The Silent Woman by Minka Kent

Read Dates: October 17, 2022 – October 20, 2022
Date Published: September 27, 2022
Source: Kindle edition ebook

Goodreads — Amazon

Listen to silence. It has so much to say.

– Rumi

When I want to read a really good, fast-paced, page-turner of a thriller, I pick up a Minka Kent book because they NEVER disappoint. (I mean… ok… there was that ONE book.)

Once again, I was completely enthralled with this Minka Kent story that filled me with questions and suspense and ensured I stay on the very edge of my seat.

In Minka Kent’s newest novel, Jade is newly married to Wells and is writing a book about his late celebrity grandmother. Their lives are perfect and Jade is incredibly happy with Wells. The only thing out of place is her husband’s ex-wife who is living in the guest house in the backyard. It doesn’t bother Jade other than the way it sparks her curiosity. Who is this woman and what kind of state is she in? Is she suffering?

The day after I told my mother Wells and I were engaged, she asked me why I’d ever settle for second place in a man’s heart. But I’ve never seen in that way. It isn’t a competition.

Jade learns all that and more when things are, one day, set into motion by a nurse with a family emergency. Jade is left to sit with Wells’ ex-wife, Sylvie until a new nurse can get to the house. It’s all downhill from here.

As soon as I’m inside, I retrieve the crumpled paper from my pocket, unfolding Sylvie’s note as fast as my juddering fingers allow. My gaze settles on three letters scrawled in shaky black ink across ripped paper. Those letters? R—U—N.

Did I suspect what was going on? Yes. Did that take away from the unraveling of the story and the eventual reveal? Absolutely not.

I opened this book and when I saw that this book was separated into parts based on a certain timeline, I almost squealed. I LOVE a book that takes you through one timeline at a time giving you multiple POVs and lots of intriguing, if vague, relevant backstory. Not to mention, I’m already aware that Kent is capable of doing something like this seamlessly. So, naturally, I was very excited.

Another fun thing I’ve learned about Kent’s books is that when the chapters get shorter, the content gets heavier. Reading this as an ebook, I would look down to see how much time was left at the beginning of each chapter and when I saw it going down, I knew things were about to pop off.

The rate at which you learn exciting new tidbits is perfect. I never got bored. I just wanted to keep reading this until I either finished it or my eyeballs fell out of my skull.

My only qualm with this book is that the ending felt a bit rushed. Though it was a bit refreshing to have a clean break at the end instead of a forced second climax. Either way, this was going to be a solid 4.5. That “One Year Later” chapter at the end was *chef’s kiss*.

Anyway, incredibly enjoyable thriller. I will ALWAYS recommend Minka Kent. She is one of my all-time favorite writers and she nearly never misses.

“An informed woman is the biggest threat to modern society—as she should be. It’s why they want us dumbed down and docile. If we’re in the kitchen with a baby on our hip or lying naked on our backs at night, we’re too preoccupied to notice what’s going on outside the home.”