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A review by themysterymaven
The Quiet People by Paul Cleave
3.0
3.75
Let’s say for years you’ve been very vocal about how you could commit the perfect crime…kidnapping, murder…both. You’ve been utterly upfront that no one should trust you, though you are beloved and likeable. Now crazy as this may seem, it all makes sense when you’re a famous crime fiction author with bestsellers under your belt, and these somewhat strange statements you repeatedly spout are all just a part of the job…book signings, circuits, conventions…meeting fans and turning on the charm.
But what happens when your seven year-old son goes missing? And much of the early evidence points directly at you being the prime suspect? How do you disentangle yourself from those bold boasts you’ve always made, that now seem eerily prophetic?
This story is a whirlwind of wild ups and downs in the world of the main character, who finds himself firmly planted in the spotlight when his son disappears. Did he really do it? Or, is an almost darkly-comic set of coincidences and circumstances aligned against him? Or…is something else all together at play?
I honestly felt 50/50 for most of the book on his guilt or innocence, and yet I found the MC remained oddly appealing throughout. I was actually rooting for him despite not knowing if I should trust his POV.
The twists and turns, though fictional, seem straight from the script of a Dateline plot, so I think fans of the show and podcast will enjoy the structure of the story. It definitely kept me turning the pages to find the truth in the end! No spoilers here.
Let’s say for years you’ve been very vocal about how you could commit the perfect crime…kidnapping, murder…both. You’ve been utterly upfront that no one should trust you, though you are beloved and likeable. Now crazy as this may seem, it all makes sense when you’re a famous crime fiction author with bestsellers under your belt, and these somewhat strange statements you repeatedly spout are all just a part of the job…book signings, circuits, conventions…meeting fans and turning on the charm.
But what happens when your seven year-old son goes missing? And much of the early evidence points directly at you being the prime suspect? How do you disentangle yourself from those bold boasts you’ve always made, that now seem eerily prophetic?
This story is a whirlwind of wild ups and downs in the world of the main character, who finds himself firmly planted in the spotlight when his son disappears. Did he really do it? Or, is an almost darkly-comic set of coincidences and circumstances aligned against him? Or…is something else all together at play?
I honestly felt 50/50 for most of the book on his guilt or innocence, and yet I found the MC remained oddly appealing throughout. I was actually rooting for him despite not knowing if I should trust his POV.
The twists and turns, though fictional, seem straight from the script of a Dateline plot, so I think fans of the show and podcast will enjoy the structure of the story. It definitely kept me turning the pages to find the truth in the end! No spoilers here.