Silent to the Bone Book

"I don't think there is any feeling I like more than the one that someone is glad to see me."

'Connor Kane, Silent to the Bone, P. 51

"I'm not sure that love and like aren't like cats and dogs: One can't grow up to be the other, but they can be taught to live under the same roof."

'Connor Kane, P. 74

My expectations for E.L. Konigsburg are always as high (or higher) than those I have for any other writer, and I have never known her to let me down. She did not disappoint in Silent to the Bone.
This is a different kind of mystery from the type that she has written previously (for example, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler or The Dragon in the Ghetto Caper). It has a distinctly young adult tone throughout, including some story elements that one most definitely would not expect to find in a children's book.
The mystery held up very well the entire time, and E.L. Konigsburg hit the perfect notes while tightening the loop of suspense and moving the story faster and faster. Just when one figures that he has the answer pegged a new part is introduced, throwing all hypotheses out of whack. I found myself eager to see what would become of Branwell, and if he is truly guilty or if there is something more to the events that had occurred. Connor and his sister Margaret are determined to find out the truth, and will not stop until they have cleared Branwell of any false accusations.

"(F)irst impressions'especially when everyone is watching and waiting, looking for signs'are hard to overcome."

'Margaret Rose Kane, Silent to the Bone, P. 77

"I guess the only way to keep secret thoughts secret is not to say anything. Even to your lifelong best friend. If you don't speak at all, you don't have to worry about saying the wrong thing or having the right thing interpreted wrong."

'Connor Kane, P. 123

I think that Silent to the Bone is an excellent mystery story, and displays beautifully the diverse range of skills attributable to the legendary E.L. Konigsburg. The book also delivered what I'm really looking for from her books, though: A novel so perceptive in its insights that I find myself gawking at the author's shockingly perceptive words at several various points in the text. I found the wisdom in Silent to the Bone to live up to this hopeful expectation wonderfully.
I expected to really like this book, and I absolutely did. I almost wish that I could start over again at the beginning, without knowing anything about the plot. This is an excellent mystery and a great all-around story.
SIAS: E.L. Konigsburg has done it again, putting her literary ducks in a row with amazing precision in this tour de force of a novel that redefines the standard for mystery writing.(four cliches, zero ands=4 stars ;-)

"Seeing other people's happiness always makes us feel cheated. "

'Margaret Rose Kane, P. 128

"Because way down deep they know that civilized people have to preserve rare birds."

'Silent to the Bone, P. 134