The Measure of Silence

A Novel

By: Elizabeth Langston

Narrated by: Austenne Grey

Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Two sisters fulfilling their grandfather’s dying wish uncover decades of secrets in a powerful novel about family, truth, and forgiveness.

Dallas, Dealey Plaza, 1963. Nineteen-year-old Mariah Byrne is following her dream of a career in photography. One moment she’s filled with joy and hope watching the president and Mrs. Kennedy drive past. In the next, the world—and Mariah’s life—is split into before and after. What follows, and the unconventional decisions Mariah makes, will affect her and her family forever.

Sixty years later, sisters Raine and Jessica grieve the death of their grandfather. For both his beloved grand girls, Papa leaves behind a last wish and an unexpected keepsake: the key to their grandmother Mariah’s hope chest. Explore its contents, he writes, and follow where they lead. But what secrets can their family history possibly hold?

Raine and Jessica unite to piece together the mystery of a past they never knew existed. But facts can’t reveal the whole story. With Mariah’s memories fading, the sisters struggle to understand her choices before the truth disappears forever.

©2023 Elizabeth Langston. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“This poignant novel tells of trauma, abuse, young love, secrets, lies and estranged family…A lovely story of family dynamics told with warmth and understanding.”—Historical Novels Review

“A riveting and emotional read! Langston takes us on a generational journey of discovery, uncovering secrets that threaten to tear a family apart. Fast paced and heartwarming, The Measure of Silence illustrates the struggles of motherhood, and power of love and forgiveness with endearing characters.”—Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of Starring Adele Astaire

“The Measure of Silence is a touching, compelling novel of the family secrets that bind generations and can also tear them apart. Elizabeth Langston deftly weaves the trauma of President Kennedy’s assassination through the pain and difficulties of her character’s lives. The family dynamics are very relatable and the characters' struggles with both their present experiences and the past kept me reading until the end.”—Georgie Blalock, author of An Indiscreet Princess and The Last Debutantes

Lives well lived

Painful times, happy memories, family drama, This book has it all. Secrets families keep, for the right or wrong reasons, become known.

Unique historical fiction, extremely compelling

The author takes you immediately to reflect on how unwary witnesses of JFK’s assassination were exposed to life changing trauma. The narrator on this audible makes the fiction come to life. Very good story that is well delivered and will keep you engaged.

Most enjoyable story!

I liked the story about family secrets and the consequences through out the generations.
Very believable story lines reflecting different time periods and locations. The tie in with the JFK assassination was a great addition to the story.
I look forward to reading this author again.

Annoying granddaughters

The premise of the story is good. The granddaughters and daughter in the story are annoying, selfish, and privileged, and it was hard to finish the last hour or so

Thoroughly enjoyed

This was my first book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised by how well this story was told around the JFK assassination, very well done! Highly recommend!

Great family story

This book is an engrossing family story. It’s sad and difficult to read at times, but moving and tender as well. The author seamlessly entwined past and current time periods to tell the story.

Ummmm

The grand daughters in this story were entitled whiners. People have the right to share personal information or not. It wasn’t their right to know anything. I liked the grandmothers story but could have done without the rest.