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Silenced Blurb

A teenage girl is murdered on her way home from school, stabbed through the heart. Her North London community is shocked, but no-one has the courage to help the police, not even her mother. DI Callum Waverley, in his first job as senior investigating officer, tries to break through the code of silence that shrouds the case.

This is a world where the notorious Skull Crew rules through fear. Everyone knows you keep your mouth shut or you’ll be silenced – permanently.

This is Luke’s world. Reeling from the loss of his mother to cancer, his step-father distant at best, violent at worst, he slides into the Skull Crew’s grip.

This is Jez’s world too. Her alcoholic mother neither knows nor cares that her 16-year-old daughter is being exploited by V, all-powerful leader of the gang.

Luke and Jez form a bond. Can Callum win their trust, or will his own demons sabotage his investigation? And can anyone stop the Skull Crew ensuring all witnesses are silenced?

My Review


It was clear to me from the start that the author put a lot of time into researching for this book and boy did it pay off because I was gripped from start to finish. Written from the point of views of the troubled detective investigating a gang related murder in an inner city London estate and from two vulnerable teens ripe for induction into the gang, this book transported me to another world. It illuminated the pressures, fears and dilemmas faced by disadvantaged teens as they navigate their way in a world where everything is stacked against them.
With authentic voices, a believable storyline and characters that you can really relate to this is one of my favourite books of the year so far – Gripping, fast paced, poignant and, most importantly, REAL!
This story needed telling and Ensor has done a wonderful job of doing so, which is largely to do with her ability to tap into the essence of each character she writes, but is also due to her meticulous research of a topical, yet under-explored topic. It was refreshing (if a little bit unsettling) to be transported into the minds of the teen protagonists, but it was that edginess that made this novel such a fulfilling read.
Silenced offers hard-hitting insight into the world of gangs and the fear they perpetuate in their communities – A complete triumph – well written, fast paced, empathetic and heart-breaking. I loved it!

Author Bio

A Londoner with Irish heritage, Jennie Ensor began her writing career as a journalist, obtaining a Masters in Journalism (winning two awards) and covering topics from forced marriage to accidents in the mining industry. She isn’t afraid to tackle controversial issues in her novels, either: Islamic terrorism, Russian gangsters and war crimes in her debut BLIND SIDE (a psychological mystery blended with a love story), and domestic abuse and sexual exploitation in her second novel THE GIRL IN HIS EYES (a dark psychological drama published by Bloodhound Books in 2018).

Her third novel is an excursion to the brighter side of life. NOT HAVING IT ALL is a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy like no other. First published in 2019, a new edition was published in January 2021.

Jennie’s fourth novel is a psychological crime thriller, coming soon…

Ms Ensor’s poetry has appeared in many publications including Poetry Salzburg Review, Ink Sweat and Tears. Her prose poem ‘Lost Connection’ was placed second in the Breakout Prose category of Fish Publishing’s Lockdown Prize in 2020.

In her spare time (?) she reads, walks and tries to do twice-weekly yoga. She regularly cycles the punishing hills of north London and enjoys collapsing with a bar of chocolate/glass of strong alcohol in front of a TV crime drama.

Connect with Jennie here:

Author website: https://jennieensor.com

Publisher website: http://www.bloodhoundbooks.com

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/JennieEnsorAuthor

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