Always the Quiet Ones

A Novel

By: Jamie Lee Sogn

Narrated by: Dominique Salvacion

Fantasy and reality clash in a twisted novel of psychological suspense, where a shared moment of female outrage changes one woman’s career overnight—and her life forever.

Beatrice “Bea” Ku is sure this is it. The moment she finally receives her hard-earned promotion at the Seattle law firm where the young Filipina American attorney has toiled for five years. She can’t wait to tell her parents—and Allegra, her annoyingly perfect childhood friend. So when her boss betrays her, again, promoting a male colleague instead, she’s so angry she could kill.

Bea tries to suppress that anger, just like her anxiety. But she’s branded “too emotional,” dredging up old memories from high school and her unhealthy coping mechanisms. Allegra and her husband, Caleb, Bea’s former crush, were largely responsible for getting Bea hooked. And her family and friends paid dearly.

Tired of all the gaslighting and toxic masculinity, and emboldened by liquid courage, Bea vows to change things. When a kindred spirit suggests a murder pact, she jokingly agrees. But nobody’s laughing when their deal turns out to be all too real…

©2025 by Jamie Lee Sogn. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Razor-sharp and impossible to put down, Always the Quiet Ones is a propulsive ride that simmers with quiet fury. Bea Ku plays by the rules—until the game turns on her. Overlooked, underestimated, and pushed to the edge, her unraveling is an unflinching exploration of female rage. In Jamie Lee Sogn’s fierce, tension-laced novel, Bea isn’t just unforgettable—she’s a reckoning. Cancel your plans—this one demands to be read in a single sitting.”—Ellen Won Steil, author of Becoming Marlow Fin

“Jamie Lee Sogn delivers an emotionally charged and deliciously dark thriller centered around female rage in corporate life and revenge. The messy and complex heroine is fleshed out with Sogn’s sharp writing and gives us a glimpse into the lesser known and sometimes toxic Filipino culture. The unexpected twists will have you holding your breath until the very end!”—Lyn Liao Butler, bestselling author of Someone Else’s Life

WHAAAAAAT NO WAY!?

Such a great story that I thought I had figured out, but the surprises and twists are SO GOOD. Showed me. loved it!

3 stars

I liked Always the Quiet Ones by Jamie Lee Sogn. The way Beatrice's past mistakes are revealed is intriguing and realistic. I felt for her and understood her pain and guilt. My issue is with the mystery aspect and the fact that the blurb doesn’t come into play until halfway through the book. Moreover, the way Bea acts isn’t rational. She had just met one of the characters at the beginning of the book but was comfortable telling him about her perceived role in the murder and its aftermath without worrying he’d turn her in?! Murder?? At the same time, she’s uncomfortable telling anyone she’s actually close to what is going on. There are other parts like this that had me shaking my head.

Dominique Salvacion is a good narrator that I enjoyed listening to.

Pretty good

Bit too cheesy lines. Confused about the synopsis vs what was in the book. But i kinda liked being confused.

DNF

If the main character was actually a law student she'd fail. I feel dumber having read this book.