Books & Spoons Review: THE SILENCED by Heather Graham

Where is Lara Mayhew?

Lara, a congressman's media assistant, suddenly quits her job—and disappears on the way to her Washington, DC, apartment.

Novice FBI agent Meg Murray, a childhood friend of Lara's, gets a message from her that same night, a message that says she's disillusioned and "going home." To Richmond, Virginia. Meg discovers that she never got there. And bodies fitting Lara's description are showing up in nearby rivers… Could she be the victim of a serial killer?

Meg is assigned to work with special agent Matt Bosworth, a hard-nosed pro in the FBI's unit of paranormal investigators—the Krewe of Hunters. They trace the route Meg and Lara took more than once in the past, visiting battlefields and graveyards from Harpers Ferry to Gettysburg. Places where the dead share their secrets with those who can hear… As Meg and Matt pursue the possibility of a serial killer, they find themselves in the middle of a political conspiracy. Is there a connection? And who—besides each other—can they trust?

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A serial killer at loose, one woman is missing, and the agency is on the hunt, using all their abilities to solve the murders, and find Lara, if she is still alive.
Lots of interesting elements in the story. The paranormal gifts of the team, and how they use them to benefit the hunt for the killers. It is not overly focused on, it is not made out to be a big issue, more like a normal happening to some people. It is fascinating and intriguing all at the same time.
Another element that was there, but not in front and center, is the attraction and romance developing between Matt and Meg. As the investigation goes forward, and they get to know each other, they are drawn to each other. The chemistry is there, they have heat between them (even though the heat level is low in the story), and obvious connection.
The story is riddled with civil war era history in many ways, with the locations, the people they meet, the ghosts they meet, and in their stories to each other. In my opinion, some of it took away from the possible intensity of the suspense and murder mystery.
And the suspense was interesting, the clues were not many, but still they seemed to find a way to proceed in the cases. I had a suspect as soon as they were introduced into the storyline.
The story is told from several points of view, also by the villains. There's a lot of inner reflections, not that much of the dialog, but a surprising amount of humor is fitted in into the grim storyline, that I enjoyed.
Overall an interesting story, very well written, and it did hook my mind and thoughts until the end
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

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