This is a book I received as an Advanced Reading Copy from the HarperCollins First Look program which is exciting because it's the first time I've gotten an ARC! It is a combination suspense and romance story. The book says it is an April 2008 release so it should be available now.
It's a very complicated story involving Rebecca Montgomery, a detective with the San Antonio police department, whose sister, Danielle, was kidnapped and murdered before the start of the story. Rebecca is forced out of the investigation of her sister's death and given an arson/murder case where a body was discovered. This body leads Rebecca to Hunter Cavanaugh, a nasty crime boss kind of guy, and one of his cohorts, Diego Calvin. Diego and Rebecca are instantly attracted to each other. The story of the arson/murder gets tied into the story of Danielle's kidnapping as we learn about Diego's true ties to Cavanaugh and the FBI.
Strengths of No One Heard Her Scream: The book is over 300 pages but didn't feel that long. Dane keeps the plot and action moving along. I really liked how all the separate plot lines tied together by the end of the story. Everything in the book happened for a reason, and I didn't feel like twists came at me out of midair. Rebecca is a good, strong character, though flawed and a bit blinded by her personal tragedy. That actually lead me to like her more since she was not a "super cop," but a more human figure. I really appreciated the fact that she wanted to bring closure to another family, even though hers didn't have that same chance. Cavanaugh and his henchman, Brogan, were great villains, quite slimy and capable of anything.
Weaknesses of No One Heard Her Scream: I had some trouble buying the immediate attraction between Diego and Rebecca. I don't tend to like romance novels and this felt a bit like that to me. There was also some sexual brutality in the book, which, while essential to the plot, was something I could have lived without. I'm not sure I needed the details, and probably could have drawn my own picture. While I liked the ending, it was a bit contrived to be "happily ever after." I did see the major twist coming about halfway through the story.
Overall, I'd give this 3 stars. It's very readable, and I think someone who enjoys romance novels might like it a bit more than I did.
Read what Literary Feline had to say about this one here!
7 comments:
I need to start hunting down some ARCs - I like the idea of being able to read a book before everyone else ;)
Hmmm, I'm glad you posted about not needing the details of the sexual brutality -- I tend not to like that stuff. (I won't read James Patterson because of the gratuitious nature of some of that from a book long ago. It was awful.)
I've been reading a suspense trilogy, "The Osgoode Trilogy" by Mary Martin. It's three novels (obviously), in the legal suspense genre. You'll love lawyer Harry Jenkins. And the adversaries are pretty unique, as are the other characters Martin includes. She does a great job of weaving the law and suspense into the plots.
Hmmm... instant attraction has always been problematic for me. But, books don't always lend themselves to anything else. And the contrived endings are also a bit much.
However, it sounds like something I might enjoy, problems aside, so I'd be thrilled to have my name thrown into the hat!
cjh
I'd like to have my name thrown into the hat!
Katherine
I also got this one through First Look. I wasn't sure I'd make it to the deadline, but somehow I did. :-)
Great review! I also received this as an ARC. I agree with your review and thought it was a pretty good read.
mrs. s - It was a thrill to get the book in the mail!
liz - thanks for the tip. I'll try those. Sound like my kind of books.
cj - I'll leave you a message on your blog but you've got the book. Email me!
katherine - thanks for visiting.
literary and april - I'll look for your reviews.
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