Published: February 23, 2021

VCB Publishing

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Val Collins is the author of the award-winning psychological thriller GIRL TARGETED and ONLY LIES REMAIN, both of which feature heroine Aoife Walsh.

“like must marry like or there can be no happiness.”

Aoife Walsh is a busy mom, balancing her job and her relationship with Detective Inspector Conor. When a tragedy strikes close to home, Aoife finds herself drawn in and soon caught in the tangled web of lies, secrets, and intense rage. If she survives, maybe she will finally accept Conors proposal.

I loved the names in this novel. Being American, I’m not exposed to traditional Irish names often, so it was quite a treat. I appreciated that Val included proper pronunciations for the different names at the beginning of the book, including a link to a video of Val pronouncing them.

This book was intense. It’s a slower build. But the lead-up is filled with so much information, and we get a profound understanding of who many of the characters are.

I enjoyed getting to know Aoife; she is smart, loyal, and brave. She found herself in a pretty impossible situation and came out on top. Against all odds, and I love how she took control at the very end. Fantastic ending.

I did not see the twists coming. When all the pieces finally came together, I couldn’t read fast enough. I did not expect the major plot twist, and let me tell you- Wowza.

This is the first novel I’ve read by Val Collins, but it definitely won’t be my last. Now I need to read her precious books featuring Aoife. The plot was excellent, the character development was in-depth, and the pacing was just right. This is a must-read if you enjoy thrillers.

Find The Silent Speak by Val Collins on Amazon.