Readers' Comments

WITNESSES' STATEMENTS

No crimes can be solved without the voice of a witness. Please feel free to share your comments by signing my Guestbook/Map

Comment by Cheryl Wright

Silenced Cry had me hooked from the first page. Night after night I was up until the early hours of the morning; I simply couldn’t put this book down. The story was well paced, the characters believable, (I absolutely loved Detective Sam Harper!) the scenarios life-like, and everything was tied up nicely.

It was a very enjoyable read, and I was surprised to learn this was a debut book. As a romantic suspense writer, I’m a very critical reader, as an editor for a small press publisher, I’m even more critical.

Marta Stephens book allowed me to simply sit back and enjoy the read. Well done, Marta!

I now wait in anticipation of The Devil Can Wait.

Just As Good the Second Time Through
by Terry Ervin, (Ohio)

This book is filled with characters you enjoy following, or enjoy coming to despise (or at least I did). Maybe you'll see the end coming...but probably you'll end up thinking you've got it solved when a new clue or twist adds to the mystery.

It was a good, fast read for me--mostly because I wanted to get to the end. I was kind of bummed out when I got there. Not because of the ending; it made perfect sense, tying things up. But because the read was over. So, about a week later, I read it again, and enjoyed it all the same, but on a different level. Not many books can do that for me.

Solid Read
by Max Beach, (Los Angeles)

Marta Stephens has crafted a solid read around a twisted story. Silenced Cry kept me reading as the story took turns beyond the prototypical plot twists. Parts of the dialog are raw and unedited adding to the persona of each character. I look forward to seeing more development of Sam's character as the series rolls out. I was surprised this complex story is coming from a rookie novelist. All in all it was a fun and enjoyable read.

Looking Forward to More
by Nancy Y. Bonar (Ohio)

That a first-time author is approached by a publisher without having to go through the book rejection process is a tribute to Stephens' writing skills, so evident in Silenced Cry.

About halfway through the mystery thriller, I had a mental list of five people who could be the killer being tracked down by Detective Harper. Three-fourths of the way through I'd narrowed the killer candidates down to one. However, I was thrown off guard and unsure until the next to last chapter.

I'm certainly looking forward to Ms. Stephens' next Detective Harper book and getting to know him even better.

A Popular Book
by Jenny Luzadder (Muncie, IN)

Marta, your first book is amazing! I can't wait to read the next one, to see what Sam Harper will get himself into next.

I'm a librarian at Muncie Public Library, and your book is very popular among our customers! It hasn't touched a shelf since it was released. We are also very excited about your virtual book tour. Great site! I'll visit often.

Worth a second reading
by John R. Sullivan "Jack" (Betterton, Maryland)

I read Marta Stephens Silenced Cry twice and enjoyed the second reading as much as the first. My first reading came during a nine-hour flight from Philadelphia to Milan, Italy. The second was enjoyed during a three-day stay in the village of Bergamo (try to find a book store there that carries fiction in English).

Marta Stephens is an imaginative artist. This book kept me in a state of suspense for most my flight across the Atlantic, so much so that I forgot about the unpalatable food the airline served - when you're engrossed in a good book you can forget about. During my second reading in Bergamo I could not help but compare this author to the master: Elmore Leonard. Like Leonard, her plotting is complex, but her writing is clear and understandable. Her characters display a mixed bag of human weaknesses, sinister failings, and heroic courage. Her hero, Sam Harper, like most good plainclothes cops, is very smart and analytical, but he drinks too much, has a poor diet, and doesn't get enough sleep. But, Harper, unlike most fictional detectives, is very slow on the uptake when it comes to women. All-in-all Silenced Cry is a fine read - good enough to read twice.

Comment by Kim Smith (Mid South, USA)
New author Marta Stephens brings a knockout thriller to the shelf. Detective Sam Harper, tough cop with a soft heart especially for the innocent, has to unravel a cold case. Stephens portrayal of this character seems as though she has been through it herself. Smart, fast-paced, and exciting, this one is destined for your keeper shelf.

Comment by Melissa Sloan (Indiana)
Once you begin, you won't want to put the book down until you (and Detective Sam Harper) have solved the crime. A very promising first novel for author Marta Stephens that will keep you on the edge of your seat and panting for the second installment.

Comment by Doris Shafer, Bloomington, IN (Adopted Auntie)
From someone who abhors suspense, I was mesmerized by your book and amazed that this person who I have known 35+ years had all this cop talk, street talk intrigue stored inside her head! And yes, I'll read every successive book you write with great gusto.

Comment by Gina Downing, Muncie, IN|
I totally enjoyed Silenced Cry. I read it in one sitting. It definitely kept my interest. My "old" eyes get tired easily and I get sleepy. :) That didn't happen with this book!

Comment by Sandra Clarke, Canada
I normally dislike first person but found that your website lead-in really drew me in, to the point that I said to myself, "I might just read this book.

Comment by Brenda Robertson Stewart, IN, Author of Power in the Blood
I enjoyed Silenced Cry a great deal. I thought your plotting and characterizations were excellent. I look forward to your next book.

Comment by John Darren
The front page could be a soliloquy read by Humphrey Bogart in a black and white, dark room with cigarette smoke rising past a slightly backlit window. Nice Job.

Comment by Mike Reed, Florida
The website is terrific, but considering how hard you've worked on the entire project, I wouldn't have expected less. The interview portion is excellent. Silenced Cry is a great read and what's really cool is that you're going to raise the bar even higher with your second book. Congrats!

Comment by Lisa Serafim - Los Angeles, CA
Brilliant writing. The tension and depth in the excerpt is leading up to such a great read. Sam is going to be a hit. He's going to make us beg for more."

Comment by Phyllis Cunningham, MO
The first page starts the goose bumps!

Comment by Nancy Yockey Bonar, OH
Cheering, certainly not crying for Miss Argentina. Congrats! I like your web; pulling off reverse type can be iffy, but you did it. Believe yours is the first I've noticed with a video trailer about a published book. Nice touch. Way to go!