Sixteen-year-old Hope Long is living a nightmare. Her older brother Jeremy—developmentally disabled and mute since age nine—has been accused of murdering a beloved high school baseball coach in the Ohio town their alcoholic mother moved the family to three years ago. Despite seemingly irrefutable evidence against Jeremy, Hope decides to investigate and catch the real killer herself. As she hunts for clues, she is assisted by her friend TJ, and potential boyfriend Chase, the son of the sheriff. The case becomes even more complicated by threatening phone calls, a stalker in a white truck, and evidence that points to various suspects. Hope is in a race against time to prove her brother's innocence, a race which keeps the reader guessing and in suspense until the final, shocking revelation.

Wonderfully written, with a gripping plot, The Silence of Murder draws the reader into the story through its tense courtroom scenes and Hope's desperate search for answers. From Hope's distant mother to Jeremy's odd habit of jar collecting, the characters' personalities and relationships are rich and realistic. Readers will struggle along with Hope to identify the killer; they will root for Hope as she endures being the only witness for the defense; they will enjoy every minute they spend with Hope in this story that is not just about a mystery—but also about family and love.