Hush

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Lily Emmett prefers to stay silent. Having suffered from selective mutism since childhood, she still struggles to see the value of everyday speech. Her partner, Richard, has learnt to translate her movements to speak for her and they share a unique form of communication. But when Lily and her sister Connie return to their childhood home, the visit inspires memories of the event that first rendered Lily silent, and still haunts them both. The resulting search for the truth about what happened takes them back to a childhood shaped by bullying and familial breakdown, and unearths the secrets that lie at the heart of the sisters' relationship. Haunting, mysterious and often shocking, Hush is the story of what happens when we find we cannot speak, even to those we love most.

Reviews

'A gripping exploration of the effects of childhood trauma on two adult sisters... a finely wrought and powerful meditation on language and storytelling.' - Brighton & Hove Independent

'A gripping and psychologically astute story of bullying and family breakdown and the damaging impact of secrets on developing identities... An engaging debut.' - Annethology

'This beautifully written exploration of childhood fears and family secrets is a satisfying read.' - Sussex Life

'A thought-provoking novel full of secrets and shadows, where truth and deception is buried in the silences.' - Pamreader

'A mystery worth reading for its close attention to the strangeness of family, childhood, and memory.' - Kirkus Reviews

'Hush is a really compelling read with a disturbing edge of darkness. It is also quite beautifully written - poetic, emotionally authentic, with beautiful descriptions, and relationships described with absolute perfection.' - Being Anne

'Poignant and suspenseful, this intriguing story of how a childhood trauma affects two adult sisters entirely absorbed me.' - Lesley Thomson

'A marvellous debut. It has a mixture of poetry and suspense that is haunting and unsettling, marking the arrival of a distinctive new voice.' - Peter Boxall

'A fine and moving study of family dysfunction, and a very intriguing portrait of an unusual response to trauma.' - Shiny New Books

Author Bio

Sara Marshall-Ball wrote much of her novel, Hush, while studying for an MA in Creative and Critical Writing at the University of Sussex. An extract from the novel was shortlisted for the 2012 Writer's Retreat Competition. She lives in Brighton.