The Silent Listener By Lyn #BlogBookTour

#ADGIFTED all ever all opinions are my own and book is gifted, and I in turn do a review on my personal blog to share.

The Silent Listener by Lyn Yeowart

AN UNFORGETTABLEPSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER SET IN THE DARK, GOTHIC HEART OF RURAL AUSTRALIA

PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER SET IN THE DARK, GOTHIC HEART OF RURAL AUSTRALIA

The moment he dies,the room explodes with life.

Joy Henderson returnsto the family farm to nurse her dying father. To the outside world, George is a pillar of the community, but to Joy and her siblings, he’s a monster. As
children, they lived in constant fear of the punishments he dished out to his “dirty, filthy sinners who are going to rot in Hell”. Then, the day after George finally confesses to a horrific crime, Joy finds him dead — with a belt pulled
tight around his neck . . .

to the family farm to nurse her dying father. To the outside world, George is a pillar of the community, but to Joy and her siblings, he’s a monster. As
children, they lived in constant fear of the punishments he dished out to his “dirty, filthy sinners who are going to rot in Hell”. Then, the day after George finally confesses to a horrific crime, Joy finds him dead — with a belt pulled
tight around his neck . . .

Senior Constable AlexShepherd, summoned to the scene by George’s doctor, is suspicious: did Joy murder her father? If so, why?

Shepherd, summoned to the scene by George’s doctor, is suspicious: did Joy murder her father? If so, why?

The more Shepherd digs the more questions he raises. Will the truth finally be revealed?

Effortlessly propelling the reader back and forth between three timelines, Lyn Yeowart’sunforgettable debut richly rewards the reader with its explosive, pitiless conclusion

unforgettable debut richly rewards the reader with its explosive, pitiless conclusion

This electrifying literary thriller will be devoured by fans of Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones, Eve Chase’s The Glass House, Delia Owens, Gillian Flynn and Kate Morton.

ABOUT LYN YEOWART

Lyn Yeowart is a
professional writer and editor, working on everything from captions for
artworks to speeches. The Silent Listener is loosely based on
events from her childhood in rural Australia. She now happily lives in
Melbourne, where there is little mud, but lots of books.

My Review

This is so unlike many books I’ve read, a new fresh author for me to discover, and new writing style too. But best of all a new host of characters to get to know and grow with, throughout the plot.

With three timelines we fall down a rabbit hole of dark gothic rural living, not my classic detective who dunnit books.

It’s creepy, it’s heart breaking and it will pull you in, though a slow burn it’s well worth sticking with. I will definitely hunt down more from this author.

First Camping Trip

It’s finally here!! Camping time, we as a rule wait until it’s roughly 10degrees at night.

So with newly bought tent (got it last year) and new camp beds, I am totally excited.

After checking weather apps it was decided that Scarborough way would have the best weather. So off we went.

And boy oh boy what fabulous weather we had too!

First day was all about arriving and settling in, and the following day we had a wonderful day on the beach, getting into the sea. Never really had a beach day at Scarborough before. It was so clean and tidy I was super impressed.

The next day was a walking day, to avoid being out in unshaded sun, we opted for waterfalls and dappled sun through woodland at Mallyan Spout. Really didn’t think it would be popular. But we were wrong. Met so many lovely people.

This was a super tiring walk, but so worth it, Mr Moon managed to get under the spout and was drenched. I got a little wet. We planned a swim, but it was so so busy we decided against it. Maybe in autumn.

We visited Robin Hoods Bay too, once it was cooler and gone 6pm. To end the evenings with sunsets and marshmallows.

Thursday was our last day, and once again we headed back to Scarborough, but headed to the old sea pool area instead which is now a star disk.

Friday alas it was time to go home, and in my mind I’m already planning a return. So packing up day, we fill the car but manage a last walk around Scarborough.

20th Wedding Anniversary

It’s been an amazing 20yrs of being married, and here’s to many many more my love.

To celebrate our ‘China’ 20th wedding anniversary I bought a Jasmine Becket-Griffith Porcelina Canvas Cutie.

It goes perfectly with our pottery we found on our walk around Bradford Dale. 2 pieces that fit together perfect.

So on a campsite we celebrate our fabulous day, with prosecco and sunsets. What a celebration!!

Local River Dunking

After a long hot day inside the garden, we decided to go and visit the river where Mr Moon paddle boards, and have a little dunk.

Sharing a cider we enjoy the riverbank that is mere minutes from the house.

But muddy in places, but overall dry and shallow enough for me to get into, without too much trouble.

And we are in, obviously cold but warmer than Three Shire Head.

I’m only up to my waist, but of course Mr Moon does the full swim experience.

Lucky it’s so close to home and we can potentially do this often.

I got a Date!!

I often ring the Secretary on their advice to see how the waiting list is going, and any developments of the implant being made and in this country.

The last time I rang, we agreed it probably would be end of the year. And while a bit dejected it was a 3 month improvement to before.

However I got a shock phone call the following morning, I though it was usual cold caller. Answered it and it was the Secretary to say actually she had spoke to the consultant, and the implant is here and ready, so that meant I could have a date, for the 11th August!!

Omg omg omg!! was not expecting that. So cute the bad panic of thinking how many camping trips I can fit in, and beach visits.

Second Wild Swim (well dunk)

Three Shire Head is a glorious place but it puzzles me too. It’s stark and erie around the quarry areas, divine in the waterfalls but ultimately the farmland is bleak and littered with death. Not exactly what you want along a walk. We counted 4 dead sheep and again countless bleached white bones, and a sheep head. The stench of death really does linger in some areas, so be warned.

We approached the walk from a different point of view, parking at a new end, so we can quickly arrive at the waterfalls.

The day starts a little fresh and overcast, but we know it’s going to heat up and be a lovely day heat wise.

Views as ever always beautiful, and enjoyed as we munch on our picnic food.

Fluffy clouds and blue skies and the heat is rising.

And Mr Moon is in, it’s a popular spot this week, the warm weather has brought us all out together, lots of friendly chatting and sharing experiences of how cold the water actually is, a fabulous bonding experience.

I head to the other waterfall as it’s marginally warmer, though not as blue looking. No photos as we really do try and live in that moment. This time I get up to my neck, so I feel like I’ve accomplished it. Yay!!

We sit around in the glorious sunshine to dry off and then resume the walk. Taking the farmland route back. This proved to be a mistake, as often the smell of death was quite overpowering especially as temperatures soared.

So it are resting difficult. Heat definitely got to me towards the end, I wilt under heat especially if I’m finding walking difficult. But I did it, I end on a high knowing I fully dunked into the water.

Struggles

I confess I’ve been struggling, feeling hounded by news, depressed and stifled by society, and I just want things back to 2019. I know it’s easy to turn off news and social media and we frequently do. But so much of society is not available to me like before.

Masks make me feel uncomfortable, so shopping is no longer a pastime, pubs and restaurants where I’m tracked, and penned in doesn’t appeal either. Not to mention the hand sanitizer makes me faint, so that’s another thing to actively avoid.

But most of all, I just want my surgery. That’s the emotion I’m dealing with mostly, the sheer hopeless abandonment . The pain management is zero, nowhere to be seen, as we just aren’t that important. And the sheer fear that there will be another wave and hospitals shut, causing the wait to be even longer, or if ever….

I don’t want to be doom and gloom, but just honest. My blog shows some amazing adventures we have once a week, and they truly are incredible. But the other 6 days of the week are full of pain, tears, and stress, topped with anxiety and depression. If I could physically go out more I would. And it’s important to see both sides and remain balanced.

While the weather has been lovely, it’s been easier to recover and rest in the garden, I’m incredibly lucky to have one. So at least I can feel the sun on my face, and hear the birds and sink my toes into the grass to ground myself.

Back to Robin Hood Stride

We needed an easy ish comfortable walk, Though we’ve done it before, we are tweaking it a bit to make it feel different to the first time we did it.

First start was a dip in the Wild Swimming area, as we feared end of walk we would be too tired and maybe too cold. Mr Moon swam, I dunked to waist, my first wild swim experience beyond dipping feet in.

Mr Moon shows me how Zen he is. Now off for the walk.

The dandelions we ate last time are all clocking!!

Walking throughthe bluebells in the woodland was as serene as you can imagine!

Back to the Nine Stone ring (has 4 stones though) we have a rest and dinner too. Doesn’t look it but it’s warm.

On the rocks near Hermits cave we witness the best aerial display, a buzzard barrel rolling to avoid the crows dive bombing it. Here I take a much needed break as Hip is not behaving and isn’t happy at all.

Views off the stride, you can see the stone circle in the distance. We’ve been lucky with weather. I’ve taken more painkillers than I normally do, so we aim to cut things short.

Spotted a teeny tiny Kenny Leveret (Baby Hare) careful to not disturb and walk away quickly, I thank my lucky stars for being so blessed with so many firsts in nature today.

Eek our way through has the most enormous Bull in it, and very skittish cows, we abort that route, and though I’m in a lot of pain now, we backtrack our route as none of us feel comfortable around bucking and jumping cows, saw the Bull run and he cleared the field in seconds!!

Back at the beginning, down there is where we dipped in the water, Home time for me, what an epic adventure. Very very sore, but my heart is singing with all the sights we saw today. Treasured memories.

Magpie Mine

Famously the last mine to shut in Derbyshire, it’s a gorgeous place to visit, and worth the drive.

Parking is pretty close and you can walk around 3-5mins to get there.

There is a lot of stories as you can imagine, from rival mines and sadly some lost there lives due to this, causing the widows from the rival mine to cast a curse on Magpie, and to be honest it worked, it never was successful after that event, and the workers had accidents and misfortune, until it finally closed.

The Horse Gin is a replica, but the rest of the buildings and machines are genuine.

Shining torches and dropping stones you soon see how deep these go, it must of been hell for the miners.

The views around are glorious, all the better in this sunshine!!

Gunpowder Store still in tact as well.

The steel cable is thinner than I ever expected to be honest. It must of been crazy to trust this with lowering you down a few miles.

You can stand inside the small lift in which the men would descend into the mine in. Really gives a perspective of the conditions they had to deal with.

Only a quick visit and I was grateful we parked close. Seems a popular spot for dog walkers, I wonder if they feel the history here, or is it just the nearest field to them, and they don’t think of it at all?

I hear you can actually stay here in the agents cottage, I think it’s part of National Trust. And I’m sure some schools must have a school trip here now and then too.

Adventures and Exploring

*Another adventure we did before I hurt my hip, Its still in rest mode for now*

Did you read the Famous Five, or Nancy Drew while growing up? Or those adventure game books, I did and this outing, made me feel like I was living it for real!!

We found Caves, Mines and hidden crystal waters, and all those stories came flooding back. Imagination can go wild here, if only you want it too.

Torches needed, pushing the comfort zone (why do Adults give themselves such fear?) First ladder done in over a decade!!

Not a walk we usually do, and I loved it, feeling the history of the mines, seeing maps and story boards of how it would of looked, and finished off with coffee by waterfalls. I love being able to think how it would of been, how the people lived and worked in this area, I should of took history as a child. But they do say education is wasted on the youth, it’s true!! The things I’d love to learn now, but hated back then.

The houses were built above to hide the fact they had mines here. They must of had stunning views. But surely sneaking 120 miners in would of been a tad suspicious.

All in all it was an incredible insight to the landscape and how it’s been shaped the way it is. The unnatural waterways created by mines, the steep rocks and hidden gems to explore, all from an industry that was rife here.