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cala_p's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley
After reading Colleen Hoover’s Verity, I realized how much I enjoyed the thriller/mystery genre. Problem is, so many are contemporary thrillers and I have to have a good amount of romance in there. When I stumbled upon this one, I was so excited because it sounded so good with everything I have been looking for in it, along with being set against an Amish background. The last Amish-set series I read was great but nowhere close to this.
Vow of Silence begins immediately with the killer stealing one of the girls. It was a fantastic way to start the book, and sent chills down my spine. It then opens with Josiah, a once-Amish man who left the community and built a life as an “Englisher”. As he is a police detective with ties to the community, they send him in to find the killer of the Amish girls. Not long after being here, he runs into his old flame, who he was forced to leave behind and allow her to get married to someone else and build a family.
Thankfully that someone else is no longer around. So as Josiah is an outsider now, and she has ties to one of the victims, she offers to help him and go to all the families’ houses with him. Having one of their own will encourage them to chat with him. Being together throws them back together.
My favorite part of this book was the slow intensity build of their romance. They’re not new to each other so we didn’t need to have a buildup of getting to know each other. Despite that, there was a lot of sadness and broken trust that needed to be gradually put back together, so nothing was rushed. And nothing was too slow. I found it to be a fantastic pace. I fell in love with both characters and cheered them on.
Additionally, figuring out who did it was so fun. The author did a great job of bringing in a lot of strange or creepy or mysterious characters who could be the killer. So there was many suspects at one time and it really boggles the mind. The author did a fantastic job of building to the truth and keeping it hidden for a long enough time.
This was a fantastic read and I am so grateful for the opportunity to read it.
After reading Colleen Hoover’s Verity, I realized how much I enjoyed the thriller/mystery genre. Problem is, so many are contemporary thrillers and I have to have a good amount of romance in there. When I stumbled upon this one, I was so excited because it sounded so good with everything I have been looking for in it, along with being set against an Amish background. The last Amish-set series I read was great but nowhere close to this.
Vow of Silence begins immediately with the killer stealing one of the girls. It was a fantastic way to start the book, and sent chills down my spine. It then opens with Josiah, a once-Amish man who left the community and built a life as an “Englisher”. As he is a police detective with ties to the community, they send him in to find the killer of the Amish girls. Not long after being here, he runs into his old flame, who he was forced to leave behind and allow her to get married to someone else and build a family.
Thankfully that someone else is no longer around. So as Josiah is an outsider now, and she has ties to one of the victims, she offers to help him and go to all the families’ houses with him. Having one of their own will encourage them to chat with him. Being together throws them back together.
My favorite part of this book was the slow intensity build of their romance. They’re not new to each other so we didn’t need to have a buildup of getting to know each other. Despite that, there was a lot of sadness and broken trust that needed to be gradually put back together, so nothing was rushed. And nothing was too slow. I found it to be a fantastic pace. I fell in love with both characters and cheered them on.
Additionally, figuring out who did it was so fun. The author did a great job of bringing in a lot of strange or creepy or mysterious characters who could be the killer. So there was many suspects at one time and it really boggles the mind. The author did a fantastic job of building to the truth and keeping it hidden for a long enough time.
This was a fantastic read and I am so grateful for the opportunity to read it.
bibliophile90's review
4.0
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Vow of Silence is a suspenseful second-chance romance. This book is about Homicide Detective Josiah (Joe) and his first and only love Hannah. Joe has Amish roots but left the community eight years ago, which also resulted in breaking Hannah's heart. He is now back because there is a serial killer hunting and murdering young Amish girls, and Joe is put on the case because he is familiar with the community. I think the author did a great job in making me understand and feel the love between the two main characters. The short flashbacks were a great addition to the story, and helped me in understanding the dynamic of their relationship. I also loved that the POV of the serial killer was included, it increased the suspense, and helped me in my quest in figuring out who he was. Which wasn't easy by the way, and I changed my mind a couple of times. There were many suspicious people in this book.
Overall I think Vow of Silence was a great romantic suspense/second-chance romance. It was easy to read and unpredictable, and the characters were very likable. The story had a great flow, and towards the end it really hooked me, and I couldn't put it down. I loved seeing Joe and Hannah grow closer again, and there was a very strong attraction between them. The sex scenes were hot and I enjoyed seeing Hannah explore her newly found sexuality. Joe made her feel safe enough to try new things and be free. I really wish this book was part of a series, because I don't want to say goodbye to these characters.
Vow of Silence is a suspenseful second-chance romance. This book is about Homicide Detective Josiah (Joe) and his first and only love Hannah. Joe has Amish roots but left the community eight years ago, which also resulted in breaking Hannah's heart. He is now back because there is a serial killer hunting and murdering young Amish girls, and Joe is put on the case because he is familiar with the community. I think the author did a great job in making me understand and feel the love between the two main characters. The short flashbacks were a great addition to the story, and helped me in understanding the dynamic of their relationship. I also loved that the POV of the serial killer was included, it increased the suspense, and helped me in my quest in figuring out who he was. Which wasn't easy by the way, and I changed my mind a couple of times. There were many suspicious people in this book.
Overall I think Vow of Silence was a great romantic suspense/second-chance romance. It was easy to read and unpredictable, and the characters were very likable. The story had a great flow, and towards the end it really hooked me, and I couldn't put it down. I loved seeing Joe and Hannah grow closer again, and there was a very strong attraction between them. The sex scenes were hot and I enjoyed seeing Hannah explore her newly found sexuality. Joe made her feel safe enough to try new things and be free. I really wish this book was part of a series, because I don't want to say goodbye to these characters.
beckymmoe's review
4.0
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 5/30/19.
Vow of Silence is a riveting mystery and satisfying romance. A serial killer is hunting young girls in Amish country, and finding a connection between the girls is proving a challenge. Shunned Amish and current police detective/cadaver dog handler Joe (formerly Joshiah) takes a case in the last place where he wants to return--his hometown, where his ex-girlfriend and the only woman he ever loved lives.
Can Joe catch the killer? (There's red herrings galore to keep you and Joe guessing) Can he keep Hannah safe until he does? Is there a future for Joe and Hannah once it's over, and if so, where will that future take them? Between the suspense and the romance, it's nearly impossible to stop reading this one once you start...
(Content warning, though--if you're used to reading Amish-themed "Christian" romances, this is not one of those. Joe has been out of the Amish life for eight years, and the serial killer is very, very serial-killer-y. There is swearing, sex, violence, and sexual violence.)
My first book from Ms. Price, but it won't be my last!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Vow of Silence is a riveting mystery and satisfying romance. A serial killer is hunting young girls in Amish country, and finding a connection between the girls is proving a challenge. Shunned Amish and current police detective/cadaver dog handler Joe (formerly Joshiah) takes a case in the last place where he wants to return--his hometown, where his ex-girlfriend and the only woman he ever loved lives.
Can Joe catch the killer? (There's red herrings galore to keep you and Joe guessing) Can he keep Hannah safe until he does? Is there a future for Joe and Hannah once it's over, and if so, where will that future take them? Between the suspense and the romance, it's nearly impossible to stop reading this one once you start...
(Content warning, though--if you're used to reading Amish-themed "Christian" romances, this is not one of those. Joe has been out of the Amish life for eight years, and the serial killer is very, very serial-killer-y. There is swearing, sex, violence, and sexual violence.)
My first book from Ms. Price, but it won't be my last!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
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