Book Review: Silent Suspicion

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Silent Suspicion     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Lee E. Meadows
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Ethnic   Private Investigator   Historical
Proctor, Sep 2000, $24.95, 423 pp.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Warren “War Zone” Henderson hires private detective Linc Keller to investigate the murder of his sister-in-law eight years ago. The victim Deborah Norris was a rising freelance journalist until the bullet ended her life. Before accepting the case, Linc tried to convince Warren he was wasting his money because the trail is cold, the police have strong evidence that a robbery occurred, and he has little experience with homicides. Warren counters him by saying he needs fresh eyes, a “draw play” to fool the police. He also has the glowing recommendation of Linc’s brother. Warren and his wife need closure now.

Linc reviews the file Warren provides him and begins to make inquiries. As he digs deeper, Linc finds deception at every turn intended to keep him from solving the case. When he started, Linc felt he was wasting the former NFL defensive star’s money. He believed a random robbery turned ugly cost Deborah her life. However, with the amount of trickery he receives on all sides, the sleuth wonders if someone needed the reporter silenced, perhaps before she broke a story.

SILENT SUSPICION, the second Linc Keller mystery, is a great urban who-done-it that substantiates why Lee E. Meadows debut book (see SILENT CONSPIRACY) is a bestseller. Linc is an exciting inner city sleuth who retains the freshness in his second outing. The support cast provides depth to the novel as well as an inside look into the Motor City. The entertaining story line is filled with red herrings (just ask Linc) and twists and turns that add to the overall pleasure. Mr. Meadows is quickly becoming the Lincoln Continental of urban mysteries.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner