Perfect Silence, the third book in the D.I. Callanach series, showcases the most significant character growth yet. While there were moments that might have elicited an eye-roll, the narrative was compelling enough that I didn’t find myself shouting at my car speakers or becoming so irritated that I was pulled out of the story. Ava and Luc have evolved as characters, presenting themselves with newfound depth and subtlety.
Book Information
Publisher: Harper Collins
First Published: January 25 2018
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Robin Laing
Source: Library
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Series: D.I. Callanach #4
I’m not a fan of graphic violence or in-depth descriptions of awful things. Perfect Silence almost put me over the edge a few times. It just teetered on the edge of being too much for me. I also found this to be the case earlier in the series, but it struck me with these victims. The reader gets to hear their perspective, and it is brutal. In other popular thrillers, you hear about the violence/pain/torture the victim experienced after it’s already happened. Perfect Silence introduces the characters before the nasty stuff starts and provides enough backstory that I was rooting for them to escape.
Detective Sergeant Lively provides great banter and perspective throughout. Even though he’s a side character, in Perfect Silence, he becomes less flat, and I got to see more of what makes him tick.
Ava’s righteousness is really on display in this story. She bends so many rules, disregards orders and flouts regulations. I don’t understand how Ava can stand on her moral high ground while overlooking her actions. The source of most of my eye-rolling, Ava’s character has grown at a different pace than Luc’s.
I found it more of a police procedural than a thriller. While earlier books in the series made the tension snap, Perfect Silence is significantly blander. I didn’t catch a lot of foreshadowing or twists, and the mystery was quite linear.
The audiobook narration is fantastic. The accents were understandable but distinct. I can’t comment on their accuracy, but they were wonderful to listen to.
Looking ahead, I’m optimistic that the next book in the series will bring more growth for Ava, recapture the tension and pacing that made earlier books so gripping, and perhaps see Luc finally seeking the therapy he needs. These potential developments leave me eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the D.I. Callanach series.
