Out of the Silence by Owen Mullen; Published by Bloodhound Books,
Page count (e-book) – 286.
The Blurb:
Star investigative reporter Ralph Buchanan’s glory days are behind him. His newspaper has banished him abroad, not knowing the greatest moment of his long career is waiting for him there.
When Simone Jasnin asks him to help expose a grave injustice, he finds himself embroiled in a harrowing tale that began in a dusty rural settlement, setting in motion a chain of events that will change the lives of everyone involved.
Seven years later, members of a prominent family are being brutally murdered one by one. The only clue is a hand-carved wooden bangle left at the scene of each crime.
As the list of suspects grows and the tension mounts, Ralph realises the answers might be closer to home than he ever thought possible.
Solving the mystery will put him back on top but at what cost?
Only when the smoke clears will the killing stop and honour be satisfied…
My Review:
Wow! This book… Words fail me! It was so good. I finished it last Saturday and it is still playing on my mind.You don’t get books like that coming round too often. The problem I now have is trying to give a review which gives little away. The book blurb is deliberately vague and I want to respect that so please forgive me if my review ends up being the same.
Where to start? Well, this is the first Owen Mullen I have read – it will not be my last. My understanding is, however, that the story line for ‘Out of the Silence’ is a break from his usual, grittier, kind of thrillers but this does not mean the book lacks any punch. Oh no, this one packs a good load of welly but maybe just not in the manner in which his regular readers may be expecting.
The book is well written and the plot moves along swiftly with a few twists and turns to keep the reader guessing right up to the last chapter. I frequently found myself changing my mind over what was going to happen next because it was verging on impossible to make a calculated guess. I found the ending very satisfying and I liked the path the reader is taken along to get there. The characters are engaging and it is easy to become emerged in their stories. Overall, this is a highly immersive book and it would be quite easy for several hours of reading to pass by unnoticed.
The topic of the story, however, is actually quite horrifying and more than once I found myself shocked by what I was reading. While the main character of the book may be fictional, the events described are anything but. These events are occurring on a daily basis, around the world, and yet very little attention is given to them or the victims. This book opens your eyes to the injustices which are being ignored on a grand scale. It really makes you think and, if I’m being honest, makes you more than a little bit grateful for the life you have.
It is impossible to say anything further for I’m only going to end up repeating myself. All I will say is, ‘read this book’ – then you’ll understand.
So, that’s the book, now here’s some more information about Owen:
About the Author.
Owen Mullen is a critically acclaimed and best-selling author.
Owen graduated from Strathclyde University, moved to London and worked as a rock musician, session singer and songwriter, and had a hit record in Japan with a band he refuses to name; he still loves to perform on occasion. His passion for travel has taken him on many adventures from the Amazon and Africa to the colourful continent of India and Nepal. A gregarious recluse, he and his wife, Christine, split their time between Glasgow, and their home in the Greek Islands where In Harm’s Way and the Charlie Cameron and Delaney series’ were created and written. His latest novel Out Of The Silence is an epic revenge thriller set in Pakistan.
Owen can be followed on:
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bit.ly/Goodreads-OwenMullen