Propelling the reader back and forth between the 1940s, 1960s and 1980s, The Silent Listener is an unforgettable literary suspense novel set in the dark, gothic heart of rural Australia.
In the cold, wet summer of 1960, 11-year-old Joy Henderson lives in constant fear of her father. She tries to make him happy but, as he keeps reminding her, she is nothing but a filthy sinner destined for Hell…
Yet, decades later, she returns to the family’s farm to nurse him on his death bed. To her surprise, her ‘perfect’ sister Ruth is also there, whispering dark words, urging revenge.
Then the day after their father finally confesses to a despicable crime, Joy finds him dead – with a belt pulled tight around his neck…
For Senior Constable Alex Shepherd, investigating George’s murder revives memories of an unsolved case still haunting him since that strange summer of 1960: the disappearance of nine-year-old Wendy Boscombe.
As seemingly impossible facts surface about the Hendersons – from the past and the present – Shepherd suspects that Joy is pulling him into an intricate web of lies and that Wendy’s disappearance is the key to the bizarre truth.
The Silent Listener follows three perspectives during the 1940s, 60s and 80s. Yeowart explores a multi-generational family drama with a household full of fear, abuse and constant suspense.
Yeowart’s writing style is intense and atmospheric, which perfectly complements the era and gothic setting of the small town while adding tension and insecurity to the dynamics of the Henderson family. All three time periods also felt incredibly authentic, which kept me immersed from beginning to end.
The Henderson family are all complex characters with secrets and dark pasts. As we follow the story of this family, we uncover these mysteries and learn how they have affected the small town over the years. Being raised in a small town herself, Yeowart knows the inner workings of rural life and showcases this in her characters.
The Silent Listener is packed to the brim with mystery, suspense and intriguing characters. This is an outstanding debut that highlights themes of domestic violence and living under constant threat. Yeowart is a master of creating tension between characters, while showcasing the electrifying small-town life of rural Australia. I can’t wait to see what she delivers next.
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