Whispers in the Dark: A Marti MacAlister Mystery [Paperback]

Eleanor Taylor Bland (Author)

Book Description

Series: Marti Macalister | Publication Date: November 1, 2002

A fine rain was falling as Detective Marti MacAlister made her way through the tall grass to the wooded area where the arm had been found. It was cool for early September, and the rain, little more than a mist, felt cold. Marti stared at the hand. The fingers were curled in a beckoning gesture.

Eleanor Taylor Bland's popular African-American heroine, homicide detective Marti MacAlister, and her partner are assigned a most unusual case-all that's left of the unfortunate murder victim is an arm. Their investigation leads them into the exclusive and secretive history of the artistic community in Lincoln Prairie, Illinois.

Meanwhile, Marti's troubled best friend Sharon is slowly getting involved with a man who makes Sharon's friends and family uneasy. When he spirits her away to the Bahamas, then lures her daughter down after them, Marti has no choice but to go to the islands on a dramatic rescue mission.

Another captivating tale of danger and obsession from Eleanor Taylor Bland, Whispers in the Dark will keep fans and new readers alike in gripping suspense.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Don't be put off by the dark, forbidding cover of this latest thriller in Bland's popular Marti MacAlister series, because the story is gripping from the opening sentence through its chilling final scene. African-American detective Marti and partner Matthew Jessenovik investigate a 20-year killing spree where victims' severed hands are found protruding from the ground, "fingers curled in a beckoning gesture." Their quest for the perp runs through Chicago's ethnic neighborhoods, encountering the plagues of urban America today: prostitution, drug addiction, AIDS and, inevitably, murder. A look at the origins of some of these intractable problems takes us back to a '70s hippie commune where one of Chicago society's daughters sought refuge after her mother's suicide. Beyond a simple murder case, the novel becomes an engrossing story of the ever more violent conflicts between society's "insiders and the excluded," and Bland's obvious familiarity with urban issues lends credibility to her riveting style. She deftly interweaves a subplot involving Marti's best friend, who's entangled in a terrifying relationship with a serial killer who lures her, and later her unsuspecting teenage daughter, to the Bahamas just before a hurricane nearly destroys the islands. While much blood is spilled in this despairing tale, it is never graphic or sensational, but rather gives an authentic feeling of life in the urban abyss. The last page shows disturbingly how the cycle of violence will continue unabated. Agent, Ted Chichak. (Nov. 12)Forecast: With no special promotion and bleak subject matter, this quality item could benefit from some aggressive handselling.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Through nine episodes in Bland's superior series, police detective Marti MacAlister has lost none of the verve, intelligence, street smarts, and humanity that make her one of the most interesting characters in contemporary mystery fiction. This time she and her partner, Matthew Jessenovik, draw an unusual case: following the trail left by a severed arm, which turns up in a vacant lot in Lincoln Prairie, Illinois. When Marti discovers that three other unclaimed dismembered arms have been found in the town over a 20year period, she looks for a connection. The trail leads eventually to an elitist guild that once controlled the local art world. When a potter is murdered and a painter has her house ransacked, Marti knows she's on to something. Meanwhile, Marti worries about her friend Sharon, who is ignoring her own daughter and the need to come to terms with her dying mother. Bland has always drawn connections between childhood abuse and adult crime or failure. Here, exclusion is her theme--and how exclusion from a community of which one should be a part or exclusion from the love one deserves can be just as damaging as any physical abuse. Powerful stuff, indeed. Don't miss it. Stuart Miller
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books (November 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312307330
• ISBN-13: 978-0312307332
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,414,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the best in the series--not bad, just not the best, November 7, 2001

By 

M. C. Carter "cartertoggle" (Columbia, Md USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Whispers in the Dark (Hardcover)

There are 2 story lines in this mystery. One involves a detatched, frozen arm and the other revolves around Marti McAllister's best friend. Both story lines are resolved, more or less, but I got the definite impression that the first was resolved in order to give Marti the opportunity to rescue her friend from yet another miserable choice. I did not feel that the resolution of mystery one was given enough thought--and that's a shame because the author does a wonderful job of presenting her characters and has developed them tremendously throughout this series. And up to the point that mystery one conveniently solves itself, the two story lines are well blended. But then, it's cut and boom and off to rescue sappy Sharon. This is not a bad book, just not as good as it should be, given the author's past efforts. To get a better picture of this series, I would recommend reading one of the earlier entries.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One nail biting story, October 17, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Whispers in the Dark (Hardcover)

Marti Macallister and her partner Matthew "Vik" Sessenovik are homicide detectives in the greater Chicago area. Due to a rare lull in active investigations, Marti and Vik decide to check into a recently found defrosting arm and three other arms in the freezer of the morgue. During a forensic examination, they determine the age and sex and that at least two people were somehow involved in the seventies art world. The remaining arms are more recent which adds to the puzzle that the cops are making slow progress on solving.

While Marti is involved with her family and job, her friend Sharon, whose daughter Lisa is living with Marti, becomes involved with De Vonte Luthell. He gives her a whirlwind courtship and insists they marry. After the ceremony they go to De Vonte's special place in the Bahamas where he has a special surprise for Sharon and Lisa. Marti, whose case is breaking wide open, has a bad feeling about De Vonte and rushes down to Freeport in the hope that she can prevent Lisa and Sharon from getting hurt.

Anyone who wants to witness a quintessential "every woman" novel just has to read a Marti Macallister mystery. She balances her family and job with expert aplomb (with a little help from momma) and she is there when her friends need her. The mystery itself is fascinating because readers get to see a whole case made out of one semi frozen arm. Although readers will despise some of Sharon's choices they will understand why she made them and feel empathy towards her. It would be a shame for mystery fans to pass up such an excellent choice as Whispers.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars SEVERED LIMBS AND FOOLISH HEARTS, March 6, 2002

By 

Bonita L. Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whispers in the Dark (Hardcover)

Detectives Marti MacAlister and "Vik" Jessenovik have had their fair share of difficult cases to solve. Ah, but this one is the most bizarre. A severed arm is found in the woods and no identification can be made. As the two officers look for more clues they find out that other severed limbs have been found throughout the years, and like this one a body was never found. Is this the work of a seriel killer or psychopath? Surely Jessenovik's home town can not be the breeding ground for such a bizarre case. Or can it be?

Marti and Vik find themselves digging into Lincoln Prairie's art community in order to unravel this mystery of a severed limb. As they begin their questioning unsavory stories emerge regarding some of the town's leading artists. How do they fit into this heinous crime if indeed they are involved at all? Our two detectives have their hands full.

To make matters worse, Sharon, Marti's best friend allows her foolish heart to get involved with a man of whom she knows nothing about but is willing to give him her all. Mr. "Wonderful" has some permanent plans for Sharon and her daughter. Will they be able to see through him?

Eleanor Bland presents us with two potentially hair raising stories that will keep you on edge. Unfortunately one ends abruptly while the other is not fully developed. A good story plot is sacrificed for a secondary one which leaves you saying ho, hum. If only..... Despite that major flaw, Whispers In The Dark will keep you in suspense and will show you the effects of the lack of self-esteem. Come join with these detectives as they unravel the hidden lives of murderers and the thoughts of their best friends.