{"product_id":"13-days-of-silence-the-murder-of-rylee-james-by-teri-busse","title":"13 Days of Silence : the Murder of Rylee James by Teri Busse","description":"\u003cp\u003eHer son was reduced to ashes and evidence. But to her, he was never just a case file. What began as a murder investigation would eventually become tied to one of Kansas’s early state-level RICO prosecutions, transforming a young man’s death into something far larger and more complicated than one family ever expected. When she knows something is wrong, instincts as a retired paramedic, former corrections officer never fade. There is no handbook for what comes next. There are phone calls. Silence. Waiting. And the slow realization that the people we trust, friends, strangers, even institutions meant to protect us, can fail in ways we never imagined. In February 2022, a burned vehicle was discovered outside Leavenworth, Kansas. Inside the trunk were human remains. Before official confirmation ever came, a mother already feared what her heart knew. Her son, Rylee James, was missing. What followed were thirteen days of silence. 13 Days of Silence is a true account of loss, unanswered questions, and the aftermath of a young man’s murder. Told from the perspective of the person who lived it, this book is not a courtroom drama or a polished retelling of a crime. It is the story of what happens when a homicide becomes intertwined with a broader criminal enterprise case, and a family is left searching for answers inside a system focused on convictions. Through memories, courtrooms, and the long shadow that follows violent loss, this book explores grief, justice, and the painful reality that sometimes the truth becomes buried beneath procedure, silence, and the pursuit of something larger. This is not just a story about murder. It is a mother refusing to let her son be reduced to evidence. Read more\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the Publisher BrightKey PR review New York, NY, April 4, 2026 — Teri Busse presents 13 Days of Silence: The Murder of Rylee James, a gripping and emotionally raw true story that brings readers into the devastating reality of loss, uncertainty, and the relentless pursuit of truth. This powerful Kindle edition moves beyond headlines and surface-level reporting to reveal what happens when tragedy strikes and answers remain just out of reach. In February 2022, a burned vehicle was discovered outside Leavenworth, Kansas, with human remains found inside the trunk. Before any official confirmation was given, a mother already knew what others had yet to say—her son, Rylee James, was missing. What followed were thirteen agonizing days marked by silence, unanswered questions, and a growing sense of dread that would ultimately reshape her life forever. 13 Days of Silence is not a conventional true crime narrative. Rather than focusing solely on investigative procedures or courtroom outcomes, Busse delivers a deeply personal account from the perspective of the one who lived it. Through vivid memory and restrained, intentional storytelling, she captures the moments that often go unseen—the waiting, the uncertainty, the conversations that led nowhere, and the overwhelming realization that the systems and people trusted to protect can sometimes fail. The book explores themes of grief, justice, and resilience, offering an unfiltered look at the long and painful aftermath of violent loss. It examines what remains when media attention fades and investigations move forward, leaving families to navigate a world permanently altered. Busse’s voice is direct and unwavering, ensuring that her son is remembered not as evidence or a case file, but as a life that mattered deeply. At its core, the narrative challenges the common assumption that justice brings closure. Instead, it reveals a more complex truth—that legal outcomes and emotional resolution are not the same. Through repetition, silence, and the slow accumulation of unanswered questions, readers experience the weight of what it means to be told everything and nothing at the same time. Driven by love and determination, Busse wrote this book to give voice to her son and to others who have endured similar tragedies. Her story stands as both a personal testament and a broader call for awareness, compassion, and accountability. It speaks to the strength required to keep seeking truth, even when faced with silence. This book will resonate with readers drawn to true crime, as well as those seeking stories of courage, endurance, and the realities that exist beyond public narratives. 13 Days of Silence is not just a story about loss—it is a powerful reminder of the enduring bond between a mother and her child, and of what remains when the world moves on but the questions never do. ARC readers reviews “I thought I was picking up a true crime book. What I found instead was a mother’s account of waiting, of unanswered questions, and of the silence that follows tragedy. It’s heartbreaking, thoughtful, and deeply human.” —ARC readers “A quiet, devastating account of grief, unanswered questions, and the silence that remains after the headlines fade.” —ARC readers “13 Days of Silence is one of the most restrained and powerful true crime accounts I’ve read. It isn’t written for shock or spectacle. It’s written from the quiet, devastating perspective of a mother who lived every moment of uncertainty. The honesty and control in this book make it impossible to forget.” —ARC readers “This is not sensational true crime. It is something far rarer. A mother’s clear-eyed account of loss and the unsettling realization that justice does not always bring answers.” —ARC readers Building a Legacy. Teri Busse is the founder of the Rylee James Memorial Welding Scholarship, created to honor the life and legacy of her son, Rylee James. Established through purpose born from loss, the scholarship is dedicated to helping individuals pursue skilled trades, second chances, and meaningful futures through welding education. By turning grief into opportunity, Teri’s mission is to ensure that Rylee’s name continues to stand for resilience, hard work, and hope for others. A mothers search for answers. 13 Days of Silence is a true story of loss, unanswered questions, and a mother’s search for justice after the murder of her son, Rylee James. Told with honesty and restraint, the book follows the agonizing thirteen days between his disappearance and official confirmation of his death, while also exposing the lasting impact of grief, systemic failures, and the painful truth that convictions do not always equal justice. More than true crime, it is a story of love, endurance, and a legacy that refuses to be forgotten. All Thats Left. A quiet and deeply personal image showing what remains after unimaginable loss: Rylee’s worn ASICS bag beside his father’s memorial keepsakes. Two ordinary objects, carrying extraordinary weight. One belonged to a son taken too soon, the other to the father who went before him. Together, they represent absence, memory, and the painful reality that sometimes a few belongings are all that remain of the people we loved most.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Lemon Grove","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":45744129310767,"sku":"8995245308","price":32.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0780\/0455\/1727\/files\/9798995245308-right-three-quarter.jpg?v=1786341851","url":"https:\/\/www.moonnsixpencebooks.com\/products\/13-days-of-silence-the-murder-of-rylee-james-by-teri-busse","provider":"MoonNSixpence Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}