He reached in his pocket, took out the last rock, and studied it. “Jerry Maguire, 1996.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean.”
He looked up, grinned, and tossed the rock over his shoulder. “‘You had me at hello.’”
Author Note
My dear readers, yay! You made it to the end of Piper and Tucker’s story. Although I live in the wild west, my husband, Rick, and I have taught forensic art at the Mount Pleasant Police Department for many years. We have grown to love this beautiful low country area with its friendly people, wonderful food, and breathtaking beaches. I hope you’ve caught a brief glimpse through these pages of the depth of history, culture, and beauty of the area. As always, if you feel so inclined, I’d love to hear from you. I answer all my emails, which should be directed to [email protected]. You’ll find my schedule on my website www.CarrieStuartParks.com. God bless.
Discussion Questions
Tucker was given three stones by his counselor, Scott Thomas. He threw each stone away. What did the stones represent in his life?
The Boone family seemed obsessed by perfection, and in particular other people’s impressions of them, yet they were total hypocrites. How did they show this?
Piper held on to different gifts from members of her family: Raven’s keychain with a blank key, Sparrow’s sewn pencil case that didn’t hold pencils, Ashlee’s expensive Coach purse, Tern’s studded bracelet hiding her scars. What did each gift represent? How did it reflect on the person who gave it to her?
Piper wrote to her daughter every day. In her heart, she believed Dove would always be the perfect little girl she lost. How did she respond when she found out the truth?
If you were to find a Bible verse for Piper, what would you choose? Why?
Piper had an M. Night Shyamalan Signs movie poster on her wall, a movie that she really enjoyed. In the movie, the character Graham Hess said the following. What do you think? “People break down into two groups. When they experience something lucky, group number one sees it as more than luck, more than coincidence. They see it as a sign, evidence, that there is someone up there, watching out for them. Group number two sees it as just pure luck. Just a happy turn of chance . . . (Group number one) deep down, they feel that whatever’s going to happen, there will be someone there to help them. And that fills them with hope. See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, that sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?”
Have you ever visited (or do you live) in the low country of South Carolina? What is unique about this region?
Have you ever experienced a hurricane or massive storm? Share the experience. Did it change you or affect you in any way?
Acknowledgments
I have so many folks to thank, and I do so with heartfelt gratitude. In no particular order, I’ll start with the folks at the Mount Pleasant Police Department. I can’t even start to express how kind these folks are. In 2005 my dear mother passed away while I was teaching there, and the compassion the officers and staff shared forever touched my heart. A special note of thanks to Stan Gragg, Deputy Chief of Police. Yes, there really is a Stan Gragg, AKA Stan the Man. Over a bowl of creamy shrimp and grits, he went over how he’d conduct an investigation on a mass shooting. Lovely lunch . . .
Rick’s aunt, uncle, and cousins reside in the Charleston area and have welcomed us with open arms, good food, and a place to crash for a night or two every year. Thank you for the hurricane insight to Danny, Kathy, and the entire Marcey family of South Carolina. A special thanks to Angelo. I’m not sure for what, but I haven’t had time to kill you in one of my stories, so that will have to do until such a time as I arrange your demise.
I had several brainstorming groups for this book, the first being the Phoenix session with Colleen Coble, Robin Carroll, and Lindsay Harrel. We have more fun throwing out story ideas with each other than you’d believe. That and chocolate makes for a perfect weekend.
The second brainstorming session was with my forensic art class here on the ranch with Joyce Nagy, Michelle Hawn, Kali Bellman, Priscilla Patterson, and Val Copeland. They always inspire me with their law enforcement insight. I just wish Heidi would have been there.
To my dear friend Lynette Eason, I just wish our week in Isle of Palms had worked out for you. I know we would have created The Great American Novel together.
My agent, Karen Solem, is and has been a guiding and inspired friend. Thank you again for your suggestions and advice. Love ya, m’friend.
HarperCollins Christian Publishing team is a dream come true. They are the best in the industry and I am so grateful for all you’ve taught me and all you’ve done for me. My dear editor and publisher, Amanda Bostic, continues to have faith in my stories and writing. She’s teamed me up with the fantastic, award-winning author and editor, Erin Healy. The two of them polish my writing to the highest. Jodi Hughes keeps polishing through the final edits. My marketing and publicity team is fabulous—thank you, Paul Fisher, Kerri Potts, and Margaret Kercher. I’m truly blessed by all your hard work.
Thank you, FrankNBarb. Always.
Rick, you drive me nuts, but you do have some great ideas. Now go watch hockey. And don’t tell me about the Sharks. I’m writing.
Finally, eternal gratitude to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in whom all things are possible.
About the Author
Andrea Kramer, Kramer Photography
Carrie Stuart Parks is a Christy, multiple Carol, and INSPY Award–winning author. She was a 2019 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence in mainstream mystery/suspense and has won numerous awards for her fine art as well. An internationally known forensic artist, she travels with her husband, Rick, across the US and Canada teaching courses in forensic art to law-enforcement professionals. The author/illustrator of numerous books on drawing and painting, Carrie continues to create dramatic watercolors from her studio in the mountains of Idaho.
* * *
Visit her website at CarrieStuartParks.com
Facebook: CarrieStuartParksAuthor
Twitter: @CarrieParks
Praise for Carrie Stuart Parks
“Danger and drama abide in this tale that takes a walk on the perilous side. With a flair for the macabre, the story will linger in your head long after the last page.”
—Steve Berry, New York Times and #1 Internationally bestselling author, for Relative Silence
“Relative Silence is one of the most engrossing suspense novels I’ve read in a long time. Pitch perfect pacing and characterization along with Parks’ knowledgeable hand with forensics kept me on the edge of my seat. If you enjoy suspense with a light touch of romance, you must read this one!”
—Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling author of One Little Lie and the Lavender Tide series
“The perfect beach read! Relative Silence is an expert mix of family drama and slow-burning thriller, leavened with Parks’ trademark humor. You’ll be pulling for Piper and Tucker as the story builds toward a hurricane-force climax.”
—Rick Acker, bestselling author
“With skill and her ever-present wit, Carrie Stuart Parks has arranged puzzle pieces and woven story threads into an engaging and quick-moving read with tantalizing questions, quirky characters, and . . . oh yes, some well-placed fictional curve balls along the way. Enjoy!”
—Frank Peretti, bestselling author, for Relative Silence
“What a great book! Carrie Stuart Parks has done it again. Relative Silence offers us characters we care about, a convoluted and clever plot, and hours of reading pleasure. Highly recommended.”
—Gayle Roper, author of Lost and Found and Hide and Seek
“Relative Silence has all the bells and whistles. A relatable character in Piper Boone, a plot that keeps moving forward, and a surprising finish. It was hard to put down. A completely satisfying r
ead. I highly recommend it!”
—Nancy Mehl, bestselling, award-winning author
“What a compelling story! I rarely read a book all in one sitting, but Parks’ combination of intriguing plot, vivid setting, and characters you can’t help but root for kept me turning the pages right through the very-satisfying ending. I highly recommend this excellent read!”
—Marlo Schalesky, award-winning author of Women of the Bible Speak Out, for Relative Silence
“Parks has it all in Relative Silence—mystery, romance, and a subtle message about God.”
—Richard L. Mabry, MD, award-winning, bestselling author of Critical Decision
“I love Carrie Stuart Parks’s skill in writing characters with hysterical humor, unwitting courage, and page-turning mystery. I hope my readers won’t abandon me completely when they learn about her!”
—Terri Blackstock, USA TODAY bestselling author of the If I Run series
“[An] appealing inspirational thriller.”
—Publishers Weekly, for Fragments of Fear
“Without fail, Parks delivers stories that reel me in and keep me turning the pages until I’m done and craving more. Fragments of Fear is sure to make you a Carrie Stuart Parks addict as well!” #CSPaddictandproudofit
—Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author
“Fragments of Fear is a romantic suspense roller-coaster ride not to be missed. Parks has mastered the art of drawing in the reader and gripping our imaginations in a way that keeps us turning the pages.”
—Kimberly Rose Johnson, award-winning author
“Parks skillfully blends a lovely yet treacherous locale into the very dark deeds of its human inhabitants. Readers will want to see more of the mysterious and sympathetic Murphy.”
—Publishers Weekly, for Formula of Deception
“The sinister tone of this fast-paced story line creates an almost unbearable tension that will keep readers glued to the page. Acclaimed author Parks draws on her career as a forensic artist to imbue her stories with a true-to-life accuracy that will fascinate readers of CSI-type fiction.”
—Library Journal, for Formula of Deception
“Parks (herself a well-known forensic artist) is a seasoned writer of inspirational ‘edge-of-your-seat’ suspense and mystery. Her latest title is a carefully researched and thoughtfully executed novel that will leave readers begging for more. Fans of Dee Henderson, DiAnn Mills, and Brandilyn Collins will flock to this suspenseful series.”
—Library Journal, starred review, for Portrait of Vengeance
“Parks has created an intriguing female sleuth with depth, courage, and grit. The well-developed characters are complemented by a unique setting.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review, for Portrait of Vengeance
“Rich characters, a forensic artist’s eye for detail, and plot twists—Carrie Stuart Parks hits all the right notes!”
—Mary Burton, New York Times bestselling author, for Portrait of Vengeance
“The compelling crimes, inscrutable community, and resilient heroine propel Parks’s latest thrill-packed installment in the chronicles of no-nonsense Gwen Marcey.”
—Publishers Weekly, for When Death Draws Near
“Besides having a resourceful and likable heroine, the book also features that rarest of characters: a villain you don’t see coming, but whom you hate with relish. Moreover, you think said villain’s crazy plans for world domination just might work. A Cry from the Dust will keep you hoping, praying and guessing till the end.”
—Book Page
“Renowned forensic and fine artist Parks’s action-packed and compelling tale of suspense is haunting in its intensity. Well researched and written in an almost journalistic style, this emotionally charged story is recommended for fans of Ted Dekker, Mary Higgins Clark, and historical suspense.”
—Library Journal, starred review, for A Cry from the Dust
“Parks, in her debut novel, has clearly done her research and never disappoints when it comes to crisp dialogue, characterization, or surprising twists and turns.”
—Publishers Weekly, for A Cry from the Dust
“A unique novel of forensics and fanaticism. A good story on timely subjects well told. For me, these are the ingredients of a successful novel today and Carrie Stuart Parks has done just that.”
—Carter Cornick, FBI Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research (Ret.), for A Cry from the Dust
Also by Carrie Stuart Parks
Fragments of Fear
Formula of Deception
The Gwen Marcey Novels
A Cry from the Dust
The Bones Will Speak
When Death Draws Near
Portrait of Vengeance
Copyright
Relative Silence
© 2020 Carrie Stuart Parks
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.
Interior design by Phoebe Wetherbee
Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email [email protected].
Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Parks, Carrie Stuart, author.
Title: Relative silence / Carrie Stuart Parks.
Description: Nashville, Tennessee : Thomas Nelson, [2020] | Summary: "FBI-certified forensic artist Carrie Stuart Parks combines her knowledge of art and forensics in this case of family secrets and deception"-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020001260 (print) | LCCN 2020001261 (ebook) | ISBN 9780785226185 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9780785226208 (epub) | ISBN 9780785226215
Subjects: GSAFD: Suspense fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3616.A75535 R45 2020 (print) | LCC PS3616.A75535 (ebook) | DDC 813/.6--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020001260
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020001261
Printed in the United States of America
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