NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM

Author: Jordan Dane ISBN: 9780061252785 4/2008 SUSPENSE Publisher: AVON

A relentless detective with the San Antonio Police Department is barred from an investigation into the disappearance and murder of her younger sister and forced to take another assignment. Skeletal remains buried in the wall of an old theatre destroyed by arson make an intriguing new case. But when the bones turn out to be of a woman, close in age to her sister, the hunt for a killer gets personal—a vendetta for justice. A seductive enforcer to the mob, with secrets of his own, stands between the detective and a powerful man she believes is linked to the murder. Will the reluctant henchman become an ally or betray her to his treacherous 'benefactor'? Drawn into the sinister world of human trafficking, the modern-day slave trade, the detective unravels a grim trail of destroyed lives—leaving her little hope for vindication in the death of her sister and a nameless young woman buried alive.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM has memorable characters and a pretty good "side" mystery that makes it a decent romantic suspense. I am not sure that I would describe it as terrifying, as it is depicted on the front cover, but it is certainly disturbing. The romance is a nice, safe, small tidbit to the plot, but that is okay, too. So, what's my problem? Some of the graphic violence against women could have been left out.

Honestly, it is just one scene in particular that I take issue with. I do not need to know that a poor abducted girl cannot walk after being brutalized. I find that an unnecessary line in the context of all the rest. I know what is happening to the unfortunate girls as Dane does a fine job of telling it without that distasteful morsel in the rest of the book. While it does not detract much from my overall opinion of the book, obviously it has stuck with me enough that I feel the need to point it out in the review.

Anyway, I enjoy Dane's writing style enough to look forward to her next romantic suspense release.

Shannon Johnson