The Silent Room

2017 Longlist

A security van sets off for Durham prison, a disgraced Special Branch officer in the back. It never arrives. En route it is hijacked by armed men, the prisoner sprung. Suspended from duty on suspicion of aiding and abetting the audacious escape of his former boss, Detective Sergeant Matthew Ryan is locked out of the manhunt.

Desperate to preserve his career and prove his innocence, he backs off. But when the official investigation falls apart, under surveillance and with his life in danger, Ryan goes dark, enlisting others in his quest to discover the truth.

When the trail leads to the suspicious death of a Norwegian national, Ryan uncovers an international conspiracy that has claimed the lives of many.

(from publisher)

About the Author

Mari Hannah is an award-winning author whose authentic voice is no happy accident. A former probation officer, she has contributed to CID training for Northumbria Police and lives in rural Northumberland with her partner, an ex-murder detective. Mari turned to scriptwriting when her career was cut short following an assault on duty. Her debut, The Murder Wall (adapted from a script she developed with the BBC) won her the Polari First Book Prize. Its follow-up, Settled Blood, picked up a Northern Writers’ Award. She went on to be shortlisted for the Dagger in the Library.

Librarian’s Comments

Thrills from start to finish, set in Newcastle and Northumberland (with a little bit of Norway). Mari takes a detour from her successful Kate Daniels series and brings us a dark standalone thriller. The police investigate a crime committed by one of their own and there’s a race to find the true story of events. A plot that grabs you from start to finish with brilliantly written characters which you can relate to. A good book! Utterly gripping.