Silent Rain
-
-
3.0 • 1 Rating
-
-
- $12.99
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
"Salvalaggio, whose trademarks include intricate plotting and stark but affecting prose, scores another triumph."—Richmond Times-Dispatch
Grace Adams has spent three years trying to move on—mentally, physically, emotionally—from the traumatizing events of her past. But it’s not easy when the world is morbidly curious about the crimes that shaped her childhood, when despite her changed name, people still track her down for the sensational details. Now in college in Bolton, Montana, the one person Grace has trusted with the truth about her past has betrayed her. The bestselling novelist Peter Granger wants to use Grace’s story in his next book, regardless of how desperate Grace is to keep the details to herself. And then, on Halloween night, Peter Granger’s house burns to the ground and his and his wife’s bodies are found inside.
Montana state detective Macy Greeley is sent to Bolton to handle the investigation into the fire and deaths…which soon appear to be arson and murder. It doesn’t take Macy long to realize that Grace isn’t the only one whom Peter Granger has betrayed, and there are no shortage of others in town who took issue with him and his wife. What at first looked like a straightforward investigation is poised to expose some of Bolton’s darkest secrets, and the fallout may put more than one life in danger.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Salvaggio's nail-biting fourth Macy Greeley mystery (after 2016's Walleye Junction) takes the Montana state detective to the college town of Bolton, where writer Peter Granger and his artist wife have died in a suspicious house fire. One suspect in the murder-arson is 20-year-old Grace Adams, a student at Bolton College with a troubled past. Grace wasn't happy that Granger, a man she trusted, was planning to use her traumatic experiences as fodder for his next novel. There are plenty of other suspects besides Grace, since just about everyone in Bolton had reason to hate Granger, including his wife. Part of the fun of Salvaggio's mysteries lies in the unexpected complexity of small-town relationships. She shatters every illusion of simplicity as Macy lays bare each person's secrets in a series of interviews that artfully draws out the tension of an already powerful story. The severe weather on the Montana plains from swirling snow to drenching rain sets the somber mood.
Customer Reviews
Fourth book in A Macy Greeley Mystery series!
Silent Rain by Karin Salvalaggio is the fourth book in a Macy Greeley Mystery series. Grace Larson (aka Grace Adams) is going to Bolton College in Bolton, Montana. She is trying to move on from her horrific past. On Halloween night, Grace went to K-Bar with her friend, Lara and had too much to drink. Grace notices her latest stalker, Jordan, in the bar and, despite her drunken state, also following her on the way home. As she makes her way home (after a few missteps), she finds Peter and Hannah Granger’s home on fire. Grace had thought Peter to be a friend and confidant until he betrayed her trust. Peter, a novelist, just wanted her story for his latest book (I couldn’t believe she actually trusted him). When firefighters enter the house, they find two bodies inside. Detective Macy Greeley is a special investigator with the Montana Department of Justice. Her latest assignment is the fire at the Granger’s home. It is determined that the Granger fire was arson. Now, Macy needs to positively identify the remains found inside the home. Grace is worried about her friend, Taylor Moore. She is missing and no one has heard from her. In addition, Grace must deal with her latest stalker, Jordan. One of the victims is Peter Granger and Macy finds herself with a long suspect list. It turns out that Grace was not the only person Peter betrayed. Macy discovers that Peter had a dark side. Macy needs to zero in on the killer before he strikes again.
Silent Rain has a complex mystery with good clues. Mystery readers will be able to correctly identify the culprit if they pay close attention. I did, though, find the pace of the novel to be very sluggish (it really needed a faster pace). The POV switched back and forth between Grace and Macy. It would take a beat to figure out which character was now speaking. A few details are repeated over and over throughout the book (did the author think we would forget). I give Silent Rain 3 out of 5 stars. Silent Rain could have benefited from some editing and rewriting. It was have made a big difference. I have not read any of the previous books in the Macy Greeley Mystery series, but I found that it did not matter. What happened to Grace in Bone Dust White (first book in series) is told in Silent Rain and the author provides the necessary background details on Macy. Do I want to read the other three books in the series? After reading Silent Rain, the answer is no. I was not taken with the characters or the writing style.