Book Review: Silence

Reviewed By: Lynn Harnett

Silence     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Thomas Perry
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller   Psychological Suspense   Private Investigator
Harcourt, June 2007

While his latest books don’t come up to the cannot-put-it-down standards of his Edgar winning “The Butcher’s Boy,” or “Metzger’s Dog” or “Big Fish,” Perry still keeps the pages turning.

Wendy Harper is your classic innocent victim. Trying to help out a friend, she attracted the attention of a killer and was forced to abandon her settled life and everyone she knew and loved in order to stay alive.

Six years later even the man who helped her do it, retired LAPD detective-turned-PI, Jack Till, doesn’t know where she is. But he has to find her before an overzealous DA has her business partner and ex-fiancé, Eric Fuller, convicted of her murder. Till knows Fuller is being framed; he knows the killer has grown frustrated looking for her and has planted evidence to flush Harper out.

Till also knows he’ll have hired killers on his tail as he looks for Harper and he does – the narcissistic and insecure Paul and Sylvie Turner. Perry crafts a twisting, turning track-and-chase that keeps Till barely ahead of the ruthless and astute Turners, while the resourceful Harper just eludes his grasp.

Psychological tension, technical expertise and slam-bang action scenes keep the pace up while Perry’s characterizations give it some depth. There’s an attraction between Till and Harper that goes back to their first meeting and smolders still. And of course there’s a bit more to Harper’s story than she initially shared.

The Turners – well, even their flaws and insecurities can’t rouse any sympathy. However, they are plenty chilling and you can’t help but wonder if they’ll hold off killing one another in some viciously devious or disastrously impulsive manner until they get to the end of the story.

There are a couple of small holes, but you’ll be enjoying the roller coaster ride so much, you’ll hardly notice.

Lynn Harnett

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Lynn Harnett