The Silence In Between, Josie Ferguson

~ Tandy

The Silence In Between opening lines: Any parent who says they don’t have a favourite child is a liar. As Axel finally falls asleep in my arms, a bubble of milk resting on his upper lip, a tidal wave of love washes over me.

The Silence In Between

My blurb:

The first time Lisette loses her voice it is because she is pregnant. And not with the love of her life, Julius’s baby. Like many women in Europe, she has suffered multiple rapes at the hands of the victorious Russians. But she finds her voice over time, only to lose it again when Berlin is divided. Her newborn baby boy is in hospital in the West, and she is trapped in the East. Can the child she can barely look at bring back her voice?

The Silence In Between
Imagine waking up and a wall has divided your city in two. Imagine that on the other side is your child…
Lisette is in hospital with her baby boy. The doctors tell her to go home and get some rest, that he’ll be fine.
When she awakes, everything has changed. Because overnight, on 13 August 1961, the border between East and West Berlin has closed, slicing the city – and the world – in two.
Lisette is trapped in the east, while her newborn baby is unreachable in the west. With the streets in chaos and armed guards ordered to shoot anyone who tries to cross, her situation is desperate.
Lisette’s teenage daughter, Elly, has always struggled to understand the distance between herself and her mother. Both have lived for music, but while Elly hears notes surrounding every person she meets, for her mother – once a talented pianist – the music has gone silent.
Perhaps Elly can do something to bridge the gap between them. What begins as the flicker of an idea turns into a daring plan to escape East Berlin, find her baby brother, and bring him home….
My verdict:

I cannot imagine what it must have been like to survive the horrors of the First World War, only to live them again after the Second. And who would bear witness to this, but the very people who ignored the harsh truths of what was going on around them. This is an extremely well written account based on true stories. If you are a fan of historical fiction then this novel is for you. The book moves seamlessly from WWII to when the Berlin Wall was erected. And the ending is what one could hope for within any family who experienced this for themselves.

About the Author:
Born in Sweden to a family of writers and readers, Josie Ferguson moved to Scotland when she was two. She returned to Sweden in her twenties, where she completed a vocational degree in Clinical Psychology (MSc). Upon graduating, she moved to London to pursue a career in publishing, something she had dreamed about since delving into fictional worlds as a child, hidden under the duvet with a torch.
She later moved to Asia in search of an adventure and a bit more sun and currently works as a freelance book editor in Singapore, where she lives with her husband and two young children. While training to become a clinical psychologist, Josie learned about the complexity of human nature, something she explores as a writer. She believes books about the past can change the future and she aspires to write as many as possible.  The Silence in Between  is her debut.
Publishing information:
ISBN 9780857529701
Format Trade Paperback
Published August 2024

Penguin Random House South Africa sent me this novel to review.

See the links below for blog posts I published on November 17:

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Published by Tandy

I am passionate about using regional, seasonable and sustainable produce when I cook. I live in Gordons Bay with my husband and dogs. We visit new places locally and overseas as often as we can to experience the food of the area. Follow along on our adventures!

10 thoughts on “The Silence In Between, Josie Ferguson”

  5. Just a quick hello after an interesting read. A new computer in the works to be read from a new home with ‘new’ ideas! Making do on borrowed equipment! Meanwhile sending you huge thanks and warm hugs!!!

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