Not A Sound

As a former Sign Language Interpreter, I am drawn to stories that feature Deaf culture and Deaf characters. Not A Sound is an older book by Heather Gudenkauf who herself is unilaterally deaf (deaf in one ear). How did I not know that?!

Gudenkauf has quickly become one of my go-to/must-read authors because she knows how to spin a good suspense novel with solidly constructed and believable characters. Not A Sound features Amelia Winn, a nurse who becomes profoundly deaf after an accident. Now, two years later, she and her hearing support dog, Stitch (who will win over even the coldest of hearts), get pulled into a murder of a fellow nurse. I truly hope Gudenkauf writes another book featuring this duo.

Stitch - a Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer.
Look at that face!!

I loved how Gudenkauf incorporates tidbits about Deafness/deafness (big 'D' referring to people who identify with Deaf culture and little 'd' referring to deaf who identify with the hearing community). These bits of info, including the proper terms for deafness (deaf or hard-of-hearing, instead of hearing impaired) are included without disrupting the flow of the murder mystery, but still enlighten hearing readers who may not know much about Deaf culture. Through Amelia's POV, the reader gets a bird's eye view into what it's like to suddenly become deaf- the isolation, issues communicating with the hearing world, how she reacts and copes with her deafness and society's sometimes limiting views on what it means to be Deaf.

The suspense aspect is solid with some good twists that kept me engaged and even though I figured out the culprit midway, I still found it compelling as I cheered on Amelia as she perseveres with her personal struggles/demons to find the murderer. The ending happens fairly quickly, but I loved the holy forking shirt, edge-of-your-seat tension-filled scene leading up to it. Zowee!

Well-paced and smartly written, this is a compelling, character-driven suspense story that gives readers a twisty read and a believable main character they can root for, complete with personal struggles, a new way of looking at the world and a canine companion who will steal your heart. If you're looking for an author of well-crafted suspense novels that writes wonderful depth to her characters, allow me to introduce you to Heather Gudenkauf.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Author: Heather Gudenkauf

Genre: Suspense, deafness

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from public library

Pages: 320

Publisher: Park Row Books

First Published: May 30, 2017

Opening Line: I find her sitting all by herself in the emergency waiting 

room, her lovely features distorted from the swelling and bruising. 

Book Description from GoodReads: When a tragic accident leaves nurse Amelia Winn deaf, she spirals into a depression that ultimately causes her to lose everything that matters--her job, her husband, David, and her stepdaughter, Nora. Now, two years later and with the help of her hearing dog, Stitch, she is finally getting back on her feet. But when she discovers the body of a fellow nurse in the dense bush by the river, deep in the woods near her cabin, she is plunged into a disturbing mystery that could shatter the carefully reconstructed pieces of her life all over again.

As clues begin to surface, Amelia finds herself swept into an investigation that hits all too close to home. But how much is she willing to risk in order to uncover the truth and bring a killer to justice?