Welcome to my review of Forever Silenced by Richard S. Cohen. It was an interesting read, it didn’t quite feel like a cosy mystery to me, but I’m not quite sure where else it would fit. Willem is an intriguing character and his mother is exceptionally lovely.
FOREVER SILENCED is a humorous and entertaining Cozy Mystery. In follow-up to
his nonfiction work, THE LOVE DRUG: MARCHING TO THE BEAT OF ECSTASY,
Richard S. Cohen has, once again, put pen to paper—this time in the form of a novel
written in a playful and clever way.
Willem Gerhardt is a renowned psychologist with the most prestigious recognitions.
He is also the adopted son of the widely known, Elizabeth Gerhardt—sole heiress of
a billionaire. Up until now, Dr. Gerhardt has lived a “rich life” in every way, or so
it seems.
When a young patient claims she was sexually assaulted, a local farmer is formally
charged. But days after his acquittal, he is found dead.
Dr. Gerhardt’s life has come full circle upon returning to the very same place he was born—
East Texas State Penitentiary. Charged with murder, he is forced to face the depths of
a complex past.
Is blood truly thicker than water? What significance do memories really hold? Is a flower
just “a flower”? Are psychics real? Can anyone be trusted?
In a heartwarming story that touches upon every emotion, FOREVER SILENCED takes readers
on an enjoyable and ever so memorable journey.
Richard S. Cohen’s first book was the nonfiction, THE LOVE DRUG: MARCHING TO THE BEAT OF ECSTASY,
Richard S. Cohen has, once again, put pen to paper—this time in the form of a novel
written in a playful and clever way.
I received a free copy of Forever Silenced by Richard Cohen, and it looked exciting. I love mysteries, and this is described as a cosy mystery, so here we are.
The plot is interesting. The first part deals with Willem being adopted, and it feels a little strange and unrealistic. It seems odd that Willem has settled into a brand-new home very quickly, calls her mom so willingly, and acts quite lovingly towards a complete stranger. My initial thought was that maybe she’s not a stranger. Also, why would they call her at 4am for her to collect him? I thought perhaps something had suddenly happened and she was his next of kin, but this was completely incorrect.
Willem is psychic, and I think this has helped him settle in so quickly and easily, with his belief that he already knows things and knows how things will turn out. It adds an exciting element to the plot but makes him a stranger character somehow.
Over a third of the way through, it doesn’t feel like a mystery at all, more of something else. Not sure what I initially thought of family drama, but there isn’t much drama either. There is a lot of character development so far, though. However, this does improve and the plot twists and turns its way through to its conclusion.
The characters are interesting and well developed. I liked Willem and Loved his mother who seemed so loving and caring.
It’s a quick read and is a lovely story but not a lot of substance in terms of a cosy mystery. Still, despite having finished reading, I also can’t say where it fits in genre.
I enjoyed the interesting characters, the courtroom scenes and the plot. It leaves you wondering whom you can trust and whether both the systems of our legal and social service work quite as they should. Overall, an intense and enjoyable novel.
| Title | Forever Silenced |
| Author | Richard S. Cohen |
| Series | N/A |
| Format | Kindle |
| Page Count | 238 Pages |
| Genre | Cosy Mystery |
| Publisher | ARCO Educational Services, LLC |
| Release Date | 14th July 2021 |
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