Title: Silent Child
Author: Sarah Denzil
Genre: Thriller, Suspense
Source: Ebook: Amazon
Rating 5 out of 5 paws
Summer of 2006 torrential rain caused the river to flood. School called and notified parents to come get their children before the flood got worse. Once Emma got to the school she discovered the unbelievable. Her son was not there, her son had slipped away from the class and no one knew where he was. Amid the search efforts, Emma stood by and watched as her son's red coat was fished from the river. Young Aiden was declared dead, drowned in the river flood, despite no body being found. Ten years have gone by and Emma has learned how to move past her grief, she is married again and about to give birth to a baby girl. But then....Aiden is found wondering out of the woods. Unable to speak, his body shows signs of abuse, and neglect. The truth is revealed, he never drowned but was taken. But who would take a helpless young body? Emma does everything she can to reconnect with Aiden and encourage him to talk, but he remains at a distance. What will it take for Emma to get Aiden to talk? Who took her son? Who has been lying to her all these years?
It all began with a flood, in a single moment everything changed for Emma. She didn't know how she could survive with the loss of her soon, and then her parents soon after. In her darkest moment, she meets Jake who seems to put her back together again like she was Humpty Dumpty. He was there when no one else was. But is he the man he claims he is? Rob, her ex, Aiden's father abandoned her in her time of need. Too consumed by his own grief. Now that Aiden is back, so is he. And he seems to have changed, but did he really? Emma finds herself looking at everyone around her differently, wondering who knew what happened to Aiden, a boy who was too traumatized to tell her what happened all those years ago.
There is so much in this book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, anticipating what will happened next. Just when you think you have everything figured out, something will happen that will change everything you thought you knew. You have a character who doesn't speak, but he says so much through his actions and reactions to certain situations. There is so much depth to this one character than he seems to overshadow some of the others. There are a few things that didn't fully get answered like why Aiden remained silent, but then again why are kids who are traumatized silent? I do wish we went more into the psychology of it, but still enjoyed the read and that aspect of the novel.
One aspect is rather predictable, but not in a way that you would think which is what threw me for a loop. I didn't think the people it ended up being were possible suspects despite clues that I didn't realize were clues. Emma had a LOT of inner dialogue which got tedious for a bit, but doesn't fully take away from the story. I can see why the author did it this way, I would have almost liked some more from Aiden other than the one chapter we get towards the end. Like maybe something with him battle with himself at telling Emma everything as opposed to remaining quiet.
Don't be surprised when you read this book in one sitting. I read it in two, only because I needed to go to bed despite not wanting to. It may have been a little longer than it should have been, but that's okay. If you can get past the length (417 pages) you would enjoy it. Especially if you like thrillers, or suspense. The material may seem dark, but the author tackles it in a tasteful way that isn't too difficult to read.
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