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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.
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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)
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!
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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.