Author’s notes may contain spoilers

The first spark for He Broke the Silence was a silent witness.

I pictured Leo coloring. Not talking, not performing, not giving anyone what they wanted from him, just quietly putting pieces of himself on paper. That image stayed with me and shaped everything that followed. One thing that mattered deeply to me in this story was that Leo’s silence was never treated like a switch someone else could flip. I didn’t want a miracle cure. I wanted trust. Relationship. Time. Small moments that matter. The kind of progress that feels human.

I also leaned hard into the reality of home invasions being targeted, not random. That understanding changed how Zachary approached the case from early on. And because this case intersects with organized crime, the Mancinis’ heritage became an important thread in how the story came together.

Some of my favorite moments to write were the light ones: Scooby-Doo references, Cap’n Crunch, the unexpected little bridges that help people feel safe with each other. Those moments may look small from the outside, but they’re where the healing begins.

And for Zachary, this case isn’t just about solving a crime. He recognizes parts of himself in Leo. Sometimes the people we help most are the ones who remind us where we’ve been.

Thank you for reading this one and for caring about these characters as much as I do. I hope you love this one as much as I do.

— an amazing and suspenseful story. It carries you away into a psychological tailspin that keeps you going in so many different directions.

— A really good piece of detective fiction with some novel and original features which keep the reader guessing until the last few pages.

— I love the way the investigation plays out…very interesting.  That is done very well. It held my interest. I very much wanted to find out the outcome…

— Very well written. [Zachary] is flawed with a capital F … In spite of his problems, he is a very sympathetic character and doggedly pursues the truth.

— [She Wore Mourning] made for a pleasant read while presenting an interesting story.

— What a great story. Fabulous plot with interesting and complex characters. I was totally involved into the wee hours. Many twists and left waiting until the end. Highly recommended

— Wow! I just finished it. In one day! I could not stop reading it! This book grabs hold of you from the start. It’s a very well written detective novel. It pulls you not the story and is very emotional. You feel for the characters. This is the first novel I have read by this author but it will not be my last. I highly recommend this book.

• If You Love PI Mysteries, He Broke the Silence Is for You

“Every single one of [P.D. Workman’s] books has spoken to me … And I have found strength in the books I’ve read.”

“This is one author I certainly will be looking out for, I can’t recommend her enough.”

“I’ll read anything by P. D. Workman that I can get my hands on.”

“Every book by PD Workman that I’ve read has been a gripping one, however different the genres are, going from lighter mysteries to really dark ones… this is one of my favourite, most dependable authors.”

“P.D. Workman is an incredibly versatile writer. No matter which of her books I read I am drawn into a great story and honestly, I don’t think I’ve followed another author that could go from cozy mystery to YA to a PI series dealing with mental health issues. Really enjoy her books!”

“[P.D. Workman’s] stories are so believable and you can’t help but feel like you know these people. You find yourself crying, laughing and feeling the characters emotions. Now if an author can make you cry and feel every emotion in a story, she is one hell of an author.”

“P. D. Workman, does not shy from probing the deep psychological scars of childhood trauma, mental illness, and addiction. Also characteristic of this author, these extremely sensitive issues are explored with extensive empathy, described with incredible clarity, and portrayed with profound insight.”

“Once again P.D.Workman has created an intense psychological mystery that impacts a wallop of thought induction. The writing is so well developed and draws you into the characters story.”