The Price of Silence (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: insulation foam, beaded bracelets, An-ling Huang, Miss Huang, Emma Perotti (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of this taut psychological thriller from Trinchieri (The Trouble with a Bad Fit and other mysteries under the names Camilla T. Crespi and Trella Crespi), Emma Perotti, an ESL teacher in Manhattan, enfolds one of her students, An-ling Huang, into her family, despite her husband Tom's distrust of the young Chinese woman. Emma is driven in part by the guilt she feels for the infant daughter she accidentally ran over and killed years before—a secret unknown to Tom, the child's father, and Emma's teenage son, Josh. As the bond between the women grows, Emma's marriage stalls. She moves into a loft with An-ling, but the arrangement sours as Emma prepares to return home and An-ling seduces Josh. When An-ling is found dead, Emma is charged with her murder. Though Emma's sudden obsession with An-ling and the family's final redemption both feel slightly forced, the novel is a gripping, intelligent read. Particularly compelling are its subtle insights into the nature of family, foreignness and the lies we tell ourselves and others even when our intentions are good. (June)
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From Booklist

ESL instructor Emma Perotti and her professor husband, Tom, had a near-perfect marriage until the day Emma accidentally struck and killed their two-year-old daughter with her car. Over time, a once-inconsolable Emma learns to navigate her grief. The couple rejoices in the birth of a son, and the future looks, if not bright, at least brighter. One day, a mysterious young artist named An-ling walks into Emma's classroom. The teacher feels an immediate connection with the 19-year-old woman, who seems to harbor deep sadness. (After the early death of her parents, teenager An-ling traded life in rural China for what seemed like a much better future in the States.) Emma develops a complex, emotionally charged friendship with An-ling, and when the young woman is found dead, she finds herself standing trial for her murder. Trinchieri, who has penned seven previous mysteries under the pseudonym Camilla Crespi, deftly interweaves multiple perspectives, from Emma's husband and son to key participants in the trial. The result is a potent psychological thriller about love, longing, and loss. Allison Block
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Soho Press (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569474583
• ISBN-13: 978-1569474587
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #512,864 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Psychological Thriller, August 4, 2007

By	Kathy G. Frank - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A thoughtful beautifully told taut psychological novel with each of the characters drawing the reader into their innermost thoughts and secrets. All building up to a exciting ending. A must read - you'll definitely enjoy this book. Kathy F. New York City

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gripping Story, June 22, 2007

By	Joan Barist - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I enjoyed this book enormously. It operated on several different levels; all of which meshed together beautifully.
On one hand it is a story of a family suffering from a great loss; and then again it is a murder trial. I loved the way it went back and forth between the trial and the people in the family all of whom perceived events in different ways. I also thought the relationship between the student and the teacher was beautifully drawn and showed the difficulties inherent in human relationships. The author's interest in Chinese culture was particulary fascinating. I think this is an author who has
created wonderful complex characters and a very strong plot.
I recommend it strongly. I could not put the book down.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What price truth??????, July 5, 2007

By	reading barbara (ny,ny) - See all my reviews

This is a very well written book with beautifully developed and layered
characters. It depicts a family who has suffered a great loss and how
each member is affected by and deals with it. As deception becomes the rule rather than the exception, and unintended consequenses of actions
build upon themselves, the author deftly creates a world of suspense and
drama. These are characters you remember.