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)

A book you won't want to stop

The story was well put together, with different narrators for each person, it keeps your attention.

Not enough silence

I found the narration lacking any emotion. The flat tones made it difficult to maintain interest in the storyline. The basic idea of the story was imaginative, but I would have preferred it presented differently. I actually fell asleep for about 30 minutes and didn’t feel that I had missed anything. I doubt that I would listen to this author again.

Mostly Great

I loved the story and how it slowly unfolds from different perspectives. Each character was written distinctly and I felt that I would have easily told them apart had I been reading the book instead of listening. Some of the performances were a bit lacking but overall I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend to any mystery/thriller fan.

Great drama

Perfect for long drives, great plot. The kind of book that makes you want to stay in the parking lot after you've reached your destination just to finish the chapter.

Great listen

Enjoyed this book. Will check our more from this author. Very well done with all the narrators.

Mixed review

A great mystery/drama concept but marred by long passages of overdone and saccharine-sweet sentimentality.

Riveting!

I drove much more than necessary just to hear this story! so good! Highly recommended!

Great suspense

Really enjoyed the well-thought out characters and suspenseful plot. The tension was thick with many twists and turns. If there’s a con, there were a few conversations as flashbacks that went into a boring recourse that was retold as “she said and he said and she … and he…”. Would have been better as a narrated piece. Overall, I loved it. Bravo !

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.