Customer Reviews

Silenced Cry (Sam Harper Crime Mystery)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

[In the interests of full disclosure, I should reveal that I have read and critiqued an early draft of this book when it was in manuscript form, and am mentioned in the book's acknowledgements. Nevertheless, in this review I am determined to be as objective as I can be under those circumstances.]

Do you like jigsaw puzzles? Are you such a fanatic that you sometimes turn all the pieces over and solve the puzzle 'upside down' with no sample picture to guide you? If so, you'll love this book. Especially if you are into Noir-type stories teeming with seedy underworld characters, good movie-script dialogue, and settings so realistic you can smell them-- and wish you hadn't.

Sam Harper is a Narcotics Detective. Under very strange circumstances, his partner, Gillies, is gunned down right in front of his eyes. Sam's boss, Captain Holloway, transfers Sam to the Homicide Unit, seemingly to keep Sam from going on a vendetta against the drug pusher who shot Gillies. But not all is as it seems. In fact, almost nothing is as it seems. And thereby hangs this convoluted tale.

Sam's first Homicide case involves the very old corpse of a tiny baby which comes to light, buried in a wall, when a building is being demolished. [Hence the book's title and the haunting cover photo.] He spends hours of overtime, and more energy than he can afford, trying to solve this 'cold' case. Along the way, he argues with his dad, breaks up with his girlfriend, fights another (but incompetent) cop, and, much against his will, breaks in a new partner to replace the one who died.

There are thus a multitude of sub-plots, but they never get in the way of Sam's twin obsessions-- to solve the baby's murder and to get even with the guy who killed Sam's partner.

It will come as no surprise to the astute reader, and is therefore not a Spoiler, that the two apparently unrelated cases are in fact as related as two cases could ever get.

Sam Harper is lovingly drawn, with great detail, by this artist of an author. Every character, even the most minor, gets plenty of matching attention. Everyone comes to life, even if you sometimes find yourself wishing that the most heinous ones would meet their doom sooner rather than later. (But that would spoil the story!)

Another great strength of this volume is the author's 'ear' for clever yet realistic dialogue. My favorite exchange is this one, between a really nasty bad guy and the protaganist:
"I know my rights."
"You should. Somebody's been reading them to you since you were twelve."

On last strong point to mention: Some 'cheater' type readers like to look at the last page first, to find out who the villain is before starting the book. That won't work in this case. We find out who the 'bad guy' is approximately fifty pages before the end. And yet Stephens manages to keep the surprises coming unabated right on up into the last chapter. And there's nothing on the last page that can give anything away-- unless you've read the rest of the book!

The author has promised that this book is the first of a series.

I can hardly wait for the next installment.

If you are looking for a novel ripe with twists and turns and intricate interweaving of plots, Silenced Cry by Marta Stephens is a novel for you. This is a classic detective story that is detailed, intricate, and full of surprises.

Silenced Cry starts out with a bang. Detective Sam Harper is a hot shot narcotics detective whose life is permanently altered the night his partner is killed by someone who is supposed to bring them a break in a major case. To control a potential public relations nightmare, the force transfers Harper to a homicide unit where he quickly gets involved in a decade-old child homicide.

Though initially frustrated by his assignment to a cold case, Harper quickly realizes that this case is much more than anyone originally thought. The investigation brings up his past--and the past of his friends, family, and nemeses quickly combine to turn this case into so much more than a cold case involving a nameless infant.

This quick and easy read will keep your attention throughout ever page. With a wide range of characters and sub-plots, the novel is exciting and interesting.

My one complaint would be an almost overabundance of essential characters. With so many people to potentially care about, no one is developed enough that you can associate with them on a deep level. This leads to a bit of confusion as well as a desire for more information.

Marta Stephens is able to weave several intricate stories into one cohesive novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Armchair Interviews says: The novel is a fast-paced, exciting read.

Gillies and Sam Harper, two narcotics cops of the Chandler (Massachusetts) Police Department have been partners for years but their relationship is about to endure the unimaginable. On Gillies' advice, they pursue a dope peddler; Gillies is shot and another criminal dies. But Harper is tortured with a million questions about that night and Gillies' death, exacerbated by his superior removing him from the case and transferring him to another department. Who's behind the transfer and who wants this event hushed up forever?

Harper begins working with Mann, a cop assigned to be Harper's partner, a cop from a shady precinct riddled with corruption. Add to that the finding of an infant's remains encased in a building in the process of being demolished. On further inquiry, as the suspects slowly emerge, it seems the two events in Harper's life are inextricably linked in a way the reader will never predict or imagine no matter how intelligent he or she is.

Harper doubts Gillies' integrity and other seemingly innocent citizens are responsible, though they assert their innocence. Crime always comes back to the perpetrator as both the rich and poor discover in finding themselves backed into the corner of investigation and truth-telling.

Marta Stephens is a master crime novelist!!! She knows how to spin a complex, credible, action-packed and gripping story with plot, subplot and more subplot. Every page crackles with intrigue, questions, and clues! This lady could easily write for any TV crime drama and hopefully will continue to keep writing great and greater novels like this superb crime novel!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on June 3, 2007

I totally enjoyed Silenced Cry. I read it in one sitting. It definitely kept my interest. My "old" eyes get tired easily and I get sleepy. :) That didn't happen with this book!

Heads up, mystery lovers. There's a new crime writer in town, and her name is Marta Stephens.

Stephens' debut novel, Silenced Cry, is supremely addictive, propelling readers into the action from page one and corkscrewing through a wild ride of corruption, abuse, and villainy.

When Detective Sam Harper's partner, Frank Gillies, gets a peculiar tip about a drug-related suspect holed up in a local bar, they hurry to apprehend him. The bust goes terribly wrong, and in one heart-pounding moment awash with bizarre twists, the suspect and Gillies end up dead in a rain-soaked alley.

Riddled with guilt and facing an increasing number of unanswered questions about Gillies' past, Sam tries to move forward, but becomes exasperated when he's placed with a new partner who hails from a corrupt precinct. In spite of their rocky start, Harper and Mann learn to tolerate each other. Their first case calls them to a construction site to investigate remains found in a sealed up wall. Horrified, they discover the remains belong to that of a baby girl - killed when she was only days old.

The cold case consumes Harper, who digs into the past with persistence and unparalleled drive. Strange connections with his and Gillies' past pop up. Walt Harper, Sam's father and an ex-cop familiar with the suspects, grows distant and secretive.

What is Walt hiding from his son? And could it possibly relate to Sam's partner's death? The answers lie embedded in a complex maze that will shock and satisfy the most assiduous crime mystery buff.

Stephens writes with a consummate skill. She's serious about her craft, and it shows. Tight suspense, perfectly chosen verbs, natural and innovative beats, and authentic dialog propel this work to a level far beyond those works commonly found on the best sellers list. Stephens' writing soars with focused intensity and her characters are real - they hurt, they fall in love, they suffer angst and explode with anger.

Stephen's second book in the Sam Harper series promises thrills and intrigue matched only by Silenced Cry. This reviewer will be first in line for his much-anticipated copy.

Silenced Cry is an excellent book. There is a neat new group of mystery authors emerging, and Marta Stephens is smack dab in the middle of them.

Do yourself a favor and get on board this train.

Sam's tough, his life and outlook are tough, but then suddenly, once you're inside the pages with him, you discover that whole other side. Like the piano-playing. Or Dad. Things can get nice, soft, even desperate and loving, before you know it. Can't wait to see what he does, or what happens to him, next.

This is an amazing debut from a rising mystery star.

Detective Sam Harper's debut in Silenced Cry by Marta Stephens is an impressive one. From the first page, Harper is beset by a series of tragic circumstances that have him questioning everything important in his life -- and then the long-forgotten body of an infant discovered hidden in the wall of a building becomes the catalyst for Detective Harper to find answers he never expected. He soon discovers the murder is just the tip of something that runs much deeper, and could spell deadly trouble for too many people.

Stephens tells a fabulous tale, with excitement and intrigue throughout. Her characters are original and lovable, and I'll admit to strong feelings for a certain minor player (mum's the word on him, though -- wouldn't want to spoil the story!). A great read you won't want to miss out on.

Marta Stephens has crafted a solid read around a twisted story. Silenced Cry kept me reading as the story took turns beyond the prototypical plot twists. Parts of the dialog are raw and unedited adding to the persona of each character. I look forward to seeing more development of Sam's character as the series rolls out.
I was surprised this complex story is coming from a rookie novelist. All in all it was a fun and enjoyable read.

That a first-time author is approached by a publisher without having to go through the book rejection process is a tribute to Stephens' writing skills, so evident in Silenced Cry.

About halfway through the mystery thriller, I had a mental list of five people who could be the killer being tracked down by Detective Harper. Three-fourths of the way through I'd narrowed the killer candidates down to one. However, I was thrown off guard and unsure until the next to last chapter.

I'm certainly looking forward to Ms. Stephens' next Detective Harper book and getting to know him even better.

I read Marta Stephens Silenced Cry twice and enjoyed the second reading as much as the first. My first reading came during a nine-hour flight from Philadelphia to Milan, Italy. The second was enjoyed during a three-day stay in the village of Bergamo (try to find a book store there that carries fiction in English).

Marta Stephens is an imaginative artist. This book kept me in a state of suspense for most my flight across the Atlantic, so much so that I forgot about the unpalatable food the airline served - when you're engrossed in a good book you can forget about. During my second reading in Bergamo I could not help but compare this author to the master: Elmore Leonard. Like Leonard, her plotting is complex, but her writing is clear and understandable. Her characters display a mixed bag of human weaknesses, sinister failings, and heroic courage. Her hero, Sam Harper, like most good plainclothes cops, is very smart and analytical, but he drinks too much, has a poor diet, and doesn't get enough sleep. But, Harper, unlike most fictional detectives, is very slow on the uptake when it comes to women. All-in-all Silenced Cry is a fine read - good enough to read twice.