Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks is a suspense with the mystery feel of a type of Murder on the Orient Express or the contemporary film Knives Out without the humorous touch.
Opening with a 15 year old argument between Piper and her then husband, the main story flashes forward to the present day where Piper resides at her Boone family mansion on the private Curlew Island in South Carolina. Having struggled through the last 15 years, Piper's life consists of funding an animal shelter and pondering what her future might hold if she could return to work. Every day she writes a letter to her young daughter who was taken from her on that day 15 years ago.
An old friend from high school wants to meet for lunch after contacting Piper so Piper arranges to meet her at a favorite restaurant on the mainland. While they're dining outdoors, shots ring out and Piper is thrown to the ground under the shelter of a man who whispers to her to stay down. Chaos erupts, people are shot, finally the police arrive, and the man who saved her life is taken to the hospital because he too was shot.
One of the only other inhabitants on the island leaves a message for Piper indicating she needs to speak with her, but when Piper walks to her home, she's not there.
The detective in charge arranges for the man (Tucker Landry) who saved Piper to meet with her after Tucker who is a forensic artist sketches the suspect who fired into the crowd. All things considered, Piper insists Tucker come to stay at the mansion for his safety since he's just endured surgery on his leg. Tucker can't deny his attraction to the lovely Piper, and Piper is surprised at her attraction to the injured Tucker.
With those two both barely surviving tragedies in their lives, they need each other to get through the current realizations of what seems to be happening around the Boone family.
When the granddaughter of the missing woman is scheduled to arrive, more emotional chaos erupts along with hurricane warnings.
The conflicts escalate, arguments persist, new truths are revealed, more wicked events occur, Tucker and Piper are separated in the storm, and the "whodunnit" is in full mystery mode.
Carrie has written some interesting characters, portraying well the handling of tragedies and the crushed spirits that result from them. The use of a handsome and heroic Newfoundland who loves his cookies is particularly touching. Relative Silence, a fitting title, provides another entertaining and quick read from this author with just the right touch to the ending.
Father, please bless Carrie as she writes for you and in every area of her life. Keep her safe from all harm and hold her close to you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.