This is not a feel good at the end book. It is the story of a culture that values it's women so little that a wife has fewer rights than the lowest street beggar. At marriage, a woman becomes property and she has no say in who she will marry. With that in mind........
A young woman has come to the clinic to die. Her health belies her age, she is young in years but will not live to see middle age. Her husband is the eldest son of a prominent family yet unconcerned about his wife's death. As she struggles for life, this young woman will share her history with the doctor providing treatment. This doctor is so horrified that Pakistani culture is still so callus that the husband will face no consequences.....or so he thinks. The doctor has shared this woman's story with a British investigative reporter who sympathizes but is well aware that the current culture is too tolerant of abuse towards Pakistani women.
Fast forward seven years....several members of a prominent Pakistani family have been murdered, with prejudice. As the investigation continues, the reporter realizes this is the family that allowed the abuse and death of a female member of the family. As the investigation continues, the rest of the story will definitely provide some food for thought as we learn who is killing the men. The ending provides a "just deserveds" feeling for the murder victims.

Out of the Silence is a standalone murder mystery and examination of misogyny in Pakistan by prolific crime thriller writer Owen Mullen. First published in 2019, this reformat and re-release 23rd March 2021 is 286 pages and is available in audio and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The word which keeps coming up in my mind after finishing this book is unflinching. It's quite painful to read in many places; tragic and brutal. I found it difficult to continue several times in the narrative and had to take a break. Although a departure from Mullen's other work in terms of subject and setting, it is quite well written and up to his intelligent and erudite standards. The setup, Pakistan, her culture, and contrasts are respectfully and believably conjured. The book is set in three distinct parts, past, more recent past, and current day. Despite having a modern setting and modern characters, the plot and denouement could have graced an ancient Greek tragedy by Sophocles.

There is a strong murder mystery subplot with a number of grisly and macabre murders, and the eventual solution is well done (if not entirely surprising). There are graphic representations of violence, misogyny, assault (and sexual assault), corruption, and strong language which are potentially triggering for some readers.

I tend to concentrate mostly on procedurals and cozies, but picked up this book because of my enjoyment of the author's other work. This one was too difficult for me to really enjoy. I would strongly recommend it for fans who don't mind lurid and explicit violence.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

In a village in the Punjab region of Pakistan, Afra and Jameel want to marry and spend the rest of their lives together, but her mother does not agree. After being refused permission to marry Afra, Jameel leaves his village and sets off to find his only relative in Lahore. He is welcomed by his uncle and goes on to become a successful business man, but he never forgets Afra. Meanwhile, Afra is sold to a wealthy family in Lahore to become the wife of the oldest son. They are horrible to her right from the start, but when she does not give him an heir, she is reduced to the role of household slave and treated appallingly. Years later, members of this prominent family are being killed off, one by one.
Owen Mullen skillfully weaves the strands of the story together, leading us up many false paths until we learn who is behind the killings. I did guess eventually, but only at the very last minute. The writing is evocative, full of rich descriptions of the sights, sounds and smells, and brings this area of Pakistan to life. I have never been to this part of the world, but had no trouble imagining the setting in vivid colour.
This story left a lasting impression on me; long after I had finished reading I was still thinking about what Afra (and others like her) had suffered during her short life. This is a misogynistic society where animals are treated better than women. Out of the Silence is a shocking exposé of the abuse suffered by women at the hands of their husbands, brothers, cousins, and men in general. While it is extremely upsetting to read, it has been written with compassion and understanding. It is also a gripping murder mystery. The characters are well written and believable; some you will hate with a vengeance, and others will go straight to your heart.
I chose Out of the Silence without reading the blurb as I had enjoyed other books by Owen Mullen (crime thrillers set in Glasgow) and, though it is very different, I highly recommend it, and suggest you try some of his other books too – you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

Out of the Silence is an engrossing entertaining book that is the epitome of a ‘page turner’ containing a cast of characters that will horrify you and others that you will be cheering on.
Starting the story 11 years previously we are introduced to Jameel and Afra, Jameel has always loved the beautiful Afra and approaches her mother to ask permission that they may marry. Agra’s mother refuses and tells him he is nothing and she wishes better than him for his daughter. Devastated Jameel leaves the village and makes his way to Lahore.
A seemingly rich man arrives at the village and after giving Agra’s mother an agreed amount of money whisks Afra away to his large house in Lahore. So begins Afra’s life, not of riches and affection as she was told to believe but one of slavery and degradation.
7 years later Afra, near death, tells her story to Dr Simone Jasmin who in turn enlists the help of an American newspaper reporter to help highlight the plight of how women are treated so unfairly and cruelty in Pakistan.
There is much depth in this book and so much more happening than I have described but I don’t wish to give away any spoilers. At times it is very hard to read of the cruelty inflicted by one family on others but here we also have a mystery, thriller and for me a real ‘ Who Dunnit?
I had not previously read any of this authors work but after this gem I will ensure I do.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

This book was way, way out of my comfort zone. For one thing, it is set in Pakistan - a country with a culture so different to what I am used to. But the main difference is that is was a love story and I knew that going in. Of course we also have a murder mystery. It just sounded so good in the blurb and I had read books from this author before. However, with this story he has really outdone himself. This story was beautiful in every way. Hauntingly so, and it really lifted the veil on the treatment of women in Pakistan. Of course women are treated badly all over the world and some countries are better at dealing with it than others.

The story starts in the Punjab, in a little village called Mundhi. Afra, just reaching young womanhood and Jameel, a young man, walk to the cornfields together, do their work and walk home together. It is a simple wholesome life and they are happy and quietly in love. But when Jameel asks Afra’s mother for permission to marry the girl he is snubbed Afra’s mother has teed up a rich husband from Lahore for her daughter. Jameel is gutted but realises he has little to offer in comparison. He gives Afra his most precious possession, a set of 6 beautifully carved wooden bangles that were originally his grandmother’s and then his mother’s. He keeps the other 6 himself promising that the bangles will find each other again. A fanciful and romantic notion but nevertheless one that the young couple hold on to. Jameel then leaves Mundhi for good.

He makes his way to Lahore where his only remaining relative, great uncle Gulzar Hafeez is a wealthy restaurateur. Luckily Gulzar is happy to see him and takes the young man under his wing. Afra is married off to Quasim Dilawar Hussein. He is indeed rich. He is also a brute whose only interest in his wife is in her producing a son. When this doesn’t happen fast enough for him Quasim turns very nasty. I won’t tell you what happens to Afra except that it is horrific.

We also meet Ralph Buchanan, a washed up Scottish journalist on his last chance. Simone Jasnin, a doctor, seeks him out and implores him to write a story about the plight of women in Pakistan. Ralph can’t see this story interesting anyone at his paper. But then Simone tells him Afra’s story and his interest is piqued. Meanwhile the Dilawar Hussein family is reeling from the murder of the youngest brother, Zamir, and the torching of the family’s agricultural products warehouse. A carved wooden bangle is found under Zamir’s body. Now don’t go thinking you know what’s what. The story is far from simple. The Dilawar Hussein family continue to suffer setbacks and the mystery part of the story becomes very interesting indeed.

Owen Mullen has written a story of epic proportions. I was transfixed the whole time and literally could not put this book down. Yes it’s a love story but there was nothing sweet about it. It was quite horrific and heartbreaking at times. The characters leapt to life right off the page. Yes, it was set in Pakistan but people are people and I could really relate to what was happening to these particular people. You might be wondering if Afra and Jameel manage to find each other again but you’ll have to read the book to learn that. The murder mystery was well done too. I thought I had it solved a couple of times but - no! This book was not only a change of pace for me, it is also quite different to what Mullen normally writes (crime thrillers) but with the finesse he showed here I would love to see him tackle a difficult subject, such as this, again. I am very grateful to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Owen Mullen for providing a copy to review. My opinions are my own.

<b>Marriage to a stranger, plus a great murder mystery</b>

A badly hurt woman is found outside a hospital in Pakistan. This murder mystery is her story of how she came to be there. Fast moving and suspense filled!

Afra is being brought up in a small village in Southern Punjab in Pakistan. Her love for Jameel, who lives in the same village, is thwarted and she marries a wealthy stranger. Afra and Jameel's lives then proceed very differently, one finding success and purpose, the other following another path.

Later we meet Ralph, a once successful reporter who has turned to alcohol. Will he be able to overcome his alcoholic fog to get a world changing story, and will the police find a murderer. Suspense, excitement and action mount as the police have no leads to go on, and the reader wonders about Afra's involvement.

This is a book of two distinct halves. The first half tells the deeply moving story of Afra and Jameel. Characters who totally come to life through the pages, and show the reader a side of life that is rarely made public.

The second half is all fast moving action as the police, and others, try to discover the identity of the murderer, taking the reader racing through the streets of Lahore. The atmosphere, pace and bustle of Lahore are brilliantly described, and as is village life in the more remote areas of Pakistan.

Afra has left an indelible mark on my heart, not only because I understand that her moving tale was inspired by a true story, but that (according to the Internet) her life experiences are shared by so many others throughout the world.

5*s from me for this personal story that is very much of today, and all too real. It touched my heart, and was also a thrilling murder mystery.