The Final Silence

The Final Silence

• Sunday 5 July 2015

• Written by: Stuart Neville

  Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

  Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins

  Unabridged Audiobook

  Release Date:10-28-14

  Publisher: Audible Studios

  Jack Lennon Series

  Available from Audible.com

  4 STAR REVIEW

  Summary

  Belfast, Northern Ireland: Rea Carlisle has inherited a house from an uncle she never knew. It doesn't take her long to clear out the dead man's remaining possessions, but one room remains stubbornly locked. When Rea finally forces it open, she discovers inside a chair, a table - and a leather-bound book, its pages filled with locks of hair, fingernails: a catalogue of victims. Horrified, Rea wants to go straight to the police but her family intervenes, fearing that scandal will mar her politician father's public image. Rea turns to the only person she can think of: disgraced police inspector Jack Lennon. He is facing suspension from the force and his new supervisor, DCI Serena Flanagan, is the toughest cop he's ever met. But a gruesome murder brings the dead man's terrifying journal to the top of the Belfast police's priority list.

  My Review

  Unsually for me, prior to reading this I never checked if it were part of a series, it is, but it's a pretty good stand alone read. The story is a dark compelling mystery that begins with the death of Rea's Uncle Raymond, and this first chapter influenced my mindset for the rest of the story.
   
  Ida is Raymond's sister and his only surviving relative, Ida, her husband Graham and their daughter Rea inherit his house, the house with the locked room! If you've read the blurb then you will know of the book and it's horrific content, despite her parents decision to tell no one less it interferes with Graham's political ambition, Rea contacts old boyfriend police officer Jack Lennon.
  
  
  Jack is one of the most miserable of beings, he has his own troubles in spades, in both his work and his personal life, he's also suffering from post traumatic stress for which he refuses to seek help, yet he agrees to take an off the record look at the book. Terrible things happen and Jack is caught up in a living nightmare, the police become officially involved and in charge of the case is Serena Flanagan. Serena is tough but well respected, and she gets on with the job sometimes at the expense of her family life, and yes Serena has her share of personal problems too!
   
  There's nothing in the least cheerful about this story, it's full of volatile and troubled characters, had I known more about them before listening I probably would never have started this book, yet I found it compelling. It's so full of twists and turns that it's hard for the reader to predict quite which way the story will go, and it is this aspect aspect that kept me listening. Also it's told from different points of view which I found added to the interest. There are some touching moments when two of the characters form a surprising bond with each other and this did lighten the dark story a little. In summary, I thought it to be a well written, well planned mystery with wonderfully described characters, but it's just a tad dark and twisted at times for my taste.
   
  This story does contain scenes of domestic violence.
   
  

  Narrator

  Excellent narration by Gerard Doyle who, to my ears, captures the sometimes dolorous Belfast accent perfectly. It must be quite a narrating challenge when a story has several male characters with the same strong accent, but I thought Gerard Doyle differentiated them well as I never felt confused between them. In my opinion his voice, pacing and timing matched the story perfectly, I'll listen to him anytime.
   
  This audiobook was provided at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.