Five days before Halloween, fall turns frightful in Apple Station when a child’s drawing entangles Olivia in a murder at a park lake.
Olivia’s hometown is gearing up for its annual Halloween festival, and pumpkins, corn mazes, and autumn vibes are everywhere. All is cozy in the crisp fall air as excitement builds for the costume parade on Friday. A casual Monday lakeside picnic lunch with her forever friend, though, sets off a chain of events that catches Olivia in the wrong place at the wrong time.
When a body is discovered amid an algae bloom under mysterious circumstances, everyone points fingers, but one among them is not telling the truth. The only apparent witness to the crime is a child who doesn’t speak. Motives abound, suspects are plenty, and it’s up to Olivia to discover why the child has implicated her as the key to solving the murder.
Can Olivia unmask the killer before the endangered evidence vanishes, and she becomes the next victim?
If you like small town, cozy mysteries with heart and humor, a charming cast of characters, and a twisty plot that celebrates the connections of friends and family, you’ll love Silence Says the Most, the second book in The Olivia Penn Mystery Series.
The perfect cozy read!
I don’t know what it is about fall but I love curling up with a good cozy mystery and Silence Says the Most has been my favorite so far this season!
First off, the cover is absolutely breathtaking, the coloring are some of my most favorite colors, which endeared me to this novel before I even read a word. It didn’t take long for me to become eve more charmed by Olivia Penn and this very character driven tale.
No matter what Olivia does she always seems to find herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. What starts out as an innocent lunch with a childhood friend turns into a murder mystery that leads Olivia down a rabbit hole of deceit and deception. This is the first book I’ve read in the series, but it was easily read as a standalone, as the author does a great job of including the main parts of the first book, so you never feel lost.
The Gilmore Girls feel wafts off the pages like a fresh cup of coffee, giving warm fall vibes that made me want to snuggle up with a nice, warm blanket and a hot cup of pumpkin spice latte. It has all the charming townspeople, the community events, and even has a part with a corn maze! I loved it!!
One aspect of the story I really appreciated was an autistic child, which added another dimension to this story. I myself have an autistic son that is high functioning and could relate to many of the boys special needs as well as some of the challenges that go along with having autism. I also loved the chemistry between Olivia and Preston, the handsome police officer. It’s obvious there is something there and I hope to see this relationship blossom in the future.
Overall this was a quick and charming read that really hit the spot. It was nice getting to know Olivia and her small town. It was great gathering clues with her, and getting lost in this cozy fall mystery.
Kathleen Bailey is the author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. She writes mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime.
Kathleen has degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. She previously worked as a pediatric physical therapist for over twenty years with children who have special needs. She now spends her days obsessively plotting and sleuthing in Virginia where she lives with her husband and adorable feline fur baby. When she is not incognito, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and the James River Writers.
Join her newsletter for updates on new releases, giveaways, and other bits and bobs at kathleenbaileyauthor.com/newsletter.
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