The Weight of Silence

By: Heather Gudenkauf

Narrated by: Jim Colby, Eliza Foss, Cassandra Morris, Andy Paris, Therese Plummer, Tony Ward

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

It happens quietly one August morning. As dawn's shimmering light drenches the humid Iowa air, two families awaken to find their little girls have gone missing in the night. Seven-year-old Calli Clark is sweet, gentle, a dreamer who suffers from selective mutism brought on by tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler. Calli's mother, Antonia, tried to be the best mother she could within the confines of marriage to a mostly absent, often angry husband. Now, though she denies that her husband could be involved in the possible abductions, she fears her decision to stay in her marriage has cost her more than her daughter's voice.

Petra Gregory is Calli's best friend, her soul mate and her voice. But neither Petra nor Calli has been heard from since their disappearance was discovered.

Desperate to find his child, Martin Gregory is forced to confront a side of himself he did not know existed beneath his intellectual, professorial demeanor.

Now these families are tied by the question of what happened to their children. And the answer is trapped in the silence of unspoken family secrets.

©2009 Heather Gudenkauf (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

• Edgar Award Finalist, Best First Novel, 2010

"Every so often you get really lucky, and a book comes along that just knocks your socks off: an absorbing, engrossing, suspenseful read that you just want to keep paging through, a novel that feels a lot like running downhill - fast and a little breathless - until it all winds down and wraps up. The Weight of Silence is exactly this kind of book.... Jodi Picoult has some serious competition in Heather Gudenkauf. [She is] an author to watch.” (Bookreporter.com)

"Deeply moving and exquisitely lyrical, this is a powerhouse of a debut novel. Heather Gudenkauf is one of those rare writers who can tell a tale with the skill of a poet while simultaneously cranking up the suspense until it's unbearable." (Tess Gerritsen)

"Gudenkauf moves the story forward at a fast clip and is adept at building tension. There's a particular darkness to her heartland, rife as it is with predators and the walking wounded, and her unsentimental take on the milieu manages to find some hope without being maudlin." ( Publishers Weekly)

Sad story about a broken family

It kept me interested but sad. Good depth to the characters. Very good narration. I liked having a different voice for each character.

Good read

I enjoyed this novel. Charming & warm yet bittersweet throughout. It will stay with you long after you have finished listening. The narrators do an excellent job as well.

Recommend

This is a great book, I loved listening to all the different characters and their voices!

remarkable!

great book!! you never know what is what! it keeps you at the edge of your seat.

Great book! Narrators were awesome and a perfect

Loved it. Awesome story. a great "Who done it" The ending was hinted at but still a surprise.

Kept my interest, but a little too slow moving.

I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if I had read it instead of listening to it. Some of The narration seamed a bit slow & draggy. The story itself was good, though slow moving. I do enjoy this author though, & will be reading/listening to more of her works.

Drawn in from page 1

I was immediately hooked. The narration was superb with everyone having a distinct that matched them perfectly. The storyline was unique. I figured out who the bad guy was but the story was no less interesting.

Couldn't stop listening!

Where does The Weight of Silence rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is at the top of the list. Loved the way the story unfolds. Cant wait for more from Gudenkauf!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ben because he wanted nothing more than to be the protector of his little sister and mother.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Couldn't pick one. All narrators were top notch in my book! Each kept me engaged in the story.

Any additional comments?

Well worth a credit! Wonderful listen/read!

Engrossing

This is a wonderful story. It deals with some very serious issues (alcoholism, DV, etc) but it's told in such a way that they aren't the focus of the book. The focus is more about family, friendship and love.
The story is told from many different perspectives, which allows you to see a much bigger picture. It keeps you guessing until the end, where there are twists and turns that finally reveal the whole picture.
The narration is incredible. There are different 'actors' for each person, which brings them all to life.
I read (listened to) this book in one setting because I couldn't put it down. So I recommend it strongly. But be warned, you'll be up late listening to it.

well written

Well written, well read, and one that did not have me rolling my eyes. loved it!