The Silence, by Kendra Elliot, is the second installment of the author's Columbia River series. This is also technically the 6th installment in the Callahan & McLane series featuring Oregon State Police Detective Mason Callahan and his fiancée, FBI Special Agent Ava McLane, as their professional and personal lives collide in a chilling investigation. The story also features a guest appearance from FBI Special Agent Mercy Kilpatrick. The story kicks off with the brutal murder of Reuben Braswell, a conspiracy theorist whose anti-law enforcement rants and ties to Ava, his FBI informant, raise red flags.
Soon thereafter, a brutal scene occurs where cops are assassinated while rushing to a bomb threat, Mason is shot, and his partner, Ray, almost ends up as yet another victim, which seems to have been planned in advance. As Mason, along with Detective Nora Hawes, joins forces trying to dig into the case, Ava’s investigation into police officer murders intersects, uncovering a potential terrorist conspiracy. The stakes escalate with the disappearance of Braswell’s brother, Shawn, and Ava’s troubled twin sister, Jayne, alongside acts of sabotage targeting Ava’s personal life.
Elliot balances intense action with emotional depth, particularly through Ava’s complex family dynamics with Jayne and her evolving relationship with Mason. After all, they are set to be married in a few days, and this investigation has everyone stressed out. Mason and Ava are skilled investigators, but their vulnerabilities—especially Ava’s fraught bond with Jayne- ground the story in authenticity. Elliot structures the novel with alternating perspectives, primarily focusing on Mason and Ava, with occasional glimpses into the minds of secondary characters like Jayne and the elusive killer.
The plot is dense with sub-threads—Braswell’s murder, the terrorist threat, Jayne’s volatility, and Ava’s emotional turmoil—but Elliot keeps them cohesive, culminating in a high-stakes climax that connects most loose ends. Mason Callahan is a stoic, dependable detective whose dry humor and quiet strength make him instantly likable. His protective instincts toward Ava and his frustration with her chaotic sister add depth, showing a man balancing love and duty. Ava McLane is equally compelling—a sharp, driven FBI agent haunted by her twin’s addiction and their shared traumatic past.
Her internal conflict over Jayne’s reappearance and guilt over her informant’s death make her a nuanced protagonist. The Silence tackles heavy themes: domestic terrorism, conspiracy culture, anti-police sentiment, addiction, and the ripple effects of family dysfunction. Elliot doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of hatred or violence, particularly in depicting Braswell’s extremist mindset and the real-world parallels to militia movements. The Pacific Northwest setting—Clackamas County, Oregon—provides a moody backdrop, with its forests and small-town vibe contrasting with the urban sprawl of Portland. However, the setting feels underutilized compared to Elliot’s Mercy Kilpatrick series, with fewer vivid descriptions to anchor readers in the landscape.
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