‘The Silent Ones’ by William Brodrick

Published by Little Brown,
2 July 2015.
ISBN: 978-1-4087-0491-2

I found this densely plotted book took a while to get into since the author packs a huge amount of information into a short space – or does he?  Are we absorbing truth, or not-truth?    Long-held secrets, intrigue, obfuscation, both intentional and not, are the key ingredients of this novel, leaving the reader deliberately confused and at the same time avid to know where truth begins, and non-truth ends. 

Harry, eleven-years-old, is sexually abused, by someone he knows and trusts.  So why will he not identify his abuser?  At the same time, diffident monk-detective, beekeeping Father Anselm, is not only set to discover what is behind the boy's silence but also to locate someone who may (or may not) be the person responsible for violating the boy's innocence.  Following an arrow-straight moral path, he finds that nothing is as he thought or expected it to be, as gradually he is mired in a maze of ethical dilemmas from which there seems to be no way out.  As Harry asks the Father: "Is it always wrong not to tell the truth?

Is macho Uncle Justin less – or more – than he appears?  Who is the down-and-out who showed up at Larkwood Priory six months ago?  Why did Father Littlemore bolt from the police-station while he was being questioned?

Read this intriguing crime novel and find out.  The Silent Ones can only enhance Gold Dagger winner Brodrick's already solid reputation. 
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Reviewer: Susan Moody

William Brodrick, in a career change that reverses Father Anselm's, was an Augustinian friar before leaving in order to become a practicing barrister.

 

  Susan Moody was born in Oxford is the principal nom de plume  of Susan Elizabeth Donaldson, née Horwood, a British novelist best known for her suspense novels. She is a former Chairman of the Crime Writer's Association, served as World President of the International Association of Crime Writers, and was elected to the prestigious Detection Club. Susan Moody has given numerous courses on writing crime fiction and continues to teach creative writing in England, France, Australia, the USA and Denmark.  In addition to her many stand alone books, Susan has written two series, one featuring PI Penny Wanawake (seven books) and a series of six books featuring bridge player Cassie Swan. Her most recent series features Former Detective Inspector Alexandra Quick. There are three books in the series.