The Quiet People by Paul Cleave

What an amazing read. Make sure you carve out plenty of time before picking this book up, as it's one of those books that has to be read in one sitting. The pace never lets up; you will find yourself frantically turning pages, desperate to know what happens next.

When seven-year-old Zach goes missing from his home, no one is sure if he's run away, been abducted, or murdered. Suspicion immediately falls on the parents, Lisa and Cameron Murdoch, parents who happen to be successful crime writers. Who better than a pair of crime writers to carry out the perfect murder? Things are not helped by the fact that the previous day Zach had disappeared at the local fair and then had a meltdown when his father tried to explain the consequences of his actions - all of which were witnessed by a wide variety of people.

As the search to find Zach kicks into action, you can really feel the panic and anxiety of the parents, the feeling of helplessness, wondering if you did something wrong. The police investigation begins to point to the parents. Did they commit the perfect crime?

The basic story is an excellent thriller, but what really held my attention were the references to the way that our society today relies so heavily on technology that trial by media so easily happens. In the book, we see sensationalist journalism where assertions aren't questioned and assumed to be facts. Social media is used to harass the parents, circulate mis-information and incite mob hysteria. Video clips are used out of context and circulated freely. The presumption of "innocent until proven guilty" no longer exists in society today.

The Quiet People is published by Orenda Books and is available on Kindle now. The paperback will be published on 25th November 2021