Great book, lots of suspense, with a little bit of romance thrown in. Well written! Kept me guessing right down to the end. ( )

What could be held on an old Russian submarine that could be worth killing anyone who got in the way? That’s what Hannah Bryson has to find out for herself, even if it put her in mortal danger. Her desperate search leads her on an adventure that keeps her heart pounding 24/7. Readers who love fast-paced mysteries and international espionage will really enjoy this novel.

Hannah is an intelligent and driven woman. She has a photographic memory. She uses that skill and her deep interest in submarines and other water vessels to create a unique niche for herself and her business. Her work on the wreckage of the Titanic caught the eye of the State Department when the Maritime Museum purchased Silent Thunder, a decommissioned Russian sub. When is accepts the job of verifying the safety of the sub to hold museum patrons, she’s not given any idea of the danger that would surround her and her team. When tragedy strikes, Hannah turns her rage into action. she’s not going to let the United State’s government prevent her from seeking justice. She doesn’t accept the State Department’s warning when she teams up with the mysterious Kirov. She trusts her instincts and won’t let anyone stand in her way of solving the mystery of the Silent Thunder.

Silent Thunder is written by a mother son team: Iris and Roy Johansen. I had never heard of these authors before receiving this book. I can’t recall ever having read a novel written by multiple authors and I was intrigued to see how they would pull it off. I also made it a game for myself to try to discover parts of the book written by one versus the other. I can honestly say that there wasn’t one part of this book that didn’t fit with the rest. I was impressed by how they came together to write this story. I am also now looking forward to reading their solo work. I hope that those novels are just as much fun.

It took me less than 48 hours to finish this novel. The world of submarines and the former Russian navy came alive. This is the book for you if you are interested in mysteries involving political intrigue. If this isn’t something you generally choose to read but you enjoy reading novels with strong female lead characters, don’t let this book pass you by. Hannah is a wonderful character and I hope to meet up with her again in the future. I think you will, too.

http://literatehousewife.wordpress.co... ( )

Expert submarine designer Hannah Bryson has been hired by a museum to inspect a Russian sub about to be open to the public for display. Along with her brother, Connor, she is to inspect every nook and cranny of the sub to make sure it is safe. When her brother discovers a plate with mysterious markings, a deadly tragedy occurs that catapults Hannah into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a former Russian submarine captain.

I don't know why I don't read more books like this. Sometimes I get so caught up in reading "serious" novels that I forget how much fun reading can actually be. This book by the mother-and-son Johansen team reminds me. They give the reader a spunky, smart heroine, fast-paced action, just enough love interest to keep things interesting, and some really great bad guys. Hannah is easy to root for - several times other characters refer to her tendency to relate better to machines than people, so when she allows herself to be vulnerable she becomes even more endearing. Her secondary characters are an entertaining mix of good and bad - noone is ever quite what they seem, which keeps the tension building right up to the end.

I'm not really sure how the writers divided up the writing tasks, but the result is seamless. The book has a consistent voice, and if I hadn't been told I would not have known it was the work of two authors. The Johansens are a great writing team, and I certainly hope there will be more from them in the future! ( )

http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.co... ( )