WITNESSES' STATEMENTS
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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. --Nancy
Y. Bonar (Ohio)
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Worth a second reading
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. --
John
R. Sullivan "Jack" (Betterton,
Maryland)
****
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. --Kaycee Conners "Kaycee Conners" (Mid South, USA)
****
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. --Melissa Sloan (Indiana)
****
"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." -- Doris Shafer, Bloomington, IN (Adopted Auntie)
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"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!" -- Gina Downing, Muncie, IN.
****
"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." -- Sandra Clarke, Canada.
****
"I enjoyed Silenced Cry a great deal. I thought your plotting and characterizations were excellent. I look forward to your next book." -- Brenda Robertson Stewart, IN, Author of Power in the Blood
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"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." John Darren 3/13/07
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"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!" Mike Reed, Florida 3/14/07
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"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." Lisa Serafim - Los Angeles, CA 3/18/07
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"The first page starts the goose bumps!" Phyllis Cunningham, MO 3/19/07
****
"Cheering, certainly not crying for Miss Argentina. Congrats! I like your web; pulling off reverse type can be iffy, but you did it. Believe your's is the first I've noticed with a video trailer about a published book. Nice touch. Way to go!" Nancy Yockey Bonar, OH 4/20/07
WHAT'S NEW?
Order autographed books from the author
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View Book
Trailer:
Silenced Cry
Stephens Talks About the Series
The Body of Evidence
(Critical Reviews)
Stephens Interrogated
Includes Live Internet Voices Radio
Interview
http://mstephens-musings.blogspot.com
Text, photographs, and artwork copyright © 2007 by Marta Stephens
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. --Jenny Luzadder (Muncie, IN)
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