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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the first two Manon Bradshaw novels and was thrilled to see a new one! The plot revolves around the very big themes of immigration and labor exploitation, yet is still a tightly constructed procedural and at times very funny. Manon is a flawed but fascinating character, and it was a pleasure to spend time with her again.
An ARC was provided by Random House. The novel will be released June 2, 2020.
An ARC was provided by Random House. The novel will be released June 2, 2020.
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
Remain Silent, the third in the brilliant Manon Bradshaw series, is a fantastic new instalment that had me feeling every emotion as I tore through its pages. With a gripping and very timely plot and truly engaging characters, I felt completely absorbed in the characters and their lives.
The plot centres around Manon and the Cambridgeshire Police department's investigations into the death of a Lithuanian man, no doubt connected to the many Eastern European immigrants in Wisbech, an area not too far away from where I grew up (in Peterborough). It's not clear if the death is suspicious or suicide, but some of the local community is resentful of these immigrants and what they represent.
I really liked that throughout the novel we get varying point of views, from Manon herself, her close colleague Davy, through to the men, such as Lucas and his friend Matis, who are living in horrendous conditions in houses of multiple occupancy, having been promised a better life in England but ending up trapped, working all hours for no pay and beaten if they don't obey orders. I found it really difficult to read to be honest, feeling very emotional at times; at some parts I had to put the book down for a while and come back to it, but the way Susie Steiner writes is so engaging I couldn't leave this novel closed for long!
Although so much of this novel is truly depressing, there's also lots of humorous parts. Manon is a great character - acerbic, weary but dogged too - and some of her witty lines to other characters brought some very welcome light relief. No one in this novel is perfect which I really liked, and I have to say I wish the ending had turned out a bit happier, but that's life for you... sometimes things end differently to how we'd hope.
Remain Silent really did blow me away - it's brilliantly written and is a fitting third novel in this excellent series.
Remain Silent, the third in the brilliant Manon Bradshaw series, is a fantastic new instalment that had me feeling every emotion as I tore through its pages. With a gripping and very timely plot and truly engaging characters, I felt completely absorbed in the characters and their lives.
The plot centres around Manon and the Cambridgeshire Police department's investigations into the death of a Lithuanian man, no doubt connected to the many Eastern European immigrants in Wisbech, an area not too far away from where I grew up (in Peterborough). It's not clear if the death is suspicious or suicide, but some of the local community is resentful of these immigrants and what they represent.
I really liked that throughout the novel we get varying point of views, from Manon herself, her close colleague Davy, through to the men, such as Lucas and his friend Matis, who are living in horrendous conditions in houses of multiple occupancy, having been promised a better life in England but ending up trapped, working all hours for no pay and beaten if they don't obey orders. I found it really difficult to read to be honest, feeling very emotional at times; at some parts I had to put the book down for a while and come back to it, but the way Susie Steiner writes is so engaging I couldn't leave this novel closed for long!
Although so much of this novel is truly depressing, there's also lots of humorous parts. Manon is a great character - acerbic, weary but dogged too - and some of her witty lines to other characters brought some very welcome light relief. No one in this novel is perfect which I really liked, and I have to say I wish the ending had turned out a bit happier, but that's life for you... sometimes things end differently to how we'd hope.
Remain Silent really did blow me away - it's brilliantly written and is a fitting third novel in this excellent series.
*I received a free ARC of this novel, with thanks to the author, The Borough Press, Harper Collins UK and NetGalley. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Remain Silent is an intense police procedural novel which feels very timely in the current political climate of police protests and growing racial tensions around immigration issues.
The main character, Manon, has to juggle her career as a detective, her relationship with her partner, Mark, and parenting her children, Fly (teen) and Teddy (toddler). The reality of a working mum trying to be everything to everyone feels very real, and the issues are highlighted further when her two – very different – worlds collide, as she and Teddy discover a body in the park.
When it turns out that the dead body is that of a Lithuanian migrant worker, racial tensions rise from a simmer to a boil and Manon has to attempt to solve the case before everything bubbles over. Susie Steiner explores the issues here from all angles: the abused and exploited workers; the NIMBY neighbours, worried about their house prices; the protestors, the sympathisers, and the patriotic (on both sides). It all feels extremely poignant and relevant to current situations in the UK and US, making the realism feel bitterly authentic.
There are some possible triggers included in the story, including torture, animal cruelty and deliberate disfigurement, which could be upsetting for more sensitive readers. These topics are all relevant to the storyline and are handled sensitively, but with the intent to shock the reader with the cruelty and injustice of the relevant situations.
Despite following the clues, I still found myself surprised at the final reveal, and I do always love to ‘lose in a fair fight’ to a mystery! I read this book as a standalone with no problem at all, but if you enjoy a well-crafted police procedural with well-developed characters and exploration of deeper societal issues, then I would recommend you start with Missing, Presumed and work your way forward.
‘If we were on TV,’ she says, the breath in her lungs pumped and lively, ‘we’d be in an office with a giant interactive map on it and I’d stroke my finger across it to triangulate the locations. And we’d be wearing tonal outfits, Davy.’
‘Yeah, well, we’re not on TV, so I can offer you a biro and an Ordnance Survey map.’
– Susie Steiner, Remain Silent
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/10/07/remain-silent-susie-steiner/
Remain Silent is an intense police procedural novel which feels very timely in the current political climate of police protests and growing racial tensions around immigration issues.
The main character, Manon, has to juggle her career as a detective, her relationship with her partner, Mark, and parenting her children, Fly (teen) and Teddy (toddler). The reality of a working mum trying to be everything to everyone feels very real, and the issues are highlighted further when her two – very different – worlds collide, as she and Teddy discover a body in the park.
When it turns out that the dead body is that of a Lithuanian migrant worker, racial tensions rise from a simmer to a boil and Manon has to attempt to solve the case before everything bubbles over. Susie Steiner explores the issues here from all angles: the abused and exploited workers; the NIMBY neighbours, worried about their house prices; the protestors, the sympathisers, and the patriotic (on both sides). It all feels extremely poignant and relevant to current situations in the UK and US, making the realism feel bitterly authentic.
There are some possible triggers included in the story, including torture, animal cruelty and deliberate disfigurement, which could be upsetting for more sensitive readers. These topics are all relevant to the storyline and are handled sensitively, but with the intent to shock the reader with the cruelty and injustice of the relevant situations.
Despite following the clues, I still found myself surprised at the final reveal, and I do always love to ‘lose in a fair fight’ to a mystery! I read this book as a standalone with no problem at all, but if you enjoy a well-crafted police procedural with well-developed characters and exploration of deeper societal issues, then I would recommend you start with Missing, Presumed and work your way forward.
‘If we were on TV,’ she says, the breath in her lungs pumped and lively, ‘we’d be in an office with a giant interactive map on it and I’d stroke my finger across it to triangulate the locations. And we’d be wearing tonal outfits, Davy.’
‘Yeah, well, we’re not on TV, so I can offer you a biro and an Ordnance Survey map.’
– Susie Steiner, Remain Silent
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/10/07/remain-silent-susie-steiner/
mysterious
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DS Manon Bradshaw has to be one of my favourite characters. Her sarcasm and dark wit really brings light to the dismal situations that she finds herself investigating. Susie Steiner really knows how to reference current affairs with humour and grace. Thoroughly enjoyed Remain Silent. 5 stars.