M.R. Mackenzie "In The Silence" (2018) ****
Full disclosure: M.R. Mackenzie is a friend of mine. I've guest hosted numerous times on the podcast which he co-hosts, Movie Matters. I also helped proofread this book, so this was my second read-through. And I like to support my friends in their creative endeavors. Regardless of all that, I can honestly say that his debut novel In The Silence (2018) is excellent. It's right up your alley if you're fan of gialli such as What Have You Done To Solange? (1972) and/or murder/mysteries in the vein of a modernized Agatha Christie.
A whodunit with a criminology lecturer named Dr. Anna Scavolini as its protagonist, Silence is a riveting page-turner that rarely lets up steam. When Anna returns home to Glasgow for the holidays she witnesses a former classmate die before her eyes. When the police fail to give the case the attention she feels it deserves, she proceeds to investigate on her own. Anna's discoveries will shock and repulse her in equal measure, as well as put her safety in danger, as her and her friends' involvement in the case becomes more and more intertwined.
Well-drawn characters with strong moral compasses (or lack thereof) engage the reader throughout as more bodies turn up and the action builds to an intense finale. Even when poor decisions are made, there is still the sense that everything is grounded in reality. The winter backdrop adds an appropriate chill to the atmosphere of the story, as the snow and freezing cold refuse to let up. I'm excited for more novels from M.R. and I hope to perhaps even spend more time with some of the characters from this one some day.
In The Silence comes highly recommended. You can purchase it via Kindle or paperback here.
A whodunit with a criminology lecturer named Dr. Anna Scavolini as its protagonist, Silence is a riveting page-turner that rarely lets up steam. When Anna returns home to Glasgow for the holidays she witnesses a former classmate die before her eyes. When the police fail to give the case the attention she feels it deserves, she proceeds to investigate on her own. Anna's discoveries will shock and repulse her in equal measure, as well as put her safety in danger, as her and her friends' involvement in the case becomes more and more intertwined.
Well-drawn characters with strong moral compasses (or lack thereof) engage the reader throughout as more bodies turn up and the action builds to an intense finale. Even when poor decisions are made, there is still the sense that everything is grounded in reality. The winter backdrop adds an appropriate chill to the atmosphere of the story, as the snow and freezing cold refuse to let up. I'm excited for more novels from M.R. and I hope to perhaps even spend more time with some of the characters from this one some day.
In The Silence comes highly recommended. You can purchase it via Kindle or paperback here.
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