It is 1910 in Hungary and Leo Hoffman is a young boy helping his father with his black smithy duties. However, young Leo's life is about to change.  A teacher takes notice of Leo's talent for language as he speaks Hungarian and German. The teacher, Mr. Derkovits manages to convince Leo's family to allow him to move to Budapest. 

Soon is it 1914 and war erupts, troops return home to Budapest in 1918 hungry and fatigued, Leo is among them. He finds family deaths and near financial ruin left in the wake of the war. Thanks to his ever growing knowledge of languages, he gains employment as a desk clerk in a prestigious hotel. Everything is going well, until a man approaches with what could be a deadly proposition. 

SILENT LIES was a little slow at the start as it contains much history of Hungary, Budapest, and Shanghai. I did enjoy watching Leo grow from a young boy to a man with struggles between good and bad and right from wrong.

There is also a touch of romance with Leo getting married.  As time progresses, Leo and his wife's circumstances are constantly changing.

The war scenes gave me chills for M. L. Malcolm did a great job detailing them. I look forward to reading the sequel which has not yet been titled.