Rough weather on Puget Sound and a seemingly abandoned yacht headed for a treacherous stretch of rocks grab the attention of sailor Kellie Montgomery as she herself is heading her boat in to safety from the storm. It is soon confirmed that the pilots of the yacht have fallen victim to foul play. The bodies are those of a prominent adoption attorney and his wife who were neighbors of Kellie's at the marina. Gratitude to the lawyer dating back to her own daughter's adoption motivates Kellie to get involved in unraveling the whys and wherefores of the murder.

Kellie Montgomery is moving on as best she can after the death of her husband , having sold the family home to begin a new life as a resident sailing instructor at Larstad's Marina in Elliot Bay. Her choice to chart a new course for her life has resulted in added tension between Kellie and her adopted teenage daughter, Cassie. When Cassie announces her desire to search for her birth mother, Kellie's insecurities about their relationship intensify.

The search for understanding between mother and daughter is interwoven with Kellie's determination to solve the murders and the result is a pleasant read with plenty of plot twists and suspects. Readers may wonder at the ease with which Kellie gains access to the crime scene, the willingness of characters to share their deepest secrets, and then again at the naivete she exhibits in choosing a confidant. Those contradictions aside, Sins of Silence provides an enjoyable mystery with a few surprises and an interesting solution.

--Jeanne Roach