Very good condition signed first edition hardback.
The Quality of Silence by Rosamund Lupton is a tense, atmospheric thriller set in the icy wilderness of Alaska. The novel follows Yasmin, a British astrophysicist, and her ten-year-old daughter, Ruby, who is deaf. They travel into the remote, frozen landscape in search of Yasmin’s husband, Matt, who is presumed dead after a mysterious accident at a small Inuit village.
Driven by a strong belief that her husband is still alive, Yasmin decides to rent a truck and drive across the dark Alaskan winter to find him, with Ruby as her only companion. As they venture deeper into the Alaskan wilderness, the environment itself becomes a character—an almost suffocating presence with biting cold, endless night, and silence that both challenges and isolates them. As they move further into the unknown, they encounter the danger of a menacing presence that seems to be following them, building suspense as Yasmin’s desperation intensifies.
What makes The Quality of Silence unique is its exploration of sound and silence, especially through Ruby’s experiences. Ruby’s deafness shapes her perception of the world and enhances the novel’s themes. The story blends suspense with an insightful look at the way sound—or the lack of it—can define experiences, heighten fear, and change one’s relationship with the environment.
Rosamund Lupton’s writing is atmospheric, filled with vivid descriptions that draw readers into the Arctic cold and the isolation of the Alaskan wilderness. The story explores themes of survival, family, and the lengths to which one might go for love, making it both an intense thriller and a meditation on resilience in extreme situations.
