Remain Silent by

Susie Steiner

Random House LLC

Publication Date : June 2, 2020

Pages : 320

Synopsis From Publisher :

Newly married and navigating life with a preschooler as well as her adopted adolescent son, Manon Bradshaw is happy to be working part-time in the cold cases department of the Cambridgeshire police force, a job that allows her to potter in, coffee in hand, and log on for a spot of Internet shopping—precisely what she had in mind when she thought of work-life balance. But beneath the surface Manon is struggling with the day-to-day realities of what she’d assumed would be domestic bliss: fights about whose turn it is to clean the kitchen, the bewildering fatigue of having a young child while in her forties, and the fact that she is going to couples counseling alone because her husband feels it would just be her complaining.

But when Manon is on a walk with her four-year-old son in a peaceful suburban neighborhood and discovers the body of a Lithuanian immigrant hanging from a tree with a mysterious note attached, she knows her life is about to change. Suddenly, she is back on the job full-force, trying to solve the suicide—or is it a murder—in what may be the most dangerous and demanding case of her life.

It has been three years since I read book two of the Manon Bradshaw series, Persons Unknown. I also read book one of the series Missing Persons. I was immediately taken with all the characters but particularly the main character, Detective Inspector Manon Bradshaw. Although brash and moody I could tell Manon was a kind, generous, and dedicated police officer. Since 2017, I have been readily awaiting the next release of the series. Happily, book three Remain Silent was well worth the wait.

While on a walk with her young son, Detective Inspector Manon Bradshaw discovers the body of a young man hanging from a tree. Attached to the body is a note which leads Manon to believe the young man’s death may not have been a suicide. Although Manon works cold cases exclusively, she is made the lead investigator on the case. The long hours, the time away from her family, and the politics of working a live case soon become overwhelming. Manon quickly remembers why she moved over to cold cases. As the case becomes more complicated the danger increases, Manon is unsure if she will make it back to the cold case division alive.

The body Manon found is identified as Lukas Balsys. Lukas is a young Lithuanian who came to the U.K. in search of a better life.  Immigration is heavily discussed in Remain Silent. All around the world immigration is a hot topic; with opinions and emotions varying on the subject. No matter what one’s feelings may be on the issue, I challenge any reader to not feel sympathy for Lukas and his circumstances in Lithuania which brought him to the U.K. In Remain Silent Steiner, rather than focusing on the politics of immigration, focuses on the humanitarian issue.

Manon like many people is struggling to find a work/life balance. She and her partner, Mark are parents to a teenager and toddler. Manon took a less demanding position in the Cold Case department of the Cambridgeshire police force. At first the lack of action for more time home seemed like a fair trade. However, Manon is bored and misses being on the front lines of an investigation. Her struggle to have the best of both worlds is something most people can understand, making Manon extremely relatable.

Remain Silent is told from several different perspectives and timelines. There are many key characters in the plot, none more important than the other. Each plot line and character are engaging and thought provoking. There are a few points when the story slows down, but the slower pace allows suspense to build up leading to a very satisfying conclusion.

 Murder and Moore Rating:

4.5 out of 5 Stars