Customer Reviews

Silenced: A Cybil Lewis Novel

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

 

 

Nicole Givens Kurtz presents a futuristic murder mystery in her latest book, Silenced. In the year 2146, private inspector, Cybil Lewis, hesitantly takes on a new case at the request of her inspector-in- training, Jane. Despite Cybil's dislike of the victim's mother, Mayor Annabelle Christensen, she and Jane investigate Amanda's mysterious death. Amanda appears to be the ideal daughter of a high-profile politician. Unfortunately, her image slowly crumbles and threatens her mother's chances of being elected Governor. It seems that no matter where the investigation leads them, Cybil and Jane's progress is halted by lies and half-truths.

Givens Kurtz paints an interesting picture of the future: robotic waiters, eternal sleep as a form of imprisonment, and hi-tech medical treatment. Some of these technologies may not seem advanced for some science fiction fans. The story's tempo slows a bit in some places. Cybil's character will win fans with her feisty attitude; however, the supporting cast of characters leave something to be desired. Silenced is an interesting change of pace for readers in need of something new and different.

Reviewed by M. P. McKinney
APOOO BookClub

I had read Kurtz' previous Science fiction novels and enjoyed all of them, so I expected to enjoy this one. I was not disappointed. It is quite different from her previous novels. What they have in common is a radically changed world (in this novel fairly soon, 2146), in this one not quite as desolate as in The Browne Candidate. I would like a little more information as to how the US wound up divided into quadrants and what that means, perhaps that will come in future episodes. [The others reviewers have done plot summaries so I will not do that.]
But on to what we do have. A fascinating lead character, Cybil Lewis, a private inspector (read investigaator), and a supporting cast who each have interesting backgrounds. This includes Trey,a gorgeous male --created not born and Jane, a lesbian/bi-sexual inspector-in-training and Jane's aunt the mayor of Memphis. The plot is a little strained in spots, but pulls together nicely toward the end of the book. Cybil is able to push through red tape, obfuscation and danger to herself to find out what happened to Jane's cousin.
Kurtz has a way of creating characters that whet both the imagination and the curiousity of the reader. I am looking forward to learning more about Cybil, Jane and Trey and their world as the series progresses. Word is that the second volume will be out next year. I await its publication eagerly.

But 4-1/2 isn't available on Amazon, so what the heck?

I'm a long-time Kurtz fan, but she's really turned up the juice here. She's created a near-future that's realistic enough to be a bit uncomfortable, as well as fun, and peopled it with three-dimensional characters in a very entertaining mystery. That juxtaposition, and the Cybil Lewis attitude, makes for one heck of a fine book. It's so much fun that you just might not realize until later how thought-provoking it is.

I anxiously await some more of those Cybil Lewis novels. Please, Ms Kurtz, tell us there are more!

Sue Grafton, you've just been displaced...

For the past few months or so I've been waiting for this book and a new sci-fi series to sink my teeth into. Silenced certainly delivered. The story revolves around Cybil Lewis, a private investigator in the year 2146 during a time with the United States has broken up into smaller territories. In the running for the governor position is Mayor Annabelle Christensen, a picture perfect poised woman always decked out in designer wear. Mayor Christensen comes to Cybil for help with finding her daughter Amanda who went missing. Cybil eventually takes her up on the offer and soon dives into a conspiracy where everyone wears masks and the truth is hidden between a neatly threaded web of lies.

I really enjoyed Silenced for so many reasons. Cybil for one weaves this tale with such a unique voice as she speaks to the audience throughout the book. There were so many one liners and quips that kept me chuckling to myself at her smart alecky comebacks The real beauty of the book lies within the descriptions. Kurtz has a gift for describing visuals and feelings so much that you can feel the atmosphere of futuristic D.C. and Memphis, taste the food (Cybil has an affinity for the peppered sweetness of jalapeno jelly on toast with her coffee) and see the cool gadgets of the age. I have to admit the gadgets were probably some of my favorite additions to the story. From the hovering automobiles called wautos to the foghog which attaches to the end of cigarettes to inhale second hand smoke to the dangerous drugs of the day from ackback to Zenith, I felt like I had fallen into a different world and I loved meeting the different inhabitants. The variations of culture with the characters make the closeness to reality a special treat because you don't see much diversity in most sci-fi books of today.

Silenced has the feel of a film noir mixed with science fiction; two of my favorite genres mixed together like the awesome and classical Blade Runner. Readers may liken the series to the current popular J.D. Robb's In Death series (the first book I couldn't get into and didn't finish) and although there may be some similarities (Captain Hansen reminded me of Roarke for some reason and I really hope to see him and Cybil start something in the future!) this book was infinitely better.

The story takes it's time to start up while it introduces you to the background of Cybil and her surroundings, but once it gets going you'll have to hold onto your seat. Although the mystery is tied up in the end, including some characters that were introduced really early in the book, there were still a question or two brought up later in the book that still are left unanswered. I imagine with the series we'll learn more about these items as we dive into more mysteries and get more information on the factions that inhabit this world.

The Cybil Lewis series is definitely an auto-buy with Silenced going on my keeper shelf. If you enjoy a futuristic mystery noir series with a fiesty, tough PI heroine you may want to pick it up and give it a read.

In this futuristic sci-fi mystery, the year is 2146 and nothing is as it once was. The United States as we know it has fallen and is divided into individually governed quadrants. Instead of automobiles and motorcycles, citizens travel in wautos and aerocycles, which are vehicles that travel by air rather than on the highway. A getaway is a trip to the moon for some extra-curricular activity. Also, in most service providing industries, services are performed by robots. Lastly, a human being can be genetically engineered to perfection. But, even in this technologically advanced time period, crime and corruption are still a very present evil. Most of the police protection comes from the regulators who are the law enforcement of each territory.

Cybil Lewis, who lives in the D.C. quad, is a private inspector with a record for getting the job done. She has done so by staying out of the way of inept regulators, and as a rule, never accepts a job where a regulator has been. This time, Jane, her partner-in-training, wants her to help her aunt, who is the Mayor of the Memphis quadrant, find her daughter. Mayor Christensen's daughter has been missing for four weeks and she fears the Memphis regulators have bungled any efforts to find her. Although she doesn't want the case, Jane is able to convince Cybil to find her missing cousin. The trip to discovery will take the two of them into the underbelly of organized crime and political corruption that will reveal some very unsavory flaws in government as they search for the truth.

Nicole Givens Kurtz has written an enjoyable sci-fi mystery that displays her active imagination and her ability to build a storyline around believable characters in an advanced time setting. I found Kurtz's heroine to be interesting; however, buy-in took a minute due to the character's brashness. Once there, I was able to understand her motives and mode of operation. SILENCED is being dubbed as the first in the Cybil Lewis series. Now that my appetite has been whet, I am looking forward to the next installment.

Reviewed by Brenda Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers