Review: Dead Silent - Sharon Jones

Review: Dead Silent - Book #2 Poppy Sinclair - Sharon Jones - February 2014

There's something about curling up with a thriller on a cold evening that just hits differently, and Dead Silent gave me exactly that cozy-yet-creepy vibe I was craving. Sharon Jones's second Poppy Sinclair adventure takes us to the frost-covered streets of Cambridge, where snow angels take on a decidedly sinister meaning.

The opening image alone , a body arranged with blood-smeared angel wings on a chapel floor is the kind of haunting visual that lingers long after you've turned the page. Jones knows how to set a scene, I'll give her that.

Here's the thing though: despite the college setting and genuinely gruesome secret society murders, this read distinctly YA to me. Our protagonist Poppy is only sixteen, and it shows. Not in a bad way necessarily, but there's a certain teenage earnestness to her investigation and relationships that felt more Riverdale than True Detective. The stakes are adult, but the lens is young, which created an interesting (if sometimes jarring) tension throughout.

The mystery itself kept me guessing, and I appreciated how Jones wove together hidden secrets and the "avenging angel" theme. Watching Poppy dodge both porters and police while dreading what she might discover about her dad added genuine emotional weight to the procedural elements. 

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially if you're in the mood for something that bridges that gap between YA and adult thriller. Just know what you're getting into.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4buwY75