Say Nothing: A Novel

This didn’t need to be a 444 page novel. Probably 150. But that ending is… not something i’d have expected.

Brad Parks is a seriously accomplished writer. SAY NOTHING shows that careful research can give a work of fiction the realism of intricate insider knowledge, even when the author has no personal experience or expertise in the subject matter. SAY NOTHING Is not just well researched, it is highly realistic. It is also is a really solid, heart pounding thriller, telling the story of a Federal Judge and his wife, desperate to get their 6 year old twins back, after they are kidnapped.The couple is being blackmailed with the Judge forced to render verdicts that are causing an uproar among powerful people. He is forced to defend his poor decisions or be impeached , which would mean the death of his children.The circumstances create unimaginable pressure, suspicion and tensions between the couple that are realistic and harrowing, as it becomes inreasingly clear the kidnappers are more than willing to kill, if they don't get the verdict they are seeking.This is an excellent excellent legal thriller --one of the best i've read! I can't imagine any fan of courtroom drama not liking it.

Brad Parks hits on all cylinders in his latest, Say Nothing: It has elements of a psychological thriller (ala Gone Girl), a classic who-done-it (ala And Then There Were None), and a horror-tragedy pastiche (pick any story of a parent’s despair from the myth of Persephone to Netflix’s Stranger Things). The story begins with the kidnap of federal court Judge Scott Sampson’s six-year-old twins. Sampson and his wife are told to await further instruction and otherwise “say nothing.” Thus begins their (and every parent’s) nightmare. Sampson does his best to hold it together while trying to figure out what action – on or off the bench – will bring his children homes safely. Without giving away the many twists and turns (including a heartrending ending that I guarantee no one will see coming), it’s fair to say that Sampson, and the reader, suspect (with good reason) pretty much everybody as they dig through a complicated web of drug deals, pharmaceutical company greed, political corruption, and Wall Street high rollers to figure out what will persuade the kidnappers to release the twins unharmed. Brad Parks really understands what makes a good mystery. The stakes couldn’t be higher in this novel, right from page one. He creates characters (including the engaging Scott Sampson – I hope we see more of him in future books) who are in turn likeable, suspect, odious, and brave. And he keeps the action rolling, even through complicated but necessary courtroom scenes that, in less accomplished hands could have dragged. This is one of those books you’ll race through, desperate to find how who did it, then flip back through to look for all the clues you missed. Or at least I did, and I’d be willing to bet you will too.

This is the only novel about a horrendous event for a parent that, while baring the raw emotions, does not flip into the world of make-believe. And yet, it is fiction. There are two rules in fiction for authors, rarely crossed, in certain genres. One is to never kill someone's dog. (Who doesn't remember "Where the Red Green Grows"?) This novel makes you share the doubts and fears, and understand the thinking and the logic. I rarely will read a book with the initial premise of a missing child. As a parent, it's too hard. I won't watch movies anit that, even when my friends promise a happy ending (with a book, you can walk out whenever you want, and return whenever you want, , and control how much blood - or sex you see, simply by closing the book, skipping parts without dialogue, e.t.c. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and watching how the mystery unfolded, and very glad this didn't scare me. I liked the intricacy of it as well. Then again, my kids have already survived childhood, so perhaps distance helps.

This is the first book I’ve read by this Author. It is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Just when you thought you had it figured out, you,would be shocked by something. I recommend this book highly.

This was a great book. I really liked this author's work. He's a little dry, but so is my father and I have listened and enjoyed his stories my whole life. There were a few minor inconsistencies, but easy enough to overlook when the entire story is complete. I will even go out on a limb and recommend this book (I RARELY do that). Read it, enjoy it for what it was - a good, fast paced, solid story. I hope Mr. Parks continues to write. (minor spoiler ahead) I can tell this book was written by a man, most women will probably agree. What I mean by that is, the author didn't need the added cancer storyline (which I realized way earlier then it was revealed). She would have done it anyway, any mother would. This review is an OPINION. I review books because author's ask me to. I am a reader not a WRITER. Frankly, it's more work than I enjoy. Any grammar mistakes are my own and irrelevant. I am only the lowly reader. So if you dislike my reviews, write my English teacher. Read and review the book, not the reviewer.

A gripping, terrifying heart-rending story that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Instead, it twists your head back and forth to the point where you actually find yourself saying things out loud like, “Oh, no, please, no, this can’t be happening, what a nightmare.” Brad Parks is a superb plot-smith with a keen understanding of human feelings and behavior at all levels of emotional and spiritual evolution with the ability to create characters so believable they elicit non-stop gut-level responses.

A Federal judge is left doubting everyone he knows when his twin children are kidnapped for an unusual ransom. Is the wife he’s loved and trusted for 25 years involved? The private detective he hired should be able to find out, right?.....Well, maybe not. He was told to “say nothing” or the twins would die. He knows the house is being watched and someone close to him is giving the kidnappers information. He has no choice. He must comply. How can he go along day to day saying nothing and acting normal? But, he does.......until.......

Failing to accept this boring story as a "thriller" I gave up at page 129....it is a "non-thriller" that fails to create any suspense and/or tension at all due to the author's weak and lame writing style.The 129 pages I put up with didn't read nor feel believable in any way and read like an episode of "Murder She Wrote".....a lightweight in the "non-thriller" category. I'll elucidate further for those of you who are reading this honest review.1) When the kidnappers contact the father of the children for the first time to give him instructions via a cell call, the Father asks them to "don't hurt the children".....ANY parent in those circumstances would ask/demand to speak with their child....not this father....unbelievable.2) Emma the 6 years old child is allergic to nuts, especially peanuts having had more than one bad reaction in the past. Did the Father make this known to the kidnappers especially when he was told they were given peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?......not by this father in this novel....unbelievable.3) At page 93 (children kidnapped at page 4) after far too many pages of boring family and friend events and pages of aimless chatter the mother and father decide to "tell the family of the kidnappings" even though they were warned that the house was being watched, most probably "from a nearby forest" and they must "say nothing" to anyone. But they go ahead regardless and invite the whole family over, all 9 of them in 3 separate cars......unbelievable.Obviously this visit was witnessed by the kidnappers as any intelligent reader would realize. We are then subjected to more pages of unbelievable events and boring chatter between the entire family with none of them showing any serious worry and/or anger or even deciding what to do to ensure the safety and return of the children......I implore all intelligent readers to leave this "non-thriller" on the bookshelves...save your money.Barrie in Spain

Brad Parks manages to keep the tension going throughout this thriller. The 6 years old twins of Judge Scott Sampson are kidnapped,the purpose being to manipulate the Judge into making a particular decision in a case to be heard in his court. Scott and his wife, Alison, must say nothing, to anyone at all, otherwise the lives of the twins will be in peril.An intricate plot is woven as to who and why the verdict is imperative/important. It's a gripping read, with suspicion falling on a number of characters. However, I felt that the ending was a little too far fetched- not so much the outcome, rather the actions contained in the finale.

This was a fantastic read.I could not stop reading even though I new I should be doing other things.The feelings I had for the family were so shocking that someone so cruel was keeping there child hostage and I felt myself holding my breath a few times.The ending had me in tears .Brilliant book Thank you Brad Parks

This was a great story different from so many others, the twists were well planned and kept me gripped ,never wanting to put the book down. Excellent well worth the read.

Compulsive reading and the suspense continued all the way through the book.