About The Book

A novel that follows the pursuit of love and joy—until the descent of untreated depression ends with unbearable loss, forcing a family to deal with the shocking and immediate aftermath of suicide.

Eva’s lonely childhood has given her an intuitive connection with kids and teenagers. She is a gifted child psychiatrist. Single, she dreams of having her own children, and she yearns for love. The future seems bright when she meets Lyman; They build a family. They share adventures. They meet life’s challenges as team. They navigate a bout of Lyman’s depression; treatment works.

They share rich, fulfilling years while their careers develop, and their children grow up.

When their sons enter adulthood and their daughter is a teenager, they plan an entire summer as a family. But Lyman abruptly stops both therapy and medication. He spirals into a dark and irritable isolation that none of them can penetrate.

After his brutal suicide, Eva is left to cope and to guide her children through the trauma, as they each rebuild their lives.

About The Author

Raymonde Dumont, MD, LMFT, is both a pediatrician and a family therapist. She practiced and taught for several years at Harvard Medical School, and at the Joslin Diabetes Center. She focused on the impact of one person's illness through their entire family, and also on the impact of mental health and family function on medical outcomes. 

She is currently a family therapist in private practice. She helps families to navigate difficulties by collaborating, rather than becoming divided. She is also a mother, a widow, and a friend to many. She lives and practices in Montclair, New Jersey, within reach of New York City.

Product Details

  • Publisher: She Writes Press (February 17, 2026)
  • Length: 264 pages
  • ISBN13: 9798896360735

Browse Related Books

Raves and Reviews

“Dumont’s novel is an expertly written, hyperrealistic portrait of a family torn apart by mental illness . . . A gripping story.”—Kirkus Reviews

“In the Shadow of Silence is a powerful story that provides a profound look at the human capacity to endure and find meaning in the face of tragedy.”Readers' Favorite, 5-star review

“Sensitive portrayal of how mental illness affects a family’s dynamics.”—BookLife Reviews, Editor's Pick

“A deeply nuanced and emotionally complex novel that explores some of the most challenging aspects of mental health, relationships, and family dynamics.”—David A. Mitnick, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

“Moving, powerful, and filled with moments that will catch your breath . . . With honesty, grace, and compassion, Rae Dumont gives readers a window into the impact of depression and suicide on a marriage and a family, providing us with an opportunity to increase understanding, and perhaps, acknowledge and address the silences in our own lives.”—Anastasia Zadeik, author of Blurred Fates

“This captivating novel brings the reader into the lives of characters they will cherish forever. It touches on much of what makes us human. It also delivers a powerful message: even the deepest love may not be capable of rescuing another from the depths of mental illness.”—Lissa Parsonnet, PhD, LCSW, former Asst. Director of the Dept. of Social Work at Memorial-Sloane Kettering

The novel In the Shadow of Silence captures, in beautiful prose, the hardship of being family members of someone who suffers with clinical depression. The constant worry, the stubborn resistance to stay on needed medications, and the nuanced relationships are all revealed by an author who clearly knows her terrain.”—Caleb Mason, author of Normal Family and Thickafog

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images

BACK TO TOP