BOOK REVIEW: A Sisterhood Of Silence

TITLE: A Sisterhood Of Silence
AUTHOR: Julie Evans
PUBLISHED BY: Independent Publisher

This is the second in the Cornish Crime series; the individual titles are stand-alone stories, as such they do not need to be read sequentially.

This crime thriller depicts how Jem Fielding, a pimp and drug dealer, abducts an elective mute teenager, Carly, who had chosen not to speak since birth and attempts to bury her alive without realising he will have the wrath of the small Cornish town community to deal with.

Due to the abduction, Carly is traumatised by her ordeal and undergoes a distressing emotional transformation, thus turning her back on her loved ones and dedicating herself to her abductor's obliteration.

She discovers she is not the only one he has hurt and together with the other victims she forms a sisterhood intent on destroying Fielding and stopping him hurting anyone else.

The narrative is told through the eyes of the victim and her family; Carly’s godfather, DI Ross Trenear, a close friend of the family, having grown up with Carly’s father, helps track down the abductor after Carly goes missing whilst doing his utmost to reassure her parents that all will be well.

This tense crime thriller is a page-turner which includes abduction, attempted murder, corruption, domestic abuse and hatred for a man who thought he could get away with it all.

I really enjoyed reading this book and getting to know all the characters who were realistic and interesting; the storyline had me gripped and guessing right until the final page. There is a strong sense of community spirit and a hunger for justice in the story which is relatable and emotive.

I particularly liked the small sized chapters which kept the story on point and made the book easy to pick up and put down and to return to without having the problem of remembering where I left off.

Readers will love the locations of the story, Penzance and St Ives in Cornwall, two of the prettiest places in UK and a lovely backdrop to an intriguing story which had me so engrossed I found myself staying up late to find out what happened next.

This is a first-class read with a gripping storyline which centres on strong, family connections and has captivating characters that are relatable and stimulating.

I’m looking forward to reading Book 3 in the series, The Bitter Fruit Beneath.

Reviewer - Anne Prtichard