Unsilent Heart
is a coming-of-age novel by Conrad Walters for Young Adult readers. Set in contemporary Australia but at a time when no one can be pronounced dead, it tells the story of a sixteen-year-old boy who must confront the question of whether eternal life comes at a cost.
About the book
Something strange is happening in Australia. People who should be dying, aren’t — even a tourist dismembered by dingoes. The non-deaths create havoc across the country, but sixteen-year-old Nick Hartford just feels relief. His terminally ill grandfather can now live forever.
But Nick soon realizes eternal life can bring eternal suffering.
Determined to help his beloved grandfather, Nick investigates a phenomenon that traps people between life and death, leaving them unable to communicate with the living or join the dead. What he discovers is linked to the last person to die: a reclusive neighbor who may be Death himself.
As his grandfather’s condition worsens, Nick and three classmates race to unravel the mystery. Their urgency grows when he learns one of those friends could be next to enter the chasm between living and dying.
Darkly funny and deftly paced, Unsilent Heart is a coming-of-age novel about what death adds to life, the demands of loyalty, and how to find love when time is short.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Unsilent Heart about?
The novel follows sixteen-year-old Nick Hartford when, inexplicably, people across Australia stop dying. When he learns of its impact on his terminally ill grandfather, Nick must decide whether he wants his grandfather to live forever — potentially long enough to be cured one day — or do what he can to restore death so his can grandfather die in peace.
How much will Unsilent Heart cost?
Prices vary by currency and format, but, in the U.S., the paperback costs $12.99, and the ebook costs $4.99. Pricing on a forthcoming audiobook version is yet to be decided.
Was AI involved in creating the book?
No! The paperback and ebook of Unsilent Heart are the exclusive product of human creativity. Similarly, the cover, designed by Ann Weinstock, was made without artificial intelligence.
Are there any trigger warnings?
The text contains a brief reference to the suicide of a person who is not central to the story. And there is a second-hand description of an attack on two boys who appear only as incidental characters.
Why is “colour” spelled “color”?
It was a compromise, but there are two reasons for using American spellings. First, the U.S. is the largest book market, so it made sense to accommodate that audience. And second, international readers are more used to making allowances for this.
Acknowledgement of country
Unsilent Heart was written in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. I pay my respects to the stories and storytellers of these indigenous custodians.
Would the book work as a TV show?
Funny you should ask. I have written a half-hour pilot episode for an eight-part limited series. If you’re interested, contact me so we can have a chat about it.