Killing Silence

The Loser Mysteries, Book 1

By: Peg Herring

Narrated by: Karisa Bruin

Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Is It Possible to Be a Rescuer When You Live among the Lost?

Killing Silence, the first of The Loser Mysteries, presents a unique protagonist: Loser, who sleeps on the streets of Richmond, Virginia, washes up in gas station bathrooms, eats when an opportunity comes along, and spends her waking hours in front of the local drug store, watching the world pass by and speaking less than thirty words per day.

When a child is murdered and Loser finds herself in the company of the prime suspect, can she pull herself out of her own pain to help catch a killer? Her investigation is hampered by her inability to hold a normal conversation and her inner demons.

Why should anyone believe her anyway? She is Loser. A nobody. A freak who can barely speak.

Every street person has a story, and Loser is no different. Her past haunts her present.

Besides, Loser has good reason to avoid the police... and it goes way beyond loitering.

©2012 LL-Publications (P)2015 Peg Herring

A unique protagonist and mystery. Try it.

As indicated by other reviewers, this is a good mystery, with a unique protagonist, a former detective who suffers from acute PTSD in an extreme form that resembles schizophrenia. Suspected of the murder of her husband and daughter, she lives on the street and no longer voluntarily speaks, limiting herself to no more than 30 words/day. When stressed, she hears their voices and becomes nearly catatonic. Because of the trauma associated with the house in which she lived, she cannot bring herself to enter let alone live there. (I don't think these are spoilers since these things are revealed near the beginning of the book.) She calls herself "Loser," which describes in part her state of mind as well as her experience.

Nevertheless, the story is rendered in first-person by her, who is revealed to be a well-educated, ethical woman whose training as a cop helps her survive among the homeless. In her internal description of events both past and present, she is sophisticated and eloquent, often citing relevant literature, while at the same time being severely crippled mentally. (However it may stretch belief, I guess that is possible. Consider mathematician John Nash, who is depicted in A Beautiful Mind.) It is a difficult point of view for an author to sustain and requires compromises that an omniscent narrator would not. As a result, I found the story dragged at times, with

Having listened to the audiobook, I found Karisa Bruin's rendering excellent. The author writes inviting if not lyrical prose, not so dramatic as Michael Connelly and not so eloquent as, say, Harlan Coben, and lacking in the latter's dark sense of humor, at least in this book. Like other reviewers, I think the author deserves wider recognition. I doubt that "Loser" will have the longevity of Harry Bosch, but I am eager to read the next in this series.

Wow, just Wow!!!

This book absolutely blew me away!!! The author and the narrator combined to make such an intense and compelling story that I'm still reverberating.

The main character, Loser, is homeless (mostly by choice) and through a series of bad events, wants to sleep outside and only speak about 30 words a day. The story is told from Loser's POV with many conversations happening in Loser's head. I can't even begin to tell you what a great story this is.

The narrator's vocal range was incredible! There were a variety of personalities for Bruin to tackle but that was the easy part. I loved how she performed Loser. Loser's talking voice had a very flat affect but her inner voice was funny and charming and intelligent. It's a beautiful thing when a narrator can bring forth what the author wrote.

I received this audiobook at my request in exchange for an honest review.

Killing Silence Bk 1

Any additional comments?

I listened to the Audible version of this.I was sucked in from the beginning and did not want it to end!Karisa Bruin narrates this story with such feeling...or non feeling as the case may be.Loser was once a wife and mother.That was taken from her and she was blamed for the murders but no evidence could convict her.A few years down the road we find her on the streets,not able to be with people.She connect with a little girl who will need her very soon.Will she ba able to get past her demons to help this child and her family?Give it a listen!I can't wait to read book 2!
"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast or MalarHouse dot com"

AMAZING, gripping, thoughtful thriller from newbie

If you could sum up Killing Silence in three words, what would they be?

Killing Science is a beautifully written story about a young woman, "Loser", who speaks less than 30 words a day and lives on the streets. The story winds in a murder that Loser, a former cop, is determined to solve. Along the journey, the author Peg Herring subtly uncovers Loser's past and the reason for her silence.

What did you like best about this story?

There were two things that most stood out for me in this excellent book. First, Ms. Herring does a masterful job of developing her characters. I felt as if I was in the scenes with them. Second, I loved the author's subtle time changes when we learn who Loser is. This subject switching took a little getting used to, but the author did it well enough to not bore the reader with markers

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved all the scenes between Loser and the little girl, the relationship was so nicely developed!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to this book in one sitting--I could not put it down.

should definitely be on your to-read list

Any additional comments?

(I received a free audible copy in exchange for an honest review.)

Loser lives on the streets. Loser keeps a word count, a small one and does not speak unless necessary. She seems to fit in with those who chose to live on the fringes of society. But there is something about her, something about her past that rises up to haunt her during random moments of lucid thought.

A little girl grabs her attention. She is almost magnetized by the child, seeking her out, risking the haunted fragments of her past just to see the girl. A murder, a father and daughter in hiding…all Loser’s instincts from the past rise to the surface. She cannot help herself, she has to help them.

This first installment of the Loser mysteries is such a unique take on the typical murder/mystery genre, I couldn’t stop listening. The writing is fluid. The narration is solid. And I was actually disappointed that I finished the book all at once. (The sequel is already in my audible wish list!)

For those who enjoy mysteries to the extent that you know the formula backwards and forwards, you will be pleasantly surprised how a homeless person can be the protagonist/heroine and work a case in less than 30 spoken words per day.

Awesome Mystery!!!

I loved the narrator's voice. The story was captivating. Speaking less than 30 words a day - I'd never make it...

In case you're counting I still had 16 words left.

Fresh and original, this well written book by Peg Herring and read by Marisa Bonin is a real treat. Told in the first person by a young street woman known to her everyday companions only as Loser, a name she had given to herself, the book follows her life over a short period of weeks, her interactions with others and her growing fondness for a child, so full of life, named Brinn. When Brinn's father becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation, Loser doesn't want to believe it and tries to help and, in the process, her own story of eighteen months before is gradually revealed, how she came to be living as she is, not only alone without possessions other than those she wore or carried but also why she has a self imposed near silence.

The book is artfully structured, taking the reader into Loser's emotional memories as well as pursuing the ongoing murder mystery. It flows naturally and, unlike many story 'flashback' sequences, seems to evolve organically, revealing the person as the investigation unwinds. Almost all of Loser's conversations take place in her head, only occasional words delivered to other protagonists in extremis. A fascinating study in survival alone. Narrator Marissa Bonin gives a masterful performance as the unusual main protagonist, expertly assessing the pacing and emotional content to back every sentence. Her voice is perfect, too, clear, well modulated and pleasant on the ear. She really becomes Loser.

I am grateful to the rights holder of Killing Silence, who, at my request, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy, via F.A.F.Y. Thank you.so much. It was a book both thrilling with a good story and with an unique main protagonist amidst other quirky characters. Highly recommended.

love Peg Herring's writing

I loved all of the books by Peg Herring that I've read so far.
this one took me a little longer to appreciate, maybe it was the narrator, which I didn't LOVE.
Peg always writes compelling, interesting, and heartbreaking characters.
I received this audiobook at my request and I voluntarily wrote a review.