Book Review: "Silent Sky" by Cate Mighell

Maybe you're one of those lucky people fleeing the dreary winter for a week of vacation time somewhere warm and sandy. We Pacific Northwest natives love our little corner of the world, but we pay for it with some of the lowest Vitamin D levels in the nation. But before you go jetting off to your hard-earned vacation in the sun, you'll need to pick up the perfect book to bring along with you.

That book should be Silent Sky, a self-published mystery novel by Cate Mighell. In the story, Seattle-based public defender Reina Dessiner has been handed an impossible case: her client, the wife of a prominent and wealthy evangelist, has been accused of trying to poison her husband. But she hasn't spoken a word since her initial arrest and the confession that she blurted out at the time. Reina is convinced that there's more to the story, especially after her investigation results in escalating attacks against herself and her friends from shadowy people involved with the evangelist church. Soon Reina and company are dodging sport boats on Lake Union, getting locked in industrial freezers, and escaping to remote cabins on the Olympic Peninsula while they try to unravel what really happened between the client, Maria, and her husband.

In addition to being a public defender, Reina is an accomplished personal aircraft pilot. Aside from providing her with an outlet for stress and a place to think, it serves as transportation for her and her companions as they work to uncover the truth behind the court case and Maria's confession. Small aircraft enthusiasts will appreciate Mighell's experience with and obvious love of flying, as both are reflected in the detail with which she discusses flying, from the exhilaration down to the mechanics and protocol.

Mighell pays great attention to setting details, too. She refers to and includes well-known Seattle settings like Pioneer Square and the restaurant atop the Space Needle. These details add a lot of immersion to the reading experience, if ones is familiar with the area. But if the reader has no frame of reference for some of these popular Seattle spots, it may be difficult to fully envision the setting.

While there are some deep inspirational messages in this book about finding your voice, writing the story of your life, and other themes of freedom, overall this is an interesting and enjoyable but light read. Bring it with you to stay close to our beloved - if dreary - Pacific Northwest the next time you take that jaunt off somewhere with a little less rain, or decide to curl up on the couch for an evening. Since Silent Sky is a self-published novel, your best bet for getting your hands on a copy is to contact author Cate Mighell directly here, through her website. She'll be able to get you a copy directly, or point you toward a local book store like this one that has her book in stock. Happy reading!