The Girl from Silent Lake

A Totally Gripping and Heart-Pounding Crime Thriller (Detective Kay Sharp, Book 1)

By: Leslie Wolfe

Narrated by: Gwendolyn Druyor

Length: 14 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Please, not in front of my daughter,” she pleaded. “She’s just a little girl.” He leaned closer, so close she felt his heated breath on her face. The blue jays that had been filling the valley with their chirping fell silent all at once when the woman’s cry ripped through the clear mountain air....

Detective Kay Sharp vowed she’d never return to her childhood home. On the night of her 13th birthday, her broken family was shattered beyond repair, and leaving was the only option. Unable to fix her own past, she’s been an FBI profiler for more than a decade, desperate to save others. 

But now Kay’s back, and only she can solve the crime that has rocked the tight-knit community of Mount Chester to its core. A dead woman has been found by Silent Lake under the dew-covered fall leaves, her hair braided, and her body wrapped in a blanket. This small town may be a stranger to murder, but Kay recognizes the signs of a serial killer. She’s certain that the ritualistic nature of the scene means it’s just a matter of time until he strikes again - unless she catches him first. 

As yellow "do-not-cross" tape flaps in the biting wind, another woman is reported missing. Kay leads a frenzied search for out-of-towner Alison Nolan, and when she locates her car, Kay’s blood turns to ice as she shines her flashlight on the backseat and sees a teddy bear. Alison’s six-year-old little girl, Hazel, has vanished too. 

Kay knows the missing-person investigation could turn into a murder case at any second. But as she hunts for the culprit, her own past closes in on her. Can she find the killer before it’s too late? And will the secret she thought she’d buried stay that way? 

A totally gripping and utterly addictive new crime thriller series for listeners who love Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni, and Kendra Elliot. 

©2021 Leslie Wolfe (P)2021 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Amazing story!

This first in series book introduces Kay Sharp, an FBI agent who takes a leave from her profiling job to go back to her hometown in the wake of a family crisis. She quickly and unexpectedly finds herself assisting local law enforcement in the apprehension of a serial killer. I will not recap the entire story line as I feel it unnecessary given the description provided in the listing. I want to comment on the exceptional details provided on why and how the killer became the monster that tortured and killed several women. The psychological insights and fascinating statistics about serial killers add so much authenticity and bone-chilling detail to the plot that it was impossible for me to put this book down once I started reading it. The main character, Kay, is an intelligent and capable woman who has worked hard to overcome a tragic past. She is a very compelling and authentic character that is easy to become invested in. I loved the fast pace of the story, the perfect balance of describing the horrendous acts perpetrated by the killer without wallowing in excessive gruesome detail, and the subtle promise of a more powerful relationship between Kay and the detective she works with to solve this case. I read the book first and later went back and listened to the audiobook for this story. In all honesty, I have to say that had I gotten the audiobook first, I might not have finished the story. I found the narrator to be completely unsuitable for this story. Her voice is far too timid and fearful (whether fearfulness was appropriate to the situation or not). Her distinction of characters was lacking (ex. I am a native Texan and the accent used for Detective Elliot Young – from Austin, Texas - was hard for me to listen to). Sadly, the grit and determination of the lead character, Kay, was just not represented with the narrator’s performance. The pace of narration was uniformly and painfully slow and did not reflect the urgency of some of the situations. There are, no doubt, stories that would benefit from the narrator's timorous voice but, in my opinion, this story was not one of them. Regardless, this story laid a firm groundwork for what promises to be a highly addictive and compelling series. I can’t wait to see what the author plans for these characters in their future adventures. I would give the story more than five stars if I could but, in my opinion, the narration detracted from the overall enjoyment of this audiobook.

I was provided with a copy of this audiobook and I am voluntarily offering my honest and unbiased review.

Didn't get far because of horrible the narration

I wish I could have listened but had to stop because the narrator was awful.

Great police procedural

Great police procedural. FBI profiler, Kay Sharp has returned home to Mount Chester to investigate why her brother has been arrested and jailed. When a young mother and child disappear while on the way to a lakeside cabin, Kay offers her expertise to the local sheriff. Can Kay and team catch a clever killer before it’s too late? Why does Kay feel that she’s being watched? Enjoyable story and great start to the series.

Gripping - I couldn't stop listening

I could not stop listening to this book and when I did have to I couldn't wait to get back to it, the writing is crisp, the plotline is so well thought out, it's gripping. It's so good but at the same time with such a dark subject you don't want to say you enjoyed it - was enthralled by it without a doubt, hooked into the plot and eager to find out what happened but definitely not a book to pick up for light relief!

Detective Kay Sharp has just returned to her home town of Mount Chester after resigning from her career as a Special Agent and Profiler for the FBI. She's not been back for years, never planned on coming back at all, but her brother Jacob has been sentenced to six months in jail after being involved in a bar fight, so to make sure the house she grew up in, Jacob's home isn't looted or damaged whilst it's empty she's taken up residence. Begrudgingly back in Mount Chester, she reads an article that strikes a chord, a woman’s body has been found in the forest near Silent Lake. Although she has no authority she visits the crime scene, maybe she can help in an unofficial capacity? But then another woman and her eight-year-old daughter go missing, could the cases be linked?

When another body is found, with the same MO Kay realises that it's the work of a serial killer, a meticulous and highly skilled one who leaves no forensic evidence behind. The first body was only found by chance by a dog walker, Kay knew she could help so she wrote a letter pointing out some facts to the local sheriff’s office hoping to be allowed to assist with the case. Detective Elliot Young, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, makes contact and enlists her help as a Consultant, but without clearing this with his boss the Sheriff. Then a search of the surrounding area uncovers more bodies making the search for the missing woman and her daughter more urgent if they are to have a hope of finding them alive.

There is so much more I could say about this book but that would involve spoilers which I refuse to do, what I can say is that this is a story that will have you thinking about it long after you have finished listening to the book. The characters are complex and well-drawn, the plot-line is full of intrigue and danger. It has many twists and turns, some of which I didn't see coming at all. It's the start of a new series, I just hope that the author can keep this standard going.

The narration of this book by the super talented Gwendolyn Druyor is excellent as anyone who has listened to her has come to expect. I did read this book before listening to it but I have to say that Gwendolyn lifted it to a whole new level.

I was given this audiobook as a gift and am voluntarily writing my review.

Great book

I bought this book in the audio version and the story was awesome and I can’t wait for the next one to come out but I was very disappointed with the narrator, her voice just didn’t fit the characters and I’m a Texan and No one from Texas talks like that. I’m sure there are stories out there that her voice is spot on for but this series isn’t one of them. I give the story and characters 5 ⭐️ but not so much the narration of the book. That being said I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out.

on the edge of your seat!

love Leslie Wolfe's books and this book was no exception! Exciting and I couldn't stop listening!

worst narration ever!

the whiney voice and the insulting Texas accent almost caused me to give up on the book.

Excellent

FBI Agent Kay leaving San Francisco and heading home, because. of her brother Jacob. A drunken punch and now a six month sentence was given to him. Her career gone, and now a place haunted by memories, more like nightmare of what had been done there. . Now wondering how to even spend a night in the derelict unkept house.
A newspaper telling of a murder at Cuwar. Lake Forest, a young woman was buried. The braided hair, the feathers, a case that intrigues her.
Detective Elliott stops by and wants to learn from her experiences.
We have Kay a strong, determined woman who is good at profiling.
Good flowing plot, figuring out the killer’s motives and who he caught in his twisted web and to prove his mother was wrong.
Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest

A page Turner

I love this story gripping from start to finish well worth listening to. The only down side was the narrator Gwendolyn Druyor her voice really grated and made it very hard to listen to. I just hope she is not narrating all the other books.

A thrilling listen

A thrilling listen, full of twists and turns. I love the character of Elliot the Texan detective, he really makes me smile, and his relationship with Kay is great. I’m looking forward to future books and seeing the development of that relationship. I’d definitely recommend this story to all lovers of mysteries that keep you hooked.

Leslie Wolfe is a serial thriller

I have not listened to a Leslie Wolfe audio book and not enjoyed it. It is rare to find an author that continuously comes out with plots that are so well crafted you spend the whole time on the edge seat. But when you do that author quickly becomes a must read or listen and once again Leslie is one of those authors. She has created a story that has you hooked from the start and wishing it was a paperback book so you could skip to the back to see what happens but at the same time wishing you weren't reading it so fast. The characters are so well developed that you care about what happens to them and I like the way that you learn a little bit more about them as the story unfolds, the secrets instead of making them weak only makes them more stronger and capable. The story is told from a number of perspectives from the hostage, to Kay the ex FBI agent and of course the unsub, giving you a well rounded story. The mystery was excellent and well thought out, with plenty of red herrings and twist. Everything you want from a thriller and a series I would recommend.
When Kay Sharp's brother is arrested and sent to jail, she gives up her FBI job to return to the place she swore she would never return to. But rather than help her brother get out of jail she finds her mind struggling over the dead body of a young woman found in the woods. As a profiler she know the signs and the big flashing warning signs are telling her that her small home town has a serial killer on there hands. Can she put her considerable knowledge to good use and help the locals find a killer before he kills again? Maybe if she can get them to trust her and believe there is one. Because a profile isn't going to help much when the killer knows how to hide the evidence and the bodies that start to turn up are so different. The clock is ticking and nobody knows it.
Gwendolyn Druyor is one of my favourite narrators and I am so glad these two very talented women have teamed up to bring us one unmissable story.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review