I can get to the points that actually matters.
Also the romance? Cute I guess, but there is way too much focus on that. If this book was labelled as a YA/teens romance, it would not have been a problem, but I was expecting to read a mystery thriller. I felt like I was read a romance/chick-flick/slice of life about some teenagers. The writing style also felt very immature, majority of the time I actually felt like I was reading a fanfic.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book. However, that's just my opinion because I can see that a lot of people actually gave it pretty high rating... so I think if you're someone who likes a romance with a side of simple mystery, you might enjoy this book.
(I received an ARC of the ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
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