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Book Review By Darlene Magdaluyo
In Silence by Erica Spindler

Avery Chauvin returns to hometown of Cypress Springs, Louisianna to investigate the suicide of her Dr. father by fire. Childhood friends including twin brothers try to console her and explain away the suicide but Avery soon begins to doubt their explainations. A box of newspaper clippings her father saved starts her on the path of a long ago murder of a young housewife. One brother, Matt, wants her to focus on their romance and continue it from their high school days while the other, Hunter, tries to win her heart even as he tries to avoid getting involved because of Matt. There is also the disappearance and murder of a number of people in the small town which keeps growing. Most of the people murdered were investigating the rumour of a group called The Seven who strive to keep their small town free of any crimes. Hunter must also deal with his parents and sister who shun him. Meanwhile Gwen appears, looking for her brother who has vanished while investigating The Seven. Avery refuses to acknowlege this group of vigilantes who may be involved in a number of the murders until Gwen convinces her but then Matt explains away this group in a very convincing way. Gwen convinces, Matt comes up with reasonable explanations that his parents agree with. Hunter and Matt finally come to a confrontation and now Avery doubts Hunter's motives. Meanwhile, The Seven silence a returning prostitute permanently and not gently! Gwen almost meets the same fate. Avery calls on her skills as an investigative reporter to track down the truth and almost loses her life in a very bizarre ending in a deserted factory.


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story:
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 60%
Kind of investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
descript. of violence and chases - 10 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 %
Crime Thriller Yes
Crime plotlets:
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
If story PRIMARILY about main chr. being hunted... - hunted by killer/stalker

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - revenge
The antagonists are: - big business leader(s)
How sensitive is this character?
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Deep South
Small town? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Explicit sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - descript of kissing - touching of anatomy - actual description of sex
Unusual forms of death - rough sex
Unusual form of death? Yes
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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