Silent Came the Monster - by Amy Hill Hearth (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Amy Hill Hearth comes her first historical thriller, inspired by the story of the 1916 Jersey Shore shark.

"Sharks are as timid as rabbits," says a superintendent of the Coast Guard, dismissing the possibility that a shark could be the culprit in an unprecedented fatal attack at the Jersey Shore. It's July, and swimming in the sea is a popular new pastime, but people up and down the East Coast are shocked and mystified by the swimmer's death. A prominent surgeon at the shore, Dr. Edwin Halsey is the one who examines the victim, and the only one who believes the perpetrator was a shark--and that it will strike again.

With the public and the authorities--and even those who witnessed the attacks--so stubbornly disbelieving, Dr. Halsey finds himself fighting widespread confusion, conspiracy theories, and outright denial. Seeking the input of commercial fisherman, he soon learns they have long been concerned about a creature they call the Beast. The Lenape, one of the tribes native to the area, have their own beliefs about this creature, but can Dr. Halsey convince the rest of the world before it's too late?

The story of the 1916 Jersey Shore shark changed the way Americans think of the seashore, reminding us once again that nature plays by its own rules.

Review Quotes

"Silent Came the Monster is chilling, thrilling, and fun. A great white shark with a taste for hunting humans in this turn-of-the-century setting makes for a fabulous read."

-- "Lynn Hightower, internationally bestselling author"

"A deeply compelling novel rich with historical detail and surprising parallels to our modern world."

-- "Hester Young, author of The Gates of Evangeline and The Burning Island"

"A mere five words into this gripping story I could hear the thrum of the Jaws music inside my head. Based on real-life events, Amy Hill Hearth captures two weeks of terror in an age of innocence. A riveting tale. Be bold--make it your beach read."

-- "Marshall Karp, #1 New York Times bestselling author"

"Chilling and entertaining."

-- "Shreveport Times"

"Terrifying, delightful, thoughtful, and gripping."

-- "Berkshire Eagle"

"This audiobook demonstrates that a shark attack can be as scary on audio as it is on the big screen...[Narrator David Marantz] employs a low-key delivery that complements author Amy Hill Hearth's superb dialogue."

-- "AudioFile"

"Well drawn and believable...this combination of historical events and thrilling suspense makes for a taut, compelling read."

-- "Historical Novels Review"

"Wherever Amy Hill Hearth turns her attention, history comes alive. In this novel, we discover the sun-splashed beauty of the Jersey Shore in the summer of 1916, when the threat of war, a polio epidemic, and a dangerous great white shark threaten the residents and tourists, and the fear of these threats hang above ocean like storm clouds. Silent Came the Monster is a thrilling, unforgettable journey into the past."

-- "Peter Golden, author of Nothing Is Forgotten"