Review: Not A Sound by Heather Gudenkauf

Title:Not A Sound

Author:Heather Gudenkauf

Published:May 2017; Park Row Books

Format:Paperback, 352 pages

Source:Publisher

A shocking discovery and chilling secrets converge in this latest novel from
New York Times
bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf

When a
tragic accident leaves nurse Amelia Winn deaf, she spirals into a
depression that ultimately causes her to lose everything that
matters–her job, her husband, David, and her stepdaughter, Nora. Now,
two years later and with the help of her hearing dog, Stitch, she is
finally getting back on her feet. But when she discovers the body of a
fellow nurse in the dense bush by the river, deep in the woods near her
cabin, she is plunged into a disturbing mystery that could shatter the
carefully reconstructed pieces of her life all over again.

As
clues begin to surface, Amelia finds herself swept into an investigation
that hits all too close to home. But how much is she willing to risk in
order to uncover the truth and bring a killer to justice?

New York Times
bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf has been described as “masterful”
and “intelligent” and compared to Lisa Scottoline and Jodi Picoult.
Introducing her most compelling heroine yet, she delivers a taut and
emotional thriller that proves she’s at the top of her class.

My thoughts:Heather Gudenkauf can write an edge-of-your-seat thriller like no other…and while I’m still relatively new to her work, having only read her more recent books, she is quickly becoming a must-read author for me. This latest book proves that she can spin a tale that grabs hold of you from the get-go and doesn’t let up until the very end!

There are so many unique parts to this story that made it what it is. The main character, Amelia is one of the more interesting characters I’ve read about in a while – becoming deaf after a tragic accident certainly altered her life – how could it not? And she of course reacts as one might expect, struggling at first, making poor choices, but ultimately she becomes determined to get back on track – and it is that determination and that spunk that makes her so strong. She is without a doubt a complicated, flawed character, but a most memorable one for sure!

Then there is Stitch, Amelia’s service dog. Being a dog person myself, I fell in love with Stitch and I loved the bond that Amelia and he had. While he doesn’t always listen to Amelia’s every command – commands that are given in Czech, which is quite cool! – he no doubt takes good care of her.  Stitch really becomes quite the star in this book and reinforces the importance of service dogs.  Amelia and Stitch really do make quite the team!

The mystery/crime that Amelia finds herself involved in is not only very intriguing, but it keeps things moving and with so many suspects and twists and turns, I found myself constantly suspicious of anybody and everybody. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something else would happen to make me rethink things…this really kept me on my toes. It’s fast-paced and action-packed, and atmospheric – Heather Gudenkauf really knows how to use the setting to her advantage!

This is a fast-paced read that kept me engaged and captivated. It’s intense and suspenseful and includes some of the most unique characters I’ve come across in a long time. Heather Gudenkauf is definitely on my list of go-to authors and while I still have some of her back list to read, this might be my favorite book of hers so far!