Reviews

The Final Silence by Stuart Neville

nvdm's review

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kazgilbody's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

bgg616's review

4.0

This thriller featuring Jack Lennon is the 4th. It's fast-moving and we see Lennon struggling to get back on his feet after a shooting incident that left another officer dead. Lennon also is fighting for his daughter's custody with the family of her deceased mother. A young woman discovers a shocking secret involving her father and contacts Lennon, someone she dated years back, as he's the only person she can look to for help. Things quickly spiral out of control when people in power conspire to keep these secrets hidden. Lennon isn't a character the reader immediately warms to, but he is more than just another dysfunctional cop. The book gives a lot of details about Belfast that readers who love a good sense of place appreciate. I was very happy to learn (at last) the history of the Jaffe Fountain outside of Victoria Square shopping centre. http://alaninbelfast.blogspot.com/2008/02/victoria-square-jaffe-fountain-returns.html

nonna7's review

4.0

The latest Stuart Neville book continues the story of Jack Lennon, a cop who is prone to temptation, but whose heart is in the right place. He is fighting a losing fight against corruption. Jack has given up fighting for his job, now all he wants is to get a medical pension. Even that may be denied to him because he shot a fellow police officer who was trying to kill him. The gunfight took place while Jack was trying to get a woman who had come to Belfast thinking she was going to be a nanny. Instead she was forced into prostitution. Jack gets her on the plane but not before being shot. It's a year later. He's addicted to pain pills that he gets illegally, he drinks too much and his relationship with Susan is more and more tenuous. The only thing that keeps him going is his daughter, Ellen. However, her deceased mother's family continues to try to get her away from him. The book opens with Rea Carlisle, 35 year old unemployed woman whose father is a well known local politician. When her uncle, Raymond, her mother's half brother, dies, Rea's parents offer the house to her. Rea is thrilled. She's been sharing a flat with several other women. She and her mother clean out the house, but there's one room that is tightly closed. When she finally gets it open, she is horrified at what she sees there: a book that outlines a series of unsolved murders including hair and a fingernail of one of the victims. I discovered Stuart Neville with his first book, The Ghosts of Belfast. It's still one of my favorites. His books center on the Belfast after "the Troubles" and how members of the militias that caused so much pain in that country have now burrowed into positions of power. Neville writes with a clean, taut style that carries the reader through to the end. Oh, and the reason for two images: The one with the figure in the window is apparently the European version. I wish they had used it for the American version. )

mfeibel's review

3.0

Once again, I started in the middle of a series. But I never felt lost. The characters were interesting and sympathetic. I wish the killer's point of view stories were utilized more. They were creepy and really engaging.

I will most likely look into the rest of these Belfast novels.

dcrice's review

2.0

I wavered between 2 and 3 stars. It had some good elements and some intrigue. But the alternating chapters (Rea's story; Lennan's story) got very repetitive and tedious. The characters were not very relate able or like able and I feel like there were too many subplots and relationships that weren't really explored. The big 'reveal' (I guess it was?) at the end just mostly left me relieved I was done with the book.

petersont4's review against another edition

4.0

This was an interesting murder mystery with lots of plot turns and interesting twists I was never expecting. After finishing this book I want to read more stories with Jack Lennon and see him solve more murder cases. Nevillle does a great job with this book and I can see why this book is a national best seller. I definitely recommend this book.

greenblack's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

elizabeth75's review against another edition

4.0

Sometimes, your just in the mood for a good police drama!

connie575's review against another edition

4.0

I wasn't overly excited with this book at the start. But the last 100 pages I really enjoyed. Ended up liking the characters and everything. It is a police story set it Belfast. Politicians and serial killers. If you like that type of story I am quite sure you will like this book. I will be looking out for more of Neville's books to read.