I received the book from the author for an honest review.
The author's writing style took me a while getting used to it. Too many repeats as the storyI received the book from the author for an honest review.
The author's writing style took me a while getting used to it. Too many repeats as the story had to be told for every person Mack met made it dreary and dull.
The story itself was gripping once you passed al the repetitive conversations.
Grief and moving forward after an ordeal the main topics of the story, which was touching. The driver was struggling with real issues that I can relate to, struggling with the same in my own life. Life does not always come with a manual and it is difficult to understand God's guidance but things tend to work out.
The crime mystery gave it an interesting swing as Mack's time to mend collided with mystery and treachery. Barb's character was a very good supporting character that grounded Mack, like a soundboard to Mack.
Personally, I think with better proofreading, removing all the repetitions, etc this could be a 5-star story. Showing, in this case, would be a great improvement instead of telling....more
I received an ARC from the authors for an honest review. At first, when I opened the book my heart dropped when I saw the number of pages waiting for mI received an ARC from the authors for an honest review. At first, when I opened the book my heart dropped when I saw the number of pages waiting for me. A daunting task when you have a full program but after reading the book I can honestly say that I was well informed and entertained. With their fluent writing style the book captivated me from page one, and at the end the number of pages became irrelevant and I was lost in the story. Since the very first book I have read from their pen I can honestly say that they are one of my favourite writers. All the genres in fiction I love: spy, romance, thriller, suspense, history and a few more, they capture in one book without any difficulty. Silent Fear is no exception. Silent fear, a very appropriate name for this book, did not disappoint and I had a great time reading until the late hours of the night. The story itself was very well planned and executed making it easy to follow while persistently growing to a striking finale. Each character was continually evolving as a person making it believable and realistic. Some, I couldn’t stand at first but as the story continue they grow on you as well. Even the villain had his good qualities – and since it wasn’t mentioned in the book: Eddie was correct in his assessment of the killer. Who is Eddie? Read the book to find out… LOL 501 people were placed in quarantine because of the Monkey Flu epidemic that went viral all across the globe. The first affected person in England was found in a Deaf University, South Kensington, and shut down was a sure thing. Students, lecturers, staff and people that was unfortunate to be in the Uni on that day plus one detective were barricaded inside the 6 storey building. Add a serial killer – the reason for the detective – and a heatwave to the mix and you have a live hurricane that left nothing standing: figuratively speaking. The story is based on true events that happened in the early 1980’s in a Deaf community and the authors created their own version and setting to bring us this wonderful book. At the conclusion the authors gave us their reason why they have chosen England as the desired location and I must agree with the setting. England, with their gloomy weather, rich history and old buildings does give stories a mysterious feel that you struggle to find anywhere else. Reading other reviews from deaf people I can understand why this story was so captivating. The authors did a thorough study to capture the hearing-impaired’s difficulties. The fact that hearing people are suddenly on their playing field could you sense the frustrations of both parties as they try to cope during this turmoil. They had to find a mutual ground and understand each other in order to co-exist for the duration of the outbreak. This bring me to the detective which I felt was the bridge between the two worlds. Her character brought the two worlds together making it thought-provoking. Since there are so many characters within the story I am only going to highlight a few.
First Class Detective Superintendent Valerie Crowther was a no-nonsense Scotland Yard cop fluent in British Sign Language. The ideal person for the job. As a woman she was severely tested, proofing to every person involved that she was more than capable to do the work. With a heatwave that send the temperature up to 39ᵒC, with no working air-cons inside which raised the temperature inside the Uni to more than 40 Degrees. Add the growing tension of a serial killer on the loose and the H7N7 virus on the prowl for its next victim the temperature was 50 degrees going to 100. A boiling pot that she had to manage as best she could. During the entire ordeal she had to cope with difficult lecturers and students alike and be depended on people. Amidst it all she had to face a mother’s depression, an ex-husband, her immediate boss, and the occult plus nosy reporters. These two tested her patience to the max. Between all the deaths surrounding her she kept her focus and levelheadedness. Even during her own abduction she remained calm, her emotions always in control while tension was growing around her. Her pain and fears elevated her sense of survival and she stayed true to herself. My admiration and respect for this woman grew with each obstacle she had to face. She was thrown in at the deep end and persevered. Her strength and agility a true testimony of her persona. Chancellor Ron Fairbrother’s was her biggest support inside the 4 walls of the Uni. His character was equally tested and he advanced from an arrogant man to an endearing man. He had to face a lot of changes within his territory and you could sense his emotional turmoil within. He had to deal with angry students and parents to a steadfast Prime Minister, not willing to budge. Chief Superintendent Mark Bennett and ex-husband of the pretty detective had his own difficulties to overcome. Because it was such a high priority case he was rebuked for using his ex-wife as the head detective. Not that he had a choice when she was barricaded into the Uni with 500 other people. She was elected to investigate a murder which became more than he would have thought off in the beginning. His character, too, grew immensely within the pages while still staying in control of the entire investigation. When he did the unexpected to find Valerie when she disappeared you get to learn to know the man really well. A true hero that is worthy of his position. Nurse Simmons was another character I have to highlight. This woman was the real superwoman throughout the story. Her calm conduct made her the perfect person for the job of fighting the virus with the little she had. She brook no arguments, and her word was law. She had to organise the entire epidemic. From nursing the sick, to testing, the ever growing problem of beds and cremation of the infected bodies while wearing a hazmat suit. With the ever growing patient list she stood out like a beacon and she is worthy of knighthood, for sure. Then we have the villain. Hatred and greed was the two biggest motivations for this monster. I was surprised to learn who he was. Nowhere, throughout the book, the authors gave away the culprit’s identity. They simply kept your attention with the craftiness of the killer building the suspense from the prologue to the closing. He was a clever bastard that kept you guessing right to the end. Again, buy the book… you will not be sorry you did....more
My review will be available on my blog on the 09/14 So much to say about this book. Where to start and to finish with all the information pressed into My review will be available on my blog on the 09/14 So much to say about this book. Where to start and to finish with all the information pressed into the volume of pages but yet I believe Glenn Langohr tells it the best. His openness, honesty and search for truth jumps from page to page and some times I had to take a breather, make coffee, go for a walk just to filter through the story. This is not a story for leisure, lying on the bed and lazily leave from page to page. This book grasp you attention and holds it until the end. Reading this thought provoking true story based on his own life you could not help but feel helpless at times for the young man that craved to walk a righteous walk but was steam rolled in the world of drugs, violence, lies, deceit etc. People with ordinary lives, doing what is expected from us like myself can not phantom this but yet it happens. It is part of a system that failed many. Of this helplessness I can relate isolated from everything you know and thrusted in an unknown world finding your feet or you will loose. This can make you or brake you. The only person that could help you is yourself and God. Will recommend this book...more
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