Customer Reviews

Listen to the Silence (Gemstar)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Readers who have been following Sharon McCone for years, as I have, will no doubt love this chance to find out more about her personal background and history. I stayed up 'til 2 AM reading "Listen to the Silence." Not only is it a splendid mystery, but it's so beautifully written -- Muller describes the landscapes of Montana, Idaho and Northern California so well that I truly felt I'd visited those places! McCone fans won't be disappointed, although the book does end with a cliffhanger that will make us VERY impatient for the next installment...

This distinguished series has been a favorite of mine for many years, but I found this novel to be the most rewarding to me. In other novels, Sharon McCone's character, wit, and action are stronger . . . but the underlying issues are much less fundamental. Here, she has to look squarely at the question of who she is in the broadest sense. To pull that off after so many novels is quite a feat. I heartily commend and thank Marcia Muller for writing this book.

I can't tell you very much about the plot without giving away things that will spoil the story for you. So I apologize for not giving you as much detail as I usually do.

Let me talk instead about how the plot is organized. Sharon McCone is off on a search for identity where one clue connects to another. So there is the usual mystery-unraveling aspect to the plot. The complications are above average in their extent, and provide satisfying revelations right up to the end.

As you may know from other Sharon McCone novels, Marcia Muller likes to work with mental dialogue as well as spoken dialogue. In this case, the internal dialogue is about listening for what people don't say, when they hesitate, or change the subject. From this interesting technique, you will probably become a better listener. Like most of us, Sharon McCone lets most of this information pass her by the first time she hears it. But upon further reflection, she sees missing elements. And then profitably focuses her attention on those. By this method, most of the plot is unraveled.

But the development of what a family is makes this a remarkable mystery. In this one novel, Marcia Muller looks at intergenerational relations, the implications of adoption and remarriage, male-female relations with and without marriage, and clan relations as well. Few novels have this scope, and I hope you will look for this element and think about it as you read this rewarding novel.

For Sharon McCone fans, this book is going to be very exciting for another reason: The elements in this book create vast potential for developing new and expanded themes in future books in the series.

If you have not read any of the books in the series, however, I suggest that you not start with this one. A lot of its appeal comes in the surprises that you will experience as the plot unfolds. I envy you the chance to start in the beginning and read all of these books in order!

Overcome your complacency about thinking you know what is about to happen in your own life. Use this book to identify a single assumption you are making about your life which, if changed, would refocus everything you do. Then consider whether your assumption is really a good one. Who knows what you will discover?

Enjoy!

Marcia Muller's writing has been getting better and better, book by book. This, her latest, however, is a giant leap forward. I couldn't put it down! The dynamic plot moves along quickly, almost seamlessly, through some new and intriguing places. Her fearless Private Investigator, Sharon McCone, is more confident and believable than ever as she leads us to a whole new cast of (very attractive) characters. Fans of McCone will love this book. If you've not read Muller before, start with this one!

Sharon McCone doesn't just look like a Shoshone. She is one. Throughout this highly successful mystery series, Marcia Muller has run this continuing tread of her private detective possessing the appearance of a Shoshone ancestor. In Listen to the Silence, Muller reveals why. Sharon's father dies, and she discovers in his papers a truth that had been hidden from her all of her life. Seeking more of this truth, Sharon travels to the Shoshone reservation. There, she encounters deeply buried secrets and homicides that need to be solved. This book is my favorite McCone novel. I enjoyed the socio-cultural aspects of the mystery and as well as the plot. Muller's dialog is always first-rate. Listen to the Silence is a fine mystery novel by a terrific mystery author.

When Sharon McCone's father dies, he directs her to sort out his personal papers and effects. While doing this, she discovers her own adoption papers. She never knew she was adopted, and after her rage and confusion subsides a bit, she sets out to discover who she is.

I haven't read one of Muller's books in a long time and had forgotten how engrossing they can be. I started this book in the afternoon and didn't put it down until I finished it late the same night. I recommend this book highly.

Sharon always knew that she was part Shoshone, growing up. She took a funny pride in realizing how much she looked like her Shoshone great-grandmother rather than the rest of the siblings in the McCone clan. That pride is seen in a whole new light when her father's death raises questions about her birth. Her exploration of the mystery takes her into the past, looking for the secrets of her heritage.

Yet another well-written renewal for the Sharon McCone series. Muller is perhaps better than any other writer at letting her character really evolve. I look forward to the books that will follow the material here.

M. Muller has done it again! This eagerly awaited chapter in Sharon McCone's life was read in less than 24 hours. If I reviewed this book more than the above, the content would be given away.

I must say I was disappointed to find out that Sharon McCone was born in 1959 - Edwin of the Iron Shoes was out in 1977 which would have made Sharon 18 years old. This distressed me as I view her as an old friend who has matured along with me over the years!!

I just finished reading this book and it was great. I was hooked by the 3rd page. Sharon found out she was adopted after her father dies and she sets out to find out who she really is and almost gets herself killed doing it. This book was so hard to put down. It is one of Marcia Muller's best.

Bought this book on Friday night, started it on lunch break at work on Tuesday. Finished it Tuesday night before going to bed. Great book! Could not put this book down. Not just a personal profile of McCone, but insights into us all and our concept of who we are. Really was involved in this case with Sharon and when I got to the last page, I wanted to keep going. How long must I wait for the next episode? Too long. More. More.

For a while, I was reminded of Yvette Melanson's true story "Looking for Lost Bird" and maybe that's where Marcia Muller got her inspiration for this fork in the Sharon McCone series? The book doesn't have the depth of Sherman Alexie - but, hey! It's a fine branch in the "whodunit" genre. This was my first Marcia Muller/ Sharon McCone book. It was easy to get into because the book takes the series off on a new path, so the new reader needn't be familiar with lots of background.