Book Review | The Silence by Susan Allott

The Silence

by Susan Allott

William Morrow

Publication Date : May 19, 2020

Pages : 300

Synopsis From Publisher :

It is 1997, and in a basement flat in Hackney, Isla Green is awakened by a call in the middle of the night: her father phoning from Sydney.  30 years ago, in the suffocating heat of summer 1967, the Greens’ next-door neighbour Mandy disappeared. At the time, it was thought she had fled a broken marriage and gone to start a new life; but now Mandy’s family is trying to reconnect, and there is no trace of her. Isla’s father Joe was allegedly the last person to see her alive, and now he’s under suspicion of murder.

 Isla unwillingly plans to go back to Australia for the first time in a decade to support her father. The return to Sydney will plunge Isla deep into the past, to a quiet street by the sea where two couples live side by side. Isla’s parents, Louisa and Joe, have recently emigrated from England—a move that has left Louisa miserably homesick while Joe embraces this new life. Next door, Steve and Mandy are equally troubled. Mandy doesn’t want a baby, even though Steve—a cop trying to hold it together under the pressures of the job—is desperate to become a father.  

 The more Isla asks about the past, the more she learns: about both young couples and the secrets each marriage bore. Could her father be capable of doing something terrible? How much does her mother know? What will happen to their family if Isla’s worst fears are realized? And is there another secret in this community, one which goes deeper into Australia’s colonial past, which has held them in a conspiracy of silence?

Have you ever looked at the cover of a book and for some reason just know you are going to love the book? It has nothing to do with the author (the author is a new to you author) but the cover just calls out to you. It’s not too flashy, not too minimalistic but for some reason you want to know more about book just based on the cover. This the exact feeling I felt when I saw The Silence and….my instincts served me very well.

 Isla Green has been going through a rough time. The ending of a relationship has made it harder for her to stay away from alcohol. Also, she is going through the process of buying an apartment in London. Late one night she receives a phone call from her father, Joe. He is under suspicion regarding the disappearance of a neighbor, Mandy back in Australia. 30 years ago, Isla lived in Australia with her parents and younger brother Scott. Reluctantly Isla returns to Australia to support her parents. Being back in Australia dredges up unpleasant memories for Isla as well as questions. How well does she really know her father? Were all her childhood memories lies? More importantly, are her parents lying to her now?

Isla and Joe have a special relationship. Isla is blindly loyal to her father, much to the annoyance of her mother, Louisa. Louisa is British and extremely homesick living in Australia. Isla’s and Joe’s relationship leaves Louisa feeling like an outsider in her own home. Although I can appreciate the bond of a father and daughter, the connection between Joe and Isla is extreme. It is normal for a child to admire and attempt to emulate their parents. However, most children grow up and realize their parents are just people who are capable of mistakes too. Isla never reached this realization when is comes to her father. This high pedestal on which Isla has placed her father sets her up to be consistently disappointed, but her loyalty never waivers. I had a lot of compassion for Isla but she also confused me. Why was she devoted to her father but not so much to other members of her family? Isla is one of the most complex characters I have ever read. I found her interesting and frustrating in equal parts.

 The Silence discusses a very tragic part of Australian history. The Stolen Generations are a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were separated from their families as children. People of The Stolen Generations were taken into foster care, government institutions, or adopted by white families. I was completely ignorant of this extremely sad period of Australian history. Allott incorporates The Stolen Generations into The Silence in a tactful and respectful manner. Paying tribute to those who suffered as a result of these horrific actions.

I have read reviews which compares The Silence to The Dry by Jane Harper.  I do see the similarities; atmospheric, richly developed characters, moody. However, what sets The Silence apart is its parallel story line of The Stolen Generation. This historical element made the story part fiction part world history. Readers who are fans of either genre will be equally pleased.

Thanks to William Morrow for my free review copy of The Silence

Murder and Moore Rating:

4.5 out of 5 Stars