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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Remain Silent is the third instalment in the Detective Inspector Manon Bradshaw trilogy set in the countryside of Cambridgeshire. These are excellent police procedural's but if you haven't read the previous two books not to worry as this stands pretty well on its own as Steiner provides enough background to get you up to date. Newly married and navigating life with a preschooler as well as her adopted adolescent son, Manon Bradshaw is happy to be working part-time in the cold cases department of the Cambridgeshire police force, however, her marriage already seems under strain. When Manon is on a walk with her four-year-old son in a peaceful suburban neighbourhood she discovers the body of Lithuanian immigrant, Lukas Balsys, hanging from a tree with a mysterious note attached to his trousers that translates as ”the dead cannot speak.”
This is a compulsive, addictive and intelligently woven police procedural that takes a little longer to get into but once you are it is not easy to put it down. I appreciate that the author didn't shy away from exploring prevalent social issues such as exploited workers working for little pay in appalling conditions for long stretches and anti-immigrant sentiment which has certainly set-in a lot more since the whole Brexit fiasco; these issues have been treated sensitively by Ms Steiner and it’s clear the extensive research carried out in order to make this as accurate as possible. Luckily to balance things out there is some great wit and humour throughout which really is needed due to the harrowing nature of the immigrant/refugee situation addressed throughout.
Overall, this is an entertaining, compelling and addictive tale that will gain Steiner many new fans and cements her place near the top of the crime thriller tree. A cracking, well-written page-turner with plenty of twists and turns, drama, danger and suspense. It is a thoroughly satisfying read and if you prefer your crime fiction with a deeper side to it then this is an absolute must-read. Highly recommended. Many thanks to The Borough Press for an ARC.
This is a compulsive, addictive and intelligently woven police procedural that takes a little longer to get into but once you are it is not easy to put it down. I appreciate that the author didn't shy away from exploring prevalent social issues such as exploited workers working for little pay in appalling conditions for long stretches and anti-immigrant sentiment which has certainly set-in a lot more since the whole Brexit fiasco; these issues have been treated sensitively by Ms Steiner and it’s clear the extensive research carried out in order to make this as accurate as possible. Luckily to balance things out there is some great wit and humour throughout which really is needed due to the harrowing nature of the immigrant/refugee situation addressed throughout.
Overall, this is an entertaining, compelling and addictive tale that will gain Steiner many new fans and cements her place near the top of the crime thriller tree. A cracking, well-written page-turner with plenty of twists and turns, drama, danger and suspense. It is a thoroughly satisfying read and if you prefer your crime fiction with a deeper side to it then this is an absolute must-read. Highly recommended. Many thanks to The Borough Press for an ARC.
In the third book in Steiner's Manon Bradshaw series, we find Manon at work part-time in cold cases, leaving her "time" to raise her toddler, Teddy, and teenage son, Fly. She's adjusting to domestic living with Mark and all the bliss that comes with it: who will take out the garbage, pick up the kids, cook dinner, and more. Then Teddy and Manon take a walk to the park and discover a body: a Lithuanian immigrant named Lukas hanging from a tree, a note attached to his body. Manon's annoying and perhaps clueless boss assigns her to lead the case--with her faithful partner Davy Walker--and Manon is back, attempting to juggle work, motherhood, and what could be a very dangerous murder case.
I love Manon and this was yet another well-written mystery from Steiner. The introduction to this book features one of the most amazing, realistic, and yes, depressing, ruminations on marriage, life, and death that I may have ever read. In fact, Steiner so perfectly captures real life, especially juggling being a working mom. I love that she doesn't shy away from how hard Manon finds parenting, or gloss over the difficulties of marriage. Once or twice I might have found these tirades a bit tiresome (back to the case, I say!), but overall, it's refreshing to find a book that tells it like it is.
Speaking of, this is such a timely read, focusing on immigration, racism, and the overall hatred of "otherness" that seems to permeate the world right now. The central plot focuses on the infusion of immigrants, particularly Eastern Europeans, into England. The story told is a heartbreaking one of anger and loss. Steiner deftly weaves a tale from multiple points of view and time periods--we hear not only from Manon and Davy, but Lukas' friend Matis, who spearheads the pair's immigration from Lithuania, only for them to find themselves basically prisoners. They are indebted to the man who brought them over, trapped in a smelly workhouse, and forced to do menial labor to pay off their "debt." With Lukas dead, the story leading up to his death unfolds, and it's absolutely riveting and heartbreaking. Steiner handles the sensitive issues surrounding immigration and racism wonderfully, crafting a well-done mystery that still gives this topic its due.
"'Why do they hate us so much?'"
Overall, I cannot recommend this book (4.5 stars) or this series enough. I have followed Steiner on social media for years and was devastated to learn she was diagnosed with a brain tumor after submitting this book. My heart goes out to her and her recovery.
I received a copy of this book from Random House and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
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I love Manon and this was yet another well-written mystery from Steiner. The introduction to this book features one of the most amazing, realistic, and yes, depressing, ruminations on marriage, life, and death that I may have ever read. In fact, Steiner so perfectly captures real life, especially juggling being a working mom. I love that she doesn't shy away from how hard Manon finds parenting, or gloss over the difficulties of marriage. Once or twice I might have found these tirades a bit tiresome (back to the case, I say!), but overall, it's refreshing to find a book that tells it like it is.
Speaking of, this is such a timely read, focusing on immigration, racism, and the overall hatred of "otherness" that seems to permeate the world right now. The central plot focuses on the infusion of immigrants, particularly Eastern Europeans, into England. The story told is a heartbreaking one of anger and loss. Steiner deftly weaves a tale from multiple points of view and time periods--we hear not only from Manon and Davy, but Lukas' friend Matis, who spearheads the pair's immigration from Lithuania, only for them to find themselves basically prisoners. They are indebted to the man who brought them over, trapped in a smelly workhouse, and forced to do menial labor to pay off their "debt." With Lukas dead, the story leading up to his death unfolds, and it's absolutely riveting and heartbreaking. Steiner handles the sensitive issues surrounding immigration and racism wonderfully, crafting a well-done mystery that still gives this topic its due.
"'Why do they hate us so much?'"
Overall, I cannot recommend this book (4.5 stars) or this series enough. I have followed Steiner on social media for years and was devastated to learn she was diagnosed with a brain tumor after submitting this book. My heart goes out to her and her recovery.
I received a copy of this book from Random House and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
This is the third book in the DS Manon Bradshaw series, and I was excited to pick it up. I’ve loved the rest of the series - Manon is just SO REAL, so messy, so hilariously in her head. Parts of her life are just so relatable (the domestic parts), and then her professional life is so foreign, which is refreshing.
Let me just say: if you liked the first two books, you won’t be disappointed in this one. Steiner continues to deliver.
I will just put in a personal caveat: I started this galley in late February, and just hit a point around 30% where I couldn’t bear to pick it back up. It might have coincided with the COVID pandemic becoming a REAL THING, and this book is DECIDEDLY not light. Immigration and the bigoted backlash to it, modern-day slavery, retaliation maiming - JFC. I think about 30% in is where you’re really getting into Matis & Lukas’s perspective (and maybe Elise?), and it is just HEAVY. I did get back to it in mid-May and finished it in just a few days. But there was quite a big break in the middle.
It’s not a light book. Manon’s facing some hard home-life stuff, as are her friends. People are generally terrible, in the way that people are. You might save this book for time where you have a lot of emotional resilience?
The author’s note at the end had me gasping.
So....I guess just go in prepared? I love Manon, and I absolutely don’t regret the time I spent with this book. But some days (most days) it felt like it weighed 10,000 lbs each time I picked it back up to read.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
Let me just say: if you liked the first two books, you won’t be disappointed in this one. Steiner continues to deliver.
I will just put in a personal caveat: I started this galley in late February, and just hit a point around 30% where I couldn’t bear to pick it back up. It might have coincided with the COVID pandemic becoming a REAL THING, and this book is DECIDEDLY not light. Immigration and the bigoted backlash to it, modern-day slavery, retaliation maiming - JFC. I think about 30% in is where you’re really getting into Matis & Lukas’s perspective (and maybe Elise?), and it is just HEAVY. I did get back to it in mid-May and finished it in just a few days. But there was quite a big break in the middle.
It’s not a light book. Manon’s facing some hard home-life stuff, as are her friends. People are generally terrible, in the way that people are. You might save this book for time where you have a lot of emotional resilience?
The author’s note at the end had me gasping.
So....I guess just go in prepared? I love Manon, and I absolutely don’t regret the time I spent with this book. But some days (most days) it felt like it weighed 10,000 lbs each time I picked it back up to read.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
I’m quitting this at 35% (and I’ve been skimming for a while). I started this expecting a police procedural, but the last few chapters have been all about human trafficking from the perspectives of those trafficked, and are extremely harrowing. I was having my doubts anyway: the tone is generally depressing and the text has contradicted itself in places.
Disappointed, as I was enjoying this series.
I’m quitting this at 35% (and I’ve been skimming for a while). I started this expecting a police procedural, but the last few chapters have been all about human trafficking from the perspectives of those trafficked, and are extremely harrowing. I was having my doubts anyway: the tone is generally depressing and the text has contradicted itself in places.
Disappointed, as I was enjoying this series.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes