A long silence
Nicolas Freeling
A long silence
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Nicolas Freeling
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What would you do if a quiet desk job suddenly led you into a thrilling chase through the hidden corners of a big city? When a simple worry about a gold watch sparks an unexpected mystery, a clever detective and his adventurous wife dive into a world full of secrets, art, and danger. But can they find the shadowy villain before it's too late?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows detective Piet Van der Valk, who, despite being assigned to a quiet desk job, gets drawn into a suspenseful investigation involving art, antiques, and a mysterious killer. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, the story contains mild suspense and themes of crime-solving without graphic content. Parents should note the presence of a sex shop setting, which is handled within the context of the mystery without explicit detail.
Why we rated A long silence 11LE
A long silence is written at a Level 6 reading level across 250 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A long silence works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate A long silence as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, A long silence explores mystery, thriller & suspense, family, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, thriller & suspense, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0241021693
- Pages
- 250
- Publisher
- Hamish Hamilton
- Published
- 1972
- Type
- Fiction