Title: SILENT WATERS
Author: L.V. Matthews
ISBN: 978 1787 3991 98
Publisher: Welbeck
Pages: 384
Source: Review Copy from Jonathan Ball Publishers
Is blood thicker than water?
At 5 am one summer’s morning, police diver Jen Harper wakes to find herself submerged in the silt of a river with no memory of how she got there.
Forty-eight hours later, she’s called to dive in the same river in search of a missing woman, Claudia Franklin.
But for Jen, this is no ordinary job. Her and Claudia’s families were entangled for decades – there is unresolved resentment between them, unspoken secrets.
Jen hasn’t seen Claudia for twelve years now. Or has she?
Official Summary
29 May 2023
I was super excited to receive this book for review from Jonathan Ball Publishers. I loved The Twins – which I read in July 2022 – and I could not wait to dig into this one. Needless to say, this one skipped to the top of my TBR. You can expect some late-night reading when you reach for Silent Waters. It’s a gripping, entertaining read about family, secrets and murder that will keep you glued to the pages.
The author does an amazing job of bringing the family relationship to life in this story. She focuses on both the good and the bad, making the story realistic. The characters are fabulous, I love the way she shows the various character traits while explaining the cause of the various behaviours. I loved how you are left feeling connected to Jen and her struggle between loyalty to family and her work commitments.
Jen wakes in the early hours of the morning with her feet in the water. She is used to her sleepwalking, but she has never gone into the water before. Two days later, she is called upon to join her police dive search team to look for a missing woman – Claudia Franklin. Jen used to know Claudia, but she hasn’t seen her in years, has she? A dog walker spotted something floating in the river – very close to where Jen woke after sleepwalking.
I loved the internal conflict in this story. Jen is a good police officer, but her brother is the only family she has. Her constant struggle trying to decide what she should do had me glued to the pages. I could not race through this book fast enough.
The characters in the book were a brilliant bunch. Jen tries very hard to do the right thing – for her brother, but also her son. This little boy adds a softer touch to the story with his innocence and love for his mother.
The Franklins – both Veronica and Claudia have a habit of leaving you amazed with their selfish behaviour. I could not believe that Jen and her brother struggled to see the truth about Claudia – what a horrible person.
This book was a brilliant read and I am happy to add it to my loved list for 2023. I am keen to see what this author sends our way next. Her writing is wonderfully entertaining.
If you are keen on a crime novel about family relationships, dark secrets and murder, then you will love this book. I highly recommend you add this one to your TBR – you are guaranteed a late-night read when you reach for Silent Waters.
Also By L.V. Matthews
The Twins
Two sisters. An intense bond. A bitter rivalry.
Margo is a solitary live-in nanny for an upper-class Kensington family. Cora is a promiscuous dancer on the cusp of a big break, living hand-to-mouth in a run-down London flat.
Different though they are, an unspeakable incident from childhood haunts them both. When the terrible secret comes to light, their fragile existences shatter, pitting them against each other in a race for survival.
But can there be a winner when a secret is so dark? Two sisters. An intense bond. A bitter rivalry.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
For over ten years L V Matthews worked both in domestic and international sales for major UK publishing houses, before leaving to pursue a career in writing.
THE TWINS (Feb 2022) is a Richard and Judy Bookclub pick. Also available, THE PRANK. Both from Welbeck Publishing.
She is represented by Camilla Bolton from The Darley Anderson Agency
Thank you to Jonathan Ball Publishers for this review copy – it was a fantastic read and I am happy that I decided to bump it to the top of my TBR. Have you read this author’s books? Which is your favourite? Leave a comment below. Thank you for visiting the blog, I love that you guys keep returning – your support has been amazing. Thank you!
