An Act of Silence by Colette McBeth
AN ACT OF SILENCE
by Colette McBeth
If your son was accused of murder, what would you do?
These are the facts I collect.
My son Gabriel met a woman called Mariela in a bar. She went home with him. They next morning she was found in an allotment.
Mariela is dead.
Gabriel has been asked to report to Camden Police station in six hours for questioning
Linda Moscow: loving mother to Gabriel. Linda promised herself years ago that she would never let her son down again. Even if it means going against everything she believes in - she will do anything to protect him. She owes him that much.
Gabriel Miller: the prodigal son. He only ever wanted his mother's love, but growing up he always seemed to do the wrong thing. If his mother could only see the bad in him - how could he possibly be good?
How far will a mother go to save her son? Linda's decision might save Gabriel, but it will have a catastrophic impact on the lives of others.
What would you do if faced with the same impossible choice?
This is the first book by Colette McBeth that I've read but it will not be my last. I've been wanting to read her novels for a long time as I've seen Colette speak at several book events, so I knew with An Act of Silence I would be in for a real treat. But perhaps I wasn't quite so prepared for just how much of a treat it would be, and just how acutely observed and well written her compelling new novel would be!
This is an incredibly timely novel and even from the blurb it's clear that this is an intriguing set up. It's a story about a mother and a son, politics, abuse, risks and secrets but it is also complex, treading a gripping line between a great crime thriller and an emotional exploration of the psychology of motherhood, violence and secrets.
I haven't read McBeth's previous novels but this felt like a very ambitious novel. There are multiple voices and points of view as well as changing timelines to keep track of, and it contains controversial and upsetting themes and issues. However, the plot is flawless and handled with confidence. The characters are exceptionally well crafted. McBeth's writing is strong, assured and never once does the reader lose track of where they are in the story and which character they are with. Impressive. I would love to know more about how the author planned this story as it's so intricate and so well delivered in terms of pacing and tension.
I really enjoyed the use of repetition and how powerful it is at the beginning of the novel to see a scene from one character's perspective and then repeated again from another character's view. I thought this was clever, creating a more unsettling atmosphere and revealing more from the characters in a much more subtle and effective way. It really makes the reader pay attention to the changes in detail, intonation and each word that character says or doesn't say. It prepares us for the forthcoming unreliability and distrust. This novel does require concentration but the use of repetition is effective in slowing the reader down and focussing them on the details of what is being revealed. In a story about what is hidden, out of sight and secret, it's an effective and clever writing technique.
Each narrative voice is well captured and distinctive. The time, setting and location for the various moments in the book is always well established and as I said before, McBeth is able to manage the various threads expertly and has crafted an impressive multilayered thriller. At times the subject matter is difficult but it's striking how this story could be something we read about in the newspaper. It's emotive and challenging but in McBeth's hands, handled with expertise and good judgement.
This is a hard hitting, powerful read. It is more than a twisting page turner, although it is that too, but McBeth's writing is impressive and there is a great deal of depth to this novel. McBeth explores the emotional and psychological relationships between people, and the complex dynamics that exist in families, in an intricately woven storyline that will stay with you.
An Act of Silence is published by Wildfire on 11th January 2018.
*My thanks to the publisher and Anne Cater for an advance copy of this novel and for inviting me to join the Blog Tour*
Don't miss any of the other stops on the Blog Tour - there are some fantastic reviews for An Act of Silence, make sure you read them all!
COLETTE MCBETH
Colette McBeth was a BBC TV News Correspondent for ten years and has published two other novels, Precious Thing (2013) and The Life I Left Behind (2015). She lives in Hove with her husband and three young children.
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