I absolutely loved this book. I had not come across Susie Steiner's Manon Bradshaw books before but I shall definitely be looking out for them in future. I'm going to enjoy reading the previous ones and catching up.

Manon is a wonderful creation. She's down to earth and very human with all the fleshy delights and disappointments that involves. I love the way she sort of tries to worry about her weight but likes eating more than dieting; and the way she (and her life partner) prefer watching tv to doing anything involving exercise - even sex,

When she finds a young man hanging from a tree, Manon abandons her usual part time cold cases job and investigates the murder - if it is a murder. The exploitation of Eastern Europeans, and the modern slavery background make this a very up to date read. I got a little bit thrown at first reading the background stories (of Matis, Lukas, Elise etc) but soon got into the rhythm of it. Elise too, is a great character - perhaps a bit of a Manon type but not yet fully grown.

The plot was fascinating but not overdone - this is a book of characters and their lifestyles and situations rather than a police procedural - though there is that to it as well.

Recommended if you like rounded protagonists - in all senses of the word.

Having recently heard about the first in this series, Missing, Presumed, I went ahead and read it, considering it a five star read. Although I had not got around to grabbing myself a copy of book two, Persons Unknown, nevertheless I was delighted to lay my hands on this one, Remain Silent.

In this atmospheric police procedural, DI Manon Bradshaw finds herself on a high pressured, heavily demanding case. Newly married Manon is now working 3 days per week as she tries to divide her time between Fly, her teenage adopted son, her two-year-old toddler, Teddy, and her husband Mark. Focusing on cold cases, she should be finding her work life balance a breeze, but she discovers this isn't so as she becomes the Senior Investigating Officer of an ambiguous investigation. Out for a walk with Teddy one day, she finds a man hanging in a tree with a strange note left at the scene that hints his death could be murder rather than suicide. The victim is a Lithuanian migrant, Lukas Balsys.

Susie Steiner excels at authentic, complex, psychological character development and plotting whilst her writing is sublime. Delivered from different perspectives, this is a dark, tense, character driven police procedural with a gripping narrative, and the intricate plot kept me hooked. Manon is brilliant at her job as she tries to attain that illusive home/work balance. She comes across as real and loyal, with all the guilt feelings and stresses of a working mother. Though she can be contradictory, she is always entertaining and never bland. As a lead character I think she’s the crème de la crème and I loved the banter, friendship and loyalty between her and DS Davy Walker. The rest of the team are also excellently crafted even Glenda McBlameGame. Manon's witty repartee and humour made the horrors of the plight of the migrant workers just about bearable as I accompanied her through the darkest of narratives, as well as having to handle the incompetent Tired Nigel. This is superior British crime fiction, and if you haven't read any of the series, you are doubtlessly missing out.

Overall, this is a cracking, thoroughly satisfying read and if you prefer your crime fiction with a deeper side to it then Remain Silent is for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from The Borough Press via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

This is a gutsy, unique, very realistic crime novel. A wonderful lead character, DI Manon Bradshaw, coping with the pressure of trying to run 2 major police investigations and a personal life with many pressures, and unwanted devastating news. She is a lady we can all identify with, the work life balance, enjoying a successful career without destroying a young marriage. This is not a normal police procedural in which the unravelling of the facts leads to the identification of the perpetrator….it is so much more than that. Susie Steiner has been able to showcase and bring to our attention issues that influence our daily lives, not only in the UK but throughout the world: Racism, modern day slavery, people kidnapping/trafficking, neo-Nazi groups, immigration, exploitation, ill equipped police force, prejudice. It expertly highlights internal and external pressures a career police man/woman has to accommodate in order to survive in a world where we are led to believe we can have it all.
A body is discovered hanging from a tree in the Cambridgeshire woods with the words, “The dead cannot speak”, attached as a note to the body. What a fabulous way to start a novel, what numerous possibilities enter the mind of the reader. Did he jump or was he pushed? Like the opening of Pandora’s box what on first blush appears a relatively simple investigation unfolds in a web of hate, racism, and political intrigue. Manon is not a woman to accept defeat, as she struggles with her personal life caring for partner Mark, and her two children. She is determined to be successful in a career where cynicism and politics rule supreme.

“They barely touch each other these days, her and Mark. The bed is an icy canyon they cannot cross”……

“Why does this mental load descend with such force? Is it late middle age? The anxiety has smothered her libido once as bouncy as a Labrador pup”….

“It’s flexing in and out of a relationship that’s difficult. It’s the same after intense jobs- twenty hours at work, then domesticity, the supermarket”….

“There are phases of life that are depressing, when it feels as if things are ending-vigour, fertility, excitement, pleasure- and nothing now seems to be coming over the horizon”….

This is not just a story it is a literary achievement. It is captivating in its ability to get under the skin of what it is like to live, of what it is like to survive in a world obsessed by social media, a world where achievement and perfect home life is the true value when in reality it is not worth a damn. An outstanding book in both its content and execution. Many thanks to the good people at netgalley for a gratis copy in return for a honest review and that is what I have written. Highly, highly recommended.

This story is told from the perspective of various characters and moves back and forth in the retelling. While this story tackles some serious issues of slave labour and racialism, this wasn’t for me, I expected more police procedures and investigation. Instead, there was too much rambling inner thoughts of someone who had to come to terms with her family problems and work/ life balance. I hadn’t read any of the previous books and maybe that would have helped. I noticed that I am in the minority of the reviews as most people gave this book a higher rating. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thought Remain Silent was excellent. It is readable, has genuine content and quite brilliant characterisation.

This is the third Manon Bradshaw novel. I’ve not (yet) read the previous two but it works fine as a stand-alone. Manon is a Detective Inspector in the Cambridgeshire Constabulary, this time investigating the death of a migrant worker from Lithuania. The plot is nicely structured and I found it refreshingly free of implausible action, but it moves along well and hangs together – two things which are by no means universally true of police procedurals. Susie Steiner also gives a fine, nuanced (and sometimes horrifying) view of migrant labour in East Anglia and of the reaction from local residents.

What makes this special, though is Steiner’s portraits of her central characters, most notably Manon herself. She is a wholly believable middle-aged woman coping with a family, her career and the irritations and difficulties of life. She seems so utterly human in her responses and her internal monologue, which seems to me to be the voice of a real, likeable, flawed person rather than just a novelist’s Character Study or yet another detective given a Complex Personal Life for Interesting Background. She is also very funny at times and exceptionally wise about marriage and relationships. I love the way she flip-flops between loving her partner and family desperately and thinking it’s all an oppressive, stultifying mistake – sometimes both at once. I have been half in love with easful Manon.

I’d not read any Susie Steiner before and this was a delightful discovery for me. I shall certainly be reading the others in the series and I can recommend this very warmly indeed.

(My thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC via NetGalley.)

Remain Silent is the third instalment in the Detective Inspector Manon Bradshaw trilogy set in the countryside of Cambridgeshire. These are excellent police procedural's but if you haven't read the previous two books not to worry as this stands pretty well on its own as Steiner provides enough background to get you up to date. Newly married and navigating life with a preschooler as well as her adopted adolescent son, Manon Bradshaw is happy to be working part-time in the cold cases department of the Cambridgeshire police force, however, her marriage already seems under strain. When Manon is on a walk with her four-year-old son in a peaceful suburban neighbourhood she discovers the body of Lithuanian immigrant, Lukas Balsys, hanging from a tree with a mysterious note attached to his trousers that translates as ”the dead cannot speak.”

This is a compulsive, addictive and intelligently woven police procedural that takes a little longer to get into but once you are it is not easy to put it down. I appreciate that the author didn't shy away from exploring prevalent social issues such as exploited workers working for little pay in appalling conditions for long stretches and anti-immigrant sentiment which has certainly set-in a lot more since the whole Brexit fiasco; these issues have been treated sensitively by Ms Steiner and it’s clear the extensive research carried out in order to make this as accurate as possible. Luckily to balance things out there is some great wit and humour throughout which really is needed due to the harrowing nature of the immigrant/refugee situation addressed throughout.

Overall, this is an entertaining, compelling and addictive tale that will gain Steiner many new fans and cements her place near the top of the crime thriller tree. A cracking, well-written page-turner with plenty of twists and turns, drama, danger and suspense. It is a thoroughly satisfying read and if you prefer your crime fiction with a deeper side to it then this is an absolute must-read. Highly recommended. Many thanks to The Borough Press for an ARC.

I really love Susie Steiner books, this is the tthird one in the Manon Bradshaw seriesand is as brilliant, if not better than the previous two.

Manon is a fabulous character with flaws and worries we can all relate to. She's also very funny.

The story feels very real and is at times upsetting.

I just wish there were more of these books.

Thank you Netgalley!

The body of a young migrant is found hanging from a tree.
There are no signs of struggle. No indication that it is anything other than a tragic suicide. Except for a note, pinned to the man's trousers, that reads "The dead cannot speak."
A murder investigation begins with DI Manon Bradshaw at the helm. But with the other migrants unwilling to talk to her, and protests taking place on the streets, hatred is starting to drown out the facts.
Can Manon uncover the truth before there's another victim?

Remain silent is the 3rd book in Susie Steiner's Detective Inspector Manon Bradshaw series.  Although I have not read the prior books, I found that I didn't really need to as I got a really good idea of who the characters were and their idealisms and this book can definitely be read as a standalone. 

The characters are a mix of strong and weak. Some I wish had a bigger role ie Tired Nigel, although maybe his character was explained in the previous books of the series. It would have been interesting to see more of his role and demeanour from his perspective.
I especially liked Matis, and Manon - your typical working mother, with job, parent and relationship issues that the majority of everday people can identify with. I found her tone of tongue very relatable and she is quick and witty however, often babbles on which is the only downside of this read as some of the text you could really dismiss and lightly skim over quite easily.

The storyline is a hard one to digest but it handles trafficking and modern day slavery with great care and attention, following how the migrants ended up where they were, their work conditions, how they abode in abysmal conditions and the state of their health and mental health. In this day and age it's so easy to misjudge the severity of these real life issues but, even though this is a fictional read, this chilling book will stick with me for a long time.

Page length: 368
Format: Hardcover, Audiobook, Kindle

I would like to thank HarperCollins and Netgalley for my proof copy in exchange for an honest review.

Remain Silent by Susan Steiner is a mysterious and tragic tale of inhumanity, slavery and immigration.

The story follows DI Bradshaw, who’s moved from cold cases department to homicide to investigate the mysterious death of Luke Balys. The only evidence left is a card which reads “dead cannot speak.”

I did not realize that this book is a part of a series when I requested this book. It didn’t hamper my reading. The book gives a quite good insight into the personal lives of the detectives involved in the case.

Manon Bradshaw’s a real-life character. She’s not good at everything, she can be goofy and yet give excellent advice. She is not a sweet talker. I think these appealed to me. It is very rare to find a character that you can connect with at that level. Though she is fun-loving, she has a strict sense of ethics and a moral compass and absolutely cannot stand injustice.

Susie Steiner did a great with tying an actual social issue with a fictional story. The author painted a picture of contemporary issues without bias. She just provided us with the facts, so that the readers can form the opinions.

The chapters shuttle back and forth to give the background of Matis, Lukas’s best friend and Lukas. How their life was in Lithuania and the circumstances they moved to the UK. We also get quite a clear background of DI Bradshaw (it was there too much).

Remain Silent is not a usual police procedural. Instead, it’s a slow burner. There are a few chapters to show the depth of Manon. There is more to her than just being a police officer. It also shows how she can handle things.

The interactions between DS Davy and Manon are humorous. They keep the tone and flow of the book in check, given the sensitive topic of the book.

I feel that’s what is a flaw of the book, at certain points, especially in the beginning it was too much. I would rather come to the point more quickly than having a lot of background.

Remain Silent is an incredible police procedural that deals with social issues with finesse and style.

My rating is 3.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was so looking forward to reading this crime story, having read great things about the author. However it proved to be a major disappointment for me. I had believed that this was a stand-alone story, and that I would not need to read the first two books in the series to enjoy it. For this to work, the author would have had to spend a bit of time on character development of her ‘cast’ at the beginning of book three. Without this, the different narrators of the story all sounded the same, the only indication being the names changing. They therefore came across as two dimensional, apart from Manon, whose character dominated the story for all the wrong reasons.

I did not warm to any of the characters, least of all to Manon, who Is portrayed as a whiny, self obsessed individual, with too many lengthy passages describing her introspection of her personal problems, most of which I skimmed through.

The premise of the story is a good one, and a story for our times, but the the stop-start nature of the investigation, interrupted by far too much Manon- time, meant that it completely failed to hold my attention. By the time I reached 35% in the book, I no longer cared what happened to any of the characters, and little progress had been made in the actual crime investigation. I gave up.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title.

A police procedure with raw, honest bones, and harrowing, given the current climate for immigrants and their treatment.
A book that's well worth the read, so much so that I'm going back to get the prior books, as this one was right up my street.

I've read the other two books in this series and whilst it's not essential - I'd said that they would give you a good background in understanding the main character, Manon.

A solid police procedural with likeable characters is my favourite genre really and if that's you too, well, you won't be disappointed with the third outing for Manon.

I'd recommend this book, I'm a quick reader and read it in a day I think but that doesn't mean it's an easy read, the topic is very much hard hitting and certainly a relevant issue for today.

This is the third instalment in Susie Steiner series, which just get better and better. Gripping, original and fast-paced. I can’t wait for book 4.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

I am a big fan of Suzie Steiner and DS Manon Bradshaw and was looking forward to the release of Remain Silent.

The storyline had moved on two years and Manon worked three days a week on a cold case team. She was struggling to care for her sons two year old Teddy and fifteen year old adopted son Fly. Manon and her sons lived with partner Mark who was safe but boring.

One day Manon was sickened when she stumbled upon the apparent suicide of Lithuanian immigrant Lukas Balsy However Manon was suspicious because beside the body was a note saying the dead cannot speak.

Manon was delighted when she was moved from cold cases to head the investigation along with friend DS Davey Walker. However she receives bad news when Mark is rushed to history with stomach pains. The story is goes back to when childhood friends Lukas and his friend decided to migrate to England.

I am sorry to say I did not enjoy Remain Silent as much as the authors previous books.

The plot was dark and depressing and I felt so sorry for the migrants. The writing was so vivid I could imagine the abuse they received. Poor Manon had become a moaner and was selfish despite Mark`s diagnosis. I really had to force myself to read the book, however there was a funny dark part towards the end.

My heart sank when I read the authors note at the end I wish Suzy Steiner good luck in her continued recovery.

This is my second Susie Steiner book but unfortunately not my favourite. It may simply have been the subject matter which I didn’t enjoy because I remember really wanting to read more from the author. It wouldn’t put me off reading another of hers though but fingers crossed for something with a more tense pace.

"Because I could not stop for death-He kindly stopped for me-the carriage held but just Ourselves-And Immortality"

A brilliantly written and heartwrenching story that highlights the abuse that migrants face.

Manon Bradshaw is 46. She is only working 3 days a week on cold cases which suits her perfectly. She is struggling with anxiety and feels permanently fatigued. Then she discovers the body of Lukas; a Lithuanian immigrant; hanging from a tree with a note pinned to him that says "the dead cannot speak". Suddenly she is in charge of the investigation. At the same time, her partner is struggling with health issues and she must try and juggle more than one ball at the same time.

I loved the humour in the book. If it was not for that it would have been a very depressing read. The characters are very well developed and I will definitely look out for more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HaperFiction for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K.- The Borough Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Remain Silent’ by Susie Steiner in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third and final in Steiner’s DI Manon Bradshaw trilogy of police procedurals set in Cambridgeshire. Although I hadn’t read the previous books, it worked fine as a stand-alone as enough background was provided.

The body of Lukas Balsys, a young Lithuanian man, is found hanging from a tree in Cambridgeshire. A note is attached to his clothing that translates as ‘The dead cannot speak’. It isn’t possible to determine whether it was murder or suicide.

DI Manon Bradshaw is assigned to investigate the case. Anti-immigrant sentiments have been reaching boiling point in the area making it increasingly difficult for Manon to untangle the truth of what happened to Lucas Balsys.

This is the kind of crime novel that incorporates contemporary social issues into its narrative. In her Acknowledgments Steiner thanks a member of the Fenland Exploitation team in Wisbech, (Operation Pheasant), that tackles modern-day slavery for the background they provided on this subject. Operation Pheasant itself is mentioned in the novel and Steiner makes it clear that the situation facing Lukas and his friend, Matis, is “based on real exploitation cases involving agricultural work in the Wisbech area.”

In addition, I am sure most of readers will be aware of vocal anti-immigration groups like One Wisbech. Some of their members rants were uncomfortable to read as all too familiar.

I love solid, well researched police procedurals and this was a great find. I adored Manon from her first appearance. She’s very down-to-earth. Given that ‘Remain Silent’ is dealing with serious issues, the dialogue between Manon and members of her team just cracked me up.

There’s one scene where she’s telling her colleague Harriet about her plans for the ‘Manon Bradshaw School of Motoring Etiquette’ that would involve a number of draconian punishments that she would like to see put in place for various traffic violations. When she finishes Harriet quips: “I can see a promotion in the works for you. You’re really thinking outside the human rights box.”

Manon’s internal musings were great too. As is often the case in this kind of crime fiction, the personal lives of the characters as well as departmental conflicts are also woven into the narrative.

Overall, a highly satisfying police procedural. My immediate reaction on finishing was to obtain the first two books in the trilogy as I definitely need more Manon.

I must start by saying that this is the first book I have read by this author and it will certainly not be my last. This is the third in a series but it is easily read as a one off without requiring the background from the other books. This is psychological thriller which incorporates the exploitation and lives of immigrant labourers so clearly. It is a book that I, as a reader, could not put down as it was certainly compulsive. The plot unravelled at a good pace, raising questions all the time'. The characters were so clearly described and engaged pity from me as to the conditions and life that was being led.
It was very obvious throughout that Susie Steiner knew the inner workings of a police crime unit as this was so well demonstrated at all times.
Highly recommend this to others

It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last because it's brilliant.
I loved this gripping story that kept me on the edge till the end.
A well plotted story with a great cast of character that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

‘If I can’t do my job, I’m not anything..I am the job’ , Manon declares at one point when her job appears to be in jeopardy. Herein lies the success of Steiner’s detective, Manon. Manon isn’t just her job, she is a fully realised character with her troubled personal life spilling over into her work and her current investigation spilling over into her home life. This frequently creates a tension for the reader as the story switches between the two , pausing a narrative about cancer or one about a young girl being trapped. Manon has been one of my favourite detectives since I first encountered her in Missing Presumed. She is quite simply so beautifully envisaged she just walks out of the pages and with each book Manon has developed and grown as a character. In Remain Silent Manon’s household now includes a partner with health issues and two children with very different demands and her absolute love for them provides a warm undertow in choppy waters. Manon is in mid - life: analysing her life future , present and past under a cynical microscope. Her view of a jaded contemporary world is one that resonated greatly with me. The book starts with a dead body, that of an Eastern European migrant worker - suicide or murder? Manon must investigate. The case leads Manon and her sidekick, Davy, to parts of rural Cambridgeshire where tensions between Eastern European workers and the local population are high. The life of the workers is absolutely brutal and totally shocking, utterly bleak. Trapped by gangmasters in a foreign land where they are needed but not wanted. Then one of them is dead. Remain Silent is a brilliant read and it will make a brilliant film. I hope Manon will return.