In Silence [Hardcover]

Erica Spindler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

When Avery Chauvin returns to her Louisiana hometown after her father's suicide, she discovers clippings of a fifteen-year-old murder and learns about recent disappearances and murders that lead her to start an investigation.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The old adage, "You can't go home again," doesn't apply to Cypress Springs, La., a picaresque little town that goes to extreme-and sometimes deadly-lengths to keep the outside world and its corrupting influences at bay. The town's outward calm provides an eerie counterpoint to the struggle occurring beneath the surface, which makes it the perfect setting for Spindler's latest thriller (after Dead Run). When investigative reporter Avery Chauvin returns to Cypress Springs to put her father's affairs in order after his apparent suicide, she takes comfort in the familiar attentions of her high school sweetheart, Matt Stevens, and his loving family, who treat her as one of their own. It soon becomes apparent, however, that things aren't as they seem. For starters, the Stevens clan seems uneasy, particularly when she mentions Hunter, Matt's fraternal twin. Then she receives a call that leads her to suspect that her dad was murdered. Her fears are sharpened when a local woman turns up dead, and "outsider" Gwen Lancaster tells Avery about her brother's disappearance. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Avery's investigative instincts take a while to kick in, but once they do, she uncovers clues indicating that a vigilante group has taken it upon itself to police and punish the town's citizens. Most disturbing is the fact that Hunter, with whom Avery becomes romantically involved, fits the killer's profile. While smoothly written, the book's absurdly macabre (and somewhat implausible) denouement will disappoint. Still, once readers get past the sluggish first half, they'll be chilled by the town's creepy Big Brother rhetoric and pulled inexorably onward by the question of whodunit.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Readers will be pulled inexorably onward by the question of whodunit." -- Publishers Weekly

Erica Spindler "skillfully takes her readers into the subtle areas of crime scenes." -- Yong-Myun Rho, M.D., consultant in forensic medicine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira; 1ST edition (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551666995
• ISBN-13: 978-1551666990
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,219,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A New York Times and International bestselling author, Erica Spindler's skill for crafting engrossing plots and compelling characters has earned both critical praise and legions of fans. Published in 25 countries, her stories have been lauded as "thrill-packed page turners, white- knuckle rides and edge-of-your-seat whodunits."

Raised in Rockford, Illinois, Erica had planned on being an artist, earning a BFA from Delta State University and an MFA from the University of New Orleans in the visual arts. In June of 1982, in bed with a cold, she picked up a romance novel for relief from daytime television. She was immediately hooked, and soon decided to try to write one herself. She leaped from romance to suspense in 1996 with her novel Forbidden Fruit, and found her true calling.

Her novel Bone Cold won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence. A Romance Writers of America Honor Roll member, she received a Kiss of Death Award for her novels Forbidden Fruit and Dead Run and was a three-time RITA® Award finalist. Publishers Weekly awarded the audio version of her novel Shocking Pink a Listen Up Award, naming it one of the best audio mystery books of 1998.

Erica lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and two sons and is busy at work on her next thriller.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling Drama with a twist!!, May 13, 2004

By 

Elaine C McTyer "avid reader" (Dawson, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In Silence (Mass Market Paperback)

I have all of Erica Spindler's books, because she always surprises me. They are tightly plotted and full of unexpected twists. IN SILENCE is no exception.

When Avery Chauvin returns home after several years, it is to face the death of her father. Avery is a reporter. She comes home and immediately gets involved with the friends she left behind. Including two brothers, one a cop, like his dad, and the other a lawyer, trying to put his life back together.

Cypress Springs, Lousianna is a small town, that faces all the small town problems, as well as, some big town problems.

There is a great deal of tension in the family of her friends. Especially between the brothers.

Suddenly, this small town has had a rash of unusual, unexplained, deaths. Alot of people have died, either in weird accidents, or some have just gone missing, Or like Avery's father, committed suicide.

The feeling of a tightly closed community comes through clearly. And now Avery is on the outside. She tries to understand what is happening. But her conclusions not only scare her, but put her on a direct course to confront true evil of the mind.

This is a gripping story, and anyone who has lived in a small community can understand the terror of knowing someone you know is capable of true horror.

The terror and fast pace of the story kept me glued to my chair. I read it in one sitting. This is an exciting and unusual book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Surprisingly Good Read, July 18, 2005

By 

Norrcorp (Irvine, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Silence (Hardcover)

I bought this one at discount and figured, at most, it would occupy some summer "laying by the pool" time. To the contrary, I was pleasantly surprised and was drawn into the story. I had never before read any of Spindler's books, but now plan on reading some others.

The story has a great hook and the action moves at a good pace. The characters are believable and interesting. Although there are only a few obvious suspects, the author actually got me misdirected a few times and the ending was in (relative) doubt until the climax. All in all, well worth reading.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cheers, July 11, 2006

By 

bookworm (Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Silence (Mass Market Paperback)

I can't believe I have just now read my first book by Spindler. There are so many guilty people in this story. It seemed everyone was hiding something and covering up what really happened. One should give credance to their insticts as there is usually some reason for feeling that way. I'm so glad Avery found the right guy while going through the worst nightmare of her life. I have 2 more of Spindler's books waiting for me.