Silence of the Missing

By: Rick R. Reed

Narrated by: David Allen Vargo

He went into the woods…and never came out.

In 1986, thirteen-year-old Jeb Kleber vanished during his small town’s Fourth of July fireworks. His mysterious disappearance left his first love, Sammy Blake, grieving for years.

Flash forward to present day. A now middle-aged Sam Blake has a comfortable and predictable life with his husband Marc in Chicago. All that changes when a stranger arrives at Sam’s door, claiming to be the missing Jeb Kleber. The stranger knows things he couldn’t possibly know—including the hidden love the boys shared during the summer of ’86. He also wears an amethyst pendant Sam gave him shortly before he disappeared.

Could this be the real Jeb Kleber, missing for thirty-seven years? If not, who is this mysterious stranger? And what does he want after all this time? His appearance plunges Sam’s life into a nightmare of questionable identity, long-buried secrets, and perhaps even murder.

©2023 Rick R. Reed (P)2024 Rick R. Reed

Great read!

Wow this new book by Rick Reed is fantastic!
So many twists and turns, and so unexpected! It went in a very different direction from what I was expecting! The book is much more a thriller than romance, and I loved every breath-taking moment of it. I loved the many different POVs giving away the overall plot step by step.

I adored David Allen Vargo’s performance, truly outstanding!

Amazing story

This was an amazing story from the initial disappearance of the young boy Jeb and the devastating effects it has on everyone, especially the other young boy who loves him, Sam. Sam grieves, but as one does after a time, one gets on with life and for Sam, that means marriage to Marc and life as an adult. Then, suddenly there is a man on his doorstep, claiming to be Jeb and knowing things seemingly only Jeb could know and with identifying objects only Jeb should have. The blurb made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and the book itself was even better than the blurb promised. I found this one by turns, sad, creepy, scary and thought provoking. We always assume that if a missing person came back, everything would be an unmitigated joy for that person and all who know them. This book asks, what if we aren't quite sure the returnee is who they claim to be? And what about the lives all those other people have gone on and built? Just went back to this book again on audio and I have to say it was even better the second time. This is one where you notice things on a reread you missed the first time because then you just had to keep reading to find out what happened. Given time for a slow read you appreciate the author's craft even more. David Allen Vargo does a superb job narrating this story and drawing you into the characters thoughts and lives.

Hand-wringing suspense

I experienced this story fully via audiobook with an occasional follow on the e-book.
A surprisingly suspenseful story that begins innocently and turns to a darker side much faster than I had anticipated. I enjoyed the author's flow of the story, and the audio recording followed the characters and their definitions well. I had no trouble discerning the characters who were speaking, despite there only being one audiobook narrator.
I enjoyed the jumps in time from 1986 to the present, and I enjoyed having most of the character's perspectives. It's not often you're given the perspective from a character's mother or husband.
The story's unfortunate conclusion and the answers about Jeb's reappearance tie up practically all loose ends that I can think of.
I would recommend this story to those who enjoy suspense with a tragic twist. This is no summer romance, despite how it seems the story begins with Jeb & Sam's time together.

When Romance turns deadly

Sam Blake and Jeb Kleber were young kids in 1986, and they became fast friends when Jeb Kleber suddenly vanished. Now, Sam’s husband is missing and a stranger calling himself Jeb is knocking on his door!

Rick R. Reed, the author, weaves a mystery-laden narrative that touches on different types of loss, the effects, and a plot twist that leaves the listener in shock! The dialogue effectively communicates the sense of loss, grief, and passion. The characters are well-developed and fit nicely into the narrative flawlessly. Reed puts into words the sense of loss, grief, and missed opportunities in vivid detail. It was so authentic that I felt connected to the narrative and characters.

The narrator, David Allen Vargo, slips into each character, skillfully conveying a wide range of emotions with precision and depth. Vargo speaks each word intentionally, pausing deliberately for impact. His cadence keeps the narrative flowing smoothly and forward.

This is an exceptional audiobook further elevated by the immensely talented David Allen Vargo. A must-have audiobook!

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

Twists and turns

This book didn't go where I expected it to, but the ride was intriguing and kept me hooked! The twists and turns that this book took I did not see them coming! Worth the credit!