Don't Speak

Silence Jones Action Thrillers Series, Book 8

By: Erik Carter

Narrated by: Gary Bennett

Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

No more secrets. No more lies.

Driving home from a mission, vigilante assassin Silence Jones stumbles upon a small community in despair—and he’s more than willing to lend his deadly skills to their fight.

What begins as random encounter soon plunges Silence into a web of lies that has threatened generations of innocent people. To eradicate the suffering, Silence will have to rely on both time-honed skills and newfound allies.

But with the impending arrival of an even deadlier foe and questions still unanswered, will Silence be able to put the clues together before it’s too late?

The next stand-alone action thriller in the pulse-pounding series. Enter the world of Silence Jones. Hold on tight....

If you like action heroes with the steely resolve of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, the calculating will of Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X, and the raw power of Mark Greaney’s Gray Man, then you’ll love Silence Jones.

Unlock Don't Speak and start your Silence Jones mission today!

©2023 Erik Carter (P)2023 Erik Carter

Non-stop action!

Silence Jones, though unique, still needs to eat. In a small-town diner, he discovers that not all small towns foster a sense of community, instead, he finds that this town is plagued by corruption and evilness. Silence endeavors to protect himself from the retaliatory actions of the Watchers, who enforce strict rules and vigilantly observe him, all while attempting to rescue this community.

The author, Erik Carter continues to captivate readers with gripping action and adventure in his Silence Jones Action Thriller series. In each successive book, Erik Carter provides readers with a deeper understanding of the character Silence Jones. This book offers a more profound insight into the character and personality of Silence Jones. The dialogue and storyline move forward seamlessly and effortlessly under Erik Carter's skillful writing. I thought the blending in of Paladine and their relationship was well done!

The narrator, Gary Bennett, is a fantastic voice actor. Among his numerous performances, it is this one that stands out as my favorite. He convincingly portrays Silence Jones and brings each character to life thus captivating the audience. His delivery is steady and flows effortlessly. He is Silence Jones!

This is by far my favorite book to date, and I am eager to see if Silence will stand firm in his beliefs and challenge the Watchers! I suspect this is just the beginning! Highly recommend! Lots of action, adventure, and suspense!

Talk! More of Silence's voice in this one

Wow, how can we be on the eighth book of the Silence Jones Action Thrillers series already? I guess it is really a true when people say that times flies when you are having fun. And let me say that I have enjoyed this complete series quite a bit. It is like watching a TV series that gets better and better the longer you watch it. Let me say that it is no different with the latest installment in the series, “Don’t Speak”. It is heavy on the action, adventure, and intrigue. There is rarely a dull moment while listening and one feels a sense of adrenaline flowing while partaking of it. I think that Erik Carter has done an exceptional job of making each story in the series feel unique, but there are themes that run though all of them. One thing that I found very interesting was that a book titled “Don’t Speak” has Silence using his voice more than I recall he has in previous tales. Sneaky how the author did that! None of these stories would have felt as alive and engrossing as to have my favorite narrator at the microphone, Gary Bennett. I know I have said it before, but this is a duo hard to beat when it comes to my listening pleasure. If what I said above interests you, I would recommend you give this audiobook, and the series, a listen.

Silence, returning from a mission which the watchers assigned him, finds himself entoiled in a small town’s affairs that begin to grow at a rapid pace. As with all stories in this series, this one opens with action and mystery. It takes some time before we find Silence walking into this thick mire of events. What I do like is that the author drops in bits and pieces of past events or interactions along the way, so a listener could pick up any of these audiobooks in the series and give them a listen. However, for those who have listened to them in sequential order, these small flashbacks are wonderful reminders allowing one to connect with the events once again. Belonging to a clandestine organization, the Watchers are always doing just that; watching. And in this story, we get a little more detail on how the Watchers react to a supposed agent that has gone rogue. There are so many wonderful tendrils making this story a pleasure to listen to. We get to meet both some newer and older characters along this journey as well. Falcon, Silences direct report, is just as cranky and by the books as one can be. Again, the Watchers are a group devoted to justice, no matter how extreme, for those who have none. Much like Javert from the story of Les Misérables. Little compassion when other are found to have violated the law. However, we do see the dichotomy here as Silence Jones is a man devoted to Justice, but he also has a compassionate side to him as well.

Being a bit more mature (older that is), I always have enjoyed the little pokes at technology in the mid-80s. There are references to floppy disks with secret data, tablets which are precursors to the iPad, and enough raw firepower and testosterone keeping listeners on their toes. One thing that often runs as a theme in all these stories is remembering that nothing ever is what it seems to be. There is always more than what is believed at first glance. Add your standard local thugs and some federal crimes, all happening in your local small-town environment, and you have the basis of this story. Will this be the last we see of Silence? Has he gone too rogue or has his initial debt to the watchers been fulfilled? For this, you will have to give the audiobook a listen. Needless to say, when it comes down to the ends justifying the means, I have a feeling we will see more of Silence in the future. The action is hard and fast, the characters are lively, and the story rather interesting. I like the research that goes into these stories, and the technology and weapons needed to complete the goal. We did have a bit more of CeCe’s input as this story unraveled and I enjoyed his continued faithfulness and desire to have her in his life. It is the only thing that continues to tie him to his old self. What at first glance feels like a stone-cold killer, Silence has an emotional side, which often gets him in trouble along the way.

Narration of this audiobook was wonderful. The audio quality was flawless and the character voicing top notch. Just as the author writes in a clever way, the narration also contains some of those subtle elements that make it unique for the listener. I felt sorry for Mr. Bennet as he had to voice more of Silence in this audiobook which I’m sure can give you a sore throat if done too often. I find that I enjoy these audiobooks even more when a great narrator is there to enhance the story for me.

For parents and younger listeners, I still have to say that this audiobook, along with the others in the series, are meant for more mature listeners only. It contains some adult language and content as well as quite a bit of graphic violence and situations that may not be appropriate for younger audiences.

In summary, if you like clever action tales along with super high-quality narration, I cannot say enough for these two and the series. I like to often indulge and listen to large portions of the story when time permits. I often find myself not wanting to stop listening when life gets in the way. I would say that these are a sign of a good audiobook and one that I would recommend to others.

Silence’s Rogue Journey

Erik Carter’s Don’t Speak takes a slight departure from the first seven stories, breaking away from his usual ‘hired hitman’ role, Silence finds himself confronted with unexpected challenges when he inadvertently stumbles upon a problem during his journey home. This change in dynamic sets the stage for an enthralling listening experience that captivates from start to finish.

The absence of a clear-cut objective for Silence adds an intriguing layer to the story, allowing readers to witness his transformation into a rogue/vigilante figure who takes matters into his own hands (which is clearly against the Watcher’s code). This shift in his character’s motivation opens doors to new dimensions of his persona, keeping me engaged and invested in his personal journey of evolution.

Carter’s storytelling prowess shines through in Don’t Speak, as he masterfully weaves a web of intrigue and suspense around a cast of characters that range from the morally ambiguous to the outright despicable (even this term doesn’t feel like enough). The gradual revelation of the characters’ darker sides keeps listeners on the edge of their seats, urging them to discover the full extent of their sinister intentions.

What truly sets Don’t Speak apart is the skillful construction of an intricately layered town and its inhabitants. The town itself feels like a character, contributing to the overall atmosphere of mystery and suspense. As the story delves deeper into the heart of the community, the underbelly of its existence gradually emerges, exposing both the virtuous and the nefarious residents. Carter’s narrative acumen shines as he orchestrates an enthralling dance between Silence and the diverse townsfolk, making each encounter a significant piece of the puzzle – and adding to the exhilarating feeling was the timeline (because of the rogue-like nature of the story).

The unpredictable elements that emerge throughout the story keep listeners guessing at every turn. From unexpected allies to unforeseen adversaries, the surprises are both well-crafted and expertly executed. This unpredictable nature infuses the audiobook with a sense of excitement, ensuring that Silence’s journey remains unpredictable and engaging and until the last moments of the audiobook I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with Silence and The Watchers next.

Overall, combined with the narration from Gary Bennett (who nails Silence in every book) made this one stand out in the sea of thrillers and suspense books. It feels familiar but different and I absolutely love that.