The Fifth Silence is a whodunit that switches timelines as the protagonist investigates a mysterious death of a family member.
The book is slow at first, especially because there is a plethora of names to remember; this remains quite a struggle for me into the middle of the book, but it gets better. There are some details that feel quite jarring to me, for example, the stewardess offering breakfast just before the announcement of landing, the prosecutor (who seems like the investigator himself) communicates directly to the court audience, and the protagonist is able to see the reactions and expressions of people on the other end of the phone. Another detail I don’t disclose here is near the end, about a place, a clue, or a character that the protag decides not to investigate, which eventually becomes the key to the case. It would be fine if the plot doesn't try to convince me that she has tried to do everything, but ignores this particular one, despite how jarring it is, only to stumble on it again by accident.
The dialogues feel clunky at times, and there are scenes when I'm not sure who the character is talking to because the other have left/phone conversation is done.
Having said that, I enjoy the second half of the book and burn through it in a few hours. I like the creativity of the various storylines and characters. The time jump adds another layer to the mystery. This is a decent whodunit for the fans of the genre.
3.5 rounded up.
