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#Book Review #The Silent Ones by K.L.Slater

Posted byReading Tonic 54 Comments on #Book Review #The Silent Ones by K.L.Slater

‘This morning, I was packing up lunches, ironing, putting on the laundry I should have done last night. Now my precious daughter is accused of murder. ‘

When ten-year-old cousins Maddy and Brianna are arrested for a terrible crime, Maddy’s mother Juliet cannot believe it. How could her bright, joyful daughter be capable of such a thing?

As the small village community recoils in horror, the pressure of the tragedy blows Juliet and her sister’s lives apart. And things get even worse when their daughters retreat into a self-imposed silence. Can anyone reach Maddy and discover the truth before her fate is sealed?

Juliet is crushed. Nothing will ever be the same for her darling girl. But she knows that to find out what really happened that day, she and her sister must unlock the secrets of their own terrible past, a past they swore never to speak about again …

The most unputdownable psychological thriller you’ll read this year from the bestselling author K.L. Slater. If you love The Wife Between Us or Gone Girl, you’ll be totally hooked on The Silent Ones.

(From the book blurb)

My thoughts:

The premise is extremely interesting. Imagine a horrendous crime and two children involved, children who wouldn’t say a word to explain what happened, not even to defend themselves. Maddie and Brianna are first cousins. We know they are quite different (as any two children, even siblings, would be), but we also get slightly different descriptions coming from their respective mothers Juliet Fletcher and Chloe Voce. Is Maddie an intelligent, quiet animal lover or is she secretive and sneaky? Is Brianna a spontaneous, wear-your-heart-on-the-sleeve bubbly, joyful little girl or has she got a mother of all tempers? Is it ever possible to see your child absolutely objectively? What if one of them is innocent, but is protecting the other one. What if it is your child who is guilty, would you be ready to accept the truth and the subsequent blame and punishment?

‘She’s ten years old. She’s not equipped with the tools needed to get through this relentless pressure; she doesn’t know how to steady herself, control her emotions.

It’s crushing me to watch her slowly fading away.‘

Gradually, the tension builds, the secrets come unravelling and we understand that there is something else, something dark and sinister, buried in the family past that made the mothers’ characters what they are. But is there a possibility of redemption and do they even believe in it?

Whenever a crime like this is concerned, there are rumours and wild accusations, and pointing fingers. In our day and age, when the latest news is just a click away and social media are ready to lynch the parents with hateful comments, you still have to trust that the investigation is going to be proper and unbiased.

Other people are peddling inaccuracies that mean nothing to them but have the power to wreck our lives.

There are special procedures, designed to protect the rights of minors and they are there for good reasons. Guilty or not, children are vulnerable members of our society and this book brilliantly shows this vulnerability and the part families play in dealing with situations like this.


The book is so fast-paced, there’s never a dull moment. There are twists and turns, and you do want to get to know what exactly the two girls did (or didn’t do?) on that afternoon, even at the expense of your own sleepless night.


Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

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54 replies on “#Book Review #The Silent Ones by K.L.Slater”

    1. Thank you, Noriko! I loved your review, especially how you focused on the character development and Juliet being an unreliable narrator. Totally agree with your observations! So glad you also liked this book. Hope our next reads are going to be as good as this one.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. It is crazy, but also so realistic! One of the most thought-provoking paragraphs for me was when Juliet reflected on how things are never going to be the same for the girls and how the echoes of the event will be felt in the future. We can also see how it happened to Dana in her conversation with a man in a pub who didn’t care that she’d been cleared of any wrongdoing.

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    1. Thank you! Bits of it require you to suspend belief, but it focuses much more on family dynamics than the crime itself. Hope you enjoy it when you are in the mood for a psychological thriller 🤗

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Great review Toni. Your question is so true. Do you ever really know your child. As a teacher, I often wondered if the parents and I were talking about the same child. I really want to read this one.

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  18. Hi Toni ❤️ I nominated you earlier to take on the 3.2.1. Quote Me Challenge on It’s All About Love. I thought of you and your amazing book reviews, so I figured you’d have a passion for quotes as well. 😁

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes! Beyond the fun challenge are the warmth, wisdom, and inspiration we share along the way. Well, that’s my personal take on the “challenge” haha! 😁❤️☀️

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you! The end of the story is both poignant and optimistic, and really makes you think that although we can’t change our past, we can make amends in the present. Hope you like the book!

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    1. Thank you, Ron. Would love to know what you think of it. I just keep adding things to my list after your recommendations- hope to cross a few items off before the summer’s over!

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