Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The Outside Voice by C. S. Zolondek is a psychological thriller with a twisty plot and a family that implodes with a secret. In spring in Ann Arbor, Michigan, four-year-old hyperlexic Blythe Daye hears voices in her head, and at first, she thinks it is her voice saying what she thinks about, which is confirmed by Chaaya, her mother. Then the voices increase, and she can hear strangers scream and beg for their lives, people facing life-and-death situations. She tries to understand why people get hurt after she hears the voices. What is most troubling is that her parents will do anything to make sure nobody knows about what she goes through. Her father thinks that must be some kind of scientific explanation for what is happening to their daughter, while her mother only wants her to be safe. All that is about to change when a stranger starts moving around the grounds of their home. Will they be able to keep the secret, or will it shatter their family this time?

C. S. Zolondek crafts an enthralling page-turner, and the beauty of the story starts with the writing. The descriptions are terrific, and they capture the way little Blythe sees the world, with sounds, feelings, and sights, like the lawn dappled with sunlight and the sound of Blythe’s sneakers on the earth in their yard. The alternating points of view allow readers to see the world from the perspectives of the main characters—Blythe, Johnny, Chaaya, and their cat. These characters are well-drawn, and I enjoyed how the author translates their professions into unique reactions to the conundrum. The Outside Voice is suspenseful, the kind of story you have to keep reading, eagerly expecting an exhilarating climax.