The Silent Woman

by Minka Kent

Newlywed Jade Westmore has finally found her forever in husband Wells, a charming, successful, and recently divorced architect—only there’s one caveat. Behind the gates of their elysian estate, hidden from street view in the caretaker’s cottage … lives Wells’ first wife, Sylvie.

Three years ago, the original Mrs. Westmore suffered an unfortunate accident—and hasn’t uttered a sound since. Not a physician, psychologist, or world-renowned specialist has been able to elicit so much as a word from the silent woman … until now.

On an ordinary Tuesday while Wells was away—despite instructions to never disturb the fragile woman—Jade visited her isolated predecessor bearing a peace a bouquet of white lilies. Only she wasn’t expecting Sylvie to have something for her as a slip of torn notebook paper with a single word scrawled in shaky black ink.

That word? Run.

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

340 pages, Paperback

First published September 27, 2022

Reviews

[Holly B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

A Libby listen!

A mindless, predictable popcorn thriller with alluring narration! 🍿🍿🍿

A new wife, Jade, for the wealthy architect, Wells.

Jade has kind of a past Cinderella story, but is now enjoying her new life at Wells gated estate.

The original (😮) Mrs. Westmore, Sylvie, is "the silent woman". She lives in a cottage on their estate. She suffered a life altering accident and Wells felt obligated to care for her.

Can you sense a plot here?

Lifetime movie stuff, the kind you know will be a train wreck, but can't look away!

Nothing new here, no twists to knock your socks off or place you on the edge of the couch. I did enjoy several of the characters though, especially Portia (nosy neighbor who is always ready to spill the tea) and the library setting and book references (📚)!


Narrated by: Christine Lakin, Kate Rudd
Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐
Your dream husband! Your dream house! What a splendid life.
Okay, so it might help if his first wife wasn’t living in the guest house. How cozy!

Jade married her prince charming, Wells Westmore. So incredibly kind, generous and thoughtful.
When Well's first wife suffered serious injuries in an accident he hired around-the-clock care, setting her up on his estate. But as time passes he chose to move on in search of a new wife. Wells is sure that Jade won’t mind…he’ll just have to make sure to keep her away from the guest house. REALLY?!

Eventually, when the two women accidently come face-to-face one has a dire warning for the other!

I’m a huge fan of Minka Kent, though this probably won’t be listed as a favorite from her. But I still have one more of her reads on my shelf to read.💃

I listened to the audio and enjoyed the narration.

Thank you to my local library 🎧

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ California
Publication date ~ September 27, 2022
Page Count ~ 284 (39 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 32 minutes
Narrators ~ Christine Lakin, Kate Rudd
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ 3 part story

Jade is the 2nd Mrs. Westmore, married to Wells.
Sylvie is the 1st Mrs. Westmore who lives in the guest house with round the clock nursing care.

Quite peculiar to live on the same premises as your husbands 1st wife, and she's not allowed to interact with her or the nursing staff either. Quite peculiar indeed. Not overly surprising where the plot took us, but I quite enjoyed the journey to get to the exciting ending. This is my first experience with this author and I really liked it. I can't wait to read more of her work.

Hubs in depth review:
Thought I knew the culprit halfway through, pleasantly surprised at the end. The end.

Narration notes:
Yay for 2 and they both did great.

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

[TheConnieFox · Rating 3 out of 5]

❥ My Thoughts & Rating ❥

This thriller novel did not disappoint! The premise of this story and the author are the reasons this book grabbed my attention. The way this author writes is so easy to follow and always captures me. This is my third book that I have read by this author and I have really enjoyed all of them! This is mysterious, dark, emotional and sad. I found this to be a very fast paced read, with the story being intriguing right in the first chapter! The plot of this book is captivating and was definitely well executed! This story felt very realistic. I really loved reading the different perspectives of the characters and the dual timeline of the story. I am glad that it went back in time, because it made everything in the present time clearer. Even though the plot was predictable, it still came with suspense and mystery. I will say that there are many twists in this story, while one through me completely off guard! This centers around themes of identity, secrets and deceit. Overall, I rate this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars!

❥ Synopsis ❥

“The Silent Woman" by Minka Kent is a fictional thriller mystery that is unputdownable! It centers around a newlywed wife and husband named Jade and Wells. Jade gets curious about her new husband’s ex wife, named Sylvie. The ex wife Sylvie, mysteriously got injured in an accident and lives on Jade’s and Well’s estate, she is also not able to communicate to anyone. As this story unravels, we learn the dark truths of the silent woman!

❥ Who I think would enjoy reading this book & Content Warnings ❥

I think fans of the novels “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden and “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides would really enjoy reading this book! Content warnings include domestic abuse, confinement, mental illness, physical abuse and toxic relationships.

❥ Thank You ❥

Thank you to NetGalley, author Minka Kent and Thomas & Mercer for this copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

❥ Notes ❥

While this book is already available to read, a newer version of it will be published on July 15, 2025

❥ Quick Review ❥

╰┈➤ Thriller / Mystery
╰┈➤ Dark & Suspenseful
╰┈➤ Full of Twists
╰┈➤ Identity & Secrets
╰┈➤ Fast Paced 💨
╰┈➤ Multiple POV’s
╰┈➤ Dual Timelines
╰┈➤ For fans of “The Housemaid” & “The Silent Patient”

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《

❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥

ツ౨ৎ

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I’m in the mood for a twisty and bingeable thriller that I can read in one sitting I know I can pick up a Minka Kent book and it will satisfy me. When I started this I felt like I knew exactly where it would all go and I’m so pleased to say that I was pretty off. Sure I saw some minor things coming but overall I was wrong and parts left my head spinning with questions and theories that changed almost every chapter. This is super fast paced and the kind of book you don’t want to put down until you finish. I loved the old Hollywood noir vibes next to a ton of lies, betrayals and suspicions and thought that overall it was a solid suspense read and other winner from the author.

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have loved all of Minka Kent's book so far... except this one. It wasn't a bad story and it kept me interested which is why I gave it a 3. I guess it felt predictable in a way and like a familiar story and I kept waiting for a big twist that never happened. Let me take that back.. I guess there was a "big" twist but I feel like the story already made it clear on "who dun it" so the reveal was just eh. I was waiting for some shock value like I had gotten from some of her other stories. If you like Minka Kent I think you should still read it... because in the end it was a good story... and honestly looking at other reviews I think I'm in the minority with this one.

[Renata Annese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hooked. From. The. Start. 💥📖 The Silent Woman is fast paced, juicy, and absolutely loaded with secrets, lies, and one seriously twisted family dynamic. Just when I thought I had things figured out… boom, 💣another reveal. It felt like solving a puzzle where the pieces kept changing 🧩.

The characters were messy, complex, and full of drama, and I genuinely loved the friendships woven into the chaos ❤️. Did I want a more jaw dropping ending? Yes. Did I still devour this book? Also yes 😌🔥. A gripping, entertaining read that kept me guessing... and I’d definitely pick up more from Minka Kent.

4.4/5 ⭐️

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

My nomination for the "2022 Eye-Roller Book of the Year" award.

Newlywed Jade Westmore marries Wells, a wealthy architect whose first wife Sylvie ("The Silent Woman") was assaulted in an almost fatal accident that left her unable to speak.

Sylvie lives in her ex-husband's caretaker's cottage, located on the premises of Wells and Jade's elysian estate. (Huh?)

Jade is not permitted to interact with Sylvie. (Huh?)

Are your eyes rolling yet?

Why would a wealthy husband keep his brain-damaged ex-wife in his backyard cottage, instead of in a reputable care home?

And why wouldn't wife #2 think that this "arrangement" was odd?

I am a Minka Kent fan and, usually, Minka Kent's fast-paced, twisty thrillers offer more elements of realism than this book.

"Listen to silence. It has so much to say" was an intriguing theme that was introduced at the beginning of the book that, unfortunately, the author abandoned.

Overall, this book was underwhelming and predictable with an abrupt ending.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a superb job with the narration.

2 stars, rounded up.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 3.75 stars**
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Kate Rudd

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing the summary, I was afraid it was another Verity knockoff but it wasn't. It did have an injured former wife but it had a lot of different and interesting things going on.

Jade moves in with her new husband Wells and he has a strange setup. His ex-wife Sylvie lives in the guest house. She is unable to talk or do much after she slipped and fell in the pool a few years ago.

Jade isn't supposed to deal with Sylvie. Is that to keep the pressure off Jade or to keep her from discovering secrets? Jade decides to kick it with Sylvie anyway and I liked that because it was really a women caring for women story. She wanted the truth for her, whether it hurt or not, and it felt genuine.

Wells' messed up family is in the story too. His grandma who raised him and his mom who gave him up. The grandma was a movie star and her house is iconic so you kind of get "Verity x Evelyn Hugo" so that was pretty neat!

All around good book and an easy listen. Great narration.

[Melany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. The ending was somewhat predictable, with a twist I didn't expect. I loved Jade and her caring personality for Sylvie. I enjoyed this all around as my bedtime read the past 2 nights. Worthwhile!

[Priskah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,0 ✨✨✨

(Audiobook)

[Carlym79 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but this one just fell completely flat for me. I ended up skimming the last half of the book just to finish it. Overall just felt disappointing in the plot and the characters were very one-dimensional. It's apparent that Wells is going to be the bad guy pretty early on and was disappointed there wasn't a twist from that. Very by-the-book in terms of plot where he was overprotective/jealous of Sylvie and ends up hiring someone to stalk/scare her which ends up with her having an accident in the pool. Then he overmedicates her on purpose to keep her in his house. Not very original. I wanted to like Jade because she was the main character, but just found her a bit boring and bland. Also I didn't buy that she flips so quickly on viewing Wells as a good man to him being a monster. Overall just not a great book for me.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I’m probably rounding down as I was looking for some huge twist.

[Beth Morvant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The definition of a popcorn thriller right here 🍿one of those books that you can fly through really easily, and tho it’s entertaining, nothing really knocked my socks off and I’ll probably forget about it in the coming weeks.

I will however say, if you’re a fan of Verity you may very well enjoy this one. (Albeit this one isn’t as dark and twisted and amazing like Verity, same theme tho.)

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

First of all, I’m quite sure I could not write a coherent book and this book had pages and made sense. But it was soooooooo played out, predictable and boring. I only kept listening because it was a book club pick. I could have stopped because I already knew the whole story and ending during the first chapter. This book was so much better when it was called Verity. That at least had a twist. And some naughty parts. This whole combining Rebecca and Jane Eyre thing should not be attempted by people who aren’t named Daphne Du Maurier or Charlotte Brontë. Do yourself a favor and pick up the FANTASTIC book Rebecca and skip this. I will have already forgotten this book by bedtime.

[Nelli Lakatos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Silent Woman gave me “Verity” and “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” vibes in the best possible way!

Jade moves in with her new husband Wells and he has an unusual setup. His ex-wife Sylvie lives in the guest house. She had an injury years ago and unable to communicate or do much… Or is she?

Although it was predictable and I guessed all the twists I still really enjoyed this story!
It was addicting I couldn’t put the book down, it was such an amazing page turning thriller with themes of strong women, great character development and amazing storyline.

I highly recommend reading this if you want to read a truly incredible page turning thriller that you can’t stop reading!

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a bit predictable I enjoyed the story immensely. I found it addictive and couldn't put it down.

She was a master at character development, and through it some surprising twists. I loved the themes of strong women and women doing great things.

The audio production was superb.

This was my first by the author and I will definitely go back and read her backlist.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Deep down I suppose we’re all desperate for something be it love, attention, or validation. Some of us simply do a better job at hiding it, is all."

Jade Westmore is living the seemingly perfect life with her new husband Wells in his palatial estate while his first wife Sylvie is living in the caretaker's cottage, a shell of the woman she once was after surviving a near fatal accident three years earlier. Always silent, Sylvie has lost her ability to communicate yet there is power in that silence.

"I also know that a person can think they know someone and end up knowing nothing about them at all."

The Silent Woman is a compelling look at love vs obsession and control, speaking to an important issue for women today. My favorite thing about this book was that I sensed definite Rebecca vibes, mysterious and enigmatic in setting with both the current and former Mrs. Westmore living on the property.

Alternating between the present and the past in an effort to determine exactly what happened to Sylvie on that fateful night, Minka Kent writes chapters that offer more questions than answers, keeping me turning the pages to uncover every twist and turn. I had suspicions throughout yet I never imagined the final reveal would play out as it did. Ultimately, this story was an invaluable look at how the power of silence can transform into the courage to find power in one's own voice instead.

** Special thanks to author Minka Kent for sending me this ARC to read and review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available September 27, 2022. **

[Ariana | ohmyleopard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Silent Woman is a page turning thriller! While I wasn’t necessarily surprised by the ending, I was on the edge of my seat to finish the book and find out what happened. I’m a huge fan of Minka Kelly and this book is no exception.

I enjoyed the dual points of view and all of the characters. The book was a suspenseful thriller giving me The Silent Patient meets The Last Mrs. Parish with a dash of Evelyn Hugo vibes.

Definitely something you should add to your tbr along with Minka’s other books!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katrina (Catching up on Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the neighbor—people who overshare are always entertaining. A good read overall. I spent a lot of time guessing who the “bad guy” was, and even in the epilogue, I expected a big twist. Maybe this book is just exactly what it seems, or maybe I’ve just read too many thrillers full of unexpected turns! The story follows a woman whose quiet life is disrupted when a nosy neighbor moves in next door.

[Jessica Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling

This was the perfect book to get me out of my reading funk. It had me hooked from chapter one. It definitely keeps you guessing. The ending was perfect and everything I was rooting for! Well done Minka Kent!!

[Kaci · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much unnecessary filler and such a predictable ending. I love Minka Kent, but this was disappointing.

[LaGaryce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I also know that a person can think they know someone and end up knowing nothing about them at all.

My 4th Minka Kent book! What is there to say without spoiling?

Every time you think you know "who did it", nope you don't. I had quite a few different theories (one was half right), then you find out the entirety of it, and it's a psychologists dream. Which I love to read about because hello mind of another. Sylvie's part of the story really cranked things up a notch. It was decently suspenseful to the very end. And I really appreciated the important elements woven in. (Was I the only one who picked up on that??) Anyway, justice is gloriouuusssss! (How else do I express my joy of how things played out without spoiling????)

You picked the wrong piece of low-hanging fruit.


Alot of parenthesis happening here. Literally subtext for what my brain is like at all times.




Thank you to the author for sending me this ARC* Pub date Sept. 27, 2022

[Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The theme of this book is watered down Lifetime movie. It was all very anti-climactic, with no real thrill to it other than attempting to discover who attacked Sylvie. The problem was that, at least to me personally, it was easily discerned before the halfway mark. I found myself unraveling the plot early into the novel, but I continued reading hoping that it would give out the typical Lifetime thriller that airs on repeat. *SPOILER* I thought that Jade would make her discovery, Wells would discover that she knows and attempt to stop her from leaving. A scuffle would ensue where ultimately Jade would become victorious but none of that happened. We had a very poorly described “chase” scene where a not so inconspicuous black SUV follows them to the hospital but nothing happens. Wells arrives at the hospital later, makes a few demands regarding Sylvie’s care and ultimately goes to jail.

Overall, the beginning started off mediocre and the end fizzled out in disappointment.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

The cover says this is a thriller. It isn't. I kept waiting for some action or intrigue. There was little to none. The ending was disappointing and predictable. There was room for it to be something better, but nope.

The author was overly descriptive (describing a piece of paper as white as unplowed snow, why, just why?) and spent loads of time on nothing that built the characters or the story.

I was listening to the audiobook and was surprised when it ended because I expected some actual twists or turns.

[Danielle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed THE SILENT WOMAN on audiobook. It had everything I was looking for, it was fast-paced, suspenseful and kept me guessing until the end. You can easily binge it in a day's time. I can recommend grabbing a copy of either the book or the audiobook.

[Bells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I loved the writing on this, it was very compelling and I was very curious to know more, so it was definitely a page turner.

I quite liked the characters and how they were all a bit sketchy through most of this book because it kept you wondering who did it, and if there was a plot twist coming.

Which is why this is a 3 star book for me, because it gave you everything until the very end. When I saw that I only had -10 pages to go, I knew there couldn't be a major plot twist which was a bit of a disappointment because the storyline had the potential for it.

I'm definitely curious about this author's writing and what she wrote after this one, might check it out after! I do believe this is worth the read, it was very entertaining!

[Nurse Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would you marry the love of your life if you knew his ex wife lives in the guest house? Jade enters into marriage with Wells, handsome, charming, comes from wealth, and they moved into his grandmothers estate. Her fame as an actress is the topic of Jades newest book and she’s taking it all in while learning about the past. But Wells’ ex wife is in a semi-vegetative state with around the clock nursing staff caring for her. Apparently, a failed suicide attempt left her unable to communicate- or did it?

I found the book interesting but wish the plot went deeper into the story, it felt a little shallow. Took me a bit to get into it and seemed to lose interest towards the end. Not bad, not memorable.