Customer Reviews

The Witness

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

For eight years, Amanda Griffin has been on the run from Richard Wise. She holds the access to twenty million dollars of ill-gotten funds, and a list of his contacts that she's gradually turning over to the police. One mistake could snuff out her life. Her family already thinks she's dead.

Trouble arrives when her sisters receive a huge inheritance from the father they never knew. Afraid that Wise will take revenge on Marie and Tracey, Amanda moves back to town to keep an eye on them -- and let them know she's still alive, for now.

Police Chief Luke Granger met Amanda three years ago, and he hasn't forgotten her. One of his homicide detectives is dating Tracey; another is just getting to know Marie. Luke, Marsh, and Connor will do everything in their power to keep the three Griffin women safe. But it may not be enough.

Dee Henderson departs from her usual pattern by focusing on three couples, making her protagonists older, and having the series more integrated; in fact, many of the story threads aren't finished in this book. But the book has her signature blend of mystery and suspense. The characters are fully drawn, but Henderson's point-of-view choices prevent readers from connecting as deeply as those in her previous novels. Amanda and Tracey are never the viewpoint characters, and I think the book suffers because of it, especially with Amanda. Hopefully future books will allow readers to get to know her better. In all, The Witness is an excellent choice for romantic suspense fans. -- Katie Hart, Christian Book Previews.com

I wasn't sure if anything could live up to Dee Henderson's O'Malley series, but this was just as wonderful! The characters are so vivid, the suspense killing and a great finale. I just hope this is the first of a new series! I think a great story could be told around Daniel and Caroline! A definite read, just make sure you have tissues handy near the end!

I put it down a few hours ago. I was amazed. Dee Henderson's long-awaited book, The Witness was fabulous!! Dee has once again introduced loveable characters that I want to know more of. Luke and Amy were interesting. But, I also enjoyed the fact that there were more than one romancing couple in the book, there were three! You must read this one. It is one of her finest. Bravo

Dee Henderson is on my short list of authors whose new books move right to the top of my "to-be-read" stack. After an uneven outing in True Courage, I picked up The Witness with a mixture of fear and anticipation. But Henderson didn't disappoint. She's back to a strongly plotted blend of page-turning suspense and ahhh-inducing romance.

Amanda Griffin holds the secret books and records that are putting a crime boss behind bars. Presumed dead, Amanda is actually on the run to keep her sisters out of danger, while feeding information to the authorities. In hiding, Amanda witness a crime and turns to Brentwood Police Deputy Chief Luke Granger who hopes to convince her to stop running. Three years later, circumstances force her to return to Brentwood--and to tell her sisters she's still alive.

As Luke works to keep Amanda and her sisters safe, his feelings for Mandy grow--as do hers. And so do her sisters, for two of Brentwood's finest detectives. The body count rises as both the crime boss and an unknown enemy target Amanda and her family. Henderson is at her best keeping the story moving with a minimum of description.

That is probably harshest criticism I could make: the city of Brentwood never came alive for me. It could have been any midwest city. Henderson's female characters are fully drawn. Each sister is her own unique person. The men however...Chief Luke Granger, Lieutenants Conner Black and Caleb Marsh are all interchangeable. The most diverse male character is the sisters' cousin, Daniel Benton, a supporting player in The Witness. But one, I have a feeling, we haven't seen the last of. At least I hope not.

And I hope Henderson is hard at work on the next of what could be another wonderful series, comparable to her O'Malley Chronicles. The Witness is a great start. I'd like to spend time with Daniel Benton and Caroline St. James and Marie Griffin and Connor Black. That would keep Henderson on the top of my short list.

Armchair Interviews says: If you like strong plots with great suspense...and a little romance thrown in, The Witness is a must-read.

Dee Henderson fans rejoice! She's back with a new book and it's a wonderful suspense that will keep you flipping the pages into the wee hours of the morning. Amanda is running from a past that won't let her rest when she witnesses a murder. The race is on to untangle her past while trying to protect her sisters. A police chief and two of his detectives discover the task is more than work. One caution: when you buy the book, make sure you have a day set aside to read it!

Summary: A woman, who is running for her life, attempts to keep her trouble away from her family.

This romantic suspense novel is Henderson's 14th work. Her next one, "Before I Wake," will be released in October, which I suppose gives her enough time to write light, movement-focused stories like "The Witness." For light, clean entertainment meant to be consumed in a couple nights, you may want to look into it.

For my taste, I expected more than superficial romance and more complicated suspense. The story jumps up for a good start, but it slows to a steady walk until the end, even for what should have been the suspenseful parts. Most of book is spent on dialogue like this:

"I've still got some work to do to make sure there are safe secondary locations nearby if needed and arrangements made to have dogs on the grounds, but that won't take much beyond your money to solve."

"Spend it, as much as you need."

"I will. I'll pick up the food from the caterers at four and have it set up by, say, six. Nothing fancy, just stuff that can keep hot easily . . ."

This comes from characters who, I hate to say it, sound like different voices for the same person. I suppose that superficially many of us look alike, so in print, we can sound alike too. But when different people are in difficult or dangerous situations, don't they reveal how differently they think and express themselves, even in light conversations? Murder is a difficult situation, I'd think.

Okay, let me be honest up-front. I have never read a "Christian" thriller before. I didn't even know they existed! So, I was a little curious about The Witness and couldn't help but wonder how good it would be. I mean, come on ... part of the "thrill" of a thriller has to do with not so "Christian" subjects. It was hard to imagine what one would be like if our faith was considered in the writing of it, but I was pleasantly surprised. The Witness is well written and a definite page-turner.

I am not going to ruin the book for you. I am not going to give the story away. What I am going to do is sing the praises of Dee Henderson. I love her writing! This is the first book I have ever read by her, but it won't be the last. I am definitely a fan and plan on getting my hands on a few of her books, if not all of them. She has a delightful way of building her characters until you feel like you know them. They are so believable! So much so that I can't help but wonder if she doesn't base them on people she actually knows.

I have no qualms when it comes to recommending this book. It is full of suspenseful moments that tempt you to look ahead just so you will know how it all turns out. I had to stop myself a few times! I also loved the concept of the story and the twists Dee incorporates into it. I so did not see what was coming and I am usually pretty good at guessing how a book will end. Not with this one. The Witness will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat!

I have been a fan of Dee Henderson books since I first picked up Danger in the Shadows years ago (before it was ever a prequel). This book did not disappoint me. It was a page turner the whole way through with great characters and surprising twists. If you are a Dee Henderson fan, this is a must read!

Amanda Griffin is a woman on the run. And trouble seems to keep following her, everywhere she goes. But now, the trouble has found her family, and she has to make some hard decisions regarding her own life: does she keep on running, as she has been for the past eight years, or does she come in out of the cold?

I've never read Dee Henderson before, though I know people who read her regularly. The Witness is a great mystery/thriller -- it's a page turner, with a lot more action that I expected. I never thought I'd get as caught up in the book as I did -- there were nights when I literally could not make myself put the book down. It was always "One more chapter. One more chapter."

The character relations are a bit too convenient, though. Police chief and two detectives fall for three sisters who are all involved in this mystery, one of whom is on the run from organized crime in New York. Some of the pieces seem to fit together a little too well, some of the situations a little too contrived. But the book flows very well, and is a really quick read -- fast paced, just like life on the run. This will be a great beach book this summer, and is a good front-porch-reading book (you mean you don't do that??) right now.

There's even a study guide in the back of the book for your Christian fiction readers club. But whatever you do -- don't read it until you finish the book. One plot twist is hinted at, and one fatality is totally mentioned. I made the mistake, and it ruined the shock for me.

I have always loved Dee Henderson books for their wonderful character depth. While this book has a good story, there are so many characters to be developed that you don't get to spend enough time with any of them. I wasn't "dissatisfied" with the book as much as "unsatisfied" because I had expected so much more.