Relative Silence - A Review

Relative Silence

By
Carrie Stuart Parks

In the words of Corrie Ten Boom,
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future
to a known God.”
              [Carrie Stuart Parks]

Carrie Parks' latest book started off slow, feeling like I was reading a high schooler’s stilted initial attempts at storytelling rather than a work coming from an experienced and accomplished writer. The book ended on a different note - I could not put it down as Piper Boone and her group of close friends managed to survive the night living through a Cat-4 or -5 hurricane. The author came through with a winning romantic, faith-based, suspense, thriller.

The prologue opens with Piper sending her three-year-old daughter off with her father to spend the day boating and visiting the South Carolina mainland; by the end of the day, her daughter was missing; and by the end of the week, she was declared dead. Chapter one opens 15 years later with a serial killer shooting the patrons of a small South Carolina café, killing Piper’s high school friend and two other lunch diners. From there the story introduces the reader to other participants in Piper’s life and history. We are introduced to a dysfunctional family that can only begin to recover with the unmerited grace of God. Forgiveness will need to be asked and to be given if healing is to be part of this family’s future.

The book has a great deal to teach about those themes of grace and forgiveness - both human and divine. It was well worth my time, and I was glad to be able to read it.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.