Keep Quiet

By: Lisa Scottoline

Narrated by: Ron Livingston

Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award winning author Lisa Scottoline is loved by millions of readers and listeners for her suspenseful novels about family and justice.

Scottoline delivers once again with Keep Quiet, an emotionally gripping and complex story about one man's split-second decision to protect his son—and the devastating consequences that follow. Jake Buckman's relationship with his sixteen-year-old son Ryan is not an easy one, so at the urging of his loving wife, Pam, Jake goes alone to pick up Ryan at their suburban movie theater. On the way home, Ryan asks to drive on a deserted road, and Jake sees it as a chance to make a connection. However, what starts as a father-son bonding opportunity instantly turns into a nightmare. Tragedy strikes, and with Ryan's entire future hanging in the balance, Jake is forced to make a split-second decision that plunges them both into a world of guilt and lies. Without ever meaning to, Jake and Ryan find themselves living under the crushing weight of their secret, which threatens to tear their family to shreds and ruin them all.

Powerful and dramatic, Keep Quiet will have listeners and book clubs debating what it means to be a parent and how far you can, and should, go to protect those you love.

©2014 Smart Blonde, LLC (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Every parent's worst nightmare is brought chillingly to life by narrator Ron Livingston. He deftly captures the story's many characters and as the terror grows, his measured approach keeps the story believable… a riveting listening experience.” —AudioFile Magazine

“This fast-paced thriller keeps the reader engaged until the very end.” —Library Journal

So good!

The story will keep you guessing. I couldn’t stop listening. This is a story that could happen to anyone.

book could be good

seems like a good story but narration is not very good. kind of monotone

Upside Down

Ryan is the 16 year old son of Pam and Jake. Ryan plays basketball and does well in school, Jake, after being laid off for a year, using his own initiative, started a Financial Adviser business that was doing very well. Pam is a judge of the state court.

Ryan has finally realized, through therapy with Pam, that in order to get closer to Ryan, he has to start doing things with him and for him. Ryan and his mother are very close and had realized he'll be leaving for college sooner than later.

Ryan had went to the movies with a group of friends and needed a ride home. Ryan has a learner's permit but not his license. Jake volunteered to pick Ryan up. Jake decided to take a short-cut home but the road isn't straight but has lots of curves.

Jake and Ryan, instead of the usual quiet ride home, were talking and discussing the movie and other things. Ryan begged his dad to let him drive Ryan's sports car home. First, Ryan wasn't permitted to drive because of the time and second, it's a winding road that requires more driving experience than what Ryan had. However, Jake thought long and hard and knew the right thing to do but he chose to do the opposite. Jake pulled off of the road, got out of the driver's seat and allowed Ryan to drive.

Jake and Ryan were talking and Ryan looked at his dad for no more than a mere second but it was too late. While driving around the most dangerous curve on the road, Jake was the first to realize that Ryan had hit something. Ryan pulled the car over and both of them went to look. Ryan had hit a woman and communication between Jake and Ryan wasn't very clear. Both of them were talking at the same time and before Ryan punched in 911, Jake had made the decision, don not punch in 911.

The book was exciting to listen to. There was a father and son who knew what they had done was wrong. However, what was done was done. There was no going back to the scene of the accident. The tension in their household was filled with anxiety, fear and tears which made Ryan and Jake unable to function. They were looking behind them, watching for specific cars, they were a wreck. Pam doesn't understand and nobody would provide answers to her questions.

One chapter led to another and I had no choice but to finish listening until the end. The narrator, Ron Livingston, did a great job. I thought that the ending was appropriate. The book had well developed characters. I'm pleased that I purchased, Keep Quiet, and I would encourage other's to use their credit to buy the book. I read the reviews, good and bad, but the good won out.

Might be Scottoline's best

Any additional comments?

At the beginning I identified with Jake, in a very bad situation with no easy way out. He made his decision (very bad as it turned out) and had to live with it. We are surprised as events unfold later, as Lisa has sneaked a few unanswered questions past us. A very good book. All new characters, so if you haven't read this author before it's okay to start here.

I felt guilty for knowing the secret!

Great book! I couldn't put it down! I would have given 5 stars, except the narrator reads too fast. His words run together. Might just be the southerner in me ;)

Great Book !

This book was great. ! The author kept my ears glued to the speaker. The twists and turns were mind boggling.

Engaging story

This writing reminds me of Jodi Picoult. I enjoyed the reading, but the story got a little far fetched for me. I kept saying to myself, "What are the odds of THAT happening?" But then, it is just a story.

For me, the high emotions of the son was exhausting. Maybe it was just the narrator, but alright already, I get it.

The story makes you wonder what you would do in a similar situation. And as a lesson, living with guilt is generally a worse punishment than actually paying your dues.

Very Good Read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This was a very interesting mystery, along the lines of "A Simple Plan," where every effort to solve a problem leads the characters deeper into trouble.

Good book

The story was compelling! How a accident can change your life forever. Could be a true story. Makes you think.

Well written story with a very surprising ending

Very riveting story once you get into it— can’t stop reading to find out how it is going to end!