Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes - Book Review

 

Dead Silence

by S.A. Barnes

Release Date: February 8, 2022 

Genre: Sci-Fi

Age Range: Adult

Goodreads Avg. Rating: 3.80 stars

Table of Contents:

• First Thoughts
• Summary
• Setting
• Characters
• Plot
• Story Resolution
• Ending Feelings

Well, this is a little different than what I expected of the crew. I can understand why if you've worked in space this long you wouldn't want to have to be planet side again. So far not terrified but there have definitely been scenes that I would be freaked out about if this was a film.

This is a book I have been wanting to try for a while. Now I want to many more sci-fi horror-tinted books. From the beginning, it was a bit different than what I'd expected. We start right away into the oddities from the first line. Then though you have to question well is it just Claire or something more happening? The story is told in a split timeline of the "present" and two months prior when the Aurora was found. Sadly there was one scene that did kind of ruin a point of the story yet to be revealed. True we knew by that point that was probably the case but it gave away specific details. 

The majority of the book takes place on the Aurora itself. While the book wasn't super rich in the details it was a good level. This ship was designed to be a luxury cruise liner just in space. From this, we are told about all the extravagant features the platinum guests could enjoy. It was funny how a few members of the crew were in awe of the fact that the doors were real wood. As this is in space everything is in a pretty pristine condition which was different than what my brain was wanting to picture for an abandoned ship. The atmosphere of cold, cramped, and faulty lighting though did fit right in. For the type of book this is we unfortunately didn't get to explore most of the ship but were kept to a certain key location to move the story along.

We are following Claire Kovalik as she recounts the events that led to her showing up in an escape pod from a ship lost 20 years before. From our first looks at Claire, who is mostly just referred to as Kovalik throughout the book, I believe she had anxiety around people. This gets expanded on through the novel so you understand why she prefers to have fewer people around. Also early on it is hinted at a childhood trauma which reinforced the people issue. Once you have heard about Claire's past it is amazing that she is only mildly anxious really. As a main character, she is unique in how normal she is though. She's not the smartest, bravest, or most talented as many would describe. No Claire is pretty average in all of that but she cares in a way that almost everyone around her doesn't realize. While this is what somewhat pulls her into the problem so easily at the end it is also the determination that keeps her going.

The story takes place in the 22nd century, Earth is overcrowded and humanity has looked toward the stars. Two companies achieved the dream of expanding space travel through ship and habitation designs. A crew on the far edges of the charted system is finishing up the last manned mission to communication satellites. Faced with the prospect of only a desk job on Earth Claire is fine with tracking down a signal on an old emergency frequency. None of the crew expected that the ship they would find would be the Aurora, the first and last luxury space liner. In order to prove their finder's claim they must go aboard and bring something unique back. But on board, things are unsettling and nothing like what is expected.

Wow, that twist. While I appreciate that overall the story had more of a science-based creep factor the paranormal elements still are what I think about days later. I don't think there is any way to say this without spoilers though. Yes, the twist that happened could possibly be spotted. There were just a few too many times that things went either too smoothly or too fast at that point in the story for it to make sense otherwise.

I like this book so much. Going into any book calling itself a horror would make me nervous. This one I was also worried that I might have hyped it in my head with the positive takes I'd heard. That, thankfully, appears not to be the case. While the main character was a bit irritating at times, childhood trauma could cause a lack of faith in one's sanity. There was just something about the overall story that worked so well. Maybe it is the lingering questions we are left with, or at least I was. Can't wait to try the next book by this author. (Yes I've heard the talk about that one and should prepare accordingly.)

You can find this book from the below retailers or many others:

Amazon     Tor Nightfire