4-STAR REVIEW: SILENT PRETTY THINGS O.J. Lovaz

Publication Date: August 17, 2021

A small town…a prominent family…a secret. Only two people know the truth, and their silence will have murderous consequences.

Anna Goddard has spent a lifetime being the Good Daughter. Polished and primped into sleek, blond perfection, Anna learned from an early age that being a Goddard meant presenting a flawless façade to the world. But all that changes when Anna stumbles upon a private correspondence that leaves her reeling. With the help of Michael Donovan, a shy but charming local historian, Anna embarks on a journey to find the one thing her family has always denied: The Truth.

Propelled by her mission to protect those she loves, the young woman experiences a tantalizing taste of freedom. But in the process of unearthing the past, Anna and her family will expose a new threat so dangerous it could ruin them all.

After intercepting a text message, Anna Goddard thinks something is going on between her father and her mother’s sister. In Silent Pretty Things, author O.J. Lovaz shows how fragile secrets can be.

With the help of Michael Donovan, director of the archives and library, Anna tries to make sense of the text message. Given that her father seems to be a loathsome human who is abusive, the possibility of an affair is reasonable.

As the story progresses, Anna brings her brother into the search. Together, they track down their estranged cousin and set the stage to obtain the truth. What they discover and the outcome will change their lives forever.

I really liked how the relationship between Anna and Michael developed. The author was careful to build the story without giving anything away, which led to a powerful reveal later in the story.

Silent Pretty Things demonstrates how secrets can take on a life of their own, especially when they are connected to negative behaviors. My favorite part of the story has to be the way the author crafted the unexpected ending that was truly a spark of genius.

O.J. Lovaz is the author of Silent Pretty Things—the riveting suspense, mystery, and thriller novel that will keep readers turning pages late into the night. His background in Psychology has offered Lovaz a compelling insight into the human psyche, the raw matter for rich character development.

O.J. might be found reading Dostoevsky or Stephen King; sipping a White Russian or a latte. He’s a fan of drama, dark comedy, and suspenseful movies. His perfect lazy day includes a Quentin Tarantino movie, a stand-up comedy special, and classic hard rock.

His life journey has taken O.J. to New York, Michigan, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico; each holds a special place in his heart. He loves to travel, explore, go on road trips; and tries to be the best possible husband to his awesome wife and father to his brilliant daughter.

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