Illness In John Burley's The Quiet Child

John Burley's The Quiet Child brings to life a chilling and intensely atmospheric psychological mystery that ensnares the reader immediately with its emotionally charged and twisted narrative.

Steeped in intrigue, readers are immersed in life during 1954 in the small town of Cottonwood, California. The McCray family is thrown into a world of turmoil when their two sons, Daniel aged 6 and Sean aged 10 are abducted while in the family car. An intensity charged search for the young hostages ensues with local Sheriff Jim Kent; he's determined to find the whereabouts of the boys, as the incident draws focus on the fact that poor, young, Daniel is mute and has drawn the ire and suspicions of local towns people because of his apparent differences. Especially, since many of the townspeople hold the irrational belief that his presence has catalyzed bouts of unexplained illness which leaves many of the townspeople sick and dying including, the boy's own mother. What brings true intensity to the search for the boys is the fact that the sheriff worries that someone may have taken matters
I thought it would concern something dark and preternatural. Instead, as the story progressed with its cleverly plotted twists, it turned out that sometimes the scariest of reads can stem, not from supernatural events but all too human elements. This turned out to be a thrilling and highly charged, emotional read that did not ease up in intensity, particularly as it unveiled the disconcerting perspectives of 1950's small town culture. Albeit, the story emanates primarily from the father's point of view, there are perspective switches as the story alternates between the captive boys, and the searchers attempting to find them before time runs out and they come to harm. I highly recommend this compelling read, it will strum your nerves and disquiet your mind for days after finishing that last