Silent Came the Monster: A Novel of the 1916 Jersey Shore Shark Attacks

by Amy Hill Hearth Narrated by David Marantz

Overview

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.

Editorial Reviews

#1 New York Times bestselling author Marshall Karp

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.”

Historical Novels Review

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

internationally bestselling author Lynn Hightower

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.”

Shreveport Times

Chilling and entertaining.”

AudioFile

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.”

Berkshire Eagle

Terrifying, delightful, thoughtful, and gripping.”

author of Nothing Is Forgotten Peter Golden

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.”

author of The Gates of Evangeline and The Burning Hester Young

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

AudioFile - JULY 2023

This audiobook demonstrates that a shark attack can be as scary on audio as it is on the big screen. With narrator David Marantz at the mic, this fictionalization of a series of shark attacks off the New Jersey shore in 1916 is frightening and entertaining. Marantz's performance is ideal. He employs a low-key delivery that complements author Amy Hill Hearth's superb dialogue and highlights the fears and ignorance of the local townsfolk. Marantz is most memorable in his depiction of surgeon Edwin Halsey, who examines one victim and believes he was killed by a shark that will attack again while others cavalierly dismiss his warnings. By the book's conclusion, listeners may be tempted to avoid swimming in the ocean this summer. D.J.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175855099
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	05/16/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	940,712

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