• The Silent Land

  • A Novel
  • By: Graham Joyce
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (136 ratings)

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The Silent Land  By  cover art

The Silent Land

By: Graham Joyce
Narrated by: John Lee
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Publisher's summary

Award-winning novelist and cult favorite Graham Joyce transports listeners to a mysterious world of isolation and fear with this hypnotically dark story - a daring and powerful novel about love, loss, and rebirth.

In the French Pyrenees, a young married couple is buried under a flash avalanche while skiing. Miraculously, Jake and Zoe dig their way out from under the snow - only to discover the world they knew has been overtaken by an eerie and absolute silence. Their hotel is devoid of another living soul. Cell phones and land lines are cut off. An evacuation as sudden and thorough as this leaves Jake and Zoe to face a terrifying situation alone. They are trapped by the storm, completely isolated, with another catastrophic avalanche threatening to bury them alive… again. And as the couple begins to witness unset­tling events neither can ignore, they are forced to con­front a frightening truth about the silent land they now inhabit.< /p>

The Silent Land is a brilliantly conceived novel that puts a husband and wife in a strange and frightening reality where it would seem they are the last two people on Earth. Together they will face the ultimate test of their love for each other, and they will be forced to decide what their lives are worth - and what they will sacrifice to save each other. Joyce has written a mysteri­ous masterpiece, a tour de force that will thrill fans of Peter Straub and the hit television show Lost.

©2010 Graham Joyce (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“[A] gently haunting fantasy thriller.” ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about The Silent Land

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

A sad, sweet love fantasy

This is not at all science fiction, so those of you who do not like fantasy are warned.

It is, however, a sad and sweet fantasy about the enduring quality and great power of love. It is at times a bit like a twilight zone episide. The characters are quite well done and, though it is rather predictable, the plot moves along nicely and it is easy to grow attached to the characters and their plight. Overall, it is fairly entertaining and at times touching.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Keeps You Guessing

What did you love best about The Silent Land?

I love stories where the main characters are married or at least in love. This is such a story. As the story builds the mystery increases. You will form one conclusion only to have it wiped out a few pages later. By the end of the book I was pretty sure I had it figured out and almost did but the author still managed to surprise me with the way other elements fit in to the picture.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This was a 'gem'.

As a long time reader of horror (all varieties) I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but the pace of the story was excellent, kept me guessing, couldn't wait until the end.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I guess I should know better than to think it will be a good book because Stephen King liked it. After all, he is being paid to read the book. It was so slow it just dragged on and on, I only kept with it because I needed to find out what happened. It felt more like a 12 hour book than a 6 hour book and I don't mean that in a good way. The first revelation about why these people came back to a deserted mountain town after being buried in an avalanch came relatively soon in the book. The story was pretty much over by that time. The author used the entire book as a set up to the end. Yes, it was a sweet love story too but that just didn't carry the book through to me. If you like a verrryyy slow build to a mostly anticlimactic end then buy this book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A compelling story

It's a great story, and not as predictable as one might think. My only complaint is that the reader makes the characters, particularly the female character, seem vapid. But the story is so good that it's worth it anyway.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

not what I thought

This would have done better as a short story. As a full length, I'll be at short, novel it meanders and includes many scenes that don't seem to connect with the overall story arc. Maybe if the author had concentrated less on multiple sex scenes, and more on the fantasy aspect of the story, it would have done better. I enjoyed it once, but probably won't keep it in my library.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Would make a good movie

Within the first few minutes I wanted to return this book because the narrator’s voice was grating. But, Audible said no take backs (guess I’ve done that one too many times) and I wasn’t going to waste a credit so I pressed on. And I have to say it was worth it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A True Mystery

I never tired of the way this author kept only a few characters in motion in a limited setting. This true mystery kept me guessing all the way to the end.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

good love story with a mysterious twist

I enjoyed the book thoroughly. The characters were likable and realistic and the overall story line was addictive. Listened to the entire book in less than 2 days.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Page turner

What did you love best about The Silent Land?

I don't often feel the need to review books, but I really enjoyed this one. I couldn't stop listening to this story, it was addictive, I just needed to know what happened next. The characters were realistic and human and well written and the plot was exciting and mysterious. The ending was heartwarming, strong and left me feeling a little emotional.

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