Read an excerpt here!
The task force of FBI and local cops found her two abductors, killed them, rescued her, but it took four very long years. The fact she was found less than three miles from her home, had been there the entire time, haunts them. She's changed her identity, found a profession she loves, and rebuilt her life.
She's never said a word--to the cops, to her doctors, to family--about those four years.
A family legacy has brought her back to Chicago where a reporter is writing a book about the kidnapping. The cops who worked the case are cooperating with him. Her options are limited: Hope the reporter doesn't find the full truth, or break her silence about what happened. And her silence is what has protected her family for years.
Bryce Bishop doesn't know her past, he only knows she has coins to sell from her grandfather's estate--and that the FBI director for the Chicago office made the introduction. The more he gets to know Charlotte, the more interested he becomes, an interest encouraged by those closest to her. But nothing else is working in his favor--she's decided she is single for life, she struggles with her faith, and she's willing to forego a huge inheritance to keep her privacy. She's not giving him much of an opening to work with.
Charlotte wants to trust him. She needs to tell him what happened. Because a crime cops thought was solved, has only opened another chapter...
Unspoken by Dee Henderson is contemplative novel that mixes the suspense and heartbreak of a kidnapping with the healing that only comes with time, friends, and the love of God. The novel is very long, and the plot sometimes does drag, but I liked the slow pace of the novel. It allowed me to soak in what was happening in the novel and really connect with the characters. The story line was interesting as it took two separate old investigations and then shocked the reader at the end with the truth about them. The themes of this novel were well developed and included topics such as forgiveness after terrible hurt, being patient, the true importance (or lack of) of money, trusting others and God even after pain, and learning to share one's burdens with friends and with God. The story was told from the perspective of Bryce for the most part with some sections told from Charlotte's point of view and some from Paul and Ann Falcon's (from Full Disclosure) perspectives as well.
The characters of this novel were extremely well developed and realistic. The slow pace of the novel allowed a deep connection between the characters and the readers to occur. Bryce is a strong Christian, a good and ethical business, and a very patient and loving man. Charlotte is a very wounded woman who has never truly shared or worked past the horrendous things that happened to her as a young teen. The relationship that begins between Charlotte and Bryce is slow, believable, and extremely interesting. The conversations they have about money, God, faith, and other topics are very relatable and convicting. The end of the novel shows a lot of growth in both Charlotte and Bryce's lives as their new lives are disturbed by developments that they thought were well over. However, it is these final moments that truly get through to Charlotte and lead to her ultimate growth as a person.
Overall, I highly enjoyed Unspoken by Dee Henderson, and I would highly recommend it and the previous novel, Full Disclosure to any reader looking for a thriller that goes beyond the suspense to the emotion and pain beneath horrific events.
I received this novel for free from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.
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