Wall Of Silence - Tracy Buchanan - A Short Summary & Review

 Wall Of Silence - Tracy Buchanan - A Short Summary & Review

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

All right, you kids, which one of you tried to kill your father?

A short summary:

Wall of Silence opens with a chilling premise: a father is nearly killed, and suspicion falls squarely on his own children. As the investigation unfolds, layers of family history, secrecy, and long-buried resentment begin to surface.

Buchanan constructs the mystery around silence itself, what families refuse to say, what they normalize, and what they hide for the sake of survival. The novel gradually reveals how truth fractures when loyalty and fear are mistaken for protection.

My favorite quote from the book:

"It's something you get used to, hiding the bad stuff."

- Travy Buchanan, Wall of Silence

Questions to ponder while reading:

Have you ever wondered what your husband was up to?

Is it ever ok to gossip?

My review:

An entertaining little mystery with teeth.

The buildup is strong, driven by steady pacing and a sense of anticipation that keeps the reader guessing. Buchanan understands how to stretch tension across ordinary domestic spaces, making the familiar feel uneasy and unstable.

I did get a little impatient with some of the characters’ quirks; they occasionally felt exaggerated rather than illuminating, but the story itself remains engaging. The emotional stakes are clear, and the central question propels the narrative forward even when individual personalities grate.

This is a mystery that leans more on atmosphere and family psychology than twists alone, making it an absorbing read for those who enjoy secrets unraveling slowly.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

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